Chapter 625: Ancestor, save me!

Dongfang Jue's eyes bulged wide, the two clusters of black light deep in his pupils trembled violently.

His mouth opened and closed, opened and closed again, as if something was blocking his throat.

He stared at Jiang Feng, at those calm eyes without a ripple, at that face bearing a faint smile, his whole person feeling as if something had been hollowed out from within.

"Impossible..."

His voice squeezed out from between his teeth, hoarse and dry, carrying a tremor he himself hadn't noticed.

"How could you possibly be a Martial Ancestor!"

He suddenly burst into a hysterical roar!

"You clearly… you clearly almost got killed by me! How could you… how could you…"

His voice grew more and more shaky, the last few words almost turning into sobs.

He stood there, his body trembling.

Unwilling.

Envy.

Anger.

He was unwilling.

He was the Dongfang Clan's Supreme Heavenly Pride of this generation, having been expected to achieve greatness since childhood, enjoying the finest resources, the finest cultivation methods, and the finest instruction.

Before thirty he entered the Heavenly Human realm; before forty he reached half-step Martial Ancestor.

In the eyes of everyone in the Dongfang family, his future path had already been paved; he was destined to become a Martial Ancestor, only a matter of time.

He was the pride of the Dongfang family, one of the most dazzling figures among the younger generation of the entire empire.

Yet even so, he clearly knew that there was still a considerable distance to travel before reaching Martial Ancestor.

That threshold was too high—so high that even with all his effort he could only see a faint, elusive outline.

He thought he would need ten years, twenty years, or even longer before he could touch that gate.

But what gave Jiang Feng the right?

How could someone whose cultivation was crippled, whose Golden Body was worn down, and whose Divine Soul was shattered cross that threshold in just a few days—a threshold he had struggled for decades to pass?

He had clearly almost killed him!

He was clearly his own defeated subordinate!

He had clearly already stepped on him!

But now he stood there, separated by the Wall of Law, looking down at him with a gaze as if observing ants.

The Martial Way, how unjust!

Dongfang Jue clenched his teeth so hard his cheeks trembled.

The blackness spread from deep within his pupils, gradually covering his entire eyeball, making him look less like a person and more like a monster crawling out of the abyss.

His body also began to change. The white light from the formation started to twist and deform; the originally steady energy flow, as if disturbed by something, became violent and chaotic.

Something pulsed beneath his skin, as if countless worms were crawling through his blood vessels, his aura surging at an insane speed!

He was burning.

His refined blood burned, his essence burned, even his Divine Soul burned!

He poured everything he could mobilize into it, using the lifespan and talent he could have used to continue cultivating, break through bottlenecks, and live longer, exchanging them for this moment's power.

That power surged from within his body, linking with the formation deep beneath the building's foundation; dense runes appeared on his skin, as if some ancient contract had been activated.

An incredibly terrifying power, as if ignited by something, erupted from him.

Dongfang Jue let out a roar.

That sound was no longer human; it resembled a beast driven to desperation!

He lunged at Jiang Feng, forming an extremely complex seal with both hands before his chest; the black light and white runes intertwined, like a vast net covering heaven and earth, crashing down toward Jiang Feng.

That power was too strong.

If an ordinary half-step Martial Ancestor stood here, he probably couldn't even stay upright and would be pressed flat by that force.

But Jiang Feng stood there, unmoving.

He watched as that ocean-like force pressed down upon him, watching Dongfang Jue's face, twisted and ferocious from burning his refined blood…

Then he smiled.

"Not bad."

"Your strength is indeed not weak; perhaps only now do I truly feel how strong you are."

He paused, his gaze growing more indifferent.

"But… this is only relative to my former self. As for now…"

He raised his hand.

The motion was light, like shooing away a mosquito that had landed on his shoulder.

His fingers lightly flicked in the air, merely a casual, offhand gesture, using no extra strength at all.

Then, that ocean-like force instantly shattered.

Those black lights, white runes, violent energy streams, and dense rune markings!

At the moment Jiang Feng waved his hand, it was as if something had detonated from within; they all shattered, turning into countless specks of light that vanished into the air.

Nothing remained.

Dongfang Jue's body froze midair.

His hands still held the seal posture, his eyes still bulging wide.

But all that power vanished in that instant, like a basin of fire doused with water…

He fell from midair, crashing heavily onto the stairs, rolling down several steps, finally lying face-up with limbs spread, motionless.

There was a mouthful of blood in his mouth, slowly seeping out, flowing from the corner of his mouth to the ground……

He lost.

He lost so utterly that there was not even a thread of room to struggle.

He burned Refined Blood, activated the Formation Technique, pressed down with everything he could, yet all he got was the opponent's casual swipe that utterly shattered it.

Is this the gap between a Martial Ancestor and a Half-step Martial Ancestor?

No, it's not just Martial Ancestor and Half-step Martial Ancestor.

Dongfang Jue could feel that Jiang Feng's swing hadn't even used his full strength. That relaxed posture, that casual demeanor……

That shows Jiang Feng's power far exceeds what he just displayed.

What level is he exactly?

Dongfang Jue lay there, his mind blank, his body as if fallen apart, every inch of muscle aching, every bone protesting.

Jiang Feng stood at the stairwell corner, head lowered, looking at him.

I said……

His voice came down from above, not loud, but each word was crystal clear.

I have a good memory.

He stepped forward, descended the last few steps, walked to Dongfang Jue's side, squatted down, and lowered his head to look at him.

The distance between them was less than three feet; Dongfang Jue saw Jiang Feng's eyes glowing in the darkness.

I remember everything you did to me.

Iron Hook Piercing Pipa Bone, Iron Chain Sealing Meridian, Soul Melting Technique rending the Divine Soul……

With each sentence he spoke, Dongfang Jue's body twitched.

He had done those things, and he remembered them very clearly.

But now, those things flew back like a boomerang, stabbing into his own body.

Jiang Feng looked at him, fell silent for a few breaths, then spoke lightly.

Now, it's your turn.

Jiang Feng slightly raised his hand, just as he was about to strike down, suddenly, a terrifying power surged between heaven and earth.

"Who dares to lay a hand on my clan's Heavenly Pride?"

"Ancestor, save me!"