Even when under attack by so many people, Xiang Shaoyun was able to navigate around their attacks like he was on a casual stroll. After avoiding all the attacks, he attacked with his Seven Scorching Sun Claws, sending fiery claws everywhere with his two hands.
"Ahhhh!"
The Lightning Alliance members, who were all powerful combatants in their own rights, were instantly shredded by Xiang Shaoyun's claws. Wails started ringing in the air. There was strength in numbers, but they had failed to actually surround Xiang Shaoyun, who held an advantage with his Overlord's Nine Nether Steps. That was why he had been able to face such a large number of people with ease.
But of course, the fact that he was far stronger than each of them individually played a key role as well. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to defeat them so effortlessly.
After he injured five people in a row, an eighth-stage Transformation Realm suddenly attacked with a concealed weapon.
Xiang Shaoyun had just injured another opponent with his claw attack and did not notice the sneak attack at all. That person was confident his concealed weapon would work against Xiang Shaoyun. Unfortunately, Xiang Shaoyun acted like he had a pair of eyes on the back of his head. He flickered and vanished, causing the sneak attack to hit the person who was in front of him instead.
"AHHHH!"
The person hit just so happened to be Wen Jinnuo. With an arrow in his stomach, he wailed like a pig being slaughtered before collapsing to the ground.
"Bastard!" That person wasn't furious because he had accidentally injured someone from his side; he was just annoyed because he had missed. With a shout, he flooded Xiang Shaoyun with a series of sword energies. One ought to admit that this person was much stronger than the others in the group, but he was still somewhat lacking compared to the likes of Xie Sanqian.
"Sneak attacking me? Real nice," said Xiang Shaoyun with a sneer. He did not even bother dodging the incoming sword energies and welcomed them with a punch.
Gold Helix Fist!
Nowadays, Xiang Shaoyun was already very proficient with this technique. His golden fist shot out like a golden drill, crushing all the incoming sword energies.
Clank!
The gloved fist then struck the tip of that person's sword before sending the sword flying from his hand. The person's face fell as he quickly retreated, but Xiang Shaoyun was much faster than him. Instantly, Xiang Shaoyun arrived and grabbed his collar. He slammed the person right into the attack of another who just happened to be trying to mount a sneak attack on Xiang Shaoyun as well.
"AHHHH!"
The first attacker suffered his companion's slash, which left a terrible wound on him. His blood gushed out without stop.
"Ah, s-sorry Senior Brother Zhao! That was an accident!" cried out the second attacker in panic. After all, the person he had hit was a senior brother whose strength was above his own.
The only thing poor Senior Brother Zhao could do was grip his wound and cry out miserably, "Save me! Save me..."
His wound was quite deep, and it had even hit a vital point. It was understandable that Senior Brother Zhao was begging for help. Xiang Shaoyun had no intention to keep pressing his attack. He knew that things would get tricky if someone actually died. Meanwhile, Wen Jinrui took the chance and snuck an attack at Xiang Shaoyun while Xiang Shaoyun was distracted.
"You are courting death," said Xiang Shaoyun, who was furious at the constant sneak attacks. He turned and grabbed Wen Jinrui before slamming him into the ground.
Bang!
Wen Jinrui crashed heavily into the ground and started vomiting everything he had in his stomach.
Even Qiu Chonglei couldn't remain calm after witnessing everything. He immediately commanded, "Save Senior Brother Zhao first."
He then led a group of people and quickly rushed toward the battlefield. The others stopped fighting when they saw him arriving. But to be precise, they weren't exactly stopping. It was more like they had all been dropped by Xiang Shaoyun and were no longer capable of attacking. Xiang Shaoyun did not attack. He also wanted to see if that Zhao guy was still alive.
"This is bad! Senior Brother Zhao is...dead!" cried out one of them in alarm.
"What?" cried the person who had slashed Senior Brother Zhao, his face paling. He shivered and dropped the sword in his hand while his body slumped down weakly.
This Senior Brother Zhao was a personal disciple of an elder. Since he was the one who had accidentally killed this Senior Brother Zhao, he would not have a good ending either.
Qiu Chonglei had not expected that things would escalate to this point. After all, although internal struggles were allowed in the Cloud Margin Pavilion, killing was absolutely prohibited. To do so would be a provocation of the pavilion's rules.
Qiu Chonglei quickly pointed at Xiang Shaoyun and shouted furiously, "Xiang Shaoyun, how audacious! You actually killed Junior Brother Zhao? Nobody can save you now! I will avenge my Junior Brother Zhao!"
A layer of yellow radiance appeared around Qiu Chonglei's body while a yellow saber appeared in his hand. He then charged Xiang Shaoyun. He was a late eighth-stage Transformation Realm cultivator with combat prowess comparable to ninth-stage Transformation Realm cultivators.
He swung his saber at Xiang Shaoyun, releasing a dreadful and thick saber energy that no normal person could survive. The combat prowess Qiu Chonglie displayed was much greater than even Xie Sanqian's, whom Xiang Shaoyun had defeated just a while ago. He was indeed worthy of being one of the four great guardians of the Lightning Alliance.
With the Overlord's Nine Nether Steps, Xiang Shaoyun avoided the attack and sent a fiery claw toward Qiu Chonglei. The claw easily tore through Qiu Chonglei's defensive energy shield and struck his body. However, it failed to do any damage, as Qiu Chonglei was protected by the high-level armor he had on him.
"That's a strong claw, but it is impossible for you to harm me with that," said Qiu Chonglei. The layer of yellow energy around him turned thicker and heavier, looking like an impenetrable wall.
At the same time, he slashed repeatedly, sending numerous saber energies that surrounded Xiang Shaoyun. Even Xiang Shaoyun had a solemn look when he faced this new attack, thinking, He is indeed quite capable. He is strong enough to fight any ninth-stage Transformation Realm cultivator.
He drew his Purple Lightning Saber and met Qiu Chonglei's attack with a slash of his own. This time, he had no intention of dragging it out like he did when battling Xie Sanqian. Instead, he directly smashed through Qiu Chonglei's attack.
Xiang Shaoyun's saber energy seemed boundless, and coupled with his remarkable innate purple lightning, not even Qiu Chonglei was his match. Qiu Chonglei's saber snapped, his energy shield shattered, and not even his armor was able to defend against the tier-5 king-grade Purple Lightning Saber. Several saber wounds instantly formed on his body.
At this point, Qiu Chonglei was already regretting his decision, It is totally not worth offending this kid for the sake of Wen Jinrui!
"Help me! What are you waiting for?" shouted Qiu Chonglei toward the people around him as he was forced to retreat repeatedly.
His companions quickly worked together to attack Xiang Shaoyun.
They were all eighth-stage Transformation Realm cultivators and were the final line of defense Qiu Chonglei had. If not even they could stop Xiang Shaoyun, then their defeat would be wholly justified.