Chapter 227: Chapter 205: Retreat
’Is that Hong Luan?!’
No one could believe that the mangled, mud-like figure with a completely destroyed face before them was the same spirited, androgynous Hong Luan—the strongest of the Vermilion Bird Sect’s younger generation.
"What in the world happened? Is that really Hong Luan?"
Wakatsuki Kei asked the Vermilion Bird Sect Elder beside him in a low voice.
"From what I can see, and in my judgment, it’s highly likely Young Master Hong."
The Vermilion Bird Sect Elder’s grim words made everyone frown slightly.
’Has the entire operation in the backyard really failed?’
"Hong Luan’s defeat doesn’t necessarily mean anything. Perhaps this is just a ploy. The others might be succeeding. They’re trying to trick us into retreating."
The Beidou Sect Elder said, his expression calm.
"Indeed, that’s possible. You’re only making a judgment based on experience. This person’s face is completely ruined, so their true identity is hard to confirm."
The Divine Night Sect Elder had rugged features and a full beard, and his voice boomed like muffled thunder.
"Don’t believe me? It doesn’t matter. If you won’t leave, then you can stay forever. Three Elders, you keep the Neon Ghost suppressed. I’ll handle the remaining three. This time, none of them are leaving alive."
Zhao Xuanqi spoke with a calm expression, showing no sign that his body was approaching its limit. Instead, he radiated an air of complete confidence.
"Are you sure you can handle it?"
A vast voice echoed in Zhao Xuanqi’s mind. The spectral Deity in the sky was using the Heart-Sealing Heart technique to transmit the message directly into his thoughts.
After all, these three Elders were extraordinarily powerful. Although not as strong as Hong Luan or Yue Shu, the gap wasn’t that large. The pressure of fighting one against three was immense.
"With the Array suppressing them, what’s so hard about fighting one against three?"
Zhao Xuanqi said nonchalantly.
BOOM!!
In the next instant, his body contracted, shrinking to nearly half its size as his joints dislocated to provide more space for his muscles and fascia to constrict.
This degree of physical transformation made the Elders of the three great sects’ eyelids twitch, and a sudden sense of crisis welled up in their hearts.
VWOOM!!
At the same time, the Three Elders made their move. The Heavenly Elder struck the ground with the Celestial Lord’s Staff, and the spectral Deity in the sky immediately opened and closed its mouth, uttering ancient syllables. The magnetic field in the courtyard shifted as the Divine Speech Technique was activated once again.
Starlight flowed and divine light shimmered.
The pressure from the imposing magnetic field struck both spirit and body, exerting its powerful restrictive force once more.
Their spirits grew rigid, their bodies sluggish, and their auras were suppressed. They could barely exert seventy percent of their full strength.
BANG! BANG! BANG!!
Meanwhile, the Human Elder and Earth Elder’s firearms shot out purple flames. This time, all their attacks were focused on Wakatsuki Kei.
The burden, once shared among four people, now fell entirely on Wakatsuki Kei. The pressure on him increased immensely, and he didn’t dare let his focus waver for even a moment, remaining constantly on guard to react to threats from all sides.
SWOOSH!!
At almost the same moment, Zhao Xuanqi’s tensed body exploded forward, launching a direct assault on the Elders of the three great sects.
’Arrogant!’
A vicious glint flashed in the three Elders’ eyes. Although their strength was heavily suppressed by the Divine Speech Technique, an old saying goes that two fists are no match for four hands. If they were to gang up on any one of Hong Luan, Yue Shu, or Xie Yuan, their target would most likely not be their match.
The three split to the left and right, each unleashing their strongest techniques against Zhao Xuanqi.
The Vermilion Bird Sect Elder: a red light like a thread, severing all in its path.
The Divine Night Sect Elder: Purple Thunder coiling like a python, a talisman forming in his palm.
The Beidou Sect Elder: a halo of light swirling as his Physical Ability erupted, holding the center to meet the enemy head-on.
But Zhao Xuanqi’s rapidly advancing body suddenly shuddered. His joints twisted impossibly, allowing him to reverse his momentum and change his direction of attack. His new target was the Divine Night Sect Elder.
’Electrotherapy is remarkably effective. My Physical Ability is low, so I can’t afford a prolonged fight. I have to defeat my enemies as quickly as possible, so naturally, I must choose the optimal path.’
’I wonder how this Elder’s techniques compare to Xie Yuan’s?’
Zhao Xuanqi’s bizarre reversing Body Technique took the three Elders by surprise. In a flash, he was already in front of the Divine Night Sect Elder.
’That speed!!’
The Divine Night Sect Elder’s pupils contracted, and he abruptly thrust out his palm to meet Zhao Xuanqi’s attack.
BOOM!!
The moment they collided, the Divine Night Sect Elder felt as if he had been struck by a colossal beast as tall as a mountain. His body flew backward uncontrollably like a cannonball, with no way to stop himself.
HAAH!!
Meanwhile, the attacks from the Beidou Sect and Vermilion Bird Sect Elders were about to land. At that moment, the lightning from the Divine Night Sect Elder’s strike had already entered Zhao Xuanqi’s body and taken effect.
CRACKLE!
Stimulated by the electric current, his muscles tensed once more. His exhausted cells entered a state of excitement, instantly pushing his Physical Ability to its peak.
He brought up both palms and pushed them out horizontally!
Within the seemingly plain and simple attack, his muscle control sent Force surging like a tidal wave, one layer cresting over another, powerful enough to overturn rivers and seas, hiding a profound mystery.
The first layer of Force brought him to a stalemate with the two Elders. The second layer completely shattered their balance. The third was a terrifying burst of Inch Force.
ROAR!!
A beast’s roar echoed as his Gang Qi coalesced into the form of a Qilin, which broke through the tide of force and slammed into the two Elders.
A terrifying power washed over them. Like the Divine Night Sect Elder before them, their bodies were sent flying. They felt a violent vibration in their internal organs, and a mouthful of blood surged up their throats.
Zhao Xuanqi could handle even Xie Yuan and Yue Shu working together. How could these three Elders, weakened by the Divine Speech Technique, possibly be his match?
Shock filled the eyes of all three Elders.
However, Zhao Xuanqi gave them no chance to recover. He exploded with power again and closed the distance, his target the Divine Night Sect Elder who had been sent flying first.
BANG! BANG! BANG!!
Under a rapid series of blows, the Divine Night Sect Elder was forced back again and again. His entire body grew numb from the immense force, and it felt as if his organs were about to explode.
What terrified him even more was that his Thunder Technique had not only failed to have any effect, but it had actually aided his opponent, making him even stronger.
’Given the strength this man is displaying, the backyard plan has probably failed for real.’
’No, I can’t drag this out any longer. Otherwise, I’ll really be trapped here!’
The Divine Night Sect Elder took a deep breath, all his fighting spirit gone. He used the force of Zhao Xuanqi’s attack to retreat explosively, pushing right through the wall of light to leap out of the courtyard and vanish without a trace.
Zhao Xuanqi didn’t pursue him. Instead, he turned his head to look at the other two Elders.
Seeing this, the faces of the other two Elders twitched. The Beidou Sect Elder remained silent and simply began to leave. The Vermilion Bird Sect Elder, however, looked at Zhao Xuanqi and said, "Hand over Young Master Hong, and I’ll leave immediately!"
"You’re not qualified to negotiate with me. Stay."
But Zhao Xuanqi had no intention of negotiating. He immediately moved to attack.
SWOOSH!!
The Vermilion Bird Sect Elder hadn’t expected Zhao Xuanqi to be so decisive. His expression changed, and without a second word, he turned and fled.
’Hong Luan can be rescued later. If I don’t leave now, I probably won’t be able to leave at all.’
Zhao Xuanqi watched the Vermilion Bird Sect Elder leave without giving chase. A master of that caliber was determined to escape, and in his current state, he wouldn’t be able to stop him.
He turned his head toward Wakatsuki Kei, who was constantly dodging and weaving.
"Good. Very good. Don’t celebrate too early. This is just the beginning."
Wakatsuki Kei’s face was as dark as water. Though unwilling to admit defeat, he knew that tonight’s operation was a complete failure. There was no longer any point in staying. In an instant, he dodged the Three Elders’ attacks and vanished.
For a moment, the courtyard was once again empty and silent.
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