407 Destiny Ends Here?
Qin Huai decided to concentrate all his energy on the nine dragons true qi technique. After breaking through to the fifth-level bone pattern realm with the divine power book of a thousand creations, he refined his skills at an increasingly rapid pace.
Within a day, he fully assimilated the experience points earned from the old lunatic, advancing his nine dragons true qi technique to the peak of the bone pattern realm. All he needed now was some spirit items to break through the barrier of the inner realm.
Next, Qin Huai devoted his attention to understanding the bronze wall. Each morning, he would punch Liu Laicheng a few times, under the pretense of body-strengthening exercise. Whether Liu Laicheng believed him or not, Qin Huai’s vitality was visibly improving.
…
Meanwhile, in the level-two array…
Xiang Mingfeng, Fang Huo, and others wore somber expressions. Apart from She Wanshan, Little Cattle King, and Le Ji’an, the rest were noticeably absent. Even Gou Jie from the Thousand Divination Tower had not arrived as promised.
Le Ji’an commented sarcastically, “Just as expected. Once the secret was out, the unity broke.”
“Even though I anticipated this, I didn’t imagine it would dissolve to such an extent,” Xiang Mingfeng admitted, his face hardening. “All these are trials and tribulations. In the end, they will serve as stepping stones on our journey to kingship.”
“Despite all, our plan stays the same. What do you think?” he asked, his gaze surveying the four individuals before him. He remained relatively undisturbed. He had prepared for the worst-case scenario, such as everyone becoming like the old lunatics. In his view, the current situation was far better.
“I have no objections.” She Wanshan was the first to express his opinion. He and his senior brother were in the same boat.
“I still want to leave,” Le Ji’an commented nonchalantly. “But the same issue remains. Even if you succeed, have you considered who you will pick in the end?”
Fang Huo laughed lightly. “I can accept it even if Brother Zhou chooses you.”
“Beautiful words are easy to say,” Le Ji ‘an retorted, his tone turning sour. “Moreover, your savior isn’t here.”
“Brother Zhou has his own reasons,” Fang Huo interjected immediately.
One should reciprocate a life-saving favor with utmost gratitude, not to mention just voicing support at this point. Naturally, he wouldn’t hold back. The decision was almost instinctive.
Le Ji ‘an just shook his head. They all held a pessimistic view about the final outcome. After a few months, only four of them remained from the once mighty cohort of fourteen kings. How could this not make people despair?
…
A month passed, during which Qin Huai’s vitality showed a slight improvement. His understanding of the ancient azure illusion scripture had progressed from fifty to sixty-five percent.
Slowly, Qin Huai rose from his meditative state, then mentally gauged the time. The moment for the great slaughter was fast approaching.
“Brother Liu, will you join me?” Qin Huai asked, approaching Liu Laicheng’s tree hollow.
Liu Laicheng, having been awake the moment Qin Huai stirred, anxiously twiddled his fingers. “Only a day left before the great slaughter,” he mumbled. “Brother Zhou, are you…” he began, filled with apprehension.
“On the final day, it’s only natural that I face off against the old lunatic one more time,” Qin Huai casually replied. “If we win, wouldn’t we have fulfilled our mission ahead of schedule?”
He alone had dispatched half of the surviving old lunatics, and adding these two to the toll could effectively eradicate the remainder. After that, there would be no more unstable factors, and Qin Huai’s chances of breaking through the level-zero array would significantly increase.
“Alright…” Liu Laicheng acquiesced, not so much in support of Qin Huai, but out of fear that if Qin Huai left, he might inadvertently encounter the old lunatics nursing similar thoughts.
Wouldn’t that be a peaceful death? He resolved that if Qin Huai ever found himself at a disadvantage or in danger, he would flee. He could endure until the great slaughter.
“Let’s set out now. Given the vast expanse of the level-one array, locating them may take more than half a day,” Qin Huai whispered. He didn’t possess absolute confidence in eliminating the two elderly experts, but at least, his life wasn’t at immediate risk.
Two hours ticked by. They stood motionless in the forest.
“Luck is not on my side this time,” Qin Huai muttered.
In the forest, four of them unexpectedly encountered each other on a narrow path. All of them frowned — they hadn’t anticipated such a meeting within the first couple of hours.
“Did you kill those three?” the old man from Wuji Mountain questioned.
This made Liu Laicheng, who was standing beside Qin Huai, gasp. Had Zhou Cunzhong already slain two before killing the snake-spear old man? No wonder his confidence brimmed. What kind of monster was he?
Qin Huai remained silent, his gaze fixed on the old man from Wuji Mountain. The old man, whose qi and blood were abnormally vibrant and vigorous, hardly resembled a man in his twilight years.
Danger loomed. Qin Huai’s expression tightened as the energy of his lifespan gradually gathered at his fingertips, preparing his two trump cards.
“Brother Zhou, we need to be careful. These two aren’t like the ones we faced earlier,” Liu Laicheng advised. “Despite the old madman’s frail appearance, he’s a master from the Thousand Divination Tower with exceptional calculation skills!”
“Don’t worry, I know,” Qin Huai assured him as all of them started circling the forest.
Meanwhile, the old man from the Thousand Divination Tower observed Qin Huai with a puzzled expression. The latter seemed vaguely familiar but not entirely so.
Then, in a certain instant, both parties launched their attacks.
Boom!
Qin Huai and the old man from Wuji Mountain collided head-on, and both fists flew out.
Qin Huai’s eyes sparkled, his speed doubling. White light erupted, and his dark hair strands instantly turned white.
On the other side, the old man from the Thousand Divination Tower was startled. “It’s him!” he rasped out hoarsely. “Beware of this man!”
“Haha! I won’t lose!” The old man from Mount Wuji laughed maniacally. “Your destiny ends here!” he roared, his long hair whipping about in the wind like a mad deity descending upon the world.
Foll𝑜w current novels on fre(e)w𝒆bnovel