CHAPTER 552: CHAPTER 550: A SWORD SLASHES AND FLIES_1

"Tian Peng Spreads Wings!"

The Old Pheasant Man was clearly not someone to be trifled with. Before the silver-haired elder could move, he had already acted. Behind him, a pair of wide True Qi Roc Feathers suddenly unfurled. He soared into mid-air, and then the True Qi Roc Feathers flapped crazily, creating streams of extremely sharp wind blades.

"Shattered Star Fist!"

The silver-haired elder also stepped forward, punching towards the mid-air. Instantly, his Fist Strength erupted like a meteor.

The clash between the two men was extremely intense, causing the entire mountain valley to quake and sway ceaselessly.

This exchange lasted for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before reaching a fever pitch. The two were essentially equal in strength, but the silver-haired elder was gradually gaining the upper hand.

BANG!

A meteor-like Fist Strength blasted out again, and the silver-haired elder ruthlessly struck Old Pheasant Man’s chest, sending him flying backward, spitting blood.

"Attack!"

Seeing Old Pheasant Man defeated, Ling Chen hesitated no longer. He waved his hand, signaling everyone to attack.

"Die!"

A trace of coldness flashed in the silver-haired elder’s eyes. His figure moved, and then he abruptly lunged out once again, punching towards Old Pheasant Man’s skull.

Old Pheasant Man was no lamb to the slaughter. The True Qi Roc Feathers on his back spread again, and he spun several times in mid-air, narrowly avoiding the silver-haired elder’s killing blow.

Just as the silver-haired elder was about to use his killing technique again, a clear laugh suddenly resonated from the sky.

"Hehe, what a fantastic battle."

The sudden laughter instantly caused the expressions of everyone present to change. Their gazes sharply turned to the source of the sound. There, on a hilltop outside the mountain valley, several figures stood abruptly. The one at the forefront, dressed in white like a scholar, was unmistakably Ling Chen.

Noticing Ling Chen and his dozen or so companions, both Old Pheasant Man and the silver-haired elder were momentarily stunned, then their expressions changed significantly. After a good while, Yin Zongli finally reacted, laughing as he said, "So it was you, young man. I didn’t expect you to see through this old freak’s tricks as well."

"I didn’t expect that you too could see through this deceit. It seems this trick is indeed quite crude and unremarkable," Ling Chen responded with a smirk.

Detecting the mockery in Ling Chen’s words, Yin Zongli’s expression darkened slightly. Then, his gaze swept over Lian Ji and the other ten or so powerful cultivators of the Saint Witch Religion, his eyes growing colder. "Since when did the Cyan Robe Association and the Saint Witch Religion start colluding?"

"That is not Young Lord Yin’s concern," Ling Chen said with a faint smile. "However, it looks like we all came for the same target today. One of us must withdraw. Brother Yin, considering you cleared the obstacle for us and dealt with this Old Pheasant Man, I will spare your life. You may leave with your people now."

"Hahaha, spare me?" Yin Zongli was stunned for a moment, then laughed in extreme anger. "Aren’t you getting a little ahead of yourself? If a real fight breaks out, it’s still uncertain who will live and who will die!"

"No, it’s already determined. I’ll say it again: retreat quickly, or my sword will show no mercy," Ling Chen’s tone became indifferent.

"Arrogance!"

Yin Zongli waved his hand, and a chilly aura suddenly gushed out from his sleeve. Then, his figure abruptly flashed forward, attacking Ling Chen directly.

Seeing Yin Zongli heading straight for Ling Chen, several powerful cultivators from the Saint Witch Religion also began to channel their True Qi, preparing to meet the enemy.

However, Yin Zongli bellowed, "Ling Chen, if you’re a man, face me alone! What skill is there in relying on others?"

His eyes flickered slightly. In truth, he was quite wary of Lian Ji and Liu Feiyue. Lian Ji had the silver-haired elder to deal with, but Liu Feiyue was stronger than him. If Liu Feiyue also attacked him, things could get problematic.

"Then I shall meet you ahead of schedule."

A slight curve appeared on Ling Chen’s lips. He waved his hand, signaling the people of the Saint Witch Religion to step back, and then rushed out alone.

Yin Zongli was overjoyed. This kid was indeed stupid! Provoked so easily, his anger flared. He seemed far too easy to deal with. No need to consider other things for now; he would kill Ling Chen first.

However, just as this thought crossed his mind, a strange smile suddenly touched Ling Chen’s lips. Then, his body trembled and abruptly vanished from the spot.

"What?"

Yin Zongli’s pupils shrank. He quickly focused his attention and finally saw Ling Chen’s blurry afterimage. But it was too late. A Sword Light filling his entire vision was already slashing down violently from the air.

BANG!

The Sword Light landed on Yin Zongli, forcibly knocking him back. His chest garment was instantly torn to shreds. Covered in wounds and with his hair dishevelled, he was a pitiful sight.

"Damn beast, how dare you trick me! Die!"

True Qi surged wildly through his body. Yin Zongli thrust out both palms, unleashing his Palm Power. Two enormous True Qi ice dragons, baring fangs and brandishing claws, surged towards Ling Chen, coiling around each other. Anyone caught between the two ice dragons would be crushed to pieces, leaving not even bones behind, before being frozen into ice shards.

WHOOSH!

The ice dragons moved extremely fast, reaching Ling Chen in an instant, like a pair of scissors ready to cut him in two.

CRACK!

Ling Chen neither retreated nor dodged. With a flash of his sword, the head of one ice dragon was severed. The cut surface was as smooth as a mirror, without the slightest unevenness.

"There’s still one left. Let’s see how you dodge it." Yin Zongli hovered behind the ice dragons. As long as Ling Chen was busy dealing with them, he would have a chance to deliver a fatal blow, leaving his opponent no hope of retaliating.

However, what he hadn’t expected was that as soon as the second ice dragon neared Ling Chen, it was shattered by a punch from Ling Chen’s left hand. The violent force even reflected all the fragments from the exploded ice dragon back, showering Yin Zongli.

"He’s too powerful! Yin Zongli’s attacks are completely ineffective!"

The members of the Saint Witch Religion were all shocked, finding Ling Chen’s displayed strength utterly astonishing. To shatter an ice dragon with one punch and reflect its fragments—such power was beyond their imagination.

CHINK! CHINK! CHINK! CHINK! CHINK! CHINK!

Caught off guard, Yin Zongli collided with the countless ice shards. His Protective True Qi couldn’t withstand so many attacks; it kept weakening, gradually dimming, and finally shattered completely. Luckily, only a few ice shards remained, which he swatted away with a wave of his palm.

"Sever!"

A cold glint flashed in Ling Chen’s eyes. Instantly, terror filled Yin Zongli’s face. "No!"

A streak of Sword Light flashed by, and Yin Zongli’s right arm was severed by the sword, blood spurting out.

After severing Yin Zongli’s right arm, Ling Chen kicked him in the chest, sending him flying. Like a falling meteor, he smashed into the ground below.