Chapter 280 - 232: Coercion, Part 2

Mountain Shift!!

Zhao Xuanqi’s expression didn’t change in the slightest as he faced Yamazaki Hikariho’s attack.

In a contest of physical ability or brute force, he had nothing to fear. Not now, with his body remolded by the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiend Acupoints and the third stage of the Dragon Gate active!

He met the attack head-on with his own body.

He bent at the waist and dropped his shoulder!

Qilin Collapse!!

BOOM!!

The Seventy-Two Earthly Fiend Acupoints across his body bulged violently as Zhao Xuanqi collided with Yamazaki Hikariho, producing a dull, heavy thud.

To the naked eye, the dark skin on Yamazaki Hikariho’s body caved in deeply. His form, which seemed forged from steel, was sent flying high into the air. It was as if a speeding train had slammed head-on into a massive mountain, the reactive force launching it skyward.

In terms of raw physical strength, Zhao Xuanqi was indeed no match for the man, but when it came to explosive techniques and mobilizing his physical ability, Yamazaki Hikariho couldn’t compare to Zhao Xuanqi at all.

Though reeling in mid-air, shocked by the terrifying power of Zhao Xuanqi’s explosion, a glint of light flashed in Yamazaki Hikariho’s eyes.

’My plan worked.’

He had used his strongest vibration force in that clash. Even someone like Zhao Xuanqi would have his Qi and Blood shaken by the impact. He might not be completely stunned, but his movements were bound to be impaired.

And that was the opening he had created for Ning Yuanchen!

SWOOSH!!

Ning Yuanchen seized the opportunity, appearing like a phantom at Zhao Xuanqi’s right side in an instant. His fingers formed a sword as he suddenly thrust forward.

The sword strike arrived in a flash, its speed peerless, its movement traceless. The Primordial Qi transformed into a sinister chill, conjuring Hell and the Netherworld as the Ghost Gate opened wide before him.

A call for his life from the Underworld, an Evil Ghost clinging to his body—formless and intangible.

In its strangeness, abruptness, and speed, this sword strike was unlike anything Zhao Xuanqi had ever seen in this world.

At the same time, he also came to roughly understand the characteristics of the Primordial Sect’s Secret Transmission.

Formless as Chaos, yet powerful enough to part heaven and earth.

This Gate’s Secret Transmission, in a way, pursued immense explosive power.

The Form is relaxed and the Spirit is scattered, as if in a state of formless Chaos. But within this Chaos, a seed of "Primordial Qi" is planted. Once Force is released, this Primordial Qi erupts from the Chaos, like the creation of the universe, unleashing terrifying power.

In terms of the Martial Dao, this meant achieving a state of ultimate relaxation where spirit and body nearly dissolved into nothingness, only to tense up in an instant, creating an ultimate explosion of power from a state of non-existence.

The sword strike was utterly silent, not even stirring the slightest breeze.

No! Or rather, in that moment, the sound of the wind itself was left behind by the attack!

Its instantaneous acceleration had broken the sound barrier!

And this was the strongest strike Ning Yuanchen had mastered.

Celestial Ghost Sword!!

The terrifying explosive power of this strike would tear his muscles, and the instantaneous surge of Qi and Blood would rupture his blood vessels. After this one attack, his overall physical capabilities would drop by at least thirty percent.

This was a killing blow, aimed to strike while Zhao Xuanqi was staggered by the vibration, making it impossible to dodge.

Zhao Xuanqi’s pupils contracted slightly in the face of this sword strike. Even he couldn’t block a full-power explosion from a master of this caliber. He could only dodge. Otherwise, the blow would undoubtedly pierce straight through his body.

In terms of killing power, this move had already surpassed the level Ning Yuanchen was supposed to be at.

’But to think I could be hit so easily? How naive!!’

’How could a mere reactive shockwave possibly affect me?’

RUSH! RUSH!!

His Qi and Blood surged within him. The pathways connecting the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiend Acupoints were exceptionally sturdy, like a boundless, open road. Yamazaki Hikariho’s attack could scatter the Qi and Blood of an ordinary master, but it couldn’t possibly disrupt the remolded circulatory tracks of his own Qi and Blood!

With a single surge of his Qi and Blood, the vibrational force inside his body was completely dispersed!

The Celestial Dragon Extreme Breakthrough, passed down by Xiang Ji, claimed that the Celestial Dragon Body was nearly immune to all negative effects. The principle behind it was to achieve this effect by partially remodeling the Qi and Blood channels, allowing one’s Qi and Blood to flow like a dragon and protect the body.

And while under the effects of the Dragon Blood Secret Technique, Zhao Xuanqi could achieve a similar result!!

Remold the Qi and Blood, leap through the Dragon Gate, and be impervious to a hundred evils!

SWOOSH!!

Just as Ning Yuanchen’s swordsmanship was about to connect, Zhao Xuanqi’s body suddenly shuddered.

Ning Yuanchen watched as his finger-sword plunged into Zhao Xuanqi’s throat, but no blood spurted out, nor did he feel the sensation of hitting a solid object.

’An afterimage?!’

In an instant, he understood. It was a residual image created by Zhao Xuanqi vibrating his body at high speed under the moonlight.

’He even managed to dodge my Celestial Ghost Sword under these circumstances?!!’

Utterly horrified, Ning Yuanchen’s instincts screamed. He abruptly bent at the waist, pulled in his stomach, and drew his arms back to block his chest.

The next moment, a large hand appeared at his side and slammed against his crossed arms.

BOOM!!

An explosion of force erupted with a deafening crack. His body was sent flying like a rubber ball, tumbling and rolling rapidly across the ground.

Though it wasn’t a graceful sight, Ning Yuanchen’s last-second reaction had minimized the damage he took. Otherwise, that one strike would have left him gravely injured, if not dead.

But even with his defense, the immense force of the explosion still sent his Qi and Blood into a frenzy, and a mouthful of blood rushed up his throat.

Coupled with the fact that his own explosive attack had failed and left him injured, he knew the tide had turned against them.

Zhao Xuanqi’s strength was unfathomable, far surpassing that of an ordinary member of the Sixteen Generals. Perhaps only the top two or three among them could compare. Now, with both him and Nishida Youji injured, and with the Phoenix Army still having two Harmony masters, they were at a complete disadvantage.

After steadying himself, he tapped his foot forcefully, and his figure shot forward. He quickly reached the fallen Nishida Youji, scooped up his body, and then, with another tap of his foot, took off into the distance without a backward glance.