Without Xia Xueqin's restraint, the purple-robed middle-aged man could unleash his full power, deploying a supreme ultimate skill – Purple Qi Comes from the East.
He conjured a purple vortex with his true qi, capable of drawing enemies into its confines. Once ensnared, the vortex would seal shut before detonating with terrifying might, leaving the foe utterly annihilated.
Throughout his cultivation journey, the purple-robed middle-aged man had utilized this very skill in extraterrestrial realms to dispatch numerous adversaries. Those with inferior martial arts prowess were invariably doomed once drawn into the vortex.
"Not good!"
In the Martial Department Headquarters and the Eastern Domain Military Command's operational command center, Qi Wufu, Qin Yuanzheng, and others felt a tightening in their chests.
Following Xia Xueqin's liberation, their attention had shifted to Jiang Wuming.
Firstly, with Xia Xueqin's strength, coupled with the two-star squad led by Zhang Guanzhong and Qin Xiaozhi's support, defeating the golden-armored warrior wielding dual axes was not a formidable task.
Secondly, the success or failure of eliminating the purple-robed middle-aged man would be the deciding factor in this battle.
Jiang Wuming, on his own, stood no chance against the purple-robed middle-aged man and would instead plunge himself into a hopeless abyss.
At this moment, witnessing the appearance of the purple vortex in the video feed, Jiang Wuming's movement halted, and he was sent hurtling backward towards the vortex. They all realized Jiang Wuming was in grave danger.
The realization struck them simultaneously, their hearts leaping into their throats. Their eyes widened, fixed unblinkingly on the screen, fearing they might miss a crucial detail.
Meanwhile.
At the Hangzhou God of War Pharmaceutical Research Institute.
Li Lianyuan was no longer leaning on her hands, propping up her chin, as she had been observing the battle.
The instant Jiang Wuming flew towards the purple vortex, she shot to her feet, holding her breath. Her exquisite face was etched with panic, her eyes even slightly reddened.
She hesitated to witness the ensuing scene but forced her eyes open, staring intently at the computer screen.
Even if Jiang Wuming were to fall, she intended to be a witness.
"Captain!"
"Wuming!"
"General Jiang Wuming!"
At the East Sea Martial Arts Academy's training grounds, whether it was Ren Xiaoyao, Qin Linhai, Xing Tian, Dongfang Xiaoyao, or Huangfu Weixia at the periphery, or Xia Xueqin and the others within the grounds, as soon as they saw Jiang Wuming flying towards the purple vortex, they cried out in unison.
Only one person remained silent.
Qin Xiaozhi.
From the rooftop of a distant teaching building, after assisting Xia Xueqin, Zhang Guanzhong, and the others in eliminating the twin-ax-wielding golden-armored warrior, Qin Xiaozhi immediately re-aimed his sniper scope at Jiang Wuming's location.
He saw Jiang Wuming hurtling towards the purple vortex, recognizing that Jiang Wuming had entered a true desperate situation, a matter of life and death. However, instead of shouting like the others, he resolutely pulled the trigger towards the pocket formed by the purple true qi.
"Bang—"
The gunshot echoed as a three-star bullet whistled from the barrel, carrying Qin Xiaozhi's fury and concern, shot towards the purple vortex.
"Boom!!"
Instantly, before Jiang Wuming could be fully engulfed by the purple vortex, the three-star bullet arrived first, striking the swirling core within the purple vortex and detonating with a thunderous blast.
However—
After the deafening sound, the purple vortex remained suspended in the air, its radiance even undimmed.
Yet, in that fleeting moment, Jiang Wuming clearly sensed a reduction in the vortex's suction.
This discovery was like a drowning man grasping a lifeline. He immediately burned his true qi madly, channeling his secret power, breaking free from the suction, stabilizing his form, and simultaneously struggling to move his hands, attempting to once again conjure the Yin-Yang Bagua diagram to resist the terrifying pull.
"Little native, all struggles are in vain."
The purple-robed middle-aged man sneered, then continued to wave his hands, injecting true qi into the purple vortex, as if supplying energy.
"Bang!"
His response was another gunshot.
From the rooftop of the distant teaching building, Qin Xiaozhi pulled the trigger once more.
Although he had seen that the three-star bullet could not destroy the purple vortex, he had discovered it could influence it – he saw Jiang Wuming struggling to stabilize himself in the air!
This observation sparked an idea in Qin Xiaozhi.
Logic dictated that the purple vortex was akin to a machine. Although the three-star bullet could not destroy it, it could disrupt its operation, thus relieving pressure on Jiang Wuming!
On the northern side of the training grounds, after the detonation of the three-star bullet, the purple vortex resumed its operation. The powerful suction once again affected the flow of true qi and secret power within Jiang Wuming's body, preventing him from successfully conjuring the Yin-Yang Bagua diagram.
As the purple-robed middle-aged man injected more true qi into the vortex, its emitted suction grew more terrifying, causing Jiang Wuming's body to lose control once more, sending him hurtling towards the purple vortex.
"Boom!!"
Moments later, as Jiang Wuming closed to within three meters of the purple vortex, another colossal explosion reverberated.
Qin Xiaozhi had once again struck the vortex's core with a three-star bullet, interfering with its operation and causing the vortex's suction to momentarily weaken significantly.
Swish! Swish!
Seizing the opportunity, Jiang Wuming rapidly moved his hands, successfully conjuring the Yin-Yang Bagua diagram and placing it before him. It intercepted the energy wave from the three-star bullet's explosion and resisted the vortex's suction, causing his body to plummet downwards.
However—
In mere moments, the terrifying suction reappeared, like an invisible hand violently tearing at the Yin-Yang Bagua diagram.
Boom!
Soon, with a muffled explosion, the Yin-Yang Bagua diagram shattered. Jiang Wuming was propelled downwards by the energy shockwave, his body violently jolted, and his internal qi and blood churned.
But instantly, Jiang Wuming was once again pulled towards the vortex by its terrifying suction, his speed even faster than before!
"Wuming!!"
Concurrently, a heaven-shattering roar erupted.
Xia Xueqin, as if driven mad, screamed and charged towards the purple-robed middle-aged man.
The moment the golden-armored warrior with dual axes was killed and Jiang Wuming fell into danger, she had snatched a battle saber from the ground and charged towards the purple-robed middle-aged man at maximum speed.
At this moment, she was recklessly activating a forbidden technique, pushing her speed beyond its limits!
She was determined to prevent the purple-robed middle-aged man from killing Jiang Wuming!
To many, Jiang Wuming was the pride of the Martial Department, the faith of the younger generation of martial artists, the hero and future of Dragon Country!
But… to her, Jiang Wuming was merely a child.
The child of Jiang Zhan.
In her heart, he was akin to her own son!
When a child faces danger, a mother’s sole thought is: save her child at all costs!
Whoever dares to kill my child, I will kill them!!
With her roar, Xia Xueqin's eyes turned completely red, and she descended into a state of absolute madness!
In her frenzy, her true qi surged violently, her aura fluctuating erratically!
Suddenly—
Xia Xueqin's aura erupted like a volcanic eruption, escalating dramatically!
At this moment, driven by her obsession to save Jiang Wuming, she instantly shattered the barriers that had held her back for years, successfully breaking through to the first stage of the four-star God of War realm!
However—
She was oblivious to this breakthrough, her face contorted with fury and rage, as she lunged at the purple-robed middle-aged man like a berserker!
"Hmm?"
The purple-robed middle-aged man immediately sensed Xia Xueqin's rapid approach and also perceived the change in her aura, recognizing that she had broken through to the first stage of the four-star God of War realm under the stimulus.
This realization caused a flicker of change on his face.
Because Xia Xueqin, having reached the first stage of the four-star God of War realm, was now capable of posing a threat to him.
Especially now, when all his focus was on controlling the purple vortex, he would become a target for Xia Xueqin's attacks.
As such, he had to kill Jiang Wuming immediately before he could fully dedicate himself to dealing with Xia Xueqin!
However—
Before the purple-robed middle-aged man could act on his thoughts, as Jiang Wuming drew within one meter of the purple vortex, a third gunshot echoed from the rooftop of the distant teaching building. The third three-star bullet whistled through the air, once again striking the pocket formed by the purple true qi.
"Boom!!"
A deafening blast erupted as the three-star bullet detonated. The energy wave once again struck Jiang Wuming, sending him hurtling towards the ground.
But just as before, the moment his body touched the ground, he was violently pulled back towards the vortex by its suction.
"Release! My! Wuming!!"
At this very moment.
The charging Xia Xueqin, her face distorted, let out a furious roar. Then, gripping her saber with both hands, she unleashed a slash towards the purple-robed middle-aged man.
The Fifth Style of the God-Slaying Saber Technique—
God Slay!!
This slash.
She wielded the ultimate killing move of the man she had loved her entire life, solely to save his son!
Her 'son'!
Swish!
With the slash, the God-Slaying Saber, manifested from true qi, appeared, carrying Xia Xueqin's concern, anger, and killing intent, and unleashing a powerful strike towards the purple-robed middle-aged man!
"Explode!!"
Sensing the danger, the purple-robed middle-aged man let out a low growl and waved his hands grimly.
"Boom!!"
As he growled, an explosion resounded.
The purple vortex, suspended in the air, detonated like a missile, unleashing terrifying energy that surged in all directions.
The young man was caught in the epicenter, struck by the energy, his body bleeding profusely as he was sent flying!
...
ps: For those looking for new reads, you can check out the author's previous work, "A Life of Battle and Dragons," a 5.4 million character novel with billions of views online, which has been adapted into an online movie and audio drama.