Chapter 542: Chapter 542

Halfway up the mountain, Zhouyang touched the spot on his face where the beauty had just kissed him, a smile full of joy spread across his face.

Then he looked up, seeing Jiang Fengxian, with the aid of a pair of Seven-Colored Phoenix Wings behind her, climbing the mountain in full strength and at incredible speed.

Based on her current performance, as long as nothing unexpected happens midway, getting into the top five shouldn’t be a problem.

In this way, even if he ultimately fails, the two of them would not come out empty-handed.

Of course, Zhouyang was not willing to accept failure without putting up a fight.

So, he also quickly set off lightly towards the climb.

With one less person’s burden, his speed undoubtedly increased significantly.

However, the previous double burden had consumed too much of his energy, so even with his powerful physique, he still needed to supplement with magical power to maintain his speed.

And his magical power had already consumed thirty to forty percent in this stretch of the journey.

So the remaining half of the journey was destined to be a daunting challenge for him.

Looking at Jiang Fengxian again, in full state, she surpassed the person originally in front of them in less than a quarter of an hour, and without slowing down much, quickly overtook the second person.

Thus, as long as she overtakes one more person, she will rank in the top five.

This situation obviously exceeded everyone’s expectations.

No one expected that Jiang Fengxian, whom they had assumed eliminated, could so forcefully catch up and snatch the opportunity already in sight for them.

"If you dare appear in front of me, don’t blame me for being rude!"

As Jiang Fengxian’s figure got closer and there was less than a hundred zhang before she surpassed the third person, the cultivator about to be overtaken finally shouted a threat in a sudden change of face!

Hearing these words from below, Zhouyang’s face suddenly darkened, looking at that person’s back with hidden killing intent, ready to pounce like a leopard at any moment.

Other cultivators, hearing these words, also squinted their eyes, unconsciously slowing down a bit to observe the situation unfold.

The man in the black robe did not say that fighting with each other was not allowed at this checkpoint, nor did he say it was allowed to hurt others.

Regarding whether it could cause injury or not, no one could be certain without someone testing it first.

So now if someone was willing to take the risk to test it, the others were naturally hoping for it to happen.

It was foreseeable that if causing injury was indeed possible, then the sequence of people climbing Spirit Mountain might still undergo some changes.

Jiang Fengxian, as the party involved, was instead the calmest person.

After hearing the threat from the cultivator Dai, she just paused slightly, then waved her sleeve to summon several magical artifacts surrounding her to protect her, without slowing down in her climb.

Seeing this, the cultivator Dai’s expression changed multiple times but did not dare to make a move!

A hissing sound came from behind, from the two cultivators whom Jiang Fengxian had previously overtaken.

The two looked at the cultivator Dai ahead with ridicule on their faces, without speaking, but their meaning was already clear.

The cultivator Dai had good self-discipline, although his expression changed constantly between blue and red, he did not act rashly, just like Zhouyang, accelerating towards Jiang Fengxian despite the no consumption of magical power.

Zhouyang, seeing this scene, was slightly relieved but unconsciously sped up as well.

Yet, before long, a shocking change suddenly occurred!

This change came from Du Yunsheng.

Du Yunsheng was originally ranked third in the climbing team, with Black Vulture Ascendant just ahead at second.

They had maintained this ranking for quite some time, and everyone had become accustomed to this order.

But at this moment, taking advantage of the Black Vulture Ascendant being struck by lightning and weakening, Du Yunsheng, who was several dozen zhang behind, suddenly launched an attack on him.

Due to Du Yunsheng’s sudden action, plus Black Vulture Ascendant did not expect it, Du Yunsheng, who had almost secured a spot for a "Holy Infant Fruit" by ranking third, dare to boldly and recklessly strike at him.

As a result, he was instantly severely injured by Du Yunsheng’s ambush.

Yet, he was after all a Ninth-Layer Golden Core Cultivator, with first-rate crisis response abilities.

After suffering a sudden severe injury, he simultaneously summoned a magical artifact to block Du Yunsheng’s follow-up attack while rapidly retreating down the mountain.

At this point, retreating was certainly easier than advancing.

He obviously intended to retreat a distance to stabilize his injuries before plotting revenge.

However, what he did not expect was that the ones wanting him dead were not just Du Yunsheng.

In the instant he retreated, yet another two people successively attacked him.

And these two people turned out to be Jiang Fengxian and the cultivator Dai, who ranked fifth and sixth in the climbing team.

The two cultivators who almost fought each other just now were now standing on the same front.

This sudden change not only shocked the others but also the rearmost Zhouyang.

From Zhouyang’s shocked expression, it was evident that he absolutely did not know beforehand that the cultivator Dai was actually in league with Du Yunsheng.

In this instant, the Black Vulture Ascendant truly became endangered.

Not to mention that Du Yunsheng himself was a cultivator only one layer below an Eighth-Layer Golden Core, even the cultivator Dai was a Seventh-Layer Golden Core cultivator himself. Adding in a Fourth-Layer Golden Core Jiang Fengxian, with the three joining forces, they had almost a ten out of ten chance of victory against an already severely injured him.

"Save me! Fellow Daoists behind, as long as you help me bounce back, I will help you kill these three. This way, you can all get a ’Holy Infant Fruit.’ Wouldn’t that be splendid?"

Black Vulture Ascendant panicked and was desperate.

He never imagined that he, who almost stably secured a "Holy Infant Fruit," would fall to such a state where he couldn’t even preserve his life.

However, his arrogant attitude before entering the valley was seen by many cultivators, so how could anyone trust his promise now?

Moreover, when he clashed with Du Yunsheng and others, the two cultivators he was begging for help were already taking the opportunity to climb upwards, clearly intent on being the fisherman who profits from others’ conflicts.

"Today, Black Vulture Old Thief, you will surely die!"

Du Yunsheng shouted, his attacks becoming ever more fierce.

He claimed to have a vendetta against Black Vulture Ascendant for killing his friend, and seized this opportunity to avenge that friend, which now seemed to be true.

Yet Zhouyang observed his bloodthirsty manner, feeling that Black Vulture Ascendant’s grudges with him were definitely more than just killing a friend.

Of course, these were none of his business.

His concern remained Jiang Fengxian’s safety.

Don’t assume everything is fine just because Du Yunsheng and Jiang Fengxian seem to have the upper hand.

Must remember that just a while ago, the Black Vulture Ascendant was also full of confidence, thinking he could smoothly take a "Holy Infant Fruit" back.

Unless he saw the head of the Black Vulture Ascendant fall, Zhouyang would not dare to relax in any case.

And on the battlefield, seeing no one willing to help him and Du Yunsheng relentlessly launching wave after wave of attacks as if desperate, a trace of madness gradually appeared on Black Vulture Ascendant’s face, and he could not help but shout, "Du Yunsheng, don’t push this old man, if you push this old man, I’ll drag you all to hell!"

"Old Thief! Finally, it’s your day!"

"When you killed my friend and bullied my sister, did you ever think you’d see this day?"

"Five hundred years! I’ve waited five hundred years for this day!"

"Do you know how I’ve lived these five hundred years?"

Du Yunsheng glared with eyes full of hatred at Black Vulture Ascendant, the depth of his grudge so chilling that it instilled fear in anyone who saw it.

"You wretched lunatic, it’s been so long. Even if I truly killed your friend and disgraced your sister, what use is it to keep dwelling on it? Don’t you want the Holy Infant Fruit? Don’t you want to form your Nascent Soul?"

Black Vulture Ascendant clearly couldn’t remember what happened five hundred years ago. He had committed countless atrocities in his lifetime, and such deeds were too numerous for him to recollect.

Du Yunsheng had endured five hundred years of patience for revenge; to him, this behavior seemed both mad and terrifying.

"Hahahaha, old thief, is it fear that I see? Can you even feel fear?"

Du Yunsheng laughed maniacally, showing no concern for Black Vulture Ascendant’s threats.

Although he was unconcerned, Cultivator Dai and Jiang Fengxian dared not ignore it.

Thus, while maintaining their offensive, they subtly increased the distance between themselves and Black Vulture Ascendant, allowing for more reaction time if anything unexpected occurred.

At this moment, Zhouyang, having climbed up for a while, was about to reach the battlefield.

Moreover, he had already summoned his Magical Artifact, ready to join the fray at any time.

Upon noticing this, Black Vulture Ascendant’s eyes grew even more maniacal.

If he were outside, even with several more attackers, he would have a means to escape.

But within this Spirit Mountain, many of his escape methods had been nullified by the Power of Forbidden Sky, leaving him desperately slow.

Finally, cornered into a hopeless situation, he couldn’t resist using his final trump card.

A jade talisman shattered suddenly in his hand, transforming into a thick, ink-like black radiance aimed directly at Du Yunsheng.

The momentum that this black radiance emitted was in no way inferior to the "Profound Sun Purple Sky Divine Thunder" that Zhouyang had witnessed before.

Seeing this from afar, Zhouyang was instantly startled and shouted that it was a bad situation.

He did not believe Du Yunsheng could survive such an attack; the power of a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator’s Divine Techniques was ten times greater than that of a Golden Core Stage Cultivator.

Without a treasure of the same level aiding him, surviving was incredibly difficult!

Yet Du Yunsheng quickly surprised him once more.

As Black Vulture Ascendant activated the jade talisman to release its divine technique, Du Yunsheng seemed to have anticipated it, immediately opening his mouth to eject a crimson treasure pearl.

As soon as the crimson treasure pearl left his mouth, it released dazzling crimson spiritual light, enveloping him protectively.

When the black radiance struck the crimson spiritual light, it seemed to meet its nemesis, visibly dissolving away.

"Crimson Dawn Radiance! What relation do you have with Chixia Primordial Monarch?"

Black Vulture Ascendant’s expression changed, as if he had seen a ghost. He stared at Du Yunsheng in shock and shouted loudly.

"Brother Du’s Dao Companion is a favored descendant of Chixia Primordial Monarch, senior. Black Vulture Old Thief, now you can die in peace!"

Cultivator Dai looked at the crimson spiritual light surrounding Du Yunsheng with reverence, his tone full of pride as he answered Black Vulture Ascendant’s question.

Indeed, upon hearing this, Black Vulture Ascendant’s face fell immediately, despair flashing across his eyes.

The trump card he had placed great hopes on was easily nullified by Du Yunsheng, and learning of Du Yunsheng’s connection to a figure he dared not provoke brought true despair to his heart.

"Let’s die together!"

He roared in fury, suddenly withdrawing the magical power controlling his artifact, and fiercely released all his magical power towards Du Yunsheng.

"Not good, he wants to self-detonate his Golden Core!"

The cultivators besieging Black Vulture Ascendant realized his intentions immediately, their expressions changing.

At that moment, Jiang Fengxian and Cultivator Dai retracted their artifacts first and retreated swiftly.

As for Du Yunsheng, his expression only changed slightly before resolutely directing his Flying Sword to pierce Black Vulture Ascendant.

A true hardliner! Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on novel{f}ire.net

Watching from afar, Zhouyang admired Du Yunsheng’s ruthlessness inwardly.

People like Black Vulture Ascendant, vicious to others, were not genuine hardliners.

Conversely, Du Yunsheng, who could patiently await revenge for five hundred years and sacrifice himself to take down his enemy, was the true hardliner.

With a thunderous explosion, the entire Spirit Mountain trembled from the self-detonation of Black Vulture Ascendant’s Golden Core.

Zhouyang, several hundred meters away from the explosion’s epicenter, was knocked to the ground by the terrifying blast force, his body aching fiercely.

If he was in such pain, it’s needless to mention those closer.

Du Yunsheng, of course, perished alongside Black Vulture Ascendant, with not even a trace of their artifacts left behind, everything consumed by the blast.

Cultivator Dai and Jiang Fengxian survived but were heavily wounded.

Jiang Fengxian’s Seven-Colored Phoenix Wings on her back were riddled with bloodied holes, many of the Phoenix Feathers shed; the wings once beautiful like a rainbow were now drenched in blood, transforming her into a bloodied figure.

Seeing this, Zhouyang felt a pang of heartache and rushed to her side, scooping her from the pooling blood.

"Impatiens, you’re so foolish!"

"Why involve yourself so deeply in Du Yunsheng’s revenge battle? If he seeks death, let him; there’s no reason to sacrifice yourself!"

With heartache etched on his face, Zhouyang gazed at his beloved, a mix of worry and vexation.

Prior to entering Holy Infant Valley, they had agreed that dealing with Black Vulture Ascendant was fine, but should never be the main force.

Yet Jiang Fengxian seemed to have entirely forgotten their agreement, fully engaging in the battle.

Facing his complaints, Jiang Fengxian lifted a jade hand revealing an item, speaking to him weakly: "Cough, if I didn’t, how could this end up in our hands? How else could we vie for the top five spots?"

Looking down, Zhouyang saw the object she held—it was none other than a Storage Ring.

"This Storage Ring..."

He looked at Jiang Fengxian skeptically, his thoughts swirling.

"That’s right, this Storage Ring belonged to Du Yunsheng. He offered all his harvest from Kunxu Realm for my help!"

Jiang Fengxian nodded slightly, confirming his suspicion.

Choking back his words, Zhouyang looked with concern at her injuries and the blood covering her.

"Give me a quarter-hour!"

Suddenly, Jiang Fengxian struggled out of his arms, seated herself on the ground, and uttered this inexplicable phrase.

Zhouyang stared at her, confused.

But she had already closed her eyes, offering no further explanation.

Yet suddenly, Seven-Colored Flames erupted from her, enveloping her entirely.

Watching the spectacle, Zhouyang squinted, seemingly understanding something.