Chapter 160 - 157: Nine Deaths in the Netherworld, Hell on Earth

"How is this possible?" The Ling family members were utterly dumbfounded, finding it hard to believe.

The Void Spirit Realm! That was the Void Spirit Realm! The Ling family had finally produced a Supreme Elder, giving them an immense, hard-won hope. Yet, he was blasted away by a single strike—and by someone from a lower realm, no less. This was entirely unacceptable to them.

"He’s that strong?"

"My god. If not for the imposing might of that worldly anomaly, I would have thought the Void Spirit Realm was weak."

"Is it possible that the Void Spirit Realm First Layer actually isn’t much stronger than the Ninth Level of Tongyou Realm?"

Cries of astonishment rippled through the crowd; this single strike had nearly caused their jaws to hit the floor. They had all assumed that despite Li Haoran’s powerful display, he would be swatted away by the Ling Family’s Supreme Elder in one move. The actual outcome vastly exceeded everyone’s expectations. After all, this was the Void Spirit Realm! Such a level had never appeared in the entire Great Xia Dynasty.

"This..." Mo Qianqian opened his mouth in shock. Li Haoran’s strength was beyond his expectations, too! If he had known earlier, he would have desperately cultivated the Third Stance before charging into the Ling family. With a strike like that, considering his current Second Realm Ninth Level cultivation, wouldn’t he be able to trade blows with the Ninth Level of Tongyou Realm?

"Hahaha! The Void Spirit Realm First Layer is nothing more than this! Hahaha..." Li Haoran let out a hearty, unrestrained laugh. Gripping his long spear, he charged excitedly toward the Ling Family’s Supreme Elder.

"Dean Qiu, kill Mo Qianqian!" At this moment, Patriarch Ling shouted once more.

SWISH!

The Tai Xuan Academy Dean’s figure blurred as she charged directly at Mo Qianqian. With Li Haoran attacking the Ling Family’s Supreme Elder, she was left without an opponent.

"No!" Shi Muyao’s expression shifted drastically as she immediately dashed toward Mo Qianqian.

However, her cultivation was far too weak to be of any help. Before she could even reach him, the Tai Xuan Academy Dean was already closing in on Mo Qianqian. A broadsword slashed toward Mo Qianqian with unparalleled ferocity.

Mo Qianqian’s face paled. Although he was retreating rapidly, he still couldn’t dodge. He had no choice but to push the Second Stance of the Vast Spear Technique to its absolute limit, smashing his spear diagonally upward at the incoming Tai Xuan Academy Dean.

Simultaneously, his Spirit Body, wielding a sword, slashed at her as well. When a Spirit Body ambushed an opponent whose cultivation was too high, the enemy would instantly sense it, making sneak attacks incredibly difficult. Moreover, if the opponent slashed at the Spirit Body with a weapon and it met the attack head-on, it would easily be shattered. It was better to simply wield a sword and attack her openly.

The current direct-combat strength of his Spirit Body was enough to repel an expert at the Seventh Level of Tongyou Realm. And a Second Realm Ninth Level Body Cultivator could kill a Seventh Level of Tongyou Realm expert. Perhaps, this would be enough to block her!

CLANG!

A violent sound of clashing metal rang out. The immense force knocked the Spirit Body’s longsword back, while the long spear in Mo Qianqian’s hands was thrust backward, slamming heavily into his chest.

PFFT!

Spitting out a large mouthful of blood, Mo Qianqian’s body was sent flying backward. The Quasi-Space Spirit Realm was simply too powerful. He couldn’t withstand it at all; a single strike had left him severely injured.

SWISH!

Seizing the opportunity, the Tai Xuan Academy Dean surged forward again, aiming another swift sword strike squarely at Mo Qianqian.

"No!"

A woman’s crisp shout rang out. This time, Shi Muyao had reached Mo Qianqian’s side and threw herself in front of him, blocking the way.

"What are you doing?!!" Mo Qianqian let out a furious roar. Shi Muyao was actually using her own body to shield him from the sword.

This was exactly what Nangong Ling had just done! Why did Shi Muyao have to rush up at a time like this?! Mo Qianqian felt his heart on the verge of collapsing.

Even he couldn’t block it, and the aura Shi Muyao was currently radiating was only at the Fifth Level of Spirit Mysterious Realm. Before the Spirit Master Banquet, Shi Muyao had only been at the Spiritual Mysterious Realm Second Level. To have broken through three minor levels in just over a month was already monstrously talented. But it was far, far from enough! How could the Fifth Level of Spirit Mysterious Realm possibly block an attack from a Quasi-Space Spirit Realm expert?

But it was too late. It was all too late! He couldn’t do anything to stop it. First Nangong Ling had sacrificed herself for him, and now, Shi Muyao was doing the same. He didn’t want to see this happen again; he simply couldn’t bear it...

SWISH! SWISH!

At that exact moment, two figures hurtled toward the battlefield at blinding speed. One was the Yuling Sect Master. The other was a masked figure in black. They moved as fast as lightning.

However, they were still a step too late. The broadsword had already cleaved into Shi Muyao’s body.

PFFT!

Blood splattered through the air. Yet, the blade had only cut in a fraction of an inch.

Just as the broadsword was about to slice deeper into her flesh, a terrifying surge of power abruptly erupted from within Shi Muyao. In an instant, Shi Muyao’s blood, skin, and entire body turned pitch black. A monstrous, overwhelming aura surged out from her like a tidal wave.

BOOM!

Shockingly, the broadsword was forced back.

HISS! HISS! HISS!

Billowing black mist poured out of Shi Muyao. She looked as though she had transformed into a demonic entity from the depths of hell, and the aura she radiated began to skyrocket continuously. Her cultivation was breaking through at a rapid pace.

From the Fifth Level of Spirit Mysterious Realm, she broke through to the sixth level, the seventh, the eighth, and then the ninth. And it didn’t stop there. She directly smashed through the barrier to the Tongyou Realm. It was only when she reached the First Level of Tongyou Realm that her ascension finally ceased.

"What?!"

This time, everyone present was utterly stunned. Previously, Li Haoran sending a Void Spirit Realm expert flying had already shocked them deeply. But at the very least, Li Haoran was in the Quasi-Space Spirit Realm and had unleashed a martial skill capable of triggering worldly anomalies, so it was somewhat understandable.

But now? Shi Muyao—a woman with a cultivation base at the Fifth Level of Spirit Mysterious Realm, who had no reputation to speak of aside from being Mo Qianqian’s wife—had actually survived a direct slash from a Quasi-Space Spirit Realm expert’s weapon? And instead, she had forced the opponent’s broadsword back?! She even erupted with a monstrous aura, consecutively breaking through five minor levels to directly advance into the Tongyou Realm?! Just what kind of situation was this?

Even the Tai Xuan Academy Dean, who was still standing close by after her broadsword was repelled, looked bewildered. She could barely process what had just happened. Even Mo Qianqian had a look of utter shock plastered on his face. Just a moment ago, he had been on the verge of an emotional collapse. Now, he was witnessing Shi Muyao repelling the enemy’s sword. This made it equally hard for him to wrap his head around the situation.

The incoming masked figure in black and the Yuling Sect Master were also dumbstruck. Then, the masked figure in black suddenly voiced his sheer astonishment. "The Nine Nethers Underworld Physique... She’s awakened the Nine Nethers Underworld Physique! Nine Nethers, Nine Deaths; a living purgatory, unrivaled in the world!"

"What? The Nine Nethers Underworld Physique?"

Hearing the old man’s exclamation, the crowd was both startled and bewildered.

"What kind of physique is that? The moment it awakens, she breaks through five levels, even crossing a major realm boundary!"

"Nine Nethers, Nine Deaths; a living purgatory, unrivaled in the world? What does that mean?"

The crowd was utterly baffled. Even the Eldest Prince and his entourage didn’t understand. The nearby Tai Xuan Academy Dean was also quite perplexed. She had never even heard of this "Nine Nethers Underworld Physique". Let alone the younger generation present.

Of everyone on the scene, it seemed that only the masked figure in black knew about it. Furthermore, this masked figure in black wasn’t even in the same group as the masked figure in black and gold robes. He had just rushed in, and the crowd had no idea who he was. But it was obvious that he was here to save Shi Muyao. It was just that this bizarre situation had unfolded before he could even reach her.