NOVEL NEXT Chapter 615: The Gap Is Too Great
The appearance of two mysterious women with powerful auras put Han Li and Xiao Yan on high alert.
"Who are you?"
Han Li asked coldly, rapidly contemplating escape plans in her mind.
Xiao Yan quickly guessed that these two were likely sent by the True Mother God Sect.
She was very anxious; the True Mother God Sect had made their move with two Innate Realm masters, clearly determined to capture them, and they must have long discovered her hiding here.
In response to Han Li's question, Hei Long laughed heartily, "No harm in telling you—we are from the Divine Sect. You'd better not surrender too quickly. It's more fun if you resist a bit more."
In the Cultivation World, the only sect that would call itself the Divine Sect was the True Mother God Sect, a notorious cult.
Han Li remained silent but secretly took out a small emerald bottle, letting a drop of liquid slip from the bottle's mouth onto the ground in the courtyard.
Yun Zheyue noticed this scene but remained indifferent, not saying a word.
This operation was led by Yun Zheyue, and since she didn't speak, Hei Long wouldn't overstep her authority.
But Yun Zheyue stayed silent for too long until Hei Long asked in confusion, "General Yun?"
Yun Zheyue seemed to return to her senses and said plainly, "Capture them."
Hei Long immediately showed a look of excitement and leaped down from the wall.
Suddenly, numerous thick tree roots erupted from the ground, encapsulating Han Li and Xiao Yan. The roots swiftly grew into towering trees, spreading outwards.
Several of the roots, seemingly alive, thrust towards Hei Long.
Hei Long effortlessly chopped the incoming roots with a wave of her hand, breaking them easily.
She collided with the tangled mass of roots like a cannonball, smashing them into fragments.
But the two within had already disappeared, leaving only a few pitch-black holes on the ground.
Yun Zheyue soared into the air, having already discreetly arranged an array in the four corners of the courtyard, with a cult member stationed at each position.
The last time Han Li escaped using an Earth Escape Skill-like spell, the True Mother God Sect had prepared in advance and sealed the land thoroughly with an array.
About a dozen breaths later, about several meters away from the courtyard, the ground suddenly broke open, and Han Li and Xiao Yan emerged, dusty and disheveled.
They tried to use the same underground escape tactic, but they hit the array's barriers, unsuccessful in several directions, leaving them breathless and forced to come out.
"Where are you going?"
Hei Long, with a voice full of excitement, swooped down from the sky.
Xiao Yan raised her palm in a strike, fiery flames erupted from both hands, morphing into a menacing Fire Qilin, reaching out to bite Hei Long.
Her flames were refined with Exotic Species True Fire, extremely powerful and imbued with various mystical effects.
Hei Long's physique was strong, but she dared not directly confront the exceptionally high-temperature flames and swiftly chopped with her hand. A swath of blinding Sword Qi sliced the Fire Qilin in half.
Han Li and Xiao Yan had already soared into the sky, shooting outward.
The array on the ground took into account Han Li's Earth Escape Skill but did not consider their recent advancement to the Innate Realm so quickly, failing to guard the sky.
However, Yun Zheyue and Hei Long were already guarding the air, not allowing the two to flee.
Yun Zheyue lightly spread her fingers, and the moisture in the air rapidly condensed.
At the foot of Heavenly Mountain, rains fell year-round, creating a rich environment of water vapor. Under Yun Zheyue's control, countless water arrows formed, shooting simultaneously at the fleeing Han Li and Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan turned around with another palm strike, unleashing waves of scorching flames that surged like a tsunami towards Yun Zheyue.
Numerous water arrows collided with the fire wave and were rapidly evaporated, creating large swathes of white fog-like steam with sizzling sounds.
Yun Zheyue twisted her fingers, causing water vapor to condense between her fingers.
With a gentle flick, a translucent water line shot out swiftly.
The water line pierced through the fire wave, aiming directly at Xiao Yan.
At the same time, Hei Long charged with explosive force, throwing a punch at Xiao Yan and Han Li. The punch stirred the air into a loud roar, creating ripples of air waves.
Xiao Yan's expression was unprecedentedly grave; she moved both hands together, condensing flames between them, forming a lifelike lotus.
She pushed with her palms, sending the Fire Lotus to meet Yun Zheyue's incoming water line.
The moment they contacted, a violent explosion occurred, and the high heat of the flames and the knife-like water line spread out in all directions.
Xiao Yan's face paled slightly; after blocking Yun Zheyue's move, most of her True Qi was depleted, leaving her defenseless against Hei Long's attack.
But she wasn't alone; Han Li had already positioned herself in front of Xiao Yan, taking out the Mountain and River Map and unfurling it.
A rushing waterfall like a galaxy descending from the heavens poured out of the Mountain and River Map, crashing directly into Hei Long.
The waterfall, with terrifying force, engulfed and swept Hei Long away.
After devouring Hei Long, the waterfall quickly surged towards Yun Zheyue.
Yun Zheyue simply raised her hand slightly, and the rushing waterfall froze rapidly upon touching her palm.
With the crisp sound of liquid freezing, the entire waterfall rapidly turned into ice, spreading out from the Mountain and River Map.
Han Li hurriedly put away the Mountain and River Map to break off the waterfall, narrowly escaping the impact.
She turned and continued fleeing with Xiao Yan.
With the icy waterfall losing its support, it fell from the sky but exploded violently before hitting the ground, allowing Hei Long to escape from within.
Seeing Han Li and Xiao Yan flee, Hei Long was furious. She was a veteran Innate warrior, yet she couldn't hit two newly-advanced Innate youngsters.
She let out an angry shout, the sound rolling out like thunder.
While fleeing, Han Li and Xiao Yan felt a pain in their chests upon hearing the sound, slowing them down.
Yun Zheyue and Hei Long were already in pursuit behind them, calm and composed. This fierce confrontation was not even considered a warm-up by them since both had unlocked their Spirit Apertures, and their True Qi seemed endless.
Han Li and Xiao Yan were different; they had only recently advanced to the Innate Realm, and their True Qi was finite, already almost depleted.
These two indeed had protagonist's halos as favored sons and daughters of heaven, managing to withstand against the elite Innates like Yun Zheyue and Hei Long for so long.
But the gap between them was too vast; no amount of experience or luck could bridge it. At this moment, Yun Zheyue and Hei Long hadn't even truly exerted themselves.
Fang Zhou had once escaped in panic when facing Yun Zheyue, despite having power-ups.
Suddenly, Medicine Lady's shadow emerged from the ring on Xiao Yan's hand, standing in front of the two. "You go first, I'll hold them off."
"No way!"
Xiao Yan instantly refused, clearly aware of Medicine Lady's current state. Once she engaged in battle, her strength would deplete rapidly, leading to slumber, and even this wisp of Divine Soul might be at risk.
To Xiao Yan, Medicine Lady was both mentor and mother, and she couldn't risk her life.
As Medicine Lady attempted to persuade, Hei Long laughed and charged forward, "None of you are leaving today."
Medicine Lady voluntarily left Xiao Yan and Han Li, advancing towards Hei Long. Xiao Yan shouted loudly, wanting to follow, while Han Li's face turned grim, seemingly making a difficult decision in her heart.
Yun Zheyue silently watched this unfold but suddenly sensed something, abruptly looking into the distance.
A black dot was approaching at a remarkable speed.