novelraw Chapter 157
Chapter 157
Chapter 157: Righteous Path in Peril
After hearing the Ghost King’s words, Tian Buyi felt a surge of suppressed anger in his heart.
Although he was wary of the Ghost King’s strength, at this moment, standing on the battlefield between righteousness and demonic paths, he absolutely could not allow the prestige of the Qingyun Sect to fall.
Immediately after, Tian Buyi spoke coldly, “Ghost King, your strength is indeed formidable. However, I, Tian Buyi, am not some soft persimmon. Let me personally experience just how powerful you truly are!”
As his words fell, Tian Buyi no longer hesitated. His entire figure transformed into a streak of flowing light as he charged straight toward the Ghost King.
At the same time, the hand seals in his grasp were formed without pause. Crimson light continuously flashed around his body, manifesting one fire-based spell after another that blasted toward the Ghost King.
Watching the fire spells assault him, the Ghost King’s eyes were filled with disdain.
He did not even use the Fulong Cauldron. With merely a casual wave of his right hand, streams of pitch-black force wind instantly transformed into sharp blades that smashed head-on into Tian Buyi’s spells.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Deafening explosions rang out as Tian Buyi’s spells were shattered in an instant. Those black force winds continued onward, charging straight toward Tian Buyi.
Tian Buyi’s expression changed drastically. At this moment, he had completely confirmed that the Ghost King’s strength far surpassed his own.
As for whether the opponent had broken through into the legendary realm, he could not be entirely certain—but he was already eighty to ninety percent sure.
This realization made Tian Buyi’s heart sink to the extreme.
Facing the continuously surging black whirlwind, Tian Buyi swung the longsword in his hand.
Amid thunderous bang bang bang explosions, every strike he delivered was with his full strength, slashing into the black force wind. Yet his figure was still forced to retreat again and again under the pressure.
Fortunately, at the final moment, through relentless effort, he managed to disperse all of the black force wind.
The Ghost King looked at the disheveled Tian Buyi and sneered, “Tian Buyi, is this all you’ve got?”
“Those attacks just now were merely a casual strike from me.”
“I haven’t even gotten serious yet, and you’re already unable to continue?”
Tian Buyi’s expression was incomparably ugly, yet he did not respond.
He knew very well that today’s situation was extremely dangerous. The gap between his strength and the Ghost King’s was simply too vast.
Thus, he secretly transmitted his voice to the surrounding Qingyun Sect members and the other righteous path experts, “Everyone, the Ghost King’s strength is far too terrifying. I am no match for him. Later, if there is any opportunity, all of you should quickly lead the disciples to retreat.”
When Master Shuiyue and the others heard this, their hearts were shaken in shock.
They had never imagined that Tian Buyi would be so powerless before the Ghost King.
Judging from Tian Buyi’s words, he clearly intended to fight to the death to buy time for everyone else to retreat. This filled everyone’s hearts with fear.
When Su Ru heard Tian Buyi’s transmission, she was utterly heartbroken.
She had never imagined that this seemingly simple trip to Flowing Wave Mountain might very well cause the husband and wife to be forever separated.
The Ghost King leisurely looked at Tian Buyi. He could roughly guess the content of the transmission just now, yet he did not care in the slightest.
With his current strength, the remaining righteous path members were nothing more than ants.
As long as demonic path experts held the others in check, once he dealt with Tian Buyi, he would inevitably crush the righteous path and even slaughter them all.
The Ghost King sneered coldly, “Tian Buyi, your righteous path is destined to be annihilated today!”
“However, before I kill you, I can give you a chance.”
“As long as you can withstand three of my strikes, I will spare you all a way to live.”
Tian Buyi’s expression was solemn. After pondering briefly, he said in a deep voice, “Since that is the case, then allow Tian to experience your supreme techniques. Come!”
The Ghost King replied coldly, “In that case, take this well!”
Immediately afterward, demonic power surged around the Ghost King, crimson light erupting endlessly.
He formed hand seals with both hands. His right palm suddenly thrust forward as he shouted harshly, “Ghost King Seal!”
In an instant, a gigantic blood-colored palm seal took shape.
Then, with a single palm strike, the terrifying blood-red palm seal was unleashed, radiating horrifying might across the void.
Streams of crimson blood light shot out, instantly corroding everything around them.
In the blink of an eye, the blood-colored palm seal flew straight toward Tian Buyi. Along its path, blood-red qi spread continuously, producing puchi puchi sounds in the void, as if it were corroding everything around it.
Watching the blood-colored palm seal crash toward him, Tian Buyi’s expression was incomparably grave.
He rapidly formed hand seals with both hands. The spiritual power of the Tai Chi Profound Purity Dao within his body circulated frantically, all of it pouring into the Crimson Flame Immortal Sword before him. Then he roared, “Qingyun Sword Technique—Crimson Flame Slash!”
A massive crimson sword light, like a heavenly pillar, was cleaved out by Tian Buyi. Its terrifying might scorched the void until it twisted violently, as if it were about to cleave everything apart, crashing straight into the Ghost King Seal.
Boom!
A thunderous explosion rang out. Under Tian Buyi’s heavy gaze, his crimson sword pillar collided violently with the Ghost King Seal.
At the moment of impact, an overwhelming force surged forth. The crimson sword pillar was instantly shattered.
The Ghost King Seal’s momentum did not diminish at all and continued smashing toward Tian Buyi.
Tian Buyi hurriedly raised the Crimson Flame Immortal Sword to block in front of himself.
“Bang—!”
With a deafening explosion, the Ghost King Seal struck the immortal sword. Tian Buyi, along with the sword, was instantly blasted away, transforming into a streak of light that crashed into the ground, creating a massive crater.
The other righteous path experts cried out in alarm, “Tian Buyi!”
“Father!”
“Master!”
The cries rose one after another.
Tian Buyi only felt his mind plunge into chaos. He spat out a mouthful of hot blood, already severely injured.
The Ghost King looked at the blasted-away Tian Buyi and sneered repeatedly, “Tian Buyi, your strength is indeed not bad.”
“This Ghost King Seal of mine did not use my full strength, yet it still carried seventy percent of my power. For you to withstand it—worthy of being the leader of the righteous path at Flowing Wave Mountain. I acknowledge you.”
After spitting out the surging blood, Tian Buyi felt slightly better. He shakily stood up, his eyes filled with terror.
He had never imagined that such a powerful attack had only used seventy percent of the Ghost King’s strength. At this moment, he was certain that the Ghost King had already broken through into the legendary realm.
This made Tian Buyi both terrified and envious. Although he possessed strength at the eighth level of the Upper Purity Realm, he was still extremely far from that realm. As for whether anyone within the Qingyun Sect had broken through, that was still unknown—filling him with deep worry for the sect’s future.
Thinking of his own situation, Tian Buyi could not help but smile bitterly.
He understood that he could not withstand the Ghost King’s second strike. Yet he still lingered, casting a final look at his wife Su Ru, who was currently fighting, at the many disciples and his daughter, as well as the other righteous path members. A resolute expression surfaced in his eyes.
He knew that this time was fraught with peril, yet he still wanted to buy an opportunity for the righteous path to escape.
Tian Buyi leapt into the air, once again standing in the void. He looked coldly at the Ghost King and said, “Ghost King, let us proceed to the second strike.”
Looking at Tian Buyi’s weakened state, the Ghost King said, “Tian Buyi, with your current condition, you cannot withstand my second strike. If you force it, you will surely die.”
“I can give you a chance. As long as you are willing to submit, I will spare your life.”
Tian Buyi shook his head and refused, “I am the chief of Dazhu Peak of the Qingyun Sect. How could I cling to life and defect to another sect? Ghost King, spare the nonsense—make your move.”
The Ghost King’s expression grew even colder. “Since you are determined to seek death, then I will send you on your way!”
The Ghost King formed hand seals once more, again using the Ghost King Seal. This time, the power he condensed was even more terrifying.
As he formed the seals, horrifying blood qi surged around his body, finally converging into his hands and transforming into overwhelming might, as if he intended to kill Tian Buyi with a single palm.
Seeing this, Tian Buyi stepped on the void. The Crimson Flame Immortal Sword pointed toward the heavens as he chanted:
“Nine Heavens Profound Realm, transform into divine thunder,
Magnificent heavenly might, guided by the sword.”
He prepared to unleash the Qingyun Sect’s supreme divine art—the Divine Sword Lightning Summoning True Art—to confront the enemy, borrowing the power of heavenly lightning to fight the Ghost King to the death.
In an instant, dark clouds densely gathered in the void. Thunder suddenly erupted, transforming into thunder dragons that converged toward Tian Buyi, illuminating his entire body like a sea of lightning—terrifying beyond measure.
The Ghost King sneered, “The Qingyun Sect’s Divine Sword Lightning Summoning True Art? It is indeed a decent divine ability, but with your strength, even if you use it, what can you do to me?”
As he spoke, the Ghost King struck out with a palm. The Ghost King Seal blazed with brilliant light, crimson blood radiance illuminating several hundred zhang around, terrifying beyond compare.
Tian Buyi roared angrily, “Slash!”
A crimson sword radiance wrapped in boundless lightning slashed out from the Crimson Flame Immortal Sword. It sliced through the void with chi chi sounds, as if it were about to shatter space itself.
Under the gazes of both righteous and demonic paths, the Divine Sword Lightning Summoning True Art and the Ghost King Seal collided violently. Terrifying lightning power and bizarre blood-colored power eroded each other, attempting to annihilate one another.
At first, the Divine Sword Lightning Summoning True Art was able to resist. However, due to the immense disparity in strength, it gradually became exhausted during the mutual erosion and began to shatter.
Tian Buyi’s expression changed drastically. Before he could take any action, the Divine Sword Lightning Summoning True Art instantly collapsed.
The Ghost King Seal howled as it surged toward Tian Buyi, about to annihilate him.
Below, Zhang Xiaofan cried out in alarm, “Master, no!”
His eyes were about to split apart. To him, Tian Buyi was not only his master but also someone who had given him fatherly love. Tian Buyi held an extremely important place in his heart.
Watching his master about to fall, Zhang Xiaofan was utterly powerless.
Just as Tian Buyi closed his eyes, awaiting death, a tearing sound suddenly came from before him. Then, a massive spacetime passage abruptly appeared in front of him.
Immediately after, a figure stepped out from within.