Chapter 276 - 139: Gang Body Perfection

’I have to risk it!’

’If I don’t, I’m dead!’

The next moment, the energy in his body roared. The `Crossing the Sea True Intent Fragment` suddenly displayed its miraculous power, forcibly harmonizing the frigid insect venom with the scorching `Medicinal Power`. The two opposing forces, one cold and one hot, unexpectedly formed a Yin and Yang cycle and were absorbed at a frantic pace.

’Pain, pain, pain!’

As the energy circulated at extreme speed, Liang Cheng’s `Meridians` throbbed painfully, already nearing their limit.

At the same time, however, his `Mixed Element Gang Body` was also advancing rapidly, strengthening the resilience of his `Meridians`!

In this way, a strange equilibrium formed within Liang Cheng’s body!

But just then, he sensed a vast power raging outside.

’It seems Shi Podang has run out of patience. He’s using overwhelming force to flatten the Iron Wire Insect nest.’

Liang Cheng sensed that his `Mixed Element Gang Body` had reached a critical point. He forced himself to sink deeper and continued to hold on.

[Mixed Element Gang Body: Great Success (19,873/20,000)]

[Third Layer of Broken Wave Technique: Great Success (14,249/30,000)]

Liang Cheng’s body jolted as `Gang Qi` erupted from him!

BANG! BANG! BANG—

The `Iron Wire Insects` coiled around him all snapped!

’A pity. It’s still not quite enough.’

But he was out of time. Shi Podang had arrived!

Without a moment’s hesitation, he shot out of the nest. Hundreds of bloody pinpricks dotted his skin, but his aura, far from diminishing, had surged!

Shi Podang’s face darkened when he saw Liang Cheng emerge.

"You actually dared to use the nest for `Body Refinement`. Such audacity."

He wasted no more words. His longsword was finally unsheathed.

This was the first time he had truly drawn his weapon!

The sword’s name was `Golden Scale`. Its blade was engraved with intricate scale patterns, and as he drew it, the faint roar of a dragon echoed.

He slashed out. The golden `Sword Aura` was so dense it seemed solid, spanning a full three zhang. Reeds were sliced to pieces, `Iron Wire Insects` were obliterated, and the marsh itself was cleaved in two!

The hair on Liang Cheng’s skin prickled, and without a second thought, he dove to his right.

BOOM—!!

The `Sword Aura` struck the swamp, sending waves of mud surging sky-high.

Though Liang Cheng dodged the direct hit, the aftershock still slammed into his back. He merely staggered for a moment before pressing forward, using the force of the blow to hasten his escape.

At the same time, he jabbed his fingers like a sword toward a hole below.

Shi Podang froze for a second.

’How is that possible?’

’He actually blocked it!’

In that moment of Shi Podang’s astonishment, Liang Cheng had already escaped his pursuit. With an angry roar, Shi Podang gave chase.

But the next moment—

CROOOAK—!!!

A deafening croak rang out as a `Three-Eyed Toad` the size of a small hill leaped from the marsh. Its third eye opened, shooting a grayish-white beam of light at Shi Podang!

Shi Podang swung his sword to block. The golden `Sword Aura` collided with the beam, immediately creating a sizzle of corrosion.

’Damn it!’

’Liang Cheng actually set a trap for me as he fled!’

"A `Tier Five Peak`..."

His eyes turned grave as he was forced to focus his full attention on the toad.

Liang Cheng took the opportunity to hide in a narrow, damp rock crevice deep within the toad’s territory. For now, he was safe.

Panting, he took out the `Demon Core` of a `Tier Five Late Stage` `Earth Armor Horned Python`, crushed it, and swallowed it in one gulp!

RUMBLE—!!

The energy inside him detonated.

The scorching heat from the residual `Red Flame Vermilion Fruit`, the dense power of the `Tier Five Demon Core`, the lingering `Medicinal Power` from the `Purple Cloud Dragon Pattern Fruit`, the frigid venom of the `Iron Wire Insects`...

All these forces mixed into a chaotic mass, rampaging through his `Meridians`!

The `Crossing the Sea True Intent Fragment` worked at full power to convert the energy. He temporarily ignored the commotion outside, where the sounds of the fierce battle between Shi Podang and the `Three-Eyed Toad` were drawing closer.

"Dragon Slayer!"

CROOOAK—!!!

Amidst a tremendous crash, the toad let out a pained cry, clearly having suffered a heavy blow.

’I’m running out of time,’ Liang Cheng knew.

But in that very instant,

His `Meridians`, which seemed on the verge of shattering, held on by a thread. The chaotic energies were forcibly twisted into a single stream.

In his `Dantian`, the nine `True Essence Light Groups` spun wildly, and a golden light erupted from the surface of his body!

’Now!’

"Break—!!!"

[Mixed Element Gang Body: Perfection]

[Third Layer of Broken Wave Technique: (16,892/30,000)]

VMMMM—!!

An invisible ripple spread out from the rock crevice!

Outside the crevice, Shi Podang, who had just slain the `Three-Eyed Toad`, whipped his head around, his pupils constricting.

Liang Cheng stepped out of the crevice. A faint, golden `Glazed Gang Shield` flowed ceaselessly around his body. With each step he took, the mud on the ground sank slightly.

But there was no joy in his eyes; instead, his expression was even more grave.

’Although my `Mixed Element Gang Body` has reached `Perfection`, the `Third Layer of Broken Wave Technique` is still a long way from `Perfection`. My `Cultivation` is still only at the `True Essence Realm`.’

’Right now, the immense `Demon Core Energy` from the `Tier Five Demon Core` is still raging within me. I urgently need to meditate and refine it. This is no time for a death match.’

Shi Podang stared at the `Glazed Gang Shield` on Liang Cheng’s body, his gaze as cold as a blade. "A breakthrough in the middle of a battle... It seems I really can’t let you live."

Before his voice faded, the `Golden Scale Sword` in his hand flared with light as he unleashed a `Horizontal Slash`!

"Broken Dragon!"

This was no longer a probing attack, but his full power. The `Sword Aura` solidified, spanning five zhang as it tore through the air, roaring toward Liang Cheng with the marsh’s mist in its wake!

Liang Cheng neither retreated nor dodged. His eyes sharpened, and he met it head-on!

VMMMM—!

The pale golden `Glazed Gang Shield` shone brilliantly, and intricate, ancient patterns appeared on its surface.

CLANG—!!!

The `Sword Aura` struck the `Gang Shield`, producing a deafening ring like a colossal bell!

The marsh exploded in a ten-zhang wave of murky water, and the surrounding dead trees were all shattered.

Liang Cheng’s body shook violently, his feet sinking knee-deep into the mud. The `Gang Shield` vibrated intensely, sending out frantic ripples, but it had completely blocked the attack.

’But I’m horrified,’ Liang Cheng thought. ’A `True Gang Late Stage` `Disciple` from the `Penglai Sect`... the quality and sheer volume of his `Gang Qi` are far beyond what I imagined. I’m afraid even Senior Brother Lu Zheng wouldn’t be his match!’

At the same time, Shi Podang’s pupils contracted.

’Even an ordinary `True Gang Middle Stage` `Disciple` from the `Sect` wouldn’t dare take that attack head-on. But this kid, a mere `True Essence Realm` `Disciple` from the `Main Courtyard`, actually managed to withstand it?!’

"What a tough turtle shell!"

He laughed in fury. "Let’s see how many more of my slashes you can take!"

Before his voice faded, he raised his `Golden Scale Sword` again.

This time, it was not a single slash, but an unrelenting `Sword Momentum` like a surging tide!

"Thousand Waves!"

The `Sword Aura` came in layered waves, one after another, each successive wave fiercer than the one before it.

Liang Cheng’s expression didn’t change. ’An endless assault like this is my opportunity, too.’

A look of determination flashed in his eyes. He then used the impact of the first wave of `Sword Aura` to propel himself backward!

"Trying to escape?"

Shi Podang sneered, his `Sword Momentum` following like a shadow.

The second wave of `Sword Aura` had arrived!

While in mid-air, Liang Cheng turned and punched out with both fists, pushing his `Mixed Element Gang Body` to its absolute limit!

BOOM!

The `Fist Aura` and `Sword Aura` collided, and a shockwave of energy erupted.

Liang Cheng used the momentum to retreat even further, his back snapping several dead trees, but he was moving even faster now!

The third and fourth waves of `Sword Aura` arrived in quick succession, but he always managed to dodge them by a hair’s breadth with his `Wandering Dragon Step` or tank part of the shockwave with his `Gang Body`, using the force to escape even farther.

"Damn it!"

Shi Podang finally understood that Liang Cheng had no intention of fighting at all—he was just running!

He was tanking parts of the attacks with his `Gang Body` to accelerate, with absolutely no desire to get entangled in a fight!

"You think you can get away?"

He pointed his longsword to the sky, and the golden `Gang Qi` around him gathered frantically, forming the phantom of a ten-zhang-long golden greatsword above his head!

Liang Cheng sensed the terrifying aura locking onto him, and alarm bells screamed in his mind.

In a flash, he made a crazy decision. He stopped suppressing the berserk `Demon Core Energy` inside him and instead guided the rampaging energy, madly injecting it into the `Meridians` of his legs!

His `Meridians` throbbed in agony, on the verge of bursting.

But in exchange, his speed skyrocketed!

At that moment, his `Wandering Dragon Step` broke through its limits, and his figure left three afterimages on the marsh!

"Slash!"

Shi Podang’s `Golden Scale Sword` came crashing down!

RUMBLE—!!

A thirty-zhang-long chasm instantly appeared, sending waves of mud surging into the sky.

But where the sword fell, there was only a slowly fading afterimage.

Liang Cheng himself was already a hundred zhang away!

"You—"

Shi Podang’s face was ashen. That attack had consumed a great deal of energy, yet his opponent had dodged it with such a suicidal method!

Without looking back, Liang Cheng sprinted toward the deepest part of the marsh.

The `Demon Core Energy` still raged within him, his `Meridians` felt as if they were being scorched by fire, and every breath he took tasted of blood.

He suppressed the agonizing pain in his `Meridians` and, using the cover of the trees, disappeared into the vast mountain forest at the edge of the marsh in just a few leaps.

Shi Podang’s furious roars and the sound of `Sword Aura` tearing through the air were left far behind him.