The Martial Saint’s strength was truly terrifying. The pressure alone made them feel almost unable to move, let alone imagine how powerful his combat ability must be.
Ling Hu and Zi Ling could not understand it. They had been so discreet. How had a Martial Saint caught up to them so quickly?
And located them with such precision?
Whoosh!
At that moment, an elderly figure sped towards them. His speed was so great it was akin to teleportation.
The old man was extremely aged, with white brows and a long beard. Wrinkles crowded his face. He wore a pale purple robe that hung loosely on his gaunt frame.
Yet he carried terrifying majesty. His presence felt as heavy as Mount Tai.
“Not a bad speed treasure.”
The purple-robed elder appeared beside them in a blink, as though he had teleported. He reached out and steadied the tumbling Imperial Heaven Boat, dispelling its momentum and storing it in his storage ring.
Then his figure flashed again, arriving near Zi Ling and Ling Hu, who had only just stabilised themselves.
“What is your relationship with Lin Xiao?”
The purple-robed elder asked coldly.
Roar!
A tiger-like roar erupted. An aura as though from primordial times surged from Ling Hu’s body. His skin glowed fiery red. His entire frame seemed to turn crimson. The muscles in his arms swelled explosively. His limbs thickened, transforming into tiger limbs filled with savage, explosive power.
Then his right arm fully beastified, becoming a massive beast claw, even more robust and overwhelmingly strong.
At this moment, Ling Hu resembled an ancient ferocious tiger. Wild, violent momentum swept out. Powerful pressure filled all directions.
“Five Yin Demonic Claw!”
With a deep shout, Ling Hu’s beast claw carried tens of thousands of jun of force, slamming heavily towards the purple-robed elder.
At the same time, on the other side, a phoenix spirit form condensed before Zi Ling.
The phoenix was a divine beast of legend, comparable to dragons. Even possessing a mere fraction of divine beast talent made it extraordinarily powerful.
This phoenix spirit form was Zi Ling’s primary spirit, containing two or three parts substantiation. Its divine charm looked down upon the world. It seemed about to manifest multicoloured feathers. Above the spirit form, faint five-coloured light flowed.
The power of the phoenix primary spirit was immense. The moment it formed, it charged straight at the purple-robed elder.
“Hmph.”
The purple-robed elder gave a disdainful snort. One palm met Ling Hu’s directly in close combat. The other blocked the phoenix primary spirit.
Bang! Boom! Two massive sounds rang out simultaneously. Ling Hu’s entire body was sent flying by the elder’s palm. Blood sprayed from his mouth. He instantly wilted.
This was one of Ling Hu’s strongest attacks, burning a trace of essence blood for greater power.
Yet before a Martial Saint, it was utterly insignificant.
The gap between him and a Martial Saint was still far too vast.
No matter how strong, he was far from capable of resisting one.
Zi Ling’s spirit form collapsed directly under the elder’s palm strike, turning into massive spiritual force waves that rebounded onto her. She too was flung away, suffering further heavy injury.
“Overestimating yourselves.”
The purple-robed elder said disdainfully. His figure moved again, instantly appearing near the pair. Terrifying pressure enveloped the scene, making the gravely wounded duo struggle even to breathe.
Then his figure flashed left and right. His palms seized both their throats.
“What is your relationship with Lin Xiao?”
The purple-robed elder asked again. Terrifying killing intent enveloped them. The force in his palms increased slightly. A little more pressure, and both would die instantly.
“We do not know Lin Xiao at all.”
Ling Hu said coldly.
The sensation of being choked while roaring filled him with unwillingness. Yet he was helpless.
This was the first time on his journey he had been seized by the throat. So humiliating, so unwilling, yet so powerless.
“We do know Lin Xiao.”
Zi Ling said.
Her words puzzled even Ling Hu.
He did not fear death. But why admit it?
Would that not allow the enemy to use them to threaten Lin Xiao?
The purple-robed elder did not strike. Instead, he released them at once.
Yet the terrifying pressure still enveloped them.
In their current state, they were nearly immobilised. Further resistance was impossible.
“Indeed connected to Lin Xiao. Before confirming whether Lin Xiao lives or dies, you may yet live. If you do not wish to suffer, obey.”
The purple-robed elder said coldly to them.
“Just hostages. Lin Xiao will come to save us. Trust him.”
Zi Ling said to Ling Hu. She spoke aloud, not via divine sense transmission. She also intended the purple-robed elder to hear.
Then she transmitted via divine sense, “To find us so quickly, even if we deny it, he will not dismiss his suspicion. Dying achieves nothing. Lin Xiao is not reckless. Stay alive. Wait for him to rescue us.”
Ling Hu could only nod inwardly. For Lin Xiao, he would rather die than implicate him.
Yet Zi Ling’s words made sense.
Moreover, admitting or denying changed nothing about the elder’s judgement.
They truly knew nothing of Lin Xiao’s whereabouts. Nothing could be extracted from them.
Even controlling their minds would yield nothing.
With their strength and methods, even a seventh-grade high-level spirit controller could not control them. Only an eighth-grade would suffice.
They were certain the Ji family possessed no eighth-grade spirit controller.
Their value to the Ji family was as leverage against Lin Xiao. Once Lin Xiao’s status was known, to force him to appear.
Given Lin Xiao’s character, they knew well he would not act rashly without sufficient assurance.
The Ji family currently did not know if Lin Xiao lived or died. They would not immediately decide their fates.
Even at the final moment, if one was to be killed to threaten Lin Xiao, he could speak up, offering himself so Zi Ling had a chance to live.
After all, she was a girl. The reason was perfect.
Once one was killed, the remaining hostage would not be slain, or they would lose utility.
Thus, at least one could survive.
“Very good.”
Seeing Zi Ling sensible, the purple-robed elder wasted no more words. Vital essence surged, sweeping the pair into the sky.
Soon, a middle-aged figure appeared in their sight.
