Chapter 275: Three Punches to Annihilate a Late-Stage Golden Core

Chapter 275: Three Punches to Annihilate a Late-Stage Golden Core

Not long after Chu Ning and his companion set off, they soon arrived at the base of a steep cliff.

Despite being unable to use his spiritual sense, Chu Ning's keen senses picked up a powerful aura emanating from within the cliff, far more formidable than that of the average demonic beast.

Taking a bow and arrow from Xie Xianhai, Chu Ning aimed at a spot on the cliff and abruptly fired an arrow.

Even without the aid of a magical artifact, the arrow, empowered by Chu Ning's formidable strength, effortlessly pierced through the stone wall and vanished into the cliff.

He then returned the bow and arrow to Xie Xianhai.

"Clan Head Xie, the demonic beast is about to emerge. You should stand aside."

Xie Xianhai took the bow and arrow from Chu Ning's hands and asked with concern, "Brother Chu, do you need any weapons?"

Chu Ning shook his head, his gaze fixed intently on the spot where he had just shot the arrow.

While he had learned some techniques for physical cultivation, they were no match for the secrets of the Nine Refining Body Technique in terms of raw power.

Since this demonic beast was comparable to a pseudo-dan, having reached the peak of the fourth rank, Chu Ning knew that employing the secrets of the Nine Refining Body Technique would be the most effective means of attack.

However, his words took on a different meaning in Xie Xianhai's ears.

Hearing that Chu Ning intended to face the beast with his bare hands, Xie Xianhai's eyes widened in astonishment as he leaped onto a tall tree several dozen zhang away.

"Boom!"

Just then, a loud rumble echoed from the cliff.

Dust and debris flew everywhere! In the next moment, a demonic beast resembling an armadillo emerged from the cliff.

This beast was colossal, its body nearly two zhang long and covered in rocky scales.

Its long and sturdy tail was even longer than its body.

On its slender, pointed head, there was a snake-like crown from which demonic energy gathered, causing Chu Ning to sense an intensely strong earthy demonic force.

As soon as the beast appeared, the bird-like demons that had been perching on the cliff scattered in all directions.

"As expected, it has reached the peak of the fourth rank, comparable to the pseudo-dan realm, and it has been at this stage for quite some time," Chu Ning thought, his eyes narrowing slightly.

However, he couldn't help but wonder why the beast had not been able to condense a demonic core and advance to the fifth rank.

"Yah!"

At that moment, the armadillo-like beast, with its small eyes darting about, let out an angry cry upon spotting Chu Ning, the intruder who had disturbed its resting place.

The next instant, it charged straight towards Chu Ning!

Its speed was astonishing, especially given its massive size.

But Chu Ning was faster!

Using the Thunderstep Technique, his robust body demonstrated the secrets of the Nine Refining Body Technique, moving with incredible swiftness even without the aid of spiritual power.

In just a flash, he appeared before the armadillo beast.

The beast's tiny eyes gleamed with ferocity as it lowered its head and charged directly at Chu Ning.

However, Chu Ning once again employed the Thunderstep Technique, stepping to the side and effortlessly evading the beast's charge.

The armadillo beast was incredibly agile, and its long tail lashed out towards Chu Ning the moment it sensed his new position.

"Hoo!"

The thick tail whipped through the air with tremendous force, sending out a piercing sound as it cleaved through the air.

Chu Ning's eyes sparkled with a fierce light as he evaded the tail with ease, having already reached the beast's flank.

Heavenly Canopy Fist! Essence Gathering Slash! Soul Shattering Strike!

Chu Ning unleashed these three secret techniques in rapid succession, delivering a powerful blow to the armadillo beast!

As the beast felt the impact of Chu Ning's punch on its rocky scales, a mocking glint flashed in its small eyes, reflecting a very human-like emotion.

It was extremely confident in the defense provided by its rocky armor and didn't believe that a mere human's strike could harm it in any way.

But the next moment...

"Boom!"

Accompanied by a dull thud, the armadillo beast was sent flying by Chu Ning's punch, and it also felt a tremendous destructive force acting within its body.

"Yah!"

The beast let out a pitiful cry, and its eyes widened in shock and confusion.

It prepared to use its signature earth-style evasion technique as soon as it landed.

However, Chu Ning wasn't about to give it a chance.

Thunderstep Technique!

As the armadillo beast was launched into the air, Chu Ning pursued it relentlessly, using the Thunderstep Technique to close the distance.

Before the beast could even touch the ground, Chu Ning unleashed another punch!

Xie Xianhai, perched atop a tall tree, watched with his mouth agape as Chu Ning relentlessly pummeled the beast.

Punch after punch landed with relentless force!

The armadillo beast didn't even have a chance to land as it was repeatedly knocked back into the air.

At first, the beast let out cries of pain and anger with each blow.

But soon, its cries grew weaker and weaker.

After just a few exchanges, it became completely silent in the air.

However, Chu Ning, wanting to make sure, continued to pummel the beast with several more punches.

Only then did he use the Thunderstep Technique to leap into the air and grab the beast's tail with one hand.

After carefully checking its vital signs, he confirmed that the beast was indeed dead.

"Clan Head Xie, you can come down now!"

As Chu Ning casually dragged the corpse of the peak fourth-rank armadillo beast, a demonic creature that had struck fear into Xie Xianhai's heart, he shouted up at the tree.

Only then did Xie Xianhai snap out of his daze.

Jumping down from the tall tree, he looked at Chu Ning with awe in his eyes.

Too strong! That was the only thought running through Xie Xianhai's mind at that moment.

He had initially wanted to observe Chu Ning's battle with the armadillo beast and perhaps pick up a few techniques.

But he never expected Chu Ning to be so straightforward and brutal in his approach, pounding the supposedly invincible armadillo beast to death with punch after punch!

"The strength of his physical body is even more formidable than that of the armadillo beast.

I had thought he was at the sixth level of body refinement, but now it seems that was an underestimate. Perhaps he has already surpassed the sixth level's bottleneck!"

Xie Xianhai's eyes burned with enthusiasm as he regarded Chu Ning, his mind brimming with these thoughts.

Chapter 275: Three Strikes to Annihilate a Late-Stage Golden Core (continued)



"Someone's coming!" Chu Ning interrupted, his gaze suddenly turning towards the direction they had come from.

Upon hearing this, Xie Xianhai was taken aback for a moment. Visitors to the Hundred Beasts Mountain were rare, and even if they did come, they usually stayed on the mountain's outskirts. Even he wouldn't dare to venture this deep into its core under normal circumstances.

"Could it be Shi Feng?" Xie Xianhai wondered aloud, suddenly realizing that this person might be the only one from No-Spirit Island brave enough to venture here. Although Shi Feng alone might not be a match for the Rock-Armored Beast, he should be capable of taking care of himself.

"Shi Feng? It seems there's more than one person," Chu Ning replied, his eyebrows furrowing slightly as he recognized one of the four figures approaching from the mountain.

It was Tie Shi from the Tianji Alliance. Tie Shi also recognized Chu Ning, and after a moment of surprise, he burst into loud laughter. "Hahaha! Who would've thought that after searching high and low, we would meet here by sheer coincidence! Chu Ning, I never imagined that you, too, would be transported to No-Spirit Island!"

As Tie Shi spoke, Chu Ning looked at him with calm eyes, his voice carrying a subtle threat. "Indeed, it's quite a coincidence, Tie Shi. I never expected that you would also end up here. What a twist of fate!"

As he spoke, a murderous intent rose within Chu Ning. He hadn't forgotten how Tie Shi had pursued him relentlessly before they encountered the spatial storm. He knew that Tie Shi's arrival on this island didn't change his hostile intentions.

And as expected, the next moment, Tie Shi's gaze locked onto Chu Ning, his eyes flashing with a menacing glint. "Chu Ning, I'll ask you one more time. Will you hand over what I want willingly, or should I take it by force?"

Upon hearing Tie Shi's words, both Xie Xianhai and Shi Feng exchanged glances, their eyes reflecting their confusion. Shi Feng hadn't expected any outsiders to be here, and moreover, this person seemed to know Tie Shi and possessed something he desperately wanted.

Meanwhile, Xie Xianhai's expression turned solemn. "Chu Ning has surpassed the sixth level of body refinement, yet this burly middle-aged man shows no respect. Could he be even more powerful than Chu Ning? According to our ancestors' records, a thousand years ago when an outsider cultivator visited, the art of body refinement in the outside world had already declined. I wonder if it has regained its former glory in the past millennium."

As the two clan heads of No-Spirit Island, Xie Xianhai and Shi Feng, each harbored their own thoughts, Chu Ning remained unfazed and responded to Tie Shi without fear. "Tie Shi, let's set aside whether or not I have what you want. Here on No-Spirit Island, spiritual power is useless. Even if you're a late-stage Golden Core cultivator, what can you possibly accomplish?"

"Hahaha!" Tie Shi burst into wild laughter, the threatening glint in his eyes fading, only to be replaced by a mocking and wild gleam. "Chu Ning, didn't your Cloudsoar Alliance friends tell you? I cultivate both spiritual power and physical body. Not only am I a late-stage Golden Core cultivator, but I've also reached the sixth level of body refinement!"

"Late-stage Golden Core!" Both Xie Xianhai and Shi Feng's faces twitched slightly upon hearing this. They were somewhat aware of the cultivation levels of outsiders, and Tie Shi's achievement surprised them.

However, Xie Xianhai's expression soon turned peculiar. "Sixth level of body refinement? If he's only at the sixth level, why is he so arrogant towards Chu Ning? Didn't we just witness Chu Ning easily defeat that Rock-Armored Beast, which was stronger than a sixth-level body refiner?"

Shi Feng's eyes swept across the group and landed on Xie Xianhai's face, noticing his strange expression. "Brother Xie, are you surprised? It seems No-Spirit Island has produced another sixth-level body refiner. We came here to kill the Rock-Armored Beast."

Xie Xianhai's expression became even more peculiar as he realized that Shi Feng must have guessed that Tie Shi was unaware of Chu Ning's true strength in body refinement. "Indeed, it's quite a surprise. I never expected an outsider cultivator to be so proficient in body refinement. The Rock-Armored Beast should no longer be a threat."

Shi Feng, eager to face the Rock-Armored Beast, turned to Tie Shi and suggested, "Brother Tie, why don't you capture this man and leave him to my clan to watch over? Let's deal with the Rock-Armored Beast first to prevent it from escaping."

"Alright!" Tie Shi nodded in agreement. He then fixed his gaze on Chu Ning and, without warning, lunged forward, his large hands reaching for Chu Ning's shoulders.

However, at that very moment, Tie Shi suddenly felt that something was amiss.

Tie Shi, still a good distance away, could already sense the immense power contained within that strike.

"A body cultivator?" Tie Shi exclaimed in shock.

But his reaction was quick; he retracted his right palm and swiftly threw a left hook, meeting Chu Ning's incoming punch.

"Bang!"

Their fists collided, yet Chu Ning remained unwavering.

On the other hand, Tie Shi felt a numbing sensation in his arm, and his body staggered back a few steps before he could steady himself.

He looked up, his eyes wide with astonishment as he stared at Chu Ning.

"You're a body cultivator too?"

Shi Feng and the others wore identical expressions of shock.

Tie Shi's appearance and his intense battle with Shi Feng, where he had held a slight advantage, had already taken the top cultivator of No-Spirit Island by surprise.

And now, Chu Ning had forced Tie Shi back with a single punch! Even though Tie Shi's previous punch had been a hasty response, it was still enough to astonish them.

They realized that Chu Ning's body cultivation had at least reached the sixth level of refinement.

"Surprised? If we were outside No-Spirit Island, I would have had to be more cautious in facing you.

But here, spiritual power is useless. As I said before, your late-stage Golden Core cultivation is of no use here!"

As Chu Ning's voice trailed off, his figure flashed, and in the next moment, he reappeared several yards away, standing beside Tie Shi.

He threw another right hook!

It was another Heavenly Canopy Fist!

By now, Tie Shi was well aware that Chu Ning's body refinement was no weaker than his own.

Although he was still astonished, his eyes blazed with a wild determination.

He crossed his arms in front of him, not daring to meet Chu Ning's fist directly. Instead, he used the wide bracelets on his arms, magical artifacts, to block Chu Ning's punch.

"Indeed, spiritual power is useless here, and Chu Ning and the others can't use their artifacts.

But these bracelets have been on my arms the whole time, and the defensive restrictions on them have been nurtured for many years. Even without spiritual energy or power, they still provide a strong defense.

Moreover, the materials used to forge these bracelets are top-notch!"

As Tie Shi confidently used his bracelets to defend against Chu Ning's fierce punch, Shi Feng's eyes sparkled with envy.

He had struggled to get past Tie Shi's bracelet defense earlier.

Otherwise, in terms of offensive power, Tie Shi might not have had the upper hand.

"Bang!"

At that moment, everyone caught a glimpse of a faint golden glow around Chu Ning's fist.

When his punch landed on Tie Shi's bracers, it emitted a metallic clang, like gold and iron colliding!

With the protection of the bracelets, Tie Shi's body remained steady.

A sinister smile spread across his face, and he prepared to counter with a punch of his own.

But at that very moment, Tie Shi felt an overwhelming destructive force penetrate his artifacts and affect his arms.

The next instant, this formidable force traveled up his arms and into his body.

Tie Shi felt as if his chest had been struck by a giant hammer.

He tasted something bitter in his throat, and a mouthful of blood gushed out.

"Buzz!"

At the same time, his head spun, and he felt dizzy.

"What kind of attack is this?"

Tie Shi stumbled backward, his face no longer bearing a smile but a look of sheer terror.

He couldn't understand how Chu Ning's punch, which had clearly landed on his artifacts, could still inflict such devastating damage to his body and even affect his spiritual sense.

Seeing that his attack had been effective, Chu Ning wasted no time.

He pressed his advantage and struck again without hesitation.

Thunderstep Technique!

Heavenly Canopy Fist! Essence Gathering Slash! Soul Shattering Strike!

Chu Ning unleashed these four secret techniques in rapid succession, delivering another powerful blow to Tie Shi!

Tie Shi spat out another mouthful of blood and desperately shouted, "Fellow cultivator Chu, wait! We can work together to leave this island..."

"I won't bargain with a tiger for its skin!"

Tie Shi faintly heard Chu Ning's voice beside him.

Acting on instinct, he raised his arms to defend himself again, but this time, he only struck thin air.

As the whistling wind signaled an incoming strike, he saw a fist shadow hurtling towards him!

"Shi Feng, save me!"

"Chu Ning, spare..."

"Bang!"

Before Tie Shi could finish his plea, Chu Ning's Heavenly Canopy Fist slammed into his head.

This late-stage Golden Core cultivator, a top-tier fighter from the Tianji Alliance, was sent flying.

In mid-air, his head made an eerie rotation around his neck several times before hanging limply from his shoulders.

"Thud!"

Amidst the cloud of dust, his tall and burly figure crashed heavily to the ground.

His eyes, as large as copper bells, bulged out of their sockets, reflecting disbelief and resentment.

Tie Shi was dead!

This late-stage Golden Core cultivator never imagined that after surviving the spatial storm, he would meet his end on No-Spirit Island at the hands of an early-stage Golden Core cultivator, who had struck him down with three punches!

The scene fell silent.

Xie Xianhai, who had witnessed Chu Ning's previous display of strength, looked slightly better off than the others.

The three members of the Giant Stone Tribe stared at Chu Ning with fear in their eyes.

It had only taken three punches for Chu Ning to defeat Tie Shi, who had dominated Shi Feng.

How could any of them hope to stand against Chu Ning?

For now, they could only watch silently as Chu Ning took several bulging bags, unlike any they had seen before, from Tie Shi's body.

He also removed the wide bracelets from Tie Shi's arms.

Only then did Chu Ning stand up.

His gaze swept over the three tribe members before settling on Shi Feng.

"Did you come here with this Tie Shi?"

Upon hearing these words, Shi Feng's face paled.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end