Chapter 1911: Kong Shiyao's Strength

Even though I hadn't seen the statue of Ancient Sage Ziyuan, it didn't mean I knew nothing about this ancient sage who was renowned throughout history.

As Kong Shi's first direct disciple, his strength might not have equaled that of Ancient Sage Ran Qiu, but his virtue, auxiliary studies, the inheritance of Kong Shi's cultivation system, and his role in establishing various professions on the continent were absolutely admirable, commanding universal respect.

The corpse before me, unlike Ancient Sage Ran Qiu's sharp and cutting body, was like a vast ocean, capable of embracing all rivers, maintaining the formation, and preventing the powerful mercury-like energy from spreading even an inch.

Among Kong Shi's seventy-two direct disciples, perhaps only this senior disciple could accomplish this.

Furthermore, with Ancient Sage Yan Qing's blood, which had just spread inside and continuously nourished the corpse, it was clear without a doubt whose body this was.

"Ancient Sage Ziyuan's corpse, Ancient Sage Ran Qiu's corpse..."

Zhang Xuan felt a chill run through him.

These two ancient sages, whose names resounded across the heavens and earth, were believed to have left the continent with Kong Shi. Unexpectedly, their bodies were enshrined here, never having departed.

"Sacrifice!"

While still reeling from the shock, Ancient Sage Yan Qing roared from the air. Immediately afterward, his body cracked open like porcelain, and countless streams of blood gushed from his veins, rapidly surging towards the corpse in the coffin.

As it absorbed the blood, the corpse became even more pliable, as if it could spring to life at any moment. Not only that, its power also grew stronger. The previously unstable seal, bolstered by this energy, became increasingly solid.

"Ancient Sage Yan Qing is a descendant of Ancient Sage Ziyuan, possessing his bloodline inheritance. By doing this, he intends to maintain the ancient sage's power and prevent the seal from collapsing..."

Zhang Xuan finally understood.

No wonder Ancient Sage Yan Qing had repeatedly spoken of sacrificing himself.

The core of the formation was his ancestor, and nourishing it with the bloodline of a descendant could stabilize it once more.

As for Kong Shiyao, possessing Kong Shi's bloodline, her blood should also have an excellent effect on Ancient Sage Ziyuan's corpse, perhaps even stronger than Ancient Sage Yan Qing's.

"It's indeed stabilizing..."

Seeing the seal gradually stabilize as the blood infused, and the oppressive aura that threatened to descend at any moment slowly diminish, Ancient Sage Yan Qing breathed a sigh of relief.

At this point, his blood was almost entirely depleted, and he was struggling to hold on, on the verge of collapsing from the air and losing his life completely.

Kong Shiyao, who was still sealed, watched this scene with tear-filled eyes, shaking her head incessantly, yet unable to move.

Yan Xue's fists were also clenched tightly.

*Rumble!*

Just then, an unexpected change occurred.

Just as Ancient Sage Ziyuan's corpse grew stronger with the infusion of vital blood, on the verge of completely solidifying the seal, a massive hand suddenly reached out from the fissure.

This scene was somewhat similar to when Emperor Chen Ling had offered sacrifices to the Heavens, and a divine being descended.

The outstretched hand gently clenched in the air, and Ancient Sage Yan Qing, who was in the process of infusing blood into Ancient Sage Ziyuan's corpse, was immediately struck heavily. Unable to bear it any longer, he plummeted straight down from the air, crashing hard onto the ground.

*Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!*

The many ancient sages who were assisting him also simultaneously spat out mouthfuls of blood, collapsing one by one onto the ground.

"A Shattered Void realm expert..."

Zhang Xuan's expression darkened.

The owner of this hand seemed even more powerful than the one previously crushed to death by the Heavenly Dao's Tome.

There was no altar summoning, yet it was attempting to force its way through space.

Could it be... the world beyond the seal was the very 'Heavens' he sought to reach?

As doubt filled his mind, the hand in the air struck repeatedly. The freshly reinforced seal, under the impact of this power, became precarious, seemingly even weaker than before.

"Quick, stop it!"

Having been so close to success, only for such a hand to suddenly appear, Ancient Sage Yan Qing could no longer concern himself with recovery. With a roar, he charged into the air once more. At the same time, with a flick of his wrist, a long saber appeared and slashed down at the massive hand.

He knew that to continue maintaining the seal, he had to sever this hand, or even slay its owner.

Otherwise, there was no other way.

"Hmph!"

Sensing his killing intent, the owner of the hand splayed his fingers and gently squeezed.

The sharp saber gleam was crushed between his fingertips, like a venomous snake caught by its vital point, unable to struggle free no matter what it did.

"Everyone, attack together!"

The other ancient sages also understood the gravity of the situation. Without needing further words, they surged forward in unison.

As several ancient sages attacked simultaneously, cracks reappeared in the already unstable heavens and earth. Countless black flames rained down from the sky, and in the blink of an eye, the high platform transformed into a living hell.

"Yan Xue, release me, or everyone will die!"

Her body trembling uncontrollably, Kong Shiyao abruptly looked at the young man before her.

"I..."

Yan Xue's expression was somewhat twisted, and his heart was filled with internal struggle.

"Hurry, or tens of thousands of years of our foundation will be destroyed!"

Seeing his hesitation, Kong Shiyao's face flushed with anger.

"Alright!"

Knowing the situation was critical, and that if she wasn't released, their ancestor and the other ancient sages would perish, leading to the collapse of the seal and the inevitable destruction of Kunxu Realm, he quickly pointed his fingers.

Although Yan Xue's cultivation was only at the Grand Perfection of Immortal Realm, the seal had been left by their ancestor, Ancient Sage Yan Qing. Being of the same origin, breaking it wasn't complicated.

Soon, light flickered, and the power binding Kong Shiyao vanished without a trace.

"Hmph!"

With a delicate cry, Kong Shiyao's exquisite eyebrows shot up. Her entire being seemed to have activated its bloodline, and a powerful aura surged forth in the blink of an eye.

Her body swayed, and she appeared in the air. A long sword suddenly materialized in her palm, stabbing straight towards the hand.

"So strong!"

Watching this scene, Zhang Xuan's eyes narrowed.

Just as he had suspected, Kong Shiyao seemed young and her cultivation wasn't particularly high, yet her combat power was undeniably immense.

It was almost on par with his own, comparable to the Blood Rebirth realm.

Of course, her sword was also extremely formidable, no weaker than the Dragon Bone Divine Spear, and the two combined allowed her to unleash combat power comparable to the peak of the Blood Rebirth realm.

*Clang! Clang! Clang!*

The sword qi struck the hand, sparking countless fiery flashes.

Kong Shiyao was undeterred and continued to strike.

"You're asking for death!"

The owner of the hand, seeing that a mere minion from the lower realm dared to attack him, let out an enraged snort and flicked a finger.

Kong Shiyao was hit, sent flying backward, and landed heavily on the ground, blood spilling from the corner of her mouth.

Although both Shattered Void and Blood Rebirth cultivators were considered ancient sages, the gap between them was simply too vast. This was evident from how Zhang Xuan and the others, even working together, were no match for that 'divine being' previously.

They simply couldn't be compared.

*Tear!*

After flicking Kong Shiyao away and shaking Ancient Sage Yan Qing and the others, preventing them from approaching, the hand suddenly gripped. A sound like tearing silk filled the air, and the already unstable fissure in the sky widened. Another hand emerged, followed immediately by a massive head.

This being, just like the 'divine being' from before, intended to force its way in from another world.