https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-290-Serendipitous-Opportunity-A-Familiar-Face-Returns/12623996/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-292-Nuisance-Opportunity-or-Calamity-/12624015/
Chapter 291: The Might of a Single Strike
Chapter 291: The Might of a Single Strike
"It seems we've become public enemies," Lu Qing remarked calmly, a sense of resignation underlying his words as he held the Origin Energy in his hand and faced the group of Innate Realm cultivators.
The Origin Energy had unexpectedly come to them of its own volition, a turn of events that took him by surprise. He had anticipated a fierce contest to seize this opportunity.
Little did he expect that fate would bring the opportunity to his doorstep.
However, this turn of events also placed Lu Qing in a dilemma. From the moment the white vortex appeared, he sensed that the rules of the world around them had evolved to a point of stability.
This realization intensified his desire to break through his current realm. He had intended to take this opportunity to break through immediately, but he never anticipated that the white vortex would suddenly project the Origin Energy directly toward them.
Holding the Origin Energy, Lu Qing could feel the powerful attraction emanating from within it. He knew that once he absorbed it into his body, he would no longer be able to suppress his cultivation, and a breakthrough would be imminent.
When a Post-Natal Realm warrior breaks through to the Innate Realm, they are at their weakest. Lu Qing was well aware that the Innate Realm cultivators before him would not idly stand by and watch as he refined his Innate body.
"Could this be a tribulation?" Lu Qing's thoughts turned, and he gained a new understanding.
According to the records of the Lihuo Sect, in the cultivation era, there were exceptionally powerful cultivators who, when on the verge of a breakthrough, often had to face tribulations—be they natural disasters, human tribulations, or even trials of their spiritual resolve.
Only after enduring various hardships would they be worthy of bearing greater power.
Now, as he stood on the cusp of a breakthrough, a group of Innate Realm cultivators sought to seize this opportunity from him. Could this be considered a "human tribulation"?
As Lu Qing's understanding of the Dao of cultivation deepened, the Innate Realm cultivators before him regained their calm.
"So what if he has comprehended the concept of an Innate Domain? With so many of us here, even if some of us are only at the Initial Achievement of the Innate Realm, we can still defeat him. Why should we fear an old man who has only grasped a mere thread of domain insight?"
"Indeed. Old man, quickly hand over the opportunity to the young man beside you, or else don't blame us for being impolite!"
Wang Cangyi added, "Fellow cultivators, there's no need to waste words with them. Let's make our move!"
Among the group were over ten Innate Realm cultivators, most of whom had already achieved the Small Success stage of the Innate Realm—they were veterans of the Innate Realm.
As their auras combined and pressed toward Lu Qing and his companions, the might they exuded was terrifying. Hu Zezhi and Master Ma Gu's faces twisted in discomfort under the pressure.
The aura of a single Innate Realm cultivator was already unbearable for Post-Natal Realm warriors like them, let alone the combined might of so many working in unison.
Just then, a gentle aura emanated from the old doctor, shielding them from the oppressive pressure of the Innate cultivators and relieving the strain on Ma Gu and his apprentice.
"As expected, there's more to him than meets the eye. But old man, can you hold off all of us by yourself?
If you remain stubborn, don't blame us for our ruthlessness!
Fellow cultivators, let's join forces to seize this opportunity first, and then we can discuss how to distribute it afterward!"
The Innate Realm cultivators facing them were taken aback by this development.
However, they had come too far to turn back now. Moreover, they were confident that even if the old doctor was formidable, he wouldn't be able to withstand their combined might.
Without further hesitation, the group disregarded any notions of honor and unleashed their full might, shattering the wall beneath their feet as they rushed toward Lu Qing and his companions.
Among them, Wang Cangyi was the fastest.
This elder of the Tiancang Sect had failed in his schemes in Cang County two years prior, and he held Lu Qing and the old doctor responsible for that failure. Hatred for the master and apprentice duo burned deep within him.
Seeing that the others were making their move, Wang Cangyi pushed his movement technique to the limit, reaching Lu Qing first.
Wang Cangyi knew that the old doctor's cultivation was profound, and after two years, he might have made further breakthroughs. He himself had managed to break through to the Small Success stage of the Innate Realm during his seclusion, but he still wasn't confident in defeating the old doctor.
However, the young man before him had only been at the Channel Opening Realm two years ago. No matter how talented he was, there was no way his cultivation could have progressed far in just two years.
By killing this young man, Wang Cangyi believed he could not only exact revenge but also deal a blow to the old doctor's mental state, achieving two goals with one strike.
The other Innate Realm cultivators, seeing Wang Cangyi take the initiative, were not alarmed but rather secretly pleased.
With Wang Cangyi taking the lead, they were more than happy to let him bear the brunt of any potential backlash.
Someone even deliberately slowed down a bit, wanting Wang Cangyi to test the depth of their opponents first.
By the time Wang Cangyi reached Lu Qing, he had already created some distance between himself and the rest of the group.
However, Wang Cangyi was no longer concerned with such things.
With his enemy right before him, a cruel look appeared on his face, and he thrust his longsword, imbued with true qi, viciously towards Lu Qing's throat. "You little beast, die!"
Wang Cangyi's plan was well calculated, but just as his longsword was about to pierce Lu Qing's throat, a sudden thought crossed his mind, "Something's wrong. Why isn't this brat showing any signs of panic?"
But by the time this thought occurred to Wang Cangyi, it was already too late.
A dazzling blade of light flashed before his eyes.
The next moment, he felt as if his chest had been struck by a battering ram, and an unstoppable force exploded from his chest.
In an instant, his chest caved in, and he didn't know how many bones had been broken.
His body flew backward even faster than it had come, crashing into the person behind him.
"Master!"
Following closely behind Wang Cangyi was his senior disciple, Zhao Xiong.
Seeing his master sent flying by Lu Qing's blade, Zhao Xiong was shocked. Without thinking, he immediately reached out with both hands to catch his master.
However, he had greatly underestimated the power of Lu Qing's strike.
As soon as his hands made contact with Wang Cangyi's body, an irresistible force transmitted through, and despite his Small Success stage of the Innate Realm cultivation, he was unable to withstand it fully.
His arms snapped with a crack, and then Wang Cangyi collided with him, sending master and disciple tumbling back over ten steps before they finally came to a stop.
"What?!"
This sudden turn of events startled the rest of the Innate Realm cultivators, causing them to stop in their tracks, their eyes filled with shock as they looked at Wang Cangyi and his disciple lying on the ground.
Wang Cangyi and his disciple were in a pitiful state.
Wang Cangyi's chest had completely caved in, and blood was continuously flowing from his nose and mouth. His breath was also extremely weak, and it seemed like he only had a breath or two left.
Zhao Xiong was in a better situation, but his arms were broken, and blood was also seeping from his nose and mouth, indicating that his internal organs had sustained serious injuries.
"Another set of armor. Wang Cangyi, it seems your lineage is truly afraid of death, with both master and disciple always wearing armor."
Lu Qing was also surprised that he hadn't been able to kill Wang Cangyi with a single strike.
He remembered when he had fought that young wolf, its hide had also caused him quite a bit of trouble.
Now it seemed that Wang Cangyi had passed on his true legacy.
This old man also constantly wore inner armor, and it was even capable of withstanding the might of his divine battle saber.
"How... How has your strength improved so quickly?"
Wang Cangyi hadn't passed out yet. He stared at Lu Qing with wide eyes, his gaze filled with disbelief.
He couldn't believe that the young man he had disregarded two years ago, whom he could have easily crushed with a flick of his finger, was now capable of severely injuring him with a single strike.
If he hadn't made a breakthrough in his cultivation these past two years and refined a protective inner armor obtained from a fortuitous encounter, he would have surely been split in two by that strike.
As these thoughts crossed Wang Cangyi's mind, his eyes held not only disbelief but also a hint of fear.
He couldn't fathom how Lu Qing had cultivated to such a terrifying level of strength in just two short years.
Alongside Wang Cangyi, Zhao Xiong was equally shocked.
He looked at Lu Qing, his eyes filled with incomprehension.
Was this young man really the same person who had fought him to a near standstill two years ago?
How could his strength have become so formidable in just two years?
However, Lu Qing didn't even deign to reply to Wang Cangyi's question.
He looked calmly at the group before him and asked, "Who else wants to come and try to take this opportunity from me?"
Seeing Lu Qing's calm expression, the other Innate Realm cultivators hesitated.
They wanted to say something harsh, but seeing the tragic state of Wang Cangyi and his disciple, they swallowed their words.
Lu Qing's previous strike had been truly terrifying.
Not only had Wang Cangyi been unable to react, but they themselves hadn't even been able to see how Lu Qing had executed his strike.
What did this mean?
It meant that Lu Qing's blade technique far surpassed theirs.
Wang Cangyi was no weakling. Having reached the Small Success stage of the Innate Realm, his strength was among the top in their group, if not the very best.
Yet he had been unable to block Lu Qing's strike.
"It seems some of you still haven't learned your lesson." Lu Qing's eyes narrowed as he perceived the shift in their expressions, understanding their greedy intentions.
"You audacious bunch, claiming five streams of light for yourselves. Don't you think that's a bit excessive? When a heavenly opportunity presents itself, it belongs to those who are virtuous. This opportunity is unimaginably valuable, yet you selfishly aim to monopolize it. Don't you fear divine retribution?"
One of the Innate Realm cultivators, seemingly a figure of authority among them, spoke up, "We don't ask for much. Just give us two streams of light, and we'll leave immediately!"
Lu Qing responded with a slight smile, "Ah, a heavenly opportunity for the virtuous, yet here you are, shamelessly coveting it. Well then, since you refuse to listen to reason, I shan't waste more words on you."
With a swift motion of his longsword, Lu Qing sliced through the air, creating a straight fissure in the ground. "This line I've drawn is the line between life and death. Cross it, and you shall perish!"
His declaration caused the Innate Realm cultivators' faces to change color. The one who had spoken before couldn't help but say, "Don't you think you're being too domineering? This opportunity is a gift from the heavens, an ownerless treasure. We only ask for two shares, which isn't unreasonable. Are you so unwilling to part with it that you'd rather see bloodshed?"
Lu Qing's response was curt, "Scram!"
"You insolent brat, don't push your luck!" One of the Innate Realm cultivators, unable to contain himself any longer, spoke up. "Your swordsmanship is impressive, but against all of us, you may not stand a chance. Moreover, those behind you are merely Post-Natal Realm warriors. How could you possibly protect them all? If we join forces, I doubt any of them would make it out alive. Think carefully before you act!"
However, as these words left his mouth, a sense of dread rose within him.
The next moment, Lu Qing's cold voice rang out, "I was considering letting you off with a warning, but it seems your entire group deserves to perish."
As he spoke, a palpable killing intent emerged in the courtyard.
The Innate Realm cultivators felt this killing intent, and their hearts trembled with fear. Even their souls seemed to shudder, filling them with an unprecedented sense of dread.
The killing intent was so intense that it physically restrained them, leaving them immobile.
Among them, Wang Cangyi, who was already severely injured, bore the brunt of this killing intent. His injuries worsened, and he spat out a mouthful of blood before losing consciousness. He seemed to be on the brink of death, with only faint breaths remaining.
However, at this moment, no one paid any attention to Wang Cangyi's condition. All eyes were fixed on Lu Qing, their faces reflecting their terror.
They could sense that the terrifying killing intent was emanating from Lu Qing himself.
Just as Lu Qing was about to disregard all consequences and unleash the power of the Qiankun One Qi Bag, a voice suddenly rang out, "Young Master Lu, please show mercy."
(End of Chapter)
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