Chapter 212: Chapter 200: Strongman
As the Sword Qi swept out, everyone from the Zhao Family on the high platform—whether they were at the Peak of Qi Sect or merely a Qi Sect Powerhouse—was torn to shreds by the single strike, reduced to a bloody pulp!
Zhao Xingpu, who had wanted to marry Luoqing City, and Zhao Zhenyu, the current Clan Leader of the Zhao Family, were all dead!
His parents were Nie Yun’s one inviolable line. Since Zhao Xun knew where they were but refused to say, he had already signed his own death warrant. His entire family, young and old, would die for it!
Take Zhao Xingpu, for example. With his Royal Family’s Top Grade bloodline, his strength was bound to soar if he ever got the chance. When you cut the weeds, you must pull out the roots. Nie Yun would never leave such a threat to fester!
"Ah... Xingpu! Zhenyu!"
Seeing his son, grandson, and all the Zhao Family members on the high platform slain by the youth’s single sword strike, Zhao Xun trembled violently and spat out a mouthful of blood.
He’d seen ruthless people before, but never anyone *this* ruthless!
’How can a seventeen-year-old boy be so heartless?’
"I’ll ask you one last time. Are you going to talk, or not?" Nie Yun asked, ignoring the old man’s trembling.
"I won’t—"
Zhao Xun had barely uttered the word "won’t" before he saw the youth’s brilliant Sword Qi surge toward the Zhao Family’s wedding guests. BOOM! Hundreds more died on the spot.
"Ah! Run for your lives!"
"The Zhao Family is finished..."
Seeing the youth attack without the slightest hesitation, all the Zhao Family members knew their once-glorious family was about to be annihilated. They scrambled from their seats, fleeing for their lives.
"You... you’re a monster! A devil!"
Watching this boy—not even a man yet—strike so casually, with no regard for human life, even the firm-willed Zhao Xun felt he was about to break. He was drenched in a cold sweat, his eyes filled with profound terror.
"Lad, to have such strength at your age, and to be so ruthless and unsparing... even I’m a little impressed! How about it? Any interest in becoming my subordinate?"
Suddenly, Zhao Xun’s so-called "bosom buddy" on the high platform, the Ultimate Venerable named Tuxin, spoke. As he talked, he flew into the air, ascending step by step as if climbing an invisible staircase.
"Become your subordinate?" Nie Yun had no idea where this guy had popped out from. He gave him a puzzled look, as if staring at a complete moron.
"Heh, that’s right. Zhao Xun is my subordinate. He’s useless now, so you can take his place. As long as you agree, I can have your parents released, completely unharmed!"
Venerable Tuxin said with a smile, as if offering the deal of a lifetime.
"My parents... they were captured by you?"
Nie Yun’s eyes instantly turned ice-cold.
"Heh, correct! Though, it wasn’t me who captured them, but the one I report to. As long as you do as you’re told and hand over the item without any trouble, I can pull some strings and ensure your parents are returned to you unharmed. It’s no trouble at all!"
Venerable Tuxin spoke with an air of arrogance, as if certain the boy couldn’t possibly refuse.
"’The one you report to?’ Who are you, exactly?" Nie Yun’s eyes narrowed.
"Who am I? Obey my command, and I will naturally tell you!" Venerable Tuxin looked at Nie Yun as if he had just found a talented new subordinate, a flicker of excitement on his face.
"Obey your command? Alright, then."
Nie Yun’s grip tightened. CRACK! Zhao Xun’s neck snapped, and his body plummeted from the sky.
Since Tuxin had admitted to his involvement in his parents’ capture, Zhao Xun no longer had any value. Killing him was of no consequence.
"Heh, so you know what’s good for you..."
Hearing the youth’s ready agreement, Tuxin burst into laughter. But his laugh was cut short when he saw a pitch-black greatsword smashing down toward his face.
"You’re courting death!"
Realizing the boy’s "obedience" was a lie and the attack was real, Tuxin let out an angry snort. He turned his fists over and met the blow head-on.
BOOM!
The two fists and the sword clashed. A powerful wave of energy exploded outward, forming a mushroom cloud in the sky.
CRACK! CRACK!
Under the impact of the aftershock, the high platform below them began to crack, the solid stone turning to fine powder!
The mere aftershock was enough to make the platform, built of sturdy white stone, collapse. The power of the two combatants was far beyond anyone’s imagination!
"What kind of power is this?"
"Now *this* is real power! Before, I thought a Qi Sect expert was impossibly arrogant, but compared to these two, they’re not even worthy of being called trash..."
The crowd of onlookers was completely stunned. Logically, it was incredibly dangerous to stand below a battle between two Ultimate Venerable Powerhouses, as the destructive force was immense. Yet, not a single person was willing to leave.
A battle between Ultimate Venerable Powerhouses—and Ultimate Venerable Peak Powerhouses at that—was a sight one might not see even once in a lifetime. To witness it in person would be worth it, even if it meant death!
"Dad, that Venerable Tuxin seems incredibly strong. Will Nie Yun be alright?"
"Nie Yun is a man who creates miracles. Let’s just watch..."
Far from the main crowd, Tie Lan, Tie Yan, and the others watched the two combatants in the sky, their eyes filled with worry.
"Hmph. Your strength isn’t all that impressive!"
The two separated after the initial clash. Venerable Tuxin sneered at Nie Yun.
’Hmm?’
Nie Yun’s previous disdain was gone, replaced by a grave expression.
Though their exchange had been brief, Nie Yun had discovered with stark clarity that his opponent’s pure physical strength was even greater than his own!
’My Spirit Rhinoceros Body Refining Technique is at the Third Layer Great Success, yet his physical body is stronger than mine? How is that possible!’
’In that last exchange, even though I didn’t use the Momentum of the Earth or the Momentum of Mountains and Rivers, the weight of the Profound Jade Sword combined with my full-power strike is something that even the current Baihua Sect Master might not be able to block. Not only did this man block it, but the force behind his punch actually split the webbing of my thumb and sent a numbing shock through my palm. Terrifying!’
’Someone physically stronger than me? From what I know, that should be impossible!’
’Could he also be a cultivator of the Spirit Rhinoceros Body Refining Technique, and at a higher level than me?’
"While your strength is a far cry from mine, you’re at least worthy of me using a weapon!"
Venerable Tuxin flicked his wrist, and a giant iron hammer appeared in his palm.
’A Storage Dantian?’
Seeing him conjure the hammer from thin air, Nie Yun knew this man possessed a Storage Dantian, just like him.
’Although a Storage Dantian is a special talent, it’s not unheard of. It’s just exceedingly rare in a small place like the Divine Wind Empire.’
"This hammer weighs over four thousand pounds, making it one of the heaviest weapons in existence. You can consider it a worthy death to fall to it!"
With a flick of his wrist, the hammer—weighing over four thousand pounds—swayed gently, looking as light as a toy in Venerable Tuxin’s hand.
’To wield a hammer of over four thousand pounds so effortlessly... could it be...’
A certain special talent suddenly came to Nie Yun’s mind.
A Strongman!
’Strongmen possess a Great Strength Dantian, which can nourish the body with Powerful Qi and grant a massive boost to physical strength!’
’My Spirit Rhinoceros Body Refining Technique focuses primarily on Defense. When it comes to the pure application of strength, I’m no match for an expert with a special talent like this!’
’However... if I could obtain a Great Strength Dantian, how much would my own power increase?’
At this thought, a fiery glint instantly appeared in Nie Yun’s eyes. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian.com to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
