Lianhua sprang to her feet, tears streaming down her face as she rushed to stop Wen Zhang from delivering another fatal blow to Ling Tian. Wen Zhang's fist connected with her face, sending her crashing into the wall. Her eyes fluttered closed, and she whispered, "Ling Tian..." before losing consciousness.
Ling Tian's eyes snapped open, and a lone tear rolled down his cheek. With a Herculean effort, he forced himself to stand, despite the excruciating pain and blood loss. His vision blurred, and his legs trembled beneath him.
Wen Zhang sneered, his foot connecting with Ling Tian's chest, sending him crashing to the ground once more. Liang Wong, with his last ounce of strength, summoned a spirit arrow and fired it at Wen Zhang. However, Wen Zhang conjured a lotus flower shield, blocking the attack. He retaliated by hurling his Qingyun sword at Liang Wong, piercing his chest.
The students of the Dragon Den Clan was vastly outnumbered by the Mystic Lotus Cult. "I wish I had never come treasure hunting," one of the Dragon Den Clan students lamented, her voice laced with despair.
Ling Tian's face was a mess of blood and bruises, his mouth agape as he whispered, "Lianhua..." His blood dripped onto the Jade Emperor's Staff, forming a mysterious contract through a blood sacrifice, unbeknownst to him.
As Ling Tian crawled toward Lianhua, Wen Zhang sneered, "Where do you think you're going?" He stepped on Ling Tian's hand, grinding his heel into his palm. Ling Tian screamed in agony, his voice echoing off the cave walls.
Wen Zhang raised the Jade Emperor's Staff, ready to deliver the final blow. However, the staff halted mid-air, refusing to strike Ling Tian. Instead, it burned Wen Zhang's hand, forcing him to drop it. The staff began to glow with a brilliant green, blue, and gold light, enveloping Ling Tian's body.
The staff's energy lifted Ling Tian into the air, and a warm, golden light permeated his body, sealing his wounds. His body began to heal at an alarming rate, his vitality restored.
Wen Zhang's eyes widened in shock. "What's happening?" he stammered, his voice trembling with fear.
Ling Tian's body gently descended to the ground, and he coughed, his eyes snapping open. He stumbled to his feet, marveling at his healed body. His gaze fell upon Lianhua, and he rushed to her side, kneeling beside her. Tears streamed down his face as he whispered her name.
His anger ignited, his eyes blazing with a fierce determination. The Jade Emperor's Staff flew into his hand, and he charged toward Wen Zhang.
"You'll pay for what you've done!" Ling Tian declared, his voice low and menacing.
Wen Zhang laughed, but his amusement was short-lived. Ling Tian's speed was unprecedented, his movements invisible as he struck Wen Zhang with a crushing blow, sending him flying into the wall.
Wen Zhang coughed up blood, his tooth shattered, as he stumbled backward. Ling Tian's eyes burned with fury, his movements a blur as he pummeled Wen Zhang with a flurry of punches.
With a final, mighty blow, Ling Tian ended Wen Zhang's life. The Mystic Lotus Cult students fled in terror, abandoning their fallen master.
As the aura surrounding Ling Tian dissipated, he gently lifted Lianhua into his arms. "Carry Liang Wong and the Qingyun sword. We're leaving," he instructed, his voice firm but gentle.
The group mounted their serpents, with Ling Tian carefully placing Lianhua on hers, as well as Liang Wong. They soared into the sky, leaving the carnage behind.
As they flew, Ling Tian held Lianhua close, his heart aching with worry. "Lianhua, please wake up. I'm begging you," he whispered, his voice trembling with emotion.
Lianhua's eyes slowly fluttered open, and she gazed up at Ling Tian, her expression weak but relieved. "Ling Tian... I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Ling Tian's face lit up with a warm smile. "You have nothing to apologize for, my love," he replied, his voice filled with affection.
Lianhua's eyes drooped, and she fell asleep in Ling Tian's arms. He held her close, his heart filled with joy and relief.
Their serpents flew in silence, the only sound being the wind rushing past them.
They flew for five hours before finally reaching the sect. Ling Tian carried Lianhua, while the guards assisted the students in carrying Liang Wong. As they entered the sect, Ling Tian hastened his pace, rushing towards the epidemic relief hall.
Mrs. Mei's eyes widened with concern as she asked, "What happened? Where is Liang Wong?"
Ling Tian gently placed Lianhua on the bed and replied, "The others are bringing him. He's severely injured."
Mrs. Mei's eyes grew wide with shock as she exclaimed, "What?!" The guards brought Liang Wong in, his body bleeding profusely, and placed him on a bed. Mrs. Mei's hands trembled as she retrieved the sect's only healing pill, a rare remedy whose formula had been lost to the outside world. She carefully opened Liang Wong's mouth and administered the pill.
As they exited the epidemic relief hall, Mrs. Mei inquired, "What happened?" But before Ling Tian could respond, the students eagerly chimed in, their faces aglow with excitement.
"Ma'am, Ling Tian was incredible!" one of them exclaimed. "He was like a god! His fists crashed into the enemies' jaws, and his body glowed with an otherworldly light. Then, he stretched out his hand, and a staff flew into it... umm, they called it... umm"
Before the student could finish, a deafening explosion rocked the mountainside behind the sect. "Boom!" The ground trembled, and flames engulfed the mountain, spreading rapidly.
"The mountain has exploded!" someone shouted. "It's on fire!"
The elders hastened to respond, ready to head towards the mountainside. Just then, a guard rushed in, his voice trembling with fear.
"There's a demon beast!" he exclaimed. "It has one eye on its forehead, and its tail is a snake, with a body like a lion."
Tianyang appeared, his ears perked up as he listened to the guard's words. He whispered to himself, "The Qiongqi..."