Chapter 275 - 139: Gang Body Perfection (Part 2)

But it wasn’t enough.

[Mixed Element Gang Body: Great Success (11963/20000)]

[Third Layer of Broken Wave Technique: Great Success (12015/30000)]

Run!

The moment Liang Cheng burst from the hollow tree, he didn’t hesitate. He pulled the first Red Flame Vermilion Fruit from his robes and swallowed it on the run.

’This is no time for caution. Life is short; when you have to risk it all, you go all in!’

The fruit’s flesh dissolved in his mouth, and a scorching torrent exploded within his Meridians!

Unlike the gentle nourishment of the Purple Cloud Dragon Pattern Fruit, the Red Flame Vermilion Fruit was pure tempering, like a blazing fire forging iron, hammering every inch of his body.

Liang Cheng’s skin instantly turned crimson. Since he was moving at top speed instead of sitting still to circulate his energy, fine beads of blood seeped from his pores, his body even warping slightly as he ran.

Had it been anyone else, lacking the synergy between the Life Chart and the Crossing the Sea True Intent Fragment, they would never have been able to pull this off.

But the moment Liang Cheng faltered, Shi Podang had already closed the gap to just a few hundred yards behind him.

"You actually dared to take the medicine?"

Seeing Liang Cheng consume the Red Flame Vermilion Fruit, Shi Podang flew into a humiliated rage. He had long considered the fruits to be his for the taking.

’Damn it!’

A golden Sword Aura tore through the air, heading straight for the center of Liang Cheng’s back!

Liang Cheng gritted his teeth and dodged to the side. He pushed his Wandering Dragon Step to its absolute limit while simultaneously erupting with his Mixed Element Gang Body. The Sword Aura grazed past his right ribs, leaving a white mark and nearly drawing blood.

He used the momentum to lunge forward, plunging directly into a patch of reeds in the miasma-filled swamp ahead.

The miasma here was a faint purple, and a single breath made one dizzy. Liang Cheng held his breath, protected his body with Gang Qi, and, ignoring everything else, charged headfirst into it.

Behind him, Shi Podang pursued him to the edge of the miasma, his brow furrowing.

"You think a mere poisonous miasma can stop me?"

A faint golden Gang Shield materialized around his body, and he strode in.

As a prodigy from the Penglai Sect’s Outer Sect, the only thing keeping him from the Inner Sect was that his Cultivation had yet to reach Breaking Mortality. Once he succeeded in Breaking Mortality and Forming his Core, he would become an Inner Sect Disciple.

However, the need to ward off the miasma slowed his speed by thirty percent.

Liang Cheng seized this moment of respite to flee at top speed deep into the reeds. Then he found a hidden, shallow pool and submerged himself completely.

The water would block some of the poisonous miasma, and the surrounding miasma would help conceal his presence. He didn’t expect Shi Podang to lose him completely, but he would buy as much time as he possibly could.

He sat cross-legged on the pool floor. He activated his Mixed Element Gang Body, relying on his Qi Blood circulation for internal respiration. Both the Broken Wave Technique and the Mixed Element Gang Body ran at full capacity as the Crossing the Sea True Intent Fragment diligently worked to refine the Medicinal Power.

The underwater environment, surprisingly, was a better fit for the Mental Realm of the Broken Wave Technique. The violent Medicinal Power of the Red Flame Vermilion Fruit was rapidly channeled and refined.

[Mixed Element Gang Body: Great Success (13718/20000)]

[Third Layer of Broken Wave Technique: Great Success (12570/30000)]

The Red Flame Vermilion Fruit was better suited for Body Refinement, so the progress in his Mixed Element Gang Body was far more significant than in his Broken Wave Technique.

The residual Medicinal Power of the Purple Cloud Dragon Pattern Fruit in his body was also doing its best to repair him. The crimson hue of his skin gradually faded, turning to a faint gold. Under the dual effect of the Medicinal Power and the Gang Body, his injuries healed quickly.

But just then—

BOOM!

The entire pool exploded, and a golden Sword Aura directly split the curtain of water!

Shi Podang had caught up!

Liang Cheng instantly leaped out of the water, soaked to the bone. Without looking back, he continued to charge deeper into the reeds.

’I was already prepared for this.’ He considered it a stroke of luck that the poisonous miasma had bought him so much time.

Shi Podang watched Liang Cheng’s retreating back, the coldness in his eyes intensifying. He had lost most of his patience. Holding nothing back, he gave chase at his top speed.

Like a fish in water, he locked onto Liang Cheng’s residual aura and shot forward, keeping a tight lock on the fleeing figure ahead.

Liang Cheng sensed the aura behind him, and his heart sank.

He burst through a grove of Cannibal Flowers. The blossoms were as large as millstones. Sensing the Qi Blood of a living person, they instantly opened their fanged maws and lunged.

Liang Cheng swung his saber, cutting down several flowers. The sap that splashed on him was actually corrosive. He paid it no mind, relying on his Mixed Element Gang Body to press forward at top speed.

After an unknown amount of time, a nest of Iron Wire Insects appeared before him.

The ground was riddled with tiny holes from which countless black worms emerged. They were as thin as hairs but as tough as steel wire. Upon contact with flesh, they would wrap around their victim, burrowing into the skin and even drilling into the Meridians!

A ruthless glint flashed in Liang Cheng’s eyes. ’I have the Mixed Element Gang Body to protect me, but what do you have?’

At that thought, he didn’t dodge or evade, but charged straight into the nest!

HSSSSSS—

Countless Iron Wire Insects swarmed his legs and arms. Their sharp mouthparts tried to pierce his Gang Shield, but it was like hitting a wall of solid steel; they couldn’t penetrate it in the slightest.

The chaotic Qi Blood of the swarming Iron Wire Insects temporarily masked Liang Cheng’s own aura, and the sensation of being locked onto instantly vanished.

’Good!’

Seizing this opportunity, Liang Cheng swallowed the second Red Flame Vermilion Fruit!

"Urgh—!"

The scorching energy instantly erupted in his body. His Meridians throbbed with excruciating pain, and his acupoints trembled.

The Iron Wire Insects took advantage of the disturbance in Liang Cheng’s aura to invade. Poison instantly entered his system. The Crossing the Sea True Intent began to spin wildly, forcefully harmonizing and guiding it.

The insect toxin was actually refined by the Medicinal Power of the Red Flame Vermilion Fruit into a stream of yin-cold energy, which formed a delicate balance with the scorching Medicinal Power.

[Mixed Element Gang Body: Great Success (16240/20000)]

[Third Layer of Broken Wave Technique: Great Success (13292/30000)]

The faint golden sheen beneath his skin grew more pronounced.

’I never expected this misfortune to be a blessing in disguise. With this poison in my system, my Mixed Element Gang Body is progressing even faster.’

’In that case, I can’t let this opportunity slip by. Again!’

Liang Cheng had no way out. Every ounce of strength he gained was another tool to resist Shi Podang. He had to admit, Sect Disciples were truly, absurdly strong.

The next moment, the last Red Flame Vermilion Fruit entered his mouth, and the violent energy erupted within him once more. This time, however, Liang Cheng intentionally lowered part of his defenses, allowing more of the Iron Blood Insects’ poison to enter his body.