Chapter 417: Chapter 190: Sneak Attack
"Break!"
The spear tip and the Palm Seal slammed into each other!
HSSS—!
There was no earth-shattering boom, only a piercing shriek, like a red-hot iron plunged into ice water!
The vibrant, life-filled Cyan Wood True Gang clashed violently with the sinister, bone-eroding Black Death True Astral.
Cyan light and black energy furiously intertwined.
Zuo Feng felt an incredibly condensed Power surge back through his Palm Power, making his arm go numb. His forward Momentum was brought to a dead stop!
He was stunned. ’Astral Force!? He’s so young... Is he that new kid from the Wutai Sect?’
He had never imagined that this young man blocking his path was already at the Astral Force Realm!
His attack thwarted, Zuo Feng’s killing intent flared. He knew he couldn’t afford to waste any time.
His figure blurred as he transitioned from a palm to a seal. His fingers curled slightly, condensing Gang Qi, and his palm instantly turned as black as ink, as if it held an abyss. He struck straight for Chen Qing’s face!
He was so fast that only an afterimage remained! It was a profound Martial Arts technique he had learned from cultivating the Infinite Demonic Scripture—the Nether Seal!
Chen Qing’s aura remained steady. The qi and blood of his Eight Extremes Vajra Body began to surge, and a faint bronze sheen appeared on his skin.
He twisted at the waist, pulling back the Cloud-Coiling Spear. The butt of the spear shot out like a venomous dragon from its lair, striking later but arriving first, precisely hitting Zuo Feng’s wrist in an attempt to break the formation of his seal!
Simultaneously, he formed a blade with the fingers of his left hand, condensing Cyan Wood True Gang at their tips. He silently struck toward an opening in Zuo Feng’s ribs with the Nine Heavens Thunder Shocking Finger!
This combination of spear and finger, both offensive and defensive, was executed with calm, veteran precision.
It demonstrated Chen Qing’s vast combat experience; he showed not a shred of fear, even when facing an expert like Zuo Feng.
Zuo Feng didn’t alter his Seal Technique; its momentum only grew heavier as it clashed with the butt of the spear. A muffled BANG, like the clash of Gold and Stone, rang out, accompanied by a somber shockwave. Both fighters staggered.
He didn’t even try to dodge Chen Qing’s Finger Gang strike aimed at his ribs. Instead, his other hand shot out from an impossible angle, fingers formed into a blade. Wreathed in a deeply condensed black energy, his fingertips stabbed straight for Chen Qing’s heart!
It was a ruthless Fighting Method—trading an injury for a kill!
Chen Qing’s heart went cold. He was well aware of Zuo Feng’s treacherous and ruthless nature and had been on guard.
He didn’t alter the course of his hand-blade, its momentum only quickening. At the same time, the Cyan Wood True Gang over his Danzhong Acupoint instantly condensed, forming an invisible, solid shield.
THWAP! THWAP!
The two soft impacts sounded almost simultaneously.
Chen Qing’s Finger Gang struck Zuo Feng’s ribs. Though most of the force was nullified by his Protective Demon Astral, it still left a shallow, bloody line. The sharp aura of the Cyan Wood True Gang pierced through, causing Zuo Feng to frown.
Zuo Feng’s hand-blade, however, felt as if it had struck hundred-refined steel as it stabbed toward Chen Qing’s heart. A massive rebound force shot back up his fingertips, and a surge of scorching, majestic Qi Blood Power quickly neutralized and dissolved the Black Killing Astral Qi he had gathered!
’Such powerful Horizontal Training! Such condensed True Astral!’
Zuo Feng was shocked yet again. ’This kid isn’t just at the Astral Force Realm; his True Astral foundation is incredibly solid! How could he have also cultivated his External Skills to such a level?’
’The Wutai Sect has truly produced an extraordinary figure!’
They had exchanged two moves in the blink of an eye, and while they seemed evenly matched, a storm was already raging in Zuo Feng’s heart.
He prided himself on his profound Power and vast combat experience, thinking he could quickly finish his young opponent with the Nether Seal. He never expected the other man’s True Astral to be so incredibly condensed, his moves so calm and seasoned, and his body fortified by Horizontal Body Protection Training. He couldn’t gain the slightest advantage; in fact, he was the one being faintly suppressed.
’I can’t get bogged down in a fight with him!’
Zuo Feng made an instant decision: he had to escape immediately!
Just as the thought crossed his mind and he prepared to feint and retreat—
Chen Qing and Zuo Feng both slowed their movements at nearly the same instant, their peripheral vision catching a patch of shadow to their rear.
Someone was there!
Although the newcomer’s aura was heavily suppressed, it couldn’t fool the keen senses of two Astral Force masters.
The person approached slowly, seemingly content to lurk and observe without immediately revealing their intentions.
’Could it be that treacherous old bastard from the Sect? Is he trying to profit from our conflict?’
Zuo Feng’s heart tightened as he cursed inwardly.
Chen Qing’s eyes narrowed, his own vigilance soaring.
Just then, the person in the shadows, apparently aware they had been discovered, let out a long laugh. "Brother Chen! I’ve come to help you!"
Before the voice had faded, a fiery red figure shot out and landed gracefully. The newcomer, clad in a brocade robe, radiated a scorching aura. It was Feng Shuhao of Qixia Manor!
After landing, his gaze swept over Zuo Feng. He smiled at Chen Qing and said, "So this fiend is from the Demon Sect? Excellent. Today, we shall join forces and rid the world of this scourge!"
A look of delight spread across Chen Qing’s face. "Brother Feng! What a relief! This is Zuo Feng of the Demon Sect. I’m in dire need of your assistance!"
Inwardly, however, his wariness toward Feng Shuhao instantly skyrocketed.
’This man was hiding nearby. His intentions are sinister; he’s no friend.’
"So, it’s a junior from Qixia Manor!"
Zuo Feng’s expression turned ugly. He was already struggling to take down Chen Qing. Now, with the arrival of Feng Shuhao, who was clearly also at the Astral Force Realm, he feared he might truly meet his end here today!
"Get out of my way!"
Zuo Feng roared. He frantically channeled his Demon Skill, and his Black Death True Astral surged violently. He shot out both palms, one at Chen Qing and the other at Feng Shuhao, attempting to force them back and create an opening to escape.
The wind from his palms howled as black energy filled the air. The attack was even more powerful than before!
"You dare show off such a paltry skill?"
Feng Shuhao sneered, stepping forward. His right palm turned as red as a branding iron as his Red Flame True Astral erupted, and he lashed out with a strike of his own!
The scorching, tyrannical force of his palm was like a volcanic eruption as it met Zuo Feng’s Palm Power!
Chen Qing attacked at the same moment. With a flick of his Cloud-Coiling Spear, the cyan light on its tip condensed until it was almost solid, forming a straight line that stabbed swiftly at the center of Zuo Feng’s palm!
BOOM! BANG!
The two explosions erupted almost simultaneously!
Fighting two against one, Zuo Feng was immediately at a great disadvantage.
While he was confident he could face either one of them alone, he was no match for both at once!
His body trembled violently as he staggered back several steps. A sweet, coppery taste rose in his throat, and he barely managed to swallow the mouthful of blood that threatened to erupt.
The center of his right palm had been pierced by Chen Qing’s spear. A wisp of Cyan Wood True Gang shot into his arm, making the entire limb go numb.
He fell back against a large tree, his breathing ragged.
Seeing his chance, a cold light flashed in Chen Qing’s eyes. He wouldn’t give him a moment to breathe.
He stepped forward, the ground sinking slightly beneath his foot. The Cloud-Coiling Spear in his hand let out a low hum as it shot out like a dragon, thrusting straight for Zuo Feng’s heart!
This strike contained eighty percent of his True Astral.
The cyan light tore through the air with a piercing shriek!
In that life-or-death instant—
A vicious glint suddenly flashed in the eyes of Feng Shuhao, who had been attacking alongside him!
’Now!’
He roared inwardly. The palm he had aimed at Zuo Feng bizarrely changed course in mid-air. He frantically and unreservedly poured his Red Flame True Astral into his right palm, which instantly turned blood-red and radiated a terrifying heat. He viciously struck the unguarded vital point on Chen Qing’s back!
The palm strike was long-planned and incredibly treacherous!
He didn’t just want to kill Zuo Feng; he wanted to take this opportunity to eliminate Chen Qing as well!
If he absorbed the Essence Blood True Qi of two Astral Force masters, his Cultivation would skyrocket!
The temptation was simply too great!
"BOOM—!"
The palm, wrapped in scorching Red Flame True Astral, landed squarely on Chen Qing’s back!
Chen Qing’s Cyan Wood True Gang automatically formed a defense, clashing violently with the Red Flame True Astral. A muffled thud echoed as it held for only a single instant before being shattered by the tyrannical Palm Power!
A triumphant smile had just begun to form on Feng Shuhao’s face when it froze solid!
After his Palm Power broke through the True Astral defense, it didn’t strike flesh as he’d expected. Instead, it felt like he had hit something incredibly tough, cold, and slick. With a muffled BANG, a powerful rebound force shot back at him!
He then sensed a layer of incredibly tough Inner Armor beneath Chen Qing’s robes, which had dissipated the majority of his Palm Power.
Beneath the Inner Armor, Chen Qing’s Flesh Body felt less like flesh and blood and more like Hundred Refinement Vajra—impossibly hard. The searing Palm Power couldn’t penetrate an inch. Instead, it was repelled by an even more scorching and majestic surge of Qi and Blood!
’What!? The Azure Wave Profound Flood Dragon Armor!?’
Feng Shuhao was utterly shaken, as if he had seen a ghost!
’The Liu Family’s secret Treasure Armor... how is Chen Qing wearing it?!’
’Has his Horizontal Training really reached the point where he can take a direct hit from an Astral Force Palm Power and act as if nothing happened?!’
Zuo Feng’s eyes went wide, practically spitting fire!
He couldn’t believe his eyes—that very Azure Wave Profound Flood Dragon Armor was now on this kid’s body, completely unscathed!
In a flash, a thought shot through his mind: ’This must be the brat who snatched the prize from right under my nose!’
...
