Wang Sheng did not have a clear understanding of the ranking and strength classifications among vampires. If it followed the widely circulated model, then it should be something like the count-and-marquis hierarchy. Was the vampire I just slew a marquis? He wasn't sure. Not only did he not underestimate foreign cultivators, but at that moment, he was actually overestimating them. After all, Wang Sheng had dropped out of school rather early and never had the chance to further his studies in the Gelan language. He had not even passed the Level 2 of the college entrance exams, let alone the more comprehensive Level 4 or 6 exams. At present, he could not understand a single word of what the other vampires were shouting. He didn't know that his "mooncake" phone had a hidden feature that allowed instant translation of over a hundred Earth languages, either. Had Wang Sheng understood them, he would certainly have found the behavior of the foreign cultivators deeply perplexing. Why would they provoke the Hua Republic's cultivation world with such meager strength? The ancient vampire he had just slain was certainly a marquis… a thousand years ago. Due to the strength of its bloodline, its power was comparable to that of a present-day duke, making it a formidable being with significant influence among its kind. Nevertheless, in the battle just now, Wang Sheng had found no reason to use his full strength. He mostly just used the Seven-Star Sword Formation. Only a fraction of his Sword-Controlling Art had been unleashed, and Spiritless had not been utilized to its full potential. It merely served as a sharp blade. For more chapters visit Novᴇl_Fire(.)net Wang Sheng estimated that his opponent had to be two full ranks stronger than the vampire just now before he'd be forced to use Ziwei Sword, his final technique. The vampire did have tough skin. If Spiritless hadn't been reforged, piercing through its defenses would have required a significant amount of enchanted power. However, that was all it had going for it. It was fast, but only in a straight line, which meant it lacked agility. Once Wang Sheng moved nimbly around it, it failed to track him effectively. It was also decently strong and matched the aura it gave off, but it had an overly simplistic way of using its strength. Its techniques were stiff and mechanical, too. The foreign fiend's aura could vaguely suppress a Heavenly Abode Realm cultivator, but its true power was mismatched with its apparent strength. Facing it was not as difficult as Wang Sheng had imagined. Simply put, it could not take a beating. Suppressing such thoughts, Wang Sheng focused on the scene ahead. By the time he charged toward the entrance of the gorge, the werewolves and vampires attacking his master's group had already begun to retreat. Wang Sheng unleashed his aura, stretching out a sharp surge of sword intent under the overcast sky. Two female vampires let out shrill screeches. Panicking, their kin scattered and fled in all directions in the air. The werewolves on the ground also ran for their lives. Three Daoist elders gave chase, leaving behind one or two vampire corpses each at the gorge entrance. Qing Yanzi, however, did not pursue the fleeing werewolves. Instead, he turned around and shielded the severely wounded behind him. Throughout the entire battle, Qing Yanzi had remained calm and composed. His Daoist robe did not even have a single crease. From afar, he instructed, "Little Sheng, annihilate them. Spare no one." Sensing the fury burning within his master's heart, Wang Sheng firmly responded, "Yes, Master." Flying Haze accelerated with a sudden burst of speed. Lightning flashed around Wang Sheng as he charged toward the largest group of fleeing enemies. Among the vampires, three had auras far stronger than the others, and Wang Sheng was chasing two of them. With a gentle flick of Spiritless, Heavenly Tribulation Sword Intent once again surged forth. Sword energy crisscrossed the snowy plains, and lightning rolled across the heavens. Wang Sheng struck without hesitation, giving his enemies no chance to retaliate. With each swing of his sword, a head flew. As sword radiance flashed, the small bats hidden within them were also thoroughly slain. What exactly did these vampires inherit? Are their small bats akin to our Primordial Spirits? He didn't dwell on it. After slaying several vampires, he extended his spiritual consciousness in all directions and immediately chased the two female vampires. They were likely the commanders. Wang Sheng unleashed the full power of the Sword-Controlling Art's aerial technique, making him resemble a vampire hunter as he flew across the snowy plains. Without the slightest fear of ambush, he chased his targets for over a hundred li and soon caught up with the second fleeing group of vampires. Shrill cries echoed through the sky as three vampires turned back and lunged at Wang Sheng. He frowned slightly, but instead of evading, he charged directly at them. Sword radiance surged. A massive violet star appeared above the snowy plains, and an explosion of dazzling sword radiance followed. As though a dam had burst, the sword phantasms overwhelmed the three vampires. His Pure Yang Enchanted Power seemingly melted them. His sword radiance then sharply swept forward and locked onto the two female vampires. As Wang Sheng prepared to strike, the blue-haired female vampire abruptly stretched out her wings, spun around, and screamed piercingly at him. Did she really just try to scare me with a scream? At that moment, Wang Sheng's instincts flooded his mind with warnings. The vampire's eyes filled up with a storm of rage, hatred, and—strangely enough—sorrow. She tore a necklace from her neck and crushed it with her sharp fingers. From it sprang a terrifying, seemingly sentient eyeball. Its pupil moved around chaotically, then locked firmly onto Wang Sheng. Wang Sheng's focus sharpened, and he thrust his celestial-grade sword at the eyeball with great speed. Though his sword technique was fast, the ray of grey light that had burst from the eye proved faster. The sword radiance was just a hair short of piercing the center of the eyeball when darkness swallowed Wang Sheng's vision. He then lost control of his body, sending him plummeting to the ground. As his Dao Body turned unnaturally rigid, he stopped being able to sense the outside world. Hence, he instead extended his spiritual consciousness outward and "watched" himself fall rapidly. Wrapped in a strange force, he crashed into the snow below. He then saw the vampires circle back and hover above him. Staring at his body, half-buried in the snow, they conversed in the Gelan language. "Agh! I can't believe I just wasted the Prince's Eye! I inherited that from my grandfather! Who is that terrifying Eastern cultivator anyway? Why do we have no information on him?" "Considering he even managed to kill Lord Phillip, I don't think you wasted your treasure. You'll definitely be compensated for it." "Let's get out of here quickly. I feel like I just lived through a nightmare!" The blue-haired vampire girl swore bitterly. "What was that sound?!" "Below us?! Let's go! The Prince's Eye can't hold him!" On the snowfield, the grey "statue" lying in the snow with a sword in hand had begun to crack like a spider's web. Strands of lightning seeped out from the fissures. The vampires in the air howled and flapped their wings frantically, fleeing northward as fast as they could. The petrified Wang Sheng finally felt a bit relieved. He had been worried that they would pounce and attack him instead. Wang Sheng forcefully released Heavenly Tribulation Sword Intent, but seeing them flee, he chose to conserve his enchanted power. He used Pure Yang True Essence to dissolve the strange force wrapped around him instead. His bindings were not made of enchanted power; it was its own peculiar type of energy. Wang Sheng didn't even know how to describe it, but that much was only natural. After all, it belonged to a cultivation system different from that of the Daoist sects. Moreover, it was not his area of expertise. He could only sigh at how good the bat fiends were at escaping. On that note, I really should brush up on my cultural studies and learn some Gelan language. I would never know what my enemies are shouting otherwise. Moments later, golden-purple light burst into the sky. Wang Sheng leaped into the air and finally breathed a sigh of relief. Since his spiritual consciousness could no longer detect any trace of the vampires, he turned back and headed toward the gorge. His master, senior sister, and two Daoist elders met him halfway. "Master, a few of the ringleaders got away," Wang Sheng said helplessly and then explained in detail how an eyeball had petrified him. "That was likely an eye excavated from the corpse of a vampire prince," Qing Yanzi replied gravely. He then encouragingly added, "Since you managed to break out of it, you should be fine even if you encounter a vampire prince in the future. Honestly, those vampire princes are our greatest international threat at the moment. Don't be disheartened." Wang Sheng responded affirmatively and quietly stood beside his senior sister. Qing Yanzi then looked at the new Spiritless in Wang Sheng's hand. He showed no expression at first, but a moment later, deep satisfaction flickered in his eyes. "Thank goodness you arrived in time, Little Sheng." Qing Yanzi sighed. "We would have truly been in trouble if it weren't for you." Wang Sheng just smiled and nodded. In his heart, his master remained an invincible figure. Even if he had not come to their rescue, Qing Yanzi likely would not have been in any danger. The same couldn't be said for the wounded cultivators that they had saved, though. Several Daoist elders from various Daoist heritages came forward to greet Wang Sheng. Though he showed them the proper etiquette expected of a junior, they treated him as an equal. "Your swordsmanship has become so powerful, Fei Yu. You've truly put us old bones to shame." "After thirteen years of captivity, you now rise like a dragon soaring to the heavens. Remarkable. Truly remarkable." "Seniors, let's not praise him too much. The young are easily led astray," Qing Yanzi commented. A flash of sternness then appeared in his eyes. "We should keep searching. Kill any vampire you find and avenge our Daoist comrades." "Of course!" the Daoist elders responded with fierce determination. Wang Sheng exchanged a glance with Mu Wanxuan. The latter gave his arm a discreet twist, seemingly as payback for leaving her behind earlier. "Master, the rescue team…" "Other than those we managed to save, the rest were all killed." Wang Sheng frowned slightly and instinctively tightened his grip on Spiritless.