"And what about this old guy?"
"He has already evolved to the Grand Duke level, there's nothing to fear anymore, unless..."
"Unless what?"
"Unless you're a paladin or a descending angel, you can't reliably defeat him," Smith said with a wry smile.
"Oh? An angel descended?" Xiao Wenbing's eyes darted around, and a smile appeared on his lips.
Volume 3, Chapter 73: Tragedy of the Five Elements
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Smith watched the situation unfold with rapt attention. He had already gathered his full holy power, but he knew that with his meager holy power, it was virtually impossible to harm a Grand Duke-level vampire. So he simply remained on high alert and on guard.
However, a powerful force surged from behind him, and Smith turned around abruptly. He saw Xiao Wenbing enveloped in a soft light, his appearance solemn and dignified, with two white wings slowly extending from behind him.
Suddenly, a beautiful and uplifting hymn rang out from Xiao Wenbing.
Accompanied by a melodious song, the two white, feathered wings flapped, and Xiao Wenbing's body rose higher and higher. The light intensified, and an extremely powerful spiritual force emanated from his body.
The sheer power of this spiritual energy was comparable to the combined strength of the three people currently engaged in fierce combat.
In an instant, surging, boundless spiritual energy enveloped the entire villa.
“Lord… descend, angels…” Smith shouted passionately, singing hymns loudly as he prostrated himself on the ground, praising and proclaiming the Lord’s grace with the utmost humility.
Shocked by the incredibly powerful spiritual energy, the three fighters stopped fighting simultaneously.
Although their gazes toward Xiao Wenbing differed, they were all filled with absolute astonishment.
Xiao Wenbing gazed at the old vampire, a holy light flashing across his face.
Heaven and earth possess righteous energy, which flows and manifests in various forms. Below, it becomes rivers and mountains; above, it becomes the sun and stars. In humanity, it is vast and boundless, filling the entire universe.
At this moment, a boundless and righteous aura emanated from him, filling the world.
As Smith knelt on the ground, a sense of doubt welled up from the bottom of his heart. Was this an angel who had descended? How come it felt completely different from the power of the holy?
Xiao Wenbing slowly raised his fingers, as if a thousand pounds of power had been gathered on them.
Feng Baiyi and the others also had solemn expressions. They all felt that powerful spiritual energy was gathered on this finger.
"Holy Power Summoning..."
Xiao Wenbing suddenly shouted out loudly, his voice sounding sacred and inviolable against the accompaniment of the hymn.
A tiny ray of light flew from his fingertips, turning into scorching white flames upon contact with the air, and flew towards the old vampire.
Alfred was horrified. He sensed that every ray of light here contained immense power, capable of causing him great harm. He could barely compress such powerful spiritual energy into such a small amount of starlight.
However, just by looking at the effortless way Xiao Wenbing casually pointed, as if he could produce it endlessly, he knew he was utterly incapable of doing it.
He was utterly shocked. He could see through Xiao Wenbing's cultivation level at a glance; even compared to Adbrad, Xiao Wenbing was slightly inferior. But each of his attacks possessed power far exceeding Xiao Wenbing's own cultivation level, so there was only one explanation.
These powers were not his; he borrowed them.
Summoned by holy power, he suddenly remembered Xiao Wenbing's loud shout just now.
The old vampire acted decisively, letting out a cry of alarm. He transformed into a cloud of black mist, swept up Adbrad from the ground, and vanished in an instant.
"Hahahaha..." Xiao Wenbing's arrogant laughter echoed from afar: "What vampire? And a Grand Duke, top-tier? What a cowardly old bat."
Feng Baiyi and the others exchanged bewildered glances, completely clueless about his scheme. Finally, Zhang Jie asked, "Junior Brother, you...you...when did you become a descending angel?"
"Second Senior Brother, you may not know this, but I was originally an angel reincarnated. Seeing the perilous situation today, I had no choice but to reveal my true form," Xiao Wenbing sighed, looking rather dejected.
"Pfft..." Zhang Yaqi saw Xiao Wenbing's serious expression, Zhang Jie's wide-open mouth in surprise, and then Father Smith's face full of sudden realization, looking at Xiao Wenbing with extreme admiration. She could no longer hold back, covering her cherry-like mouth and laughing until her stomach hurt.
Zhang Yaqi's smile immediately revealed something amiss to Feng Baiyi. She frowned slightly and said, "Fellow Daoist Xiao..."
"Alright, alright, I'll just say it straight." Xiao Wenbing didn't want to fall out with this beautiful woman.
He pressed his hand to his chest, and the lingering hymn immediately stopped, while the soft light emanating from his body dimmed.
Xiao Wenbing unbuttoned his shirt, took off his white robe, tucked the two wings under his armpits, and said, "Please allow me to solemnly introduce to you the latest generation of Angel series products produced by a certain company. This angel robe not only has two soft wings with automatic inflation and swinging function, but also has a large number of light bulbs sewn into the robe, as well as real hymns recorded in the Holy Vatican."
He reached out and pressed the power button, and the hymn and light reappeared. Xiao Wenbing exclaimed sincerely, "Technology is indeed getting more and more advanced. They can even make angel wings so lifelike. Amazing!"
"You, you're not an angel descended from heaven?" A voice filled with disappointment came from Smith's mouth.
"Of course not. I am a proud Chinese, how could I be a birdman with wings?" Xiao Wenbing said disdainfully.
Feng Baiyi's slightly furrowed brows did not relax. Although Xiao Wenbing explained the origin of that strange outfit, he did not mention why he could emit such a powerful spiritual energy field and the seemingly endless spiritual energy ball.
In fact, the powerful spiritual energy field was not Xiao Wenbing's own spiritual energy, but rather the life-saving golden talisman bestowed upon him by the White Crane Immortal. This super treasure from the Immortal Realm naturally possessed a power far beyond what the others could match.
Those energy clusters were the Blazing Fire Talismans hidden in the Heavenly Void Ring. It was because of this treasure that he was able to unknowingly send them out continuously without being detected by Feng Baiyi and the others' spiritual senses.
Fortunately, it was Xiao Wenbing who had hundreds of Fiery Talismans to spare. If it were someone else, even with this equipment, they would be useless if they couldn't demonstrate the strength commensurate with it.
However, Xiao Wenbing was not foolish enough to reveal the reason behind this to the world.
"Isn't he an angel who has descended?" A sinister voice suddenly rang out from behind the group.
"Wenbing..." Zhang Yaqi suddenly pushed Xiao Wenbing away with all her might.
A cloud of black mist swept past, instantly engulfing Zhang Yaqi.
“Yaqi…” Xiao Wenbing stood still, and upon seeing her, his eyes widened in horror.
Alfred had returned sometime earlier, and Zhang Yaqi was now in his hands, motionless, her fate unknown.
"You're lucky, kid. I was going to drink your blood first, but since she pushed you away, I'll drink hers first."
Xiao Wenbing flew into a rage. With a flick of his wrist, ten fiery talismans appeared simultaneously in his hand. The ten dark yellow talismans fluttered in the wind, about to leave his grasp. However, his movement stopped there. The ten talismans seemed to be firmly stuck to his hand, unable to leave it even slightly.
Because Alfred had already placed Zhang Yaqi's body in front of him.
Zhang Jie didn't care about Zhang Yaqi's life at first. Starlight flickered in his hand, and he was about to launch a strong attack. However, seeing Xiao Wenbing's nervous look, he hesitated and did not make a move.
"Is she your friend? Will she regret dying in your place? But it doesn't matter, because I will soon send you both into the embrace of the God of Darkness."
Alfred grinned and opened his mouth wide, from which four long, thin fangs slowly emerged.
His head kept getting closer to Zhang Yaqi's neck, and a chilling light gleamed on his fangs.
Xiao Wenbing's face grew increasingly ashen. His spiritual energy had reached its peak, and within his dantian, his natal golden talisman emitted countless rays of light. All his spiritual power converged unreservedly between his hands.
The powerful spiritual energy surged, causing a dull ache in the meridians of his arms, but Xiao Wenbing remained oblivious. His eyes were filled with boundless regret. His lips were tightly pressed together, his teeth deeply embedded in his lips, and his eyes were focused on only one thing…
Zhang Yaqi slowly opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was a glint of light, and a long, thin fang was approaching her.
A look of panic flashed in her eyes. She tried to move, but was powerless. Zhang Yaqi immediately understood her predicament. She looked away and saw Xiao Wenbing's face filled with grief and indignation.
A look of relief suddenly appeared in her eyes, and a comforting smile appeared on her lips.
So you're safe and sound... That's enough, but... I'm afraid I won't be able to walk this path with you from now on.
She smiled at Xiao Wenbing, but there was a lingering regret and a deep sense of loss in her eyes.
A cold sensation touched her snow-white neck, and she seemed to feel a sudden pain. However, it was only a slight pain, and then she felt nothing more, not even numbness.
The blood in her body was flowing towards her neck, and almost at the same moment, she seemed to feel a cold force flowing into her body.
Although she was still conscious, her vision was beginning to blur. In her hazy state, she saw Xiao Wenbing's trembling body, and in her hazy state, she heard a familiar roar filled with anger and helplessness. In her hazy state, she recalled bits and pieces of the past.
I firmly believe that I will be able to catch up with you and will not become a burden to you.
But... I can't do it anymore...
A single, glistening tear silently slid down her beautiful face, down her fair neck, and along the four small, dark scars...
Volume 3, Chapter 74: The Holy Knight
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"No..." A desperate roar came from Xiao Wenbing's mouth. He could no longer control himself and rushed forward.
Alfred flicked his wrist and threw Zhang Yaqi over. Xiao Wenbing's body stopped abruptly, as if he were nailed firmly to the ground.
He caught Zhang Yaqi's soft body, then stepped back and placed her in Feng Baiyi's hands, saying, "Take care of her."
Feng Baiyi took Zhang Yaqi's hand casually, but was taken aback by what she heard. A strange feeling arose in her heart. This was the first person besides her master and mother to speak to her in such a tone.
However, for some reason, looking at the few small black holes on Zhang Yaqi's neck in her arms, she couldn't muster the slightest thought of resistance.
Xiao Wenbing's body suddenly became incredibly agile, and he chased after that black afterimage, drifting back and forth in the air.
Lightness talisman, speed-boosting talisman—Xiao Wenbing used every talisman that could increase speed, while simultaneously drawing various attack runes with his hands, firing them at the old vampire like a machine gun.
His movements were incredibly fast, as if he had unleashed all his potential and reached an unprecedented peak.
Zhang Jie watched Xiao Wenbing's solo performance in astonishment. Although he had known for a long time that his junior brother was a freak, he had never realized that he was freak to such an absurd degree.
He is only at the Core Formation stage and cannot yet quickly absorb and directly utilize the primordial energy of heaven and earth.
However, at this moment, the attack power of each of his runes had reached the limit of the spirit talisman, clearly he was using all his strength without holding back.
Even if I had reached the early stage of the Golden Core realm, I might not have dared to be so extravagant, nor could I have reached this level.
So, the fact that he was able to hold on is unbelievable. Where did he get so much spiritual power?
Xiao Wenbing gritted his teeth, chasing after the enemy while continuously stacking Vajra Talismans on his body. If it weren't for the innate Vajra Talisman within his body providing him with a continuous source of energy, he would have collapsed from exhaustion long ago.
With a flick of his wrists, ten yellow spirit talismans burst forth, creating a series of loud explosions in the air. Xiao Wenbing had simultaneously unleashed the ten fiery talismans.
Alfred grinned maliciously. The reason he had been fleeing was because he was wary of the ten spirit talismans in Xiao Wenbing's hands. Otherwise, how could a mere mid-stage Core Formation cultivator have anything to do with him?