Chapter 146 Stripping Off the Clothes

Zou Heng watched as Ling Chi walked closer and closer, his legs turning to jelly from Ling Chi's thunderous roar, causing him to collapse flat onto his buttocks on the ground.

"Ling Chi, calm down."

"Kid, don't be rash."

Seeing that Ling Chi was about to make a move, Sun Xuan and Cao Hubao repeatedly stepped in to dissuade him. The former had previously wanted to recruit Ling Chi for military campaigns, but now that Ling Chi had directly offended the Imperial Censor, the likelihood of that happening seemed extremely slim.

"Little thief, you are courting death!" Behind Zou Heng, a bald, stalwart man leaped forward, his Second-layer Spirit Pearl realm cultivation instantly erupting as he charged straight at Ling Chi.

"Old Liu, be careful."

Zhao Qing's entire body surged with sword intent as he shouted sharply.

"Shi Zhan, slaughter him for this old man."

Angered and humiliated by his own behavior just moments before, Zou Heng immediately issued an order to his bodyguard.

Ling Chi let out a grim smile. He might not dare to kill an Imperial Censor right now, but did he not dare to kill a mere bodyguard?

Abandoning his saber, he dropped into a boxing stance. Lightning wrapped around his body as he kicked the ground into shrapnel, appearing directly at the side of the bald stalwart and throwing a punch with devastating force.

The moment his Spirit Pearl realm cultivation burst forth, everyone inside the large tent dropped their jaws in astonishment.

"Didn't you say he was at the Eighth Layer of Qi Sea? Is this fucking the Eighth Layer of Qi Sea?"

Cao Li, with his leopard-like head and ring-shaped eyes, grabbed Cao Hubao by the collar. Had he known Ling Chi possessed Spirit Pearl realm cultivation, he would have put in a good word for him earlier to forge a favorable connection. But it was too late now; he was always a step too late for everything.

Cao Hubao was also dumbfounded. How many days had it been? In the blink of an eye, he had reached the Spirit Pearl realm—how was anyone else supposed to live?

Compared to the shock of the others, only Zhao Qing remained completely calm. For no other reason than that he was already long accustomed to this monstrous disciple.

[ Fierce Tiger Climbs the Mountain ]

Ling Chi pulled into a bow stance, his arms carrying the momentum of ten thousand jun, executing a Bajiquan technique fused with Piguaquan.

With Baji combined with Pigua, even ghosts and gods would cower in fear.

Shi Zhan had originally thought he could rely on his cultivation to suppress Ling Chi, but upon contact, he realized how terribly mistaken he was.

After exchanging merely three or five blows, he found himself completely suppressed.

To think such a youthful prodigy existed in this barren backwater.

Shi Zhan's sharp, piercing spiritual energy exploded, his arms forming blades as he slashed toward Ling Chi.

Ling Chi neither dodged nor evaded, charging straight ahead.

[ Yang Thunder Undying Body ]

In an instant, he turned a purplish-gold. The hand-blades struck his body with a metallic clanging sound, yet failed to cut even half an inch of his skin.

Shi Zhan's expression shifted drastically; he couldn't even manage to inflict a wound on Ling Chi.

As a veteran hardened by countless battles, his offensive momentum remained unrelenting.

[ Great Cleaving Saber-Breaker ]

Treating his saber techniques like palm strikes, Ling Chi brought his hand down hard against Shi Zhan's forearm.

"Crack!"

A bone-fracturing sound echoed out. The acute hearing of everyone in the tent made their expressions change simultaneously.

Shi Zhan let out a grunt of pain, gritting his steel teeth as he pressed forward to fight again.

Ling Chi grew fiercer the longer he fought, looking like a savage tiger and moving with the frenzy of a demon.

He willingly took a punch to the chest from Shi Zhan, which produced a muffled thud.

In return, he spun around and smashed a punch into Shi Zhan, shattering two of his ribs, followed immediately by another punch landing squarely in the opponent's eye socket.

"Bang!"

One of the eyes was violently burst open, and Shi Zhan's miserable scream echoed throughout the entire camp.

The soldiers surrounding the large tent looked at one another in dismay. Earlier, they had seen Ling Chi drag a human-shaped object into the main camp, and not long after, they heard the sounds of fierce combat erupting from inside.

Not knowing what to do, the soldiers could only pretend not to hear and shrank back into their own tents.

"Shi Zhan, if you lose, you know the consequences." Zou Heng threatened Shi Zhan like a mad dog.

With his soft spot targeted, Shi Zhan could only grit his teeth and resume the fight.

Ling Chi attacked with blistering speed, every punch connecting solidly with flesh, landing a hundred blows in the blink of an eye.

Shi Zhan was battered like a sandbag, swaying left and right amidst a flurry of heavy thuds.

[ Baji: Iron Mountain Lean ]

Ling Chi sank his hips and dropped his shoulders, taking half a step forward with his left leg, executing this technique through the principles of pounding fists.

Shi Zhan's sternum was shattered on the spot, spraying blood all over Zou Heng's head and face.

Not willing to let the matter rest while he had the upper hand, Ling Chi pressed forward to deliver the fatal blow. Suddenly, an overwhelming pressure flashed past, and Sun Xuan's figure abruptly appeared behind him, sending a chilling shiver down his spine.

"Kid, don't be rash. Kill him, and there will be no turning back." Sun Xuan reached out, attempting to pin Ling Chi down.

Just as the palm was about to press onto his shoulder, Ling Chi twisted his body and bolted, dodging by a hair's breadth.

"Oh?"

Sun Xuan let out a sound of surprise. The brat had actually evaded his palm. Even though he hadn't used his full strength, it still shouldn't have been something the youth could dodge.

Standing four or five zhang away, Ling Chi cast a solemn look at Sun Xuan before retreating back to Zhao Qing's side.

Sun Xuan was definitely not at the Spirit Pearl realm; the oppressive aura from just now undoubtedly belonged to something beyond the Spirit Pearl.

With him present today, there was likely no chance left to kill Shi Zhan. Ling Chi felt a twinge of disappointment.

Seeing Shi Zhan defeated and forced to retreat, Zou Heng grew infuriated out of shame.

"Shi Zhan, this old man will deal with you when we get back."

"Lord Zou, take my advice and let this matter end here. Continuing to make a fuss will do you no good."

Sun Xuan said with a half-smile.

Zou Heng was utterly sickened by Sun Xuan's fake smile, but he was unwilling to give up just yet.

"Don't be so smug, Lord Sun. You know what the ultimate trump card of an Imperial Censor is." A flash of madness crossed Zou Heng's face.

Sun Xuan frowned. Of course he knew the Imperial Censor's ultimate backing was the Sky-Patrol Guard.

An Imperial Censor acted under the direct decree of the Emperor, so naturally, they would possess alternative defensive forces.

However, this force could not be easily deployed; otherwise, even Zou Heng would not be able to explain himself upon returning.

The Sky-Patrol Guard not only protected the Censor but also shouldered the responsibility of monitoring the Censor. They would never make a move unless in extreme circumstances.

"Do you really want to make things this ugly? You'll be in deep trouble when you return as well," Sun Xuan said, his tone growing increasingly icy.

"Hmph, Zou will handle things upon his return; there is no need for you to worry, Lord Sun."

"Sky-Patrol Guard C-Six, where are you?"

Zou Heng drew a token from his bosom and shouted loudly.

A figure quietly materialized behind him, and a hoarse voice rang out: "C-Six is here!"

Zou Heng broke out in a cold sweat, turning his head to look at the newcomer.

C-Six was entirely covered in heavy bronze armor, the tassels on his bronze helmet fluttering in the air, and even his face was concealed behind a facial mask. Outside the armor, he wore a wide black robe, radiating a steady, unmovable presence like a mountain.

"C-Six, in the name of the Censor, I order you to take these two men down immediately." Zou Heng pointed directly at Zhao Qing and Ling Chi, issuing a direct command.

Ling Chi and Zhao Qing exchanged glances, both gripping the hilts of their sabers, ready to strike at any moment.

"Old bastard, one day I will surely slaughter you." Ling Chi harbored fierce intent in his heart.

C-Six glanced at Ling Chi, yet remained entirely motionless.

"Lord Zou, the duty of the Sky-Patrol Guard is to protect the Imperial Censor and ensure your safety, not to act as your hired thugs. I hope you do not court your own destruction."

C-Six's hoarse voice echoed in Zou Heng's ears, provoking him until his eyes turned bloodshot.

"C-Six, the Sky-Patrol Token is right here! Do you dare disobey a superior command?"

Zou Heng raised the token high once more, acting like a rabid dog.

To his surprise, C-Six directly concealed his presence and faded away, ignoring him entirely.

The atmosphere in the large tent instantly turned awkward. Zou Heng stood with his arm raised high, resembling someone holding a torch high in the darkness, believing himself to be heroic and imposing.

"Lord Zou, have some tea, have some tea! Calm your anger!"

A Red Wind Army general stood up to smooth things over.

"This official cannot calm his anger! Ling Chi has always been lawless, beating colleagues on a whim and wanting to kill them as he pleases."

"If he is not severely punished, won't everyone follow suit in the future? That is also Commander Fu's stance." Zou Heng glanced at Zou姬, who had already stopped breathing, and flew into a rage.

"You don't need to judge me. I've had enough of being a Garrison Captain of the Jing'an Bureau anyway."

Ling Chi violently tore the brocade uniform of the Jing'an Bureau off his body and flung it out, casting it squarely over Zou Heng's head.