CHAPTER 444: CHAPTER 443 DESPERATE SITUATION_1

"You think you can overcome me just like that?" Xie Zhiqiu’s body surged with a blade intent that shot up into the sky, a streak of Blade Light tearing through the Darkness and straight into the heavens. "You think that I, as a Grandmaster of the Eight-level Realm, the Big Disciple of Sect Master Sikong Yi, am not someone you can even imagine comprehending!"

"Primordial Demon Blade!"

An ocean-like True Qi collapsed, congealing into a spherical Blade Light. The Blade Light spun incessantly, and with each rotation, all sides bristled with sharp, chilling blade radiances.

"Fish and Dragon Hundred Transformations!"

Ling Chen swung out his sword. This time, the Sword Light twisted and transformed several times before finally becoming an arc-shaped Sword Light, like a crescent moon, which suddenly clashed with Xie Zhiqiu’s Blade Light.

BOOM!

The collision of blade and sword sent terrifying ripples spreading out, sweeping through the mid-air. The entire tower level seemed to tremble.

The blade light and sword shadow were extinguished almost simultaneously. A gleam flashed in Ling Chen’s eyes, and he immediately swung out another sword, executing Prosperity and Decline, a strike that seemed to slash through the very sky.

Xie Zhiqiu was taken aback. Firstly, he hadn’t expected Ling Chen to actually break his Blade Light. Secondly, Ling Chen’s speed in launching the second sword was too fast. It was as if he had anticipated that his first sword would destroy the Blade Light, swinging out the second sword at the perfect, unhesitating moment.

However, with Xie Zhiqiu’s strength, he naturally wouldn’t be so easily stunned. He abruptly swung his blade, and a blade light swept out, immensely powerful, eventually condensing into a Demon Mountain that shielded him.

BANG!

Ling Chen’s sword struck the Devil Qi Blade Mountain in a fierce collision. An immense amount of True Qi disintegrated, and the Blade Light making up the mountain collapsed. The Devil Qi Blade Mountain was directly split in two, and the Sword Light continued, striking Xie Zhiqiu’s Protective True Qi shield.

CRACK!

A fissure suddenly split open Xie Zhiqiu’s Protective True Qi shield, and he was sent flying back over ten meters before he managed to stop himself on the ground.

"Good Swordsmanship." After he halted, he gripped the Wither-Flourish Demon Blade tightly and stared fixedly at Ling Chen. "I underestimated you. I initially thought I could gain the upper hand, but I never expected you to be this formidable. A pity this is your strongest technique; it wasn’t enough to defeat me. Next, it’s my turn to unleash a killing move. I’ll let you witness it."

His voice was utterly cold, resolute, and cruel.

Vast true energy surged continuously towards the Wither-Flourish Demon Blade, all of it converging onto the blade’s edge.

BANG!

Ling Chen ignored him completely, stomped his foot, and charged forward again. Wherever his sword qi passed, alarming fissures snaked across the ground.

"Thousand Dragons Gathering!"

Without hesitation, dozens of Heavenly Origin Pills in Ling Chen’s hand instantly evaporated, transforming into pure Energy that he absorbed, rapidly replenishing his severely depleted True Qi.

As merely a Third Level Great Master, even when using the Ancient Saint King Battle Technique to reach the power of a Grandmaster Fourth Realm, it was still exceedingly difficult for Ling Chen to contend with Xie Zhiqiu, a Grandmaster of the Eight-level Realm. Only by risking everything and exerting his full strength could Ling Chen even hope to stand a chance against Xie Zhiqiu.

Ling Chen unleashed the same technique he had used to slay Gu Qingcang, a move that could devour mountains and rivers, destroying everything in its path. The Demonic Will Remnants, each possessing an incredibly tyrannical aura equivalent to a Great Master Seventh Realm, were nevertheless as fragile as tofu under Ling Chen’s overpowering sword technique; they were swiftly defeated and crushed.

Xie Zhiqiu, also infuriated by Ling Chen, cast aside all restraints, preparing for a life-or-death battle. His massive True Qi erupted wildly in all directions, converging into torrents that seemed to pierce the heavens, radiating outwards from him like a spider’s web.

Their True Qi clashed in mid-air, exploding continuously. In the blink of an eye, they had already exchanged twenty moves.

However, Xie Zhiqiu was growing increasingly alarmed. He had initially thought Ling Chen’s abilities were merely average, capable of killing only Sixth Layer Realm cultivators or Seventh-Level Grandmasters. But he himself was a peak Grand Master of the Eighth Level, worlds apart from the likes of Yan Xiang and Chu Tiange, utterly incomparable. He shouldn’t have feared Ling Chen at all.

How could he have known that Ling Chen, when truly displaying his techniques, could actually contend with him? Moreover, that overwhelming Sword Light had even gained the upper hand, pressing him so hard he could barely breathe!

There was an aura about Ling Chen that seemed to fiercely suppress him, an aura that would slaughter gods if they stood in his way, and annihilate Buddhas if they dared to obstruct.

With the Cultivation of a Third Level Master, Ling Chen could actually contend with a peak Eighth Level figure like himself, even gaining the upper hand, and all without using any overly powerful trump cards. Xie Zhiqiu had not only never seen such abilities before, he had never even heard of them. Even ancient records contained no mention of such a monstrous genius.

The most formidable geniuses he had encountered before might have earned a second glance from him, but in the end, they had only ever managed to escape from his grasp with their lives.

Even ten Third Level Great Masters joining forces would be no match for a single Grandmaster of the Eight-level Realm!

"Xie Zhiqiu, it seems you really can’t handle this brat. How disappointing." While Ling Chen and Xie Zhiqiu were locked in battle, a voice drifted over from a distance.

Then, a man clad in beast skins appeared.

This man’s body pulsed with power; his fists looked as if they could shatter a mountain. An imposing aura, like that of Pulling Mountains and Rivers, emanated from him. The moment he appeared, his eyes locked onto Ling Chen, flickering with killing intent; he seemed to hate Ling Chen to the bone.

The Big Disciple of the Myriad Beasts Sect, Teng Beast.

Also a Grandmaster of the Eight-level Realm, a supreme young genius of the Demon Way, as dominant and peerless as Ba Tian.

"Excellent, Teng Beast! I know Ling Chen killed your junior martial brother, Tiger King Xu Chao. You harbor an irreconcilable blood feud against Ling Chen."

"Let’s join forces and kill him immediately. How about we share the rewards equally? Do you want the points he carries, or the Dragon Vein Power?" Xie Zhiqiu grinned upon seeing Teng Beast and said at once.

"Agreed. I’ll take the points. As for the Dragon Vein Power, you can have it." Teng Beast and Xie Zhiqiu conversed casually, like two notorious brigands discussing how to divide the loot after spotting a plump sheep.

Ling Chen’s expression turned extremely grave. Either of these two was an incredibly difficult opponent. Against Xie Zhiqiu alone, Ling Chen already needed to consume Heavenly Origin Pills; adding Teng Beast to the equation was far worse.

"Since you two are carving up the prize, allow us to have a share of the spoils as well."

Two more people stepped out, a man and a woman. It was, surprisingly, Xun Wujie and Xie Xinyin.

Xun Wujie’s Cultivation was the same as Xie Zhiqiu’s, also at the level of a Grandmaster of the Eight-level Realm, while Xie Xinyin was a Great Master Seventh Realm.

"Oh? You’re most welcome."

Xie Zhiqiu hadn’t expected that even Xun Wujie would join the group aiming to kill Ling Chen. The two of them had always been at odds; he never thought they would unite today against a common enemy.

Four supreme young Experts surrounded Ling Chen, intending to force him into a desperate situation.