Chapter 150 - 149: Still Want the Life and Death Platform?

Chapter 150: Chapter 149: Still Want the Life and Death Platform?

A strange fluctuation of power erupted from within Cheng Fengjun. The instant before Chen Yue’s Palm Force was about to land, his entire body vanished from the spot.

Chen Yue’s right palm paused slightly. The immense Palm Force landed on the ground from a distance.

With a muffled BOOM, the hard stone slab floor was forcefully imprinted with a palm-shaped crater by the remote Palm Force, sending shattered stones flying.

Cheng Fengjun’s figure appeared on the other side of the Guardian Platform, a good ten zhang away from Chen Yue.

The Reversed Azure Dragon Scale Transformation Technique allowed him to burst out with extraordinary speed at the critical moment to dodge the fatal blow, but the strain on his meridians and internal organs was immense. It was by no means a long-term solution.

For a dignified master of the Refining Organ Realm to not even dare to face a Marrow Refining Realm cultivator head-on, forced to use a Reversal Technique—a Forbidden Technique—to escape with his life, was an utter disgrace.

But Cheng Fengjun knew in his heart that if he hadn’t decisively used the Reversal Technique just now, the consequences of taking that palm strike head-on would have been far more severe.

’Chen Yue’s power... it’s too bizarre.’

’That Penetrating Shocking Force seems to be specialized in breaking through all kinds of Protective Qi, and even Gang Qi.’

Chen Yue slowly turned around, his gaze landing on the slightly breathless Cheng Fengjun in the distance. A faint smile touched his lips.

"Not a bad body technique."

His words were not meant as mockery. Cheng Fengjun’s speed had indeed risen to another level just now, enough to make even his own palm strike miss.

However, in Cheng Fengjun’s eyes, that smile and that comment were more glaring than any mockery.

He said nothing, merely staring daggers at Chen Yue as the Reversed Azure Dragon Scale Transformation Technique within him accelerated once more.

’If I can’t win in a head-on clash, then I’ll use speed and skill.’

Outside Panshi Lane, Lin Junshi and Zhao Zongzhen remained silent.

The development of the situation had completely exceeded their expectations. They had thought it would be a one-sided slaughter, but it had turned into this.

Fortunately, Cheng Fengjun still had the Reversal Technique as his trump card. With his advantage in speed, perhaps he could still find a chance to turn the tables.

On the Guardian Platform, Cheng Fengjun took a deep breath. The next instant, his figure vanished again.

Like a phantom, he appeared behind and to the side of Chen Yue.

A fist, carrying a sharp, dark, azure Qi Force, shot silently toward the nape of Chen Yue’s neck.

This punch was incredibly fast, its angle cunning and vicious, aimed straight for a vital point.

Yet, the instant before his fist could strike Chen Yue, it was as if Chen Yue had eyes in the back of his head. Without even fully turning his body, he had already slapped a palm out behind him.

"SMACK!"

Fist met palm, creating a crisp sonic boom.

Cheng Fengjun’s arm trembled. His sure-kill strike had been neutralized so effortlessly.

Cheng Fengjun’s heart tightened. Not daring to linger in the clash, his feet flashed again. With a flicker of his body, he appeared on Chen Yue’s other side.

He repeated the same trick, attempting to attack from another angle.

However, the moment his figure reappeared, before he could even launch his attack, he discovered that Chen Yue had, at some unknown point, already turned completely to face him.

Those calm eyes were watching him with a hint of amusement.

Greatly alarmed, Cheng Fengjun abruptly retreated, trying to pull away.

But while he retreated fast, Chen Yue pursued even faster.

No matter how Cheng Fengjun changed his position, no matter what speed the Reversed Azure Dragon Scale Transformation Technique gave him, he was utterly unable to shake Chen Yue’s pursuit.

The more Cheng Fengjun retreated, the more terrified he became. His speed and his Body Technique had suddenly become useless before Chen Yue.

Chen Yue raised his right palm high. To Cheng Fengjun’s horrified gaze, a palm once again came crashing down toward his head.

The wind from the palm howled, and the pressure of the Qi bore down on him.

Cheng Fengjun felt a chill shoot from the soles of his feet straight to the crown of his head.

He could only watch helplessly as the palm grew larger and larger before his eyes, unable to make any effective evasive maneuver.

In that moment, Cheng Fengjun’s heart sank to the abyss.

’A Marrow Refining Realm cultivator who has practiced such a terrifying Body Refining Technique, forging his Physique to be like a humanoid beast—that’s already absurd enough.’

’How could he also have such profound attainments in his Body Technique?’

’What kind of Marrow Refining Realm cultivator is this?’

But reality would not change just because he found it unreasonable.

The palm, carrying an unstoppable and immense Palm Force, had already filled his vision.

No way to dodge. No way to retreat.

At the brink of life and death, a crazed and resolute look flashed in Cheng Fengjun’s eyes.

He let out an indignant roar. The Reversed Azure Dragon Scale Transformation Technique within him was pushed to its absolute limit, and even beyond.

A violent power erupted from his Dantian. He abandoned all thoughts of defense and focused all his strength into his right arm, throwing a punch with a tragic, no-return momentum to meet Chen Yue’s descending palm.

’Since I can’t dodge, I’ll risk it all!’

"BOOM!"

A violent, tremendous sound exploded across the Guardian Platform.

The very air seemed to cave in from the blow, forming a visible white shockwave that swept madly in all directions.

Immediately after, a figure was sent flying backward from the center of the shockwave.

It was Cheng Fengjun.

The sleeve of his right arm had been reduced to dust.

On his exposed arm, the dark, azure, scale-like Gang Qi shattered inch by inch. His skin split open, dripping with blood.

His entire right arm, unable to withstand the impact of that terrifying power, had been mangled into a bloody mess, with even ghastly white bone fragments visible.

"PFFT!"

While still in the air, Cheng Fengjun had already spat out a large mouthful of blood, the crimson mist filling the air.

He slammed heavily onto the ground several zhang away with a dull THUD, tumbling several times before finally coming to a stop, leaving a shocking trail of blood on the ground.

The entire Guardian Platform fell into a dead silence.

Only Cheng Fengjun’s heavy, pained gasps echoed all around.

He struggled to get up, but as soon as he raised his head, he saw a pair of black cloth boots that had silently appeared before him.

Chen Yue.

The moment Cheng Fengjun landed, Chen Yue had already followed like a shadow.

Chen Yue looked at the blood-soaked Cheng Fengjun, his eyes calm, showing no joy in victory nor any pity. He raised his right palm again, the wind of the strike gathering.

Cheng Fengjun’s pupils shrank. Almost instinctively, he frantically poured his remaining Power into his arms, crossing them in front of him to block.

"BANG!"

A dull, heavy sound.

Cheng Fengjun’s arms shook violently. On his crossed arms, the already tattered Gang Qi was instantly and completely shattered.

An overwhelming force, like a mountain crashing down, surged toward him. Cheng Fengjun felt his knees go weak, unable to support him any longer. With a THUMP, he was forcefully slammed down onto one knee.

His knee slammed into the hard stone slab, producing a grating sound of bone cracking.

Shattered stone embedded itself in his flesh, and blood instantly stained his pant leg.

"WAH!"

Cheng Fengjun once again spat out a large mouthful of blood. His face instantly turned as pale as paper, his aura weakening to an extreme.

Chen Yue still said nothing. Expressionlessly, he raised his left palm once more.

This time, Cheng Fengjun’s arms hung limply, unable to be raised in defense. His guard was wide open.

Chen Yue’s left palm did not strike his head. Instead, it changed from a palm to a claw, grabbing his shoulder and hauling him to his feet.

Immediately after, a kick, like a clap of thunder, shot out and struck Cheng Fengjun squarely in the chest.

"KRAK!"

The crisp sound of cracking bone rang out. The Protective Gang Qi Cheng Fengjun had laid across his chest was easily pierced and shattered by Chen Yue’s kick.

Cheng Fengjun was sent flying by the kick.

"BOOM!"

His body slammed heavily into the wall at the edge of the Guardian Platform, smashing a human-shaped crater into the hard stone.

Loose stones trickled down. Then, Cheng Fengjun slid down the wall and crumpled to the ground. Beneath him, a pool of crimson blood began to spread rapidly.

He lay in a pool of his own blood, motionless. Only the rise and fall of his chest proved he was still alive.

But only just.

Critically injured!

On the Guardian Platform, the dust and smoke slowly settled.

Chen Yue slowly retracted his foot, standing in place and watching the distant Cheng Fengjun lying in a pool of blood, his expression as calm as still water.

Cheng Fengjun struggled to lift his head. Even to the last moment, he was unwilling to admit defeat.

His unfocused gaze passed through a blurry, bloody haze to look at the tall figure in green robes.

Cheng Fengjun’s eyes were filled with bewilderment.

He had lost.

Even if he was stubborn and didn’t concede, being beaten to this state meant that whether he admitted defeat or not no longer affected the outcome.

Cheng Fengjun’s head fell back, thudding against the ground.

Whether it was the head-on clashes he took pride in, or the famous Body Technique and speed he relied on, he could not contend with the young man before him in any single aspect.

His opponent hadn’t used any cunning tactics. He had simply used the purest power and the most direct method to crush him.

And what made him despair the most was that Chen Yue was only in the Marrow Refining Realm.

While he, Cheng Fengjun, was in the Refining Organ Realm.

The gap of an entire major realm seemed so pale and powerless in the face of his opponent’s terrifying foundation.

He lay in a cold pool of blood, his consciousness growing hazy from blood loss and excruciating pain.

In a daze, he suddenly recalled their meeting in the Hidden Skills Pavilion several days ago.

Back then, Lin Junshi had issued a challenge for a Life and Death Decision, wanting him to end the trouble that was Chen Yue on the Life and Death Platform.

But Chen Yue hadn’t responded at the time. He had simply gone off on his own to find a Saber Technique Manual.

At the time, he had thought Chen Yue was just afraid to fight.

But now...

An unprecedented chill rose from Cheng Fengjun’s spine, instantly spreading throughout his entire body.

’If... if Chen Yue had accepted that Life and Death Decision back in the Hidden Skills Pavilion...’

’...wouldn’t I be dead right now?’

The thought coiled around Cheng Fengjun’s heart.

There is great terror in the space between life and death.

He, Cheng Fengjun, had always prided himself on being ruthless and decisive, never hesitating when it came to killing. But when the possibility of death was truly at his own throat, he discovered he wasn’t as composed as he had imagined.

Cheng Fengjun’s expression went from bewildered to lucid, and finally, to a trace of fear.

Chen Yue didn’t speak. He just slowly raised his head, his gaze traveling over the stone walls of the Guardian Platform to land on Lin Junshi and Zhao Zongzhen outside Panshi Lane.

"Do you still want that Life and Death Platform?"