I Pick Up Talents on the Interstellar Battlefield Chapter 654 - 489: Yamata no Orochi, Holy Blood’s Escape

Amidst the blinding blizzard on the desolate, icy expanse, the snow swirled ceaselessly.

A fierce martial engagement unfolded between Zhuge Yu, alongside his three companions, and a contingent of five adversaries. Bolts of lightning struck down spectral entities, infernos clashed against icy blades, the wind scythes from katanas intertwined with the cold gleam of longswords, and the concussive force of spiritual energy assaults continuously shattered the frozen ground.

High above, two figures stood poised, projecting an aura of pressure even more formidable than the fray below, which gradually permeated the surroundings.

"A Royal Major General?" Shengongsi Hao Er's eyes narrowed minutely, a flicker of surprise crossing his features.

To attain such a rank at such a young age necessitated not only substantial military achievements but also a powerful lineage. Yet, upon reflection, he could not recall any prominent Golden Clan bearing the surname Qin within the Empire.

However, this astonishment was swiftly supplanted by a wave of arrogance. What did it matter if he was a Major General?

A mere Major General was beneath his notice.

He advanced half a step, and the inherent pressure of his Tier Seven Holy Blood bore down upon Qin Tian like a physical entity. Gray spiritual energy vortexed around his palm, exuding a malevolent, destructive aura as he declared:

"I extend to you one final opportunity. Surrender the treasury's treasures, gather your people, and depart. Otherwise, you shall all perish here."

Qin Tian's response was delivered with unruffled composure, "You lack the qualifications."

"Courting your own demise!"

Shengongsi Hao Er was incensed, the gray spiritual energy in his palm surging with ferocity, coalescing into a colossal palmprint akin to a millstone. Its intricate lines resembled writhing serpents, imbued with an essence of catastrophe and decay, as it descended upon Qin Tian.

This technique was known as the Amaterasu Bloodline, or more colloquially, the Great Serpent Bloodline.

In ancient myths, the Great Serpent and Amaterasu held no connection; the former was a harbinger of ruin, embodying destruction, calamity, and death, while the latter was the revered sun goddess presiding over the divine realm.

Nevertheless, the Shengongsi lineage deemed the name 'Great Serpent Bloodline' excessively savage and lacking in nobility, thus adopting the 'Amaterasu Bloodline' moniker, a narrative that persisted through generations.

Boom!

This seemingly elementary palm strike contained the primal might of the Great Serpent Bloodline. Any spiritual energy it encountered would become tainted, and flesh would suffer corrosive decay down to the bone. Even an individual at the initial stage of the Tier Seven Golden Bloodline would find it a strenuous ordeal to defend against such an assault.

Yet, Qin Tian's expression remained placid. With a subtle twist of his wrist, the Thunder Saber materialized instantly, crackling with vibrant purple electricity that danced along the blade, emitting a resonant hum.

He raised his weapon, unleashing a concentrated torrent of purple blade aura that sliced through the air like a thunderclap rending the heavens, striking the very heart of the colossal gray palm.

Sshhh—

The impact between the crackling purple electricity and the swirling gray spiritual energy cleaved the immense palm in two. The unbridled energy of the thunder attribute instantly vaporized the corrupted spiritual energy at the fracture point. The remaining portion of the palm's energy, deprived of its power source, dissolved into wisps of gray mist.

"Hmm?" Shengongsi Hao Er's brow furrowed slightly, genuine surprise evident in his gaze for the first time.

He, a Tier Seven Three Stars Holy Blood, had his potent attack neutralized by an opponent who was merely Tier Six Nine Stars. Even with the peak potential of a Golden Bloodline, survival against such a palm strike should have been a Herculean task.

Yet, Qin Tian had not only withstood it but had also effortlessly dismantled his spiritual energy offensive.

"Intriguing. I confess, I underestimated you."

Shengongsi Hao Er discarded his previous dismissive demeanor. He raised his hand, retrieving a pair of black gloves from his spatial storage.

These gloves were entirely adorned with dark golden serpent scales, etched with convoluted demonic glyphs. The instant he donned them, a sinister aura emanated from him. Behind him, a spectral silhouette of a colossal serpent, spanning several tens of meters, materialized, its crimson, serpentine eyes blazing with the ferocity of an ancient demon.

"These are the Shengongsi family's unique spiritual artifacts – the [Great Serpent Scale Armor Gloves]. They augment bloodline power by thirty percent. It is your supreme honor to meet your end by them."

Before his declaration concluded, Shengongsi Hao Er vanished from his original position, moving with astonishing speed that left behind fleeting afterimages. The immense serpent shadow behind him lunged forward as well, its cavernous maw opening wide as it lunged towards Qin Tian.

Qin Tian met the assault with his saber, raising it to block.

However, Shengongsi Hao Er's body contorted in mid-air with serpentine agility, deviating from his direct charge. He abruptly shifted to the side, his arm bending at an impossible angle, and his fist, encased in snake scales and wreathed in gray spiritual energy, delivered a devastating blow towards the back of Qin Tian's head.

Qin Tian reacted with lightning speed, his vital qi and blood surging outwards, forming a golden qi shield around him. He moved sideways, but Shengongsi Hao Er’s attack approached from an unexpected angle. The punch grazed the qi barrier and landed squarely on Qin Tian’s chest.

"Bang!"

A dull thud echoed as Qin Tian was sent flying back several meters. The robe on his chest ripped apart, revealing skin marked by a faint black scar, a testament to the corrosive power of the Big Snake Bloodline.

However, in the very next moment, golden qi and blood flooded the wounded area. The black mark dissolved as swiftly as snow under a blazing sun, and the injury healed before his eyes, vanishing completely within moments, leaving no trace of pain.

"What?!" Shengongsi Hao Er's eyes widened. His punch had not only carried the might of Tier Seven Holy Blood but also the corrosive essence of the Big Snake Bloodline. He had anticipated Qin Tian would be at least grievously wounded by the impact. To his shock, Qin Tian's body regenerated at an astonishing rate, relying solely on his own vital qi and blood, showcasing an unbelievably robust physical constitution.

Without giving him time to process this revelation, Qin Tian regained his footing. His eyes blazed with lightning as he unleashed the Thunder Saber once more. This time, the blade pulsed not only with violet lightning but also shimmered with intertwined golden qi and blood. The blade's light, akin to a meteor plunging from the heavens, arced towards Shengongsi Hao Er.

Shengongsi Hao Er chose not to meet the attack head-on. His body coiled like a serpent, wrapping around Qin Tian's arm. Simultaneously, his free fist lunged towards Qin Tian's abdomen. The demonic patterns on his snake-scale gloves flared to life, and gray spiritual energy coalesced into a serpent-shaped spike.