Chaotic World Book
Chapter 223 - 218: Nether River Surge, The Void Is Not Empty

Chapter 223: Chapter 218: Nether River Surge, The Void Is Not Empty

This was Zhao Changhe’s first battle against someone on the Human List.

Despite a significant gap in their skills, surprisingly, he felt no nervousness at all, unlike when he faced Wang Daozhong and was covered in cold sweat.

After all, Wang Daozhong was someone on the Earth List.

Perhaps it was because he had encountered those from the Earth List too often... He had been through an archery contest with He Lei, who ranked seventh; been taken around by Vermilion Bird, who ranked fourth; grappled closely with Tang Wanzhuang, who ranked third; and had a cheerful conversation with Gui Chen, who was in his twenties.

Not to mention the Earth List, the daughter of the ninth-ranked on the Heavenly List was still pinching bunnies in the ice cave just the night before.

With such experiences, the Human List really didn’t have much of a deterrent effect, especially for someone who was only ranked seventieth, not even as high as Yue Hongling. Subconsciously, this didn’t seem any different from encountering the unbreakable Yue Hongling before his breakthrough... It wasn’t an unattainable height anymore...

In fact, Situ Xiao was also on the edge of this level, and with Yuan Xing’s Golden Bell Shield offering broad protection, his skills were very high. If the Human List were expanded beyond a hundred names, these two could probably make it. What was the big difference?

Just by joining forces, these two could almost fight Fa Qing to a standstill, and with his own full involvement. As long as they didn’t cower, it would be fine. The moment anyone showed a hint of cowardice, thrown into disarray by a feint, it would be easy to be overwhelmed individually.

Like now.

Fa Qing was no longer engaging barehanded; a Vow Blade in his hand was swift as lightning, heading straight for Zhao Changhe’s throat.

Zhao Changhe couldn’t tell if it was a feint or a real attack. But it didn’t matter.

He didn’t dodge at all; the Dragon Sparrow strike he unleashed was even more ferocious than Fa Qing’s, aiming directly at his bald head.

Sure enough, Fa Qing considered him the softest target, hoping to use him as the breakthrough point with a feint to force him to retreat, thus dealing calmly with Situ Xiao’s attack from behind.

But Zhao Changhe was so valorous that Fa Qing wouldn’t dare to trade blows with him, let alone exchange injuries – it wasn’t worth it!

Fa Qing broke into a cold sweat, hurriedly withdrew his blade and dodged, colliding with Yuan Xing and making way for Zhao Changhe’s strike. At the same time, his Vow Blade swept towards the oncoming Heavy Sword and he shouted, "Let go!"

Lion Roar Skill!

Different from the traditional Buddhist Lion’s Roar, his Lion Roar Skill incorporated the Maitreya Sect’s mental control techniques. He knew that Divine Brilliance Sect was somewhat weak in this aspect; as long as he could momentarily stun Situ Xiao with a roar, he could knock down the Heavy Sword and go straight for his head.

It was puzzling that Situ Xiao seemed slightly bewildered for a moment, yet it barely affected his movements. Blades clashed, and the Heavy Sword was still as stable as Mount Taishan, its defense impeccable. It even counter-stroked along the path of the blade, instantly bringing about winds and thunder, an overwhelming press of Mount Taishan!

Yuan Xing’s Zen Stick had already struck his back while Zhao Changhe’s Dragon Sparrow came sweeping furiously, aiming for the throat again!

Fa Qing repeatedly misjudged, falling into a dire predicament in an instant, full of confusion, trying to figure out what exactly was happening.

Fortunately, those ranked on the Human List were indeed not common folk.

In the blink of an eye, Fa Qing’s robes billowed, Yuan Xing’s Zen Stick hit that inflated Qi Force and slid off, causing no damage. The Vow Blade in his hand suddenly bloomed like a lotus platform, each stroke like a petal scattering across the sky and earth.

Maitreya Pure Land, White Lotus Descend!

The Heavy Sword and Broadsword nearly struck the "petals" at the same time. Both Situ Xiao and Zhao Changhe grunted, retreating together.

The gap in cultivation was just that – a gap. Neither could withstand the force of Fa Qing’s Ultimate Skill.

Out of the two, Zhao Changhe retreated even more, one foot stepping onto the corner of the flying roof eaves.

Fa Qing exhaled, sweeping his Vow Blade back, planning to deal with Yuan Xing first.

"Crack!" Zhao Changhe stepped on the corner of the eaves, breaking it off, propelling himself back with the rebound. His Dragon Sparrow gleamed with fresh red Blood Qi, violently unbearable and unstoppable.

In just that moment, before Situ Xiao could counterattack, Zhao Changhe was already on him again.

Fa Qing hadn’t expected that the most proactive and troublesome would turn out to be Zhao Changhe, who seemed the lowest in cultivation among the three... After all, both Yuan Xing and Situ Xiao’s styles were not primarily offensive, only Zhao Changhe fought like this, always the most prominent wherever he went.

And Zhao Changhe’s cultivation wasn’t as low as imagined.

He cultivated both internally and externally, using the Six Harmonies Divine Skill to boost the Blood Evil Skill; with widened meridians that could withstand more intense True Qi transfer and explosive discharge, the power he could exert had already exceeded his current level. Now that he had advanced even further and stronger, he was no longer at the level where he could only throw his weapon from a distance as he had against Chi Li and Yue Hongling.

A hit from this Dragon Sparrow could be fatal!

Fa Qing deflected Yuan Xing with a blade, busily parried Zhao Changhe’s Dragon Sparrow amidst the maelstrom, and there Situ Xiao’s Heavy Sword came at him again.

After pushing away Situ Xiao, the Dragon Sparrow struck once more.

Fa Qing felt increasingly that something was amiss.

With each cut from the Dragon Sparrow, it became faster, the force stronger. Previously, he could easily send Zhao Changhe reeling back several steps with two strikes, but the more they clashed, the fewer steps he retreated, and the frequency of recoil and re-assault grew higher, until it became torrential and overwhelming, like a tsunami!

What Ultimate Skill was this?

Fa Qing realized he couldn’t let Zhao Changhe continue to stack his attacks. If the onslaught went on, who knows if he could unleash a blade strike that could cross the boundaries of the Human List!

However, he couldn’t interrupt and had no way to take down Zhao Changhe quickly.

Situ Xiao was stable as a mountain, Yuan Xing steadfast as a vajra. The two of them surrounded him tightly, almost airtight, with every attempt only allowing him to fend off one while the other blocked him again. How could he find the strength to focus on Zhao Changhe?

The Blood Qi from the Dragon Sparrow grew more ferocious, and the surging Changhe was now like a Blood Sea!

Fa Qing found himself increasingly struggling, for the first time conscious that if he didn’t break out, he might indeed die here!

Thankfully, there was still time to escape...

Just then, within the Wang Family, a voice from Wang Daoning drifted over: "Good swordsmanship... What is the name of this sword?"

"Yes, this is a set of swordsmanship..."

Zhao Changhe responded, "The sword’s name is Yuan Tu! Nether River Surge!"

Yuan Tu of the Blood Sea, Avici Hell, a sword for slaughter.

Zhao Changhe seemed like a gallant hero, yet why did he learn nothing but Demon Skills!

"Good sword," Wang Daoning said. "In consideration of this sect’s face, let us temporarily cease fighting and come inside for a drink."

Zhao Changhe appeared to hesitate for a moment, but he abruptly stopped his already swinging broadsword.

Situ Xiao gave him a glance and also sheathed his sword.

Fa Qing and Yuan Xing crossed blades and staff, recoiling from each other, and simultaneously ceased fighting.

Fa Qing discovered he was surprisingly breaking out in a cold sweat on his back... He truly hadn’t expected the battle to escalate this way. The presence of Yuan Xing and Situ Xiao was anticipated, their steadiness expected, but Zhao Changhe’s performance was exceedingly unpredictable, unreasonably outrageous—it was no wonder that Fa Sheng fell at the gates among the crowds.

Fortunately, the rogue still dared not disobey the Wang Family, nor defy the experts of the Heavenly List.

This man absolutely must not be allowed to live; if he were allowed to continue growing, who knew what the outcome would be! Upon returning, he must report to the Sect Hierarch; the first order of business for the Maitreya Sect henceforth must be to execute Zhao Changhe, ranking his threat even above Tang Wanju!

As these thoughts flashed through Fa Qing’s mind, he sheathed his blade and cupped his fist in a salute, saying, "I had no intention of causing trouble at the gate of the Wang Family. Fa Qing apologizes to Master Daoning. The reason for my visit is..."

Before he could finish, a sudden burst of blood-red light appeared by his side!

Fa Qing’s hairs stood on end, and he urgently drew his blade to defend.

At the same time, a furious shout came from the Wang Family: "How dare you!"

A fiercely unparalleled Sword Qi shot out from the Wang Family, attempting to intercept the blood light.

But given the distance, how could it possibly be in time?

Fa Qing, who had just relaxed his vigilance and was mid-salute, couldn’t react in time either.

The Vow Blade was barely drawn when the blood light reached his neck.

It was a ferocious sword that had previously built up countless layers of speed and power, not slashing down with the ferocity of a mad wolf’s battering waves, but rather condensed into a single line, resembling a crack in hell breaking open amidst the Nether River Blood Sea.

Chasing Souls and Demanding Lives, a myriad of souls crying out in lament!

What kind of move was that?

"Clang!" Dragon Sparrow viciously chopped on the Vow Blade, which snapped into two pieces.

The Human List is still the Human List after all. Even though Fa Qing was caught off guard, he managed to use the moment’s delay to retreat and was about to avoid a strike to the throat.

Situ Xiao subtly performed a Drunk Walk stance, trapping him from behind.

Fa Qing: "?"

He ultimately did not manage to lean back as Dragon Sparrow struck his neck precisely, and his head flew off.

Only by then did the Sword Qi emitted by the Wang Family hit Zhao Changhe; Zhao Changhe blocked with his broadsword and suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, then burst into laughter and flew backwards several zhang, "Thank you, Family Head, for your stratagem, otherwise I really wasn’t sure I could keep him from escaping. I will repay this favor another day; for now, I take my leave and will not trouble you to see me off."

"Whoosh!" Out of nowhere, Wuzhui, treading on snow, galloped forth, and Zhao Changhe flipped onto its back and rode away into the distance.

The sky blazed with a golden brilliance.

"End of June, the start of autumn. Yuan Xing, Situ Xiao, and Zhao Changhe besieged Fa Qing. During the break in battle, Zhao Changhe launched a surprise attack, beheading Fa Qing at the gate of the Wang Family."

"A fall in the Human List, a new candidate added."

"The original number seventy-one on the Human List, Qin Ruhui, moves up to seventy, and the original number seventy-two, Cui Wenyu, moves up to seventy-one."

"The prince of the Golden Tents, Rada, is added as number seventy-two on the Human List."

None of the three assailants replaced him, a loss of face for Yuan Xing.

"Changes in the Hidden Dragon List."

"Hidden Dragon number thirteen, Zhao Changhe."

"Nether River Surge, true emptiness not empty."

"Big brother!"

"Family Head!"

The members of the Wang Family gathered around Wang Daoning, all saying, "Zhao Changhe has insulted us too greatly, why not pursue him!"

Wang Daoning glanced toward Vermilion Bird in the distance, then at Cui Yuanyang and Lu Ya who were watching from the backyard, and then at Gui Chen and Xuan Chong who had brought the horse. Finally, he looked at Yuan Xing and Situ Xiao.

After a long while, he slowly said, "It is our duty to eradicate Maitreya’s evil cultivators. Master Yuan Xing, please come inside for a talk."

Wang Daozhong: "..."

Wang Zhaoqing: "..."

Wang Daoning looked distantly at the dust rising from the disappearing hoofbeats at the end of the long street and muttered, "The matter of killing him is up to Daozhong to handle. Within three months, I want to see results."