Chapter 190: Ambush |
On the main road of Xuanjia Gate.
Chang Xing crouched beside Du Lingchuan, her beautiful eyes long since cried red, tears continuously rolling down, her voice choked with sobs, "Master... you must hold on..."
Chen Qing had just carefully examined Du Lingchuan's pulse.
Although Du Lingchuan's injuries were severe, with that Black Fiend palm strike to his chest being sinister and domineering, damaging his internal organs and meridians, fortunately his foundation was deep. At the critical moment he had protected his heart meridian, and with Peng Zhen's top-grade healing pill taking effect, his life had been preserved. For now, his life was not in danger.
He withdrew his hand and said to Chang Xing in a steady tone, "Junior Martial Sister Chang need not worry excessively. Elder Du's foundation is deep, and that pill is no ordinary product. Although the palm strike was severe, it did not damage his fundamental essence. Once I use my true qi to help the medicine take effect and clear the blocked meridians, with proper recuperation for a period of time, he should be fine."
Hearing this, Chang Xing grabbed onto these words like a lifeline and hurriedly raised her tear-filled eyes, "Thank you, Senior Martial Brother Chen! Thank you!"
Chen Qing shook his head slightly, "This is my duty, no need for thanks."
He gestured for Chang Xing to step back slightly, then sat cross-legged behind Du Lingchuan himself, pressing both palms against the vital points on his back.
Qingmu True Aura slowly flowed in like spring rain nourishing the earth, healing Du Lingchuan's damaged meridians and guiding that magnificent medicinal power to flow through his limbs and body.
If the Five Terraces Sect reinforcements had not arrived in time, they would likely have been completely annihilated by now.
Watching Chen Qing heal Elder Du, their feelings toward this young chief disciple of the Five Terraces Sect became even more complex, admiration and gratitude intertwining.
After about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, Chen Qing slowly withdrew his power.
Almost the instant he removed his palms, Du Lingchuan let out a slight muffled groan from his throat. His eyelids trembled a few times before slowly opening.
"Master!"
Chang Xing was overjoyed and immediately rushed forward.
Du Lingchuan's eyes were initially somewhat scattered and confused, but then rapidly focused. Seeing Chang Xing before him and the surrounding scene, memories flooded back like a tide.
He struggled to sit up but was gently held down by Chen Qing.
"Elder Du, your injuries are not yet stable. It's inadvisable to move rashly."
Du Lingchuan's gaze turned toward Chen Qing. Recognizing him, a trace of complexity flashed in his eyes, "Young Chen... it's you... thank you."
Chen Qing cupped his hands, his tone remaining calm, "Elder Du is too polite. The four sects are allied, united as one. Today's matter is what should be done."
Du Lingchuan sensed that pure Qingmu True Aura within his body, his heart momentarily filled with mixed emotions.
He recalled when he first saw this lad practicing with his spear at the Qianchuan Marsh waterway, being amazed, and his unhesitating praise and invitation for him to visit Xuanjia Gate... At that time, he had felt this young man was no ordinary person, but never expected that so little time would pass before...
The embracing elixir realm youngster who had needed his encouraging words had now grown into a True Aura expert capable of standing on his own!
This rate of growth was simply shocking!
Such a pity... such fine talent and jade-like quality was ultimately a Five Terraces Sect disciple, not a member of his Xuanjia Gate.
With this thought, Du Lingchuan let out a heavy sigh in his heart.
The sect master was gravely injured with uncertain fate, the mountain gate destroyed, disciples dead and wounded everywhere, their century-old foundation nearly destroyed in a single day...
He closed his eyes and said nothing more.
Seeing this, Chen Qing knew his mood was heavy and also said no more. He only whispered a few instructions to Chang Xing about subsequent care before rising and stepping back.
Afterward, he instructed Luo Xinya, Xu Qi, and other Qingmu Courtyard disciples to look after the Xuanjia Gate wounded, while he himself took up his spear and stood at the edge of the forest clearing, surveying the surroundings.
The sounds of fighting from the direction of Xuanjia Gate's mountain gate indeed gradually grew sparse. Although flames still reddened the sky, the chaotic explosions and violent clashing of protective qi could no longer be heard.
"Has the situation been brought under control?"
Just as this thought flashed through Chen Qing's mind, his brows suddenly furrowed!
Almost simultaneously, his ears twitched slightly. The Qingmu True Aura within his body naturally circulated, and his five senses instantly heightened to the extreme.
Not far away on a concealed forest path, a figure was racing toward them at extreme speed from the direction of the mountain gate. Moving silently with rising and falling movements, yet still emanating an ominous cold aura.
"Zuo Feng!?"
Chen Qing's pupils contracted slightly as he instantly recognized the person.
One of Yunlin Prefecture's Demon Sect protectors, with a notorious reputation.
Speaking of which, this person was a Demon Sect expert with whom he had quite deep connections. He had seen him once before at Qianchuan Marsh, when Chen Qing was merely at embracing elixir strength and had been frightened into fleeing.
The second time was near the Nine Wave Island waters, when Zuo Feng had tried to kill Liu Han to seize the Surging Waves Mysterious Flood Dragon Armor but failed, with it ultimately being obtained by Chen Qing.
Today was the third time.
Zuo Feng also almost simultaneously detected the figures in the forest ahead.
At this moment, he only wanted to escape this dangerous place as quickly as possible. Seeing someone blocking his path, a fierce light flashed in his eyes. Without wasting words, he gave a low shout, "Seeking death!"
Before his words fell, his figure suddenly accelerated, instantly charging toward Chen Qing. Still ten zhang away, a palm strike had already been released!
Pitch-black Black Fiend True Aura burst through his palm, transforming into a solid palm print carrying bone-corroding, heart-rotting sinister force, tearing through the air. Wherever it passed, vegetation instantly withered and blackened!
Chen Qing was already prepared. Facing this demon with such a notorious reputation, he dared not be careless in the slightest.
The Qingmu True Aura within his body exploded forth. From his dantian qi sea, that condensed mercury-like green True Aura surged out, instantly flowing through all his body's meridians.
Facing that roaring Black Fiend palm print, he neither dodged nor evaded. His right hand shook the Coiling Cloud Spear, and with the spear tip trembling, it transformed into a point of green light, striking with utmost precision toward the center of the palm print!
"Break!"
The spear tip collided violently with the palm print!
Hiss...!
There was no earth-shattering explosion, only an ear-piercing tearing sound, like red-hot iron plunged into ice water!
The vibrant Qingmu True Aura violently collided with the sinister, bone-corroding Black Fiend True Aura.
Green light and black qi frantically intertwined and entangled.
Zuo Feng felt an extremely condensed force rush back along his palm force, shaking his arm slightly numb. His forward momentum was actually forcibly blocked!
His heart violently shook, "True Aura!? So young... is this the Five Terraces Sect's newly advanced youngster!?"
He never expected that this seemingly young person blocking his path had actually already reached the True Aura realm!
With one strike blocked, Zuo Feng's killing intent grew stronger, knowing he absolutely could not delay.
His figure flickered, transforming his palm into a seal. His five fingers slightly curved, condensing protective qi. His palm instantly became pitch-black as ink, as if containing an abyss, directly striking toward Chen Qing's face!
So fast only afterimages remained! This was precisely the profound martial art he had obtained from cultivating the Limitless Demon Manual, the Nether Seal!
Chen Qing's breathing was calm and concentrated. His Eight Extremes Vajra Body's qi and blood secretly surged, his entire body taking on a faint bronze luster.
He twisted his waist and turned his hips. The Coiling Cloud Spear swept back, the spear shaft like a venomous dragon emerging from its den, arriving first despite starting later, precisely striking toward Zuo Feng's wrist to break his seal momentum!
Simultaneously, his left hand formed a sword with his fingers. Qingmu True Aura condensed at his fingertips in a Nine Luminary Thunderclap Finger strike, silently pointing toward the opening beneath Zuo Feng's ribs!
This one finger and one spear combined offense and defense, steady and experienced.
It displayed Chen Qing's rich combat experience. Even facing an expert like Zuo Feng, he showed not the slightest fear.
Zuo Feng's seal technique did not change, its momentum becoming even heavier. It clashed hard with the spear shaft, producing a "bang" like the collision of metal and stone, also carrying a sinister oscillating force. Both figures swayed.
As for Chen Qing's finger aura slashing toward his ribs, he neither dodged nor evaded. His other palm strangely emerged from an inconceivable angle, fingers together like a blade, fingertips wreathed in extremely concentrated deep black qi, directly stabbing toward Chen Qing's heart!
It was actually a ruthless fighting style of trading injury for death!
Chen Qing's heart turned cold, deeply aware of Zuo Feng's cunning and viciousness, already on guard.
His hand blade did not change, its momentum becoming even more urgent, but at the shanzhong acupoint location on his chest, Qingmu True Aura instantly condensed to a high degree, like covering with an invisible solid shield.
Puff! Puff!
Two soft sounds came almost simultaneously.
Chen Qing's finger aura struck Zuo Feng's ribs. Although most of it was offset by his protective demonic aura, it still left a shallow bloody mark. The sharp qi of the Qingmu True Aura penetrated, making Zuo Feng's brows furrow.
As for Zuo Feng's hand blade stabbing toward Chen Qing's heart, it was as if it had struck refined steel. His fingertips transmitted a huge recoiling force, and moreover, a surging hot qi and blood force arose, rapidly dissolving and melting the Black Fiend protective qi condensed at his fingertips!
"Such hard external training! Such condensed True Aura!"
Zuo Feng's heart was shocked again. This youngster was not only at True Aura realm, his True Aura foundation was so solid, and he could even train external arts to this level?
The Five Terraces Sect had truly produced an extraordinary person!
In the blink of an eye, the two exchanged two moves. Though seemingly evenly matched, Zuo Feng's heart was already churning with shock.
He considered his own cultivation deep and combat experience rich. He had thought he could quickly resolve this young opponent with the Nether Seal, never expecting the other's True Aura to be incomparably condensed, his techniques steady and experienced, and with external training protection besides. He himself could gain no advantage whatsoever and was instead faintly constrained.
"Cannot engage in prolonged combat!"
Zuo Feng instantly made his judgment. He must immediately break away!
Just as his thoughts turned and he was about to feint and withdraw, at that instant...
Chen Qing and Zuo Feng almost simultaneously paused their movements slightly, their peripheral vision sweeping toward a shadowy area to the side and rear.
Someone was there!
Although the newcomer's aura was extremely restrained, it could not escape the keen perception of two True Aura experts.
This person slowly approached, seemingly intending to lurk and observe, not immediately revealing their intent.
"Could it be that old schemer from the altar! At this moment he still wants to reap the fisherman's benefit?"
Zuo Feng's heart tightened as he cursed inwardly.
Chen Qing also narrowed his eyes, his vigilance greatly increasing.
Just then, the person in the shadows, seeming to know they had been detected, laughed loudly, "Brother Chen! I've come to assist you!"
Before the voice fell, a fiery red figure swept out, landing lightly. The newcomer wore brocade robes, emanating a scorching aura. It was actually Feng Shuhao of Qixia Manor!
After landing, his gaze swept over Zuo Feng as he smiled at Chen Qing, "Is this scoundrel a Demon Sect member? Perfect! Today you and I can join forces to rid the people of this evil!"
Chen Qing's face showed delight, "So it's Brother Feng! Excellent! This person is the Demon Sect's Zuo Feng. I truly need Brother Feng's aid!"
In his heart, his wariness of Feng Shuhao instantly rose to its peak.
This person had been hiding to the side. His intentions were damnable. He was definitely no ally.
"So it's a youngster from Qixia Manor!"
Zuo Feng's expression became extremely ugly. Chen Qing alone was already difficult for him to quickly defeat. With another Feng Shuhao who was clearly also at True Aura realm, he might truly meet his end here today!
"Get lost!"
Zuo Feng roared furiously. The demonic cultivation within his body circulated frantically, Black Fiend True Aura surging violently as he suddenly released both palms simultaneously, striking toward Chen Qing and Feng Shuhao respectively, attempting to force both back and create space to escape.
Palm wind howled, black qi pervaded. The power was actually three parts greater than before!
"A mere grain of light also dares to shine?"
Feng Shuhao laughed derisively, stepping forward. His right palm was red as a branding iron. True Aura exploded forth in a palm strike!
The scorching, domineering palm wind was like a volcanic eruption, meeting Zuo Feng's palm force!
Chen Qing also struck simultaneously. The Coiling Cloud Spear shook once, the green light at the spear tip condensing into substance, transforming into a straight line, swiftly stabbing toward Zuo Feng's palm center!
Boom! Bang!
Two explosive sounds erupted almost simultaneously!
Zuo Feng, fighting one against two, immediately suffered greatly.
Although he considered himself unafraid of either one alone, facing both simultaneously, he was simply no match!
His figure shook violently as he staggered backward several steps. His throat sweetened as a mouthful of fresh blood nearly spurted out but was forcibly swallowed back.
His right palm center was pierced by Chen Qing's spear tip. A thread of Qingmu True Aura penetrated, making his entire arm slightly numb.
He backed against a large tree, his breathing disordered.
Chen Qing seized the opportunity. A cold light flashed in his eyes. How could he allow this man to catch his breath?
He took one step forward. The ground slightly sank. The Coiling Cloud Spear in his hand emitted a low humming sound as the spear shot out like a dragon, directly stabbing toward Zuo Feng's vital heart!
This spear condensed eighty percent of his True Aura.
Green light tore through the air, emitting a shrill whistle!
Just at this life-or-death instant...
Feng Shuhao, who had been attacking together, suddenly flashed a trace of vicious cruelty in his eyes!
"Now is the time!"
He roared inwardly. His palm momentum originally striking toward Zuo Feng strangely folded in mid-air. The True Aura within his body surged without reservation toward his right palm. His palm instantly became red as blood, emanating terrifying heat, striking viciously toward Chen Qing's completely unguarded rear vital gate of life at his back!
This palm had been premeditated long ago, sinister beyond measure!
He not only wanted to kill Zuo Feng, he even more wanted to take the opportunity to eliminate Chen Qing as well!
Absorbing the essence blood and true qi of two great True Aura experts, his cultivation would definitely skyrocket!
This temptation was truly too great!
"Boom...!"
The palm force wrapped in scorching True Aura struck solidly on Chen Qing's back at his heart!
Qingmu True Aura instinctively protected his body, instantly colliding violently with the True Aura, producing a muffled sound. It only held for an instant before being shattered by that domineering palm force!
A smile of success had just appeared on Feng Shuhao's face, but it instantly froze!
After the palm force penetrated the True Aura defense, it did not strike flesh as anticipated. Instead, it seemed to strike an extremely tough, cold, slippery substance, producing a "bang" sound while a recoiling force transmitted back!
Immediately after, he felt that beneath Chen Qing's robes, there seemed to be an extremely tough inner armor that deflected most of his palm force.
And beneath the inner armor, Chen Qing's physical body seemed not to be flesh and blood, but refined vajra, incomparably hard. The scorching palm force could not advance an inch and was instead counter-charged by an even more scorching, magnificent qi and blood!
"What!? The Surging Waves Mysterious Flood Dragon Armor!?"
Feng Shuhao's heart violently shook as if he had seen a ghost!
The Liu family's secret treasure armor, how could it be worn on Chen Qing's body!?
His external training had actually reached the level of directly withstanding True Aura palm force as if nothing happened!?
Zuo Feng's eyes widened, nearly spitting fire!
He simply could not believe his eyes. That Surging Waves Mysterious Flood Dragon Armor was now intact, worn on this youngster's body!
In that lightning instant, a thought suddenly burst into his mind: back then, this youngster must have stolen the prize midway!