Chapter 201 - Resilient Cockroach

The moment Long Chen flew out, Dongfang Xuanxiao caught him in his arms and placed him flat on the ground. There was a stalk of spiritual herb in his hand, radiating spiritual Qi. He crumbled it and then stuffed it into Long Chen’s mouth, guiding his Qi to help Long Chen’s body refine it.

Long Chen’s eyes were shut, and black blood was flowing from the corner of his mouth. His body was cold and black smoke was rising from it. He looked almost like a dead person.

“Big Brother!” When she saw how he had ended up, Yang Lingqing felt like her world had crumbled. She knew that he likely wasn’t going to survive, and even if he was lucky enough to live, he would be crippled!

There were four levels between the initial Earthly Core Realm and the mid Heavenly Core realm. Long Chen had taken one strike from Beitang Mo for her despite the massive gap. How would he survive this unscathed?

Even Dongfang Xuanxiao wasn’t very confident, but his many years of experience told him that this was no time to admit defeat. If he took action in time, Long Chen might be saved!

“Big Brother, you must hold on! Aunt and the rest of the family are still waiting for you at home ...”

Yang Lingqing slid to the ground weakly. There was no strength left in her body. All she could do was stare at him for a long time, as if her whole world had collapsed.

She wrapped her arms around herself, her shoulders twitching, her expression full of helplessness and self-blame.

When Beitang Mo saw Long Chen in this state, he turned to give his father a small smile. Beitang Ming was proud.

Mo’er has matured.

Beitang Ming knew that when he suggested striking Long Chen, Long Chen would not agree to it because he knew he would die. But if Beitang Mo suggested it, someone as arrogant as Long Chen was sure to agree, as they were part of the same generation!

And that was how they had achieved this result!

“Father, I heard that this brat was going to participate in the Azure Dragon Halberd tournament too. Dongfang Tianxing and I are good friends, and we met up a few days ago. I think he said that his younger brother, Tianyu, was going to kill Long Chen there. So if Long Chen manages to survive today, he will be left with broken meridians and weakened cultivation, so he will surely be killed by Dongfang Tianyu later on. Once Long Chen dies, Lingqing will definitely be mine. Don’t you agree, Father?” said Beitang Mo in a low voice, standing next to Beitang Ming.

“You’re right. You’ve done a good job today.” Beitang Ming’s praise was completely genuine.

Then they looked at Long Chen. “He is probably dead.” Beitang Ming smirked to himself.

Dongfang Xuanxiao, who was treating Long Chen using an advanced Black-tier spiritual medicine, wasn’t confident either when he saw his stepson’s state. He was regretful too.

He might not wake up. Have I done the wrong thing? I only felt that men should be brave enough to take responsibility during critical moments, facing the world fearlessly even at the risk of death ... Or was I wrong?

When Dongfang Xuanxiao saw the helpless, despairing Yang Lingqing, some memories resurfaced, and he felt like he had been stabbed in the heart.

Long Chen, I have wronged you.

He, too, was filled with self-blame.

While Dongfang Xuanxiao’s face darkened, he suddenly sensed a healing energy within Long Chen’s body. The energy was moving through every part of him, as if sentient. Although it was faint, it was able to heal corners that couldn’t be treated by spiritual medicine.

This is ... the legendary Life Combat Technique!

A wave of shock crashed through him. He was overjoyed that Long Chen possessed the legendary Life Combat Technique. Most importantly, if it was flowing in an intelligent manner, it meant Long Chen wasn’t dead! He was still conscious enough to heal himself!

With that realization, Dongfang Xuanxiao was ecstatic and took out another advanced Black-tier spiritual medicine. He crumbled it and then inserted it into Long Chen’s mouth. He used his Qi to carefully treat Long Chen’s injury.

“Xuanxiao, he took my son’s Yin Poison Strike. Don’t waste good advanced Black-tier spiritual medicine,” said Beitang Ming with an insincere smile. He was irritated that Dongfang Xuanxiao had threatened him just now, and now he was happy to mock him.

When Yang Lingqing heard that there was no hope for Long Chen, her mind went blank. That was when she saw Long Chen’s finger move! “Big Brother, you didn’t die!” She immediately got to her feet and rushed to Long Chen’s side.

Dongfang Xuanxiao knew that it was time, so he quickly helped him up into a sitting position, legs crossed and palms facing up. Although Long Chen’s eyes were still closed, he was able to use his Qi to refine the medicinal power, simultaneously using the Recovery technique!

Long Chen was extremely familiar with the injuries in his own body, so letting him do it himself would be most effective!

“He didn’t die?” Beitang Mo and Beitang Ming looked at each other, slightly shocked.

Is this guy a cockroach? He just won’t quit! He’s only at the initial Earthly Core Realm, yet he survived after I used my Yin Poison Strike on him as a mid-Heavenly Core Realm cultivator!

Beitang Mo thought to himself.

But even though he’s alive, he’ll be crippled for the rest of his life.

Under Yang Lingqing’s expectant gaze, the darkness in Long Chen’s face slowly dissipated. After a long time, he finally opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was Yang Lingqing, who was smiling through her tears.

“Where did this crybaby come from?” he uttered slowly, smirking. It was a simple sentence, but it took him great effort to form those words.

Long Chen’s joke made her suddenly recall the times he used to laugh at her when they were young. The joy in those memories made her freeze. She only snapped back to reality after a long time, and then she asked the young man who was like a god to her anxiously, “Big Brother, are you alright?”

“My hips are fine, my kidneys are fine, everything is fine. And my abilities in bed remain great, as always,” said Long Chen, forcing a smile because he was afraid the girl would worry.

“You’re a jerk!” Yang Lingqing both cried and laughed.

He wanted to touch her face, but he was frustrated that his current state did not allow him to do so.

Dongfang Xuanxiao looked at him and asked, “How do you feel?”

“I’m fine. Let’s finish this matter before we talk.” Long Chen then turned to Beitang Mo and said, “I have withstood one strike from you, and I did not retaliate. Beitang Mo, remember what you said ...”

Beitang Mo was surprised that Long Chen had survived, but he knew that the latter would surely die if he went to the Azure Dragon Halberd tournament in this state. And once he was dead, Yang Lingqing wouldn’t leave the Northern Black Tortoise family. So, wouldn’t she still be his? Therefore, he said coldly, “I, Beitang Mo, always keep my word.

“Really?” Dongfang Xuanxiao glanced coldly at Beitang Ming and said mildly, “I have nothing else to say. Long Chen has withstood one strike. If one day I discover that he took that strike for nothing, then someone will have to take one strike from me, Dongfang Xuanxiao.”

“Since the matter is settled, Brother Xuanxiao, you may leave.” Beitang Ming did not want to talk to him, so he started to chase him out.

Dongfang Xuanxiao had no intention of staying. “Let me carry you on my back.”

“Mhm.” Long Chen nodded. He was too weak to walk. But he did feel very embarrassed that he was being carried by another man at this age.

Before they left, while he was on Xuanxiao’s back, he turned to look at Beitang Mo. “Beitang Mo, I will return the strike you gave me ten thousand times over! Or may my soul never reincarnate again!” Long Chen had made a poison oath!

“Lingqing, come outside with me for a moment.” He still had something to say to her before he left.

Beitang Mo wanted to stop them, but his father blocked him. “Why stop them? He’s a dead man. Let them see each other one more time. We Northern Black Tortoise members are compassionate people ...”

***

𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Once they left the compound, Long Chen turned to say to Lingqing, “I initially wanted to scold you today, but it’s fine. Lingqing, if you don’t tell me when you’re bullied, it means you’re looking down on me. And if I find out you’re hiding it from me, I won’t punish you, but the bully will be chopped to pieces! And I don’t care about the consequences!”

“I understand. Big Brother, are you alright?” Yang Lingqing was frightened by the day’s events. Long Chen had managed to pull off a miracle in the end, successfully saving her. Right now, she was most concerned about his injuries.

“Even if one survives the Yin Poison Strike, it usually results in broken meridians and clotting in the meridian vessels, causing their cultivation to weaken,” added Dongfang Xuanxiao with great concern.

“Don’t worry, you two. I’m a cockroach that can’t be killed,” Long Chen responded with a chuckle. “Although my injuries aren’t minor, they didn’t cause my cultivation to worsen. I can guarantee that I will recover fully before the Azure Dragon Halberd Tournament!”

His body’s toughness was on par with the Level Two Blazing Thunder Body, but it was fundamentally a dragon body with the blood essence of a primordial dragon. Therefore, it was peerless when it came to resilience and immunity. Beitang Mo might have planned to cripple him with one strike, but it wasn’t so easy!

Of course, that was also because Beitang Mo hadn’t used his most powerful technique.

When they heard Long Chen’s promise, they sighed in relief. Long Chen had survived yet another crisis. “Lingqing, you have pledged your loyalty to the Northern Black Tortoise family, so I have no way to take you out of here. This is all I can do for you, but Beitang Mo should be more reserved from now on. You must still be careful, and tell me if you face any trouble!”

“Mhm, I understand.” After today, she knew that as long as she had Long Chen, the man who could carry the sky on his shoulders, she didn’t have to be afraid!

“Big Brother, if you’re going to participate in the Azure Dragon Halberd Tournament, you must focus on healing and cultivation. Do your best, I have high hopes for you!” She squeezed a smile.

Long Chen nodded. As he stared at her beautiful face, he suddenly recalled a serious question and whispered, “Xiao Qing, Beitang Mo didn’t force himself on you, did he?”

“What are you talking about?!” Yang Lingqing was embarrassed, but she knew that it was logical for him to worry about this. “Big Brother, don’t worry about that. I heard from someone else that with my Dark Yin Body, uh ... If the other person isn’t at least at the late Heavenly Core Realm, they ... will not end up well. So, you don’t have to worry about that at all!”