Chapter 747 - Phoenix Soars the Heavens
Chen Fei waved his right hand and retrieved the spiritual treasures of Qi Yunhong and his two companions.
Zeng Huaizheng and Saint Xizhou came empty-handed, but that didn’t mean they didn’t possess spiritual treasures. Saint Xizhou wore a pair of gloves as thin as cicada wings, while Zeng Huaizheng had a jade ornament.
Chen Fei looked at the jade ornament; it was unexpectedly a spiritual treasure capable of enhancing soul power, quite rare indeed.
Zeng Huaizheng’s cultivation technique leaned towards soul power, which complemented the situation quite well.
A formation disk appeared in Chen Fei’s hand, the same one Zeng Huaizheng had used to disrupt the spatial fluctuations earlier. It was extremely useful, especially against those capable of significant teleportation.
Compared to the formation disk Chen Fei had obtained from Ao Bozhong and his companions, the one in Zeng Huaizheng’s possession surpassed it in quality. Its value was comparable to ordinary spiritual treasures, sometimes even more expensive.
The jade talisman still emitted a faint light, indicating that the approaching individuals were getting closer.
Chen Fei deactivated the surrounding formations, took his clone, and dashed towards the right side, activating the spiritual treasures of Saint Xizhou and the others along the way, leaving behind traces of their presence.
There were still two individuals left, whom Chen Fei naturally had no intention of letting go.
For Chen Fei now, Heavenly Illusion Valley was a formidable force. Even if only individuals in the later stages of the Mountain Sea Realm came, he wouldn’t be able to withstand them.
From the information Chen Fei obtained earlier through his Dream Entry Technique, Saint Xizhou and his companions had been staying in Feihuang City for several months now, all with the sole purpose of hunting down Chen Fei.
Initially, it might have been just Saint Xizhou nursing a grudge after being heavily injured by Chen Fei.
But as time passed and the other four individuals waited in Feihuang City, their animosity towards Chen Fei had undoubtedly grown.
Chen Fei had long heard of the prestigious reputation of Heavenly Illusion Valley. On the vast continent of Middle Continent, few could rival its strength.
Heavenly Illusion Valley operated with a mix of righteousness and evil, not strictly adhering to orthodox sect principles.
They didn’t intentionally oppress or exploit commoners because, for them, it served no purpose. Their cultivation techniques didn’t require such actions.
Ultimately, like most sects, they operated based on self-interest.
In this world, everything revolved around profit, for better or for worse!
Three hundred miles away, Chi Shengsheng and Cheng Haixiong followed the guidance of the jade talisman, streaking across the sky like meteors.
“To chase over such a long distance, Senior Brother Saint and the others are being overly cautious,” Cheng Haixiong frowned and remarked.
Having already traveled hundreds of miles away from Feihuang City, there was no need for the three of them to join forces; their strength was more than sufficient.
“As long as we proceed with caution, there shouldn’t be any major issues. The jade talisman paused briefly up ahead just now, indicating that they’ve engaged in combat,” Chi Shengsheng said with a slight smile on his face.
It was a fortunate coincidence for them to be here today. If it weren’t for the invitation from the Feihuang Sect, Chi Shengsheng and Cheng Haixiong wouldn’t have joined in this pursuit.
“That kid indeed has remarkable strength to defeat Senior Brother Saint. I wonder what kind of inheritance he’s cultivating,” Cheng Haixiong remarked, his brows furrowing slightly.
They had already confirmed that the kid didn’t have any significant background, but the fact that he could defeat Saint Xizhou was intriguing.
Saint Xizhou was the first in the Mountain Sea Realm to possess the talent of “Bronze Skin, Iron Bones,” which was almost equivalent to three ordinary talents combined. Among the cultivators in the Mountain Sea Realm, few possessed such innate talent.
“If he’s a wandering cultivator, we should find cultivation manuals or jade slips in his spiritual treasures after we kill him,” Chi Shengsheng said, his curiosity piqued but not overly so.
Heavenly Illusion Valley’s inheritance could lead directly to the Sun Moon Realm; no other cultivation techniques could surpass that.
Cheng Haixiong nodded, already thinking about how much they could gain after they finished the kill.
No matter what, they were all in the Mountain Sea Realm, with considerable assets. Even though there were five of them to split the spoils, they would still receive some rewards, serving as a small subsidy for the months they had spent waiting.
Before the time it takes to drink a cup of tea had passed, Chi Shengsheng and Cheng Haixiong crossed three hundred miles and saw the disturbance of the heaven and earth energy ahead.
“They escaped?”
Cheng Haixiong was somewhat surprised not to see Zeng Huaizheng and the others. From the disturbance in the heaven and earth energy, there had indeed been a fierce battle here just now, but it ended very quickly.
Chi Shengsheng frowned slightly, scanning the surroundings.
In the air, there were many soul imprints left behind, clear evidence of intense fighting.
Chi Shengsheng sensed the position of the jade talisman in his hand; it was already a hundred miles away and had stopped again. They might have intercepted the target once more.
“This kid is quite capable indeed.”
Cheng Haixiong also sensed the direction of the jade talisman. His expression was no longer as playful as before.
If the person had merely injured Saint Xizhou heavily earlier, it might have been because Saint Xizhou had been careless. But now, to escape the encirclement of the three of them, the strength displayed was something Cheng Haixiong admitted he couldn’t match.
Born into an ordinary faction yet possessing such combat prowess, if this person continued to cultivate diligently, they would surely not be limited to the early stages of the Mountain Sea Realm.
Unfortunately, they had encountered them now. No matter how talented one might be, ultimately, death was hard to escape.
“Let’s go, don’t let him continue to escape!”
Chi Shengsheng’s figure turned into a blur, rushing towards the location a hundred miles away with astonishing speed.
Having already become enemies, the stronger the opponent’s performance, the more imperative it was to completely eliminate them now to prevent future troubles.
Cheng Haixiong nodded and transformed into a stream of light, following behind Chi Shengsheng.
Within moments, they covered the distance of a hundred miles. Before they had even gotten close, they could sense the disturbance of the heaven and earth energy ahead and see a massive formation enveloping the area for several miles.
“It’s Zeng Junior Brother’s Thousand Light Formation,” Cheng Haixiong whispered after a brief identification.
Chi Shengsheng nodded. Since the formation had been deployed, it meant they had completely trapped the opponent within it. Judging by the magnitude of the disturbance in the heaven and earth energy, the battle must have been intense.
The most crucial ability of the Thousand Light Formation was to disrupt spatial fluctuations while providing cover and protection.
As a result, when Chi Shengsheng and Cheng Haixiong flew to the front of the formation, they could only vaguely see shadows moving within. The specific details of the battle were obscured from their view.
Faintly, a peculiar feeling arose in Chi Shengsheng’s heart, as if something had been subconsciously overlooked.
Yet, upon reflection of everything seen along the way, everything appeared perfectly normal.
Cheng Haixiong activated his aura, causing ripples in the surrounding heaven and earth energy, signaling to Zeng Huaizheng that they had arrived.
The Thousand Light Formation trembled slightly, revealing a gap. Cheng Haixiong darted inside, and after a moment’s hesitation, Chi Shengsheng followed suit.
“Hum!”
As soon as Chi Shengsheng and Cheng Haixiong entered the formation, the surrounding heaven and earth energy suddenly surged. The power of the Thousand Light Formation, used to disrupt spatial fluctuations, pressed down upon them entirely.
This disruption didn’t cause substantial harm, but it momentarily obscured the perception of Chi Shengsheng and Cheng Haixiong.
Although this obscuration was extremely brief since the Thousand Light Formation wasn’t an illusionary formation, in battles among cultivators in the Mountain Sea Realm, even the slightest gap could determine the outcome.
Sensing the disruption caused by the Thousand Light Formation, Chi Shengsheng and Cheng Haixiong erupted with all their strength.
Cheng Haixiong brandished his Fengxiang Sword, completely sealing off his front, ready to intercept any attacks coming from any direction.
A massive phoenix shadow emerged behind Cheng Haixiong, spreading its wings and letting out a resounding cry, causing ripples to spread instantaneously.
Chi Shengsheng wielded the Heaven’s Descent Sword, and similarly, a phoenix shadow appeared behind him. It was evident that both of them practiced the same technique.
Compared to Cheng Haixiong, the phoenix shadow behind Chi Shengsheng was undoubtedly more condensed, and its movements were more agile, resembling the dance of a phoenix soaring through the heavens.
Clearly, in mastery of this technique, Chi Shengsheng surpassed Cheng Haixiong by far.
“Sizzle!”
The sound of thunder breaking through the air echoed as a blade of lightning pierced directly into Cheng Haixiong’s sword stance.
Because he was on the defensive, Cheng Haixiong’s sword stance at this moment was flawless, leaving no room for any flaws, aiming for stability above all else.
However, accompanied by the thunder, this blade of lightning cut through the seemingly flawless sword stance, breaking through the nodes of Cheng Haixiong’s stance, and the blade pierced Cheng Haixiong’s neck.
The innate talent Sword Mastery not only bestowed exceptional enhancement to one’s own sword techniques but also allowed instinctive prediction of others’ sword stances.
With the Heavenly Eye and the talent in Sword Mastery, Cheng Haixiong’s sword stance had no apparent flaws. Yet, in this situation, a flaw was forcibly created.
“Chi!”
The disruption caused by the Thousand Light Formation lost its effect. Cheng Haixiong stared at the blade on his neck, then fixed his gaze on Chen Fei, his eyes filled with disbelief and terror.
Cheng Haixiong felt bewildered at the complete breakdown of his sword stance.
Although caught off guard by the disruption of the Thousand Light Formation just now, Cheng Haixiong’s sword technique was capable of withstanding any attacks from cultivators in the early stages of the Mountain Sea Realm.
In that state just now, the worst outcome Cheng Haixiong had anticipated was being forcibly knocked back and sustaining some injuries.
At most, he might have been severely injured.
But now, with the blade inserted into his neck, his entire body’s energy was torn apart by the opponent’s exploding sword energy. His internal organs, every trace of vitality within him, were completely extinguished by the sword energy.
“Cheng Junior Brother!”
Chi Shengsheng witnessed the scene unfolding before him, his eyes almost bulging out of their sockets. Hedidn’t know what had happened, but Cheng Haixiong’s rapidly declining breath, on the verge of death, was a grim reality.
Chi Shengsheng thrust his Heaven’s Descent Sword forward, intending to save Cheng Haixiong, but he saw Chen Fei twirling the longsword in his hand.
Cheng Haixiong’s entire neck exploded into a mist of blood, and his breath dissipated completely.
Until his death, Cheng Haixiong never understood what had happened.
Weren’t Zeng Huaizheng and the others chasing after Chen Fei? Where did they go now?
What exactly happened?
Cheng Haixiong’s gaze dimmed, losing all its luster.
Perhaps Cheng Haixiong already had an answer in his heart, but the sheer horror of that answer made him subconsciously ignore it.
The Blood Soul Seal flew towards Chen Fei, but Chen Fei swiftly sliced it apart in midair.
“You, damn you!”
Seeing Cheng Haixiong die before him, Chi Shengsheng’s eyes turned bloodshot, and the phoenix shadow behind him ignited like flames.
Phoenix Soars the Heavens!
Chi Shengsheng transformed entirely into flames, appearing before Chen Fei as if teleporting, thrusting his sword towards Chen Fei’s head.
The fierce and sharp sword intent slashed towards Chen Fei, while the tip of the Heaven’s Descent Sword had already reached Chen Fei’s face.
“Clang!”
The Heaven’s Descent Sword stabbed into the Qianyuan Sword’s blade, emitting a metallic distortion-like, piercing sound.