Chapter 513 - 482: Since I’m Already Here

Chapter 513: Chapter 482: Since I’m Already Here

Half a month ago, Ding Haochuan had fled Celestial Ghost City, gravely wounded, and had been living in constant fear ever since. He originally planned to leave the Primordial Sect’s jurisdiction for good and live in obscurity, but he was deeply resentful of the idea.

After all.

No one wanted to spend their life hiding like a rat in a sewer, least of all a Golden Core True Master.

When he heard the Star-Picking Sect was planning a counterattack, he was immediately intrigued and decided to join them.

Of course.

In his current crippled state, he naturally lacked the courage for a counterattack himself. He just wanted to see if this group of Golden Core cultivators could actually take Celestial Ghost City.

"I heard, Fellow Daoist Ding, that during the battle at Celestial Ghost City, you fought so fiercely that you made Valley Master Chen cough up blood. Is there any truth to that?"

A Golden Core cultivator asked this at the banquet after draining his cup.

The cultivator who spoke was named Gu Tongyang. Hailing from a faction under the Mist Rain Tower’s jurisdiction, he had only just arrived at Three Rivers Peak before nightfall, and this welcome banquet was held in his honor. Of course, with a Cultivation Realm at the Golden Core Seventh Layer, he was certainly deserving of such a reception.

"What if I did? I’m just a wreck of a man now. It’s not worth mentioning, not worth mentioning at all!"

Ding Haochuan would never admit that he had fled Celestial Ghost City in disgrace. Whenever outsiders asked about it, he would simply offer a brief account of the battle, embellishing only the part where he made his sudden move against Chen Che.

But to others, this made him seem like someone capable of seriously wounding Chen Che.

"Right."

Ding Haochuan seamlessly changed the subject, turning to the crowd:

"When are we attacking Celestial Ghost City? Over twenty thousand Qi Refining Cultivators and four hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators have gathered beyond the mountain... While it doesn’t match the scale of the last siege on Celestial Ghost City, it’s close."

Gu Tongyang chuckled. "Why do you ask? Are you planning to lead the charge, Fellow Daoist Ding? Eager for revenge against Valley Master Chen?"

"Haha, that is indeed my intention."

Bragging costs nothing, after all. With so many people watching, Ding Haochuan refused to lose face. He arched an eyebrow and chuckled.

"After the last battle, everyone on Celestial Ghost Ridge was on their last legs. This is the perfect chance to finish them off! I’m just worried that if we delay, problems will arise. Once they’ve recovered, attacking Celestial Ghost City will be much more difficult."

’A frontal assault was out of the question. He wouldn’t even throw a single Taiping Fist. The moment these people showed any sign of losing, he would be the first to flee.’

’He would only show himself when Chen Che’s death was absolutely certain, just so he could go and kick the corpse a few times to vent his frustration.’

"We must wait a while longer."

Just then, another Golden Core cultivator at the banquet, who had been silent for a long time, spoke up slowly.

The moment he spoke, the lively banquet instantly fell silent.

This was Du Yikang, Chief Steward of the Star-Picking Sect, a position equivalent to that of Chief Steward Tang Linli of the Primordial Sect. However, Du Yikang’s actual standing was even greater. Not only was he a direct descendant of the main branch of the Star-Picking Sect’s Du Family, but he had also recently condensed his Golden Core.

Upon his return to the Star-Picking Sect, he would be promoted to the rank of Elder.

He was the one who had gathered the scattered cultivators the moment he received the secret order.

"The last assault on Celestial Ghost Ridge was a disastrous defeat, and the Sect Leader is enraged. He has dispatched several of the sect’s elites as reinforcements. They will arrive here soon. When they do, you will all have a chance to show your prowess."

"Really?"

Everyone’s eyes lit up at the news.

Ding Haochuan was especially thrilled. "Do you know which Fellow Daoists are coming?"

"It is not my place to say. You will all know when they arrive."

Du Yikang said slowly.

Though he was being coy, everyone had a hunch. The Left Protector had come before, so this time, the reinforcements would be of at least that caliber, if not higher.

"Excellent!"

Upon hearing this, Ding Haochuan pushed his mangled body upright, raised his wine cup to Du Yikang, and declared, "Then, allow me to welcome the great arrival of our Fellow Daoists from the Star-Picking Sect in advance! I wish you success in razing Celestial Ghost City and exterminating Valley Master Chen."

The others all rose to their feet, raising their cups in a chorus of agreement.

Ding Haochuan was ecstatic:

’The Star-Picking Sect is sending its best this time. Chen Che is sure to be smashed to bits. It’s a shame I won’t get to kill him with my own hands, but just being able to spit in his face will be enough to sate my hatred!’

Just as this thought crossed his mind.

BOOM—

A tremendous, abrupt crash echoed out—it was the sound of the Grand Array being shattered.

Before anyone could react, a figure smashed through the roof beams. Without any warning, it dropped from the sky, shot across hundreds of feet in an instant, and crashed down upon Du Yikang, the center of everyone’s attention.

KRAK!

A sharp crack rang out.

To the utter disbelief of everyone present, Du Yikang’s shoulder shattered on impact. Unable to bear the force of the descent, his entire body was crushed like a dry twig under Tai Mountain. He was annihilated so utterly and instantly that he couldn’t even let out a scream.

With a deafening BOOM, a deep crater was smashed into the floor. A dense web of cracks radiated outward from the figure at the center.

As for Du Yikang, he was nothing more than a smear of blood and mangled flesh...

As the stunned onlookers raised their heads, they saw an azure-robed cultivator standing where Du Yikang had just been.

"How dare you!"

Roaring with shock and fury, the Golden Core cultivator closest to Du Yikang had already launched a ferocious attack.

He took a single step forward, his body swelling in an instant. His muscles, like steel cables, bulged with the gnarled power of tree roots. As he thrust out a palm, his spine rolled like a horned dragon. At the same time, his right hand formed a claw, striking down as fast as a hawk’s talon.

HAH—

The power behind this claw was beyond the imagination of the other Golden Core cultivators present.

The mere act of raising his hand unleashed an explosion of power.

The hall they occupied was nestled in a mountain pass, its beams and walls constructed from massive, solid blocks of stone. Yet, in the gale force winds generated by that palm strike, a section of the wall collapsed, revealing a deep palm-shaped imprint.

The palm imprint stretched dozens of yards deep into the mountainside itself—a testament to power focused to its absolute peak.

Zhu Qingye!

Golden Core Third Layer.

Although he was a Body Cultivator, he followed the path of an Evil Cultivator. While other Body Cultivators nourished themselves with Celestial and Earthly Treasures, he tempered his flesh with the blood of other cultivators. As a result, the strength of his physical body far surpassed that of cultivators at the Same Tier.

This strike, like a bolt of lightning, was a perfect showcase of his power and speed. And yet, the azure-robed cultivator simply raised his right hand and threw a punch to meet it.

The man’s punch seemed soft and utterly devoid of force. It looked like a praying mantis raising its arms before a speeding chariot, doomed to be crushed in an instant.

But the result—

CRACK!

With a sickening crack, Zhu Qingye’s right arm snapped, the bone jutting out from his elbow.

He instantly spat a mouthful of blood and was sent flying backward. He soared over twenty feet through the air, smashed clean through the wall behind the stunned crowd, and slammed viciously into the mountainside.

THUMP!

Rubble flew and dust filled the air.

And at that moment.

As the man’s robes and long hair slowly settled—

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

Several more figures descended from the sky, landing one by one behind him. The sight made the others, who had been about to swarm forward, freeze in their tracks.

"Who are you?"

Gu Tongyang’s eyes narrowed. "Who are you?" he asked, his voice wary. "Why have you stormed our camp?"

Amidst the gazes of wary, horrified, and shocked onlookers, Chen Che slowly raised his head and broke into a wide grin. "Just a moment ago, weren’t you all talking about marching on Celestial Ghost City to exterminate me? How is it you don’t recognize me now?"

"Chen... Chen Che..."

Ding Haochuan’s face went deathly pale. He stumbled back several steps, for he knew better than anyone just how terrifying this man was.

The only reason he’d managed to injure him before was not through strength, but because he had launched a sneak attack while Chen Che was locked in a desperate battle with Dou Shanhe and Zuo Qinlong. In a direct confrontation, he wouldn’t even survive a single exchange.

The only reason he was still alive was because Chen Che had to rush to reinforce Ghost Mother Peak and had no time to pursue him.

Chen Che’s gaze shifted to him:

"I already told you. I gave you the time it takes to drink a cup of tea to get away. Not only did you not run, you even dared to show your face again. Tell me, what should I do with you?"

A jolt of shock went through the others as well.

They had never imagined that Chen Che would move even faster than they had, launching a preemptive strike.

"So it is Valley Master Chen in the flesh. I am Gu Tongyang of Mist Rain Tower."

He knew the situation was dire the moment Chen Che appeared.

He couldn’t tell what was happening outside, but he could hear the sounds of battle and screams. He frowned, deliberated for a moment, and then suddenly broke into a smile:

"I am only here today at the invitation of an old friend, just to have a drink and add to the atmosphere. I hope Valley Master Chen can grant me a small courtesy and allow me to depart. From this day forward, I will no longer involve myself in the grievances between the Star-Picking Sect and the Primordial Sect."

He spoke very politely, his words directed not just at Chen Che, but also at the Golden Core cultivators standing behind him.

Although Gu Tongyang was only a Loose Cultivator, his power and Realm were undeniable. At just over five hundred years old, he was in his prime. He was nothing like Zhao Yunchen, the figurehead leader of the Hong Alliance. Wherever he went, people had to show him some measure of respect.

And as he finished speaking, several other Golden Core cultivators present immediately expressed their desire to withdraw. Of the thirteen Golden Core cultivators, four suddenly stepped forward, declaring they would no longer involve themselves in the conflict between the two sects.

Gu Tongyang was confident that Chen Che would grant him this favor.

However, just as he was thinking this, he saw Chen Che let out a derisive laugh:

"I came all this way. Did you really think you’d be leaving here alive?"

"Fine!"

Gu Tongyang’s eyes turned cold. With a flip of his right hand, a fishing rod had already been whipped out.