Chapter 290 - 285: God Blood, Two Paths
Fortunately, in the next instant!
A somewhat stooped, gray-robed figure appeared without warning, blocking the dwarf Hall Master’s path.
The newcomer was none other than the Vice Pavilion Master of the Thousand Mechanism Tower—Lv Qixiu!
Lv Qixiu slowly raised his right hand. With a casual air, he formed a sword-finger and pointed through the air at the imposing dwarf.
SWOOSH—!
A blast of highly compressed Profound Bone Gang Force, like an invisible bullet, tore through the air, instantly creating a sonic BOOM!
The dwarf Hall Master’s expression changed. He threw up a palm to block, but the cunning and powerful attack still staggered him, forcing him back several steps.
"The Thousand Mechanism Tower’s Formless Spirit-Startling Finger? Excellent! I’d heard about it back when I was in Liangzhou. Today is a perfect opportunity to experience your skills firsthand!"
The dwarf Hall Master snorted coldly. A savage light flared in his eyes as he charged forward, engaging Lv Qixiu in battle without yielding an inch.
The clash between the two Profound Bone Realm masters once again whipped up a raging storm of Gang Force.
The constant reversals and the chaotic battle between top-tier experts left Hong Lei’s face increasingly pale with shock.
’Tonight, the South City Gate of Black Stone City has become a veritable meat grinder! For my little Water Snake Gang to be annihilated in a game of this magnitude... I suppose it’s not a bad way to go...’
"Hong Lei! Surrender now!"
Seeing that the crisis with the Profound Bone Realm masters was resolved, Li Jingxuan heaved a sigh of relief. While shouting to break his opponent’s will, he launched a merciless saber assault on Hong Lei.
Gritting his teeth, Hong Lei knew there was no retreat. He steeled himself and threw a punch to meet the attack.
BAM!
Fist met saber. Hong Lei, already injured, was no match for a full-power assault from an expert of Li Jingxuan’s caliber. He let out a muffled grunt and coughed up another mouthful of blood as he staggered backward.
Meanwhile, the grand commander Ye Xiaohong was even more decisive. Seizing the opportunity, he lunged forward, his long saber a flash of white light as he brought it down ruthlessly on the head of the fallen Luo Gui!
"ROAR—!!!"
At the moment of life and death, Luo Gui, who had been feigning death, suddenly let out a wild, beast-like roar that was barely human!
In an instant, his body twisted and warped in a terrifying transformation!
The muscles in his arms swelled as if being inflated, bursting through his robes. His fingernails shot out several inches, transforming into jet-black claws as hard as tempered steel.
CLANG!
Wielding his mutated, demon-beast-like claws, Luo Gui parried Ye Xiaohong’s powerful saber strike, even forcing the grand commander back half a step!
Then, in less than a breath’s time.
Luo Gui’s body underwent a complete transformation! He fully lost his human form, turning into a terrifying, three-meter-tall Demon Beast!
Except for his head, which still retained its human features, his entire body’s skin had turned scarlet and was covered in a corrosive ooze.
Astonishing muscles, like great cables of steel twisted together, bulged across his body, exuding a suffocating aura of bloodlust and madness.
"Divine Blood Transformation?"
Ye Xiaohong’s expression turned grim. He had slain vile cultists in the army and knew all too well the terrifying combat power and regenerative abilities of monsters that had undergone this Divine Blood Transformation.
He gripped his saber with both hands, madly pouring his Qi and Blood into the weapon. An intangible black saber energy slowly enveloped the blade as he charged at the monstrous Luo Gui once more.
...
Watching the masters clash from a distance, Su Yu felt a thrill of excitement.
’These people are the true powerhouses of Black Stone City, the ones who will decide the outcome. My realm is still too low; I can’t interfere.’
’But it won’t be long. In less than a month, I can break through to the Muscle Forging Realm. And even now, my trump cards are no weaker than those of an ordinary practitioner at that level.’
’Especially that "Annihilation of Non-Birth" divine ability... I have a feeling it’s even stronger than an attack from a Profound Bone Realm expert like Pang Xuan.’
"Little Brother Su, be careful. I can sense the aura of another Profound Bone Realm master in the distance."
A warm, rich voice sounded beside Su Yu. It was Ding Yi, the master of the Flying Fish Martial Arts Hall, who had just arrived.
Su Yu saw his gentle smile and nodded in response. He didn’t know why Ding Yi was warning him, but it seemed like a gesture of goodwill, and he had no reason to treat him with hostility.
Seeing Su Yu’s calm and composed demeanor, Ding Yi nodded to himself in satisfaction, his gaze growing even more appreciative.
Su Yu’s senses were incredibly sharp, and he immediately noticed the man’s satisfaction. He grew even more puzzled. ’I barely know him. What’s this all about?’
’Has he taken a liking to me for some reason?’
He couldn’t help but take a step back, ready to flee at a moment’s notice.
Seeing him take a step back, Ding Yi smiled to himself. ’Good kid. Sharp and vigilant. He has the same air I did in my youth.’
’Looks like I need to have a chat with Qin Fangqiong about this soon.’
"Mother of Non-Birth, Vacuum Home..."
"The mortal world is a prison, all beings suffer..."
Just then, chanting erupted from all around. By the looks of it, large numbers of Black Lotus Sect cultists who had been lying in wait within the city were emerging to provide reinforcements!
Accompanied by the unnerving chants, the temperature around the city gate suddenly dropped by ten-odd degrees.
A thick, eerie white fog, so dense one couldn’t see their hand in front of their face, began to spread rapidly through the rainy night, severely obscuring everyone’s vision.
At the same time, the terrifying sound of a clash erupted from Ding Yi’s direction! Vast swaths of the night fog were violently churned and thrown into turmoil by the furious power.
Evidently, the hidden Profound Bone Realm master Ding Yi had sensed earlier could no longer hold back and had finally made their move!
Su Yu quickly retreated, getting out of the way.
"The Black Lotus Sect fiends are using the fog to escape! Security Guards, form up! Chase them down!"
"Seal the city gate! We have to stop them!"
The furious shouts of Li Jingxuan and Ye Xiaohong, along with the clang of weapons, echoed from within the mist.
Su Yu’s eyes narrowed slightly as he instantly shifted his consciousness back to Qing Yuan high up in the sky.
Through the eagle’s eyes, Su Yu quickly found his targets.
Outside the city gates, Hong Lei and the Black Lotus Sect Incense Master—the one who had undergone the Divine Blood Transformation—were fleeing at top speed into the rainy night.
And a few hundred yards behind them, Li Jingxuan and Ye Xiaohong followed their trail in relentless pursuit.
But the night fog was clearly strange; it kept shifting on its own, shrouding Li Jingxuan and Ye Xiaohong and cutting off their line of sight.
At this rate, it would only be a matter of moments before Hong Lei and his companion escaped!
A thought struck him. ’With my eagle’s eyes, as long as this fog doesn’t cover the entire region, Hong Lei won’t escape.’
’And if new enemy reinforcements arrive, I’ll spot them immediately and still have time to get away!’
’This is another chance for me to distinguish myself!’
With that thought, Su Yu’s figure flickered and melted into the vast, rainy night as he gave chase out of the city.
...
A short while later, following Qing Yuan’s guidance from the sky, Su Yu caught up with the disoriented Li Jingxuan and Ye Xiaohong.
"Excellent, Su Yu, you’re here! Quick, see which way Hong Lei and the other one fled! They’re both injured, they can’t have gotten far!"
Li Jingxuan’s face was etched with anxiety. The events of the night had spiraled far beyond their expectations; they’d lost count of how many Profound Bone Realm masters had appeared.
This proved that Luo Gui must be carrying something important! If they could take him down, it would be a major accomplishment!
"This is bad. They’ve split up!"
Su Yu said, frowning as he relayed the information from Qing Yuan.
"What?! So cunning! Damn it!"
Li Jingxuan grew even more anxious, feeling a major accomplishment slipping through his fingers.
"Commander Li, let’s split up. I’ll go after the Black Lotus Sect fiend, and you go after Hong Lei. How about it?"
Ye Xiaohong said urgently.
"Commander Ye, you go after Hong Lei. I’ll pursue the Black Lotus Sect fiend. Su Yu is one of our Golden Scale Guard, after all, and we’ll need his Green-scaled Eagle to track that fiend!"
"Commander Li, that fiend has undergone the Divine Blood Transformation and is extremely dangerous. Your cultivation is a bit lower than mine; it would be safer for me to go after him!"
Seeing the two of them about to argue, Su Yu was left speechless and quickly interjected.
"Commanders, if you keep debating, we won’t be able to catch up. How about you both follow my Green-scaled Eagle and pursue the Black Lotus Sect fiend together? I’ll go after Hong Lei!"
"What? Younger Brother Su, Hong Lei may be badly injured, but he’s still an expert at the Perfection of the Muscle Forging Realm! You can’t possibly go!"
"We’ll do it that way. If the Black Lotus Sect fiend escapes, all this will be for nothing!" Ye Xiaohong said sharply, then looked at Su Yu.
"Don’t worry, Commanders. I’ll just track his movements. Once you’ve dealt with the fiend, you can come to my position. We might still be able to catch Hong Lei then. If not, we’ll just let him escape."
"Fine. Let’s go!"
In the next instant, Li Jingxuan and Ye Xiaohong shot off like a pair of arrows, following the Green-scaled Eagle in the sky as they gave chase.
As for Su Yu, his expression was calm as he headed in Hong Lei’s direction.