EFB Chapter 98 Assault
Chapter 98 Assault
Chapter 97 Assault
Night had fallen, and the long street was silent.
Liang Cheng gripped the hilt of the Zhengxian Blade at his waist, his steps steady, his muscles subtly tensing, and his true energy flowing slowly through his meridians, ready to unleash a thunderous strike at any moment.
As I turned the corner, the lights gradually thinned out, and a gust of cold wind swept by, stirring up a few withered leaves on the ground.
Liang Cheng stopped in his tracks.
Ten feet ahead, a hunched figure slowly emerged from the shadows.
The moonlight shone on that wrinkled face, which belonged to Xu Jinjiang, the Supreme Elder of the Xu family.
The weariness that had been on his face before, as if he were on his deathbed, was gone; in its place were a pair of bright, piercing eyes.
Despite his best efforts to conceal his aura, the oppressive aura of someone at the peak of the True Qi Realm still spread out like an invisible tide.
"The True Story of Liang Zhen"
Xu Jinjiang spoke calmly, his voice dry, "It's late. Why aren't you back at the martial arts academy to rest? Be careful out there."
"
Liang Cheng looked at the other person and suddenly smiled.
"Did Senior Xu wait for me here specifically?"
"There are some things I want to say to Liang Zhenchuan."
"please."
Xu Jinjiang paused for a moment and said, "Master Liang, the Xu family has already paid the price. The patriarch, Tianxing, died in the martial arts academy prison, and most of the family's assets were confiscated. The century-old foundation has been destroyed in an instant."
I have been in seclusion for ten years, detached from worldly affairs. Now that I have emerged from seclusion, I only wish to preserve the lineage of my family and ask for nothing more.
He looked up at Liang Cheng, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes: "Why are you still investigating?"
Upon hearing this, Liang Cheng's eyes turned cold: "Senior Xu may not know, but if it weren't for my good fortune, I would probably have died at the hands of the Xu family long ago."
"And can you guarantee, senior, that the Xu family really did nothing? Even if I don't pursue the matter, are they really willing to let me off the hook?"
Xu Jinjiang's expression changed.
Liang Cheng sneered, his voice low and clear: "It's late at night, and you've personally stopped me. Is someone forcing you to kill me to silence me?"
Xu Jinjiang's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and his aura suddenly exploded!
"Liang Cheng, you're too smart, and you don't know when to back down. Some things, once you know too much, you're destined to die young."
"Finally, you're not pretending anymore?"
Liang Cheng placed his right hand on the hilt of his sword, a pale golden luster emanating from beneath his skin. "Xu Jinjiang, you've been in seclusion for ten years. Today, this junior would like to learn from you?"
Before he could finish speaking, Xu Jinjiang took action first!
His hunched figure straightened instantly, as if he had become twenty years younger. With one step, the bluestone slabs paved with the ground cracked inch by inch.
His right hand formed a claw with its five fingers, the tips glowing a strange dark red, creating a bloody and phantom-like scene as he grabbed Liang Cheng's throat.
"Blood-Eating Claws!"
Before the claw wind even arrived, the chilling and bone-piercing true energy had already rushed towards us!
This time, Liang Cheng advanced instead of retreating!
"Clang!"
Then they drew their swords in a race!
The blade was dark and heavy, drawing a cold arc under the moonlight. Amidst the sharp whistling of the blade cutting through the air, there was a faint sound of wind and thunder [Wind and Thunder Slash - Thunderclap]!
Knives and claws clashed!
"clang!!!"
The sound of metal clashing was deafening, and sparks flew everywhere. Liang Cheng felt a cold and eerie force coming from the blade, trying to erode the meridians in his arm.
He snorted coldly, and the true energy of the Broken Wave Technique surged out. The light blue energy surged like a tide, directly dispersing the dark red energy.
The two separated immediately upon contact, each taking three steps back.
A flash of shock crossed Xu Jinjiang's eyes.
He used 80% of his Blood-Corroding True Qi in this claw strike. Even if a martial artist of the same realm were to take it head-on, their true qi would definitely be corroded and its circulation would become sluggish.
However, Liang Cheng not only received the attack unscathed, but the force of the counterattack even made Liang Cheng's fingertips go numb. This kid's foundation was far beyond what was expected.
Xu Jinjiang gritted his teeth and said, "No wonder he's a true disciple of the Martial Arts Academy!"
"You're not bad either."
Liang Cheng held his sword horizontally in front of him.
"However, I have some doubts. How could the Supreme Elder of the Xu family know the Blood-Corroding Force of the Zoroastrian Cult? It seems that the Xu family has been siding with the evil cult for quite some time."
"court death!"
"You think everyone is like you, a young prodigy who learns martial arts as easily as drinking water? I entered the True Qi Realm at the age of thirty, but I only condensed three True Qi Seeds and have been stuck in the True Qi Realm for fifty years without making any progress."
"I just want to take it a step further. Linwu City can't let me break through, but the Blood-Eating Technique of the Fire Worship Sect has brought me to perfection. I'm only one step away from breaking through to True Essence and extending my lifespan."
"It's just a difference in martial arts philosophy. Whoever can help me take another step forward, that's good martial arts. Why have so many sectarian prejudices?"
Upon hearing this, Liang Cheng let out a cold laugh.
"So you're the one who's responsible for the Xu family's current predicament?"
Upon hearing this, Xu Jinjiang's eyes widened in anger, and he roared, no longer holding back.
He unleashed both claws simultaneously, his figure flashing like a ghost, dark red claw shadows filling the sky, each claw aimed directly at vital points, insidious and ruthless.
Liang Cheng's eyes were serious.
The True Qi Realm at its peak is far superior to the mid-stage.
Xu Tianxing is far inferior to Xu Jinjiang.
Xu Jinjiang's true qi is condensed and powerful, and the corrosive properties of the Blood-Eating Force are even more troublesome. If it weren't for his perfect Golden Armor Realm, strong physical body, and the protection of the Broken Wave Technique's true qi, he would probably have already suffered a loss.
But he didn't panic. Back then, Dongshan Mine was fighting against three opponents, and the situation was no less dire. If Master Lü hadn't intervened to protect him, he wouldn't have backed down either.
The next moment, the blade flashed again!
This time, Liang Cheng's swordplay changed.
Alternating between fast and slow, light and heavy. Sometimes like a raging storm, the flashes of the blade never cease; sometimes like muffled thunderclaps, each strike heavier than the last.
The wind force tore through the claw shadows, the thunder force shook the true energy, and the tidal aftereffects of the Broken Wave Technique were layered upon layered, penetrating every crevice.
The full power of the Wind and Thunder Slash at its peak is now on full display!
Xu Jinjiang became increasingly alarmed as the fight progressed.
Although his true energy was abundant, his Blood-Corroding Force was inherently mixed and lacked purity and fluidity. Even with his extensive experience, he couldn't keep up with Liang Cheng's strange and unpredictable moves that combined the speed of wind and thunder, like the power of the tide.
What's even more terrifying is that the opponent's golden armor and hard skills made most of his killing moves feel like hitting a copper wall or iron barrier, and the force of the recoil caused his own blood and qi to churn.
He was no longer young; if he were Xu Cangming, he would probably have already met his end at Liang Cheng's hands.
Ten tricks!
Twenty moves!
Fifty moves!
"puff-!"
Xu Jinjiang grabbed Liang Cheng's left shoulder with a claw, unleashing a burst of dark red energy, but it only left three white marks on Liang Cheng's pale golden skin, without even breaking the skin!
Liang Cheng swung his knife backhand, the blade grazing his ribs and tearing off a piece of clothing and flesh, leaving him covered in blood!
"impossible!"
Xu Jinjiang staggered backward, his face pale.
"How could your physical skills be this strong?!"
At the age of nineteen, he has devoted all his time to cultivating internal energy techniques and has broken through to the True Qi Realm, which is already a rare and precious achievement.
Although he knew that Liang Cheng possessed formidable martial arts skills, he never imagined that he could be so powerful; it was simply unbelievable.
This child must have a secret.
Could it be that the item belonging to the Qiao family is really in Liang Cheng's hands?
Liang Cheng, unaware of his thoughts, stood with his knife in hand, his breath deep and resonant, saying, "You're getting old. When you get old, you're more prone to confusion. Your Xu family has gone down the wrong path."
He then dragged his sword upwards, the blade pointing at his opponent: "No matter how grand the pie the Zoroastrian sect paints for you, it's nothing more than drinking poison to quench your thirst."
"Xu Jinjiang, surrender now and reveal the mastermind behind this, and I may spare a bloodline of your Xu family and not exterminate them all."
Xu Jinjiang stared intently at Liang Cheng, his eyes filled with struggle, his heart a mixture of anger, despair, and shame, all of which ultimately coalesced into a ferocious expression.
"Too late—"
He muttered to himself, then suddenly pulled out a crimson pill from his pocket and swallowed it without hesitation!
"boom--!"
A violent aura erupted from his body!
His previously weakened blood and energy suddenly surged, his skin turned an abnormal blood red, and his eyes became bloodshot!
"Blood-Burning Pill?"
Liang Cheng's pupils contracted.
Xu Zhang was like this back then, and Xu Jinjiang is like this now; the Xu family is truly of the same ilk.
"Liang Cheng!"
Xu Jinjiang's voice was hoarse, like a wild beast's growl, "You forced us into this! Today you must die!"
He pounced again, his speed and strength doubling!
With a swing of its claws, the dark red energy condensed into a tangible blood claw, and the air hissed and corroded wherever it passed!
Liang Cheng took a deep breath.
The nine true qi seeds within his body trembled simultaneously. The true qi of the second level of the Broken Wave Technique, having reached its peak, surged onto the blade, its pale blue energy intertwining with the sounds of wind and thunder!
Golden Armor Realm Perfection, Full Power Operation!
"Come!"
Liang Cheng roared, neither dodging nor avoiding, and slashed out with his sword!
This strike was utterly devoid of any fancy moves.
speed!
strength!
And an unwavering determination!
【Wind and Thunder Slash - Wind and Thunder Return to One】
The blade flashed like a bolt of lightning, tearing through the long night!
"clang--!!!"
The blades and claws clashed again!
But this time, the dark red blood claw was actually cleaved in two, the thick blood-corroding true energy was directly dispersed, and the blade continued its momentum, slashing straight at Xu Jinjiang's head.
Xu Jinjiang let out a fierce roar, crossed his claws, and blocked the attack head-on.
"Snap!"
The sound of bone cracking was clearly audible.
Xu Jinjiang's arms trembled violently, and fear showed in his eyes. He did not expect that even after taking the Blood Burning Pill to forcibly enhance his strength, he still could not withstand this blow!
"Aren't you going to make a move?"
Just then, Xu Jinjiang let out a desperate cry, and a dark figure appeared silently behind Liang Cheng.
There were no signs, and no trace of anything was leaked.
Only a thin, dry hand gently pressed down on Liang Cheng's back.
In his palm, a wisp of black true essence, condensed to its extreme and capable of devouring all light, slowly rotated, striking directly at Liang Cheng.
True Essence Realm!
In that split second between life and death, Liang Cheng felt a chill run down his spine!
He didn't turn around, nor did he try to dodge, because there was simply no time.
A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes, and then, disregarding the suffocating and terrifying killing intent behind him, he activated the Broken Wave Technique, instantly channeling all his true energy into the blade in his hand!
If you retreat at this point, you may be attacked from both sides and have no chance of escape.
Now, the only option is to face death and live; first, deal with Xu Jinjiang, then find a way to survive.
The blade crackled with lightning and hummed, as if it had come to life!
"Die!"
With a roar, Liang Cheng swung his blade with all his might at Xu Jinjiang, who was already at his last gasp!
Xu Jinjiang's pupils suddenly contracted. He wanted to retreat, but his arms were already useless, and the side effects of the Blood Burning Pill were beginning to backfire, causing his true energy to dissipate.
"Not the same—"
"Pfft!"
The blade pierced through flesh, from head to chest, in a single stroke!
Almost simultaneously.
"boom-!"
The hand containing black true energy was firmly imprinted on Liang Cheng's back.
The golden armor on his skin flickered intensely, emitting a series of teeth-grinding cracking sounds, as if it might shatter at any moment.
"Wow--!"
As if struck by a mountain, Liang Cheng's vision went black and blood gushed out. However, he actually used the force of this attack to shoot forward like a meteor. He grabbed the Zhengxian Blade with his backhand.
Xu Jinjiang's body crashed to the ground. Without turning his head, he used his last strength to let out a long, hoarse howl towards the direction of the Martial Academy.
"Dean, save me!!!"
At this point, Liang Cheng was already a true disciple of the Martial Academy and was no longer as cautious as before. Although he was still somewhat wary of the upper echelons of the Martial Academy, the weight of the title "true disciple" made him trust them in matters of life and death.
Liang Cheng's voice was hoarse and strained, carrying for miles around. All the experts nearby suddenly revealed their auras and turned their gazes in this direction.
Who dares to defy the world and provoke the true disciples of the Martial Academy? Aren't they afraid that the madmen of the Martial Academy will go crazy?
Almost at the same moment Liang Chengxiao's voice rang out, a loud "BOOM—!"
A terrifying aura, as vast as the sea, surged into the sky from the Martial Academy!
In an instant, all the martial artists in the vicinity above the True Qi Realm felt a sinking feeling in their hearts, as if they were being pressed down by an invisible giant mountain!
True Essence Realm!
Moreover, it is an unparalleled pressure from those above the late stage of the True Essence Realm!
The dark figure was preparing to pursue Liang Cheng and kill him in one strike when it sensed the approaching aura and suddenly froze.
At that moment, a hint of weighing of options flashed in the other person's eyes beneath the mask.
And then, in the blink of an eye, a decision was made.
If he had just three more breaths, he could catch up with the heavily injured Liang Cheng and deliver the final blow.
But by then it was too late.
If he were to make a move, he would be completely exposed to the dean of the martial arts academy, and at that point, it would be uncertain whether he could escape unscathed.
Even if they could leave, there would be endless trouble afterwards. Besides, Xu Jinjiang is dead, so the Xu family connection should be severed.
"We must evacuate."
The mysterious man acted decisively, his figure drifting backward like a ghost. With a flick of his sleeve, a stream of black true energy swept across the ground, completely corroding and dissolving Xu Jinjiang's corpse.
He then blended into the shadows and vanished without a trace.
From making the decision to leaving, it only took a breath.
At this moment, the entire long street returned to silence.
Only Liang Cheng's staggering figure and the blood he had just spilled remained.
From the direction of the Martial Academy, several powerful auras were rapidly approaching, and Dean Bai Hong had already appeared in front of Liang Cheng, his face grim.
Liang Cheng gritted his teeth, his vision blurred, and a piercing pain shot through his back. Fortunately, his Golden Armor Realm was not completely broken, and his internal organs were not damaged.
Compared to the attack on the River-Turning Dragon, this was only a minor injury.
The moment he saw Bai Hong appear, he immediately closed his eyes and collapsed.
If not now, when?
The moment he fell, he felt himself being caught firmly, and then a gentle stream of true energy flowed into his body, calming his injuries.
Following them were Lü Bingchen and Yan Song, as well as several deacons from the Martial Arts Academy.
"Liang Cheng!"
Lu Bingchen's expression changed drastically. Bai Hong handed Liang Cheng over to him, saying, "Take Liang Cheng back to the Martial Academy. I want to see which True Yuan Realm expert made the move."
The next moment, Bai Hong disappeared around the street corner, and I followed the faint trace of his presence.
Lu Bingchen and Yan Song looked grim.
"Let's go, take Liang Cheng back first, and let Old Huang take a look at him."
The backyard of the martial arts academy.
Liang Cheng lay on the soft couch, his face pale and his eyes closed. Old Huang's withered fingers were on his wrist, his brows sometimes furrowing and sometimes relaxing.
Lu Bingchen and Yan Song stood to the side, their faces so gloomy they could drip water.
Outside the pavilion, a dozen or so martial arts instructors, who rarely appeared on ordinary days, stood silently, their auras intertwined, their chilling presence causing the atmosphere in the entire backyard to drop to icy cold.
"Alright, what are you doing standing here? Go do what you were doing, go, go."
"Old Huang, how is Liang Cheng?" Lu Bingchen asked in a low voice.
"You won't die. Go do what you're supposed to do, don't just stand here, it's annoying to look at you."
Lu Bingchen took a deep breath. "Don't worry, Mr. Huang, we know what to do. We're troubling you, Liang Cheng."
3
"Everyone, let's go."
Yan Song and the others nodded in unison, and then went out together.
After they walked away, Old Huang slapped Liang Cheng on the shoulder: "Alright, stop pretending. I've been playing along with your act."
The next moment, Liang Cheng opened his eyes, a slight smile appearing on his lips.
"As expected, you can't hide it from Elder Huang."
"Alright, you're quite something, kid. You managed to get away with it when a True Yuan Realm expert attacked, with no damage to your internal organs and only minor damage to your meridians. Not only are your hard skills impressive, but your foundation is also solid. If it were anyone else, a True Yuan Realm expert's palm strike, even just the aftershock, would have already damaged all five internal organs."
He glanced at Liang Cheng again: "And your blood and energy are so vigorous that it's unbelievable. Your recovery speed is more than three times faster than that of an ordinary True Qi Realm cultivator. It's a shame you even thought of faking unconsciousness."
"In that case, wouldn't those teachers at the Martial Academy turn Linwu City upside down for you?"
Liang Cheng chuckled awkwardly, "This junior is foolish and always feels that everything depends on oneself, and always harbors a slight wariness towards people."
This time, with a True Essence Realm expert making a move, and given the Martial Academy's tendency to protect its own, the younger generation can no longer fight alone; they must give their elders a chance to prove themselves.
"Alright, you're so cunning. Tell me, what exactly happened? Why did a True Yuan Realm expert attack you?"
Without hesitation, Liang Cheng explained the situation.
"Xu Jinjiang is still such a useless old man, but the True Yuan Realm expert behind him is probably no ordinary person. It's fortunate that you acted decisively, otherwise it would have been really dangerous."
"It was just a fluke. Please keep this a secret, Elder Huang, and let me hide here for a few days."
"You're trying to make those old guys at the Martial Academy anxious and angry, so you can vent all your anger on them. You're really petty."
Liang Cheng disagreed, saying, "Xu Jinjiang has targeted me many times. Since that's the case, there's no need for the Xu family to continue existing. Why should we be on guard against thieves every day?"
"Alright, but I can't help you for nothing. The medical fees—"
"Add another 30%."
"make a deal."
The doors of Mingxin Pavilion opened silently.
A figure in a blue robe stepped inside; it was none other than Dean Bai Hong.
His expression was calm, but his eyes were as deep as a cold pool as he looked at Lü Bingchen, Yan Song, and the others, and uttered three words indifferently.
"We lost them."
Lu Bingchen and the others' expressions changed.
The fact that he managed to evade the dean's pursuit shows that the other party is not to be underestimated, and Liang Cheng was actually somewhat relieved to be alive.
Bai Hong continued, "The other party was very cautious, changing their aura several times along the way, and finally disappeared completely in the slums in the west of the city. The area is a mixed bag, with mottled auras, making it difficult to track them down."
Lu Bingchen took a deep breath: "Dean, Liang Cheng needs an explanation for this matter."
"good."
"A True Essence Realm expert attacked and killed a true disciple of our Martial Academy in Linwu City. This is a slap in the face to the Martial Academy and a test of the Martial Academy's bottom line."
He paused, then slowly said, "In the past three hundred years, this is only the second time someone has dared to do this."
A fierce glint flashed in Yan Song's eyes: "Dean—"
"No rush, let's wait until Liang Cheng wakes up, then—"
Bai Hong raised his hand, "When the time comes, no matter who it is, they will have to bear the wrath of my Martial Academy, have their families wiped out, and let Linwu City know what true disciples of the Martial Academy are—they cannot bully the weak!"
"The dean is wise!"
The crowd's eyes were filled with murderous intent.
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