Chapter 665 - 268: Assassination (Part 2)

Before Deng Ziheng could finish speaking, his gaze darted toward the depths of the dense forest to the left of the main road.

Chen Qing immediately followed his gaze. A few moments later, a thick, ink-black miasma surged from the woods, spreading like a tide. It instantly enveloped an area of several dozen yards around the tea stall, and the light dimmed abruptly, as if day had plunged into twilight!

"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"

Several tyrannical, explosive auras suddenly tore through the black mist, bristling with chilling killing intent!

"It’s the Infinite Demon Sect!"

"Everyone, be careful!!"

Cries of alarm rose from among the Xu Wang Mountain disciples, but chaos had already erupted.

The disciples who had been poisoned, their True Astral immobilized, were now lambs to the slaughter. In an instant, several dark figures shot out from the black mist and attacked. Two disciples were immediately cut down, their blood spraying as they fell dead to the ground!

Luo Qianjue, however, reacted with incredible speed. Startled but not panicked, his eyes narrowed, a cold glint flashing within. His long saber let out a sharp ZING as he unsheathed it, sending a condensed arc of Saber Astral, like a crescent moon, toward a charging Late-stage Astral Force expert from the Demon Sect.

Although both were at Late-stage Astral Force, Luo Qianjue’s Saber Technique was exquisite and his foundation profound. He completely suppressed the Demon Sect expert.

He Shuang was even more incredible. Facing a pincer attack from two Late-stage Astral Force Demon Sect experts, her expression was frosty. With a flurry of her hands, Three Paths of True Astral—green, white, and blue, each with a different attribute—erupted violently. She single-handedly forced both opponents back, clearly gaining the upper hand.

At the same time, a ferocious-looking Demon Sect expert, wielding a pair of Poisoned Short Forks, moved like a phantom as he charged straight for Chen Qing.

Chen Qing’s eyes were ice-cold. Facing the attack, he advanced instead of retreating. With a quick shift of his feet, the dark, dragon-patterned Profound Dragon Spear in his hand let out a low hum.

This Low-Grade Spiritual Treasure possessed a trace of spirituality. After being nurtured day and night by Chen Qing, it was now connected to his will, moving as if it were an extension of his own arm.

He didn’t even use any complex Spear Techniques. With just a flick of his wrist, the Profound Dragon Spear transformed into a black streak of lightning. Striking first despite moving second, it shot out with lightning speed and precisely pierced the man’s throat!

"PSHCHT!"

He pulled the spear tip out, drawing a spray of blood with it.

The Late-stage Astral Force expert from the Demon Sect stared wide-eyed, a look of utter shock frozen on his face. His gaze quickly dimmed, and his body fell to the ground with a THUD.

One move!

In just a single move, a Late-stage Astral Force expert from the Demon Sect had been killed on the spot!

Chen Qing didn’t pause for a moment. His figure moved like the wind as he raised the Profound Dragon Spear again. He executed the True Martial Demon-Vibrating Spear, unleashing the ’True Martial Abyss’ technique. The spear’s shadow, as immense and heavy as a mountain, directly enveloped two Mid-stage Astral Force Demon Sect members who were trying to ambush other disciples from the side.

The two men felt the air around them solidify, as if they had sunk into a quagmire. Just as looks of horror dawned in their eyes, the majestic spear shadow crushed them, snapping their tendons and shattering their bones. They died instantly!

In the blink of an eye, Chen Qing had killed three people in a row, one of whom was a Late-stage Astral Force expert!

Such decisiveness, such ruthlessness, such tyrannical strength—it struck a chord of terror in the hearts of everyone present, whether they were from the Demon Sect or the prodigies of the Hundred Sects from Xu Wang Mountain!

"Kill him! That’s Chen Qing!"

Chen Qing’s performance instantly drew the attention of the strongest experts among the Demon Sect members, including Han Kui and Zhao Chi, both at Astral Force Perfection.

They too were shocked, but that shock was immediately replaced by immense greed.

’Killing him would be a monumental achievement!’

They had been stuck at Astral Force Perfection for a long time, needing only a catalyst to attempt a breakthrough to the True Essence Realm. And Chen Qing was that catalyst.

"GET OUT OF THE WAY!"

Just as Han Kui and Zhao Chi were about to team up and lunge at Chen Qing, a furious roar, like thunder from the nine heavens, suddenly exploded across the battlefield!

The voice contained an immense pressure. Those with weaker Cultivation felt their minds ring and their senses blur, their movements involuntarily faltering.

A figure shot out from the deepest part of the black mist like a specter, moving so fast it left only a trail of afterimages!

The figure was surrounded by fluctuations of True Essence so condensed they seemed tangible. The very air shrieked as if unable to bear the strain as he passed!

’Not good! It’s a True Essence Realm expert!’

The moment Chen Qing heard the words, he felt the Sea of Will between his brows tremble as if struck by an invisible hammer, and his heart went cold.

’I can’t believe the Demon Sect sent an Elder Level figure from the True Essence Realm for this ambush!’

The withered old man’s Body Technique was as fast as lightning. Enveloped in a thunderous might, his gaze instantly locked onto Chen Qing, who had the most powerful presence on the battlefield.

He raised his wizened hand. True Essence surged and condensed into a massive, pitch-black Palm Seal. The wind from the attack howled and the air trembled as it descended upon Chen Qing’s head with the unstoppable, terrifying force of a collapsing mountain!

Before the Palm Seal even arrived, its terrifying pressure made the hair on Chen Qing’s skin stand on end, and the ground beneath his feet began to crack inch by inch!

"You skulking coward, you dare act so viciously!"

Elder Deng Ziheng had been on high alert the entire time. Seeing this, he sneered as the aura he had been restraining erupted forth, revealing his True Essence Realm cultivation completely!

The True Essence in his body surged. He took a single step, positioning himself in front of Chen Qing, and held two fingers together like a sword before thrusting them forward!

A beam of Finger Light, immeasurably heavy and carrying the might to stabilize mountains and rivers, shot out like the Stabilizing Needle parting a murky tide!

Wherever the Finger Light passed, the turbulent gale it generated tore the surrounding black mist apart.

"BOOM—!!!"

The Finger Light and the pitch-black Palm Seal collided violently!

It was like a thunderclap on a clear day. The violent collision of True Essence triggered a furious shockwave that spread wildly in all directions. The tea stall’s thatched roof was instantly blown away, and the ground was scoured by flying sand and stones. Several Demon Sect experts and Xu Wang Mountain disciples who were too close were sent staggering back, their blood roiling in their chests.