mtl008 Chapter 412 You Have to Pay
Chapter 412 You Have to Pay
Lie Long's sternum was shattered, and Zheng Qian was injured and coughed up blood.
"The outcome of this battle is uncertain." Zhao Minghang felt heavy-hearted. He hoped that Zheng Qian could hold out for three days, because that way he could manipulate the allocation of military merits, find someone to pave the way for him, and leave Youfeng Rift Valley.
The Zhao family and the Divine Court are Zhao Minghang's true targets.
"Zheng Qian has been fighting continuously for so long; his stamina, spiritual energy, and blood energy are not at their peak. This battle is unfair." Ma Haoli said indignantly. If Zheng Qian hadn't fought for so long, Lie Long wouldn't have been able to injure him.
"Yes, we should call a truce and wait for Zheng Qian to recover to his peak condition before fighting Lie Long. That way, Lie Long will definitely be killed by Zheng Qian." Lei Ruichen also felt indignant on Zheng Qian's behalf, believing that it was an unfair fight for Lie Long to fight at this time.
Zhao Minghang sneered inwardly. What fairness is there in this world?
"The gate-blocking battle is a rotating affair. As long as the defending side doesn't stop, the battle won't cease. Zheng Qian on our side insists on fighting alone, so we can't go against his will." Zhao Minghang knew that both sides had an agreement in the gate-blocking battle, which is why he dared to stand here with the combat power of a True Core Mirror. Otherwise, if an old monster from the three races came out, they wouldn't even be enough to get slapped by the other side.
“Besides, in today’s one-on-one challenge, the demon race can be one realm higher than us. This is a rule set to prevent the gate-blocking battle from killing all the demons of the same realm. Lie Long is in the early stage of the Zen Demon Realm, which meets the rule. And on our side, apart from Zheng Qian, no one can challenge Lie Long across realms.” Zhao Minghang’s hope is to block the gate for three days. He is the one who most wants to complete this task.
If the rules of the gate-blocking battle could be broken, Zhao Minghang would be the first to break them, achieving a three-day gate-blocking victory.
"Thunder Shadow Soaring Strike." Lie Long moved, flying into the air, a purple sea of fire burning the sky, accompanied by bursts of thunder. The spearhead drew out a bolt of lightning, leaving a golden afterimage in the void, like a thunder god, carrying a sea of fire and lightning as he slammed towards Zheng Qian.
Blood mist rose in Zheng Qian's eyes, and the Devouring Heaven Technique circulated wildly within his body. Blood mist rose from his body, and when the raging dragon attacked, he swung his sword and slashed.
"Explosive Slash." The Dragon Scale Void-Piercing Sword vibrated, and the enormous blood moon, with Zheng Qian as its origin and the Dragon Scale Void-Piercing Sword as its carrier, sliced through the void and slashed fiercely at the Fierce Dragon's spear.
Boom... The spear collided with the Dragon Scale Void-Piercing Sword, and a powerful shockwave erupted, blowing up a sea of fire and creating walls of flame.
Amidst the shockwave, the spear flew backward, striking the ancient city wall of the Huaxu Cliff Fortress with a clang, sending sparks flying and the spearhead trembling.
Zheng Qian staggered back eight steps, crashing through a wall of fire, and spat out blood again with a "poof," staining his clothes with blood.
"Will it result in mutual destruction?"
"Are you blind? Didn't you see Zheng Qian retreat eight steps? Lie Long is still a prodigy in the Zen Demon Realm, and his combat strength is stronger than Zheng Qian's."
"Pah, why don't you say that Lie Long's spear was knocked away, so he lost?"
A sea of purple flames burned on the ground, obscuring everyone's view. However, powerful individuals at higher levels could still see the situation within the sea of fire at a glance.
Lie Long lay on the ground, spitting out a mouthful of black blood. He slowly stood up, his bones showing irregular protrusions and depressions. He said coldly, "The power of the human race has never surpassed that of the demon race. You are an exception."
"With such a narrow perspective, of course you don't know how powerful the human race is." Zheng Qian scoffed. The Fierce Dragon was strong, but in terms of strength, it still lost to him.
"Is that so?" Lie Long sneered. He paused, his body radiating golden light, and then a massive golden light array unfolded around him. Within the array, runes flowed, and faint chants echoed—the whispers of ancient gods, containing the dual power of purification and destruction.
"Brahma Formation!" the raging dragon roared, and countless golden dragon-shaped energies were generated within the formation. These energies were not only extremely sharp, capable of cutting through the void, but also contained a sacred power to purify all things. Even powerful demons could hardly withstand this judgment from ancient times.
Lie Yi narrowed his eyes. Lie Long was not only the strongest early-stage Zen Demon Realm prodigy in Huaxu Cliff, but also the number one early-stage Zen Demon Realm prodigy in Youfeng Rift Valley. Even within the entire Zen Demon Realm, his combat power would rank in the top ten. And his strongest skill was the Brahma Gang Formation. If Lie Long lost to Zheng Qian today, then they would have no stronger early-stage Zen Demon Realm prodigy.
"Here it comes, the Fierce Dragon's strongest attack is coming."
"Hehe, with Lie Long using the Brahma Formation, Zheng Qian is doomed."
“A month ago, Lie Long used the Brahma Formation to kill a human prodigy in the mid-stage of the Liquid Aperture Realm and the Liquid Rise Realm.”
"It's over. The gate-blocking battle is in Lie Long's hands. It's over."
The three races of demons looked at Lie Long with excitement. He was their role model and the goal they pursued. They firmly believed that Lie Long would be the one to win.
“Lielong is more seriously injured.” Xiao Ling stared at Lielong. He could tell that during the clash just now, although the purple sea of fire and the lightning spear had damaged Zheng Qian, Zheng Qian’s sword had almost shattered Lielong’s bones.
"You don't know, although Lie Long is only in the early stage of the Zen Demon Realm, he is the strongest in the Zen Demon Realm. Even geniuses in the later stages would be beaten if they encountered him." Zhao Minghang was full of worries. He thought Lie Long would appear tomorrow or the day after, and that he was the final genius. He didn't expect him to appear today and fight Zheng Qian to a draw.
Zhao Minghang looked at Zheng Qian with a hint of resentment: Why didn't you fight properly and stall for time? Why did you provoke Lie Long?
"What should we do then?" Xiao Ling's face fell. Zheng Qian was facing a monster like Lie Long, who could fight across realms. His chances of survival were slim.
"Don't worry, my master will definitely win." Li Zun clenched his fists, he had absolute confidence in Zheng Qian, he was sure he would win.
“We all hope Zheng Qian wins, but Lie Long is like a god at Huaxu Cliff, never having been defeated by anyone of the same realm.” Ma Haoli said with a long face. He knew Zheng Qian was strong, but Lie Long was even stronger.
"Since his debut, Lie Long has never lost a battle within the same realm, and he also has a winning streak in battles across realms. He is one of the legendary figures of Youfeng Rift Valley." Lei Ruichen explained to Li Zun and the others that Lie Long was not only invincible within the same realm at Huaxu Cliff, but also a monstrous genius who was invincible within the same realm throughout the entire Youfeng Rift Valley.
Li Ming looked at Zheng Qian, his deep eyes becoming even more profound, a faint smile playing on his lips: "My master will undoubtedly win!"
Zhao Minghang and the others looked at Li Ming strangely, wondering where his confidence came from.
Zheng Qian's eyes were extremely solemn. He heard the echoes of Sanskrit chants, like the whispers of ancient gods, repeating over and over again: "Destruction... Destruction..."
The chanting carried an undeniable pressure, seemingly intent on utterly destroying his will. However, Zheng Qian's heart remained as steadfast as a rock.
"Hmph, you ghosts and monsters, you little devil!" Zheng Qian shouted coldly, his voice filled with unwavering determination and domineering aura. He charged towards the raging dragon's Brahma Formation, each step causing the ground to tremble slightly, as if even the heavens and earth were shaking for him.
"Blood Sea Without Boundaries, Eleventh Slash!" Zheng Qian roared, and the world seemed to be shrouded in a crimson light. This crimson light was not ordinary blood color, but contained endless killing intent and rage. Wherever the sword tip pointed, sword energy and blood energy surged like waves, carrying overwhelming power, and rushed towards the Fiery Dragon's Brahma Formation.
Lie Long stared calmly at Zheng Qian charging towards him, as if he had anticipated this all along. He did not retreat; instead, his chanting intensified several times over, filling the entire world with its power. This chanting was like a divine curse, carrying destructive force, seemingly intent on devouring the entire world.
At the same time, countless golden dragon-shaped energies rose from the body of the raging dragon, as if a true divine dragon had descended to earth. These dragon-shaped energies swirled and intertwined in the air, forming an indestructible defensive network. They collided with Zheng Qian's blood-red sword energy, producing a deafening roar that changed the very color of the heavens and earth.
However, Zheng Qian did not back down. Every swing of his sword seemed to stir up a sea of blood. The battle had reached a fever pitch, and any hesitation could lead to defeat.
"Eleven strikes, kill!" Zheng Qian roared again, concentrating all his power into the Dragon Scale Void-Piercing Sword in his hand. With a single swing, an unprecedented crimson sword light ripped through the sky, piercing the heart of the raging dragon like a blood-red lightning bolt. This sword light contained Zheng Qian's thirst for victory, his rage towards his enemy, and his deep respect for life. It pierced through the dragon's layers of defense, finally embedding itself deeply into its body.
"Ah!" Lie Long's body trembled violently, letting out a scream as blood gushed out like a fountain. A trace of resentment and despair flashed in his eyes, but it was immediately swallowed by endless darkness. But Zheng Qian did not stop attacking. The Dragon Scale Void-Piercing Sword in his hand seemed to have transformed into a scythe of death, constantly reaping Lie Long's life.
Finally, after a piercing wail, Lielong's body collapsed limply to the ground, his golden armor riddled with sword marks, and blood staining the entire earth. His eyes lost their light, and the flame of his life was extinguished in that instant.
Zheng Qian sheathed his sword and stood quietly before the corpse of Lie Long. His face showed no trace of triumph or pride, only deep weariness and感慨 (a complex emotion encompassing both sorrow and reflection). He knew that this victory was hard-won, earned through countless brushes with death and unwavering perseverance.
"Lielong, though you are my enemy, you are also a worthy opponent," Zheng Qian said in a low voice, then took out a white cloth and covered his body.
The strong deserve respect. Even death should have a dignified end.
Tap, tap, tap… The sound of orderly and dense footsteps resounded within the Huaxu Cliff Fortress, shaking every inch of space like thunder. This was not only the sound of footsteps, but also the clarion call of the demon army's march.
Countless demon soldiers, clad in heavy armor and wielding sharp blades, filed out of the fortress gates, their eyes gleaming with a thirst for battle and a determination to win. Demonic energy swirled, transforming into various colored lights that illuminated the fortress in a dreamlike, yet chilling atmosphere.
At the forefront stood the Demon Saint General Lie Yucheng, who, as the highest commander of the Blazing Leopard Clan at the Void Transformation Cliff, exuded a powerful aura that sent chills down one's spine. Lie Yucheng's eyes were like burning flames, flashing with the light of wisdom and courage. With each step he took, it seemed as if flames accompanied him, scorching and distorting the air.
His figure was tall and imposing, his muscles as hard as rock, and he was surrounded by blazing demonic flames, the boiling power of the flames flowing in his blood. The halberd in Lie Yuchen's hand gleamed with a cold light, its tip seemingly able to pierce through the void and point straight to the sky, demonstrating his supreme majesty as the leader of the demon race.
Under his leadership, the demon army surged forward like a raging torrent, unstoppable. Their roars shook the heavens and earth, their demonic aura soaring, as if they would devour the entire world. At this moment, the Huaxu Cliff Fortress seemed to tremble, awestruck by the demon army's march and filled with awe at the power of the Demon Saint General Lie Yuchen.
Clang... The great halberd in the hand of Demon Saint General Lie Yuchen struck the ground, causing the Void Transformation Cliff to tremble, and the sound echoed continuously throughout the Void Transformation Cliff.
"Zheng Qian?" Lie Yuchen stared down at Zheng Qian, his eyes filled with contempt and complex emotions.
"Hmph." Zheng Qian snorted coldly, looking at Lie Yuchen without any fear. With Yun Youzi behind him, what was there to be afraid of?
"I never expected that the human race would produce a prodigy of your caliber. It's truly a blessing from heaven," Lie Yuchen sighed, a deep sadness hidden in his eyes.
Just then, a voice resounded throughout the heavens and earth.
"There are countless human prodigies who stand tall between heaven and earth in accordance with the way of heaven. Why should an old monster like you sigh about it?"
As soon as the words were spoken, a golden wave surged on the horizon. It was the Radiant Legion, marching onto the Void-Transforming Cliff with unstoppable force. The 50,000 Strange Warriors, clad in armor shimmering with mysterious runes, moved in perfect unison, as if as one. Every step they took seemed to resonate with the earth, shaking the very space.
At the very forefront of this formidable army, Ma Yi, a lieutenant general in the Radiant Legion, was like a peerless blade drawn from its sheath, its sharpness fully revealed. Though slender, he possessed a mountain-like resilience and unyielding spirit. His eyes, sharp as an eagle's, pierced through layers of mist, staring directly into the enemy's soul, inspiring awe in all who beheld him.
Horse Wing rode a blazing steed covered in crimson flames. They came through the air, leaving behind a trail of dazzling sparks, like shooting stars streaking across the sky.
The Blazing Steed is covered in an inextinguishable crimson flame, each wisp of which contains the power to scorch the heavens and boil the seas. When its hooves tread the air, they not only leave behind a trail of dazzling sparks but also shatter the void, as if even the heavens and earth tremble beneath its feet. The Blazing Steed's speed is lightning fast, like a shooting star streaking across the sky, capable of traversing thousands of miles in the blink of an eye, leaving countless powerful figures far behind!
Ma Yi arrived at Zheng Qian's side almost instantly and said calmly, "If you want a one-on-one fight, I'll take you on; if you want a team fight, I'll accept it too. But if you want to bully my clan's prodigy Zheng Qian, you'll have to ask my sword for permission first."
Zheng Qian looked at Ma Yi gratefully. He was thin and had sharp eyes like an eagle. How could he be so handsome and domineering?
Lie Yuchen did not answer Ma Yi, but looked at Zheng Qian and said, "This demon saint is over eight hundred years old and has never asked anyone for anything. I have left the city today for only one thing, and I ask you, fellow Daoist, to grant my request!"
Zheng Qian was baffled. Lie Yuchen was a demon saint, which was equivalent to a pseudo-god in the human race, yet he was calling him a fellow Daoist and asking him to help him.
"Please speak," Zheng Qian said calmly, neither humble nor arrogant.
"Lielong is my son. I hope to bring his remains back to the fortress for burial. Just name your conditions." Lie Yuchen suddenly became very sad. Lielong was his only son. From birth to now, he had devoted countless efforts to cultivate him into a warrior with unparalleled combat power at the same level.
Unexpectedly, he was killed by Zheng Qian across the border. He watched helplessly without stopping him, because he couldn't let his son be disgraced and branded as a coward.
There are only Flame Leopards who die in battle, not Flame Leopards who fear death. This is the spirit of the Flame Leopard clan, and also their ancestral precept.
Zheng Qian remained silent. He held the Flaming Leopard Clan in high esteem, and he also respected the Flaming Dragon. He had slain the Flaming Dragon, and its corpse was now his spoils of war. If Lie Yuchen wanted the Flaming Dragon's body back, he would need Zheng Qian's permission.
After a long pause, Zheng Qian slowly said, "Okay, but you have to pay."