Chapter 589 - 589: Why Thank the Enemy?

The expressions on the faces of Queshichao, Pheasant, and Chicken Milk changed drastically.

That last strike from Zhao Yuan hadn't just taken Yanbei Village's head—it had shattered their confidence and will to fight. In that instant, he was a peerless general in their eyes! It was as if Guan Gong himself had been reborn!

"Go!"

The trio made an instant decision to retreat and weather the storm. They would wait for the effects of Zhao Yuan's Divine Strike Secret Technique to end, then come back and finish him off!

'After all, everyone else in this reception hall is grievously wounded and knocking on death's door. There's no reason for us to throw our own lives away in a moment of haste!'

The trio split up, each running for a different tunnel, hoping to make their escape.

However, Zhao Yuan had already anticipated this move.

He couldn't possibly chase all three at once, but they had forgotten one thing: he still had the Thunderlight Electromagnetic Cannon!

Before, he had used up too much of his body's Qi to power the Thunderlight Electromagnetic Cannon. But now, the Divine Strike Secret Technique had filled him with Heaven and Earth Essence Qi, allowing the Thunderlight Electromagnetic Cannon to roar to life once again.

"You can't run! You're all staying here!"

With a fierce cry, countless electrified silver needles shot from his hand, sweeping toward the fleeing Queshichao, Pheasant, and Chicken Milk like a sudden squall.

The trio was so focused on a swift escape that they didn't notice the incoming projectiles. By the time they did, it was too late to dodge!

There were simply too many needles hurtling toward them. Even if they could avoid some, they couldn't possibly avoid them all!

PFFT! PFFT! PFFT!...

Amidst a series of sickening thuds, the silver needles whistled as they embedded themselves in their bodies.

At the critical moment, they managed to shield their vital spots, so they weren't killed instantly by the electromagnetic cannon like Bai Yuting. However, the lightning energy packed into the silver needles detonated upon impact. The internal explosions not only caused bloody sprays to erupt from their bodies but also slammed them to the ground, leaving them unable to crawl into the tunnels and escape.

Zhao Yuan gave them no chance for a comeback. He rushed forward, his weapon rising and falling. CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH! With three sickening cracks, he cleanly and decisively smashed the skulls of Queshichao, Pheasant, and Chicken Milk.

Even as they died, Queshichao and his men couldn't understand it. Why were they, the ones who had held the advantage, the ones who ended up defeated? And how could their defeat be so crushing, so complete, that not a single one of them managed to escape?

"Haaa..."

Zhao Yuan exhaled a long, ragged breath and deactivated the Divine Strike Secret Technique.

The power that had surged through his body receded like the tide. The excruciating pain he had been suppressing came roaring back, causing Zhao Yuan to grit his teeth and wince.

Cheng Haoyu, Hao Li, and the others didn't notice Zhao Yuan's expression. They were too busy celebrating their comeback victory, shouting praises:

"Brother Zhao, you're a badass!"

"Little Brother Zhao, I had no idea you were so strong! You saved my ass again, man!"

"Fellow Daoist Zhao, we owe you our lives. I would have died an ignoble death without you!"

Zhao Yuan cracked a smile, wanting to reply, but when he opened his mouth, he realized he didn't have the strength to speak.

Then, his vision went black. He swayed and, with a THUD, collapsed to the ground.

"Brother Zhao, what's wrong?"

"Zhao Yuan, are you okay?"

"Quick, someone check on Fellow Daoist Zhao!"

Everyone's faces paled as they struggled to crawl toward Zhao Yuan. Zeng Rui was the first to float over. After a quick examination, she said to Ying Ji, "Don't worry, he's not in any serious danger. It's a side effect from using the Divine Strike Secret Technique. He's just fainted from complete exhaustion."

Ying Ji then relayed this information to the others.

Elder Shan hurried over and placed an elixir in Zhao Yuan's mouth to help him recover his strength. Hearing the diagnosis, the others breathed a collective sigh of relief.

"As long as it's nothing serious. You really gave me a scare. I was terrified something had happened to Brother Zhao," Cheng Haoyu said, panting for breath.

"Same here. As long as Little Brother Zhao is okay," Hao Li said, sprawled on his back on the floor.

With the tension gone and the pressure released, not only was he overcome by a deep exhaustion, but the pain from his wounds all over his body also seemed to intensify, leaving him unable and unwilling to move.

Elder Shan was also exhausted, but he forced himself to move. He took out some Primordial Qi-replenishing, wound-healing elixirs from his pocket, passed them out, and instructed, "Take these. They will replenish our depleted Primordial Qi and help your wounds form scabs more quickly."

Yue Tianchi also forced himself up, pulling out another wine gourd. After uncorking it, he first took a swig to wash down his own elixir, then passed the gourd to the person beside him.

"Here, everyone take a drink. This is a special medicinal wine I made. It replenishes Qi and nourishes the blood. It's even more effective when paired with Great Alchemist Shan's elixirs!"

"Thanks!"

Hao Li, Cheng Haoyu, and Ying Ji didn't hesitate, quickly downing their elixirs and taking a swig of the wine.

Shan Han took a sip as well, but she was clearly unaccustomed to alcohol and began coughing, the strong spirit choking her.

Yue Tianchi said sheepishly, "My apologies, Alchemist Shan. I have a taste for strong liquor, so my brews are all quite potent. I'll make sure to brew some fruit wine with a lower proof next time—guaranteed to be delicious and just as useful."

"It's fine." Shan Han wiped the wine from the corner of her mouth and exhaled. "Still, there's something satisfying about a strong drink!"

"Haha, exactly! Nothing's more satisfying than a stiff drink, especially after a big fight!" Yue Tianchi bellowed with laughter, but the movement pulled at his wounds, and he cried out in pain. "Owowow..." He then continued, "Technically, we should be getting up to circulate our cultivation techniques to better absorb the elixir and wine, but I just don't have the energy to move. Ah, screw it. I'm just going to lie here until I get some strength back."

Everyone nodded in unison. They were all in the same boat as Yue Tianchi. If they could barely lift a finger, how were they supposed to circulate their cultivation techniques?

So they all remained on the floor, chatting to pass the time while they waited for their strength to recover.

Having just fought a life-and-death battle together, their bonds had instantly strengthened. They were no longer strangers, and the conversation flowed much more warmly.

As they talked, the conversation eventually turned to Zhao Yuan.

Elder Shan glanced at the unconscious Zhao Yuan and sighed. "We truly owe everything to Alchemist Zhao today. If he hadn't known the Divine Striking Skill, I'm afraid we'd all be dead at the hands of those intruders by now..."

Ying Ji chimed in with a smile, "If you ask me, we should be thanking Yanbei Village."

Elder Shan, Yue Tianchi, and Shan Han were all stunned, not understanding what Ying Ji meant. 'Why should they thank the enemy who almost killed them?'

Cheng Haoyu and Hao Li, however, caught on right away. "She's right," they said, laughing. "We definitely should thank Yanbei Village. If he hadn't used the Divine Striking Skill first, we'd all be dead by now!"

This only made the others more confused and utterly baffled.