Chapter 416: Chapter 190: Sneak Attack
On a main road of the Xuanjia Sect.
Chang Xing knelt beside Du Lingchuan, her beautiful eyes red and swollen from crying. Tears streamed down her face as she choked out, "Master... you have to hold on..."
Chen Qing had just carefully checked Du Lingchuan’s pulse.
Du Lingchuan was gravely injured. The vicious and tyrannical Black Death Palm Power that had struck his chest had damaged his organs and meridians. Fortunately, his cultivation foundation was profound, and he had managed to protect his heart meridian at the critical moment. Coupled with the effects of Peng Zhen’s Top-Grade Healing Elixir, which were now spreading through his body, his life was sustained. He was not in immediate danger.
He withdrew his hand and said to Chang Xing in a steady voice, "Junior Sister Chang, there’s no need to worry excessively. Elder Du has a profound foundation, and that elixir is no ordinary item. Though the Palm Power was severe, it didn’t damage his core. Once I use my True Qi to help circulate the elixir’s effects and clear his blocked meridians, he should be fine after a period of proper recuperation."
Hearing this, Chang Xing looked up with tear-filled eyes as if grasping a lifeline. "Thank you, Brother Chen! Thank you!"
Chen Qing shook his head slightly. "It is my duty. No thanks are necessary."
He motioned for Chang Xing to step back, then sat cross-legged behind Du Lingchuan, pressing his palms against the vital points on his back.
His Cyan Wood True Gang flowed slowly into Du Lingchuan’s body like a gentle spring rain, nourishing his damaged meridians and guiding the potent medicinal energy toward his limbs and bones.
The surviving Xuanjia Sect disciples, including Shi Ziyi and Fang Rui, watched with bated breath, their faces filled with gratitude and the relief of having survived the ordeal.
Had the Wutai Sect reinforcements not arrived in time, they would likely have all been annihilated.
Watching Chen Qing heal Elder Du, their feelings toward this young chief disciple of the Wutai Sect grew more complex, a mixture of admiration and gratitude.
About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Chen Qing slowly began Finishing the Practice.
Almost the instant he withdrew his palms, a low groan escaped Du Lingchuan’s throat. His eyelids fluttered a few times, and he slowly opened them.
"Master!"
Overjoyed and relieved, Chang Xing rushed to his side.
Du Lingchuan’s gaze was unfocused and bewildered at first, but it quickly sharpened. He recognized Chang Xing and his surroundings as his memories came flooding back.
He struggled to sit up but was gently held down by Chen Qing.
"Elder Du, your injuries are still unstable. You shouldn’t move."
Du Lingchuan turned his gaze to Chen Qing. When he recognized him, a complex look flashed in his eyes. "Chen the Kid... It’s you... Thank you."
Chen Qing clasped his fist in a salute, his tone still calm. "Elder Du, you’re too kind. The Four Sects Alliance is one body. What happened today was simply our duty."
Feeling the pure Cyan Wood True Gang within him, Du Lingchuan was overcome with a flood of mixed emotions.
He recalled his astonishment upon first seeing the kid practicing his spear techniques at the Qianchuanze Waterway. He remembered his own unstinting praise and his invitation for Chen Qing to visit the Xuanjia Sect... ’Even back then,’ he thought, ’I sensed the young man was destined for greatness. But I never imagined... how little time has passed?’
The boy from the Embrace Pill Realm who once needed his encouragement had now grown into an Astral Force master capable of holding his own!
That rate of growth was simply unheard of!
’What a pity...’ he thought. ’Such a rare talent, yet he is ultimately a disciple of the Wutai Sect, not my Xuanjia Sect.’
At this thought, Du Lingchuan sighed heavily in his heart.
’The Sect Leader is grievously wounded, his fate unknown. The sect’s gates have been destroyed, our disciples are dead or injured, and a century’s worth of foundation has been wiped out in an instant...’
He closed his eyes and said no more.
Seeing this, Chen Qing knew his heart was heavy with grief and didn’t press him. He simply gave Chang Xing a few quiet instructions about his aftercare, then stood up and stepped away.
He then ordered Luo Xinyi, Xu Qi, and the other Cyan Wood Institute disciples to look after the Xuanjia Sect’s wounded. He himself stood at the edge of the forest clearing, spear in hand, scanning the surroundings.
The sounds of fighting from the direction of the Xuanjia Sect’s main gate had indeed begun to fade. Although the glow of fire still reddened the sky, the chaotic explosions and the fierce clashes of Gang Qi were no longer audible.
’Is the situation under control?’
The thought had barely crossed Chen Qing’s mind when his brow suddenly furrowed!
At almost the same instant, his ears twitched. The Cyan Wood True Gang in his body circulated automatically, heightening his five senses to their absolute peak.
On a hidden forest path not far away, a figure was hurtling from the direction of the main gate at extreme speed. His movements were silent, but a sinister, cold aura still emanated from his body.
’Zuo Feng!?’
Chen Qing’s pupils contracted as he instantly recognized the man.
One of the Demon Sect’s Eight Great Guardians in Yunlin Prefecture, a man of infamous notoriety.
This Demon Sect master actually had a rather deep history with him. Chen Qing had seen him once before in Qianchuan Marsh. Back then, Chen Qing was only at the level of Embracing Pill Force and had been forced to flee in a panic.
The second time was near the waters of Nine Waves Island. Zuo Feng had tried and failed to kill Liu Han to seize the Azure Wave Profound Flood Dragon Armor, which ultimately ended up in Chen Qing’s possession.
Today was the third time.
At almost the same moment, Zuo Feng also noticed the figure in the woods ahead.
Right now, he only wanted to escape this place of conflict as quickly as possible. Seeing someone blocking his path, a murderous glint flashed in his eyes. Without wasting any words, he snarled, "You’re courting death!"
Before the words had even faded, his figure abruptly accelerated, pouncing toward Chen Qing. While still ten zhang away, he had already thrown a palm strike!
Ink-black Black Death True Astral erupted from his palm, coalescing into a solid Palm Seal. It flew through the air, carrying a venomous power that could erode bone and corrode the heart. Everywhere it passed, the grass and trees instantly withered and turned black!
Chen Qing was already prepared. Facing this infamous Demon, he didn’t dare to be the slightest bit careless.
The Cyan Wood True Gang inside him exploded forth. From his Dantian Sea of Qi, the cyan-colored True Astral, dense as mercury, surged out and instantly flooded every meridian in his body.
Facing the whistling Black Death Palm Seal, he neither dodged nor evaded. With a fluid flick of his right hand, the tip of his Cloud-Coiling Spear trembled and transformed into a single point of cyan light, striking the very center of the Palm Seal with perfect precision!
