Chapter 670 - 270: Bizarre
Chen Qing’s heart shook as he witnessed Elder Deng’s Divine Secret Technique. He hurriedly circulated his True Astral to form a shield in front of him, bracing against the violent, sweeping shockwave.
But before the smoke and dust could even settle, a sudden change occurred!
In the center of the area blasted by the Mountain and River Seal, things had not calmed down. Instead, an incredibly dense, bloody light and Evil Qi suddenly erupted!
The bloody light shot into the sky, carrying an extremely vile aura that seemed to want to corrupt the very heavens and earth.
Within the bloody light, Mo River’s battered figure was faintly visible. His face was contorted, and black blood trickled from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. He was clearly at the end of his rope.
"Burn my demonic blood! Ten Thousand Transformations Blood Escape!"
Mo River let out a shrill, determined roar. He had unhesitatingly burned more than half of his own Essence Blood and a portion of his Divine Soul’s source!
This was an escape-oriented Secret Technique of the Demon Sect that came at an extremely heavy price. Once used, a great loss to one’s foundation and a sharp drop in Cultivation were practically inevitable!
As he roared, the sky-piercing bloody light suddenly contracted, transforming into a blood-red arrow condensed to its absolute limit. The atmospheric fluctuations emanating from it were heart-stopping.
Elder Deng Ziheng’s eyes narrowed. He clearly hadn’t expected Mo River to be so decisive and ruthless. With a cold snort, he once again gathered his True Essence and threw a punch through the air at the condensed, bloody Evil Qi!
BOOM!
The Fist Force, as mighty as a mountain, slammed into the Evil Qi. The air vibrated violently, and the condensed bloody light trembled, looking as if it might disperse.
At the core of the bloody light, Mo River coughed up another spray of dark blood mixed with visceral fragments. His aura deflated like a punctured balloon, wilting in an instant. The once-abundant fluctuations of his True Essence became faint and barely perceptible.
However, propelled by the force of Deng Ziheng’s punch and the momentary burst of power gained from burning his Essence Blood and Divine Soul, the blood-red arrow quivered violently. With a WHOOSH, it tore through the surrounding, still-turbulent air and shot away!
Its speed far surpassed what he had shown before, leaving only a fading crimson trail and a thick, lingering, bloody, and malevolent aura.
Elder Deng Ziheng did not give chase. He took a deep breath, and the surging True Essence surrounding him slowly subsided.
Repeatedly activating the Divine Technique, Mountain and River Seal, followed by a fierce assault had taken a considerable toll on him.
Chen Qing hurried forward and asked with concern, "Elder Deng, are you all right?"
Deng Ziheng waved his hand, signaling that he was fine. "I’m all right."
Chen Qing watched Mo River’s retreating figure. "So, Mo River... he got away?"
Elder Deng sneered. "Yes, he escaped, but at a tremendous cost. He is, after all, a True Essence Realm expert who has completed three refinements, so of course he’d have a few trump cards to save his life. However, after taking a Mountain and River Seal from me head-on and then forcefully executing the Ten Thousand Transformations Blood Escape by burning his Essence Blood, his Sea of Qi has been shattered by my Fist Force. His foundation is grievously wounded!"
"With an injury like that, it would be impossible for him to recover without several years of hard work and a heaven-defying opportunity. Even if he makes it back to the Demon Sect, his position as an Elder... heh, I’m afraid his time is up."
Chen Qing understood. In a Sect like the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect, there was intense, hidden internal competition. Within the Demon Sect, it was even worse—more overt and brutal.
The law of the jungle was their iron-clad rule.
With Mo River so heavily injured, his foundation damaged and his strength greatly diminished, the sect-mates he once suppressed and the rivals who coveted his position would never let such an opportunity pass.
’His life after returning to the Demon Sect would likely be no better than being hunted down out here.’
"Elder Deng, your strength is profound. This disciple is in awe," Chen Qing said with sincere admiration.
Witnessing a duel between True Essence Realm experts and the use of Divine Techniques had a profound impact on him.
Deng Ziheng glanced at Chen Qing, his tone softening as he offered some guidance. "Mo River also completed three refinements to reach the True Essence Realm, but he cultivated a Demon Sect Rapid Success Technique, so his foundation is shallow. While his Realm might seem high, he’s strong on the outside but weak on the inside. The higher the Realm, the more a battle becomes a contest not just of one’s depth of Cultivation, but of the solidity of one’s foundation, the quality of one’s True Essence, the strength of one’s Divine Sense, one’s combat Techniques, and even one’s mastery of Divine Secret Techniques."
He paused, looking at Chen Qing with deep meaning. "Although you didn’t build your foundation with a specific Supreme Heart Method, the fusion of your Three True Astrals gives you a potential and depth that is in no way inferior to any Supreme Heart Method. When you reach the True Essence Realm, the Lifebound True Essence you condense will surely be exceptionally deep and pure, far surpassing that of your peers."
Chen Qing’s heart stirred, and he nodded solemnly.
’I was able to defeat Lu Chenming, who was in a higher realm, not just because of my Cultivation Realm, but also by relying on my powerful Body Refining, my Spear Technique at the Perfection level, and my various hidden trump cards.’
As one’s Realm increased, one’s foundation became ever more important.
This was what created the gap between experts.
Demon Sect Cultivation largely relied on plundering external power, whereas ordinary martial artists focused on their own painstaking Cultivation to build a solid foundation.
But Chen Qing was different. He relied on his Fate Plate: Heaven Rewards Diligence.
His foundation was completely different from others!
Besides, others only knew that he had Three True Astrals. They didn’t know that he was actually cultivating the far more profound *Primordial Five Elements True Astral*. When he finally stepped into the True Essence Realm, the Lifebound True Essence he would form would surely be extraordinary.
Just then, Luo Qianjue, He Shuang, and the other surviving disciples gathered around, many of their faces still etched with the complex emotions of having survived a catastrophe.
Chen Qing asked, "What’s the situation? What are the casualties?"
Luo Qianjue’s expression was grim. He took a deep breath and replied, "Brother Chen, on our side... six are dead. They were the ones who were poisoned and couldn’t evade the first wave of attacks in time. The rest of us are all injured to some degree, but thankfully, no one is critically wounded."
Chen Qing asked in a heavy voice, "Which six of our brothers and sisters were they?"
Luo Qianjue’s throat bobbed. His voice raspy, he slowly recited the six names.