Chapter 194 : Great Battle
Chapter 194: Great Battle
Just now, the disciple from Cangyue Sect who called himself Xu Liangchen had said that Elder Yang was ambushed by that old freak Feng from the Ji Family, which triggered a chaotic melee.
Now, the one Elder Yang ambushed was most likely that old freak Feng from the Ji Family.
As soon as the two clashed, it was like a signal. The others suddenly made their moves as well, coordinating seamlessly to surround Ling Qiyang and another person.
Seeing this, Chen Ming couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. He had to admit, these First Grade Experts were truly in sync. The first thing they did was to join forces against the strongest force present—Cangyue Sect.
Among the seven First Grade Experts, three were from Cangyue Sect. If the rest didn’t unite against them, they’d be the ones to die miserably.
Here, it was four against three.
Even the dozen or so bystanders nearby had also broken out into a chaotic fight. Seven or eight surrounded three others, intending to kill them on the spot.
Chen Ming felt a bit relieved that he hadn’t gotten too close. Otherwise, he might have also been dragged into the fray.
Only two people had yet to make a move: the golden-robed Inspector and Princess Mingyu.
“There’s someone spying over there. Go kill them.”
Suddenly, a sharp shout rang out, followed by someone flying toward Chen Ming, filled with murderous intent.
Damn it!
Chen Ming cursed inwardly. Of all times, it had to be now.
Yu Haitang was in the midst of breaking through to Third Grade. She could not be disturbed. Otherwise, it would end just like Su Zhi Ning—death in an instant with the slightest mistake.
He couldn’t help but think back to the moment not long ago when she had risked her life to fight Gao Chen head-on to protect him. He sighed in his heart.
Boom!
The protective qi shield on his body reverted to red. His entire qi energy had shifted into the Mysterious Fire attribute.
The incoming attacker was a Second Grade Expert.
In this environment, he could only switch to Mysterious Fire True Art to barely hold his ground.
Chen Ming took a deep breath. In an instant, the fire element energy drifting in the air surged into his body, transforming into refined qi energy. The protective qi around his body grew more stable.
Fortunately, those seven First Grade Experts had struck simultaneously earlier, draining all the “Starfire”. Otherwise, a single breath might’ve burned through his qi sea.
With sword in hand, he whispered, “Phoenix Cry Sword, I’m counting on you this time!”
The “Phoenix Cry Sword”, having absorbed a massive amount of “Starfire”, had flames burning along its blade. At his words, it let out a resonant hum, then shone fiercely, the flames becoming scorching bright.
“Die!”
Chen Ming took the initiative, charging toward the Second Grade Expert. While airborne, he slashed out a wildly ferocious sword energy.
“Third Grade?”
The Second Grade Expert clearly recognized Chen Ming and was stunned. This wasn’t an ordinary Third Grade—he wielded a Peerless Divine Art weapon. Such immense power was nothing to scoff at.
He was just about to evade when he realized, to his shock, that he’d been locked onto.
“Sword Intent?”
This shock was no small matter.
The biggest difference between Second and Third Grade Martial Artists lay in Sword Intent.
Once Sword Intent was grasped, it opened the door to various profound techniques. The simplest of them—locking onto an opponent with one’s will.
Once locked, any movement would be instantly detected.
No matter how fast a person moved, could they move faster than intent?
While the enemy tried to dodge, the user would instantly adjust and still land the strike.
Thus, ordinary Third Grades were like transparent targets before Second Grades—not even worthy opponents.
But if a Third Grade mastered Sword Intent, they’d rarely meet their match among peers. Though rare as phoenix feathers, such individuals did exist.
The Second Grade Expert’s mind raced. A massive question loomed—this kid who’d just entered the Qingyun Ranking two months ago had not only jumped straight to Third Grade, but even comprehended Sword Intent?
Shocked as he was, his reaction remained swift—he retreated explosively.
In this environment, consumed qi was hard to replenish. The more he could conserve, the better. Retaining more strength was the key to surviving what came next.
His speed was incredible. He seemed to defy physical law—transitioning from attack to retreat seamlessly, without the slightest delay.
He was fast. Chen Ming was faster.
With Phoenix Dances Through Nine Heavens cultivated to the fourth level, Chen Ming’s speed surpassed most Third Grades.
In a flash, not only had he failed to create distance, he was instead chased down.
Damn it!
Qin Chang’an knew he couldn’t dodge and had to take the blow head-on.
An overwhelming surge of Sword Intent erupted. He saw Chen Ming’s blazing blade coming. With a flash, the black saber in his hand shattered the sword energy apart.
The residual force of that black saber’s energy slashed toward Chen Ming.
Clang!
Chen Ming raised his sword to block, only to feel an unstoppable force crashing into him, sending him flying over ten meters before he managed to neutralize it.
He praised, “Excellent saber technique!”
“In just a few months, you leapt from Fifth Grade to Third Grade. You must be hiding some massive secret.”
Qin Chang’an stared fixedly at Chen Ming, licking his dry lips, voice filled with excitement.
That gaze struck a chord in Chen Ming. “You’re from the Qin Family?”
Qin Chang’an replied proudly, “Qin Chang’an.”
Chen Ming raised a brow. “So you were the top of the Qingyun Ranking the round before last. A pleasure to meet you.”
“You’re trying to stall, waiting for that little girl from the Yu Family to break into Third Grade, aren’t you?”
Qin Chang’an immediately saw through his ploy, yet didn’t strike. He, too, was stalling for time.
Even though Chen Ming wielded a Peerless Divine Art weapon and had grasped Sword Intent, he was still just Third Grade. The threat wasn’t that great.
While clashing with Chen Ming earlier, Qin Chang’an had also kept an eye on the larger battle.
That battle was ferocious—people had already died.
That old ghost Yang from Cangyue Sect, already seriously injured from Elder Feng of the Ji Family’s ambush, ultimately fell under the joint assault of two First Grades.
Of course, those two weren’t unscathed—they were heavily wounded by Elder Yang’s final strike.
As for Second Grades, two were already dead. The rest were all injured.
Qin Chang’an was horrified. Jiangzhou had been relatively peaceful in recent years. Not even Third Grades died easily—let alone First Grades.
Today, right here, one First Grade and two Second Grades had died—
Make that three Second Grades now.
He felt incredibly fortunate to have had a reason to avoid that bloody battlefield. Doing the math in his head, he wasn't eager to kill this brat immediately. Better to delay as long as possible, ideally until the fighting concluded…
Seeing Qin Chang’an still hadn’t acted, Chen Ming roughly guessed his thinking and commented with some emotion, “After today, Jiangzhou is bound to be thrown into chaos.”
This great battle would reshape the power dynamics of Jiangzhou. With blood grudges between major factions, peaceful coexistence would become impossible.
Especially between Cangyue Sect and the Ji Family—they would fight until only one remained.
The only winner would be the Six Doors Authority.
Qin Chang’an sneered, “You’d best worry about yourself. Getting involved in this mess—you really don’t know the meaning of death.”
“You hate me a lot. Why’s that?”
“Qin Changyuan may be a fool, but he’s still of the Qin Family. You embarrassed him, you embarrassed us. If it were outside, I wouldn’t have bothered with you. But today, you’ve chosen death.”
Boom!
The battle on the other side had reached its climax. Ling Qiyang and his comrade were about to be slain under the three-man assault.
At that moment, one of the attackers suddenly withdrew.
Ling Qiyang seized the opening and unleashed a fearsome killing move. Terrifying power swept out, the dazzling light blinding all eyes.
When the light faded, two were down—one dead, one injured.
Ling Qiyang fared no better. His aura was terribly weak. His companion had been gravely wounded too—one arm severed.
Among the seven First Grades: two dead, four wounded. Only the one who withdrew had the lightest injuries.
“Ji Hongxin, you despicable coward!”
The one injured by Ling Qiyang roared in rage, wishing he could rush over and chop down the traitor.
“Hahahaha—”
Ji Hongxin laughed maniacally. “A bunch of fools, killing each other before even getting the prize. Heaven truly favors me.”
“Ji Hongxin, even if you snatch the key with such vile means, can you keep it once we’re out of here?”
“Why act so foolishly? Think you can kill that Fire Flood Dragon alone?”
“You’re being stupid, Brother Ji!”
“……”
……
Chen Ming noticed a shift in Qin Chang’an’s expression and remarked, “That heavily injured First Grade—isn’t he from the Qin Family? I heard the Ji Family’s always been your vassals. Who knew they’d backstab you now?”
Qin Chang’an shot him a cold look but still held back from striking.
The Qin Family had sent two First Grades, both now seriously injured. With the situation uncertain, he couldn’t afford to waste qi carelessly.
Just then, Chen Ming felt a familiar aura burst from behind him. He relaxed. Yu Haitang had successfully broken through to Third Grade.
She primarily cultivated Mysterious Wood True Art, but also trained in Mysterious Fire True Art. Even fresh from a breakthrough, she was a powerful ally—whether to fight or flee, their odds had improved greatly.
“So you really were hiding here.”
Suddenly, a mocking voice came from behind.
Chen Ming turned and saw, not far off, a First Grade Expert from Blood Demon Sect. His heart sank.
In the distance, Ji Hongxin’s voice rang out, “My Lord, your subordinate was late in coming. Please forgive me.”
My Lord?
That term sent chills through Chen Ming. He smelled conspiracy.
Even the First Grade Expert from Blood Demon Sect was drawn by Ji Hongxin’s words. He looked up and saw Ji Hongxin kneeling. When he saw whom he knelt to, his expression turned bizarre.
At this moment, Yu Haitang—now a full Third Grade—stepped up to Chen Ming’s side. A slender hand gripped his.
Her soft voice reached his ear, “With me here, don’t be afraid.”
Chen Ming glanced at her and nodded. Then he looked toward Ji Hongxin, a hundred meters away—only to see him kneeling before that Fire Flood Dragon.
What was going on?