Chapter 177: Chapter 174: Making a Move
The Qi Family Ancestor was unaware of Shen Changchuan’s identity; Cao Hongshang had never revealed to him that Shen Changchuan was a member of the Tian Nan Shen Clan.
He only assumed that Shen Changchuan—the one who had squandered the Earth Vein Spiritual Milk, the great opportunity for the Qi Family’s rise—was merely one of Nangong City’s juniors.
Therefore, when Cao Hongshang invited him to join the attack,
he didn’t hesitate for a second,
and immediately struck at Nangong City!
Two at the Qi Introduction Ninth Layer versus a newly promoted one.
’The advantage is ours!’
’This is the perfect chance to land a killing blow and vent this hatred in my heart!’
BOOM!!!
The battle erupted in an instant.
Bursts of Magical Power flared to life, colliding in mid-air and setting off violent explosions.
The entire underground cavern began to shake from the successive, rumbling collisions.
Powerful torrents of Magical Power swept out in all directions.
The ground cracked.
Rocks came crashing down.
Facing the combined assault from Cao Hongshang and the Qi Family Ancestor, Nangong City fought back with all his might. He constantly unleashed Magic to counter their attacks while commanding his Seal, which transformed into a small mountain and repeatedly slammed into his opponents.
However, although he was by no means weak,
he was facing two opponents—both of them at the Qi Introduction Ninth Layer!
Furthermore, one of them was at the Late Stage of the Qi Introduction Ninth Layer, placing Nangong City at a clear disadvantage!
Under their combined assault,
even with Nangong City using every trick up his sleeve, he was steadily pushed back and completely overwhelmed.
"Brother Shen, this is no place to linger! Leave quickly!"
While using his Seal, a Magical Artifact, to weather the enemy’s combined assault, Nangong City turned and shouted to Shen Changchuan behind him.
But in that moment of distraction,
the Qi Family Ancestor—the oldest and most experienced in Magical Battles—instantly seized the opening!
BOOM!
A cyan, hammer-shaped Magical Artifact flared with Magical Power, rapidly expanded, and smashed down violently onto the Seal that was blocking the way!
The hammer and Seal collided.
In the furious collision,
the very air seemed to be torn apart by the shockwave.
The force of it made the entire cavern tremble violently!
The sudden, fierce assault shattered the Seal’s magical defenses. The Seal itself was sent flying back as a streak of light.
At the same time,
a massive backlash of power surged through the Seal and into his body. Nangong City choked back a grunt as a trickle of blood escaped the corner of his mouth.
Not far away,
seeing this, Cao Hongshang, ever the opportunist, decided to press his advantage and kick a man while he was down, unleashing a furious assault on Nangong City.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!!
Powerful streams of Magical Power swept through the sky, surging toward him like a torrent!
BANG!
Nangong City was already barely holding on.
How could he possibly withstand their fully committed, long-premeditated assault?
In the span of a breath,
his defenses shattered one after another, and Nangong City was sent flying.
Overwhelmed by the joint attack of the Qi Family Ancestor and Cao Hongshang, Nangong City was finally defeated!
Not far away, the Qi Family Ancestor exploded into action again.
With a wave of his hand, a pale-blue spear of Magical Power tore through the air, leaving a trail of afterimages. It crossed the distance in an instant, arriving before the battered Nangong City, poised to run him through the head!
At this very moment,
Nangong City, at the end of his rope, had no strength left to resist.
Just as it seemed he was about to die from this blow,
and yet,
at that very instant,
BOOM!!!
A roar like cracking thunder echoed through the air. Then, a beam of sword light shot out like a bolt of Thunder. It sizzled through the air, shedding sparks and arcs of electricity, and with unstoppable, terrifying momentum, it intercepted the spear—arriving later, but striking first!
RUMMMMBLE!!!
A ferocious collision erupted. Dazzling light burst forth, accompanied by an earth-shattering explosion.
Streaks of wild Thunder and lightning scattered in all directions, tearing through the air.
The ground trembled violently, spiderweb-like cracks spread rapidly, and shattered pebbles were blasted by the shockwave, shooting out in all directions like bullets!
"Who is it?!"
The sudden attack had blocked the Qi Family Ancestor’s killing blow and saved Nangong City.
Not far away, both the Qi Family Ancestor and Cao Hongshang were startled.
’Could someone have been drawn here by the commotion?’
They were instantly on high alert, their gazes snapping toward the source of the attack,
only to see that at some point,
Shen Changchuan had appeared in front of Nangong City.
There was no one else around.
After a slight pause,
as if he’d realized something, Cao Hongshang’s pupils suddenly shrank.
’Don’t tell me it was this kid who struck?’
’How is that possible?!’
In his memory, Shen Changchuan was just an ant at the mere Qi Introduction Fourth or Fifth Layer Realm who only got to throw his weight around because he was a member of the Tian Nan Shen Clan.
’For an ant like that to block an attack from the Qi Family Ancestor, an expert at the Ninth Layer Late Stage... it’s impossible!’
But then,
he noticed something—Shen Changchuan’s aura.
It had actually reached the Qi Introduction Eighth Layer Middle Stage!
’Could this kid have been hiding his true strength all this time?’
Cao Hongshang couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath.
’Someone like him...’
’...hiding his strength in a place like this... What’s his goal?!’
’Could he be a piece placed on the board by the Tian Nan Shen Clan, a sign they intend to interfere?’
Shen Changchuan’s background with the Tian Nan Shen Clan
made Cao Hongshang’s mind race with possibilities.
However, it was clear that,
compared to Cao Hongshang’s many concerns, the Qi Family Ancestor was far more direct and had no such scruples.
"Courting death!"
Even though Shen Changchuan had revealed a Cultivation at the Eighth Layer Middle Stage,
’So what?’
’He’s just a measly Eighth Layer Immortal Cultivator!’
BOOM!
The Qi Family Ancestor unleashed a torrent of boundless Magical Power, which coalesced in mid-air into a massive claw. It tore through the air, swiping directly at Shen Changchuan!
It seemed to be an ordinary Basic Magic,
but empowered by his Qi Introduction Ninth Layer Late Stage Realm, its might was overwhelming and utterly astonishing!
He intended to use his superior Realm to overwhelm and suppress Shen Changchuan on the spot!
Shen Changchuan’s expression barely flickered.
Thanks to the refinement he’d received from the Earth Vein Spiritual Milk,
in these past three days, Shen Changchuan had done more than just raise his Cultivation to the Eighth Layer Middle Stage.
It was an all-around improvement in the quality of his Magical Power, his physical aptitude, the breadth and resilience of his Dantian Meridians, and more!
Shen Changchuan formed a sword-finger
and slashed it through the air.
In an instant,
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!!
A brilliant line of dazzling light flared to life, swift as a bolt from the blue. Three beams of Thunder sword-light appeared, seeming to slice through space itself as their blinding radiance flooded the entire cavern!
Three-Thunder Shadow-Annihilating Sword!
BANG!!!
Along with a muffled CRACK that seemed to shake the very space around them,
a vast power—like an erupting volcano, a cascading flood, a wild dance of lightning—collided and exploded once more!
The tangible shockwave of Magical Power swept out, shaking the very earth and nearly blinding everyone present!
At that moment,
a gleam of light was seen to slice through the massive claw,
flash past the Qi Family Ancestor’s head,
and leave a visible, bloody gash on his cheek!
In a single exchange,
the Qi Family Ancestor had actually been put at a disadvantage!
