Chapter 52: Snake Soul
Chapter 52: Snake Soul
Cheng Lingyu said, “Let’s bet Heads. Whoever loses dies here.”
Cheng Qinghua’s face tightened. Frowning, he replied, “Seventh Brother clearly holds deep Hatred for me. But do you truly believe you can win?”
Cheng Lingyu sneered, “Slaying you would be as simple as killing a stray dog.”
Cheng Qinghua roared with laughter, “How highly you think of yourself! Do you imagine I’d seek you out without confidence?”
“Enough chatter. Do we bet or not?”
“We bet! Killing you would let me outshine Third Brother Cheng Zhaolong—what a fine opportunity.”
Cheng Qinghua’s grin turned sinister as he stepped toward Cheng Lingyu. The five Shenhuo Sect disciples nearby scattered, clearing the battlefield.
Cheng Lingyu eyed him coldly. “True Martial Fifth Level – Gathering Lake Stage. Your cultivation speed surprises me.”
Cheng Qinghua smirked. “The Shenhuo Sect drowns in pills. Boosting my cultivation level requires no effort.”
He flicked a finger, sending a crimson flame lazily toward Cheng Lingyu.
“Pathetic,” Cheng Lingyu mocked, swatting the flame with his bare hand, neither dodging nor defending.
Cheng Qinghua scowled. “I nearly forgot—your Physical Body survived the active metal source. Tougher than most, it seems.”
He lunged forward, hands blurring as palm strikes mixed with scorching flames lashed out.
Cheng Lingyu parried calmly, analyzing his cousin’s confidence. What hidden card fueled this gamble?
“Not bad, Seventh Brother,” Cheng Qinghua taunted, attacks growing fiercer. His Gathering Lake Stage combat power radiated mountain-splitting force with each strike.
Cheng Lingyu restrained his strength. Since entering the True Martial Realm, his Physical Body had become impervious to ordinary blades—only a divine weapon could pierce it.
Cheng Qinghua’s eyes narrowed. Cheng Lingyu’s stone-like flesh defied belief.
“Did the Shenhuo Sect teach you nothing better?” Cheng Lingyu jeered, voice dripping scorn.
“Patience, cousin. Consider this a warm-up.” Cheng Qinghua suddenly brandished a jagged spike. “Meet the King of Hell Spike.”
The Weapon flashed like flowing light, stabbing viciously.
Cheng Lingyu barked a laugh. “Call it the Brat’s Spike. Too weak to wield real steel, you cling to toys—pitiful.”
Enraged, Cheng Qinghua redoubled his lethal techniques. Cheng Lingyu’s sharp eyes tracked every flaw. Fingers flicked, sword energy humming as it batted the spike aside.
The five Shenhuo Sect disciples exchanged stunned glances, shaken by Cheng Lingyu’s display.
In their minds, Cheng Lingyu was supposed to be an ordinary fighter, but reality proved otherwise.
Cheng Qinghua had demonstrated remarkable talent at the Shenhuo Sect. Within less than a year, he rapidly advanced through multiple cultivation stages, earning recognition as a prodigy and gaining considerable status after becoming the disciple of a powerful Master.
“Seventh Brother’s insults have sharpened, though your actual skills remain lacking,” Cheng Qinghua taunted.
Mid-sentence, he abruptly changed techniques. Bizarre patterns glowed across the spike’s tip, distracting Cheng Lingyu as a jet of sky-blue flames shot forth.
The strange flame arrived with blistering heat and menacing energy, reaching Cheng Lingyu almost instantly.
“Surprise attacks seem to be your only noteworthy skill,” Cheng Lingyu sneered coldly. His fist collided with the flames, generating a thunderous shockwave.
The azure flames bloomed like fiery petals, clinging to Cheng Lingyu’s hand as they sought to incinerate his flesh.
A dark glow suddenly erupted from Cheng Lingyu’s right fist, devouring the flames instantly. The Ghostly Magic Blade in his palm pulsed with renewed energy.
“Excellent fuel. Bring more,” Cheng Lingyu jeered truthfully.
Cheng Qinghua’s eyes narrowed. “Let’s see you handle this!” he spat.
The spike’s tip flared as blue flames coiled into a dragon-shaped vortex around Cheng Lingyu’s fist, crackling fiercely.
“This Blue Crystal Flame from our Shenhuo Sect’s alchemy can incinerate any cultivator below the Soul Martial Realm!”
“Is this pitiful flame your ultimate weapon?” Cheng Lingyu mocked. Black energy surged again as the Ghostly Magic Blade greedily consumed the flames.
“How’s he unharmed?!” gasped the five Shenhuo Sect spectators, bewildered by the Blue Crystal Flame’s failure.
Cheng Qinghua’s face darkened. “I’ve underestimated you,” he growled.
“Regretting your choices already?” Cheng Lingyu retorted.
With a claw-like gesture, Cheng Qinghua snatched back the spike – only for its remaining flames to be devoured by the dark blade.
*Crack!* The weapon snapped in two.
“YOU WRETCH!” Cheng Qinghua roared, clutching the broken King of Hell Spike gifted by his Master.
Abandoning the weapon, he attacked bare-handed with mountain-shattering punches. Cheng Lingyu parried each strike effortlessly, his counterblows forcing blood from Cheng Qinghua’s lips as the latter staggered back in shock.
“If this is your limit,” Cheng Lingyu said with blade-sharp eyes, “then perish.”
His fists fell like collapsing peaks, shattering Cheng Qinghua’s right arm in three brutal strikes. A agonized scream pierced the air.
“Damn you! DIE!” Cheng Qinghua shrieked. A serpentine shadow materialized above him, its chilling gaze piercing through the battlefield.
Cheng Lingyu froze mid-step, realization flashing across his handsome features.
“The Snake Soul… I nearly forgot.”
Cheng Qinghua’s face contorted grotesquely. “Exactly!” he cackled. “My true trump card! Now meet your end!”
The Snake Soul’s icy eyes resembled an ethereal figure, yet radiated a soul-snaring force as it crept toward Cheng Lingyu, intent on devouring him.
Cheng Lingyu’s mind jolted. His eyes blazed with an eerie light as he unleashed the Magic Eyes technique’s second layer: Locking the Soul and Fixing the Spirit!
This Snake Soul, merged with Cheng Qinghua, originated from the active metal source—unlike ordinary Beast Souls, it wielded strange, unfathomable power.
Cheng Qinghua’s rapid rise in cultivation level had been fueled by this very Snake Soul.
Though the Snake Soul’s gaze could crush spirits, it faltered against Cheng Lingyu’s Magic Eyes.
Ruthless, the Snake Soul lunged to consume Cheng Lingyu’s soul but met fierce resistance.
Cheng Lingyu’s eyes glowed unnaturally, exuding a magical force with piercing and intimidating power.
Cheng Qinghua roared with laughter, certain of his victory.
Cheng Lingyu’s brow furrowed. The Snake Soul’s oppressive might felt like facing a Soul Martial Realm expert.
The Snake Soul’s soul-grasping energy invaded Cheng Lingyu’s sea of consciousness, only to clash against the Magic Eyes’ defenses.
After moments of stalemate, Cheng Lingyu started to falter. The Magic Eyes technique retreated, and a blade of grass in his sea of consciousness quivered faintly.
When the Snake Soul’s power breached his mind, the grass stirred. Its two leaves trembled, releasing a silent shockwave that instantly eradicated the invading force.
The Snake Soul recoiled, its frigid stare locked on Cheng Lingyu.
“How are you unharmed?”
Cheng Qinghua’s laughter died, shock twisting his features.
Cheng Lingyu sneered, “Disappointed? My turn now.”
Channeling Thousand Layers of Snow alongside the Magic Eyes, he focused on the Snake Soul. The second layer’s Locking the Soul and Fixing the Spirit visibly restrained it.
Though his cultivation level couldn’t fully bind the Snake Soul, its movements were disrupted.
Cheng Lingyu leaped like a soaring roc, lunging at the Snake Soul.
Cheng Qinghua regained his composure, scoffing, “You? Defeat the Snake Soul? Delusional!”
The Snake Soul hissed, its murderous aura swelling as it counterattacked.
Cheng Lingyu’s fists blazed with the Power of Utmost Brightness and Strength, fracturing the void and shaking time and space.
“Futile! The Snake Soul has no form!” Cheng Qinghua jeered.
Unshaken, Cheng Lingyu pressed on, his strikes harmless yet relentless.
The formless Snake Soul pierced Cheng Lingyu’s defenses with a psychic assault, aiming for his brow.
Eyes flaring, Cheng Lingyu’s fist became a claw, slashing toward the Snake Soul.
A black vortex spun in his palm. From it whirled the Ghostly Magic Blade—a dark curved weapon radiating dread.
The Snake Soul tried to flee, but too late.
Cheng Lingyu seized it. The flickering blade spun like a demon, shredding the Snake Soul’s essence.
A shrill scream tore through the air. Cheng Qinghua howled, clutching his ears.
The Shenhuo Sect disciples watching gaped. One yelled, “Signal for aid!”
This was Yunyang City—Shenhuo Sect territory. Their disciples always had ways to call for help.