Chapter 333: Chapter 164: Netherworld (4)
Seeing her chance, Yu Jiayao pressed her attack, her blade flashing toward Chen Qing like a cascade of snow.
Chen Qing fought as he retreated. Just as the encirclement was about to close, he roared and feigned an all-out attempt to break through. But after his move was countered, with a flick of his wrist, he unexpectedly hurled the "Earth Essence Marrow Pearl" at Yu Jiayao. "This treasure is too hot to handle! It’s yours!"
Caught completely by surprise, Yu Jiayao instinctively reached out and caught it.
The cool, heavy pearl settled in her palm. She froze for a moment before ecstasy surged through her. With no time to wonder why Chen Qing had given it up so easily, she bellowed, "Stop them! We’re leaving!"
She clutched the Treasure Pearl tightly as True Qi surged through her body. The light of her blade erupted, forcing back an Earth Element Sect disciple at her side as she shot toward the inn’s main entrance like a bolt of lightning.
"The Treasure Pearl! Don’t you dare run!"
"Stop her! Quick!"
When Lu Da and Stone Dragon saw this, their eyes went bloodshot.
They coveted the Earth Essence Marrow Pearl more than anything, as it was immensely beneficial to their Earth Element techniques. How could they possibly let Yu Jiayao escape with it?
Roaring in fury, both men simultaneously abandoned Yan Yaoyang and Li Lei. They exploded with astonishing speed, wreathed in dense Earth Element True Qi, and smashed through the tables and chairs blocking their path as they lunged after Yu Jiayao.
Li Lei’s expression changed. The Treasure Pearl was just as crucial for his Eight Desolates Mountain-Suppressing Technique. He couldn’t just stand by and watch it be stolen.
"I’ll go after them!"
He yelled urgently and, without waiting for Chen Qing’s reply, gathered his True Qi and charged out of the inn right behind Lu Da and Stone Dragon.
Instantly, the sounds of more intense fighting, enraged shouts, and the thunderous booms of colliding True Qi erupted from outside the inn. Apparently, Yu Jiayao hadn’t gotten far before the two from the Earth Element Sect intercepted her. With Li Lei joining the brawl, the scene descended into chaos.
Inside the inn, Zhu Yi saw that the chaos caused by the fake Treasure Pearl had drawn everyone’s attention. A vicious glint flashed in his eyes.
He hissed to the two remaining core disciples at his side, "Go!"
The three of them moved, intending to use the chaos to escape through a side window.
"And where do you think you’re going?!"
Yan Yaoyang had been keeping one eye on Zhu Yi the whole time. How could he possibly let him escape?
Geng Metal True Qi instantly coated his Fist Edge. A golden light flared as a fierce and domineering Vajra Armor-Breaking Fist tore through the air, aimed squarely at the center of Zhu Yi’s back.
Forced to turn and face the attack, the frail aura Zhu Yi had been using as a disguise instantly vanished. A surging True Qi, thick with a sinister black energy, exploded from him—his cultivation was nearly at Embracing Pill Power Perfection!
His fingers formed a claw, his nails instantly turning jet-black and razor-sharp. With a sound like tearing air, his claw met Yan Yaoyang’s Fist Edge.
BANG!
As their Qi Forces collided, Yan Yaoyang felt a sinister, bone-chillingly venomous energy creep up his arm. His body swayed, and he was forced back half a step.
’A Demon Skill?!’
A chill ran down his spine.
Zhu Yi let out a savage laugh. The attacks from his claws grew even more ferocious, his moves vicious and cunning. Yan Yaoyang was forced onto the defensive, struggling to parry, and immediately found himself at a disadvantage.
A cold light flashed in Chen Qing’s eyes. He wasn’t about to let Zhu Yi run rampant.
With a flick of his toe, he kicked a fallen saber across the floor toward a Zhu Family disciple who was trying to ambush Yan Yaoyang. At the same time, his Cloud-Coiling Spear shot forward like a venomous dragon lunging from its cave.
PSHH! "AARGH!"
The spear tip flashed with a cold light, and blood sprayed through the air.
How could those two core Zhu Family disciples, who were only at the Mid-stage of Embracing Pill Power, possibly block a spear strike as swift as lightning from Chen Qing?
In an instant, their chests were pierced through, and they collapsed with agonized cries.
Chen Qing hadn’t killed them, deliberately leaving them alive to give Zhu Yi pause.
After all, the dead were of no use to him.
"My grandsons!"
Seeing his two most beloved and promising descendants fall in an instant, Zhu Yi’s eyes turned as blood-red as a wild beast’s. He let out a shrill, furious roar.
Overcome with grief and rage, the Demon Skill in his body seemed to boil. The black energy around him flared, and his attacks became frenzied and brutal. His clawed hands left a trail of afterimages as he moved, like a vengeful ghost reaping souls, completely overwhelming Yan Yaoyang and putting him in mortal danger!
"Junior Brother Chen, lend me a hand!"
The pressure on Yan Yaoyang increased dramatically, and he desperately called for aid.
Chen Qing swung his spear, about to join Yan Yaoyang in a combined attack on Zhu Yi.
Suddenly, the situation took an unexpected turn!
A cold, bizarre, and impossibly fast black claw shot out from the shadows at the side without any warning, striking directly at Yan Yaoyang’s unprotected ribs!
The timing of the strike was impeccable. It came just as Yan Yaoyang was fully occupied with fending off Zhu Yi’s onslaught, leaving him utterly unable to dodge or block!
’Not good!’
Yan Yaoyang felt a bone-piercing chill wash over him as the shadow of death fell upon him in an instant!
In the nick of time!
CLANG!
As if he had anticipated it all along, Chen Qing swung his Cloud-Coiling Spear around to intercept. The tip of the spear struck the attacker’s wrist with perfect precision, producing a shrill screech of metal on metal and knocking the claw aside, saving Yan Yaoyang’s life.
The attacker was none other than the man from the seemingly terrified couple in the corner! He slowly withdrew his slightly trembling hand, his face now devoid of panic, replaced by a cold, eerie smile.
Chen Qing stood ready with his spear and sneered, "After such a good show, how could the star not make an appearance?"
The man twisted his wrist, producing a soft CRACK CRACK sound. "Kid," he said sinisterly, "you’re sharp. And your Spear Technique is even better."
Seizing the chance to catch his breath, Zhu Yi quickly swallowed a Qi Recovery Elixir, staring at the sudden turn of events with shock and suspicion.
The woman stepped forward as well, a cruel, mocking smile on her face. She glanced at the fallen Zhu Family disciples on the ground and sneered, "Mid-stage Embracing Pill Power? Better than nothing, I suppose..."
As she spoke, she bent down and casually grabbed one of the Zhu Family disciples who was still twitching on the floor. Her fingers, like hooks, easily pierced his chest.
A horrifying scene unfolded!
The body rapidly shriveled at a speed visible to the naked eye. Its Essence Blood seemed to have been sucked out in an instant, and soon, nothing was left but skin draped over a skeleton, which collapsed limply to the floor.
The man’s figure flickered, and he appeared like a phantom beside the other heavily injured Zhu Family disciple. His hand, sharp as a blade, shot out and pierced the disciple’s throat, extinguishing the last spark of his life.
He casually flicked the blood from his hand, the motion as nonchalant as if he had just swatted a fly.
"You...!"
Seeing this horrifying scene, especially the desecration of the grandsons he had cherished as his own, sent Zhu Yi into a trembling rage. His eyes looked ready to split with fury, and he was on the verge of madness.
Just then, the man’s icy gaze shifted to the counter. His voice was like a frigid wind from the Nine Netherworld. "Seen enough? Get out here!"
The lean Shopkeeper was already pale with terror, shaking like a leaf in the wind. His teeth chattered as he stammered, "Draining marrow and dissolving blood... You... you’re under the command of Blood Rakshasa... You’re the Nether and Ghost Guards?!"
.....
