: Ning, Sun vs Qi Bai

2024-07-31 Author: Gu Zhenren

: Ning, Sun vs Qi Bai

Qi Bai activated his magic, causing spectral souls to dance wildly and a chilling aura to surge.

The formation patterns of the grand array were pierced by countless ghosts, rapidly dissipating.

No longer holding back, Qi Bai let his long hair flutter and his robes billow, his Golden Core aura overflowing everywhere.

"If this were the heart of the immortal city's grand array, I might not be able to turn the tables."

"But here, it's just the outskirts of the formation, and you've merely drawn a fraction of the city-protecting array's power by setting up auxiliary formations."

"Do you really think you can stop me?!"

With a sweep of his sleeve, Qi Bai unleashed a fierce ghostly wind, its piercing howl assaulting the eardrums as it charged toward Chuitiao Ke and Sun Lingtong.

Ning Zhuo, controlling the Cangtie Han Armor and carrying the still-unconscious Sun Lingtong, showed no fear.

"Qi Bai, it's too early for you to think about killing us."

"If you have the guts, follow me!"

The next moment, Ning Zhuo slapped the wall, triggering a hidden teleportation formation.

He and Sun Lingtong vanished instantly.

Qi Bai roared in anger, immediately retracting his attack, but the ghostly wind still destroyed most of the teleportation formation.

He flew to the remains of the formation, identifying its structure and materials before casting a spell.

"A privately set teleportation array within the gaps of the immortal city's grand array has limited range."

"Found it!"

"Heh, you think you can shake me off with a few teleportation arrays?"

"Today, I will kill you without fail!"

Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong arrived at another underground base.

Spell—Soul Travels a Thousand Miles.

In just a dozen breaths, Qi Bai caught up.

Such speed gave Ning Zhuo an intense sense of pressure.

Golden Core cultivators typically overpower Foundation Establishment cultivators in combat. Qi Bai was no ordinary Golden Core cultivator—he hailed from the Soul Devouring Sect, possessed superior talent, and was a true disciple of the sect.

This meant he was undoubtedly an elite among Golden Core cultivators!

Ning Zhuo continued to activate the immortal city's grand array, temporarily blocking Qi Bai.

Qi Bai cast spells to wear down the formation patterns, sneering, "Well done, Chuitiao Ke. Let's see how many holes you've dug and how many hideouts you've built in the Huoshi Immortal City!"

"Let me be clear: I’ve placed a mark on Sun Lingtong. As long as you’re with him, I will find you."

"In fact, prolonged contact with Sun Lingtong will cause the mark’s power to transfer to you as well."

"If you abandon him now, I might not be able to track you."

"But once the mark takes hold, I’ll sense you at all times. I’ll hunt you down until you’re tortured to death!"

Qi Bai’s face was filled with killing intent. He didn’t even know why he was so enraged.

He hoped Ning Zhuo would abandon Sun Lingtong to save himself.

But Ning Zhuo never did.

Gritting his teeth secretly, he teleported away with Sun Lingtong once again.

"Ah!" Qi Bai roared skyward, seemingly driven mad by Ning Zhuo’s actions.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

One underground base after another was torn apart by Qi Bai.

The commotion was quickly detected by the City Lord’s Mansion and reported to Fei Si.

Fei Si promptly sent a message to Meng Kui.

Meng Kui sat cross-legged on a cushion, hidden within layers of clouds. Upon hearing the report, he smiled and spun the two walnuts in his hand even more smoothly.

"A new Golden Core cultivator?"

"Eerie and ghostly—seems like the Soul Devouring Sect’s techniques."

"Could he be the shadowy demonic cultivator?"

"And many underground bases have been exposed, all exploiting gaps in the immortal city’s grand array?"

Meng Kui was curious, eager to learn what other sinister forces lay hidden within the vast Huoshi Immortal City.

He felt pleased, sitting atop the mountain, calmly observing the changing winds and clouds while others fought and killed.

Of course, his main focus remained on the Molten Rock Immortal Palace, never shifting.

The battle at the Molten Rock Immortal Palace raged on.

Countless crimson flame beasts fell to formations, magical treasures, and various mechanical constructs.

Yet the beasts were endless. They breached the first and second lines of defense, and the third line was on the verge of collapse.

This made the Ning Family Ancestor frown. "The crimson flame beasts’ offensive is terrifying. No wonder the Molten Rock Immortal Palace is gradually rising, struggling to suppress Huoshi Mountain."

He mingled within the third line, killing crimson flame beasts while scanning the area for secrets within the immortal palace.

"If the Molten Rock Immortal Palace is breached, even if just one building is overrun, my opportunity will come!" The Ning Family Ancestor was patient, waiting for the right moment.

Dozens of miles outside Huoshi Mountain, Zhu Xuanji’s eyes glowed with golden light as he used a spell to observe the mountaintop.

His gaze pierced through the clouds, clearly seeing the battle at the Molten Rock Immortal Palace.

"The Molten Rock Immortal Palace is weaker than I imagined."

"What’s wrong with the palace spirit, the Molten Turtle Fire Spirit? Given its abilities, it should have performed better in many areas of the defense."

"Has it sustained irreparable damage during the long suppression?"

Zhu Xuanji pondered.

"Meng Kui..." Finally, his gaze settled on the Nascent Soul cultivator hidden within the clouds.

"Your 'Sitting Mountain Watching' technique is the main reason the Molten Rock Immortal Palace is under attack by the beast horde."

"If the immortal palace falls, you, Meng Kui, will be held responsible!"

"You only have two Outer Peach Fate Nuclei. I hope you don’t overplay your hand."

Zhu Xuanji, a member of the Southern Bean Kingdom’s royal family and the Divine Constabulary, knew much about Meng Kui’s intelligence.

He had been personally warned by the king to focus on Meng Kui’s Sitting Mountain Watching technique.

Zhu Xuanji knew that while the technique was powerful, it had drawbacks.

Once activated, Meng Kui could not intervene until the fate field dissipated.

Otherwise, the backlash would be severe—not only injuring his body and soul but also drastically lowering his fortune for a long time.

Meng Kui, aware of this, had specially selected materials and hired a master craftsman to forge the two Outer Peach Fate Nuclei.

Only with these could he directly intervene in the fate field.

Once thrown, the nuclei were immensely powerful, with their first ability being "unavoidable strike."

They also possessed other mysteries even the royal family couldn’t uncover.

This was Meng Kui’s core technique, rarely used and kept strictly secret.

Spell—Phantom Shadows Swarm!

Countless ghostly shadows swirled around Qi Bai, rapidly wearing down the formation patterns.

Ning Zhuo triggered the teleportation array and vanished.

But Qi Bai sensed Sun Lingtong’s location—no longer underground but back on the surface.

He laughed maniacally, his face twisted with ferocity. "A dozen underground bases—impressive work!"

"But now?"

"What will you use to stop me?!"

Boom!

The next moment, the underground base erupted in terrifying flames, engulfing Qi Bai instantly.

Huff... huff...

Ning Zhuo panted heavily.

He had abandoned over a dozen underground bases, continuously teleporting and retreating to lull Qi Bai into carelessness, all for this final strike.

"Boss Sun, this location is perfect. It’s deep within Huoshi Mountain, and the surrounding formations can be used to set a trap." When Ning Zhuo first discovered it, he was excited and shared his plan.

Sun Lingtong nodded in agreement but also looked somewhat puzzled. "Xiao Zhuo, you seem obsessed with explosions lately."

Ning Zhuo nodded. "Explosions are beautiful."

"I love explosions!"

"No matter what is detonated, it bursts into its most dazzling and brilliant form in an instant."

"That momentary release of terrifying power is the result of countless accumulations and suppressed silence."

"It might only last a moment, and after the explosion, everything is destroyed or vanishes entirely."

"But it’s worth it!"

Sun Lingtong couldn’t help but grind his teeth.

Over the past few years, he’d noticed Ning Zhuo growing up—and his thoughts becoming dangerous. Often, Sun Lingtong didn’t know how to advise him, feeling increasingly worried.

After a moment’s thought, Sun Lingtong said, "Xiao Zhuo, life is long. There’s no need to live so repressed or chase fleeting moments of brilliance."

"We cultivators seek longevity, even immortality, right?"

Ning Zhuo nodded. "Boss, I understand. ‘As long as the green hills remain, there’ll be wood to burn.’"

Sun Lingtong nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes! You’ve always been clever. Be rational, stay calm, and make the right choices!"

"Ning Zhuo, you fool!" Sun Lingtong transmitted his voice to Ning Zhuo.

Ning Zhuo was overjoyed. "Boss, you’re finally awake!"

Sun Lingtong was very weak. "Get out of here! Qi Bai is no ordinary Golden Core cultivator. He must have planted a mark on me. Why did you come?!"

"Don’t forget our agreement."

Ning Zhuo suddenly smiled. "It’s too late, Boss. He’s here."

Qi Bai appeared, disheveled and covered in dust.

Compared to before, he looked somewhat disgraced.

Ning Zhuo’s heart sank. In the tone of Chuitiao Ke, he said, "I never expected such an explosion wouldn’t harm you. Blind Judge, you live up to your reputation."

Qi Bai’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he let out a mocking laugh. "Only now realizing the gap between us? You really are an old fool."

"Don’t think flattery will save you. Die!"

As soon as he spoke, spectral souls swarmed, covering the sky.

Ning Zhuo took a deep breath and stomped his foot, triggering countless mechanical thunder-silent birds from the surrounding houses.

The thunderbirds self-destructed, clashing violently with the ghostly army.

For a time, thunder and lightning flashed while spectral souls howled, the battle evenly matched.

Qi Bai sneered, hovering mid-air without moving.

Suddenly, a one-horned ghost general appeared behind Ning Zhuo, swinging its ghost-head blade horizontally.

"When did it sneak up?!" Caught off guard, Ning Zhuo could only block with his left arm.

The moment the blade struck, a silver shield flashed over the mechanical left arm of the Cangtie Han Armor.

The shield shattered instantly, but it bought Ning Zhuo the most critical moment.

(End of )