Though Qing Yanzi had destroyed the enemy's syringe with a flick of his fingers, he still didn't let his guard down. 0 He scanned the whole area and stayed alert to every sound. While repelling the charging werewolves, he studied their movements for openings and monitored the vampires in the air.0 Among those of the same generation, vampires generally had the edge in speed, while werewolves were superior in strength and physical resilience. After all, the latter had extremely thick hides and astonishing healing abilities. 0 Only the burly werewolves, hurling themselves forward one after another, could barely withstand Qing Yanzi's palms. They were fortunate since he typically relied on his bare hands to fight his enemies. If he had a longsword from the Light Edge series, they wouldn't even have dared approach. 0 Though he had treasured swords in his jade ring, they were all artifact-type weapons that were lacking in sharpness. They were ineffective in this situation.0 Qing Yanzi wasn't being overconfident by choosing not to wield any of his swords. No sword, regardless of its sharpness, could injure cultivators who could withstand his palm strikes. More importantly, he always got a distinct sense of satisfaction when fighting bare-handed.0 Two female vampires descended from the sky, furiously scolding the tall werewolf. Qing Yanzi, being well-read and possessing some knowledge of modern Gelan, easily caught what the female vampires' angry insults meant. He even understood the curse they shouted, "Sou si diu pei de[1]!"0 The werewolf growled nonstop. He looked at Qing Yanzi with frustration and burning rage.0 He then leaped over ten meters high, startling the two female vampires and forcing them to dodge sideways. Upon landing, he charged straight at Qing Yanzi, hatefully cursing in clumsy Hua language.0 Qing Yanzi simply snorted coldly and struck down the other incoming werewolves.0 The young werewolf rushed in and swung his steel-like claws at Qing Yanzi's head, seemingly intent on tackling him to the ground. He had already opened his massive wolf maw wide, ready to tear apart his father's slayer. 0 Unfortunately, their kind only ever used the same repeating moves: charge, pounce, slash, and bite.0 "Such a pitiful little fiend! You dare call yourself ferocious?"0 Qing Yanzi's Daoist robe billowed as his eyes shone golden. He clenched his left hand into a fist, formed a sword finger with his right, and seemingly took half a step backward. He then instantly vanished and reappeared right in front of the werewolf.0 Before the werewolf could swing his claws down or close his jaws, Qing Yanzi had punched the werewolf in the chest. He felt as if he had hit an alloy shield, managing to leave only a shallow dent. Still, the force from the punch had neutralized the werewolf's full momentum. 0 Qing Yanzi jabbed his sword finger into the creature's neck. He then unleashed a burst of Pure Yang True Essence that was even more ferocious than his previous attack. The massive werewolf was knocked backward, blood spraying from his neck. However, before he even hit the ground, the wound had already begun to heal.0 By now, Qing Yanzi was certain that the werewolves had been massively enhanced with technology. They weren't this tough in previous encounters.0 Earth was not exclusive to the Hua Republic's scientists. Other nations also studied primal qi. Although the Hua Republic had made the most significant breakthroughs, it was not surprising that others also achieved certain advances.0 Werewolf after werewolf charged toward the gorge entrance, forcing Qing Yanzi to fall back and defend. The situation once again reached a stalemate.0 He did not fear the deadlock, though. Even if the fight dragged on for three days and three nights, the werewolves would still be powerless against him. Moreover, despite their ferocity and apparent disregard for death, they had been accumulating damage from Qing Yanzi's palm strikes.0 A battle of attrition would only favor Qing Yanzi and the six Daoist elders.0 A mournful cry echoed through the sky. Qing Yanzi looked up and saw a female vampire clutching an outdated smartphone. She wailed uncontrollably while repeatedly shouting, "mai si ai si te[2]." 0 Her companion had most likely been killed.0 Qing Yanzi immediately called out, "Seniors, hold your ground for a little longer. Reinforcements from our side are about to arrive."0 The six Daoist elders nodded. With swift, wind-like movements, they engaged the vampires, artifacts, weapons, talismans, and formation discs, keeping the attackers firmly contained either in the air or within the gorge.0 Werewolves and vampires were common in the popular legends of the Hua Republic, but most of those tales were nothing more than human imagination, heavily embellished with artistic liberties. In truth, both species were classic examples of cultivators who relied on inherited bloodlines. Their power depended on their bloodline's density, awakening level, and their ancestral lineage's mutation patterns.0 However, their cultivation path had an inherent flaw: its upper limit was far too low. Theoretically, they could never reach the heights of their ancestors. No matter how much personal effort they exerted, once their bloodline had been fully awakened, their power would reach its peak and never progress again.0 With each generation, the bloodline became more diluted, weakening it. Eventually, after countless generations, their once-mighty bloodlines would gradually thin out until they were no different from ordinary people.0 Get full chapters from novelFɪre.net Primal qi merely served as nourishment for that legacy. Hence, when primal qi disappeared, their bloodlines continued, though they remained dormant through the years. 0 When primal qi returned, their ancient lineages reawakened, greatly enhancing their physiques, strength, and speed. Even then, they still couldn't absorb primal qi directly, cast spells, or resort to witchcraft.0 In the eyes of Daoist cultivators, bloodline cultivation was regarded as an insignificant path that was unlikely to produce great figures. Now that primal qi had returned, nearly all living vampires and werewolves had awakened their bloodlines. Their strength now would remain their peak, making them inferior to Daoist cultivators who could continuously improve themselves.0 Vampires were slightly different. During the thousand years of primal qi's absence, a number of ancient vampires consumed human blood to survive, albeit barely. With the return of primal qi, their mummified bodies regained vitality.0 Among the vampires attacking Qing Yanzi and his companions were three ancient vampires who had lived for over a thousand years. Their sheer presence alone was enough to put the six Daoist elders under serious strain.0 Fortunately, with Qing Yanzi acting as the spiritual anchor, they managed to maintain control of the situation.0 On the contrary, their assailants were now the ones under pressure. They had orchestrated such a grand ambush to capture or kill a few true experts from the Hua Republic's cultivation world. It should've paid the way for their other plans.0 Qing Yanzi was their ideal target. Not only was he a formidable cultivator, but he also had significant influence over the Hua Republic's cultivation world. However, the young werewolf—their supposed ace against him—hadn't been able to harm Qing Yanzi despite the deep hatred that he harbored for him.0 A female vampire with long blue hair and eyes hovered in the air, flapping her leathery wings as she let out a low, husky sound. With a grave and solemn expression, she… pulled out an old smartphone and made an international call.0 Trying to call for reinforcements?0 Qing Yanzi furrowed his brow slightly. Glancing at the items within his storage artifact, he hesitated briefly. 0 The situation isn't dire enough yet for me to resort to items that would harm me before they harm my enemies. 0 The werewolves were barbaric, not stupid. They were well aware of just how powerful the infamous middle-aged man in the azure robe was, but they also knew that he would never abandon the injured cultivators behind him.0 Hence, their real target was not Qing Yanzi himself, but the wounded he protected. If he ever moved too slowly, they would rush into the gorge and massacre the injured cultivators. It was as if he were a goalkeeper facing endless penalty kicks, completely tied down and forced to keep knocking them back.0 The young werewolf lunged once more, but Qing Yanzi knocked him back again. 0 At that moment, Qing Yanzi detected a chilling and powerful aura rapidly approaching from the north. It was just over ten kilometers away now.0 Qing Yanz tensed up, though his expression remained calm. They're here!0 Such an aura could only belong to a truly powerful vampire. If they could withstand this wave, the enemy would retreat. If not, then everything would end here.0 "Daoist Master Bu Yan, we'll hold our ground here!"0 "Alright!" Qing Yanzi replied. 0 He wanted to face the vampire elite himself, but their enemies were not foolish. Their attacks intensified, preventing the Daoist elders from shifting their defensive positions and keeping him fully occupied. The injured cultivators they protected had become their greatest disadvantage.0 The oppressive aura drew closer. Black clouds loomed over, and within them, a tall, thin figure spread its wings wide.0 Once that vampire arrived, they would have to choose to either abandon the wounded and break out or stay and perish.0 The Hua Republic had made a truly grave miscalculation. The enemies had stretched the Daoist reinforcements far too thin, leaving Qing Yanzi and the others isolated and unsupported. Launching missiles into Saros was absolutely out of the question, and the overcast skies had rendered the orbital laser weapons useless.0 Qing Yanzi calmly pondered. He didn't feel pressured, much less panicked. In the past decade or so, he had been in countless dangerous situations. This one didn't even make the top three.0 Manic laughter erupted overhead, as if the enemy already considered the battle won.0 Qing Yanzi's eyes glinted with divine light. He had already made up his mind; he would blast open a passage through the cliff wall, shelter the injured, and then go meet the "ancient foreign devil" in open combat.0 He launched a wave of palm strikes, blasting the werewolves away, then retreated. Just as he turned around, a long howl echoed from the southeast. Qing Yanzi's eyes shone as he looked up. 0 At the horizon, a multicolored streak of light burst forth.0 That aura, that sword momentum, and that heavenly might not even I can fully comprehend… Little Sheng?!0 Qing Yanzi raised his head and laughed as well, clearly challenging the vampire who was laughing above him. "Hahahaha! Everyone, hold your ground! Our reinforcements have arrived!"0 A sword cry then rang out from beyond the heavens, shaking the spirit of every creature within a hundred li. In the distance, a young sword cultivator rode a flying sword even faster than the powerful vampire approaching from the north. Without hesitation, he intercepted the enemy in midair. 0 Sword radiance swept through layers of snow, and lightning struck down at the fiend, shaking the heavens!0