Chapter 457 - 456: Lian Shuang Strikes
Xu Zitao struck, channeling Kunpeng Essence Qi, his aura unstoppable.
"Xu Zitao’s aura is so powerful!"
"Who in the Nascent Soul Realm could possibly withstand such a strike?" The people on the North Spirit Platform stared wide-eyed, their hearts heavy with worry.
"I never expected Xu Zitao to have another trick up his sleeve. This sword must be related to the Kunpeng. He came fully prepared." Yuan Huaitian’s brow furrowed.
"At this point, all we can do is hope for the best for Ling Fei." Grand Alchemist Yuan Chun’s face was etched with sorrow.
Because of the restrictions in the North Spirit Ruins, powerful experts like them were unable to enter.
Celestial Essence Divine Furnace!
Just then, a glint flashed in Ling Fei’s eyes. A Light Pattern pulsed between his brows, and a Pill Furnace, wreathed in hazy Light Patterns, shot forth with a whistle.
The moment the Celestial Essence Divine Furnace appeared, it erupted with astonishing might. The Furnace Cauldron spun rapidly, its Inscription Patterns swirling to form a hazy domain that enveloped Ling Fei. In an instant, the two-foot-tall Pill Furnace transformed into a colossal furnace a hundred zhang high.
As the Pill Furnace appeared, it moved abruptly. Its mouth manifested a massive Qi Vortex that began to pull in the approaching Demon Sea of the Kunpeng, as if to devour it whole. This scene took Xu Zitao by surprise. ’To think Ling Fei also possesses a Supreme Treasure of this caliber.’
With his exceptional eye, Xu Zitao could tell at a single glance that this Pill Furnace was no ordinary item.
"Could that be the Pill Furnace Ling Fei acquired in the Hidden Furnace Hall?"
"This furnace is impressive, but it’s hard to say if it can truly contend with Xu Zitao," the elders of the various factions murmured.
The Celestial Essence Divine Furnace appeared, unleashing a powerful aura.
Xu Zitao was surprised, but not afraid.
The Demon Sea swelled, and behind it soared the Kunpeng, its wings vast enough to blot out the sky.
WHOOSH!
The Kunpeng swept its wings, striking like a pair of divine blades. They tore through the Void, aimed directly at the Celestial Essence Divine Furnace.
"Behold my Tianyan!" From within the Celestial Essence Divine Furnace, Xiaotian’s wild, boisterous voice rang out. He activated the Divine Furnace’s Array, and Tianyan immediately surged forth, becoming a Sea of Fire that threatened to engulf the Kunpeng. In the Void, some of the Kunpeng’s Demonic Qi was instantly incinerated.
But the Kunpeng’s power was immense. Its wings tore through the Sea of Fire, carving a path as they chopped down with brutal force.
DING!
The wings crashed down upon the Celestial Essence Divine Furnace with a crisp, metallic ring.
The Light Patterns blooming from the Celestial Essence Divine Furnace were torn asunder. A colossal force struck, sending it flying.
As the Celestial Essence Divine Furnace was knocked away, the violent impact sent Ling Fei flying backward in a sorry state.
THUD!
Ling Fei hit the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
Xu Zitao’s attack was too powerful. Ling Fei could barely withstand the aftershock, which was enough to fracture his bones.
THUD!
The Celestial Essence Divine Furnace crashed to the ground as well.
"Ouch!" As the Celestial Essence Divine Furnace landed, Tianyuanzi’s pained cry rang out. Inside, he had been thrown into a complete mess.
"What the hell? Aren’t you supposed to be all-powerful?" Ling Fei was speechless.
"Well... the Celestial Essence Divine Furnace is indeed powerful, but it contains a lot of Mystical Power that Xiaotian can’t control yet," Tianyuanzi said timidly.
The Celestial Essence Divine Furnace was very powerful and contained various enhancement Arrays.
For example, when enhanced by an Array, a Fire Flame could unleash a devastating attack.
But that required a powerful flame to begin with.
The Fire Flames currently left in the furnace were clearly no match for the Kunpeng Essence Qi. Ling Fei would need to find an even more powerful Fire Flame.
After all, the Kunpeng was a being from Ancient Times!
It was already a feat that the Celestial Essence Divine Furnace had managed to block that one strike.
Ling Fei could only sigh helplessly at this. He had just tried to use his own Divine Soul Power to control the Power within the Celestial Essence Divine Furnace and strike.
But he found he could only command a sliver of its Power, forcing him to rely on coordinating with Xiaotian.
As for the Power of Heaven and Earth within the Divine Furnace, he couldn’t control it at all.
It was all because his own strength was too weak; he had yet to comprehend its Mystical principles.
’In the end, it’s just an Alchemy Furnace.’ Ling Fei sighed. His plan to use the Celestial Essence Divine Furnace to deal with Xu Zitao had clearly fallen through.
"Heh, a genius?" Xu Zitao cracked a grin and strode toward Ling Fei.
Xu Zitao’s long hair billowed as Nether Qi churned around him. He looked like a Demon God striding out from the Nether Demon Sea, an awe-inspiring and terrifying sight. He stared at Ling Fei with utter contempt and said, word by word, "Before me, Xu Zitao, even a genius is no more than an ant."
"Today, you die!" The low words escaped Xu Zitao’s lips as he brandished the Netherworld Kunpeng Sword and slashed at Ling Fei.
SWISH!
The blade’s light tore through the Void, manifesting a Kunpeng. Its wings unfurled, blotting out the sky and completely enveloping Ling Fei. The terrifying aura froze the very air. The sheer power of the attack was petrifying. Both Lian Shuang’s and Shangguan Wan’er’s pupils constricted, their faces overcome with worry.
"It’s over! Ling the Pill Master is finished!"
"What a shame! For such a peerless genius to fall at the hands of Xu Zitao."
"Damn it, how does that Xu Zitao have so many tricks!" A chorus of sighs rose from the North Spirit Platform.
"Ling Fei!" Shangguan Wan’Er cried out, running forward, but the terrifying aura blasted her back.
At the mere Quasi-Nascent Soul Realm, she was completely powerless to interfere in a battle of this level.
"Wan’Er!" A light flashed in Ling Fei’s eyes. With a shift of his Heart Spirit, he delved deep into his Sea of Consciousness. At this point, he had no choice but to stake everything on his next move.
The pattern between his brows swirled as a powerful aura began to coalesce.
The aura was obscure, yet it was instantly noticeable.
’Still trying to resist?’ A glint appeared in Xu Zitao’s eyes.
Lian Shuang noticed it too.
However, Lian Shuang furrowed her brow. ’Ling Fei must have an ace up his sleeve.’
’But Junior Brother Ling has no idea what Xu Zitao’s ultimate trump card is,’ Lian Shuang thought, her face fraught with worry.
Suddenly, her eyes flashed. Wielding a blue Treasure Sword, she leaped into the air and lunged, stabbing toward Xu Zitao as he moved in to kill Ling Fei.
SWISH!
The sword strike was ethereal yet sharp as it cut through the air. The blue blade light pierced the Nether Sea that Xu Zitao had manifested, and Lian Shuang plunged into it. Though enveloped by Netherworld Demon Energy, she pressed forward fearlessly, her Long Sword aimed directly at Xu Zitao’s back.
"It’s Lian Shuang!"
"Lian Shuang is making her move! But she’s only in the Nascent Soul Realm. Can she really contend with Xu Zitao in his current state?" As Lian Shuang drew her sword, an uproar broke out on the North Spirit Platform. The Cultivators from the various factions were shocked, but more than that, they were worried. In the past, they would have had complete faith in Lian Shuang, but now they could only feel concern.
The power Xu Zitao had displayed was simply too great, far beyond that of an ordinary person.
At this moment, Ling Fei’s Heart Spirit had already sunk into the True Dragon’s Eye he had fused with.
Yet his Heart Spirit still sensed Lian Shuang’s sudden attack.
’Lian Shuang... she’s made a move!’ Ling Fei’s heart jolted. He was instantly filled with anxiety. ’Can her sneak attack succeed?’
’If it fails, what will be the consequences?’
Alarmed, Ling Fei pushed his Heart Spirit to its limits, desperately trying to gain control of the True Dragon’s Eye.
’Faster, faster!’ Ling Fei’s mind raced with anxiety. He had to gain control of the True Dragon’s Eye and kill Xu Zitao here and now.
Otherwise, Lian Shuang would almost certainly perish.
But the aura of the True Dragon’s Eye was boundless, its Divine Might terrifyingly immense. Ling Fei’s Heart Spirit spread out, but trying to control the Power within was incredibly difficult. He needed to continuously fuse with it and resist the Dragon’s Might just to gain a better hold. The effort made him so anxious that cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
