Chapter 149: Underwater Battle, Finger Technique

Chapter 149: Underwater Battle, Finger Technique

At the banks of the Luo River.

"Elder Liu, I suspect that young lad was just lying," Wang Jiu followed behind Liu Qingsong, and only when they were completely away from Jiang Ning's house did he speak up.

Upon hearing this, Liu Qingsong also stopped in his tracks.

Standing on the shore of the Luo River, he nodded towards the direction of the lake breeze.

"Wang Jiu, your instincts are right! This lad was indeed lying just now."

"How did the Elder figure it out?" Wu Sheng, who had been silent until now, spoke up.

This person was also one of the Eighth Stage Divine Strength Realm from Medicine King Valley who had come to capture Tian Cai Dibao.

Liu Qingsong spoke up, "I don't know if you two noticed, but after Jiang Ning appeared, his brother's family completely disappeared."

"Elder, what do you mean by that?" Wu Sheng was startled, deep in thought.

Compared to Wang Jiu, he was more thoughtful, and at this moment, hearing Liu Qingsong's words, a possible scenario came to his mind.

"You guessed right!" Liu Qingsong turned to look at Wu Sheng, the Eighth Stage Divine Strength Realm junior, with a look of approval.

"Elder, Wu Sheng, what are you two talking about?" Wang Jiu, standing nearby, was filled with confusion.

Wu Sheng spoke up, "There's something off about Jiang Ning. After he appeared, his brother's family disappeared without a trace, and there's been no sign of them."

"Isn't that quite normal?" Wang Jiu looked puzzled, "It's mealtime now, and as that lad said, they're preparing dinner, so it's natural they're not around."

Wu Sheng said, "But did you smell any food or cooking smoke?"

"This—" Wang Jiu's expression froze for a moment.

Wu Sheng continued, "We've reached the Seventh Stage Martial Dao, and although we haven't specifically trained our five senses and six perceptions, we've long surpassed ordinary people. In such a small house, if they're preparing dinner or someone is moving around normally, we should be able to detect some unusual movements."

"I understand now!" Wang Jiu suddenly realized, "So, that lad is suspicious. When he met with us earlier, he had already secretly moved his family."

"That's right!" Liu Qingsong nodded slightly.

Then he added, "Moreover, I also noticed something else unusual. Jiang Ning has a strong medicinal scent lingering on him."

"This medicinal scent is unique to the pills from Medicine King Valley."

"What does the Elder mean by that???" Wang Jiu's eyes widened.

Liu Qingsong slowly nodded, "Although this lingering medicinal scent isn't unique to the Panther Embryo Transformation Body Pill, my intuition tells me that this lad has swallowed one of those pills!"

"He swallowed a Panther Embryo Transformation Body Pill too?" Wang Jin's eyes widened, "Since that's the case, why didn't the Elder capture him on the spot?"

"There are only three Panther Embryo Transformation Body Pills left, and if we delay, the last pill will be swallowed. Then, our mission will truly fail!!!"

Liu Qingsong slowly shook his head, "Our purpose here today isn't based on any top-secret information. If we directly take action against him, it will definitely cause conflict with Wang Jin."

"Wang Jin only publicly announced a few days ago that he was taking this lad as his personal disciple."

"If I openly move against this lad now, it would be like slapping Wang Jin in the face."

"Elder, why bother boosting others' morale and diminishing your own?" Wang Jiu spoke up, "Although Wang Jin is also at the Seventh Stage Martial Dao, he's already old and frail. Elder, you're at your peak, why fear him?"

Liu Qingsong shook his head, "You know too little about Wang Jin. When he became famous, you had just started your martial arts journey. He's not an ordinary Seventh Stage Martial Dao practitioner! Even if I'm not afraid of him, it's still not appropriate to confront him directly, after all, that Wang Dou Tou is his own brother!"

Then Liu Qingsong added, "Moreover, it's not just Wang Jin behind that lad. Previously, Lord Shen also valued him greatly, and now Lord Lin seems to favor him as well!"

"After all, we're outsiders and shouldn't act too recklessly."

Hearing these words, Wang Jiu asked, "So, does the Elder mean to let that lad go?"

"How is that possible?" Liu Qingsong glanced at him, "We'll retreat for now and return to the inn. At noon, you two will come with me to confront him again."

"Understood, Elder!" Wang Jiu nodded repeatedly.

Wu Sheng, standing nearby, also nodded repeatedly, "Yes, Elder."

At this moment, on the other side.

Jiang Ning had already submerged himself in the water.

With his powerful five senses, especially after entering the water and further enhancing his senses, the conversation between Liu Qingsong and the others clearly reached his ears.

"As expected, Liu Qingsong has already noticed something unusual!"

"Fortunately, I followed them secretly!"

"Otherwise, if we lose the initiative and they sneak up on us tonight, it'll be troublesome!"

At this moment, Jiang Ning felt relieved.

The true power of a Seventh Stage Martial Dao practitioner was beyond Wang Jin's knowledge. However, judging by the performance of Wang Jin and Cao Rong on that day, a Seventh Stage Martial Dao expert at their peak was truly terrifying.

Even with his current array of skills, Wang Jin wasn't confident he could defeat Cao Rong, who had displayed his prowess earlier. Especially not when Cao Rong had the advantage of distance.

Therefore, if he were to lose the initiative and Liu Qingsong, a powerful Seventh Stage Martial Dao practitioner who had honed his skills over the years, were to show up, Wang Jin wouldn't be certain of victory, even with his diverse abilities.

Not to mention, he would be hindered at that time.

The next moment, Wang Jin's thoughts raced, and he decided to take the initiative.

A loud splash reverberated.

Suddenly, the lake water in front of Liu Qingsong and his two companions erupted, creating a wave that rose to the height of a pole.

"What's happening?" Liu Qingsong's expression froze in shock.

Before he could react, the raging lake water instantly engulfed Wang Jiu and Wu Sheng, who were standing beside Liu Qingsong.

Witnessing this, Liu Qingsong's face revealed a look of astonishment, as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing.

A moment later, Liu Qingsong shouted with indignation, "What kind of monster are you?!" and instantly inhaled deeply.

Plop!

Liu Qingsong dove headfirst into the water.

As soon as he entered the water, he saw the lake churning, as if an angry dragon were roaring within.

He also noticed that the lake water had turned crimson, and Wang Jiu and Wu Sheng's figures seemed to be wrapped by a crimson serpent, rapidly moving towards the depths below.

Witnessing this bizarre sight, Wang Jin immediately thought of the changes that had occurred over the years and the rumors that had been circulating.

"Could this be a demonic beast spawned in the Luo River?" Liu Qingsong wondered in his heart.

However, the commotion ahead left him little time to ponder, as he saw Wang Jiu and Wu Sheng's silhouettes rapidly sinking.

Instantly, Liu Qingsong shouted, "How dare you lay a hand on someone from Medicine King Valley!" His voice thundered through the water, even overpowering the raging waves.

Even the turbulent lake couldn't stop his voice from resonating like rolling thunder.

Following his shout, he dove deeper, swiftly pursuing Wang Jiu and Wu Sheng as they were about to disappear into the depths.

Meanwhile, Wang Jin, sensing the disturbance behind him, muttered to himself, "Good that you've come; I was afraid you wouldn't."

"In the water, this is my domain now."

He swiftly grabbed Wang Jiu and Wu Sheng, dragging them deeper into the Luo River.

At this moment, the two men were already struggling to breathe, gasping for air.

After Wang Jin's surprise attack, they barely had time to mount a defense and were easily wounded by him.

Wang Jin could have instantly killed them the moment they fell into the water, but he had wanted to lure Liu Qingsong.

Both Wang Jiu and Wu Sheng were Eighth Stage Divine Strength Realm practitioners.

With the advantage of timing, location, and his deeper cultivation, coupled with the power of his divine weapon, it would have been extremely easy for Wang Jin to defeat them.

However, Wang Jin also knew that if the two men died and their vital energy completely vanished, Liu Qingsong might notice their condition upon entering the water.

If Liu Qingsong were to discover this, he wouldn't be easily lured deeper into the Luo River.

Liu Qingsong must not be allowed to live.

After listening to the conversation between the three men, Wang Jin had made up his mind.

Liu Qingsong had been investigating him, and in this situation, if they were to probe further, they would undoubtedly discover the Panther Embryo Transformation Body Pill that he had just refined within his body.

Once this pill was found, that would be real trouble.

This kind of trouble wouldn't just come from Medicine King Valley but also from the Huai'an King.

The three Panther Embryo Transformation Body Pills were tribute items offered to the Huai'an King by Medicine King Valley.

To be accused of appropriating tribute items was a charge Wang Jin couldn't afford at this time.

So, upon hearing their conversation, Wang Jin had already made up his mind to ensure Liu Qingsong's demise here.

This person couldn't be allowed to live.

Liu Qingsong frantically pursued the two men being dragged by the crimson serpent, feeling extremely anxious.

Originally, he had intended to capture Tian Buyi to make up for his crimes, but now, with the Panther Embryo Transformation Body Pill still unrecovered, he had completely lost face before Medicine King Valley.

In this situation, if he were to lose two of Medicine King Valley's core Eighth Stage Divine Strength Realm practitioners under his leadership, he would undoubtedly face punishment upon his return.

Wang Jiu and Wu Sheng were both Eighth Stage Divine Strength Realm experts, and their lives were as important to the sect as the Panther Embryo Transformation Body Pill.

As Liu Qingsong ventured deeper into the Luo River, his anxiety grew.

The longer the time dragged on, the more difficult it became to ensure the survival of Wang Jiu and Wu Sheng.

"Faster!" Liu Qingsong urged himself as he watched the crimson serpent gradually closing in on him. He muttered to himself, his eyes fixed on the distance ahead.

Simultaneously, a surge of excitement stirred within him.

This crimson serpent had effortlessly captured Wang Jiu and Wu Sheng, two eighth-rank Divine Strength Realm cultivators.

In Liu Qingsong's eyes, it could only be a demon.

Such demonic creatures were treasures to martial artists, every part of their bodies held immense value.

Consuming them would greatly enhance one's strength, allowing for further advancement.

"Perhaps this is my opportunity to progress further, maybe even touch the threshold of the sixth rank of Martial Dao, all thanks to this crimson serpent," Liu Qingsong thought as he vigorously pursued his prey, his heart filled with excitement.

However, he was unaware that this so-called crimson serpent was merely an illusion created by Jiang Ning using his Water Control Technique, transforming the blood that flowed from Wang Jiu and Wu Sheng's bodies.

It had condensed into a long snake.

Both Jiang Ning and the two captives were out of Liu Qingsong's sight.

One chased, and the other fled.

In an instant, dozens of breaths had passed.

At this moment, Liu Qingsong had ventured hundreds of meters deep into the water.

The next moment, Liu Qingsong reached out and grabbed Wang Jiu and Wu Sheng.

"Dead?"

His hands had barely touched their bodies when he instantly made his judgment.

Just then, a dragon's roar reverberated from within the crimson serpent.

Simultaneously, a blade of light flashed by, instantly splitting the serpent, leaving an indelible mark in Liu Qingsong's pupils.

His pupils constricted violently, and his eyes widened in shock.

He recognized the face behind the blade of light—it was Jiang Ning.

At the same time, he felt the menacing blade aura enveloping him, a threat that seemed to foreshadow death.

This threat was so intense that he could almost smell the scent of mortality.

"How is this possible?!" Liu Qingsong was stunned by the sight of Jiang Ning before him.

At that moment, Jiang Ning had already unleashed his full power.

This strike was the most potent blow he had ever delivered.

With the assistance of the water's momentum, the blade's effect was amplified, creating a ripple effect in the water.

Meanwhile, Liu Qingsong, after a brief moment of shock, quickly regained his composure.

He stared at the blade of light, now within arm's reach, and his expression turned solemn.

He knew he couldn't evade this strike.

Even without considering the blade's aura, the water hindered his movements, preventing him from executing the agile maneuvers he could perform on land.

In an instant, Liu Qingsong made his decision.

He decided to use his signature martial art, the Finger Technique.

With a flick of his finger, an iron orb shot out from his index finger.

A blast of water erupted, creating a continuous expanding arc.

Liu Qingsong began to retreat, attempting to create distance between himself and Jiang Ning.

Just as he had desperately wanted to reach the crimson serpent, he now yearned to escape.

In the next instant, a clanging sound reverberated.

Jiang Ning felt a terrifying force slam into his blade.

The powerful impact caused Jiang Ning's palm to go numb.

"What incredible power!" He was secretly shocked.

But his blade continued its relentless advance toward Liu Qingsong.

The iron orb, shot by Liu Qingsong, had only momentarily blocked his blade before it was split in two by the incredibly sharp edge.

"Go!" Liu Qingsong shouted, and another iron orb shot out.

"Go!"

"Go!"

Three iron orbs were fired in rapid succession.

Instantly, a small area in front of him was blasted into a void.

At the seventh rank of Martial Dao, the body's major tendons are tempered.

At this level, every movement, every gesture, unleashes the body's power without the need for any additional force.

All techniques of force at this level are child's play.

If one thoroughly masters the seventh rank, the body's power can be transferred from one point to another in an instant.

The body's strength can be unleashed from any part, allowing for an explosion of all one's might.

At this stage, even a light tap of the finger can release the body's full power, effortlessly piercing fine iron.

For this reason, the iron orbs fired by Liu Qingsong were so terrifying.

In Jiang Ning's eyes, even the most primitive bullets paled in comparison.

Simultaneously, Liu Qingsong continued to retreat, moving away from Jiang Ning.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end