Chapter 134: Chapter 37: National Guardian Master 2
BOOM! Like a thunderclap, a violent soundwave swept across the surrounding mountain peaks. The adjacent snow-covered mountains began to rumble and shake, threatening to trigger an unstoppable avalanche—faintly, a hint of a Dragon’s Roar could be heard within the great shout.
The roar had barely faded when Su Zhou, having already drawn his greatbow to its limit and channeled the Rigid Shooting Technique, unleashed his shot!
BOOM!
Caught in Su Zhou’s sonic blast, two of the three Yang Flame Cicadas dancing in the sky immediately plunged to the ground. As for the third... it had already been struck by Su Zhou’s Rigid Shot and exploded into drifting splinters of wood ash.
If this was the fate of the Yang Flame Cicadas, how could the other Demon Beasts and Demon Soldiers be any different? The few thrashing Wood Centipedes froze on the spot, as motionless as if they were dead. An uproar broke out among the Demon Soldiers; although their formation held, the monstrous, oppressive silence from before was gone. It was now clear that they were, at their core, nothing more than well-trained soldiers.
Likewise, though their ears rang painfully from the blast, the city’s defending Martial Artists were all snapped out of their previous tension and panic. ’There’s nothing to fear,’ they thought. ’We’re fully prepared. It’s just a fight to the death.’
But in contrast to the reinvigorated Martial Artists defending the city, Su Zhou’s expression had grown much graver than before.
Through his Spiritual Vision, he saw a massive Spiritual Qi Group that had been advancing unhurriedly on the mountainside. Upon hearing his voice, it had immediately accelerated, hurtling toward the fortress like a meteor and trailing a long streak of dark cyan Spiritual Qi.
Drawing the Long Spear from his back and gripping it tightly in his right hand, Su Zhou stood atop the city wall. He paid no mind to the gazes of the Martial Artists or the Divine Wood Guard, focusing solely on the massive, rapidly approaching Spiritual Qi Group.
「Taibai Volcano, the pass fortress.」
A blizzard poured from the clouds above, seeming to seal the world in frost and ice. But a figure wreathed in cyan Thunder Light appeared, riding atop a Yang Flame Cicada. With an incomparably profound Inner Qi Cultivation, it tore through the atmosphere, hurtling forward like an arrow!
The Thunder Light flickered, and electrical currents sweeping through the air caused loud CRACKLES. Surging thunder of Spiritual Power leaped across the figure’s entire body, as if it strode upon the lightning itself. Its powerful magnetic field was so strong it repelled the falling snow with static electricity, creating a massive, snowless void with a radius of a full twenty meters.
A closer look revealed a statue-like Cyan Jade Form over four meters tall. It was wreathed in rings of lightning that formed a protective shield. Wooden roots grew from its feet, connecting it to the flying Spirit Plant Demon Beast below. Potent Inner Qi flowed through these roots into its body, granting it strength and speed far surpassing others of its kind. This allowed it to withstand the electrical current; in fact, the microcurrents stimulated and provided Enhancement to its muscles, enabling it to reach the Battle Array at extreme speed.
The National Guardian Master, the Great National Master, had arrived!
Though known as the Demon Dynasty’s National Preceptor, he had the burly and powerful build of a warrior. Beneath the crackling Thunder Light, his face held a trace of an Immortal’s otherworldly air, exuding an effortless authority. In his hand, he held a Spirit Steel Magical Sword that seemed somewhat slender for his massive frame, measuring four chi and eight cun. Five silver metal beads were embedded in the blade, linked together by arcs of leaping electricity.
"What are you waiting for? Attack!"
Laughing heartily as he approached, the National Preceptor let out a long cry. The sheer power of the sound, fueled by his abundant Inner Strength, actually overwhelmed the momentum of Su Zhou’s previous Dragon’s Roar. It even spurred the Spirit Plant Demon Beasts, which had been frozen stiff and immobile, into action once more. Without a single wasted word, this Grandmaster raised his Magic Sword high into the air. A dazzling, cyan Thunder Light flashed across the blade, as if calling out to the storm clouds gathering above.
RUMBLE!
The sky above Taibai Volcano was already overcast, but now it darkened abruptly as gales converged. The scorching air vented by the volcano mixed with the dry snow clouds, creating the perfect conditions for the birth of a thunderstorm. Amidst the churning black clouds, thunder boomed and roared!
In that instant, winds rose and clouds churned, thunder roared and snow fell. Even the cry of a Qilin could be heard, resounding in harmony with the Celestial Changes!
Celestial Thunder Qilin Technique!
The Great National Master: former Sect Leader of the Celestial Extreme Four Symbols Sect. He had abandoned his Sect, taking with him its Sect Guardian Treasure Weapon, the ’Four Extremes Heaven Sword,’ to join the Demon Dynasty. Using the Divine Wood Undying Root as a primary material, he had refined the flesh and blood of a million people to create thirty-six Immortal Divine Pills and two Dragon Transformation Pills. One pill he presented to the Demon Emperor; the other, he consumed himself!
If the Demon Emperor desired to be the immortal king of the world, the sovereign of the realm, then he desired to achieve the status of a Land True Immortal with an indestructible body!
BOOM!
With the power of a Grandmaster, augmented by his Secret Technique, the National Preceptor unhesitatingly unleashed his strongest attack. His Magic Sword pulsed with Spiritual Light as he guided a bolt of Celestial Thunder, causing it to snake down from the heavens and slam toward the city wall. If left unblocked, this single strike was enough to blast every guard on the ramparts, leaving them paralyzed and helpless!
But at that very moment, another roaring arrow tore through the gale, whistling as it sped toward him!
Su Zhou hadn’t even bothered to see what his opponent was doing. The moment he laid eyes on this enemy, who practically radiated ’final boss’ energy, his first instinct was to fire off a Rigid Shot!
’This is real life, not a cutscene with a transformation sequence,’ he thought. ’Of course I’m going to strike first!’
Immediately after, Su Zhou was about to gather his Inner Qi to block the Thunder Strike with a Qi Blade. But then he saw that as soon as the Celestial Changes had begun, Li Daoran had already shouted a sharp command. In response, all the Swordsmen drew their blades and manipulated their qi. A Gale Shield formed from an Inner Qi-fueled gale rose rapidly, blanketing the city wall and intercepting the Thunder Strike that snaked down from the sky like a bolt of lightning!
Instantly, Thunder Light flashed and the smell of ozone filled the air, but not a single Martial Artist present was harmed.
’Impressive! They’re so experienced!’
Lowering his bow, Su Zhou blinked. He could see that within the layers of the Gale Shield, there was more than just wind. Thin layers of Copper Sand were bound into a tight, grid-like mesh. It was this sand, lifted by the Gale Shield, that had formed a massive conductive cage, channeling the full power of the Celestial Thunder directly into the earth!
’That makes sense,’ he thought. ’If the Hundred Schools’ Righteous Army couldn’t handle the National Preceptor’s Thunder Strikes, they would have been turned into tree fertilizer decades ago. Swordsmen like Li Daoran, who specialize in Wind Control Skills and Daoist Techniques, must be the dedicated countermeasure for this exact situation.’
Meanwhile, sparks of electricity danced around the National Preceptor as he once again effortlessly deflected the iron arrowhead, sending it flying harmlessly into the distance. He gazed down thoughtfully at the city wall, his eyes meeting those of Su Zhou, who was looking right back up.
In mid-air, with dark clouds swirling and Thunder Light flashing within them, the cyan-jade Daoist stood upon the Demon Beast’s back, sword in hand. He looked down with an air of indifference at the young Martial Artist, whose face was alight with eagerness for battle.
On the city wall, the young Demon Hunter held his longbow, his Long Spear still strapped to his back. His Inner Qi blazed like a furnace, and his Spiritual Power surged to its absolute limit as he stared up at the aloof, Daoist-robed National Preceptor.
"Are you the Hundred Schools’ new Grandmaster?"
His voice, carried on a surge of Inner Qi, echoed from afar. "So young... it’s enough to inspire jealousy."
"That’s right. I’m the one who’s going to kill you right here."
Su Zhou laughed, nocked a Stone Arrow, and drew his bow again. "Enough with the pointless talk! Get down here and grovel!"
