CHAPTER 877: CHAPTER 876 [ON THE BRINK OF LIFE AND DEATH, SAVIOR APPEARS]

[Could I trouble you for some recommendation votes?]

"End it yourself, I’m afraid you don’t even have the strength for that!" Xu Zigang sneered disdainfully.

"I advise you to be sensible and hand over the few old guys from China, the Dragon Crystal, and all the treasures on your body. I can grant you a swift death. Otherwise, living will be worse than dying," the vicious old ghost said venomously.

Ye Tianchen ignored the two of them and tried to move his body, realizing he was indeed too severely injured. He had expended too much of his Martial Arts True Power and truly couldn’t move anymore. Xu Zigang and the vicious old ghost wouldn’t let him go, making his death almost certain. However, what would happen to the few old leaders of China? What about his mother, little sister, Qi Ruxue, and Xiao Ya? What worried Ye Tianchen the most was that once the Dragon Crystal fell into the hands of these two, they would surely fixate on Earth’s Main Dragon Vein, madly extracting the Dragon Energy to cultivate. By then, all things on Earth would wither overnight, leaving a bleak and tragic land full of corpses!

At this moment, the only thing on Ye Tianchen’s mind was to ensure that the few old leaders of China, his mother, little sister, Qi Ruxue, and Xiao Ya survived. He could die, but he couldn’t let these two despicable villains kill him. He wanted to use one of the three Ancient Divine Swords to end himself, but he had no strength left. He wanted to use "Holy Heaven Prison" to permanently suppress this place, but not even a shred of Martial Arts True Power could be mobilized. He felt utterly helpless.

"Die, you ant!" Xu Zigang swung the spear in his hand, unleashing Divine Power intending to turn Ye Tianchen into a mass of Blood Mist.

Buzz!

Suddenly, Xu Zigang felt as if his spear was frozen in place, unable to advance even an inch. The vicious old ghost was also taken aback, believing Ye Tianchen still had some fight left. He immediately activated the Compass Treasure in his hand, aiming to chop off Ye Tianchen’s head. But just as the vicious old ghost raised the Compass Treasure, a Sword Light shot towards him. He instinctively used the Compass Treasure to block, but he was sent flying.

At this moment, Xu Zigang also shuddered, feeling a powerful and unfathomable force. Not daring to make a move against Ye Tianchen, he quickly retreated to stand in line with the vicious old ghost, both of them coldly gazing towards the bottom of the hill.

At the foot of this modest hill, there appeared a scruffy individual, dressed like a beggar with an indistinguishable face. This person staggered as he ascended the hill, as if undernourished and weak-legged. Ye Tianchen, lying on the ground, turned to glance at the figure walking up from the bottom of the hill and couldn’t help but smile slightly, then fainted with relief. He was utterly exhausted and in dire need of rest.

"Who dares to obstruct me, the vicious old ghost! Tired of living?" the vicious old ghost shouted loudly.

"Somewhat cultivated, but still not as good as you or me," Xu Zigang whispered.

However, upon hearing Xu Zigang and the vicious old ghost’s words, the old beggar didn’t stop. He continued his unsteady ascent, wobbling towards the top. This made Xu Zigang and the vicious old ghost both frown. Xu Zigang cast a cold glance at the old beggar and shouted, "Just a beggar, so what if you are somewhat cultivated? You’ve ruined our good plan for no reason. This is a death wish."

Once more, Xu Zigang spoke, but the old beggar still provided no response, which made his face turn unpleasantly grim. He furrowed his brow deeply and unleashed the Divine Power from his right hand’s spear, aiming directly for the old beggar’s head.

Watching as Xu Zigang’s spear was about to strike the old beggar, the beggar remained calm, wobbling forward, as if oblivious to Xu Zigang’s lethal attack targeting his head, intending to annihilate him body and spirit.

Pop!

Just as Xu Zigang’s spear was about to hit his head, the old beggar made his move—not with any grand technique nor formidable action—just extending his right hand, using his thumb and forefinger to flick out a tiny Sword Light, striking the tip of Xu Zigang’s spear.

Bang!

A dull thud resounded as Xu Zigang stepped back a few paces, staring in disbelief at the tip of his spear. To his astonishment, his prized spear had a small crack; that thumbnail-sized Sword Qi was astonishingly powerful. Who on earth was this old beggar? How did he possess such abnormal combat strength?

Just this interaction told both Xu Zigang and the vicious old ghost the depth of the old beggar’s cultivation—it was unfathomable. They never imagined that this seemingly feeble old beggar had terrifying combat power, with cultivation undoubtedly surpassing their own.

"Who... who exactly are you?" Xu Zigang asked in amazement.

The old beggar did not respond, continuing his step-by-step approach. Upon reaching Ye Tianchen, he assessed his injuries and murmured to himself, "I knew it, your cultivation has advanced significantly. Surpassing me is only a matter of time!"

"Old geezer, we’re asking you something. Don’t think just because your cultivation is profound, we fear you. With our cultivation strength, we can dominate the three main Ancient Martial Worlds. Don’t be too arrogant!" the vicious old ghost felt embarrassed and reprimanded the old beggar.

"Leave. If it weren’t for my nature against killing, you’d both be dead by now," the old beggar shook his head and said calmly.

"Such arrogance," Xu Zigang said fiercely.

"Arrogant fool, let’s see how capable you really are." The hideous old ghost scornfully attacked, not believing that with his cultivation strength and battle experience, anyone could suppress him with such disdain.

"You’re not wrong; with your cultivation strengths, you could indeed sweep across the Ancient Martial World. But don’t forget, doing much evil will invite self-destruction. In the Ancient Martial World, many reclusive elders remain. If you provoke them, your demise won’t be far off!" The mysterious beggar spoke calmly.

Bam!

Boom!

Xu Zigang and the hideous old ghost both attacked. Neither of them was willing to believe that this old beggar could resist their combined offensive, especially since Ye Tianchen was already unconscious, his Dragon Crystal, his treasure, just within reach. How could they let Xu Zigang and the hideous old ghost easily give up at this last moment?

As the spear came crashing in, with power surging, the Compass aimed directly for the head. The old beggar’s disheveled hair suddenly scattered, and his eyes were sharp, surprisingly carrying a hint of divine light, making Xu Zigang and the hideous old ghost frown, yet they intensified the power of their treasures, aiming to kill the old beggar.

Clang!

Clang!

Two beams of sword light burst forth, blocking the deadly strikes of Xu Zigang and the hideous old ghost. Both were shocked because the old beggar had not seemed to make a move; where did the sword light come from? How did the old beggar emit it since they didn’t see him form any seals?

"The sword moves with the heart, release!"

The old beggar spoke casually, yet the sword light blocking Xu Zigang’s spear and the hideous old ghost’s Compass Treasure suddenly expanded dozens of times, sweeping past and knocking both Xu Zigang and the hideous old ghost flying.

Xu Zigang and the hideous old ghost appeared quite disheveled, barely stabilizing themselves. Though uninjured, they were both incredibly alarmed, sharing the same question: who was this old beggar? So unremarkable, clad in such rags, yet possessing such unbelievable battle power, unimaginably formidable — who was he really?

"Who are you? That sword light earlier, I’ve heard of something similar." The hideous old ghost furrowed his brows tightly and murmured to himself.

"Leave. I don’t wish to involve myself in your life and death matters. You can’t kill this young fellow; in the future, though, you might have a chance to fight him again. However, whether you can kill him then, I wouldn’t dare guarantee!" The old beggar said with a smile.

"Is that so? Don’t think that some cultivation allows you to point fingers at Xu Zigang. I won’t leave; I want to see just how powerful you truly are..."

Xu Zigang, heedless of danger, transformed his spear into an Azure Dragon, its roar shaking the heavens and causing the whole mountain range to tremble, as though even the sight of the Azure Dragon made all beings submit. Xu Zigang unleashed his Martial Arts Divine Skill, "Fiery Flame Azure Dragon." Ye Tianchen had nearly been killed by this technique; were it not for his wits and Xu Zigang’s oversight, he wouldn’t have been able to counter it.

Buzz! The azure light came slashing, shattering the void. The old beggar’s eyes showed a trace of peculiarity, and he couldn’t help but mumble, "Not a bad cultivation, strong Martial Arts Divine Skill; it’s just a pity your character is vile and your heart too demonic, or you could indeed be a talent among the younger generation with a boundless cultivation future."

"What does that have to do with you, you clueless old geezer? Go die!" Xu Zigang shouted fiercely, his face distorted, controlling the azure light to slice toward the old beggar’s head.

Swoosh!

The old beggar suddenly clasped his hands together, and a longsword appeared in front of him. That longsword seemed to envelop the old beggar within it, towering into the Heavenly Vault, grand and boundless, unseen at its end. As the azure light came killing, the old beggar indifferently uttered, "Dugu Nine Sword, Nine Swords of Dugu, the first move..."

Boom!

After a loud crash, Xu Zigang was sent flying, a large hole appearing in his chest. Although it wasn’t fatal, he was already ashen-faced, teetering on the brink of death, staring in terror at the old beggar. He could never have imagined someone could not only dismantle this powerful Martial Arts Divine Skill but also gravely injure him.

"Who... who are you?" Xu Zigang asked, his voice trembling slightly.

Before the old beggar could answer, the hideous old ghost, eyes wide, blurted out while staring at him, "Could it be, you... are the madman, Feng Qingyang?" .)