CHAPTER 869: CHAPTER 868 [THORNY, ANXIOUS, QUITE ANXIOUS]

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The Lairi Old Ghost was forceful and domineering, aiming to annihilate Ye Tianchen with just one strike, and disdainfully slapped down. This was the momentum to suppress and kill Ye Tianchen alive.

Ye Tianchen was anxious. Just after putting the four chiefs into the "Holy Heaven Prison" for protection, he sensed someone with strong cultivation attacking the "Four Phases Golden Body Formation" at the residential villa. His mother, little sister, Qi Ruxue, and Xiao Ya were in danger. He rushed out of Zhongnanhai, intending to use the Divine Movement Skill to go to the villa to rescue them. However, as soon as he rushed out, he encountered the Lairi Old Ghost and Xu Zigang. Their cultivation was profound, and their combat strength was immeasurable. Defeating them in a short time was impossible. Even though the formation at the villa was powerful and Ye Tianchen had left some contingencies, if there was no one to control it, its power couldn’t be fully unleashed. He was worried about his mother and sister, but avoiding the Lairi Old Ghost and Xu Zigang to rescue them was very difficult. Moreover, bringing these two powerful martial artists back to the villa could bring an even greater crisis. Ye Tianchen was truly in a pickle!

Boom!

With a loud bang, Ye Tianchen’s footing sank, almost falling down, but he managed to stabilize himself. It felt like Mount Tai was pressing on him; the force of pressure was overwhelming. The old guy with Xu Zigang was unfathomably powerful, at least at the Late Martial Venerate, or possibly even the Martial Saint Realm.

"Not bad, not bad. I, the Lairi Old Ghost, have been cultivating on Earth for 132 years, and it’s the first time I’ve met a young man like you. To have such combat power at just twenty years old is indeed commendable. Your cultivation realm is lower than mine, yet you can withstand my full force strike. That’s quite impressive. However, in front of me, the Lairi Old Ghost, there’s never been a prodigy, and certainly not a genius. People like you especially deserve to die." The Lairi Old Ghost said with a calm smile.

"Lairi Old Ghost, aren’t you talking too much? If you’re going to chatter, let me make a move and kill this ant. Don’t waste our time and effort!" Xu Zigang said displeased.

"Come on, didn’t we already divide tasks before coming here? You take care of the people outside, and I’ll go inside to find that treasure. As for the old folks of China, they’re just mortals. I’m not even interested in killing them. If you find them, you can kill them. I’ll go find the treasure first!" said the Lairi Old Ghost, and then immediately rushed down, leaving only Ye Tianchen and Xu Zigang standing in mid-air, both looking at each other coldly.

Xu Zigang was the third War King of China, and Ye Tianchen had heard many rumors and information about Xu Zigang. However, he hadn’t expected that this War King of China had also become a martial artist, with a cultivation realm he couldn’t see through. How strong was Xu Zigang? Ye Tianchen didn’t know, he hadn’t assessed it yet.

"Ye Tianchen, you remind me of my younger self. I became the third War King of China at twenty, with strength above Cang Lang and Yan Long. You, in the mid-stage Martial Venerate realm, have greatly surpassed my achievements back then. Why not pledge yourself to me? Work for me, and I assure you won’t be mistreated!" Xu Zigang said to Ye Tianchen.

"Work for you? Not be mistreated? How won’t I be mistreated?" Ye Tianchen asked deliberately.

Xu Zigang was taken aback, not expecting Ye Tianchen to ask this. His question indicated there was hope. Indeed, after hearing Hu Changhe, Qin Mingshan, and Yang Gui’s reports, Xu Zigang was surprised by how incredible Ye Tianchen was at such a young age, with such combat power. Given time, his cultivation realm would surely improve. It would be even better if he could be used. Xu Zigang, seeing Ye Tianchen withstand a blow from the Lairi Old Ghost without injury, was genuinely impressive. Xu Zigang had considered recruiting him.

"You can be assured of this. As long as you agree to work for me, I promise you’ll get something beyond your imagination." Xu Zigang promised immediately.

"You’re being evasive. How can I agree to that? Besides, I don’t like Yang Gui, and I’m certainly not going to become your apprentice along with him," Ye Tianchen continued to probe Xu Zigang on purpose.

"As long as you agree to work for me, I can kill Yang Gui right away," Xu Zigang said maliciously.

"Really? I’m sorry, I have no interest in that, and since you intend to harm China, where my family and friends are, I can’t let you live. I must kill you!" Ye Tianchen said, his expression darkening as he looked at Xu Zigang.

Xu Zigang was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter and said, "Kill me? Just you? You’re nothing but an ant, and letting you work for me was giving you a lifeline. Since you don’t appreciate the offer, don’t blame me!"

A blade of bloodlight shot towards Ye Tianchen in an instant. Ye Tianchen furrowed his brow. Xu Zigang had made his move, and it was powerful indeed. His cultivation was at the Late Martial Venerate stage, slightly stronger than Ye Tianchen. If Ye Tianchen fought beyond his tier using his combat power, he might stand a chance, but there was another evil old ghost below. He couldn’t always maintain a posture of fighting across stages; otherwise, he would’ve already defeated the evil old ghost and Xu Zigang. In such circumstances, it’s dangerous not to conserve strength. Not only would he risk his own life, but he also wouldn’t be able to save his mother and little sister in time. Ye Tianchen was in a dire predicament; one wrong move, and not only he, but his mother, little sister, Qi Ruxue, and Xiao Ya could all die, facing immense pressure.

Bam!

Ye Tianchen swung his fist, unleashing a Vajra Divine Fist, sending out a beam of Dragon Fist light. He had to go all out; otherwise, he stood no chance in fending off Xu Zigang’s lethal move. Xu Zigang’s bloodlight had emanated from his forehead and was extraordinarily powerful, instantly enveloping all of Zhongnanhai, instilling a bone-chilling dread.

Xu Zigang furrowed his brows upon seeing Ye Tianchen block the bloodlight from his forehead. He vanished instantly from his original spot, engaging Ye Tianchen in close combat without using any treasure. Each punch and palm strike was lethal. Ye Tianchen could only continually defend, having no room to retaliate. Xu Zigang’s strength had caught him off guard, and coupled with his concern for his mother and little sister, he could only retreat to block.

Humans are not saints; who can be truly heartless? On the great path of cultivation, some risk their lives, some face countless calamities, and some abandon their closest kin. In Ye Tianchen’s view, the true path is not such. If a person becomes heartless and ruthless, killing decisively without regard for those dearest to them, what meaning do their cultivation realm and strength hold? They are destined to a life of loneliness and tragedy, which is not what he seeks.

The tranquil night was shattered, and Zhongnanhai was destined to become a battlefield of slaughter, destined to flow with rivers of blood. Fortunately, Ye Tianchen had already moved the four chiefs into the "Holy Heaven Prison" for protection. As long as Ye Tianchen wasn’t dead, the four chiefs wouldn’t be in any danger. However, facing two martial artists with greater combat power and higher cultivation realms, defeating them and hurrying to rescue his mother and little sister was proving very difficult.

Below, cries of agony rang out in Zhongnanhai, with individuals occasionally thrown into the sky, exploding into a mist of blood, dying tragically in the air. Among them were either Ancient Martial Artists or Superpower Users, considered strong by ordinary people. But when faced with the wicked old ghost and strong martial artists, they were nothing, unable to withstand a single blow. They died confused, unwilling, and terrified. The enemy was too powerful; despite their full efforts, they couldn’t budge him. Each step forward by the evil old ghost meant another Ancient Martial Artist or Superpower User lost their life.

An hour later, the fight between Ye Tianchen and Xu Zigang had reached a mid-point break. The two of them stood oppositely, glaring coldly at each other, Xu Zigang unscathed while Ye Tianchen had fresh blood at the corner of his mouth. Yet, the injuries weren’t severe, sparking Xu Zigang’s confusion and anger. He considered himself a genius, but now facing someone seemingly more talented than him, how could he not be angry? Naturally, he wanted to eliminate Ye Tianchen, but he hadn’t expected that Ye Tianchen, with a Mid-stage Martial Venerate cultivation realm, would have such formidable combat power. After more than half an hour of intense fighting, with punches and palms exchanged, although Ye Tianchen hadn’t hurt him, he had only landed a few punches on Ye Tianchen, not enough to kill him.

"With such cultivation and combat power, you indeed have reason to be proud; you are indeed a genius. But I am even more of a genius than you..."

Xu Zigang roared, and a spear appeared in his right hand. The spear pulsated with divine power, clearly not an ordinary treasure, extremely powerful. A surge of divine power rushed towards Ye Tianchen, overwhelming the sky, causing the earth to quake and tremble. This was the true manifestation of Xu Zigang’s strength. He was furious, wanting to obliterate Ye Tianchen utterly and felt the pressure that if Ye Tianchen were allowed time to grow, even he, Xu Zigang, might not be able to suppress him. Better to strike early...