Chapter 179: Maneuvering |
Bang bang bang!
Six figures wrapped in fierce killing intent crashed through the window, landing steadily on the second floor. Their gazes instantly locked onto the figure by the window, that Jiang Chuanqiao wearing a veiled bamboo hat and spacious black robes.
The wine house immediately fell deathly silent. The diners were silent as cicadas in winter.
The bald eldest of the Lake Mountain Three Freaks looked up and down at this outfit and couldn't help sneering coldly:
"Youngster, you've really given us quite the search! Nearly let you slip away right under our noses! This disguise is quite good, but unfortunately it ends here!"
Jiang Chuanqiao inwardly cursed Chen Qing's craftiness, actually using a poisonous scheme of self-injury to escape and divert disaster eastward.
Though he didn't consider these six a threat, exposing his Demon Sect identity here would bring endless troubles.
He forcefully suppressed his rage and tried to clarify:
"Absurd! The one who just jumped out the window is Chen Qing! Are you all blind? Quickly go chase him! If you delay any longer he'll truly escape!"
There were indeed various suspicious points, but right now there was no time for him to think deeply.
Gut-Severing Blade's scar twisted on his face. He interrupted with a rumbling voice, his tone extremely mocking:
"Hmph! Eighty percent it's a trick to confuse people! Golden cicada shedding its shell, framing others, this old man has seen plenty of such tactics! Whether true or false, we'll know once we capture you and search! If it's truly a misunderstanding, this old man will compensate you ten taels for medicine!"
Before his words finished, his patience was exhausted. The long blade at his waist rang out from its sheath with a "clang," bringing a tragic blade light as he charged first at Jiang Chuanqiao!
His movement technique was extremely fast, blade momentum vicious, directly cleaving toward Jiang Chuanqiao's face. Clearly he intended to kill rather than let escape, even if mistaken.
"Seeking death!"
Jiang Chuanqiao was thoroughly enraged. Even clay figures have some temper, let alone him who was originally a proud Demon Sect expert.
Seeing blade light approaching, he no longer concealed himself.
A cold and crafty aura suddenly erupted from within his body!
The veil moved without wind. His right hand emerged from under the black robes. Those five fingers were like hooks, fingernails sharp, wreathed in faint black qi. He neither dodged nor evaded, directly grabbing toward that fierce blade edge!
"Clang—!"
An extremely piercing sound, completely unlike metal clashing, exploded!
Under Gut-Severing Blade's and everyone's shocked gazes, his fast blade forged from hundred-refined steel was actually firmly grasped by that gray-green flesh palm! Where the blade edge contacted the palm, wisps of white smoke actually rose with "hiss hiss" corrosion sounds!
"What?!"
"Bone... Bone-Dissolving Poison Palm?! He's from the Demon Sect!"
The wine house wasn't lacking in knowledgeable people. Immediately someone cried out in alarm!
"Run quickly!"
The diners who had been watching the excitement instantly lost their souls in fright, screaming as they fled downstairs in a swarm. Tables, chairs, bowls, and dishes were overturned everywhere. The scene became chaotic.
The Lake Mountain Three Freaks and the remaining two One Blade Nunnery assassins also had drastically changed expressions. They never imagined that tracking Chen Qing, they would encounter a Demon Sect True Aura expert hiding his identity!
"Since you sought death yourselves, don't blame others!"
Jiang Chuanqiao's voice was icy cold to the bone, carrying thick killing intent.
His form shook, actually becoming blurred like a ghost, easily avoiding the bald man's heavy hammer.
Ghost Hand soundlessly reached the flank, several poisoned shadowless needles shooting rapidly at vital points under Jiang Chuanqiao's ribs.
However, Jiang Chuanqiao seemed to have eyes in his back. His black robe's wide sleeves rolled and swept. A soft True Aura surged out, actually rolling all those fine needles into his sleeve, then with a backhand flick!
"Swoosh swoosh swoosh!"
The poison needles shot back at even faster speed!
Ghost Hand was shocked and wanted to retreat, but it was already too late. His thigh and shoulder blade were instantly pierced by several poison needles. With a miserable scream, his entire arm immediately turned black and swollen. He staggered backward.
"Second Brother!"
Shadowless Needle was shocked and enraged, hurriedly coming forward to rescue but Jiang Chuanqiao had already followed like a shadow, pressing close. His gray-green palm struck out soundlessly.
"Puh!"
A muffled sound. Shadowless Needle's protective true qi was penetrated like paper. That poison palm viciously imprinted on his chest.
Shadowless Needle's form suddenly stiffened. His eyes bulged wide. Black blood overflowed from his mouth. His chest clothing instantly corroded with a palm print. The bones under his skin seemed to be dissolving. Without uttering a sound he softly fell to the ground, breath severed.
In the time it takes a rabbit to leap up and a falcon to swoop down, two One Blade Nunnery assassins were already one dead and one severely injured!
The Lake Mountain Three Freaks watched with tingling scalps, cold air rising from their hearts.
Jiang Chuanqiao snorted coldly. His movement technique deployed, like a cloud of black smoke shuttling through the three's encirclement.
He avoided blades and swords, suddenly reaching out to grasp the third's sword-wielding wrist. Only hearing a "crack" sound, the wrist bone was instantly crushed!
Amid the third's miserable screams, Jiang Chuanqiao smoothly pulled him forward. His other poison palm had already soundlessly imprinted on his back.
The third's body violently convulsed. A mouthful of black blood sprayed out. He collapsed to the ground. Clearly he wouldn't survive.
Jiang Chuanqiao's form bizarrely twisted, avoiding a blade cleaving toward his head. His poison palm shot out like a venomous snake, precisely slapping another freak's heart.
In the blink of an eye, four of the six were already gone!
Only Gut-Severing Blade and the severely injured Ghost Hand remained, along with the red-eyed bald eldest.
"Go!"
Gut-Severing Blade was first to react from shock. He grabbed the nearly immobile Ghost Hand and without hesitation crashed through another window, fleeing in panic.
This Demon Sect expert absolutely wasn't someone they could handle!
The bald eldest still wanted to fight desperately. But Jiang Chuanqiao was already too lazy to entangle. He struck through the air with one palm. A condensed black True Aura shot like a poison dragon, crashing into his bronze hammer.
"Bang!"
The bald eldest was hit as if by a heavy blow. Man and hammer were blasted away, heavily smashing into the wall, spitting a large mouthful of fresh blood, collapsing weakly on the ground. Though not immediately dead, he was already severely injured and near death.
Jiang Chuanqiao didn't even glance at the devastation on the ground. His gaze coldly turned toward the window Chen Qing had escaped from.
"Youngster, you dare scheme against this old man! You cannot escape!"
Before his words finished, his form had already become like a wisp of black smoke, drifting out from the window, chasing after Chen Qing.
Chen Qing glimpsed those six figures pouncing toward the second-floor window like hungry tigers on prey. He immediately executed the Startling Swan Escaping Shadow Formula to its limit, charging fiercely toward the city gate direction.
He knew those six were absolutely no match for Jiang Chuanqiao. He must run as far as possible during this time.
However, very soon he sensed that cold aura behind him, pursuing relentlessly, closing the distance at an alarming speed!
"True Aura truly lives up to its reputation. Even the speed is so fast!"
Chen Qing's heart jolted, feeling the pressure.
Jiang Chuanqiao's movement technique was crafty and elusive, far beyond what ordinary embracing elixir could compare to.
"Youngster, obediently surrender! Save this old man the trouble!"
Wherever Jiang Chuanqiao passed, pedestrians fearfully retreated to both sides. Even when stalls were overturned, they didn't dare say much.
Chen Qing didn't turn his head. His arms repeatedly swung. The exquisite technique of "Floating Light Passing Shadow Hand" was displayed to perfection.
Poisoned darts poured backward like a violent storm, angles cunning, force sharp, specifically attacking vital points around Jiang Chuanqiao and his path.
Ding ding dang dang! Puh puh!
Most hidden weapons were deflected or shattered by the pale black True Aura layer around Jiang Chuanqiao. Occasionally a few darts with extremely strong penetrating power successfully touched the black robes, but were also instantly corroded and dissolved by the Black Fiend True Aura.
The surprise in Jiang Chuanqiao's eyes intensified. This youngster not only had outstanding concealment skills, but his hidden weapon techniques were even more divine, far exceeding his peers!
Such talent, if he could bring him under his command, would definitely be a fierce general!
"Youngster, this old man appreciates you more and more!"
Jiang Chuanqiao's voice carried dense coldness.
One chasing, one fleeing, they quickly rushed out of Tongping City's gate.
Outside the city, the terrain was open. A great river rushed endlessly. By the riverbank were chaotic rock beaches and sparse forest land.
Having lost the cover of crowds and buildings, Chen Qing's speed disadvantage immediately showed.
Jiang Chuanqiao had already closed to within ten zhang, striking through the air with one palm!
A giant ghost claw condensed from Black Fiend True Aura appeared from thin air, wrapped in bone-chilling yin wind tearing the air, grabbing at Chen Qing from above!
The speed was astonishingly fast. The qi locked on. Unavoidable!
Chen Qing's pupils sharply contracted. Under this life-death crisis, his entire body's blood and qi thunderously boiled!
Inside his body it was as if a furnace exploded. Tendons and bones rang together. Faint low, dignified tiger roars and heavy, magnificent elephant calls transmitted!
Eight Extremes Vajra Body! Tiger Elephant Realm!
His bronze-colored skin instantly gleamed with golden light. His muscles swelled like twisted steel wires. Heat steamed around his body. He forcefully withstood the bone-corroding yin wind's pressure.
Seeing the ghost claw approaching, evasion was already impossible.
A fierce light flashed in Chen Qing's eyes. He actually used both arms in place of a spear. His waist and hips sank. His spine arched like a great dragon bow. The broken stones beneath his feet exploded!
Mountain Suppressing Prison Spear! Mountain Collapse Piercing Rainbow!
He used his right arm as a spear, left palm supporting his right wrist. All his body's force twisted into one strand, penetrating through shoulder, elbow, wrist, fingers!
Vast and refined Qingmu true qi surged into his right arm, making it instantly swell a size, presenting a dark green metallic luster, steady as a mountain yet sharp as a peak!
Chen Qing's right arm shot out like a venomous dragon from its den, boldly thrusting forward!
Not a simple straight strike, but gathering all his body's true qi and boiling blood and qi power at his fingertip in a single point. The magnificent and heavy force condensed in one place, directly attacking the weakest center of the ghost claw!
The air erupted with piercing shrieks, as if there truly was an invisible great spear penetrating mountains!
Boom—!!!
A violent explosion thunderously erupted on the river beach!
Green-black qi violently overflowed, raising a sky full of sand and stones, forming a brief impact circle!
Chen Qing grunted. He only felt an yin-cold, highly toxic yet incomparably heavy strange force penetrate through his body, madly corroding his arm meridians, attempting to drill into his body.
His entire person was pushed by that tremendous force, stumbling backward sliding over ten zhang, his feet plowing two deep furrows!
Both arm sleeves were completely shredded, exposing solid arms. Black fiend qi was rapidly dissolved by the Eight Extremes Vajra Body's scorching blood and qi power.
Jiang Chuanqiao's form slightly shook in mid-air, dissipating the rebound force. He was secretly shocked: "Such hard flesh! Actually able to directly receive seventy percent of this old man's power in the Nether Ghost Claw, and even concentrate force at one point to break my True Aura?!"
Chen Qing borrowed this collision opportunity, forcefully suppressing his churning blood and qi, once again exerting force to flee.
"Take this move again!"
Jiang Chuanqiao's form swept along the ground like black smoke, instantly closing the distance again. Both palms struck together, no longer remote True Aura, but a true close-combat killing move!
His palms became boneless-soft. The palm centers were black as ink, carrying a soft yet entangling but also vicious pulling force, lightly striking toward Chen Qing's vital chest and abdomen.
Before the palm wind arrived, that tendon-corroding and bone-dissolving poison palm intent had already penetrated, making scalps tingle!
Chen Qing felt the air around his body become viscous, as if wrapped by invisible spider webs. He knew absolutely couldn't let these palms touch his body.
He suddenly stopped abruptly, twisting his waist and sinking his hips. His center of gravity suddenly dropped, as if rooted to the ground, becoming one with the earth!
Mountain Suppressing Prison Spear! Immovable Prison Suppression!
Qingmu true qi merged with blood and qi power, laying down before him an invisible qi wall heavy as mountain rock.
The core intent wasn't to block, but to suppress!
Suppress his own blood and qi, suppress external force, suppress the square inch of ground around his body. Ten thousand techniques couldn't invade!
Puh! Puh!
Two muffled sounds. Jiang Chuanqiao's palms were like striking solid rock. Even more, a rebound tremendous force transmitted, shaking his wrists slightly numb.
Bang bang bang! Hiss hiss hiss!
On the river beach, qi explosion sounds were continuous.
Chen Qing raised his own deployable combat power to the extreme, actually clashing several moves under a Demon Sect True Aura expert's hands!
But ultimately he was at a disadvantage in cultivation realm. Each collision made blood and qi churn, arms sore and numb.
Gradually, Chen Qing also understood Jiang Chuanqiao's true nature. An icy killing intent floated in his heart.
...
On the other side, Tongping City's wine house was already in devastation.
The surviving bald eldest leaned against the wall, looking at his two brothers' miserably dead corpses. His eyes nearly split with rage. His heart was grieving and desperate.
Just then, a heavy footstep sound rapidly approached.
The bald eldest raised his head with difficulty. When he clearly saw the newcomer's face, his heart immediately shook wildly: "You... you're Earth Origin Sect's Yu He, Senior Yu?!"
Uproar—!
The surrounding crowd that hadn't completely dispersed erupted. They hadn't expected yet another True Aura expert to appear!
Yu He's expression was gloomy as water. He paid no attention to others, sternly demanding: "What happened here? Where is Chen Qing?!"
The bald eldest as if grasping a life-saving straw, enduring severe pain, quickly related what had just happened, from how they were attracted by "Chen Qing's" shout, to charging upstairs and having conflict with that black-robed demon head, then to brothers dying miserably and two escaping...
"You mean that person who jumped out the window deliberately shouted to expose his identity, attracting you up, actually using that Demon Sect expert's hands to deal with you?"
Yu He was an old hand in the martial world. He instantly understood the logic within.
The bald eldest gritted his teeth with hatred, saying viciously: "It must be so! That person is truly crafty and despicable! Sinister and vicious! We were all schemed against by him!"
He automatically ignored that he and the others had first intended wrongdoing.
Yu He's heart suddenly jolted with alarm.
This youngster was truly sinister and vicious, and quite quick-witted.
"Which direction did they go?" Yu He urgently asked.
The bald eldest raised his hand with difficulty, pointing toward the direction outside the city where Chen Qing and Jiang Chuanqiao had disappeared: "They left the city, went toward the riverside!"
Yu He said no more. His form shook. Like an arrow leaving the bowstring he charged out of the wine house, rapidly pursuing in the direction the bald eldest indicated!
The Earth Essence Marrow Pearl's whereabouts, Chen Qing's suspicion, the possibly existing third-party hidden hand, and that enormous scapegoat of killing the Netherworld Twin Guards, he must get to the bottom of it!
…
Outside Tongjiang City.
Jiang Chuanqiao's palms' black qi surged. His form pressed close like a ghost.
In an instant, the Black Fiend True Aura around his body boiled like ink. Two rotating black vortexes actually appeared in his palm centers.
The air produced "sizzle sizzle" corrosion sounds. The broken stones on the river beach, upon touching that black True Aura, instantly turned to powder!
This strike had far exceeded before. Clearly Jiang Chuanqiao brought out his full strength, determined to capture or thoroughly cripple Chen Qing in one move!
Chen Qing's brow furrowed. The blood and qi within his body thunderously burned like a volcanic eruption!
"Roar! Moo—!"
Low tiger roars and magnificent elephant calls simultaneously burst forth from within him, resounding across the river beach!
Heat steamed around his body. The blood and qi furnace blazed brilliantly, forcefully resisting that all-penetrating bone-corroding cold.
At the same time, his Qingmu true qi from penetrating eleven primary meridians surged forth.
Chen Qing's gaze suddenly turned cold. Tiger roars and elephant calls exploded between his tendons and bones. Blood and qi erupted like a furnace.
His right foot stomped fiercely, borrowing earth's force. His arm thrust fiercely, tearing the air, directly piercing Jiang Chuanqiao's palm center!
"Hiss—!"
The arm collided dominantly with the black fiend vortex. An earth-shaking explosion suddenly erupted!
The river beach ground was forcefully scraped down three feet. Countless broken stones were shaken into powder. The distant Cloud-Gold River's water surface exploded with waves several zhang high!
"Boom!!"
True Aura exploded. The ground collapsed.
Hum hum! Hum hum!
Black Fiend True Aura surged forth. The Surging Waves Mysterious Flood Dragon Armor, stimulated by True Aura, automatically protected its master!
Chen Qing was shaken by tremendous force, stumbling backward. Each step sank deep into the stone ground, dragging several zhang of long marks before barely stabilizing.
Both his arm sleeves were completely shredded, exposing arms like refined steel. The bronze luster on his arms had dimmed considerably. There were even several scorched black traces, transmitting waves of stinging pain and numbness.
That terrifying palm power sufficient to corrode bones and melt metal was mostly resisted and dissolved by the Eight Extremes Vajra Body's formidable flesh and blood combined with the Surging Waves Mysterious Flood Dragon Armor's defense.
As for the Black Fiend True Aura invading his body, it was instantly firmly suppressed by Chen Qing using other true qi to transform into vast Qingmu true qi.
"How is this possible?!"
Jiang Chuanqiao cried out in alarm, his eyes full of disbelief.
His full-strength Nether Bone-Corroding Palm was actually directly received by Chen Qing. The opponent, a mere embracing elixir realm, only spit some blood and suffered some arm injuries?!
Usually those embracing elixir experts, once Black Fiend True Aura entered their bodies, their internal true qi instantly collapsed with no resistance whatsoever.
How could this youngster withstand his Black Fiend True Aura?!
Chen Qing shook his numb arms. His gaze was icy cold.
Through this direct clash, he had also understood Jiang Chuanqiao's true nature!
This person's aura seemed to be True Aura, but actually was unstable and hollow. His True Aura quality was mixed and impure, far inferior to Yu He's steady and heavy nature. He was even somewhat inferior to Shen Xiuyong who had just entered True Aura realm.
Clearly he relied on some Demon Sect shortcut quick-success method to break through. His foundation had flaws. Outwardly strong but inwardly weak!
"Kill him?"
A crazy thought flashed through Chen Qing's mind.
If right now he spared no cost, using "Blood Burning Art" to temporarily enhance, then attempting to forcefully guide five element true qi... perhaps there truly was a chance to keep this old demon here!
But there were risks too!
After all, Jiang Chuanqiao was True Aura. If he wholeheartedly fled, he might not be able to stop him...
Just as Chen Qing's killing intent surged and he weighed pros and cons—
"Hmm?! Not good!"
He and Jiang Chuanqiao almost simultaneously changed expressions, abruptly turning to look toward Tongping City!
A heavy as mountains powerful aura was approaching at alarming speed!
Its aura characteristics, Chen Qing would never mistake—
Yu He! He had pursued!
Jiang Chuanqiao's heart was also shocked and suspicious, "This aura... is Earth Origin Sect's Bedrock True Aura! Is it coming for me, or for this youngster?"
He instantly restrained the surging demonic qi around his body. His gaze swept toward Chen Qing with surprise and uncertainty.
If the newcomer was Yu He, his target was ninety percent Chen Qing who bore suspicion of possessing the Earth Essence Marrow Pearl, not himself, this concealed Demon Sect person.
The two's gazes briefly met in the air. Both saw deep wariness and calculation in the other's eyes.
When the snipe and clam fight, the fisherman profits!
They both understood this principle.
Absolutely couldn't fight to the death at this moment, letting a third party reap the benefits!
Chen Qing took a deep breath, suppressing the churning blood and qi and killing intent within. He instantly made a decision—leave!
However, just as his form was about to move, Jiang Chuanqiao's eyes flashed with craftiness. He suddenly circulated full true qi, his voice shaking the four wilds:
"Chen Qing youngster! Consider yourself lucky! Next time we meet, I will definitely take your dog life!"
Before his words finished, he himself transformed into black smoke, without hesitation rapidly fleeing in a direction completely different from Chen Qing's, his speed astonishingly fast.
"This old dog!"
Chen Qing instantly understood the opponent's poisonous scheme.
Jiang Chuanqiao deliberately shouted loudly, both confirming his identity and location before Yu He, diverting disaster eastward, and also preventing himself from using similar methods to scheme against him again!
At the same time, he himself fled first, leaving him to deal with Yu He!
Chen Qing couldn't care about anything else now. He rapidly fled toward the distance.
Just as Jiang Chuanqiao's words fell, Yu He's figure had already appeared like an earth-yellow meteor at the river beach's end, exactly seeing two figures rapidly speeding away, one east, one south.
Both were rapidly restraining their auras. Their figures quickly became blurred.
"Little slippery head, you still want to use this kind of split body concealment trick to deceive this old man?"
Yu He sneered coldly, instantly locking onto that black figure who first made sound, "This time don't think you can escape again!"
In his view, that person who made sound must definitely be Chen Qing!
Earth-yellow True Aura explosively surged. Yu He without hesitation abandoned the other direction's Chen Qing. His body lunged, madly pursuing in the direction Jiang Chuanqiao fled!
Jiang Chuanqiao fleeing ahead immediately sensed the rapidly approaching aura behind him. His heart cried bitterly!
"What's going on?! Why is this Earth Origin Sect old bastard relentlessly chasing me?! Shouldn't he go chase Chen Qing?!"
He was inwardly shocked beyond measure, unable to understand why Yu He had fixated on him.
Seeing Yu He pursuing closer and closer, Jiang Chuanqiao could no longer care about completely concealing his demonic qi. He suddenly turned, both palms striking repeatedly. Several palm prints condensed with pure Black Fiend True Aura whistled toward Yu He!
"Hmph! Petty tricks!"
Yu He snorted coldly. He neither dodged nor evaded. Bedrock True Aura condensed at his fist. One fist blasted out!
The fist print was solid as a mountain, domineering and fierce, instantly crushing and annihilating those black palm prints. The remaining momentum unabated, continuing to press toward Jiang Chuanqiao.
Boom!
Qi forces exploded again. Jiang Chuanqiao was shaken until blood and qi churned. His fleeing speed stalled.
Through this exchange, Yu He's expression suddenly changed drastically. He cried out, "Demon Sect True Aura?! You're not Chen Qing! Who are you?!"
Only now did he realize the True Aura attribute of the person before him was yin-cold and vicious, clearly demonic technique methods, completely different from the Five Terraces Sect's Qingmu true qi!
Jiang Chuanqiao took the opportunity to open some distance again, shouting with shock and rage, "This old man is your grandfather! Weren't you chasing Chen Qing? Why relentlessly pursue this old man?!"
Hearing this, Yu He's expression instantly became extremely ugly. He finally realized he might have... chased the wrong person!
That one who silently fled south was probably the real Chen Qing!
Returning now was definitely too late.
Thinking he had been played, Yu He immediately became embarrassed and furious. Evil fire rushed straight to his crown!
He stared deadly at Jiang Chuanqiao ahead, killing intent boiling, "Demon Sect evil person, smooth talking! Since this old man encountered you, I'll slaughter you first, then capture that youngster won't be late! Accept death!"
Regardless, slaying a Demon Sect True Aura expert was also a great merit, and could stop losses.
Magnificent Bedrock True Aura erupted again. Yu He said no more. His offensive like violent storms poured toward Jiang Chuanqiao.
Jiang Chuanqiao could only desperately resist and maneuver. One chasing, one fleeing, fiercely clashing. The battlefield rapidly moved toward the distance. Angry roars and rumbling sounds were continuous.
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