Chapter 83: Vampire!
Chapter 83: Vampire!
Bang!
As a cultivator at the Late Foundation Building Stage, Tang Shan naturally packed a punch with every move. Though it was merely a simple Fireball Technique, the pressure it emitted caused Tang Bi and the others nearby to pale slightly.
“Hmph! Child’s play!”
However, fireballs of this caliber were naturally nothing to Tang Hu. With a cold snort, Tang Hu didn’t even try to dodge, instead his right fist shot violently towards the fireball.
Crash!
Tang Hu’s right fist was filled with power. With this single punch, a loud bang echoed as the fireball shattered instantly into a burst of sparks, vanishing without a trace.
“Good!”
Seeing Tang Hu repel his attack so effortlessly with a single punch, Tang Shan felt the thrill of the fight. He exclaimed “Good!”, then snapped his fingers three times in quick succession.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Three consecutive booms sounded as three fireballs, each the size of a human head, materialized once more and hurtled towards Tang Jinbiao.
“Tang Shan! Is that all you’ve got?”
Seeing Tang Shan somewhat belittle him, Tang Hu’s expression darkened slightly.
Explode!
But even as Tang Hu spoke, instead of advancing, he retreated, sprinting towards a large tree. He planted one foot forcefully against the trunk and, using the recoil to launch himself, transformed into a streak of black shadow. He charged straight at Tang Shan, who was rapidly pulling back.
“Hmph! You’re seeking death!”
Tang Shan’s expression flickered when he saw Tang Hu appear intent on a fight to the death. However, he didn’t dare be complacent in the slightest. With a casual wave of his hand, the three fireballs immediately transformed into three crimson streaks, rocketing towards Tang Hu.
Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!
But that wasn’t all. After releasing the fireballs, Tang Shan simultaneously slapped his Storage Pouch. A faint humming sound was heard as a green Tiny Sword shot out in a streak of ghostly light, directly piercing towards Tang Hu.
…
Meanwhile, let us switch to Tang Jinbiao and Tang Bu.
“Ah! No good!”
The instant he saw the large bronze bell descending to capture him, Tang Jinbiao cried out inwardly in alarm. Simultaneously, he tumbled to the ground, trying to roll out of the way.
“Brother Biao! Be careful!”
Tang Bu, following closely behind, saw the bronze bell descending upon Tang Jinbiao and immediately shouted a warning.
“Tang Huaxi!”
While shouting his warning to Tang Jinbiao, Tang Bu didn’t retreat. Thanks to their recent days of training and coordinated combat, he seized the moment when Tang Jinbiao rolled away. Planting his feet firmly, he propelled himself directly forward, launching an attack on Tang Huaxi.
“Huh? Bad!”
Seeing Tang Bu charging at him, Tang Huaxi’s face displayed panic, and he acted flustered, hastily scrambling backwards. Yet, hidden from view, a trace of mockery curled at the corner of his mouth.
“Heh heh, so even you can be scared!”
Seeing Tang Huaxi’s panicked expression fueled Tang Bu’s confidence. His speed increased even more.
“Ah Bu, dodge!”
Just then, Tang Jinbiao’s anxious shout came from nearby.
Buzz buzz buzz!
At that moment, Tang Bu sensed something unusual behind him—a dark shape seemed to descend toward him.
“Hmm?”
Upon hearing Tang Jinbiao’s voice, Tang Bu frowned slightly and tried to turn around. But just as he looked, his vision went black. A massive shadowy figure enveloped him.
“No!”
Instantly, Tang Bu realized the shadow was the large bronze bell. Before he could react, a thunderous boom echoed, sealing him completely inside.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Immediately after being trapped, sharp, clear clangs burst forth—Tang Bu was striking the Bronze Bell’s inner walls, desperate to break free.
“Ah Bu!”
Tang Jinbiao dashed to the bell’s base. He slammed both palms against it with a thunderous impact, then strained to lift it. Yet the bell stood immovable as though rooted to the ground. From within, Ah Bu’s cry pierced the air.
“Ah!”
A pained scream escaped him—injured by some unknown force.
“Ah Bu! What’s wrong?”
Tang Jinbiao tensed at the agonized sound.
“Brother Biao! I’m fine… Don’t pound on the bell! It’s torture in here! Deal with Tang Huaxi first—I’ll find a way out myself!”
Tang Bu’s voice boomed from inside, clear and resolute.
“This…”
Tang Jinbiao froze, guilt flickering across his face.
“Hmph! Think you can challenge me? How naive! Tang Jinbiao, save your strength—once activated, the Mountain-Suppressing Bell weighs thousands of pounds! No mere first-level Body Refiner can lift it!”
Tang Huaxi smirked contemptuously as he watched Tang Jinbiao fail.
“What?”
Tang Jinbiao’s expression darkened briefly before rage consumed him. He lunged at Tang Huaxi.
…
“Meet my gaze—God-Slaying Gaze!”
“Hahaha… hahaha…”
Almost simultaneously, Tang Bi and Tang Xing charged fearlessly at Tang Xingchi.
“Heh heh!”
Tang Xingchi didn’t recoil as they attacked. Instead, his pallid face flushed crimson, and a sinister grin revealed two gleaming white fangs.
Thud.
Thud.
Suddenly, an icy dread enveloped Tang Bi and Tang Xing. Their legs trembled violently, unsteady beneath them.
“Heh heh, here I come!”
Tang Xingchi chuckled darkly. Instead of retreating like Tang Shan and Tang Huaxi who wielded Spirit Artifacts, his entire form dissolved into a shadowy figure, lunging directly at Tang Bi.
“What?”
“Hah, happiness comes so suddenly!”
Tang Bi and Tang Xing were initially shocked when they saw Tang Xingchi abandon the cultivator’s advantage to engage in close combat, but their faces quickly lit up with glee. Disregarding any potential trap, they charged forward immediately.
“Taste my fist!”
Tang Bi took the lead. Naturally faster than Tang Xing, his fist, the size of a small pot, swung recklessly straight for Tang Xingchi’s body.
Swoosh swoosh swoosh!
But bizarrely, just as Tang Bi’s fist was about to connect, Tang Xingchi’s body twisted abruptly. A strange grin spread across his face as he let out a dark chuckle.
Thud!
Seeing that sinister smile, Tang Bi felt as if something unclean was watching him. His heart lurched violently.
Swoosh swoosh swoosh!
Right as Tang Bi shuddered, Tang Xingchi’s hands shot out, seizing Tang Bi’s wrists.
“What?”
Catching sight of the hands gripping his wrists, Tang Bi’s face turned deathly pale.
For what held him weren’t hands at all—they were clearly two bone claws! Pale and extremely gaunt, devoid of any flesh and blood, they looked unmistakably like skeletal claws!
Rustle rustle rustle!
Just as Tang Bi was stupefied with terror, Tang Xingchi’s creepy grin returned. The bone claws slapped up Tang Bi’s arms to his shoulders as, ghost-like, Tang Xingchi pressed against Tang Bi’s body and flashed to his back in an instant.
“What are you doing?”
Feeling Tang Xingchi dart behind him, Tang Bi panicked, yelling loudly. He immediately clawed backwards, trying to fling Tang Xingchi off. But the moment he raised his arms, an icy chill struck his neck, followed by excruciating pain searing through his entire body.
“Ah, a ghost!”
Before Tang Bi could scream from the pain, Tang Xing, who was nearby, seemed to witness something unthinkable and shrieked.
Swoosh swoosh swoosh!
As Tang Xing screamed, Tang Bi felt a sudden lightness on his back—Tang Xingchi seemed to have vanished.
“Monster, don’t come near me, don’t come near… ah!”
Before Tang Bi could process it, Tang Xing’s terrified screams echoed from not far away.
“Huh? What’s wrong?”
Tang Bi, still confused, turned his head to see what was happening. He felt a slight coolness on his neck and reached up to touch it.
“What?”
But when he looked towards the commotion, he froze in complete shock.
“No, no, stop!”
Tang Xing was pinned to the ground by Tang Xingchi, pleading hoarsely. Tang Xingchi lay sprawled over Tang Xing’s body, making gurgling sounds while something deeply unnatural emanated from the scene. Tang Bi vaguely noticed Tang Xingchi’s body seemed slightly stronger now.
Bang bang bang!
Slap slap slap!
Tang Bi turned back to see Tang Hu and Tang Shan locked in fierce combat nearby. Both looked grim, exchanging blow after blow.
Tang Shan, seemingly unwilling to let Tang Hu get close, retreated rapidly while unleashing various Spirit Artifacts and Talisman Papers to attack. Tang Hu, however, proved formidable—reacting with lightning speed and deftness, he narrowly dodged each assault and launched counterattacks of his own.
“I Bought a Watch Last Year!”
On another flank, Tang Bu remained trapped inside the giant bell, unresponsive. Tang Jinbiao, despite advancing to First Rank, Intermediate Grade, was sorely outmatched facing Tang Huaxi, a seasoned Qi Condensation Ninth Layer cultivator. He struggled just to parry, having no chance to retaliate. Though he dodged several lethal strikes, his defense was clearly crumbling.
“Damn it!”
Seeing both Tang Hu and Tang Jinbiao pinned down, Tang Bi cursed inwardly.
“Ah… no!”
But at that moment, Tang Xing grew too weak even to cry out clearly. His body convulsed once before all life left him.
“This is impossible!”
Watching Tang Xing lie motionless on the ground, Tang Bi’s pupils contracted violently. Horrified, he stared at Tang Xingchi.
“Heh heh!”
Slowly rising to his feet, Tang Xingchi grinned darkly, his mouth smeared with fresh blood…