Chapter 218: River Styx Waves Surge, Vacuum Is Not Empty

Chapter 218: The Surge of the Styx, the Vacuum is Not Empty

This was Zhao Changhe's first time facing an opponent from the Ranking of Mortals.

Despite the vast disparity in their cultivation, a strange serenity washed over him, devoid of the cold sweat that had drenched him when facing Wang Daoning.

Wang Daoning, after all, was a powerhouse on the Ranking of Earth.

Perhaps it was simply because he had seen too much of the Earth Ranking by now... shooting with an unstrung bow at He Lei, who ranked seventh; being hauled around by the Vermilion Bird, who ranked fourth; engaging in close-quarters grappling with Tang Wanzhuang, who ranked third; and chatting and laughing with Guichen, who ranked in the twenties.

To say nothing of the Earth Ranking, even the daughter of the ninth on the Heaven Ranking had been squeezing white rabbits in an ice cave with him just the night before last.

With such experiences, the Ranking of Mortals held little terror for him anymore, let alone an opponent sitting at the very bottom at rank seventy, not even as high as Yue Hongling. In his subconscious, this felt no different from the Yue Hongling of the past before her breakthrough; it was truly no longer an untouchable height...

In truth, Situ Xiao was right on the verge of this level, and Yuan Xing, with his Golden Bell Shield capable of blocking arrows across an area, possessed a formidable level of skill. If the Ranking of Mortals were expanded to over a hundred spots, both of them would likely make the cut, so how much of a gap could there really be?

It felt as though the combined might of these two alone could fight Fa Qing to a standstill, and with himself thrown into the mix, victory was entirely within reach. They only needed to hold their ground; the moment anyone flinched, panicked by a feint into frantic self-defense, they would easily be picked off one by one.

Like right now.

Fa Qing was no longer fighting barehanded; a monastic blade flashed like lightning, thrusting straight for Zhao Changhe's throat.

Zhao Changhe could not tell whether this was a feint or a genuine strike, for he lacked the discernment. But it did not matter.

He neither dodged nor evaded, swinging the Vermilion Sparrow Blade even more ferociously than Fa Qing, aiming straight for the monk's bald head.

As expected, Fa Qing had taken him for the softest target, intending to use him as a breakthrough point with a feint to force him back, so as to leisurely deal with Situ Xiao attacking from behind.

Yet with Zhao Changhe proving so fiercely desperate, how could Fa Qing be willing to trade lives with him? Even trading injuries was not worth it!

A cold sweat broke out on Fa Qing's skin as he urgently pulled back his blade and dodged, colliding into Yuan Xing beside him to give way to Zhao Changhe's strike. At the same time, the monastic blade in his hand swept backward toward the oncoming greatsword, as he bellowed: "Drop it!"

The Lion's Roar!

Differing from the traditional Buddhist Lion's Roar, his technique integrated the mental control arts of the Maitreya Sect. He knew the Divine Brilliance Sect was slightly weaker in this aspect; as long as this roar stunned Situ Xiao into stiffness for a mere instant, he could knock away the greatsword and take his head.

To his bewilderment, though Situ Xiao's eyes grew slightly dazed, his movements were barely hindered. As blade and sword clashed, the greatsword remained as steady as Mount Tai, its defense flawless. It even rode the momentum of the clash to strike back, and in an instant, wind and thunder howled as though the mountain itself were collapsing overhead!

Yuan Xing's Zen staff had already struck his spine, and Zhao Changhe's Vermilion Sparrow surged forward in a wild sweep, aiming once more for his throat!

Miscalculating time and again, Fa Qing was instantly plunged into an incredibly dire strait, his mind utterly perplexed as to what was going wrong.

Fortunately, someone on the Ranking of Mortals was ultimately on that ranking for a reason, far beyond the ordinary.

In that split second, Fa Qing's robes ballooned outward. When Yuan Xing's Zen staff struck his back, it was actually deflected and slid off by the swelling astral qi, failing to inflict any harm. Meanwhile, the monastic blade in his hand suddenly bloomed like a lotus throne, every strike like a falling petal, blanketing heaven and earth.

The Maitreya Pure Land, the Descent of the White Lotus!

The greatsword and the broad blade hacked into the "petals" almost simultaneously, and both Situ Xiao and Zhao Changhe let out muffled groans, recoiling together.

A gap in cultivation remained a gap; neither could withstand the sheer force of Fa Qing's ultimate technique.

Among them, Zhao Changhe was forced back further, his foot stepping right onto the corner of a flying eave.

Fa Qing exhaled a breath, sweeping his monastic blade back, intending to finish off Yuan Xing first.

"Crack!" Zhao Changhe's foot shattered the corner of the flying eave, borrowing the rebound force to rocket back. The Vermilion Sparrow was entirely wreathed in a bright crimson blood-light, violently fierce and unyielding.

In a mere flash, before Situ Xiao could even launch a counterattack, Zhao Changhe had arrived once more.

Fa Qing had truly not expected that the most proactive and troublesome opponent would be Zhao Changhe, who seemingly possessed the lowest cultivation among the three... After all, neither Yuan Xing's nor Situ Xiao's styles were aggressive by nature; only Zhao Changhe fought this way, always stealing the spotlight wherever he went.

Moreover, Zhao Changhe's cultivation was not as low as imagined.

Cultivating both internally and externally, using the Liuhe Divine Art to propel the Blood Fiend Art, his widened meridians could endure a more violent transmission and eruption of true qi. Originally, the power he could exert already surpassed his current realm, and now his leap in strength was even greater and more potent, no longer at the level where he only dared to throw his blade from afar during his past battle against Chi Li and Yue Hongling.

A single strike from this Vermilion Sparrow could be fatal!

Fa Qing forced Yuan Xing back with a slash, and in the midst of his frantic rush, turned his blade to parry Zhao Changhe's Vermilion Sparrow, just as Situ Xiao's greatsword arrived again from the other side.

Forcing Situ Xiao away once more, the Vermilion Sparrow returned instantly.

The more Fa Qing fought, the more amiss it felt.

Each blow from the Vermilion Sparrow was faster than the last, and its strength grew mightier with every strike. Previously, when their blades clashed, he could easily shock Zhao Changhe back several paces. Yet as the clashes multiplied, the paces forced back dwindled, and the frequency of that tidal retraction and subsequent assault grew higher and higher, gradually building into a surging, roaring tsunami!

What kind of supreme technique was this?

Fa Qing realized he could not allow Zhao Changhe to continue stacking his momentum. If this continued, who knew if the youth might deliver a strike that transcended the Ranking of Mortals!

Yet he could not interrupt it, nor did he have a way to quickly eliminate Zhao Changhe.

Situ Xiao was as steady as a mountain, and Yuan Xing was like an unmoving Vajra. The two surrounded him so tightly that barely a breath of wind could pass. Every time, he could only free up a hand to force one back before the other blocked his path again. How could he possibly concentrate his full might against Zhao Changhe?

The blood-light of the Vermilion Sparrow grew increasingly crazed and fierce, the rushing river now resembling a sea of blood!

Fa Qing found himself straining more and more, realizing for the first time that if he did not break through the perimeter, he might truly die here!

Fortunately, there was still time to break free...

Right at this moment, from deep within the Wang family estate, Wang Daoning's voice drifted out in a leisurely transmission: "Splendid swordplay... What is the name of this style?"

Indeed, this was a set of sword techniques adapted to the blade...

Zhao Changhe replied in a loud voice: "The style is named Yuan Tu! The Surge of the Styx!"

The Yuan Tu Blood Sea, the Avici Hell—a sword style born solely for slaughter.

Zhao Changhe appeared to be a heroic champion, yet why did everything he learned consist of demonic arts?

"A fine sword," Wang Daoning said. "Sirs, grant this master some face. Cease your fighting for now, and come inside to partake in a cup of wine."

Zhao Changhe seemed to hesitate for a moment, forcibly pulling back the blade he had already swung out.

Situ Xiao glanced at him, also sheathing his sword.

Fa Qing and Yuan Xing's blade and staff collided, jarring each other as they stopped simultaneously.

Fa Qing discovered that his back was actually drenched in cold sweat... He truly had not expected the battle to turn out this way. Yuan Xing and Situ Xiao were understandable; their steadiness was to be expected. But this Zhao Changhe was utterly beyond anticipation, far too absurd. No wonder Fa Sheng had been decapitated by him before the fortress gates in front of a myriad of men.

Fortunately, the brat ultimately did not dare to defy the Wang family, nor did he dare to cross someone on the Heaven Ranking.

This youth absolutely could not be allowed to live. If he were permitted to develop further, there was no telling what the outcome would be! Upon returning this time, he must report to the Sect Master; the Maitreya Sect's primary objective from now on would be to assassinate Zhao Changhe, placing his danger level even above that of Tang Wanzhuang!

As these thoughts flashed through Fa Qing's mind, he sheathed his blade, cupped his hands, and said, "It was not my intention to clash before the gates of the Wang family. Fa Qing apologizes to Mr. Daoning. My arrival today is for..."

Before his words could finish, a crimson blood-light erupted beside him!

Fa Qing's hair stood on end as he urgently drew his blade to block.

Simultaneously, a furious shout rang out from within the Wang family: "How dare you!"

A peerlessly sharp sword-qi erupted directly from inside the Wang estate, attempting to intercept the blood-light.

Yet at such a distance, how could it possibly arrive in time?

Fa Qing, who had just sheathed his blade, lowered his guard, and was still mid-salute, was also too late.

The monastic blade had barely been drawn halfway when the blood-light reached his neck.

It was a violent strike that concentrated the countless iterations of speed and power stacked previously. Instead of crashing down like a raging wave, it was compressed into a single line, transforming into a single thrust, as if a rift to hell had been torn open amidst the sea of blood in the Styx.

Chasing the soul, demanding life, ten thousand ghosts wailing!

What kind of move was this again?

"Clang!" The Vermilion Sparrow hacked viciously onto the monastic blade, which snapped into two pieces with a sharp crack.

Someone on the Ranking of Mortals was, after all, on that ranking for a reason. No matter how caught off guard Fa Qing was, he managed to utilize the brief respite of that block to leap backward, tilting his body back just enough to clear his throat from the path of the blade.

Sima Xiao stepped an imperceptible drunken stagger, slipping behind him.

Fa Qing: "?"

This backward lean finally did not go through; Longque precisely cleaved into his neck, and his head flew off.

Only then did the sword qi shot from the Wang family strike Zhao Changhe; Zhao Changhe blocked with his horizontal blade, violently spat out a mouthful of blood, then laughed heartily, flying backward several zhang: "Many thanks for the family head's scheme, otherwise I truly had no confidence he wouldn't break through and escape. I'll repay this favor another day. I'll take my leave now, no need to see me off."

"Whoa!" The Snow-treading Dark Steed came galloping from somewhere; Zhao Changhe turned over and landed on the horse's back, vanishing in a cloud of dust.

Golden light blazed in the sky.

"End of June, Start of Autumn. Yuan Xing, Sima Xiao, Zhao Changhe, besieged Fa Qing. At the moment of ceasefire and laxity, Zhao Changhe suddenly attacked, beheading Fa Qing before the Wang family gate."

"The Human Ranking falls, candidates are supplemented."

"Former Human Ranking 71 Qin Ruhui advances to 70, former Human Ranking 72 Cui Wenyu advances to 71."

"Golden Tent Prince Rada supplements Human Ranking 72."

None of the three besiegers were replaced, Yuan Xing lost face.

"Hidden Dragon Ranking changes."

"Hidden Dragon 13, Zhao Changhe."

"Waves surge in the Styx, emptiness is not empty."

"Big Brother!"

"Family Head!"

The Wang family crowd gathered around Wang Daoning, all saying: "Zhao Changhe has insulted us too much, why not pursue him!"

Wang Daoning looked at the Vermilion Bird in the distance, then at Cui Yuanyang and Lu Ya beside her in the backyard, then at Guichen and Xuanchong who had brought the horse, and finally at Yuan Xing and Sima Xiao.

After a long while, he slowly said: "To slay the heretics of Maitreya is our duty. Master Yuan Xing, please come inside for a talk."

Wang Daozhong: "..."

Wang Zhaoling: "..."

Wang Daoning watched the dust and smoke of hooves disappearing at the end of the long street, and said in a low voice: "As for killing him, Daozhong will take charge. Within three months, I want to see results."