Chapter 166: Chapter 166: The Vermilion Bird’s Aura Again
The group from the Martial Soul Hall was still some distance away.
Chu Qingyun remembered he hadn’t yet used his newly acquired Black Arrow Martial Soul, so he couldn’t resist the urge to try it out.
In battle, most people were cautious and wouldn’t recklessly use their Soul Techniques or other special moves.
After all, if two opponents were evenly matched, the outcome could hinge on such details—like the efficient management of one’s Primordial Power.
But that wasn’t a concern for Chu Qingyun at all.
With a Qi Sea spanning a ten-thousand-meter radius, his Primordial Power reserves were dozens, even hundreds of times greater than others’. He could use it as carelessly as he pleased.
"Thorny Black Arrow!"
After the Soul Technique was deployed, the Black Arrow Martial Soul flashed before Chu Qingyun, and then Martial Soul Power gathered, condensing into a black arrow nearly two meters long.
The black arrow floated in mid-air, hidden in the dense fog and the shadows of the trees. Two streams of black Qi flowed out from the arrow’s center, one above and one below, before converging at the nock to form the shape of a Full Moon Longbow.
Chu Qingyun grabbed this Soul Technique as if drawing a bow.
The moment he touched the bow and arrow, Chu Qingyun’s spirit jolted. A strange power allowed him to clearly sense everything within a three-hundred-meter radius!
In his mind’s eye, everything appeared like a colorless photographic negative.
But with this vision, he could easily identify and lock onto any target within range.
The Black Arrow Martial Soul was still a Tier Two Martial Soul for now, so its range was only three hundred meters.
After locking onto the figure at the very front of the Martial Soul Hall group, Chu Qingyun released his hand. With a thought, the Black Arrow shot out with a SWOOSH, tearing through the air.
The Thorny Black Arrow Soul Technique had a special property: it was guaranteed to hit its mark.
So Chu Qingyun didn’t need to aim at all. As long as he locked onto a target in that special field of vision, the Black Arrow would automatically adjust its trajectory, even dodging obstacles, to strike the target!
Of course, that was unless someone managed to intercept it mid-flight.
The Black Arrow adjusted its course twice, avoiding two large trees, before precisely striking the target’s heart!
THUMP!
With the dull thud of a weapon piercing flesh, Chu Qingyun watched the man’s body go rigid. The Martial Artist clutched his chest and collapsed, quickly dissolving into a cloud of Martial Soul Power that vanished into thin air.
Seeing their comrade killed, the Martial Artists from the Martial Soul Hall fell into a brief panic, warily scanning their surroundings for the enemy.
"Don’t panic! It’s just a Tier Two Soul Technique! Keep advancing!"
"Stop running around! Keep moving forward!"
With the two level-nine Martial Artists taking charge, the panic was quickly quelled, and the group resumed their advance.
It was only a Tier Two Martial Soul, after all. Even if their foe was a level-nine Martial Artist, they weren’t afraid with their superior numbers.
The only real threat to them in this situation would be a level-nine Martial Artist with a Tier Three Martial Soul. If they ran into an enemy like that, they’d have to call for reinforcements.
After felling one man with a single arrow, Chu Qingyun felt a flicker of excitement and used the Thorny Black Arrow Soul Technique again.
After all, it was his first time trying to kill an enemy from such a long distance, so some excitement was unavoidable. This time, Chu Qingyun’s target was one of the level-nine Martial Artists.
He fired another shot. The Black Arrow left a faint trail of black Qi as it streaked toward the level-nine Martial Artist.
However, this time they were all extremely alert. The level-nine Martial Artist spotted the Black Arrow in advance, and a few people next to him attacked together, dissipating the Black Arrow mid-flight.
’As I thought. This Soul Technique relies on the element of surprise.’
Chu Qingyun nodded thoughtfully.
He dispelled the power of the Hidden Qi Technique and the Thousand-faced Martial Soul, drew his Thundercloud Sword, unleashed his Ten-star Vine Martial Soul, and slowly walked out from behind the tree.
He had no reason to hold back against the Martial Soul Hall. He might as well drop the pretense and go all-out to eliminate them.
"Hmph, can’t hide anymore? Get him!" the level-nine Martial Artist who had been targeted by the Black Arrow said with a cold smile.
A moment later, more than twenty offensive Soul Techniques tore through the dense fog, whistling as they smashed towards Chu Qingyun.
Although they were all Tier Two Soul Techniques, the sheer quantity of them was still very imposing.
But Chu Qingyun didn’t panic at all. His expression was calm as he controlled the vines of his Ten-Star Vine Martial Soul, waving them in front of him to intercept the Soul Techniques.
The Tier Two Soul Techniques were instantly shattered upon impact with his Tier Three Ten-Star Vine!
The occasional one or two that slipped through the cracks were also hacked to pieces by his sword, unable to cause him the slightest bit of harm or trouble.
That level-nine Martial Artist opened his mouth again, wanting to say something, but a vine suddenly shot up from under his feet, wrapping around his neck in the blink of an eye and yanking him towards Chu Qingyun.
"It’s a Tier Three Martial Soul! Everyone, be careful!"
"Quick, save the boss!"
Many people from the Martial Soul Hall charged frantically towards Chu Qingyun.
"Save him? Thunder Sword Momentum!"
Chu Qingyun snorted coldly and swung his Thundercloud Sword!
Rampant Thunder Power surged into the man. After it ravaged his body, the level-nine Martial Artist was left smoking as if struck by lightning, dead beyond a doubt. He soon dissolved into Martial Soul Power and was absorbed by the Devouring Martial Soul.
The moment the two sides clashed, a fierce battle erupted.
The Martial Soul Hall’s side still had one level-nine Martial Artist left, and more than thirty level-seven and level-eight Martial Artists.
They surrounded Chu Qingyun, continuously throwing all sorts of Soul Techniques at him.
An ordinary level-seven, or even a level-nine Martial Artist, would have long since crumbled under such a relentless barrage.
But Chu Qingyun held his ground. Thanks to his perfect control over his Martial Soul, all ten vines of his Ten-Star Vine were dedicated to defense, forming an impenetrable barrier.
But this way, for his offense, he could only rely on his Thundercloud Sword and the Thunder Sword Manual.
While each swing of his sword reaped a life, it was far less efficient than the Ten-Star Vine.
He had to admit that even though it was a Control-type Soul, the Ten-Star Vine was much more effective against these weaker enemies.
’Damn it. If only I had a Defense-type Martial Soul right now, this would be so much easier...’
Chu Qingyun glanced helplessly at the Poison Moth Martial Soul’s 31% devouring progress, wishing he could instantly make it jump to 100% so he could go and devour the Iron Wall Martial Soul.
The number of Martial Soul Hall members steadily dwindled with every swing of Chu Qingyun’s sword.
But they also fought to the death without retreating, stalling for time and waiting for support from their nearby comrades.
However, when the remaining level-nine Martial Artist circled behind Chu Qingyun, wanting to get close for a sneak attack, his eyes suddenly widened.
"The aura of the Vermilion Bird! He has the aura of the Vermilion Bird on him!" the level-nine Martial Artist couldn’t help but exclaim in shock.
The Vermilion Bird’s aura again!
Chu Qingyun’s lip twitched. He was utterly speechless.
The last time Qian Sanpang met him, he had also screamed in shock just like this, then desperately grilled him about where the Vermilion Bird was.
Now it was happening again.
But he, Chu Qingyun, didn’t even know what a Vermilion Bird was!
