Chapter Seventy-Four: Fierce Battle (First Update)

Xu Cheng's thoughts drifted far away, and he didn’t really hear what they were saying after that.

When night fell, accompanied by the melodious and low song of the nightingale, Xu Cheng led them to the back of the Guiyu Tower.

Just as on the previous night, Yan Mengdie and Chrysanthemum stood on either side, and Xu Cheng began to cast his spell.

But this time, Xu Cheng miscalculated. The moment he arrived, those Nascent Soul experts sensed him. He had only just begun to activate his Source Feathered Immortal Art and hadn’t yet had time to use the Netherworld Reincarnation Immortal Art, when he saw six martial cultivators from the Great Xia Dynasty rise into the sky.

"So it’s just some helpers found by the Supreme Dao, but you’ll still have to die!"

One of them spoke immediately.

"Netherworld Forgetting River Immortal Art!"

Xu Cheng shouted in a thunderous voice. He had no intention of wasting words with these people—killing even one would be a gain.

But now that he was the first to be exposed, the effect of the Netherworld Forgetting River Immortal Art was minimal.

After all, these were martial cultivators who strengthened their bodies with martial sigils—their speed was so great it was almost invisible to the naked eye, and they dodged Xu Cheng’s fearsome magic easily.

The six split up: two attacked Xu Cheng, two targeted Chrysanthemum, and two went after Yan Mengdie.

Battle erupted. Cen Ningyue and Niu Dazhuang, lacking sufficient cultivation, retreated to the distance with Lu Jing, Han Lin, and Daocha.

Xu Cheng found himself facing one martial cultivator and a Blackwater Sect adept, but held his ground, fortunately, the six had not yet used a combined attack technique.

It seemed that their exposure must have triggered some spell or formation laid down by the Blackwater Sect adept.

"Black Lotus!"

The Blackwater Sect adept summoned a black lotus above his head—an apparition created by their sect’s immortal arts.

The martial cultivator was simpler and more direct, hurling a fist straight at Xu Cheng’s face.

The speed was extreme. Had Xu Cheng not been seasoned by many battles, he wouldn’t have been able to evade the oncoming blow with his Nether Escape Technique, and would have suffered that bone-crushing strike.

Seizing the moment when the opponent’s old strength was spent and new strength hadn’t yet surged, the Chains of Nether Flame wrapped the Xia Dynasty martial cultivator tightly, Xu Cheng intending to drag him into the Netherworld. Yet this man’s understanding of martial arts was profound, almost unparalleled.

He actually broke free from the chains by brute force.

But the Chains of Nether Flame were inexhaustible. No sooner had the martial cultivator broken free than he was ensnared again.

However, the Blackwater Sect adept was no pushover either. In an instant, countless black lotus petals flew over, each petal edged with a sliver of moonlight, each carrying deadly power.

"Netherworld Forgetting River Immortal Art—Seal of the Underworld King, begone!"

Xu Cheng shouted, a faint phantom appearing above him.

To his surprise, the Netherworld Forgetting River Immortal Art summoned the apparition of the Lord of the Underworld, whose waving hands shattered the black petals to dust.

But distracted by this, the Chains of Nether Flame ceased to appear, and the martial cultivator from the Great Xia Dynasty broke free.

This was no good omen. Xu Cheng’s heart trembled.

The four who had been attacking Yan Mengdie and Chrysanthemum suddenly pulled back.

They shouted, unleashing their combined attack technique.

"Netherworld Reincarnation Immortal Art—Seal of the Black Dragon!"

Xu Cheng grew anxious. If all six merged, their strength would be more than he, Yan Mengdie, or Chrysanthemum could handle.

A viscous black water spread over the ground, and then a black dragon emerged, lunging at the six merging figures in the air.

Seizing the opportunity, both Yan Mengdie and Chrysanthemum unleashed their strongest spells.

"Hundred Butterflies Pierce the Heart!"

"Death Sentence!"

From Yan Mengdie’s hands, over a hundred golden butterflies appeared—beautiful yet formidable.

On the other side, Chrysanthemum wrote a large character for "Death."

At the moment their three ultimate attacks were about to strike, the six merged into one, an overwhelming aura radiating from them.

They now had six heads and twelve arms, standing atop a massive black lotus.

Had the lotus been golden, they might have resembled a Buddhist sage; but as it was, their appearance was unsettling.

Facing the three attacks, the being even had time to sneer. The twelve arms struck out in unison, dissolving the attacks of Xu Cheng, Yan Mengdie, and Chrysanthemum into nothingness.

The thought of fleeing arose in Xu Cheng’s mind. He couldn’t be blamed—it was simply that the enemy was too powerful.

Six Nascent Soul cultivators merged into one, their power brushing against the threshold of the Lightning Tribulation realm; only a baptism of heavenly thunder separated them from becoming legendary Thunder Tribulation Realms.

"Hahaha! Three ants! Will you obediently offer up your lives, or resist a little first?"

The new being, six heads and twelve arms, let out a mad, arrogant laugh, the image truly terrifying.

By now, the monster’s speed was beyond the others’ ability to react. In just a breath, Yan Mengdie, Xu Cheng, and Chrysanthemum were all hurled back to the ground, raising clouds of dust.

"With your meager skills, you dare to ambush us?"

The being still hovered in midair, as if unmoved, a testament to its might.

Fortunately, their injuries were not severe. It seemed the creature had adopted a cat-and-mouse attitude, intending to toy with them before the kill.

Rage surged in Xu Cheng’s heart. Gritting his teeth, he shouted, "Interminable Nether Spikes!"

At once, endless black spikes appeared around him—no matter how fast the opponent, he would have to break through their blockade.

"Oh? Interesting. But what can these tofu-like spikes do to me?"

The monster scoffed.

The Interminable Nether Spikes were instantly shattered, turning to black powder.

In the next moment, Xu Cheng was slammed into the ground. In those few short seconds, who knew how many blows he endured; had it not been for the special nature of the Netherworld Arts, any other would have died long ago.

"Quite durable, aren’t you?"

The being blew on his fists and said. Fortunately, Xu Cheng’s ghostly arts granted him some immunity to pure physical attacks.

"Next, I’ll take your life!"

Shadows swirled around the being, his magic surging, his aura rising to the pinnacle. Behind him, the vague outline of a giant dragon appeared—an illusion formed from his immense power.

Yan Mengdie hurriedly pulled Xu Cheng up, erecting several simple magical barriers around them. If these barriers broke, she was ready to shield him with her own body.

Chrysanthemum did the same.

"How foolish! The three of you together—perfect, I’ll crush you all to dust!"

All six heads spoke as one, his aura rising yet again.

Clouds gathered, blotting out the moonlight completely. If Xu Cheng could not act now, what awaited them was annihilation of body and soul, with no hope of reincarnation.

At that moment, Xu Cheng ground out, "Great Light of Infinite Wisdom Immortal Art—Seal of Radiance!"

"Great Light of Infinite Wisdom Immortal Art—Seal of Wisdom!"

He unleashed two immortal seals in succession, a tremendous burden on his body.

But a circle of dazzling golden light appeared around the three of them, ensuring their safety.

With the Seal of Wisdom empowering him, he could deduce the best solution to their predicament—there was even a chance to turn the tables.

In the blink of an eye, torrents of information surged through Xu Cheng’s mind; at that instant, his brain was dozens of times more powerful than the mightiest computer of his past life.