Stepping into the Jade Liquid Realm, the human body becomes as rich and fragrant as a precious medicinal herb.
Only after reaching the peak of this realm can one truly conceal their brilliance and return to a state of simplicity.
At this moment, Shen Yi's eyes gleamed with a sharp light as he strode forward, arriving in front of the dense forest in just a few breaths.
His internal organs shone with a radiant glow, and his blood, infused with golden light, surged relentlessly within him.
The powerful aura he had been suppressing finally began to spread rapidly around him, revealing the full extent of his Jade Liquid Realm cultivation!
Clang—!
Amidst the sharp sound of a sword's cry, numerous officers woke up, tumbling out of their tents with their sabers already tightly gripped in their hands.
The first thing they saw was the overwhelming sword energy filling the sky.
"You still dare to come?!"
"If you want to keep your life, get out of my way!"
The sword cultivator's roar was deafening, and the endless sword energy tightly enveloped the slender figure, like the claws of a ferocious beast slowly closing in.
"Rebellion from the disciples of Qingfeng Mountain!"
Amidst such a powerful display, Wang Meng took a deep breath and let out a thunderous shout, hoping to relay the message to the low hill outside the dense forest.
In the blink of an eye, he instinctively searched for another figure, his heart filled with fear but also a glimmer of relief.
Thankfully, Deputy General Hong had sent two Jade Liquid Realm experts here.
The Qingfeng Mountain rebels had indeed chosen this place to break through!
Although the sword energy was fierce, with the two of them working together, they might just be able to hold out until the deputy generals arrived.
Soon, the figure of Dai Bing, standing with her sword, came into view of the officers.
Her hand trembled slightly as she raised her sword, not to defend against the enemy, but to point it directly at the young man in black robes.
This action left the officers dumbfounded, their hearts sinking to the bottom in an instant.
They were all seasoned veterans, and seeing this, they didn't need to guess any further.
Clenching their teeth, they grabbed their sabers and charged at the woman!
Boom!
In the distance, the sword energy that had been gradually closing in and solidifying suddenly exploded as it reached the three-foot-long sword.
The violent wind swept through, kicking up a cloud of dust, forcing everyone to raise their arms to shield their eyes.
A loud voice echoed through the dense forest.
"Junior Sister, why aren't you making your move?!"
Dai Bing gritted her teeth, her grip on the sword no longer trembling.
Her eyes were bloodshot as she turned to the officers and shouted, "Get out of here! We're comrades, don't force me!"
In her senior brother's voice, she detected a hint of panic.
He was a well-known figure, rarely showing such emotions in battle, especially against a young officer who was just starting out.
She had been stationed here, not intending to harm anyone unless necessary, just wanting to scare Shen Yi away.
Who would have thought that the other party would be so stubborn and actually manage to stop her senior brother...
If she hesitated any longer, they wouldn't be able to escape today!
With this thought, she charged forward, her sword surging with the same sword energy, though slightly weaker.
In front of her, the dust began to settle.
Shen Yi held the hilt of his saber with one hand, drawing it from its sheath in an upward motion.
The straight, black ceremonial saber had not yet fully left its sheath when its blade intercepted the three-foot-long sword thrusting towards him.
He calmly continued to draw his saber, his eyes fixed on the man before him.
As the tip of the saber emerged, Shen Yi slightly twisted his wrist.
Under the immense force, the man's sword bent into an exaggerated curve, emitting a mournful cry.
Sweat beaded on the forehead of the Qingfeng Mountain steward, his previously indifferent expression now filled with disbelief.
The tremendous vibration from the sword's hilt almost made him lose his grip.
Such terrifying strength—it was as if he wasn't facing a Demon Suppression Division officer, but a humanoid demon!
Crack—!
The finely crafted sword lasted only three breaths before it was covered in dense cracks, shattering into tiny fragments that embedded themselves into the steward's body.
The black blade, sweeping upward, tore through flesh, leaving a deep gash from the steward's right waist to his left shoulder.
Before the steward could even cry out in pain, the young man grabbed his collar and hurled him backward.
"Senior Brother!"
Dai Bing, who had been charging forward with her sword, looked up in panic as her senior brother's body flew towards her.
She forcibly retracted her strength, her steps becoming unsteady.
Before she could regain her footing, her senior brother crashed into her.
She instinctively reached out to catch him, but the moment her hand touched his body, her expression changed drastically.
Boom! Boom!
The immense force transmitted through her senior brother's body hit her like a mountain, sending her flying before she could even react.
Her internal organs churned and squeezed as if they were about to burst!
Dai Bing, clutching her senior brother, crashed through several large trees before finally landing, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
She was nearly killed on the spot.
Under such terrifying force, her years of diligent sword training and her early Jade Liquid Realm cultivation seemed utterly insignificant, like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.
Dai Bing struggled to breathe, her face filled with fear as she weakly reached for the sword that had fallen beside her.
Just as her fingers were about to touch the hilt, a boot slowly stepped on her wrist.
In excruciating pain, she cried out and looked up.
The young man standing above her gazed down with bright but emotionless eyes, casually pressing the blade of his saber against her throat.
Dai Bing's hand was just inches away from the sword hilt, as if with just a little more effort, she could pick it up.
But her eyes were gradually filled with despair.
She had no doubt that if she continued to harbor the thought of holding the sword, the black blade would pierce her throat without hesitation.
Why was it that a mere two-star officer could be so overwhelmingly powerful that it made her completely lose the will to resist?
The Qingfeng Mountain steward, barely clinging to life, slowly placed his hand on her arm.
His fingers were weak, but they conveyed his thoughts clearly enough.
He grinned, his teeth stained with blood, and said weakly, "Thank you, Officer, for sparing our lives."
"..."
Shen Yi glanced at him and casually slapped him across the face with the flat of his blade.
Too much nonsense.
When the other party had struck with their sword, it had seemed fierce, but in reality, they had left a path of escape.
Anyone with Jade Liquid Realm cultivation, if frightened, could have retreated a dozen or so feet and avoided it.
The price for this was that they could only watch as the two of them escaped.
But letting this pair of lovebirds go was out of the question.
Killing them wasn't necessary either.
As for whether they could survive, that was none of his concern.
Just as they hadn't considered what punishment he would face if they were allowed to escape.
Shen Yi sheathed his saber and kicked the sword away.
"Tie them up and send them to Deputy General Hong."
The officers looked at the devastated forest, the towering trees leaning precariously, and for a moment, they couldn't quite process what had just happened.
They hadn't even understood what had occurred.
They had seen the sword energy explode, and then Officer Shen had swiftly subdued the two of them...
These weren't ordinary people, but two Jade Liquid Realm experts.
They swallowed hard, their mouths dry.
They now had a bit more faith in Deputy General Hong's earlier words.
Although they didn't know if there was a powerful Shen family in Qingzhou, or if Zhao Kanglin's grandfather would really kneel and call him "father," one thing was certain: this man was not to be trifled with.
Wang Meng recalled the scene a few days ago when Shen Yi had politely asked him for advice, and he couldn't help but shiver.
The ruthlessness of his actions now didn't quite match the easygoing demeanor he had shown before.
They rummaged through the tents for some specially made rope.
Although they felt it was unnecessary—two people on the brink of death might not survive being tied up—they still dutifully bound the two of them tightly together.
(End of Chapter)