novelraw Chapter 129 - 126: You... Why Can You Still Speak?
Chapter 129 - 126: You... Why Can You Still Speak?
It all happened in an instant.
Seeing the fiery tongs about to reach him, Huang Haoran had no time to react and could only hastily activate a Profound Light Body Protection.
However, his Profound Light had no effect whatsoever.
Like a phantom, the tongs passed ethereally through the Profound Light, through his cheek, and deep into his mouth.
Then, with a tug, it felt as if his tongue had been pulled right out.
Terrified, Huang Haoran quickly reached up to feel his mouth and was instantly relieved.
’Thank goodness, it’s still there.’
He subconsciously tried to recite a mantra to counterattack, only to belatedly realize he could no longer make a sound.
’That’s not a huge problem. If I can’t say it out loud, I’ll just recite it in my mind.’
But in the next instant, Huang Haoran’s blood ran cold.
He couldn’t even mentally recite the Magic Formulas!
In other words, he was now unable to use the vast majority of his abilities.
At that moment, he finally understood the true terror of the Yellow Springs Demon Technique.
No wonder Song Fengbo, a sixth-level Foundation Establishment cultivator, had died without being able to put up a fight. This Demon Technique was simply too domineering.
In his desperation, he pulled two pre-prepared Defense Talismans from his chest, hoping to mount a small resistance and buy some time.
Having cast the Tongue Pulling Secret Technique, Ding Silei was already charging forward with his Flying Sword raised.
Huang Haoran used his Magical Power to activate a Talisman, which formed a Golden Light Body Protection, as he stepped forward to shield Xiao Chen.
His Cultivation was higher, so it was only right for him to protect his junior brother.
But something else moved faster than him—a Fringed Tassel Brocade Handkerchief.
The handkerchief flew out, expanding in the wind to form a barrier in front of them.
A flicker of confusion crossed Huang Haoran’s eyes. Before he could turn his head, a steady voice suddenly rang out.
"Seven-Star Sword Technique—Megrez!"
Simultaneously, a majestic Sword Light shot past the edge of the handkerchief, slashing toward Ding Silei.
?
This sudden sword strike completely caught Huang Haoran and Ding Silei by surprise.
They had never imagined that Xiao Chen would still be able to speak.
Ding Silei, in particular, was utterly panicked by the sudden Sword Light, his eyes wide as if he were seeing the impossible.
Ever since he began cultivating the Yellow Springs Demon Technique, it wasn’t that he had never encountered ways to circumvent or counter it.
But all those methods first required breaking his Demon Technique.
Yet today, with the phantom of the Yellow Springs True Monarch still hanging high in the sky, Xiao Chen acted as if nothing was wrong, instantly activating his Sword Technique.
For a moment, Ding Silei felt like he was hallucinating.
By the time he realized he needed to dodge the Sword Light, it was too late to retreat.
He could only rely on his Upper Grade Magic Robe to take the Sword Light head-on. He was sent flying on the spot and coughed up a large mouthful of fresh blood.
Ding Silei messily wiped the corner of his mouth and immediately looked up.
The phantom in the sky was still majestic and imposing, showing no signs of anything unusual.
He then looked ahead. Huang Haoran was also completely dumbfounded, staring back at Xiao Chen with his mouth opening and closing, unable to make a sound.
Only Xiao Chen remained calm, giving Huang Haoran a reassuring smile.
Then, he raised his sword and walked toward him. "Are you the one who murdered Junior Brother Song at the entrance to the mountain range?"
Ding Silei struggled to his feet. "You are guilty!"
"In the name of the Yellow Springs True Monarch, I sentence you to the Tongue Pulling Hell!"
Under his expectant gaze, a pair of fiery tongs materialized and once again clamped onto the phantom of Xiao Chen’s tongue and pulled.
This time, Ding Silei saw it clearly. His opponent had definitely been struck by the technique.
Only then did he raise his sword again, activating a Sword Technique as he prepared to close in for the kill.
But in the next moment, he could only watch helplessly as Xiao Chen opened his mouth and said, "Seven-Star Sword Technique—Phecda."
This time, the damaged Upper Grade Magic Robe offered no resistance and was pierced straight through.
The sword ran Ding Silei through, pinning him to the rock wall behind him.
"You... why can you still speak?"
He forced his eyes wide, using the last of his strength to look up at the illusory figure in the sky.
Even at the moment of his death, he couldn’t believe that the Demon Technique he had always been so proud of had utterly failed.
As he breathed his last in disbelief, the phantom vanished into thin air, as if it had never been there at all.
Huang Haoran suddenly felt the pressure in his mouth release, and his ability to speak returned.
But he found himself at a sudden loss for words.
If Ding Silei couldn’t understand it, he understood it even less.
He had just personally experienced being completely restricted, stripped of his ability to speak.
Xiao Chen’s performance, in contrast, showed not the slightest hint of being affected.
The first time, he hadn’t seen clearly, and had even suspected that perhaps Ding Silei’s ability was limited to restricting only one person at a time.
But the second time, he had watched with his own eyes as the tongs appeared and as Xiao Chen recited the Sword Technique.
Now he too was beginning to question his entire existence.
’Could it be... that this Demon Technique isn’t actually that strong, and I’m just too weak?’
’No, no, no.’ The moment the thought appeared, Huang Haoran dismissed it.
The death of Song Fengbo, a sixth-level Foundation Establishment cultivator, was proof enough of how terrifying this Demon Technique was.
It was simply that Xiao Chen was even more formidable and actually possessed a way to counter the Demon Technique.
Moreover, he immediately noticed that when Xiao Chen had activated the Sword Technique, his aura had been revealed.
He was actually at the fourth level of Foundation Establishment!
One must remember that just half a year ago, this junior brother had only just reached Foundation Establishment. Now, it looked like he was about to catch up to him.
And those two Sword Techniques just now—one was steady and grand, the other elusive and unpredictable.
With just two sword strikes, he had slain a late-stage Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivator.
Although that Demon Cultivator had clearly been careless and failed to defend against the first strike in time—and was only at the seventh level of Foundation Establishment—the fact that Xiao Chen had killed a cultivator of a higher level was undeniable.
In the space of a few short breaths, the look in Huang Haoran’s eyes changed four times.
First, it went from extreme anxiety to helpless confusion, then from helpless confusion to self-doubt.
From there, it shifted from questioning his existence to utter shock, and finally, from shock to boundless admiration.
He slowly walked over.
He cupped his fists in thanks. "I was almost caught by that scoundrel’s sneak attack. Thank you, Xiao, for your help."
The moment he spoke, he had already changed how he addressed him.
Xiao Chen waved his hand. "We’re fellow disciples from the same sect. It’s only natural we look out for one another."
A moment ago, when the attack came, Huang Haoran had immediately moved to shield him.
Though the gesture had been useless, his good intentions were genuine.
Therefore, Xiao Chen wasn’t about to act arrogant because of his strength. "I just happened to have cultivated a Secret Technique that isn’t affected by this Demon Technique, that’s all."
"There’s no need to be so formal with me, Huang."
But Huang Haoran waved his hands. "No, no, don’t be so modest, Xiao."
"The strength you just demonstrated far surpasses my own."
"Before, I was ignorant and had the audacity to call you Junior Brother. Now that I know better, it is only proper that I change how I address you. This is in accordance with sect rules."
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