Chapter 228: Escape? You're Not Going Anywhere

Chapter 228: Escape? You're Not Going Anywhere

Dai Tianrui shot a venomous glare at Zhang Gongxian, who stood watching the spectacle with amusement, but he had no intention of swallowing his pride to beg for help.

Instead, he directly invoked his most powerful backer to preserve his dignity.

He’d never suffered such a humiliating defeat in his entire life. This time, he’d demand his great-grandfather personally ensure Xiao Chen’s death—his head displayed publicly on the Darkness Island as a warning to others.

“So what if you’ve got a good background? There’s nothing to be smug about.”

Zhang Gongxian noticed Dai Tianrui’s glare but dismissed it. As long as he secured the best legacy from this Relic, he’d become the sect’s new chief disciple. Then, the elders would naturally recognize his worth—unlike Xiao Chen, a minor figure whose fate could be decided by the Dai family’s whim.

But the surrounding solitary cultivators lacked such confidence. Hearing his words, they inhaled sharply, startled.

Could it be that in three days’ time, they’d witness a Golden Core True Sovereign’s intervention?

“Sigh~” Wu Lei Guan Xingfa Elder exhaled deeply. There was nothing he could do now.

“This…” Wen Suruo’s heart sank, her voice faltering.

She’d tolerated Dai Tianrui’s verbal harassment for so long precisely to avoid this scenario. Now, seeing Xiao Chen cornered so ruthlessly, she felt a pang of shared anger and helplessness.

If this were the Yunchi Sea, she’d have stepped forward without hesitation.

But here, under others’ roofs, she had no choice but to bow her head.

Looking at Xiao Chen, Wen Suruo saw her own reflection.

In this moment, she fully understood his feelings, her gaze softening with involuntary pity.

Another soul oppressed by a privileged brat.

Yet when she saw Xiao Chen’s lips curl upward, an unusual smile flickering across his face, she immediately assumed it was bitter laughter born of fury.

He must be seething with rage inside, right?

But all this was her own assumption—Xiao Chen felt no such bitterness.

He was smiling because Dai Tianrui’s words had genuinely amused him.

Where had this inexplicable confidence come from? How had the man even uttered those words?

“Escape? You’re not going anywhere.”

Xiao Chen brandished his Scarlet Gold Quadrangular Mace. “You might be ugly, but you sure have a flair for delusion.”

With that, he activated Chasing Stars and Moon, transforming into a streak of firelight.

In an instant, he reappeared before his opponent.

Dai Tianrui had been eagerly anticipating Xiao Chen’s reaction—fear, rage, or at least a desperate attempt to fight back.

Either a frenzied last stand or a forced calm masking inner turmoil.

Either way, he’d relish the moment.

But he never expected Xiao Chen to respond with such disdainful mockery, let alone that condescending “you’re-a-fool” stare.

“Yōumíng Corpse Armor!”

Dai Tianrui roared. Four pitch-black corpse puppets materialized around him, their gray-black mystic light forming four layers of barriers to encase him safely in the center.

“Boom!”

The golden mace struck, but its force was evenly absorbed by the four iron corpses, dissipating harmlessly.

“Hmph, you think those parlor tricks will work twice?” Dai Tianrui sneered. “Earlier, this young master simply let his guard down, allowing you a lucky shot.”

“Now, I’ll stand here motionless, and you still can’t touch a single hair on my body.”

He dared speak so boldly because these four iron corpses were Supreme-grade constructs, artfully forged by the Dai Clan Elders specially for his protection.

The Elders had personally assured him: “Worn as armor, even ten Golden Cores working together couldn’t break through.”

With Xiao Chen alone, Dai Tianrui naturally felt invincible.

The onlookers cast envious glances.

One cultivator shook his head, commenting, “See that? Noble disciples always have hidden life-saving aces. Should’ve never provoked them in the first place.”

Another whispered in agreement: “Exactly. Now trying to fight to the death? You’ll need more than that.”

Truth be told, this technique was indeed formidable.

Combined with other defensive methods, even Xiao Chen would’ve struggled.

But Dai Tianrui’s arrogance blinded him to his family’s corpse puppet secret techniques, neglecting to reinforce his defenses with additional talismans or spirit shields.

Under normal circumstances, such precautions would’ve been unnecessary.

Unfortunately for him, Xiao Chen—though seemingly only a Golden Core Middle Stage cultivator—had already unlocked the Perfect Completion power surpassing ordinary Golden Cores.

“Third Transformation: Cloud Dragon’s Tail!”

Xiao Chen rarely used martial techniques, having last done so against Xu Gongtong, a Golden Core Late Stage opponent.

After all, his physical strength alone could crush most foes effortlessly.

But today, facing the Yōumíng Corpse Armor, he welcomed the chance to test his latest cultivation breakthrough.

“Roar~!”

A thunderous roar echoed. The golden mace swept through the air, its afterimage condensing into a dragon’s tail—a swirling mass of storm clouds and thunder—slamming forward with devastating force.

The four iron corpses flared their mystic light, desperately resisting.

But they lasted less than a breath before being smashed aside.

“What?!”

Dai Tianrui barely grabbed a talisman, too late to crush it before being seized again.

“You said something earlier?” Xiao Chen cupped his left hand to his ear. “Something about not being able to touch you? I didn’t catch that—care to repeat it?”

“Mmph… mmph…”

Dai Tianrui’s face turned purple as he choked, unable to speak.

The surrounding cultivators, however, couldn’t contain their shock, erupting into chaos.

“Ow, my ears!”

A Golden Core Initial Stage cultivator clutched his ears, nearly ruptured by the earlier roar.

“Whoa, I swear I saw a dragon’s tail just now!”

His companion, too stunned to comfort him, rubbed his eyes, questioning his sanity.

“How can someone be this strong? What sect does he belong to?”

Wu Lei Guan Xingfa Elder froze, his composure shattered.

Having lived over 300 years and fought hundreds of battles, he’d never witnessed such a powerful martial technique.

Zuo Hufa of the Fubing Sect stood dumbfounded, then silently stepped back, his movements instinctively cautious.

Though he knew he’d never wronged Xiao Chen, staying at a safe distance suddenly felt necessary.

“He dared strike again—and succeeded?!”

Wen Suruo stood frozen, utterly unprepared for this turn.

She’d thought she understood Xiao Chen’s feelings, only to realize her assumptions were entirely wrong.

Recalling her earlier thoughts, her face flushed crimson—she’d completely misjudged him.

Some might choose to endure against Dai Tianrui, but others would strike back.

Watching Xiao Chen’s back, hearing his casual retort, Wen Suruo felt her heartbeat skip.

There was admiration, relief at seeing Dai Tianrui humiliated—and something more.

“Release Dai junior sect brother!”

Zhang Gongxian’s face darkened. He couldn’t afford to watch idly now.

Earlier, knowing noble disciples always carried life-saving treasures, he’d enjoyed the spectacle.

But if Dai Tianrui truly perished while he stood by, the sect elders—and the Dai Clan’s wrath—would be unbearable.

“Crack!”

A sharp bone-snap rang out as Xiao Chen effortlessly crushed Dai Tianrui’s throat.

“Boom~!”

A dull thud followed. The figure in his hand suddenly became a straw puppet.

A hundred meters away, another figure emerged—Dai Tianrui, alive once more.

“Hmph, Life-Substitute Grass Figure.”

Xiao Chen inhaled sharply. So he’d kept a backup?

But considering Wen Ruoxi had one, it made sense for noble disciples to carry such treasures.

As main bloodline heirs of major sects, they aren't easily defeated.

No matter. Another kill would suffice.

With everyone trapped on Tianxing Island, Dai Tianrui had nowhere to run.

Life-saving Spirit Herbs were finite—saving him twice was possible, but not thrice.

“Senior sect brother Zhang, save me!”

“Senior sect brother Kuang, save me!”

Dai Tianrui’s panic stripped him of dignity. As he activated spirit shields for defense, he inwardly cursed: Where were Ban Lian and Shou Gou? Why hadn’t they returned?

Once he escaped, he’d ensure those negligent fools paid dearly.

Kuang senior sect brother, nearby, immediately summoned two corpse puppets to guard them while reinforcing defenses with spirit shields.

Zhang Gongxian, seeing this, relaxed slightly.

Then he summoned six corpse puppets, their Golden Core Late Stage auras sweeping the area.

He himself exuded a Perfect Completion Golden Core’s oppressive aura—stronger than the six puppets combined.

Only then did he address Xiao Chen: “Fellow cultivator, know when to stop.”

“Though Dai junior sect brother spoke rashly earlier, you’ve suffered no real harm.”

“Do me a favor—stand down.”

His words seemed mild, but his tone carried unmistakable menace.

As he finished, five Yin Corpse Sect disciples released their own corpse puppets, all targeting Xiao Chen.

Clearly, they were Zhang Gongxian’s allies.

The Yin Corpse Sect, reliant on corpse puppets, had no qualms about overwhelming opponents.

“Truly, a nest of villains!”

Wu Lei Guan Xingfa Elder’s eyes flashed with disgust—but mostly helplessness.

From the bottom of his heart, he believed the Yin Corpse Sect was a demonic sect, but obviously, his voice carried little weight.

"Old Zhang?"

Zuo Hufa's eyes locked onto a particularly familiar figure among the corpse puppets, and his temple throbbed.

This was an old friend who had mysteriously vanished forty years ago. Who could have guessed he'd end up in such a fate?

His fists clenched involuntarily, but he quickly lowered his head, suppressing the fury blazing in his eyes.

Though the Fubing Sect had seemingly risen to become the second strongest power in the Darkness Sea, this was merely the Yin Corpse Sect granting a favor to the Fubing True Sovereign. If he truly offended the Yin Corpse Sect, even Zuo Hufa himself would be in mortal danger.

"Truly despicable!"

Wen Suruo inwardly spat, her gaze dimming. This situation mirrored her deepest concerns.

As the local power, the Yin Corpse Sect had the largest number of members inside the Relic.

As the old saying goes, two fists can't fight a hundred hands.

Even a top-tier golden core cultivator would struggle against multiple peers and over a dozen corpse puppets. Most would have no choice but to retreat.

Frankly speaking, even she would have to withdraw temporarily and seek another opportunity.

Wen Suruo glanced at Xiao Chen. What would you do?

Strangely, she felt a flicker of anticipation, hoping for an unexpected answer.

"What makes you think I should respect you?"

Xiao Chen's sharp retort tightened the breath of every cultivator present.

Facing such a threat without flinching—what courage!

Some secretly speculated: Could he have a blood feud with the Yin Corpse Sect, coming here today for vengeance?

"Senior Sect Brother Zhang, no need to waste words on a corpse."

Dai Tianrui bellowed, "He wasted one of my precious Life-Substitute Grass Figures. Kill this bastard quickly!"

"I'll turn him into a soul-retaining corpse puppet to play with like a dog."

The term "soul-retaining corpse puppet" sent shockwaves through the crowd, faces paling.

Legend said these special puppets retained a sliver of consciousness, able to speak with permission.

Yet every movement was controlled by the master—a cruel torment.

Some cultivators shuddered at the thought, feeling a chill down their spines, pitying Xiao Chen.

The Yin Corpse Sect had publicly abolished such techniques millennia ago.

But clearly, this was a lie—at least the Dai family still practiced it secretly.

"How can this idiot speak so recklessly?"

Zhang Gongxian frowned but shrugged. It wasn't his neck on the line.

The sect would simply sacrifice a scapegoat, claiming someone secretly studied forbidden arts.

The priority was saving this fool's life without getting dragged down.

Xiao Chen swept his gaze over the corpse puppets, smirking. "Hmph, a fine group of cultivation devils."

"I'll take the trouble to rid the world of your filth."

"Who else here serves the Yin Corpse Sect? Step forward together. Saves me the effort of hunting you one by one."

As he spoke, he sheathed his golden club.

Facing such odds, fighting one by one was inefficient.

No matter. He'd recently learned the Ninghuo Palm.

Still at the introductory stage, but more than sufficient for trash like this.

"Buzz~!"

Heavenly qi within thirty li erupted, swirling into a colossal vortex centered at the Observatory Platform.

The temperature skyrocketed, warping the air.

The qing stone tablet melted into crimson liuli, the ground scorched with black trenches and web-like white cracks.

At the battlefield's heart bloomed a raging fire lotus.

No matter how fierce the five elements spells raged around it, they couldn't breach Xiao Chen's core.

Above his head, the Ghost-Face Mystic Light Shield absorbed three hundred true mana streams, radiating brilliance like a suspended sun.

In the battle's opening, eight spiritual artifacts had struck—but all were blocked.

Since Xiao Chen emerged unscathed, the Yin Corpse Sect cultivators bore the brunt.

"Cough! Cough!"

Zhang Gongxian, clinging to his last breath, rasped, wiping blood from his lips.

His once-exquisite Life-Preserving Jade Token now lay in dust.

Of the Yin Corpse Sect cultivators, only Dai Tianrui behind him survived the quarter-hour slaughter.

"Heh~!"

Zhang Gongxian shoved aside a charred corpse puppet, lifting his head weakly. "You—you're the Nongyan Sect heir?"

Knowing his fate, he sought intel to ensure revenge.

"What?"

Wu Lei Guan, the Xingfa Elder five li away, startled. Had he misjudged?

Hiding beneath the Observatory Platform, Xiang Yiyan blinked.

"He's the Nongyan heir?"

Then who was he?

Even he, the true heir, couldn't match Xiao Chen's tenth.

The palm techniques' might and the indestructible fire lotus surpassed his wildest dreams.

Even within Nongyan Sect, masters devoted to fire cultivation couldn't match this power.

"Fire cultivation... could it reach such heights?"

Xiang Yiyan felt humbled.

He'd entered the world eager to show off, flaunting ancient scripts at the entrance.

Now, he swallowed his pride, realizing the world teemed with superior talents.

But Xiang Yiyan merely resolved to bide his time, vowing secretly, "One day, I'll match your steps."

He prided himself on fire cultivation, believing that day near.

"Even at Death's Door, you scheme."

Xiao Chen saw through Zhang Gongxian's ploy.

But he'd prepared to reveal his identity, "Remember in the Nine Springs: the one who killed you is the Golden Light Technique Hermit."

"Golden Light Technique Hermit... so that's your name."

Wen Suruo murmured, memorizing the title.

Hmm?

Dai Tianrui trembled. That phrase sounded familiar.

He drew a Flying Sword, thrusting it through Zhang Gongxian's heart, cleaving him in two.

"Golden Light Technique cultivator, misunderstanding! All misunderstandings!"

Dai Tianrui pointed at the dead Zhang, "I held no grudge! He forced me to provoke you!"

"You saw how they obeyed him!"

"I was the victim! Believe me!"

With Zhang silenced, Dai spun lies, rewriting history.

"Boom!"

Xiao Chen silenced him with a palm strike.

"Spit~!"

Dai spat blood, alive but barely.

"Ugh, not again!"

Xiao Chen groaned. What now?

Third time's the charm? What's the deal?

Suddenly, vibrant vitality surged in Dai, healing his wounds.

A crushing aura erupted, pressing on all cultivators like a mountain.

"Sigh, my unworthy descendant offended which cultivator?"

A solemn yet aged voice echoed.

A translucent figure emerged from Dai, sharing eight parts of his face.

Bowing forward, it said, "An old man's only descendant. Forgive him, cultivator."

"Should you visit Darkness Sea, I'll welcome you warmly."

The phantom lacked sentience, eyes hollow, voice mechanical.

After reciting its script, it dissolved into a zhang-wide translucent sphere, enveloping Dai.

Clearly, the Dai family's golden core ancestor secretly implanted this life-saving measure.

Activated only in mortal danger.

Perhaps knowing his descendant's recklessness, he kept it secret.

The spell assumed no golden core threat, addressing Xiao Chen as "cultivator"—believing only peers could endanger Dai.

"Great-grandfather?"

Dai Tianrui's shock turned to ecstasy, "Haha! Great-grandfather left me a last resort!"

"I knew he cherished me most!"

His arrogance reignited, "Golden Light Technique Hermit? Seen this spell?"

"Haha! This is the Tai Xu Cloudlight Barrier. Heard of it?"

"It lasts ten days! Enough for my family to rescue me!"

"This is our difference! Born from fate!"

"Haha! You think you can kill me? Dream on!"

He laughed, hands on hips, carefree.

That's it?

Xiao Chen eyed the barrier, recalling his new Rocket-Propelled Gauntlet.

Too funny. Does he really think this flimsy shield saves him?

The more Dai raged, the more ridiculous he seemed to Xiao Chen.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end