Chapter 172: Authority
Chapter 172: Authority
Swish, swish, swish…
As expected, the menacing Blood Vines could not hold back the vicious Sky-Reaching Guards for long. They drew their sharp longswords and slashed together, cleanly cutting down all the Blood Vines that came near them!
“You reckless fools, attack!”
“Split into two groups and pursue! Don’t let that demon woman escape!”
…
Without waiting for orders from the green-robed man addressed as Marquis, the Sky-Reaching Guards quickly divided into two teams.
One team followed the trail of blood to chase after the Black-clad Woman, hoping to capture her in one strike, while the other team brandished their swords and lunged viciously toward Mu Feng. Compared to the White-robed Swordsmen of the Sword Hall from the Immortal Sword Sect, the energy fluctuations from these guards were far more intense. In an instant, they had locked onto every vital point on Mu Feng’s body with their spiritual senses.
“Mist-Locked Cold River!”
Mu Feng thrust his sword forward, unleashing the Misty Rain Nine Swords to block the attacks of the numerous Sky-Reaching Guards. At the same time, he agitated the Ancestral Sorcerer’s Essence Blood within him, and a flash of red light shot out from his body, hurtling toward the other group of Sky-Reaching Guards.
Under the thick cover of night, the red light blazed once, and screams immediately followed. Several unprepared Sky-Reaching Guards collapsed to the ground. Their bodies showed almost no visible injuries, but a trace of blood seeped from their foreheads. Upon closer inspection, their skulls had been pierced by some unseen sharp object, and the blood and Yang Energy within them were instantly drained. Right before everyone’s eyes, their robust bodies withered away, turning into dried-up corpses!
Blood Radiance!
To stop the pursuers chasing the Black-clad Woman, Mu Feng did not hesitate to expend a large amount of Spiritual Power, summoning the formidable Blood Radiance.
Impressive—what kind of treasure was this?
In that instant, the remaining Sky-Reaching Guards turned pale as they stared at the dried corpses on the ground. Instinctively, they formed a tight defensive circle, standing back-to-back, fearfully watching the Blood Radiance as it swiftly circled in the air. They were terrified that, with one careless moment, they would become Mu Feng’s next prey!
“Who dares to oppose the Sky-Reaching Guards?”
Seeing the injured Black-clad Woman vanish into the deep night, a Sky-Reaching Guard who seemed like a squad leader roared angrily at Mu Feng, a mix of shock and fury in his voice.
On the surface, Mu Feng’s energy fluctuations did not seem particularly outstanding, remaining at the level of the Mortal Realm. Yet, whether it was the explosive Blood Thunder or the menacing Blood Vines, each attack was extraordinarily powerful. Especially the swift and deadly Blood Radiance—just one glance at it sent chills down their spines.
Whoosh…
Mu Feng did not utter a word in response to the squad leader. Instead, a blood-red spear suddenly materialized.
Its speed was astonishing, as if it had pierced through the void itself. It instantly penetrated the squad leader’s chest, pinning him to the ground, draining the blood and Yang Energy from his body in an instant. With a mere gesture, Mu Feng retrieved the token from the squad leader’s body. The ability to manipulate objects from a distance—after reaching the Mortal Realm Peak, the power of the Blood Refining Art had grown significantly.
Incredible!
Where did this Devil Leader come from?
Seeing their squad leader reduced to a dried corpse in an instant, the usually arrogant Sky-Reaching Guards felt a chill run down their spines, their expressions turning grim. The terrifying strength Mu Feng had displayed made every one of them feel as if they were facing a formidable enemy!
“If you persist in chasing after us… this is your fate!”
Mu Feng, wearing his Large Bamboo Hat, issued a cold warning. With a thought, the Blood Radiance circling in the air transformed into a red light and re-entered his body. Seizing the moment of the guards’ shock, he was about to turn and leave when suddenly, his brow twitched, and a powerful sense of danger surged within him.
He looked up and saw a cold gleam cutting through the air, arriving before him in an instant—so close it was almost touching him!
Blood-Dripping Heavy Arrow!
The green-robed man, who had been overseeing the situation from a distant hill, had struck again. A single arrow was shot, making one feel as if they had fallen into an icy cavern, with a heavy pressure bearing down on them.
Clang…
To avoid accidentally hurting Jing Wushuang on his back, Mu Feng did not dare risk dodging hastily. In that critical moment, he raised his sword coldly. With a crisp sound, the sharp Crossbow Arrow was deflected, but Mu Feng’s hand went numb, and his sword nearly flew out of his grasp.
The green-robed man’s strength was far more terrifying than he had initially imagined.
It seemed that when he had severely injured the Black-clad Woman earlier, he had not yet unleashed his full power!
“Go!”
Mu Feng’s heart raced with alarm. Without a second thought, he turned and fled.
Whiz…
Before he could take a single step, the piercing sound of something cutting through the air rang out again. Another Blood-Dripping Heavy Arrow was closing in from behind.
What was even more unsettling was that the green-robed man, who had been standing on the hill overseeing the situation, tapped the ground lightly with his toes and personally charged forward. From a distance, he struck out with a palm. The energy fluctuations within him surged violently—he was at least an Elite Realm expert, seemingly no less formidable than that sword master from Yanyulou!
“Shuang’er, hold on tight!”
At this life-and-death moment, Mu Feng’s eyes widened.
He stood firm on his legs but leaned his upper body backward in an unbelievable move, narrowly evading the powerful Blood-Dripping Heavy Arrow.
Then, like a spring, he straightened his body and channeled his Spiritual Power to clash head-on with the green-robed man’s palm strike. Instantly, a sharp pain shot through his palm, as if he had struck a hard boulder. The green-robed man’s momentum did not wane; he followed up with another strike to Mu Feng’s chest. Mu Feng was sent flying like a kite with its string cut, tumbling through the air as the energy and blood within him churned violently.
“Go!”
Mu Feng’s face turned pale. Without time to check his injuries, he executed a backward flip even before hitting the ground, grabbing the chance to sprint away. His movements flowed seamlessly, catching everyone by surprise.
Jing Wushuang, on his back, let out a startled cry. The Large Bamboo Hat on her head fell to the ground, revealing her long, black hair. In the rush, the handkerchief she had hastily tucked into her bosom also slipped out. Carried by the wind, it was caught by the green-robed man behind them.
“Huh… a disciple of Mu Manor?”
Glancing at the character ‘Mu’ embroidered on the handkerchief, the green-robed man, who had been about to give chase, suddenly exclaimed in surprise and halted. He raised his right hand, signaling the advancing Sky-Reaching Guards to stop. After a moment of contemplation, he issued a cold order: “Pass the command—we return to the manor!”
“Marquis, they are both injured and surely cannot get far. Why aren’t we chasing them?”
A Sky-Reaching Guard, bloodlust clouding his judgment, blurted out the question, a look of confusion on his face. Only after speaking did he realize his mistake. Staring at the expressionless green-robed man, his legs began to tremble uncontrollably as he understood he had unintentionally committed a grave offense.
Sure enough, upon hearing this, the incredibly powerful green-robed man smirked coldly. “I said withdraw, so we withdraw! What, Guard 9518, must I, the Vice Commander, explain my actions to you?”
“Sir, this subordinate dares not! Please forgive my offense!”
Guard 9518’s legs gave way, and he dropped to his knees with a thud, begging for mercy. Unfortunately, it was too late. A cold gleam flashed, and his head rolled to the side. Only then did the green-robed man’s sword, sheathed at his waist, emit a soft chime as it returned to its scabbard. None of the Sky-Reaching Guards present could clearly see his movements.
“Ahead lies the territory of the Poison Sect. We cannot advance recklessly into enemy lines. Let’s go—return and report to the Grand Commander!” The green-robed man issued the command, then lifted his gaze toward Cangjian Peak shrouded in darkness. His eyes were deep and contemplative, though no one could guess what he was thinking.
“Aye!”
The Sky-Reaching Guards bowed in acknowledgment. Soon, they mounted their warhorses and thundered away into the night. In the blink of an eye, they had vanished without a trace, leaving behind over a dozen corpses.