Chapter 102: No One Came
Chapter 102: No One Came
Lao Chao possessed great strength and moved super fast.
For someone of his cultivation level, jumping a distance of over ten zhang was almost effortless. His long blade trembled and released sword aura, shimmering like silver moonlight. It surged forward like a tidal wave, slicing through both wood and rock in its path.
But he hadn’t expected Xiao Qingliu to react so quickly.
Even as Lao Chao tugged the reins, a faint twang of tightly drawn bowstrings came from inside the extravagant carriage — a carriage looking like a pile of silver, all splendor and expense, but appearing flimsy. Instantly, more than a dozen crossbow bolts shot out! They ripped through the layers of air, finding their target right at the face of Lao Chao, who was charging head-on…
Trap bolts inside the carriage?
Lao Chao bared his teeth in a cold, fierce grin, his pupils tightening.
His Internal Breath surged madly around him, transforming into Magical Power. It spread densely through the air around his body.
In a blink, the dozen-or-so bolts were frozen mid-air, halted by that invisible Magical Power like they were trapped in ice.
Lao Chao rushed forward, striding powerfully. The bolts were battered aside instantly, like shooing away flies. Sharp though they were, stripped of their speed, they posed no threat to his hardened, steel-like Treasured Body Realm physique.
But in that same split second, the carriage swerved sharply into a narrow alley, accelerating away.
Everyone in Willow Lake City knew the Second Young Master Fang’s carriage was light, elegant, and pulled by exceptionally fast horses. But unless they saw it themselves, no one could believe the horses could move this fast! They charged neck-and-neck down the cramped alley, not even a stumble or a scrape!
Their immense strength made it seem like they were galloping on open ground! The carriage surged forward dozens of zhang in mere moments.
“Hahaha! Still think you can run at this point?!” Lao Chao roared with cold laughter as he followed into the alley.
To him, trying to escape from a Qi Refiner relying on a mere carriage was a joke.
Swish!
His Magical Power surged around him, lifting him instantly into the air. Even though the horses were incredibly fast, he caught up within heartbeats. His long blade began to hum intensely, resonating like a dragon’s roar – countless powerful streams of Magical Power flooded into the steel in an instant. The blade itself seemed to twist into something sinister, unleashing a blade aura stretching several zhang long…
It was too fast for any reaction! The blade aura slammed down onto the carriage from a distance.
A Treasured Body Realm expert’s full-force blade aura could smash everything like crushing dry weeds, slice through gold or jade, or even cleave mountains and split rocks as easily as flipping a hand!
Yet, the moment the aura struck, incredible flowing light erupted from an intricate pattern on the roof of the carriage, forming a barrier. The source seemed to be a round, jade-colored stone about the size of a baby’s fist.
Slash!
The brilliant shield of light appeared suddenly before the blade, swallowing the attack entirely.
Lao Chao’s strike, brimming with lethal intent, failed to shatter the shield. Instead, the force violently propelled the carriage forward.
Whoosh…
The carriage shot out of the alleyway completely, swung onto a main road, and raced eastward.
“Dragon Stone?”
Lao Chao stared at the receding light, grinding his teeth in a low growl. He hadn’t expected such an item aboard a mere carriage.
A treasure high-level Qi Refiners used for cultivation… casually mounted on a carriage?
“The Fang Family sure hides many secrets…”
This thought only fueled a fiercer surge of killing intent within him. Using the momentum of his missed strike, he pivoted mid-air before landing. Already, he stretched his hand towards the fleeing carriage. The swirling, dark aura around him condensed instantly, taking the indistinct form of a massive black tiger head. Like a colossal hand, it lunged forward thirty zhang! The tiger’s maw yawned wide, aiming to devour the Fang family carriage in one terrifying bite.
Crack!
The devouring force of the tiger head collided with the shimmering shield protecting the carriage. Blinding light exploded!
When the power peaked, that white, jade-like stone cracked instantly, its surface web-like as it turned ashen, countless fissures appearing.
In that very instant, the light barrier around the carriage vanished abruptly.
“Dammit!”
Xiao Qingliu swore, whipping the two powerful horses with all his might.
A Foundation Building Realm Qi Refiner could unleash such terrifying might? The power of one Dragon Stone… only barely blocked a single attack?
Swearing mentally didn’t stop Xiao Qingliu’s hands from remaining icy calm. The reins in his grip felt alive as he firmly controlled the horses, almost issuing orders directly through them, as easily as moving his own fingers. Now that they were on the wider main road, speed soared. The carriage flew forward like an arrow, kicking up thick clouds of dust behind it.
“The Fang Family betrayed people’s kindness… They all deserve death…”
The deeper he chased into the city, the less chance there was to turn back. Yet Lao Chao seemed utterly unconcerned. His entire being seemed consumed by a single thought: kill Fang Cun, avenge his master! He sprinted after the carriage, monstrous strides covering huge ground. After a few steps, he launched skyward again, soaring through the air like a starving hawk diving on its prey, rapidly closing the gap.
Fwish!
Just as he neared the carriage, a dark-grey object shot out from within.
It unfurled violently in mid-air, turning out to be a large net woven from densely knotted, shadowy threads!
Instantly, it entangled Lao Chao! Barbed hooks covered the net, and the force of Lao Chao’s own momentum yanked it tight. The barbs dug viciously into his flesh in countless places. Numbing terror spread instantly – they were clearly coated with incredibly potent poison.
Even someone of Lao Chao’s level, trapped in the web’s embrace, was forced to pause. The vile net inflicted agony with every movement! The more he struggled, the deeper the barbs sank! Yet he only let out a guttural roar of fury. Clenching his jaw grimly, he grabbed the net and physically ripped it off his body! In an instant, he looked like he had been flayed alive, covered in ragged, bleeding wounds. It was terrifying.
“Haha! Fantastic…!”
The agonizing pain spreading across his face, and the toxins seeping into his body, drove Lao Chao into deeper frenzy. He actually laughed out loud! His strides grew even larger as if fueled by madness. He surged down the street like a deranged tiger, pursuing the carriage with bone-chilling deadly intent.
“What’s that…?”
“Heavens above! How dare they cause such violence in the street?!”
“That’s the Fang family carriage! The Second Young Master Fang is being hunted!”
The sudden, vicious chase caused instant chaos along the street. Countless common folks screamed and fled in panic, scrambling desperately to get out of the way. Those too slow were helplessly caught in the swirling waves of Magical Power around Lao Chao and torn apart into ragged chunks of flesh! A few recognized the aggressor. Just the sound of his name was enough to freeze their blood in terror…
“The Devouring Sea Gang…?”
“Why would Lao Chao of the Devouring Sea Gang dare hunt down the Fang Young Master?!”
“Call someone… Someone quick, go alert the Demons Capture Bureau!!”
“…”
“…”
“No escape now…”
Ahead, Xiao Qingliu, frantically driving the carriage, looked back. What he saw made his blood freeze — a virtual thunderstorm seemed chasing them. Lao Chao, the maniacal tiger, bathed in his own blood which splattered the ground beneath him, had closed the gap to under thirty zhang! Xiao Qingliu’s nerves stretched taut. He knew exactly how many traps and hidden bolts were in the carriage… and he knew they were now utterly useless.
The things in the carriage were mostly mortal tools!
And what chance did the tools of mortals really have against a Qi Refiner’s power?
Especially when your pursuer was a Qi Refiner who had reached the Treasured Body Realm…
A Foundation Building Qi Refiner, determined to kill regardless of the cost… how could mere tricks and gadgets possibly stop him?
Whoosh!
The whole fight only lasted moments.
In the street’s swirling chaos of screaming, running crowds, Lao Chao closed the final gap. He gritted his teeth, eyes red with fury, roaring with wild laughter. He thrust his hand forward! Rolling black mist around him shot upwards, solidifying into a huge, roaring tiger head. His Magical Power flooded the air, reaching out thirty zhang to seize the Fang family carriage with an iron grasp…
Hee—huh! (Neigh!)
Under the brutal force of that pull, the two magnificent horses were yanked to a dead stop! With sharp snaps, one horse broke its reins! It bolted forward wildly and crashed headfirst into a roadside shop, its bones shattering instantly. The other horse reared violently in panic, letting out a terrified scream! It pulled with all the strength it possessed, but the carriage didn’t budge an inch.
“HAHAHAHA!”
Lao Chao’s savage laughter boomed from behind. His Magical Power surged, intent on lifting the entire carriage into the air!
“Young Master, I’ll go first!”
Xiao Qingliu saw it coming. He fiercely wiped his nose and darted! He kicked off a pillar supporting a shop’s awning, his body shooting out like an arrow from a bow! He aimed straight at Lao Chao, who was still hovering, launching right into the man’s chest. His knife slashed towards Lao Chao’s neck!
Forced to concentrate his Magical Power on pulling the carriage back, Lao Chao’s guard was wide open, leaving him completely exposed.
But the moment Xiao Qingliu’s blade struck Lao Chao’s neck, Xiao Qingliu’s eyes widened in shock! The sharp knife slid across the man’s dark, tough skin, leaving only a shallow white scratch without drawing blood! Lao Chao roared furiously, freeing one hand and sweeping it down towards Xiao Qingliu’s head with power that blotted out the very sky!
Xiao Qingliu ducked in terror. His body became slippery like an eel, twisting around Lao Chao’s back.
He slashed again, this time aiming deliberately for a large, bleeding wound left by the earlier barbed net! This strike wasn’t about wounding; it was only about speed. Getting the poison on his knife deep into Lao Chao’s open flesh!
Slash!
The knife hit the raw wound. Xiao Qingliu succeeded!
But the effort cost him momentum. With an enraged scream, Lao Chao sent wildly out-of-control Magical Power pulsing outward in all directions. Xiao Qingliu was violently flung away, crashing to the ground.
Lao Chao ignored him, stomping towards the carriage.
However, the disruption broke his magical grasp on it. The single remaining horse, now freed and wild with fear, bolted forward, dragging the rattling carriage onward.
Missing a horse and without a driver, its speed was vastly reduced.
“Young Master…!”
Xiao Qingliu yelled, scrambling up from the debris, chasing frantically after the wildly rolling carriage.
Fierce hatred burned in him. How did Lao Chao dare? How did he possibly dare carry out such an assassination in Willow Lake City?
What enraged him most was the scene around him: only panicked commoners and scrambling crowds…
But where were the Divine Generals from the City Guard Office?
Where was the Secretary?!
Where were the Masters and Instructors from the Academy?!
By now, they absolutely must have gotten the news! So why… why had not a single one come? Had all of them just… vanished?