Breakthrough

His gaze locked onto the blood-robed man not far away, Chi Feng slightly hunched his massive frame. Within the quiet cavern, abruptly, an arc of fierce wind surged outward. The ground centered on Chi Feng instantly cracked and caved in, and his immensely hulking form vanished from the spot. Within Xu Yuan's vision, already thoroughly flooded with crimson, an afterimage trailing deep-blue vapor barreled toward him at breakneck speed. Chi Feng's explosive speed remained astonishingly swift, yet it lacked the suffocating, overwhelming pressure that had caught Xu Yuan off guard moments before. This time, Xu Yuan did not meet the blow head-on. As the wind of the fist swept in, he drew his lead leg back. His Cloud-Treading Boots traced an arc across the floor, shifting his body a foot to the side as if teleporting. The massive gale of the punch roared past his cheek. At such close range, the backdraft of such a blow would once have shredded the skin on his face, but now it merely ruffled his long hair and blood-red robe. His scarlet pupils, cold and aloof, slanted slightly sideways. Xu Yuan glanced at the glowing halo that surfaced on the Barbarian King's corded arm and grinned: "Your attacks sure kick up a lot of noise." "..." Chi Feng frowned, offering no reply. Pulling back his fist and raising a leg, Source Qi erupted from him as he prepared to strike again in the blink of an eye. But Xu Yuan had no intention of standing there taking blows. Seizing the fleeting opening when the Barbarian King drew back his fist, Xu Yuan abruptly stomped forward. His other leg flashed like a streak of blood-red light, snapping upward toward Chi Feng's chin. A shockwave rippled outward from where the tip of Xu Yuan's Cloud-Treading Boot met the layer of horn on Chi Feng's jaw. A momentary freeze— Boom!! Chi Feng's massive figure turned into a blur imperceptible to the naked eye, shooting straight up and slamming violently into the cavern ceiling! As countless stones and boulders fractured and rained down from above, a bone spike burst through the billowing dust, hurtling straight toward the blood-robed figure on the ground! Seeing this, Xu Yuan abandoned the thought of moving in for an immediate follow-up. Taking a leisurely step to the side, he casually leaned down to dust off nonexistent debris from his Blood Jade Glazed Robe. Rumble!!! An instant later, the bone spike plunging from the ceiling pierced clean through the cavern and plunged deep into the rock right beside Xu Yuan! Straightening up unhurriedly, Xu Yuan flicked his blood-red robe. A gust of wind instantly scattered the dust clinging to the cavern's ceiling and floor. Staring at Chi Feng crouching high above, he said: "Chi Feng, the physical body you rely on no longer holds any advantage over me." "Are you truly in such a hurry?" Chi Feng's deep, blue eyes gave no hint of his thoughts. The cracking sound of the fractured horn layer at his jaw was drowned out by his low voice. "Agreeing to your terms of cooperation is tantamount to placing my life and those of my entire tribe into your hands. If you cannot bear to hand Wuyuan over to me, save your breath." "..." In this moment, Xu Yuan suddenly understood how those people he had once pushed to furious desperation felt when forced to swallow their anger. The speed of his aberrant ghost transformation was exceeding his expectations, steadily creeping from his body into his consciousness. He needed to obtain the demon crystal of a Transcendent aberrant ghost as soon as possible to prolong his life, but doing so required the Barbarian King's cooperation—or at least that he not interfere. Yet looking at Chi Feng's posture now, the Barbarian King was like a stone in a latrine—foul and unyielding—resolutely refusing to grant his wish. Both sides were pressed for time. The Barbarian King was anxious to head up to evacuate his people and defend the Sacred City, perhaps even rush back to the main front line in Great Yan to take command. Xu Yuan was anxious to delve deeper into the crypt to find the antidote for aberrant ghost transformation. Yet their cooperation was stuck on the crucial matter of mutual trust, leaving both trapped here in mounting urgency. From a standpoint of absolute rationality, Xu Yuan should endure it right now—just as the Wanxiang Sect Master had once swallowed the vengeance of his daughter's death for the sake of survival... At this thought, a frenzied sneer curled at the corner of Xu Yuan's lips. Endure my ass! At worst, I just become an aberrant ghost, while your entire race gets wiped out! Completely discarding any thought of persuading the Barbarian King, Xu Yuan turned his mind to rapidly figuring out how to slaughter this stubborn stone in the latrine. The horn layer covering Chi Feng's body offered immense defense, drastically reducing the damage dealt by sword arts. Furthermore, Xu Yuan had yet to comprehend 'intent.' Even if he inflicted injuries on Chi Feng, the king could swiftly regenerate... Crack. A crisp snap abruptly derailed Xu Yuan's thoughts. High on the ceiling, Chi Feng voluntarily shattered the horn armor on his jaw, followed by his neck, his chest, and his limbs. Pieces of shattered pitch-black horn armor rained down into the dark cavern... Seeing this, Xu Yuan narrowed his eyes and chuckled through gritted teeth: "Heh, don't tell me this layer of horn armor was some kind of seal holding back your power—" Boom, rumble— Before he could finish, the falling fragments of horn armor slammed into the ground, kicking up plumes of dust... "Horn armor is a means for our Sacred Race to fend off severe cold and protect ourselves while hunting, not some vessel designed to restrict power." As the commotion died down, Chi Feng stood upside down against the cavern roof, his low voice echoing gently through the cavern. "Our Sacred Race's path of cultivation is akin to the declining path of martial apprentices among your human race—constantly tempering the body, continually elevating our strength, speed, and defense..." "So you are shedding your defense in exchange for speed and strength?" A trace of solemnity entered Xu Yuan's eyes. Tightening his grip on Qingyu, sword qi began circulating through his meridians as he cut Chi Feng off. "Throwing all your chips on the table, are you?" "I have merely made the most correct choice." Chi Feng also appeared to be preparing something. His deep eyes were fixed on Xu Yuan, his calm tone stating an indisputable fact: "With the speed and strength you have demonstrated, though my horn armor provides protection, continuing this fight would likely turn into a battle of attrition. By then, even if I capture you alive, you will have fully transformed into an aberrant ghost, leaving me unable to extract any information." "..." Hearing this, the tip of Qingyu in Xu Yuan's hand was already brimmed with a crimson glow. He let out a strange, low laugh: "You and I think along the same lines, it seems. But are you so certain shedding your horn armor will let you capture me?" The horn layer on Chi Feng had completely fallen away. Deep-blue Barbarian God markings were now etched into his corded, muscular physique. Unhurriedly, he replied: "I am not certain, but I cannot afford to die here." "That isn't up to you." Hum— The moment the words left his mouth, a clamorous sword hum arrived abruptly right before Chi Feng! Having teleported using Void-Stepping Slash, Xu Yuan did not pause for a fraction of an instant. With a thrust of his blade, the blood-and-ink-tinted tip of Qingyu stabbed straight into the hulking barbarian's chest. Blood-Ink Jade: Heavenly Peak! The splash of ink-like sword light piercing into flesh abruptly collapsed into a single point, boring straight through the Barbarian King's chest without the slightest resistance. The sword light that shot out his back cleaved a bottomless hollow into the cavern's ceiling! Drawing on the residual force of Heavenly Peak, Xu Yuan swept his sword sideways and pulled upward, aiming to cleave the Barbarian King in two. Yet at that precise moment— Clack. Without warning, Chi Feng's solitary hand clamped onto his wrist. The immense crushing force felt as if it would grind his wrist to powder. Xu Yuan had no intention of engaging in a contest of strength with this Barbarian King. His strategy against Chi Feng was simple. Lacking comprehension of 'intent' meant he could not inflict irreparable wounds, but it did not mean he couldn't kill the Barbarian King in short order. He only needed to exploit Void-Stepping Slash's untelegraphed teleportation alongside the lethal destructive power of the Blood-Ink sword art, overwhelming Chi Feng with concentrated burst damage in a brief window to slay him all the same! Seeing the follow-up foiled, Xu Yuan channeled Void-Stepping Slash through his meridians to retreat immediately. If the strike failed, pull back, skirmish, and strike again. Yet he had not anticipated that Chi Feng, having shed his horn armor, would counter even faster. His lone arm gripping Xu Yuan's sword wrist, Chi Feng planted a foot packed with colossal power under the armpit of Xu Yuan's sword-wielding arm. Before Xu Yuan could teleport away with Void-Stepping Slash, Chi Feng yanked violently in opposite directions! Rip! The gruesome sound of tearing flesh rang out softly. Xu Yuan's channeled Void-Stepping Slash was forcefully interrupted by the sudden mutilation, and in that very moment, three ink-black bone spikes burst abruptly from the rock face behind Chi Feng. An unavoidable attack. A blood mirror condensed in front of Xu Yuan in an instant. Between lightning and flint, the blood mirror did not retard Chi Feng's Dao domain as Xu Yuan had hoped. The three bone spikes punched cleanly through the blood mirror's defense without resistance, their deep-blue edge stabbing into Xu Yuan's chest, lower abdomen, and his remaining right arm! Xu Yuan tried to steady himself, but the black bone spikes kept extending from the rock layer, driving him rapidly toward the bottom of the cavern! "..." Frowning, Xu Yuan attempted to channel Void-Stepping Slash once more to break free, only to discover that the Source Qi in his body was sluggish, preventing him from instantly deploying the skill. The aura emanating from these ink-black bone spikes had actually plunged his body into a state akin to Tianyan's 'Seal' character formula! Dammit, I got played! These Dao domain bone spikes could break spells! He had wondered why the Dao domain of the mighty Barbarian King seemed so feeble—who would have thought these bone spikes could ignore arts and paralyze the circulation of Source Qi in whoever they pierced! Without hesitation, Xu Yuan spurred his aberrant ghost instincts, editing his flesh to pull free from the three ink-black bone spikes. Yet it was already too late. Old Man Luo hadn't lied to him. When both sides held trump cards, even if one possessed the power to finish the other in a single blow, rarely would anyone open with their ultimate move. No wonder Xu Changge had taken fifteen minutes to deal with those two Origin Realm cultivators back in Jingjiang Prefecture. In battles of this caliber, where both possessed hidden aces, a single misstep cascaded into utter defeat. A hair's breadth of error decided eternity. Countless bone spikes closed in from every direction of the cavern in the blink of an eye! Squirt! Squirt! Squirt! The sickening sound of spikes piercing flesh rang out relentlessly. The entire cavern transformed into a hell of bone spikes! When the sounds subsided, the blood-robed figure had been impaled by dozens of bone spikes from all directions, pinned firmly in midair. Bright crimson blood dripped steadily down the spikes... In the silence, a hulking figure exuding deep-blue vapor descended through the air from the sword-hewn hollow in the ceiling, treading the empty air as he landed before the blood-robed youth. With a calm gaze, Chi Feng gripped the severed arm lodged in his chest and pulled outward. Squish... The blade of Qingyu, still clutched in the severed hand, was pulled from his chest as black blood gushed forth. As if unable to feel pain in the slightest, Chi Feng casually tossed the severed arm downward and said in a flat voice: "Do not bother resisting. My Bone Spike Dao domain can suppress your Source Qi." Impaled in midair, Xu Yuan grinned at Chi Feng, his blood-slicked lips curling in mockery: "Don't expect to learn anything from me. Pain means nothing to me." "..." Chi Feng stared at him for a moment, then glanced toward the direction in which Li Qingyan had departed: "Very well. I will go capture her first, then interrogate you—" His words came to an abrupt halt. A bizarre ripple made Chi Feng frown involuntarily, and a gleam of divine light surfaced in his deep-blue pupils. A few magnificent, blood-tinted cherry blossom petals drifted gently past his eyes, and the scene before him suddenly shifted. Bone spikes were still bone spikes, yet they were no longer ink-black, but crimson as human blood. Blood Marrow Drills! The positions of the two had reversed. Dozens of spiral-shaped blood-red spikes firmly pinned Chi Feng's massive body in midair, and the severed arm gripping the sword was still lodged deep within his chest! An illusion... The experience of a tribal chieftain allowed Chi Feng to understand what had just happened. Although he broke through the illusion in a mere instant, that instant had put him at an utter disadvantage. Because Xu Yuan had no need to keep him alive. Sweeping his eyes across the cavern, three ink-black spikes piercing the entire cavern caught his sight, and in the peripheral vision of his deep-blue eyes, he spotted a one-armed scarlet figure on the cavern floor. The pieces instantly fell into place, and Chi Feng made a judgment in a flash. Though he had fallen into an illusion, his opponent had likewise failed to evade the three spikes unleashed by his Bone Spike Dao domain. In other words, the other had been struck by his 'Law Severance,' causing his Source Qi to stall. In an instant, the desolate cavern fell dead silent. Buzz— A reverberating drone sounded. The barbarian markings across Chi Feng flared brilliantly. The muscles around the puncture wounds swelled violently, and the dozens of spiral bone spikes pinning him fractured into webs of cracks. At the same time, his Dao domain expanded, sending countless bone spikes surging from all directions toward Xu Yuan! Xu Yuan moved an instant before Chi Feng did. Streaking through the air like a meteor of blood-red light, he shot toward the Barbarian King in midair. Though temporarily stripped of human spells and sword arts, he still possessed the physical body of an aberrant ghost. Under his conscious control, his remaining arm morphed into a hunting blade half a zhang long. Time seemed to slow to a crawl. As Chi Feng shattered the bone cage, the crimson meteor of Xu Yuan was already upon him, brandishing his arm-blade! Buzz!!!! "Hoo..." "Hoo..." "Haah..." In the silent cavern, faint, ragged breaths mingled among the scattered rubble and craters. Xu Yuan picked up his severed arm still gripping the Qingyu sword with trembling fingers and pressed it against his shoulder stump. Under the work of the fungal armor, the severed joint rapidly bonded together. As Source Qi surged back in, the Qingyu sword held firmly in his hand let out a resonant hum, its tip once again glowing with blood-and-ink sword radiance. With this done, Xu Yuan looked up at Chi Feng, who was half-kneeling in a colossal crater a hundred zhang away. The battle was drawing to a close. The Barbarian King knelt quietly, his chest pierced through in grievous injury, his aura flickering intermittently. Yet his pair of deep-blue eyes remained calm and profound, as if deep in contemplation. Xu Yuan paid no mind to the king's composure in the face of death. Neither he nor Chi Feng had achieved their goal of slaying the other in a flash. Yet in this brutal brawl of flesh and bone, Xu Yuan had ultimately triumphed—winning by seizing the initiative with the illusion, capitalizing on his aberrant ghost body, and exploiting Chi Feng's preexisting grievous injuries. Though it was a pyrrhic victory, he had won. Sword in hand, Xu Yuan walked slowly toward him, his fraying consciousness allowing his thoughts to wander. Still, if he had been able to cast the high-power spells recorded in the Blood Yuan Heart Calamity Art, things wouldn't have degraded into a desperate, bare-knuckle melee. Beyond close-quarters blood-ink sword arts, the Blood Yuan Heart Calamity Art contained many devastating spells, comparable in magnitude to the Heaven Character True Words of the Heaven-Deducing Art. And it was precisely because of those great spells that Xu Yuan, from the very start of his cultivation journey, had envisioned himself as a distinguished 'mage.' Reality, however, had refused to cooperate. Perhaps due to the meridian layout of Jinghe's Pure Yang physique during the Meishen illusion, he lacked the open meridians required to channel the devastating spells of the Blood Yuan Heart Calamity Art. As a result, his current body possessed no habitual reflex for casting those arts. And so, somehow, he had drifted from that distinguished 'mage' of his dreams into a melee swordsman who knew only blood-ink sword arts. Well, none of that mattered now. A mage who couldn't fight in melee wasn't a good berserker anyway. His current aberrant ghost body and scarlet fungal armor had effectively turned him into an unkillable HP-tank berserker. And yet, it was thanks to this aberrant ghost shell that he had managed to beat the Barbarian King. It was just that the three big shots—his father, his uncle, and Xu Changge—were all intent on molding him into a swordsman. Thinking of his father in the Imperial Capital, Xu Yuan sighed faintly. If only he could summon the old man here, he wouldn't have to fight tooth and nail like this. Besides, if his father possessed an immortal, indestructible body like this, that congenital illness of his would surely heal, wouldn't it? And that dying Emperor on the throne in the Jinluan Hall. If given the chance, the Emperor would probably be willing to become an aberrant ghost too. As long as he became an aberrant ghost, he could live on, meaning the imperial clan and the Prime Minister's Manor would have no reason to clash for the time being. If both elders became aberrant ghosts, they could carry on indefinitely. Their plans against the sects wouldn't need to be rushed so frantically either, and if Saints possessed immortal, indestructible bodies like aberrant ghosts, wiping out the sects would be far easier. And Big Ice Block and the others... Once Big Ice Block and the rest became aberrant ghosts, they could all live forever... As long as they became aberrant ghosts... Thinking up to here, the tumor-like form of Luo Xiran suddenly surfaced in Xu Yuan's mind. Wait... Wait a second... No, wrong... Something's fucking wrong! Xu Yuan pressed a hand to his brow. His sclera-less crimson pupils dilated and contracted violently. Then, he suddenly looked at the Barbarian King and smiled. Right. He shouldn't be thinking so far ahead right now. He should just kill this guy first, and then... And then eat him? Xu Yuan licked the corner of his lips, but his thoughts instantly descended into chaotic turmoil once more. "Changtian." A voice, cold yet alluring and tinged with laughter, gently echoed beside Xu Yuan's ear: "Do not resist. All of this is inevitable... "As long as you devour this Semi-Saint, you will become even stronger..." Xu Yuan jerked his sword upward, his eyes locked onto the hulking barbarian before him, madness flickering in his crimson pupils: "Shut up!" "..." The Barbarian King remained silent. "Mighty strength will free you from care, and immortal life will let you live on forever with those you cherish... Do you truly not desire such a life?" The gentle female voice seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere, seductive and tantalizing as it echoed by Xu Yuan's ear: "And all of this requires only that you devour this Semi-Saint." Bang! The ground cracked. Xu Yuan's figure shifted right before the Barbarian King as if teleporting: "Chi Feng, I told you to shut up!" "..." The Barbarian King calmly watched the mad 'human' before him. Exhaling a breath, he braced his body and slowly rose from the ground, saying in a level voice: "Aberrant ghost, you seek to bewitch him into devouring me?" As he spoke, an aura of pristine purity quietly wafted from around his body. In his muddled consciousness, Xu Yuan was struggling against his bodily instincts, oblivious to the change around him. Yet Luo Xiran, watching through the scarlet fungal armor, detected the anomaly. Her voice turned shrill: "Changtian, kill him, quick! He... he's about to break through!"