Chapter 1246: Battle of the Hundred Saints

Qiu Yue clearly understood in his heart how strong the opponent was, and he also knew that if he faced this tree alone, death was certain!

So, at the moment the tree appeared, Qiu Yue hastily turned his head toward the direction where Han Yu and the others were.

Fortunately, the latter group did not keep Qiu Yue waiting long; they all surged forward from the forest in unison.

In the blink of an eye, hundreds of figures appeared before that giant tree, which stood tens of thousands of zhang tall and whose branches and leaves blotted out the sky.

And when Lin Feng saw the appearance of the great tree that made Han Yu and the others wary, he slowly scanned it with a serious gaze, this giant tree that blocked the sky over a range of thousands of li.

This giant tree, whether its trunk, branches, or leaves, was entirely pitch-black; its canopy spread out in all directions, resembling a fiend baring its fangs and claws.

As a gentle breeze blew, the tens-of-zhang-wide black leaves constantly swayed, making a continual rustling sound.

This sound gradually spread, like the sharp screech of fingernails scraping glass, making everyone present feel their teeth ache and their hearts palpitate.

And at the same time, under the morning's rising sun, that tree which should have been full of vitality now revealed a hint of gloom that made brows furrow.

"This thing is probably not easy to handle; it seems Han Yu wasn't lying—if he were to go up against this tree, he might not even be able to withstand a few moves."

Gazing at the towering tree that made one's heart tremble, Lin Feng involuntarily stepped back with his feet, silently moving to the rear of the battlefield where Qiu Yue and the two Eight-Star Dou Saints were fighting.

After all, once they start fighting, the commotion will surely be huge; he should be careful so as not to get caught up in it.

And standing here at the back, even if something unexpected happens, it will be Qiu Yue and his two companions who suffer first; as for him, he can then seize the chance to quickly turn and flee.

"Everyone, summon your spirit pets and oppose this foe!"

As for Han Yu, who had flown ahead with the people to stand before the tree, after stabilizing his stance he immediately shouted loudly.

As soon as his words fell, he promptly took out a short flute, placed it to his lips, and blew.

Accompanied by a somewhat sharp flute sound, two black shadows—one large, one small—suddenly shot out from the distant ground and flew toward this side at extreme speed.

Hearing the sound, Lin Feng looked out and saw that the two black shadows summoned by Han Yu included one that was exactly the Titan Black Shovel Armor he had seen before.

As for the other, or rather, more accurately, it was a mass of black shadow.

After Lin Feng carefully examined the unfamiliar black shadow, he realized it was not a magic beast but a ball composed of countless extremely tiny gray insects.

Lin Feng estimated that each insect's size was only a few hundredths of a micrometer; individually, they would be utterly inconspicuous.

However, these insects, each only a few hundredths of a micrometer in size, have now formed a ball several dozen zhang across; their number must have reached an astonishing level!

"I've never seen these insects before; it looks like Han Yu has also hidden many trump cards. For this operation, we must be cautious."

Upon seeing the unfamiliar tiny insects, Lin Feng's heart immediately gave himself a silent reminder.

"Whooo!"

However, just as the former was secretly on guard, the hundred or so people behind Han Yu also simultaneously pulled out short flutes, placed them to their lips, and began to blow.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Accompanied by the sharp short flute sounds echoing back and forth across the sky, in an instant, myriad magic beasts from various places in the south surged forth and howled as they flew toward the sky where their masters were.

As Lin Feng's gaze swept over these magic beasts, he immediately realized in shock that even the lowest among them had reached the initial Dou Saint realm!

Moreover, these people did not seem to be raising just one beast each; some of the wealthier actually had two or even more ninth-rank magic beasts at their sides!

"Nearly a hundred Dou Saint experts, plus over a hundred ninth-rank magic beasts, giving more than two hundred Dou Saint-level combat power. Fortunately these people are sealed here and cannot leave; otherwise the Fighting Energy Continent might truly be doomed."

Seeing this scene that made his scalp tingle, Lin Feng's heart instantly filled with anxiety.

Although he had long known that the Spirit-Communion Sect possessed secret arts for conversing with magic beasts and spirit plants, enabling them to control such beasts or plants to fight for themselves.

But who could have imagined that these people had actually cultivated so many terrifying magic beasts!

"A Nine-Star Mid-Stage Dou Saint leads, with several other Eight-Star Dou Saints, about thirty Five-Star to Seven-Star Dou Saints, and nearly two hundred other Dou Saints providing support. If this were in the outside world, even the Soul Heaven Emperor would have to take a detour."

Seeing the opponent's terrifying combat power, if Lin Feng still hadn't retained a sliver of rationality—knowing that with the battle not yet started he couldn't escape—he would have already been frightened into turning and fleeing, never to look back no matter how one called.

"Shush"

Just as Lin Feng felt astonished by the strength of the Spirit-Communion Sect, after the giant tree appeared, seeing the Life-Devouring Grass and Purple Soul swaying on the verge of collapse under the attacks of Qiu Yue and the two Eight-Star Dou Saints, it lightly shook its branches and instantly expelled two streams of ink-black liquid.

Those two dark liquids, upon leaving the tree's body, instantly transformed into two black arrows that, as if crossing void, shot fiercely toward the distant Qiu Yue.

"Damn it!"

Han Yu, seeing this, was instantly shocked in his heart, not daring to delay; he flicked his palm and threw out two metal sheets, each about two millimeters thick, four fingers wide, and roughly twenty centimeters long, speeding toward the space in front of those two black arrows.

Subsequently, in Lin Feng's astonished gaze, the metal sheets landed before the black arrows and then flickered with streaks of earth-yellow light.

Only then did Lin Feng clearly see the appearance of these metal sheets; although the iron plates looked ordinary, they had some unknown-purpose inscriptions etched onto them.

Lin Feng did not recognize these characters, but if one had to say, this object bore a striking resemblance to the talismans he had seen on Blue Star.

However, this talisman-like object was not drawn on his narrow long paper but engraved onto the metal sheets.

"Boom—"

And just as Lin Feng was stunned by those two metal sheets, the earth-yellow light on them grew ever more intense.

In the instant before the black arrows arrived, they suddenly exploded, transforming into two earth-yellow energy mountains that blocked the arrows' attack on Qiu Yue.

"Boom!"

The next moment, in Lin Feng's astonished view, the energy mountains and the liquid black arrows exploded together and then vanished into nothingness.

However, upon seeing this scene, his eyes instantly flashed with a hint of solemnity.

Because from the power of this explosion, it could likely turn him into minced flesh in an instant.

And since Han Yu possessed such a treasure, it was obviously highly unfavorable for him to try to flee.

After all, if Han Yu has this, others might also possess it.

Moreover, judging by its appearance, it seems it can be prepared in advance and then used at critical moments.

"Damn it, facing an unfamiliar opponent is truly a disadvantage—you never know what strange thing he might pull out!"

Thinking of this, Lin Feng couldn't help but let his face fall, sighing helplessly.

As for Han Yu, upon seeing those two talismans turn to nothing, his eyes instantly flashed with a hint of heartache.

However, thinking that he and his companions had waited a thousand years, and that their ancestor had been sealed for nearly ten thousand years, finally obtaining this opportunity, he could not afford to dwell on the pain; he turned and roared: "Everyone, block this tree!"

As his words fell, a towering aura surged forth from within him; at the same time, he took out another thin metal sheet, poured his fighting energy into it, and activated the sheet.

Bang!

In the next moment, the iron plate exploded into a ball of blood-red mist that shot into Han Yu's body.

Ha!

The blood mist entered his body, and the former's physique instantly swelled; under this swelling, Han Yu immediately raised both hands and unleashed an uncontrollable skyward howl.

As the former moved, in an instant the aura of his original Nine-Star Mid-stage Dou Saint seemed to break through an invisible barrier, surging even higher.

Ha!

At the same time Han Yu acted, the remaining Dou Saints each took out an iron plate, activated it, and absorbed the blood mist exploded from the plate just like the former, raising their Fighting Qi levels while also unleashing uncontrollable skyward howls, seemingly to vent the swelling from their rapidly increased Fighting Qi.

"Those iron plates seem to have a function similar to the Heavenly Fire Three Mysteries Transformation, capable of temporarily boosting a person's strength considerably. However, judging from the condition of these Dou Saints, the iron plate appears to be more versatile, effective on cultivators of any attribute."

Seeing this from afar, Lin Feng's heart sank again.

At this moment, the strength of the Spirit Communication Sect far exceeded his expectations by far.

He also vaguely felt that today he might not escape so easily.

But after thinking, Lin Feng saw that everyone's attention was temporarily drawn to the commotion caused by the hundred Dou Saints almost simultaneously using the secret method to boost Fighting Qi, so he quickly crushed the jade bottle in his hand.

Then, under the pull of Fighting Qi, a cyan gleam shot out from his sleeve, fell into the lower forest, and, as if it had eyes, dodged numerous obstacles before striking straight at the main body of the Life-Eating Grass.

The Life-Eating Grass, as if knowing that this did no harm to it, allowed the gleam to strike it, then exploded into a mass of rich energy that it swiftly absorbed completely.

Hum!

With the help of this energy, the originally extremely weak Life-Eating Grass immediately recovered considerably; even the withered yellow on its trunk and leaves largely disappeared at this moment.

Swish! Swish!

Having recovered considerably, the Life-Eating Grass no longer held back; taking advantage of Qiu Yue's attention being fully on Han Yu, it instantly shot out a dozen vines toward Qiu Yue, binding him into a zongzi before he could react.

Immediately, those vines quickly glowed green-red, instantly erupting with a suction force that continuously drew Fighting Qi from Qiu Yue's body to nourish itself.

"Damn thing, dare to sneak attack!"

Sensing his Fighting Qi rapidly draining from his body, Qiu Yue was instantly jolted awake, his face suddenly changing.

Because the former was clearly still very weak before, he could finish it with his full-force fighting technique in less than three minutes.

But now, why did the Life-Eating Grass suddenly recover so much?

"Could it be that the tree made a move?"

Qiu Yue glanced in his peripheral vision at the distant towering tree that seemed to support heaven and earth, thinking to himself.

Although he didn't know how the other side had done it, now he thought he might need to reveal some trump cards to deal with the Life-Eating Grass.

Break!

In the next moment, Qiu Yue's forehead and hands bulged with veins as he gathered all his strength for a mighty tug, after which the vines of the Life-Eating Grass suddenly straightened.

Soon after, amidst a grating creaking sound, the Life-Eating Grass's dozen vines all broke into several segments, flying off in all directions under the impact of the air wave.

After dealing with those vines, Qiu Yue immediately swung his fists again, battling the Life-Eating Grass that Lin Feng had strengthened considerably.

As for Lin Feng in the distance, seeing Qiu Yue react, his eyes flickered, he hesitated a moment and ultimately did not continue to interfere with the Life-Eating Grass.

After all, the perception of a Nine-Star Dou Saint expert is no trifle; earlier he merely took advantage of the opponent's focus being entirely on Han Yu and the others, plus the hundred Dou Saints simultaneously erupting their aura, stirring the surrounding heaven and earth's Fighting Qi into chaos; otherwise his little moves would have been seen through long ago.

"But just because it doesn't work on Qiu Yue doesn't mean it won't work elsewhere."

Thinking this, Lin Feng curled his lips and turned his gaze toward the two Eight-Star Dou Saints fiercely battling Zi Hun in the distance.

Kill!

Just as Lin Feng prepared to make a small move, Han Yu and the others before the towering tree, along with their spirit pets, almost simultaneously erupted a powerful Fighting Qi wave.

Accompanied by the surge of Fighting Qi in everyone's bodies, the next moment over two hundred beams of various colors gathered in the sky into a magnificent rainbow piercing heaven and earth.

Then the rainbow flashed across space at extreme speed, appearing ghostlike before the giant tree filled with various negative emotions, and fiercely shot toward its trunk!

However, at the instant the rainbow approached it, the giant tree trembled its branches and leaves; in a flash, a black liquid column no smaller than the rainbow shot straight up and collided fiercely with the rainbow.

Boom!

In the next moment, Lin Feng, far away a thousand li, felt his vision flash white and instantly could see nothing; immediately after, accompanied by the shocking air wave, the deafening terrifying roar also suddenly pierced his ears.

When the roar reached him, Lin Feng's mind then felt a sharp pain, and soon he only sensed his head buzzing, knowing nothing else.

Even his body, in this panic, uncontrollably retreated several thousand zhang before he barely suppressed the urge to keep retreating, then focused entirely on easing the pain in his mind.

However, while Lin Feng frantically dealt with that pain, the distant black giant tree, under the joint attack of over two hundred Dou Saint experts, also began to show fatigue.

Looking at this, if no external force intervenes, the black giant tree will likely be defeated under the siege of Han Yu and the others before long.

Boom!

However, things were not that simple; just as the giant tree's defeat became apparent, endless black mist suddenly appeared from the horizon.

Then, before Han Yu and the others could react, the all-enveloping black house suddenly descended, instantly enveloping those two hundred figures.

"Quick, that beast has come, everyone abandon attack, defend!"

Upon sensing the strange black mist suddenly falling from the horizon, at the moment his figure vanished, Han Yu also disregarded his dignity and loudly shouted at those around him.

While shouting, he also quickly used Fighting Qi to condense a defense.

Naturally, his spirit pets also all employed various means to shrink back.

As for the others, after being shaken by his shout back to their senses, like waking from a dream, they each employed various means to defend against the black mist.

Ah!

However, not everyone could react that quickly; in the instant the black mist descended, the unit where Han Yu and the others were located still echoed with successive cries of misery and the wails of magic beasts.

As for Lin Feng, whose earlier headache had already subsided, upon noticing the change in Han Yu and the others' battlefield, he promptly raised his head to look.

What he saw upon looking up was nothing but pitch-black thick mist that even souls could not penetrate.

Moreover, within that black mist, a huge snake-like magic beast continually wandered, its body flickering in and out of view amidst the cries of misery, appearing in the sight of Lin Feng and company.

Seeing the black mist temporarily trapping the opposition, the black giant tree trembled its branches, and suddenly a dozen fruits several zhang in size appeared on its boughs.

Then the giant tree's branches swayed slightly, and the dozen hanging black fruits fell down; finally a muffled 'bang' sounded in the air, after which the fruits lightly burst open, turning into a dozen streams of black energy that silently flew into the distant thick mist.

"Ah! Ah!"

In the next moment, the miserable cries within the thick fog grew ever more frequent, and amidst those cries, some human and magic beast bodies fell from the fog and then plummeted straight down to the ground below.

And the grimness of those cries also caused Lin Feng's brows to involuntarily furrow tightly.

"This magic beast, could it be the monster that Han Yu has been constantly mentioning earlier? I don't know what kind of magic beast it is, capable of making even a nine-star Fighting Saint so wary, and that fruit just now, surprisingly able to split into so many Fighting Saint Yin Souls, truly bizarre to the extreme."

Gazing at the distant, dense and gloomy black mist, Lin Feng recalled the dozen or so Fighting Saint black shadows produced earlier by the black giant tree, lost in thought.

According to his perception, those black shadows were formed from the condensation of resentful souls filled with negative emotions, and their method of attack was likely also directed at the soul.

If not protected by Strange Fire or similar items, once one's soul is infiltrated by these negative-emotion-filled vengeful spirits, before long the normal thought processes will be eroded, turning one into a puppet controlled by the vengeful spirits.

"This thing is truly bizarre to the extreme; fortunately, it's not me who has to face it."

Lin Feng heard the incessant miserable cries and wails coming from within the black mist, and felt a hint of schadenfreude.

But shortly after, Lin Feng stroked his chin, wearing an interested expression as he gazed toward the distant sky.

He was curious: since Han Yu knew of this magic beast's existence, who would come to stop it from wantonly slaughtering the Fighting Saint predecessors of the Spiritual Communication Sect?

"Whoosh"

And just as he was wondering, the sky suddenly unfurled gusts of nameless cold wind.

Immediately thereafter, the temperature of this out-of-nowhere cold wind began to drop lower and lower, and its strength grew stronger.

Soon after, the water vapor Fighting Saint in the sky rapidly condensed into frost, which then fell down to the ground below.

But even so, the temperature of this heaven and earth continued to drop without stopping, and the rate of decline even accelerated.

In just a few breaths, Lin Feng realized that the absence of water vapor was already insignificant.

Because at this moment, the space within a radius of several thousand li was frozen solid by the low temperature produced by this cold wind.

Indeed, it was truly frozen; even though he possessed the spatial talent of the Tai Xu Ancient Dragon Clan, within the range of this cold wind he could not open space to enter the void.

As for the black mist that terrified Han Yu and the others, it too was condensed under this low temperature into countless tiny ice crystals, which finally fell from the sky and sank into the ground below.

"Ding ding ding"

And just as Lin Feng felt extreme astonishment at the appearance of this cold wind, a series of clear, pleasant wind chime sounds began to linger incessantly by everyone's ears.

Accompanying the ringing of the wind chimes, Lin Feng's mouth uncontrollably opened slightly, and his eyes stared in disbelief at the silver figure slowly emerging from the void.

Although he did not know this person's name, Lin Feng recognized them from the familiar silver square cloth draped over their body, and realized this was the person he had surmised could not leave the Spiritual Communication Sect's camp and posed no threat to his escape plan.

"She actually managed to come out?"

Seeing her appear, Lin Feng's brows tightened, and he faintly sensed a bad feeling.

But the arrow was already on the bow; he had no choice but to release it, so Lin Feng could only steel himself to continue watching, waiting for the best opportunity to flee.

However, the black mist was completely frozen into ice crystals and swept away, and Han Yu and the others previously shrouded by the black mist reappeared in his sight.

Lin Feng then discovered that the opposing side, which originally numbered over two hundred, now had only about one hundred fifty or so left.

In other words, in less than half a minute just now, the over two hundred Fighting Saints within the black mist directly lost a quarter of their number to that mysterious magic beast and the black giant tree's trunk.

Furthermore, as soon as the black mist dissipated, many of the weaker Fighting Saints and magic beasts immediately scanned the surroundings with their pitch-black eyes, then suddenly let out an inhuman howl, their inner Qi frenzily mobilized, and they launched a ferocious attack on the nearby humans and magic beasts who appeared normal.

"Quick, they've all been controlled by the ancient cultivator remnants released from that tree; I don't have time to help them cleanse, so hurry up and knock them out or kill them—don't hold back because of past sect camaraderie, unless you also want to die!" (End of chapter)

Seeing those teammates controlled by yin spirits, their bodies emanating killing intent as they launched a desperate, all-out attack at the others, Han Yu hastily shouted loudly. (End of chapter)