Chapter 237: Chapter 171: Crushing the Outstanding
WHOOSH~
Di Jianqing and his two companions strode forward continuously, employing their movement techniques to chase the figure ahead.
"Thief! Stop right there!"
Di Jianqing yelled with rage. He immediately pulled out a Coiling Dragon Bow from the Storage Bag at his waist, nocked an arrow, drew the bow, and fiercely released the string, aiming at the black-clad figure who had already retreated several li.
SWOOSH~~
The arrow shot forth like a meteor, piercing the air as if it were silk. It created multiple sonic booms and instantly shattered several large trees, yet its momentum continued undiminished as it streaked towards Chen Ku.
Hmm, an arrow!
Thanks to the perception granted by Ma Mingfeng’s technique, combined with his own spiritual power and the Heart Blood Premonition from the Nine-Colored Deer, Chen Ku instantly sensed the killing intent slicing through the air behind him.
He no longer cared about exposing his Storage Bag. In a flash, he retrieved his bow and arrow, spun around, and his vision locked onto the lightning-fast arrow!
He, too, loosed an arrow!
WHIZ!
Under the night sky, the two arrows met like colliding meteors, striking each other perfectly above a forest and creating an explosive bubble of air!
BOOM~~
The shockwave rolled out, causing the air currents to surge like tidal waves and blast outwards like a gale, instantly spreading for dozens of zhang!
Di Jianqing’s expression shifted slightly. He’s also skilled with a bow?
Without hesitation, he fired arrow after arrow in rapid succession.
As the Di Family’s once-in-a-century peerless Outstanding, Di Jianqing, at only sixteen, had already mastered his family’s Three Ultimate Skills. Among them, his Arrogant Dragon Mace had reached the Perfection Realm. Furthermore, he had cultivated the family’s Subduing Dragon Saber and Shooting Eagle Arrow to the Great Achievement Stage.
But unexpectedly, arrow after arrow flew from the Coiling Dragon Great Bow in Di Jianqing’s hands, each like a bolt of lightning. Amazingly, the arrows loosed by the figure—who was simultaneously fleeing and shooting from beneath the night sky—precisely struck and even shattered Di Jianqing’s own projectiles every single time!
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
...
One after another, the arrows collided like streaks of lightning or meteors, a dazzlingly beautiful yet terrifying spectacle that shook Di Jianqing to his core as never before.
How is this possible!
The speed of his Archery Technique, amplified by his Innate Divine Strength, should have been overwhelming. Yet, his arrows were being shot down one by one. Could it be that the opponent possessed the same Divine Power and Archery Technique as him? No, the opponent’s Eye Power is what’s terrifying!
While Chen Ku nocked and fired, he also noticed a Storage Bag at Di Jianqing’s waist and thought to himself, An Outstanding by birth, so extraordinary? Indeed, he has a solid foundation.
Storage Bags were a rare sight in Baojiao County; even his master, Yang Luochen, didn’t possess one. Chen Ku himself only had this precious bag thanks to a gift from his elder brother, Chen Xin.
Yet this young master from Qiu Dragon Mansion, an Outstanding, also had one.
Di Jianqing... this person’s Archery Technique level is far above mine; I cannot continue to entangle with him...
Since Chen Ku had awakened his ’Hui Dragon Talented’ and possessed Rare Talent, his Sky Eagle Eight Arrows had already silently advanced to the Minor Achievement Realm. However, he chose not to display it now to avoid revealing his identity, relying solely on his ordinary archery experience, the power of Golden Eyes Hundred Li, and his Divine Power.
But, just as Chen Ku was drawing his bow, searching for an uninhabited place to make his escape, a cold female voice suddenly rang in his ears.
"Where do you think you’re going!"
CLANG!
Accompanying the sharp cry, a brilliant Sword Sound tore through the air, already appearing dozens of zhang to Chen Ku’s side.
What?
Chen Ku caught a glimpse of Cai Feihong out of the corner of his eye. She moved like a graceful celestial fairy, thrusting her sword at him. The strike seemed to fill the sky with an immensely pure Sword Intent.
The black Ancient Sword reflected a cold light, like a bolt of white silk unfurling, crossing dozens of zhang in an instant to arrive before Chen Ku!
In that instant, Chen Ku’s mind raced. She can keep up with my movement speed? Does this woman also possess a Great Achievement Level speed technique similar to Piercing Sound Step?
But with the cold glint of the sword before him, he had no time for further thought.
He switched the bow to his left hand, slinging it onto his back. With his right hand, he drew the Black Gold Saber—a Sharp Weapon Level blade—from his waist. He swirled a saber flower in front of him, deflecting and spinning past the edge of Cai Feihong’s thrust!
Shadowless Exquisite Blade Technique combined with Lion Rolling Ball!
Instantly, his saber danced, creating a sphere of cold, white light that enveloped Cai Feihong’s sword thrust as he pressed closer!
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!...
Cai Feihong’s beautiful face turned grave. She continuously parried and thrust with the Fengyun Iron Sword in her hand, immediately producing a cacophony of ringing blows as their blades met!
"Sister Cai is doing great!"
Di Jianqing watched as Cai Feihong executed the Snake Li Divine Walking Technique from her Nine Yin Sword Technique. Within a few breaths, she caught up to the black-clad man in the Conical Hat and engaged him in a duel with her Ultimate Skill Swordsmanship.
He immediately put away the Coiling Dragon Great Bow.
With a few large strides, his figure leaped forward, speeding towards their location.
He stopped shooting from a distance for two reasons. Firstly, the two were already entangled in a fast-paced melee with unpredictable movements, and a stray arrow could easily harm Cai Feihong. Secondly, he sensed the black-clad man’s Cultivation Realm was only around the Second or Third Realm, similar to their own. He disdained using superior numbers or resorting to sneak attacks with arrows against such an opponent! This was a point of pride common among the scions of great families.
CLANG!
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Within a few breaths, Cai Feihong and Chen Ku had already exchanged dozens of blows, their sword and saber clashing repeatedly.
This person?
Cai Feihong was deeply stirred. She saw clearly that the Bladesmanship her opponent employed consisted only of Superior techniques; none were at the Ultimate Skill Level. Yet, he fluidly switched between several different forms. One moment it was the Five Tigers Breaking Gate Blade, the next, the Butterfly Blade typically used by women. Then, it shifted to a type of Shadowless Blade, all while seemingly interweaving techniques reminiscent of dissecting Bladesmanship!
In terms of sophisticated Swordsmanship, her cultivated Nine Yin Sword Technique was an Ultimate Skill, ranking in the top three among the hundreds of sword-training factions in Qiu Dragon Mansion. Especially since she had cultivated this Swordsmanship to the Great Achievement Level.
Logically, she should have easily suppressed him. However, even after more than a dozen exchanges, she still couldn’t secure victory. It even seemed her opponent was intentionally holding back, not revealing his true capabilities!
At that moment, Chen Ku saw Di Jianqing and Fu Huangfei rushing over from a distance. Realizing he could delay no longer, he suddenly thrust his left palm towards Cai Feihong.
Nine Dragons Union combined with the Mountain-Lifting Palm!
A Palm Seal, a zhang wide, suddenly bore down on Cai Feihong’s face!
"World-Surpassing Martial Arts! The Mountain-Lifting Palm!"
From his perch on a distant tree, the tall elder Shan Lingguan suddenly shivered. He watched in disbelief as Chen Ku unleashed the palm strike, thoughts racing through his mind like lightning: Something’s not right. The Martial Arts of Tuo Mountain Heavenly King Xiong Ying were supposed to have lost their Inner Strength and mental methods, only retaining Ultimate Skill Level. How could they have recovered to a World-Surpassing Level? Wait, that Inner Strength is... the Nine Dragons Uniting Skills of the Qiu Dragon Ancient Elephant Sect?
The old man’s eyes suddenly lit up. To think he could merge the Nine Dragons Union with the Mountain-Lifting Palm! Although it’s only one form, he actually succeeded. If it isn’t just good luck, that means... this young man’s Martial Arts Talent is extraordinarily excellent!
While Shan Lingguan was appreciating the power of Chen Ku’s palm strike from afar, Cai Feihong was already being overwhelmed by the crushing force of Chen Ku’s palm. Her face pale, she gasped for breath as she raised her Fengyun Iron Sword horizontally to defend, her body on the verge of being sent flying!
Just at that moment, Di Jianqing arrived. "Sister Feihong, I’m here to help you!"
"Let’s strike together!" Cai Feihong said without wasting words.
Following the young man’s spirited war cry, Di Jianqing, after several leaps, descended upon Chen Ku like a meteor striking the earth. He raised the two Brass Great Maces in his hands and smashed them down onto the massive Palm Seal of the Mountain-Lifting Palm!
BOOM!
Chen Ku immediately felt as if two ivory tusks from a colossal, savage elephant were ramming upwards against his palm, charging with immense force.
The Mountain Roar Tsunami Seal, powerful enough to instantly kill any Second Realm expert, was struck by Di Jianqing’s Double Maces. At the same time, Cai Feihong flicked her iron sword, unleashing nine streams of Sword Qi. Their combined attacks bombarded the Palm Seal, causing it to detonate and shatter in mid-air.
"Eat these, from your young master’s Double Maces!"
After shattering the Mountain Roar Tsunami Seal, Di Jianqing, his face flushed with excitement, hefted his two Copper Maces, leaped towards Chen Ku, and brought them smashing downwards!
BOOM!
Under the force of these two maces, the very air within a radius of over ten zhang seemed to compress and collapse upon Chen Ku’s head!
TSK!
Fu Huangfei, following closely behind, saw Di Jianqing unleash his Double Maces and instantly dismissed any thought of intervening; he knew their devastating power all too well.
As the Qiu Dragon Di Family’s once-in-a-century genius, blessed with Innate Divine Strength and astonishing qualifications, each of his Copper Maces weighed five thousand jin. Together, they totaled ten thousand jin, yet he wielded them as if they were weightless. When combined with the Di Family’s Arrogant Dragon Mace Technique, they could flatten even a man made of iron!
Similarly, Chen Ku also felt the crushing power of the descending maces.
He squinted his eyes. A test of strength!
He instantly recognized the quality of his opponent’s two Copper Maces—they were Famous Weapons. Thus, without hesitation, he retrieved the Famous Weapon Level Sky-Piercing Halberd from the Firewood Iron Shop and swung it out horizontally like a staff!
Then let’s give it a try!
As Chen Ku swung this halberd upwards with the Power of Two Dragons and Seven Elephants, it whipped up a gale like a surging ocean wave!
Even before their Weapons collided, the furious wind generated by their powerful swings had already spread for dozens of zhang, causing their clothes to whip and snap loudly as if they were at the center of a storm!
In the next instant, Di Jianqing’s Double Maces, descending like a falling meteor, met Chen Ku’s oncoming halberd head-on!
CLANG!
The halberd and maces collided!
BOOM!
In that moment, the face of the previously confident and imperious Di Jianqing contorted violently under the colossal force of Chen Ku’s halberd, the skin rippling as if it were water.
Impossible...
Then, with a horrified cry from the young man, blood burst from the webbing of Di Jianqing’s hands. His entire body, along with his Double Maces, was sent flying by that single halberd strike, which then slammed into his chest!
BOOM!
With that one halberd strike, Di Jianqing, along with his maces, was sent flying like a tattered scarecrow!
"Little Di!" Cai Feihong’s expression changed, and she cried out, "Are you alright?"
She couldn’t believe it.
Di Jianqing’s Innate Divine Strength had always been what she and Fu Huangfei admired most. After all, only those with Innate Divine Strength could wield such heavy Weapons as whips, maces, and hammers. Di Jianqing had once proudly told them that with both arms, he could lift a granary filled with ninety thousand jin of grain and could even drag back nine large elephants.
Yet today, such an Outstanding with immense Divine Power had been sent flying by a single halberd strike from a mysterious man in a Conical Hat.
They had seen it clearly: when facing Di Jianqing’s Double Maces, the opponent had also relied purely on raw physical strength. The result was...
Di Jianqing, capable of dragging back nine elephants, had been utterly crushed in terms of strength by this mysterious youth in the Conical Hat!