Chapter 179: One Hit Kill
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Chen Fei’s gaze widened slightly. What kind of power was this? Among those martial artists, apart from a few in the Marrow Tempering realm, there were also martial artists in the Visceral Tempering realm at that time.
The experts in the Visceral Tempering realm who could enter this mystic realm were all true disciples of the four sects. Their cultivation techniques were all top-notch choices. Yet, even so, he didn’t possess the ability to resist at all.
No, not just resisting; those individuals only sensed a slight abnormality and were unaware of the attack they had fallen victim to.
The Zhuhong fruit tree was indeed formidable, but when faced with a Visceral Tempering realm martial artist, there was still some resistance. It merely extended the time they could withstand the assault.
However, wasn’t this hamster a bit too much? Was it really just a Tier 1 demonic beast?
While Chen Fei remained in a daze, Rat demon showed no signs of halting its onslaught. It continuously charged toward the Dreamlike Lotus. Along the way, any martial artists it encountered were swiftly dismembered with a single move, devoid of any superfluous action.
“Everyone, attack!”
Lei Yingchao shouted. He was positioned right in front of Rat demon, leaving him no time to evade.
Iron Capturing Palm!
Lei Ying extended his hands forward, releasing a powerful force that rippled in all directions.
Though this technique wasn’t as potent as Chen Fei’s, it didn’t imply that Iron Capturing Palm was ineffective. It was simply that Lei Yingchao had underestimated Chen Fei’s prowess at that time.
Iron Capturing Palm was primarily a skill geared towards defense, fending off any attacks that could endanger his life. Lei Yingchao was stationed close by for defensive purposes, primarily because of Iron Grasper.
“Bang!”
Under the impact of the iron grip, the speed of the dark figure’s advance momentarily waned. Lei Yingchao finally caught sight of his assailant.
It was small and black, with upper and lower jaws equipped with front teeth. Its eyes were inky black, resembling bottomless pools.
Aside from its eyes, this demon rat’s appearance was unremarkable. In fact, its body size was quite small, fitting within the span of Lei Yingchao’s palm.
However, this seemingly innocuous rat demon had already slaughtered over seven martial artists on its journey, including two at the initial stage of the Visceral Tempering Realm.
The victims’ remains were utterly dismembered, leaving no chance for treatment. Blood mist sprayed in all directions, evoking shudders from those who witnessed it.
“Bang!”
Just as Lei Yingchao got a clear view of the rat demon, an unimaginable force struck his hands.
Lei Yingchao’s hands were accustomed to gripping iron with ease. He was confident in his strength and even dared to arm-wrestle ordinary demonic beasts.
Nonetheless, this strength that he prided himself on appeared trivial in the presence of the hamster. Lei Yingchao’s defense crumbled, and his hands were forcibly flung to the sides by the tremendous impact.
Rat demon’s black eyes remained unwavering, and its movement was undeterred. Taking a step through the air, it utilized the momentum to lunge at Lei Yingchao.
“Clang!”
The sound of metal striking metal echoed as an arrow struck the rat demon. Beginning at the tip, the entire arrow shattered. While the rat demon’s body was momentarily staggered, not a single blemish appeared on its fur.
Ma Xuefei’s eyes widened slightly. She had accumulated her strength for a dozen breaths before releasing that arrow.
Typically, this kind of attack was challenging to employ in a one-on-one encounter. Besides the time required to accumulate power, Ma Xuefei would be immobilized.
This type of archery, however, proved exceptional in group battles. It not only maximized the piercing potential of the arrow but also showcased an exceptionally formidable accompanying force.
In regular circumstances, even a peak-level demonic beast’s defense would inevitably be pierced by such an arrow, sustaining injury. Remaining unscathed was absolutely implausible.
However, Rat demon defied the norm, retaining an immaculate fur coat without any discernible mark.
“Unleash!
Lei Yingchao seized an opportunity to catch his breath. With a resounding cry, he suffused his body with a crimson hue as his qi surged abruptly.
Sacrifice Technique!
An incomplete skill that Lei Yingchao had fortuitously come across. It granted him over a 30% surge in strength, attack speed, and defense in an instant.
In this state, Lei Yingchao was even more formidable and devastating than an ordinary cultivator at the peak of the Visceral Tempering Realm.
Nevertheless, due to the incomplete nature of the skill, his movement speed drastically declined after its use. Furthermore, activating the technique involved consuming all the blood essence in his body and even a portion of his lifespan.
Consequently, regardless of whether Lei Yingchao emerged unscathed or not, his lifespan would substantially diminish. Simultaneously, his cultivation would be hindered, potentially leading to his regression to the middle stage of the Visceral Tempering Realm. Recovery would necessitate a significant period of recuperation.
Given these constraints, Lei Yingchao exclusively triggered the incomplete Sacrifice Technique during specific moments or when facing life-or-death circumstances, such as now.
If Ma Xuefei’s arrow hadn’t arrived in the nick of time, Lei Yingchao would have found himself in the same fate as those warriors who had perished prior.
In this moment, Lei Yingchao activated the Sacrifice Technique, driven not by any intention to assail the hamster but merely to secure his survival, granting others the opportunity to respond and jointly combat the hamster.
Lei Yingchao under the influence of the Sacrifice Technique was undeniably fearsome. When executing Iron Capturing Palm, both its momentum and power had increased substantially.
The expanse in front of him seemed to constrict palpably. Suspended dust and floating grass roots remained stationary in mid-air. Only Lei Yingchao’s hands continued their forward trajectory, extending to ensnare the rat demon.
“Boom!”
A deafening explosion reverberated as the entire vicinity nearly stilled, if only briefly. Although the rat demon suffered some effect from this collision, the impact remained minimal.
Despite the simplicity of the encounter, Lei Yingchao’s hands were left fractured and bloodied. Blood oozed forth from his wounds.
Lei Yingchao refrained from parting his hands this time, yet he couldn’t help but stagger backward, expelling a mouthful of blood.
“Ji!”
The same person thwarted it twice, and a glint of bloodthirst flashed in the rat demon’s pitch-black eyes. In the next moment, the rat demon disappeared without a trace. Building upon its previous high speed, its velocity surged once again.
Lei Yingchao’s eyes widened abruptly. The blood in his entire body began to boil, and the surging blood even broke through the restraints of his blood vessels and skin. In the blink of an eye, Lei Yingchao transformed into a figure made of blood.
Lei Yingchao seemed oblivious, his hands embracing the space before him. His once-dark sideburns turned pallid in an instant. This whiteness spread and transformed his hair into a pristine white.
Lei Yingchao’s vital energy surged increasingly, and his mental power seethed. He even vaguely sensed the presence of his acupoints. Peak power consumed his blood essence and lifespan, elevating Lei Yingchao’s strength to a critical threshold.
“Boom!”
A resounding explosion shattered the blood mist, and a figure was sent flying, hurtling dozens of meters before crashing forcefully into a large tree. The tree shattered, and the figure finally came to a halt. It was none other than Lei Yingchao.
However, in comparison to his previous peak state, Lei Yingchao’s arms were now in fragments, and a gaping hole had opened in his chest. Even the pulsating organs within were faintly visible.
One blow left Lei Yingchao gravely wounded and teetering on the brink of death.
Lei Yingchao’s intervention, ultimately, bought some time for the others.
Sensing the tumultuous events, over a dozen figures rushed toward this location while the rest commenced a frenzied assault on the Dreamlike Lotus, including its main form that was previously spared.
The Dreamlike Lotus was now on its last legs. The relentless siege without regard for consequences swiftly depleted the remaining roots. Even the lotus leaves on its main body began to shatter.
Yet, the Dreamlike Lotus seemed cognizant of the rat demon’s approach. The surging core soul energy it emanated exceeded its previous output. The colossal blue light shield started to quiver violently.
Ma Xuefei’s bow and arrows rained down relentlessly, sealing off every direction the rat demon might flee to. Simultaneously, the other martial artists had finally arrived and started encircling the rat demon.
Several hundred meters away, Chen Fei manipulated the jade pendant to grant him a vantage point of the unfolding spectacle.
Undoubtedly, this rat demon wielded considerable might. The potency of the attack that Lei Yingchao had just unleashed was such that even Chen Fei would have evaded it, had he been the target. However, despite this strength, the rat demon bested Lei Yingchao. Lei Yingchao’s fate remained uncertain.
However, Lei Yingchao was not the sole presence by the pool. Numerous martial artists, predominantly at the Visceral Tempering realm, but some even in the middle stage, loomed nearby. A handful were even on the cusp of the Visceral Tempering realm’s zenith.
Should this rat demon confront a few martial artists, their fate would hinge upon the balance between survival and demise. Most, however, would likely opt for escape rather than engaging in a direct confrontation.
Nevertheless, with the Dreamlike Lotus on the verge of being seized, departure wasn’t a viable option. Furthermore, the present company was sizeable. Despite the time squandered, the rat demon could be overpowered.
This rat demon was indeed formidable, yet it seemed improbable that it would exploit the Dreamlike Lotus as a nourishing resource. Unless this rat demon was innately impervious to mental suppression, that could potentially explain its resistance.
“It’s incensed.”
As though sensing Chen Fei’s scrutiny, Bacca glanced his way and pointed toward the pool.
“Ji!”
An ear-piercing shriek rent the air, leaving over a dozen Visceral Tempering realm martial artists momentarily paralyzed. Upon closer inspection, blood trickled from many of their ears.
What’s more, with this high-pitched cry, the rat demon’s physique—previously the size of an adult’s palm—shrank further, diminishing by over half.
With its diminished size, the already impressive velocity of the rat demon surged once more. Previously, a congregation of more than ten individuals had managed to curtail its speed somewhat.
Now, however, the transfigured rat demon paid no heed to the attacks of over ten people. It was as if it were leisurely strolling through a garden, evading the attacks of all assailants.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A plume of blood mist abruptly gushed forth from the bodies of those present. Their forms stiffened, and upon closer inspection, colossal apertures punctuated their torsos. Most of their inner organs lay shattered. Death was inevitable..