"Roar..."
Although the mammoth managed to evade the attack of the multicolored bead, it was struck by Jiang Yun's Tianwai Feixian sword technique. The blade of the Qingping Sword plunged into the mammoth's body, leaving only the hilt exposed. Jiang Yun, due to the exertion of the Tianwai Feixian, had depleted all his remaining strength. He crashed onto the mammoth's back, causing the mammoth to emit a pitiful roar.
The roar lasted for several minutes, during which the mammoth's body started to shake violently. Jiang Yun, using the last of his strength, continuously stirred the Qingping Sword embedded within the mammoth's body, causing the mammoth to writhe in pain. The ground trembled with each movement, as dislodged rocks rolled down the mountain slope.
Meanwhile, the rainbow-colored deer, weakened by its failed attempt with the bead, looked on helplessly from fifty meters away, unable to assist Jiang Yun. At the same time, Qin Hai Feng and Qin Shou Sheng had penetrated the mist and entered the Forgotten Sorrow Valley. Upon hearing the mammoth's roars, the brothers exchanged glances and hurried towards the source of the sound.
Jiang Yun lay upon the mammoth's back, its blood splattering all over him. Despite the sticky and viscous blood staining his body, Jiang Yun's joy overshadowed any disgust. As the mammoth's blood flowed onto him, he felt an accelerated circulation of the Nine Li Divine Technique within his body. The blood was enhancing his cultivation by breaking through the bottleneck that previously hindered his progress.
With the passage of time, the blood of the mammoth facilitated the breakthrough of the bottleneck in the Nine Li Divine Technique. Jiang Yun's eyes lit up with excitement. He pulled out the Qingping Sword from the mammoth's body, allowing its blood to flow out in an arc and onto him. Jiang Yun positioned himself to prevent excessive loss of the precious blood.
At the moment the Qingping Sword was pulled out, the mammoth, in agony, began to violently thrash. The intensity of its struggles was so great that Jiang Yun was thrown off its back. Fortunately, the mammoth, consumed by agony, ignored Jiang Yun and fled deeper into the Forgotten Sorrow Valley, headed in a different direction.
Jiang Yun, now on the ground, disregarded his injuries. He promptly activated the Nine Li Divine Technique, rapidly absorbing the ancient aura contained in the mammoth's blood, causing a faint golden color to appear on his exposed skin. White strands of gas emerged above his head, signaling an imminent breakthrough.
This was a sign of impending advancement. Suppressing his excitement, Jiang Yun concentrated on cultivating the Nine Li Divine Technique. As the technique absorbed the mammoth's blood, his skin became a pale golden hue. Just as the gas above his head began to solidify, Jiang Yun progressed from the second to the ninth layer of the technique, propelled by the potent mammoth blood.
With the blood's effect, his cultivation continued to improve, although the speed was not as swift as before. The rainbow-colored deer, now alone after the mammoth's departure, emitted a joyful cry and approached Jiang Yun. In a friendly gesture, it attempted to nudge him using its broken antler, which was still coated in its own golden blood.
When the deer's blood-soaked antler came into contact with Jiang Yun's body, he sensed a slightly similar primal aura to that of the mammoth's blood. This essence flowed into him, purer than the mammoth's blood. It elevated his cultivation further, boosting the Nine Li Divine Technique, which had previously slowed down due to the mammoth blood. It rapidly surged upward from the ninth layer towards the third layer.
Just at this moment, Qin Hai Feng and Qin Shou Sheng, who had followed the sound into the Forgotten Sorrow Valley, lost their target as the mammoth's roars ceased.
"The sound disappeared, what do we do?" Qin Hai Feng stopped and asked.
"From the vigor in the roar just now, it's highly likely that it was the mammoth's cry. Jiang Yun probably just had a fierce battle with the mammoth. Given that the mammoth possesses the strength of an almost true martial realm, even if Jiang Yun managed to defeat it, it wouldn't have been an easy feat. He's likely recovering where he was. Let's continue in the same direction as before," Qin Shou Sheng replied.
Qin Shou Sheng's analysis was logical and well-structured. Qin Hai Feng nodded in agreement and asked with curiosity, "Brother, how is it possible for Jiang Yun, with only the Qi-Warrior realm cultivation, to contend against the mammoth? It's quite terrifying."
"I'm not entirely sure, but I've heard descriptions from outer disciples. His swordsmanship is extremely formidable, and it's very likely he has comprehended the essence of sword intent. Otherwise, he wouldn't possess such tremendous power."
"Sword intent? If he really has comprehended sword intent, then it seems unlikely that the two of us can defeat him," Qin Hai Feng's voice held a strong sense of fear upon hearing Qin Shou Sheng mention sword intent.
"Why fear? With his age, even if he has grasped sword intent, it wouldn't be at a very advanced level. Even an elementary level of sword intent would merely make his attacks stronger than others'. Not to mention, he might not necessarily defeat us. But at this moment, having just fought with the mammoth, he surely wouldn't be able to escape unscathed. We definitely have a chance to eliminate him."
Qin Shou Sheng calmly analyzed the situation, providing Qin Hai Feng some reassurance.
Half an hour later, Qin Hai Feng and Qin Shou Sheng finally reached the end of the Forgotten Sorrow Valley. Jiang Yun, not far from them, was in the midst of closed-door cultivation, and the rainbow-colored deer, alert to their presence, stood guard in front of Jiang Yun.
"Brother, your foresight is incredible. Jiang Yun is indeed quite injured and is currently recuperating. This is a stroke of luck for us," Qin Hai Feng observed with delight as he looked at Jiang Yun sitting cross-legged on the ground.
Qin Shou Sheng smirked and commented, "It seems we won't have to exert ourselves too much to take him down this time. Once we're done, we can report to Luo Qi and then choose an advanced sword technique on the second floor of the library."
"Brother, I heard from some outer disciples that Jiang Yun's exceptional strength might be due to his mastery of several formidable sword techniques. Perhaps we can attempt to force him to reveal those techniques," Qin Hai Feng suggested.
Qin Shou Sheng's eyes lit up, and he agreed, "You're right, that's a good idea. This could be an unexpected advantage."
The rainbow-colored deer observed as Qin Hai Feng and Qin Shou Sheng quickly approached. Despite issuing a warning cry, it didn't have the strength to affect the situation. After losing the multicolored bead, the deer's power was sealed for a period. It was defenseless against Qin Hai Feng and Qin Shou Sheng's approach. It could only position itself in front of Jiang Yun, trying to obstruct the brothers and prevent them from advancing.
Qin Hai Feng and Qin Shou Sheng didn't recognize the rainbow-colored deer and perceived it as an ordinary animal. Despite not understanding why it was fiercely guarding Jiang Yun, they merely saw the deer as foolish in their eyes.
Jiang Yun's heightened awareness had already detected the presence of Qin Hai Feng and his brother, but at that moment, the Nine Lai Divine Technique within his body had just broken through to the third stage, a critical point in shattering the seal on his sword's power. He couldn't afford to jeopardize this opportunity.
"Yeo yeo!"
The rainbow-colored deer also seemed to sense that Qin Hai Feng and his brother wouldn't be deterred by its obstruction. It cast a deep, affectionate look at Jiang Yun. Seeing Jiang Yun's furrowed brow and his concentration on breaking the seal, the deer emitted a cry and charged towards Qin Hai Feng and his brother.
With no spiritual energy fluctuations emanating from the rainbow-colored deer's body, Qin Hai Feng and his brother didn't regard the deer seriously. As it charged towards them, they activated the spiritual energy within them. Qin Hai Feng casually clapped his hands, using a burst of energy to send the deer flying a considerable distance away.
"Yeo yeo."
The rainbow-colored deer, already injured from its encounter with the mammoth, suffered even more damage when struck by Qin Hai Feng's energy-infused palm. It was now unable to stand up again.