Chapter 221 : Ambush
Chapter 221: Ambush
“Martial Uncle, save me!”
Qian Jiu was utterly powerless against a Second Grade opponent. In just a few moves, he was already in grave danger and immediately cried out for help.
However, Zhou Yilan had not fought for a long time. Fending off the enemies surrounding her while also protecting Chen Ming left her no room to assist him.
Just as Qian Jiu was about to fall at the hands of his opponent, a sword qi descended from the sky, slaying the enemy.
“Th-Thank you, Master...” Qian Jiu had just taken a trip to the gates of Hell, and his legs turned to jelly.
In critical moments, he still had to rely on his master!
...
At this moment, Chen Ming also witnessed Fang Yong’s strength. He wielded a sword, rarely using Gang Yuan, yet still fought three enemies at once with ease using only swordsmanship.
“This man’s swordsmanship...”
The more he watched, the more shocked he became. From his perspective, Fang Yong’s swordsmanship had not yet reached perfection, but somehow he always predicted his opponents' moves.
It was like watching Linghu Chong from The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, who focused solely on exploiting his opponents' weaknesses with the Nine Swords of Dugu. He forced his enemies into complete disarray.
Zhou You said, “Junior Brother, stop playing around. End those three quickly.”
“Yes.”
Fang Yong replied and suddenly changed his sword style. The longsword in his hand flew from his grasp, pierced one of them, and “killed” him.
Then, the longsword turned mid-air and struck at the remaining two.
In no time, the other two were swiftly and cleanly finished off.
“Amazing!”
Chen Ming watched solemnly. Ever since he had mastered the Swallow Returns Sword Technique, this was the first time he had seen someone whose swordsmanship surpassed his own.
Just now, Fang Yong had neither used Gang Yuan nor Sword Intent. He had relied purely on sword moves—strange and unpredictable. Even Chen Ming couldn’t fully comprehend them.
If he had to face Fang Yong, he truly didn’t feel confident.
After eliminating the three enemies, Fang Yong then slaughtered all the “minions” attacking Zhou Yilan and the others.
Seeing this, Chen Ming thought to himself: if this were a dungeon, both Fang Yong and Zhou You had the strength to solo-clear it.
No wonder the warden of this prison needed to be a First Grade expert. Anyone weaker wouldn’t dare enter.
Above them, the fight between Zhou You and the middle-aged man was drawing to a close.
With a final scream, the middle-aged man was sliced into several pieces by that pitch-black sword, unwillingly turning into black mist that drifted into the sky.
“Hahaha… The Demonic Sword is mine!”
Zhou You laughed wildly and flew toward the highest pavilion, reaching out to grab the refined steel sword.
Chen Ming couldn’t help but glance at Fang Yong beside him, thinking that this man’s strength was no weaker than Zhou You’s. Yet he wasn’t fighting for the Demonic Sword. Were the bonds between senior and junior brothers really this deep?
Just then, a sudden change occurred.
A furious roar rang out as Zhou You was flung backward, blood spraying across the sky.
Chen Ming was startled. “What happened?”
Looking up, he saw that the pavilion roof had a gaping hole. A figure clad in snow-white robes stood beside the refined steel sword.
It was a middle-aged man, with an immortal-like aura, exuding a celestial air.
That demeanor...
A member of the Heaven's Path Alliance?
Could it be... Su Zhi Ning’s Martial Uncle?
A flash of insight struck Chen Ming’s mind—he had figured out who that man was.
The white-robed man smiled and said, “Luo Zhouwu of Heaven's Path Alliance, has been waiting here for some time.”
It really was him!
No wonder Su Zhi Ning hadn’t been able to contact her Martial Uncle—he had been lying in ambush here all along.
Zhou You had a bloody hole in his chest, pierced clean through by a single sword, and collapsed beside Fang Yong. He cursed, “Heaven's Path Alliance, how despicable! Hiding and launching a sneak attack!”
Luo Zhouwu replied calmly, “Indeed, it wasn’t very honorable. But I’m just one person, and the two of you are two. Fighting one against two—my chances weren’t high. I had no choice but to use this underhanded tactic.”
Zhou You was so enraged by his shamelessness that his nose almost twisted. He ground his teeth and spat, “So this is the so-called greatest sect in the world? The beacon of righteousness? Just a bunch of despicable cowards.”
Luo Zhouwu showed no anger. Instead, he praised, “The Nine Nether Grand Art truly lives up to its name as the top-tier cultivation of the Cult of Eternal Life. You took my sword and still survived. Looks like the records were true—once it’s cultivated to the First Grade, the body undergoes transformation. To kill you completely, one must not only sever all vitality but also erase the spiritual consciousness in your life-bound artifact.”
Zhou You shouted, “Junior Brother, stall him. I’ll grab the Demonic Sword!”
Fang Yong instantly moved, leaping toward Luo Zhouwu in attack.
Luo Zhouwu stood still and swung a silver-glowing longsword, slashing at Fang Yong. Upon striking, he suddenly switched forms rapidly.
Below, Chen Ming’s eyes blurred—within just a breath, Luo Zhouwu had altered his sword’s form multiple times—its direction, angle, force...
This was a true battle between First Grade experts. It was the first time Chen Ming had witnessed combat at this level.
It felt… abstract.
Clang!
Finally, their swords collided.
Fang Yong was blasted away, landing over ten meters away before stopping. His face darkened. “I can’t see through his weaknesses anymore.”
Chen Ming below suddenly understood—so it wasn’t that Fang Yong’s swordsmanship was extraordinary, but that he could perceive the flaws in others’ moves.
That must be the function of his life-bound artifact.
Where did these four senior and junior siblings get so many powerful treasures?
A Mirage Pearl, a divine weapon, a treasure that reveals opponents’ flaws, and another that heals injuries. If they coordinated perfectly, this combination would be terrifying.
Zhou You shouted, “Let’s go together!”
Then, the two of them flew at Luo Zhouwu—one from the front, one from behind.
After a few moves, Luo Zhouwu fell into disadvantage, struggling to cope.
Chen Ming finally witnessed what a true First Grade expert battle looked like. Compared to Third Grade martial artists, the biggest difference was how First Grade experts wielded power—restrained and silent. No flashy effects, but the force they carried left him trembling.
This meant that First Grade experts had absolute control over their power—highly focused and efficient. Unlike Third Grade, where unleashing Gang Yuan created a huge spectacle but wasted much of its force.
Cold sweat trickled down Chen Ming’s back as he watched.
He realized he had underestimated First Grade experts. Even if he borrowed the power of the Phoenix Cry Sword, he’d barely be able to contend with them.
The power within the Phoenix Cry Sword was immense, but his efficiency in using it was far inferior to a First Grade expert. In actual combat, he wouldn’t last long.
He could tell that Luo Zhouwu’s cultivation far surpassed the duo of Zhou You and Fang Yong. However, fighting one against two—and holding back his true power—still left him at a disadvantage.
If he hadn’t wounded Zhou You earlier with a sneak attack, he wouldn’t have lasted this long.
Zhou You’s black sword was incredibly powerful. Every time it clashed with Luo Zhouwu’s sword, it dimmed the latter’s glow, as if it were being tainted.
Fang Yong, like a venomous snake, kept striking at openings. Every move left Luo Zhouwu visibly uncomfortable.
Watching from below, Chen Ming couldn’t help but feel nervous for Luo Zhouwu.
Just as Luo Zhouwu nearly got injured several times, a gentle white light suddenly radiated above his head, restoring color to the once black-and-white world.
The black tiles beneath their feet turned gray again.
The white light expanded to a radius of about ten meters.
Zhou You shouted, “Heaven’s Heart Sword Domain! This guy is going all out. Be careful, Junior Brother!”
Chen Ming’s heart tightened as he focused. Luo Zhouwu swept Zhou You and Fang Yong back more than ten meters with a single slash, finally catching his breath.
It was said that after reaching First Grade, one could form a Sword Domain through Sword Intent. Within this domain, they held absolute control.
Anyone entering the domain would be subjected to fatal strikes.
The core disciples of the Heaven’s Path Alliance cultivated the Heaven’s Heart Manual, so naturally, their domain was the Heaven’s Heart Sword Domain—a famous technique.
Although Chen Ming’s cultivation was lacking, and he couldn’t grasp all the details, just seeing Luo Zhouwu’s domain restore the world’s colors spoke volumes of its power.
There was a reason the Heaven's Path Alliance stood at the top of the Nine Great Sects.
Now, the situation was clear—Luo Zhouwu had to guard the Demonic Sword. If he was pushed back and either of them got it, he’d lose.
On the other hand, Zhou You and Fang Yong had to end this quickly. Luo Zhouwu’s cultivation was higher, and the Heaven's Path Alliance’s techniques were famous for their endurance.
In this isolated realm, Gang Yuan couldn’t be replenished. Overusing it would be extremely dangerous.
Seeing this, Chen Ming quietly converted the Gang Yuan in his body to the Mysterious Wood True Art and began healing his injuries.
“A-Again…”
Suddenly, Qian Jiu cried out in panic.
Several more figures flew out from the villa—dressed like guards, with strength equivalent to Second Grade “minions.”
Now, with Zhou You and Fang Yong too occupied, they couldn’t spare the time.
These people must have activated domains too—whenever they entered within ten meters of Luo Zhouwu, the area regained its black-and-white hue.
As the battle escalated, even the three First Grade experts couldn’t contain the overflow of power. A terrifying force burst forth—one strike collapsed the entire pavilion.
The Demonic Sword tumbled down with the wreckage.
Suddenly, Luo Zhouwu reached out and grabbed the hilt of the Demonic Sword.
Zhou You exclaimed in disbelief, “You’re insane! You dare touch the Demonic Sword of our Nine Nether Sect?”
A faint purple hue rapidly spread across Luo Zhouwu’s eyes. Even the corners of his mouth curled into a wicked smile.
“I can only last ten breaths. After ten breaths, the Demonic Sword will control me. If you don’t want to die under its power, then flee within ten breaths.”
In other words, if they gave up on the sword, everyone could survive.
But if they didn’t, then in ten breaths, once the sword took over, everyone present would die.
Zhou You responded with action. The pitch-black sword in his hand shot out, stabbing toward Luo Zhouwu!