Chapter 299. South Sea Dragon Gate (2)

No one understood what Zhou Xuchuan had just said.

It wasn’t that they couldn’t comprehend his words. Even though Hainan Island was at the southernmost point of the continent, it wasn't a foreign country, so even if there were dialectal differences, the language was still the same.

No, the real problem was that they simply couldn’t understand the current situation.

Zhou Xuchuan?

They had heard that name before. However, the current situation was so absurd that they couldn't remember where.

"Ha..."

Chi Wu was the one to finally break the long silence.

"I don't know how they entered the Sandbank Pitfall Formation..."

Chi Wu’s eyes narrowed.

"But they must be insane."

There were only two of them.

Setting aside the mystery of how they had entered the formation unscathed, what stood out even more was the fact that they had just declared they would completely destroy them—with only the two of them.

Judging by their confident and nonchalant attitude, Chi Wu could only assume they had lost their minds.

"Stay right there, you lunatics. Once I’ve taken the South Sea’s Second Sword’s head, I’ll figure out how you got in."

Chi Wu dismissed Zhou Xuchuan and Zhuge Xiuluan entirely.

“...!”

Tian Shuiguo realized something at Chi Wu’s words.

“I don’t know who you are, but if you can move freely through the Sandbank Pitfall Formation, please lead my disciples out! I'll hold them off as long as I can!”

There may have been no reinforcements, but now, there was a way out.

As long as his disciples could escape, it didn’t matter who these strangers were. A glimmer of hope was still hope.

“Do you think I’ll just watch that happen?”

Chi Wu scoffed, glancing at Zhou Xuchuan and Zhuge Xiuluan as if the entire idea was laughable.

“Surround them!”

A dozen South Sea Dragon Gate disciples stationed on the outskirts moved in unison. It was too late for the Hainan Sword Sect to help.

Zhou Xuchuan and Zhuge Xiuluan had come to the center of the formation to talk to Tian Shuiguo.

“Protect those two people no matter what, and get out!” Tian Shuiguo ordered, keeping his focus on Chi Wu.

"But, Eldest Brother—!"

“Quickly!”

Tian Shuiguo knew there was no longer any hope for himself. His reckless decision had led them here, and now, he had to atone.

"Please take care of my disciple brothers and sisters, I beg you—" Tian Shuiguo tried to shout desperately. However, his words were abruptly cut short.

𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Squelch!

Zhou Xuchuan moved. When Tian Shuiguo blinked, the next thing he saw was a South Sea Dragon Gate disciple’s severed arm, floating through the air.

“What..."

The warrior who had lost his right arm let out a stunned gasp. It had happened so quickly that his mind had yet to register it.

Even though his limb was gone, the sensation remained as if it were still attached.

He didn’t even have time to scream.

When he finally steadied himself, the world spun. The last thing he saw before losing consciousness was a familiar body without a head.

Nine.

He didn’t need to check whether his strike had landed. His perception confirmed everything.

The remaining nine South Sea Dragon Gate disciples hadn’t even grasped the situation. His speed had surpassed their ability to process it.

Even though they were used to the Hainan Sword Sect’s quicksword techniques, their eyes couldn’t keep up, and their reaction speed was also slow.

It wasn't strange that they couldn't keep up with the absolute physical cultivation of a master who had surpassed the Harmony Realm and reached the Coruscant Realm.

Zhou Xuchuan was focused entirely on making sure Zhuge Xiuluan didn't get hurt. He also planned to save everyone in the Hainan Sword Sect.

Swish!

Longyuan flashed forward. The sound of air being torn apart echoed sharply as the blade ripped through space itself.

Squelch!

A clean hole appeared in the center of a South Sea Dragon Gate disciple’s throat.

“Ugh!"

The warrior let out a strangled cry, hands flying to his neck.

But with his vocal cords punctured he couldn’t speak and just collapsed in pain.

It was only then that the disciples of the South Sea Dragon Gate seemed to realize something was wrong, and they finally snapped out of their daze and moved.

Thud!

The South Sea Dragon Gate had been fully prepared to annihilate the Hainan Sword Sect. They had brought their elite forces.

That was why all of the South Sea Dragon Gate disciples present were powerful.

The South Sea Dragon Gate was also one of the powers that had split control over present-day Hainan Island, and as such, its average martial strength was high.

To prove it, the eight disciples of the South Sea Dragon Gate surrounding Zhou Xuchuan scattered in different directions before quickly forming a cooperative formation. Their combined movements were both smooth and fast.

"Ha!"

The eight of them moved as one. It wasn’t just a shout. Simultaneously, all of their tridents were aimed at the same place.

They were all displaying the Flowing Water Triple Spear of the South Sea Dragon Gate.

How impressive.

The spears that had each become a stream of water gathered together to form a waterfall. It felt as if a waterfall was pouring down on his head.

Zhou Xuchuan was inwardly impressed by the Flowing Water Triple Spear.

It wasn't easy for the eight disciples to respond so quickly without someone shouting orders. Even their individual cultivations were high.

However, it wasn't to the point where he couldn't hold out.

No matter how strong each of the disciples were and how great their cooperation formation was, if he was defeated by this, he wouldn't be able to say that he was one of the Seven Empyrean Overlords.

Boom!

The moment the spear was about to fall upon him, the sandy beach ground caved in.

Zhou Xuchuan leaped up from his spot as the ground shook.

Clang, clang, clang!

The tridents, which had merged to attack a single point, clashed violently against each other.

Had he dodged even a second earlier, they might have been able to adjust and follow his movement. But Zhou Xuchuan had timed it perfectly, leaving them no choice but to collide with one another.

Ten-Thousand Jin Sword.

He used the mystical nature of the Hundred Divine Transformations to change the circulation of his qi. Excluding all other forms of qi, he focused on heaviness qi as he used the Thousand Catty Ballast.

Zhou Xuchuan, who had been flying in the air like a butterfly, didn't sting like a bee.

Instead, he became a massive boulder, crashing down onto the spears.

“What...”

This wasn't the weight of a human. The South Sea Dragon Gate disciples had no time to do anything before they felt their tridents being crushed.

BOOM!

"Ugh!"

"Agh!"

A deafening sound erupted, as if the very heavens and earth were collapsing. The sandy beach was thrown into disarray, and a yellow sandstorm engulfed the surroundings.

As the ground beneath them crumbled, the South Sea Dragon Gate disciples lost their balance and fell. They couldn't withstand the shockwave that followed, sending them tumbling across the ground.

Even the ones who tried to hold on until the end weren't spared. Their refusal to release their tridents, like true martial artists, only worked against them. Unable to endure the immense force, their tridents bent, and their wrists snapped under the pressure.

Crunch!

Bones shattered, piercing through flesh. Blood seeped into the sand, vanishing beneath its surface.

“Cough, cough.”

Zhuge Xiuluan coughed softly.

“Oh dear, I'm sorry.”

Zhou Xuchuan swung his sword and cleared away the sand clouds.

He had tried to avoid causing her trouble by keeping his distance, but his full-powered strike had spread the dust farther than expected.

“Young Lady Zhuge, are you okay?”

Zhou Xuchuan moved in front of Zhuge Xiuluan and fanned the air to keep the remaining sand clouds from drifting over.

Since they weren't in a public setting, he also changed the way he addressed her to Young Lady.

Zhuge Xiuluan’s cheeks flushed slightly when Zhou Xuchuan came close, but she quickly regained her composure.

“More important than I am, you should be more careful about what’s ahead of you..." she said.

She didn’t get to finish.

Her warning had already become reality.

At some point, Chi Wu had moved. Without anyone noticing, he had closed the distance and was now standing before Zhou Xuchuan. He hadn't come just to exchange words.

He's dangerous.

The South Sea's Second Sword was exhausted. He would collapse on his own if left alone anyway, so there was no need to uselessly worry about him.

The problem was the new unidentified young man who had just appeared.

At first glance, he looked young and his cultivation seemed insignificant. Thus, Chi Wu tried to ignore it. However, that wasn't the case at all.

It was the opposite.

He’s a master.

No matter how he looked at it, the 'boy' had to be a master of the Harmony Realm, and a master even stronger than himself, who was at the peak of the realm. He couldn't believe it.

But even with all his disbelief, Chi Wu couldn’t ignore the divine might he had just witnessed.

Even though he couldn’t believe his own eyes, his animalistic instincts were warning him that the boy was dangerous.

Chi Wu’s rational mind refused to accept what he had just witnessed, but his body responded instinctively.

I have to end this in one breath!

Chi Wu steeled his resolve.

Thin red threads of qi flowed from his fingertips, wrapping around his hands and wrists, hardening like ice.

His scales, now pentagon-shaped, resembled armor. The aura surrounding his body radiated immense power.

Chi Wu’s vertically split pupils gleamed with bloodlust.

"GRAH!"

Chi Wu took a deep breath and let it out. It was as if he had burst out with a Lion's Roar, or rather, a Dragon's Roar.

It wasn't just his shout that was intimidating. The Southern Dragon Claw Arts, which he unleashed at full strength, tore through the air and crashed down on Zhou Xuchuan.

Impressive!

Although the Flowing Water Triple Spear was impressive in its own right, the Southern Dragon Claw Arts were on a different level. Zhou Xuchuan was as surprised as Chi Wu.

Was it called the South Sea Dragon Gate?

It was an unfamiliar name. He had never heard of it, even in his previous life.

The same was true for Chi Wu in front of him. Among the One Hundred Experts Under Heaven, he had never heard of one using a martial art as distinctive as the Southern Dragon Claw Arts.

However, this never before seen martial artist, whom he had never heard of, had overpowered a master of the Hainan Sword Sect who was one of the One Hundred Experts Under Heaven.

This wasn't an enemy to be taken lightly.

Don't forget that Young Lady Zhuge is here!

His concern for Xiuluan became a shackle, locking him in place.

He hesitated, worried she might get hurt.

Imbue it with weight and strike above from below!

Heaviness.

This was a situation that called for heaviness that did not shake, did not collapse, and did not get pushed around.

Zhou Xuchuan immediately changed his qi circulation pathways.

Thrum.

Chi Wu lunged, stretching his claws forward like a dragon.

Shing!

Zhou Xuchuan stepped forward with his left foot and extended his sword.

A feint?

Chi Wu’s coral-colored eyes narrowed.

Zhou Xuchuan’s sword was pointed downwards instead of straight ahead.

What are you aiming for?

Chi Wu was expecting a clash between sword aura and claw aura. However, if Zhou Xuchuan was truly aiming for his lower half, this would just become a trade of lives between the two of them.

He wondered if Zhou Xuchuan was just pretending to trade lives, forcing him to make a sharp change in direction of his attack and block his lower half, inducing a backlash.

Countless possibilities ran through Chi Wu’s mind.

After a split-second decision, he committed to his attack.

If it truly was a feint and he suffered a backlash, he would gain nothing and only lose out. Since this was how it turned out anyway, he decided to go all in and show his resolve.

However, the technique that followed was different from Chi Wu’s expectations.

Bang!

Zhou Xuchuan’s sword flickered at a right angle like a bolt of lightning. It shot up sharply from below.

Crack!

“...!”

Chi Wu’s eyes widened in shock.

His red scales, once an impenetrable defense, split apart as if they were nothing. His hand was cleaved in two from the tip of his middle finger, forming two smaller, useless halves.

Beneath the red scales, the raw cross-sections of flesh, muscle, and bone were fully exposed.

My claw aura and hand aura were cut so easily?

The Southern Dragon Claw Arts was both a claw technique and a hand technique. When he spread his aura, they would both naturally overlap.

While that meant that his qi consumption was doubled, it didn’t matter to Chi Wu. He had profound qi reserves even within the South Sea Dragon Gate.

However, that overlapping barrier of aura had been cut through effortlessly.

No, it’s not over yet!

A glimmer of defeat flickered across Chi Wu’s face, but he quickly pushed it aside.

“How commendable."

Zhou Xuchuan honestly admired Chi Wu when he saw him.

For a master of claw techniques, losing a hand was fatal. Despite that, Chi Wu didn’t panic—he remained composed and continued to radiate fighting spirit.

It was praiseworthy.

"I'll give you my flesh to sever your bones!"

As Zhou Xuchuan swung his sword vertically into the air, his movement widened. With his chest completely exposed, it was as good as Chi Wu securing a clear victory.

The sword had already gone too high, and it was too late for Zhou Xuchuan to pull it back under control.

He had poured as much force into the swing as he had qi, and because of that, the blade had risen too far.

This was exactly what people meant when they said a battle between masters could be decided in a single moment.

Chi Wu ignored the pain in his injured hand and focused all his remaining aura into his left hand, immediately lunging toward Zhou Xuchuan’s exposed chest.

However...

“What the h—!”

Chi Wu’s determined eyes twisted in confusion.

The enemy he had assumed to be a swordsman let go of his sword without a moment's hesitation.

The sword floating in the air spun around like a windmill.

At the same time, Zhou Xuchuan’s sleeve flapped and something shot out.

However, no one else noticed that flicker. As the two were so close, only Chi Wu could see it.

A dagger shot out from the dark depths of Zhou Xuchuan's sleeve.

Squelch!

The blade didn’t pierce the red scales on Chi Wu’s hand. Instead, it slipped past and embedded itself in his shoulder. Because of that, Chi Wu's left hand, which he had used all his strength to attack with, was turned in the wrong direction.

"This is the end."

Zhou Xuchuan's attack had been so beautifully executed that it would make even the assassins of the Valley of Phantoms cry.

He slipped into Chi Wu’s embrace as the latter staggered forward, grabbed another dagger from his left sleeve, and thrust it forward.

Squelch!