The Divine Chart accommodated the entrance of three individuals, their respective sensory ranges piecing together to illuminate the surrounding area for several miles. Yu Ci observed that they were positioned just outside a natural lava cave, which seemed to contain a rather spacious interior, yet for some reason, none of the three had entered.
However, that wasn't the focal point. Recognizing Lu Qing among them, his attention shifted to her two adversaries, whom he also identified.
Weren't they the very same two individuals he had seen causing an uproar at the Red Tooth Store on the day he left the city, having thrown a Soul Capturing Orb? Though they were now clad in several more layers of clothing, both figures were distinctively unique, especially the eight-foot-tall man with a fierce countenance and a ring of deformed skull bones on his forehead that made him unforgettable.
Indeed, these two were the type to Must Retaliate for Even the Smallest Grievance, as evidenced by their verbal sparring. It seemed that they had tracked Lu Qing after she left the city and had only just managed to corner her today.
Yet, despite the fact that both adversaries had formidable Cultivation Levels, even considered strong, Yu Ci still wasn't optimistic about their odds against Lu Qing, whose mastery of transcendent martial arts was evident. This had already been proven back at the Red Tooth Store.
The only variable was whether the duo possessed any special Combined Attack Techniques. Wait, there was something else...
Yu Ci narrowed his eyes, focusing on the individual who was boldly confronting Lu Qing. This person didn't leave as deep an impression as his companion, but Yu Ci remembered that this fellow, known as "Laogu," had suffered a crushed sternum and collapsed chest at the hands of Lu Qing, fleeing with severe injuries. It had been barely ten days—how could he show no sign of injury?
Before Yu Ci could puzzle it out, the two had already clashed.
Facing the oppressive force of the punches, Laogu met them head-on with considerable courage, only to soon let out a peculiar cry: "Not this move again!"
Lu Qing's punches appeared simple, yet they were sharp and fierce. Her attacks might have involved few variations, but in any situation, they maintained a high-pressure stance against the enemy. Although Yu Ci had never directly faced her, having observed from the sidelines twice, he had gained a profound understanding.
To dare confront an Advanced Golden Elixir Cultivator like Lu Qing, Laogu's Cultivation Level couldn't be too far behind, with the level and range of his Aura confirming as much. Yet, in actual combat, Lu Qing always managed to suppress him with a single punch, seizing absolute initiative. Such prowess was truly admirable.
Of course, that old-timer was no greenhorn; having suffered a serious setback before, he approached the next assault with not just bravery but also a strategy. With a bizarre cry, sharp and piercing as though it were the wail of an infant, he shook off the oppressive force of Lu Qing's punches. In the wake of this sonic wave, he broke free and, with a swift sidestep, burrowed nearly a hundred feet through the earth, executing a grand shift in position before never pausing again.
Yu Ci furrowed his brow as he watched. The man's speed as he moved through the soil was hardly inferior to his agility in the air. Using the earthen layers and rocks for cover, he moved unpredictably, occasionally thrusting out a claw with a whistling tip, exceptionally sharp and clearly above standard. It was probably the spatial constraints of the Red Tooth Store that had previously allowed him to be so thoroughly suppressed.
Lu Qing, on the other hand, remained composed. She adopted a strategy of conserving energy while waiting for the right moment to strike, standing her ground with her punches ready to launch like a massive boulder poised to fall. Her divine consciousness operated with lively agility, like a net constantly tightening. If it didn't catch its prey, then so be it, but once it did, the resulting strike would be as swift and devastating as thunder, instantly determining life or death.
Such tactics were well-suited for dealing with the old-timer's hit-and-run style, but her current situation was far from favorable.
She had to divide her attention, and in the end, the real influence on the battle was the eight-foot-tall man who had yet to make a move. His aura emanated fiercely, and though he had not intervened, the pressure he exerted was even greater than the old-timer's. His mere presence nearby disrupted Lu Qing's manipulation of divine consciousness, causing her to miss two opportunities to exert her power.
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Seeing this, Yu Ci felt a stirring in his heart: perhaps he should lend a hand.
Both opponents were at the Upper Level of the Golden Elixir stage, and in terms of absolute strength, they were definitely superior to him, but he could manage for the time being.
More importantly, Lu Qing was an acquaintance and had crafted for him a Lunar Banner of exceptional quality. Even as a straightforward transaction, it could be considered a favor. Encountering such a situation, since it was within his power to assist, it seemed only right to help, and it would also serve to strengthen their relationship. Besides, judging by the temperament displayed by the two opponents, if they were to succeed, Lu Qing's fate would likely be dire.
Once the thought arose, Yu Ci no longer delayed and exerted his strength to rush towards the destination. The distance of fifty miles did not take long to cover, and as he neared the battlefield, the situation there remained in a deadlock. Yu Ci had already calculated how to insert himself into the fray without drawing the "special attention" of the opponents, thus alleviating some of the pressure on Lu Qing. As long as he could give Lu Qing the opportunity to swiftly take down one opponent, his mission would be accomplished. To be on the safe side, Yu Ci had also prepared several talismans.
Approaching the ten-mile perimeter of the battlefield, any further advance would surely trigger the enemies' awareness. Yu Ci expelled the turbid qi from his body, his spirit invigorated, ready to stride into the fray.
However, at this very moment, according to the Divine Chart, the situation had shifted.
Just a breath ago, Lu Qing had missed her third opportunity, retracting the yet-to-be-released force of her punch. It was only because she had trained her boxing skills to the point where she could wield them as desired, blending hardness with softness, that she could manage such control. Otherwise, the immense force of her punch would have crushed her first! Even with such mastery over her skills, her focus was inevitably divided.
The two adversaries, Lao Gu, appeared to be one attacking while the other held the formation, but in reality, they were constantly switching roles between overt and covert, reflected not in mere motion or stillness but in the fluctuating strength of their auras. The contradiction between appearance and reality created various illusions. Human strength has its limits, and no matter how exquisite Lu Qing's boxing skills were, she could not maintain a flawless stance indefinitely. This time, a flaw emerged amidst the ebb and flow of her punch's force.
Her focus should have been on Lao Gu, but the aura of the eight feet tall man suddenly turned piercingly sharp, as if he was about to strike, drawing her attention. This slight delay in Lu Qing's focus allowed Lao Gu to seize the opportunity. With a piercing shriek, he lunged from another angle, ready to unleash a formidable technique.
The eight feet tall man let out a "ha" sound, bravely facing the force of Lu Qing's punch and took a heavy step forward, restricting her movements. This was clearly a well-planned tactic, aiming for a decisive blow!
In the end, Lu Qing did not have the chance to shift her focus again, and she didn't even turn her body back—she didn't need to.
A white ribbon streaked through the air, flying out from the collar of her robe. At first glance, it was a long, fluttering white sash, but in the blink of an eye, it transformed into an ethereal mist, seeping into the ground. Yet, as it soared, a clear ring of a sharp weapon resonated in everyone's ears.
Old Gu screamed in agony, his neck nearly severed in half, blood spurting like a fountain. His Escape Technique was abruptly interrupted, and his entire body became embedded between the strata of the earth, his fate unknown.
The eight-foot-tall man, in the midst of exerting his strength to move forward, was taken aback.
Yu Ci could only wryly smile, not having anticipated that Lu Qing still had such a trick up her sleeve. That ribbon-like Magical Instrument, unexpectedly so sharp, had pierced through a Golden Elixir Upper Level expert's Protective True Essence with a single blow. The power of its Refinement Layers must be no less than that of the nine heavens!
Indeed, in this day and age, which Cultivator would be without a Magical Instrument? Especially a Refining Master like Lu Qing, it went without saying that she would possess one or two life-saving treasures. It was nothing out of the ordinary.
Yu Ci shook his head, halting his advance. To go forward now would be too late, like locking the stable door after the horse has bolted. What would be the point?
As soon as this thought concluded, a series of shrill cries erupted from the Divine Chart.
Not only from within the Divine Chart, Yu Ci could faintly hear it in reality as well, the sound akin to a baby's piercing wails, bizarre and unsettling.
Yu Ci was momentarily stunned when the eight-foot-tall man suddenly bellowed, "Old Gu!"
His voice was clearly laden with a warning. However, the patch of earth into which Old Gu was embedded continued to emit those infantile, wailing sounds, now even with a rhythmic cadence. The eight-foot-tall man's ferocious face darkened, his forehead began to redden slightly, making the ring of mutated bones around it appear even more grotesque.
The strange wailing soon ceased, followed by Old Gu's hissing breath. His voice, sharper than before, called out, "Keep watch for me... Oh, and ten miles away, there's an old acquaintance!"
Ten miles away, Yu Ci was momentarily taken aback before he grasped the meaning behind Old Gu's words: An old acquaintance, my foot!
He abruptly gathered his energy in defense, and at that very moment, he also noticed that the Divine consciousness starlight, which had been embedded into Old Gu's Brain Palace, was forcibly squeezed out. Reflected on the Divine Chart, the scene on the other side became a hazy mist in an instant.
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I have also posted the following more chapters [All free]: https://www.readgates.com/article/74a39e