Chapter 127: The Attack

It was not until the spiritual energy in the city began to fluctuate and slowly converge toward the Pacification Bureau that Ling Chi was interrupted from his deep contemplation. He immediately realized that Cao Hubao was about to break through.

With a flash of his figure, he sped toward the Pacification Bureau like lightning. By the time he arrived, taking the prefectural city as the center, the ambient spiritual energy within a radius of a hundred miles was surging toward this very spot.

Cao Hubao was seen sitting cross-legged in the center of the martial arts training ground, his momentum adjusted to its peak state. Spiritual energy gradually gathered around his body, and a blood-red malevolent aura dyed the sky above the Pacification Bureau.

The breakthrough from the Qi Sea realm to the Spirit Pearl realm was actually the process of fusing spiritual crystals. During this period, a massive amount of heaven and earth spiritual energy would be infused into the body to facilitate the fusion of these crystals.

Zhao Qing sat cross-legged on a high platform not far from the martial arts ground, his saber laid horizontally across his knees. His entire body's saber intent condensed, pulsing with restless energy as he guarded the surroundings.

The members of the Pacification Bureau were nervously patrolling everywhere, sabers drawn and bows nocked, ready to sound the alarm at the slightest sign of trouble.

Ling Chi appeared beside Zhao Qing to observe Cao Hubao's breakthrough. His divine sense was fully extended to cope with any sudden emergencies.

As the heaven and earth spiritual energy converged, Cao Hubao's body slowly levitated from the ground into mid-air. The fusion of the blood-red malevolent aura and spiritual energy erupted into a tremendous coercive pressure. The flag-commanders of the Pacification Bureau exerted their cultivations to resist it, and those with lower cultivation levels had no choice but to retreat further and further away.

Zhao Qing watched the scene with an expressionless face, though the corner of his eye constantly swept toward his disciple.

Ling Chi faced this oppressive force with carefree ease, his body standing unmoving without even a change in expression. With the thousand-plus spiritual crystals currently inside his body, his reserves were a dozen to twenty times that of an ordinary late-stage Qi Sea realm martial artist. Even if Cao Hubao broke through to the Spirit Pearl realm, his spiritual energy reserves might still not surpass Ling Chi's; this level of coercion was simply not enough to move him.

Zhao Qing felt reassured in his heart. Even if he were to unleash all of his saber intent right now, he probably wouldn't be able to do anything to this young disciple. This kid's upper limit was simply too high, and his martial arts foundation was unimaginably solid.

The flag-commanders remaining in place dwindled as they looked with envy at how easily Ling Chi stood nearby, making them realize in their hearts that people were always different.

The increasingly powerful coercion in the arena spread outward, and the stirred-up wind made Ling Chi's brocade robe flap wildly. The breakthrough proceeded in an orderly fashion, and judging by Cao Hubao's expression, it seemed to be going smoothly.

"Whoosh!"

A dark-robed figure swept across the mid-air, accompanied by a piercing sound of-air-splitting impact. An undisguised killing intent virtually enveloped half of the prefectural city. A coercive pressure far surpassing Cao Hubao's current state immediately forced the Pulse-Opening realm flag-commanders of the Pacification Bureau below to press flat against the ground.

Ling Chi and Zhao Qing abruptly turned their heads toward the direction of the newcomer. Someone capable of walking on air was at least a Spirit Pearl realm powerhouse.

A surging fighting spirit ignited within Ling Chi. He had never fought against a Spirit Pearl realm powerhouse before. He did this not for Cao Hubao, but simply to experience firsthand just how formidable a Spirit Pearl realm expert truly was.

"Master, I'll go test his methods first," Ling Chi said excitedly to Zhao Qing.

In an instant, thunder flickered in Ling Chi's eyes. Moving a step ahead of Zhao Qing, he executed the Lightning Flash, transforming into a streak of lightning as he charged straight up to meet the attacker.

"Lao Liu, be careful!" Zhao Qing's loud shout served as a warning both to Ling Chi and to Cao Hubao, who was still undergoing his breakthrough in the arena. Then, with a swirl of violent wind, Zhao Qing appeared on a taller pavilion, standing by to provide backup at any moment.

Cao Hubao furrowed his brows. The thing he worried about most had finally happened; the reinforcements from the Ghost Cult had arrived far too quickly. He intensified the speed of fusing his thunder crystals. The Zhao family master and disciple probably wouldn't be able to stall for long, and time was running out for him.

"Where is Prefectural Master Qin Huai of my Holy Cult?"

An aged, booming shout echoed throughout the entire city, causing some Body-Tempering realm martial artists to instantly collapse and clutch their heads in agony.

Ling Chi did not reply. Thunder surged throughout his body as he leaped into mid-air, and the Evil-Slaying Saber suddenly left its scabbard. A silver-white blade light stirred up a sonic boom as it slashed directly downwards.

"A mere eighth-layer Qi Sea realm cultivator dares to defy a Spirit Pearl realm expert? Do you think you are one of those proud sons of heaven from the Central Divine Capital?"

The opponent completely disregarded Ling Chi, attempting to catch this saber strike bare-handed.

Ling Chi remained silent, keeping his focus entirely on the old scumbag opposite him; he did not dare to be as distracted as his opponent. It wasn't that he lacked self-confidence, but rather that he couldn't fly yet. In mid-air, he only had one chance with his saber; for the rest, he would have to rely on close-quarters combat.

His initial plan was to borrow the opponent's force to entangle him in mid-air, and the Evil-Slaying Saber could also help him borrow leverage—this was his reliance for daring to fight him in the air.

The fierce blade light lunged toward the opponent's neck. The old man of the Ghost Cult sneerlingly expanded his protective malevolent aura, reaching out with one hand wreathed in wind to grab Ling Chi. He wanted to capture this arrogant youth alive and toy with him thoroughly.

Ling Chi's face was full of anger, but his heart was as still as stagnant water.

The very moment the blade light and thunder collided with the malevolent aura, the old man was jolted backward by the immense impact force, flying several feet away. An expression of startled anger instantly swept across his aged face like a shifting mask; he had actually been repelled in mid-air by a youth a whole major realm lower than himself.

Ling Chi let go of the Evil-Slaying Saber, allowing it to whistle and circle around him, ready to provide leverage at any time. Seizing the old man's outstretched right hand, his downward momentum instantly halted, and amidst his heaving chest, thunder enveloped both of them.

Ling Chi clenched his iron fist and smashed it into the old man's face. Although blocked by the protective malevolent aura, the force of the punch still snapped the old man's head backward.

Having taken a punch, the old man flew into a rage. He tried to break free from Ling Chi's grasp but failed, leaving him no choice but to curl one hand into a claw and rake it toward Ling Chi's shoulder.

[Yang Thunder Undying Body]

Ling Chi's entire body suddenly turned purple-gold. Without dodging or evading, he threw a punch straight into the old man's abdomen over the liver region.

"Bang!"

Both men were struck simultaneously, their movements halting for a split second. Ling Chi felt reassured in his heart; although this Ghost Cult elder looked terrifyingly imposing, his actual damage output wasn't as formidable as he had imagined.

With this certainty, Ling Chi's fighting spirit grew even fiercer. Grinning hideously, he continued to throw punches, executing the Baji grappling techniques as the two of them devolved into a brawl in mid-air.

The colleagues of the Pacification Bureau below watched in stupefaction. It was their first time seeing a Spirit Pearl realm expert in action, yet he was actually fighting to a dead even match with their own Qi Sea realm colleague, locked in a fierce and inextricable battle.

The dignity of a Spirit Pearl realm powerhouse instantly shattered in their hearts, no longer appearing so lofty and unattainable.

Exchanging punches and kicks, the two generated roaring shockwaves of spiritual energy.

After a bitter struggle, the old man finally broke free from Ling Chi's restraint. He immediately unleashed his full power, sending a towering malevolent aura surging as he attacked again.

Ling Chi stepped lightly on the Evil-Slaying Saber, forcing its blade to drop sharply. Using that rebound force, he surged upward again, carrying a sky full of thunder as he went to meet him once more.

"You little bastard, this old man will beat you to death today!"

Tormented by this restrictive close-quarters combat, the old man took a deep breath. With wind blades swirling around his body to prevent Ling Chi from closing in, he launched a counter-offensive.

To his surprise, Ling Chi neither dodged nor ducked. Letting the wind blades cut three inches into his flesh, he forcefully plowed through them and continued executing his grappling techniques, landing a heavy, unexpected blow that caught the old man completely off guard.

The old man groaned repeatedly. His advantage in mid-air couldn't be fully utilized, and a full twenty percent of his overall combat power was inexplicably negated.

Seizing an opening, Ling Chi wound up his arm and slammed a heavy blow against the old man's chest. The latter's body froze, and he desperately urged the spiritual pearl within his body, rapidly condensing wind-attribute spiritual energy into wind blades that shot toward Ling Chi.