Chapter 373: The Shifting of Stars in Battle
What is meant by being defenseless against defense? This is what it means to be defenseless against defense!
Although Lu Heng suspected that Lian Cangqing used the Qushui Village as bait to lure him out, he never expected that this woman had been disguising herself as the moon, observing everyone from the sky.
This method of concealing and deceiving, like stealing the day and changing it for night, is truly extraordinary. It has deceived the senses of all cultivators, and even Lu Heng himself failed to react in time.
Amidst the crowd, Xiao Ai couldn't help but feel nervous, her expression becoming tense.
At the moment when Lian Cangqing revealed herself, she also realized the danger and quickly glanced at Lu Heng by her side.
"The Wolf God…" Xiao Ai uttered nervously.
Lu Heng, however, shook his head and said, "Do not panic, let's take another look."
Lian Cangqing possesses remarkable strength, but Lu Heng's technique of concealing his aura is also extraordinary. It is an intricately devised esoteric method that he, Jiu Mie, and Candle Dragon have collaborated on for quite some time to derive its profound secrets.
While Lian Cangqing may possess formidable strength, it doesn't necessarily mean that she can truly discern Lu Heng's whereabouts. Otherwise, with her temperament, she would have already taken action against Lu Heng. The fact that she hasn't directly intervened is, in itself, good news.
Therefore, Lu Heng remained unmoved and continued to conceal himself among the crowd, observing the spectacle.
While the woman in the red dress in the moon cast a cold glance at the mountains below, she completely ignored the clamoring Ao Tianxing and spoke to the mountains below.
"Lu Heng, now that you've arrived, why not reveal yourself? Hiding and evading, is this the audacity of the Wolf God of Hanyu Mountain?"
The words spoken by Lian Cangqing caused a moment of silence among the mountains, and then everyone's face displayed astonishment.
Even the Ao Tianxing in the void couldn't help but widen his eyes and look in all directions.
"Has the Wolf God of Hanyu Mountain also arrived?" Ao Tianxing exclaimed in astonishment.
Lian Cangqing in the moon, however, continued to ignore him and instead cast an indifferent gaze upon the mountains below, awaiting the arrival of the man in white.
However, to her disappointment, although there was much discussion and astonishment among the mountains, that figure didn't take the initiative to come forward.
It's as if Lu Heng was not present here at all.
Seeing such a situation, Lian Cangqing furrowed her brows and once again said, "Don't hide! I know you're here! Now that you've come, why hide? You may evade me momentarily, but can you escape me forever?"
In Lian Cangqing's tone, there was a deep-seated anger tinged with provocation.
Amongst the cultivators amidst the mountains, they exchanged uncertain glances, unsure of what to say for a moment.
Judging from this tone… Could it be that this enigmatic cultivator Lian Cangqing has some untold story with the Wolf God of Hanyu Mountain?
Listening to the content of these words, it seems that the Wolf God has been constantly evading, while this woman relentlessly pursues him?
Wow! How exhilarating!
I never expected that coming to spectate would lead to witnessing such excitement… How thrilling!
The deep-seated grudges and entanglements between the two ancient monsters… Although the cultivators fear the ferocity of Lian Cangqing and dare not openly discuss, as they exchanged glances, they had already imagined a melodramatic spectacle unfolding before them.
At this moment, the only one who dared to speak was probably Ao Tianxing, who stood proudly in the void.
Seeing Lian Cangqing once again disregard him, with no sign of the Wolf God of Hanyu Mountain among the mountains, Ao Tianxing spoke up directly.
"You woman, do you intend to deceive me by invoking the name of the Wolf God? Hmph! Even if you have some connection with the Wolf God of Hanyu Mountain, it has nothing to do with me! The reputation of the Wolf God of Hanyu Mountain doesn't intimidate me either."
"If you are truly afraid of me, there is no need for such tactics. Just apologize for the ambush you launched against me that day, and I will spare you, no longer holding any grudges against you!"
Ao Tianxing said with a proud expression, "Just with a simple apology, I, Ao Tianxing, can let go of the past and bear no grudges!"
The voice of Ao Tianxing echoed incessantly among the mountains.
And this time, Lian Cangqing finally cast her gaze upon this incessantly chattering man.
On the moon in the night sky, the woman in red attire had a sinister and horrifying expression, her eyes filled with a fierce and malevolent gaze, like that of a wicked spirit.
The frigid voice, eerily ringing in everyone's ears, seemed to simultaneously emerge from behind each person, hauntingly peculiar.
"You foolish imbecile, truly seeking death."
Lian Cangqing spoke in a chilly tone, saying, "Since you desire death, I shall grant your wish!"
As the words fell, the moon directly above The Qushui Village burst open, transforming into a scattered silver radiance that dissipated into the night.
From within the resplendent silver radiance, a crimson figure stepped forward, raising its hand and striking a palm towards Ao Tianxing below.
The icy intent to kill instantly overflowed the mountains, causing all cultivators among the mountains to feel a chilling sensation, as if a sharp thorn pierced their backs, sending shivers down their spines.
However, in the face of this palm, Ao Tianxing had long been prepared.
At the moment when the moonlight scattered, he mobilized his true energy throughout his body and burst into boisterous laughter, saying, "Thinking of launching a surprise attack? This time, I will not let you succeed!"
"Proud Sky Battle World Technique, Seventh Form! Indestructible Pride of the Skies! Immortal through Eons!"
Boom!
A deafening roar resounded within the mountains.
Lian Cangqing's invisible and unpredictable palm struck Ao Tianxing's chest, but at the moment the force of the palm descended, a brilliant golden radiance suddenly surged from the man's chest, transforming into a half-foot-thick golden barrier of light.
As Lian Cangqing's palm descended, the golden barrier of light resonated with a sharp crackling sound, as if corroded by something horrifying, continuously emitting a foul-smelling green smoke.
After a dozen or so breaths, the peculiar palm force that brought with it gusts of cold wind was finally completely dissipated.
While Ao Tianxing remained unscathed in the void, effortlessly dispelling the golden barrier of light, he proudly chuckled and said, "Hahaha… The Wolf God of Hanyu Mountain retreats without battle, and Lian Cangqing is merely living off an empty reputation. There are only a few beings in this world who are worthy of clashing with me."
"Merely an ancient era's old monster, nothing more!"
Ao Tianxing burst into boisterous laughter and declared, "This world shall ultimately belong to me, Ao Tianxing! Even if the ancient demons of old emerge, I, Ao Tianxing, shall remain invincible in this era!"
Among the crowd, Xiao Ai's brows slightly furrowed, revealing a displeased expression.
"The Wolf God, this ruffian has insulted your reputation…"
The Heavenly Thunder Sword, positioned behind Xiao Ai, trembled silently.
Lu Heng, however, smiled and shook his head, saying, "There's no rush, let's take another look."
Saying so, Lu Heng cast his gaze towards Lian Cangqing in the ethereal void.
Amidst the watchful gazes of onlookers, the woman in crimson attire let out a cold laugh and proclaimed, "Invincible in this era? Just you? Truly, this generation is filled with foolish individuals. Even stray cats and dogs dare to prance before me. Today, I shall scatter your soul and annihilate your spirit!"
Under the night sky, the woman in crimson attire gathered her true qi. Within the void, gusts of eerie wind and a chilling aura could be perceived.
Lian Cangqing, who usually didn't make use of any flashy effects, now uncommonly displayed an awe-inspiring momentum. It was evident that she had been provoked by Ao Tianxing's arrogant words, igniting her true fire and indicating her intent to engage in a serious confrontation.
Within the void, Ao Tianxing let out a free-spirited laughter, showing no fear. Once again, he gathered his true qi throughout his body and exclaimed, "Excellent! Today, I shall engage in a head-on clash with you using my most formidable fist! I will make you truly understand the meaning of 'the new generation surpassing the old', leaving you no choice but to accept defeat wholeheartedly!"
"Proud Sky Battle World Technique, Ninth Form! Invincible in the Proud Sky! Unrivaled throughout eternity!"
Amidst Ao Tianxing's furious roar, nine dazzling golden dragons materialized behind him, all letting out a resounding roar as they soared towards Lian Cangqing, clad in a crimson attire.
Meanwhile, the woman in the red attire had an icy gaze, exuding a chilling aura. As she raised her hand, her pale right hand instantaneously transformed into a bloody crimson, emanating a ferocious aura.
With a palm strike, the heavens and earth trembled, enveloped in a raging surge of malevolent energy, as if countless beings were wailing in agonizing pain. Faintly, ghostly figures of deities appeared, mirroring scenes of tragic demise.
The terrifying spectacle of the Earthly Catastrophe, which only existed in legends, revealed a hint of its presence at this moment, leaving numerous cultivators trembling in fear, their expressions filled with terror.
Lu Heng's expression immediately turned serious.
"Oh no… something is about to go wrong!"
The clash of their techniques generated a destructive power that could undoubtedly level the surrounding mountains. Although the cultivators who were spectating from afar in the mountains had taken shelter, those with weaker cultivation levels might still be affected.
Amidst the crowd, Lu Heng was about to make a move, intending to protect the spectating cultivators when, suddenly, a dark figure rose from within the mountains.
That dark figure appeared strangely and abruptly. Prior to its emergence, none of the people present were able to detect its presence.
After it revealed itself, even though it appeared in Lu Heng's field of vision, he still couldn't perceive the existence of this dark figure, as if what had risen there was nothing more than a deceptive illusion.
And as that dark figure rose, it swiftly dashed towards the midst of Lian Cangqing and Ao Tianxing's confrontation, moving at an astonishing speed.
Apart from Lu Heng, at this moment, there were no more than a handful of individuals who could discern the form of this dark figure amidst the mountains.
In the sky, both Ao Tianxing and Lian Cangqing furrowed their brows as they were momentarily startled by the sudden appearance of this illusory figure.
However, they all showed no mercy, unleashing their ultimate moves, as nine surging golden dragons roared fiercely and collided with the blood-red tide of malevolent aura that blanketed the heavens.
And between these nine golden dragons and the raging tide of malevolent aura, there stood the peculiar and enigmatic dark figure that had suddenly emerged.
In an instant, their ultimate techniques clashed, the force of their palms and the gusts of their fists colliding, yet there was no earth-shattering explosion, nor did a devastating aftermath of destruction ensue.
That strange dark figure actually swallowed all of their palm force and fist winds? It vanished without a trace?
Several top cultivators, who witnessed this scene, all widened their eyes in astonishment.
Lu Heng was even more startled, suddenly sensing a familiar aura emanating from that dark figure.
It seems, somewhat similar to the pungent bloody aura beneath the Zhuxian Town…
The sensation that had just risen in Lu Heng's heart, the dark figure suddenly erupted with a thunderous explosion.
The palm forces and fist powers that struck it simultaneously seemed to dissipate at that moment.
But at the very moment the dark figure erupted, a deafening roar resounded from the location of the Zhuxian Town, several tens of miles away.
Amidst the ferocious roar, the city towers of all four gates of the Zhuxian Town exploded with a resounding blast.
Beneath the earth's surface, the colossal stone monument, towering hundreds of feet high, was riddled with cracks, as if it had been struck by a violent external force.
The crimson light of the sky pierced through the levels of clouds, emerging from the heavens above.
The clouds over the Zhuxian Town dispersed completely, but the nighttime sky had changed its hue. The inky blackness of the night sky transformed into a sanguine shade, eerie and terrifying.
From a distance, the cultivators of the Qushui Village observed the scene over at the Zhuxian Town and were all left dumbfounded.
Lian Cangqing, in an instant, rushed forward, her facial expression changing slightly, as if she had thought of something.
Ao Tianxing hesitated for a moment, but when he saw Lian Cangqing disappear, he finally realized and quickly chased after her, exclaiming, "Hey! We haven't finished fighting yet! Why are you running?"
With a mighty roar, Ao Tianxing transformed into a streak of light and flew towards the sudden upheaval in the Zhuxian Town.
His shout awakened numerous cultivators among the mountains. As people exchanged glances with each other, they simultaneously flew up and headed towards the Zhuxian Town.
The cultivators who arrived at this location were all drawn by the profound changes occurring in the Zhuxian Town.
However, now it seems that unexpected changes have occurred, and naturally, they cannot afford to miss it.
Lu Heng, accompanied by Xiao Ai and the Wuyou and Wuyu siblings, blended in with the crowd as they transformed into streaks of light, heading towards the Zhuxian Town. Within this streak of light, Xiao Ai suddenly sniffed slightly, then whispered softly.
"The Wolf God, there are evil demons mixed in among them…"
Xiao Ai's gaze scanned the surroundings calmly and without a word.
Lu Heng nodded and said, "It's normal to have evil demons. There are rumors that an innate demon is planning to disturb the Zhuxian Town, so they probably won't miss the bustle in the Qushui Village. However, those you have detected are just minions. The true archfiend is still disguising itself among the crowd."
"We will temporarily disregard it and observe the movements of these evil demons."
While speaking, Lu Heng inquired about the Underworld from Chakravartin You Yue through the connection of the Requiem Seal.
With the aid of the Requiem Seal, he could engage in brief conversations with You Yue, even across different realms.
"You Yue, dear friend, has any anomaly occurred in that ancient city?"
Soon, a response from You Yue came through.
Filled with utmost anxiety.
"Something major has happened, Senior Wolf God! Just moments ago, two inexplicable forces collided from the outer heavens and instantly struck the eastern gate of the ancient city. Now, the battle sword hanging above the gate has fallen, and the city gate is on the brink of breaking! Countless fierce roars can be heard throughout the city!"
The report from You Yue left Lu Heng sighing inwardly.
Indeed, the sudden appearance of that dark figure just now is indeed related to the ancient underground citadel of the Zhuxian Town.
That dark figure, using some unknown secret technique, diverted and shattered the formidable powers of Lian Cangqing and Ao Tianxing's ultimate moves, breaking the seal of the sword formation guarding the eastern gate of the ancient city and revealing its true vulnerability.
It seems that this time, not only is the arrival of the catastrophe being accelerated, but the level of its ferocity also surpasses all previous occurrences…
Considering the constantly solidifying ancient citadel in the Netherworld, Lu Heng dared not be careless and immediately sent a message to You Yue.
"Immediately gather all ghost cultivators of the Chakravartin Palace! Form the array of extermination that I previously taught you, and seal off the eastern gate of the ancient city!"
"Once anything emerges from the eastern gate, suppress and eliminate it without exception!"
"The things within the city are not merely malevolent entities, but rather more terrifying beings. We absolutely must not let anything escape from within!"
As Lu Heng spoke, the first image that came to his mind was the sinister figure on the throne of yellow earth.
That thing is not a mere embodiment of demonic or evil cultivation, nor is it any ordinary worldly being. However, should that creature be allowed to escape, it would undoubtedly bring about a catastrophe of epic proportions, surpassing even the likes of an evil lord or any other demonic leader!
Therefore, even though Lu Heng possesses the authority of the Requiem Seal to safeguard and promptly expel the manifesting city from the realm of the dead, he still dares not let his guard down. Instead, he allows the Chakravartin Palace to directly assume the strongest formation in response.
To avoid any unforeseen circumstances.
The realm of the dead is just beginning now, it absolutely must not perish so prematurely!
