Shocking the Nine Heavens With My Sword
Chapter 186 - 179 Zhao Mingxuan (5/5)

Chapter 186: Chapter 179 Zhao Mingxuan (5/5)

This was an armory.

Magic artifacts could greatly enhance the power of a martial artist. A first-grade magic artifact could even double a martial artist’s battle power, which was simply defying the heavens!

However, getting a magic artifact that suited oneself was extraordinarily difficult. It was of course easy for someone in the Open Heaven Realm to get a magic artifact of the Land Cleaving Realm, whether by smashing spirit stones, trading treasures, or simply snatching it by force.

But getting a magic artifact of the Open Heaven Realm was difficult!

First, one might not be able to afford the price, and even if one could, there would be competition. If everyone was from the Open Heaven Realm, they would naturally all have similar financial capabilities, making it hard for anyone to dominate the others.

Second, no one would be willing to trade such treasures. For martial artists, strength was everything!

Third, forcibly snatching it was even more unrealistic. The higher the realm, the more one would cherish their reputation, hardly ever squaring off against someone of the same realm. And a high-tier magic artifact was as crucial as a martial artist’s life; fighting for a magic artifact was akin to fighting to the death!

In short, without the support of an expert behind them, it was very difficult for a martial artist to obtain a magic artifact that suited them.

And this was a Spiritual Sea Realm expert’s cave abode!

A Spiritual Sea Realm expert might not be able to obtain a magic artifact of the Spiritual Sea Realm, but getting those of the Mountains and Rivers or Open Heaven Realm was easily within reach. The armory was filled with weapons, and even without touching them, one could be certain that there were bound to be magic artifacts of the Mountains and Rivers Realm level among them!

How could one not covet them!

Although Zhang Family’s Old Ancestor and the other three Open Heaven Realm experts were from the same country and had always maintained a polite veneer, the atmosphere had already become extremely tense with such treasures at stake.

Yet just then, Zhou Heng walked in, immediately becoming the target of all.

How did this kid get in?

That question rose in everyone’s mind. They were sure they had closed the stone door when they entered, so how could there be just a tiny gap in timing! Could it be that Zhou Heng had been following them all along, which was why he knew how to trigger the mechanism?

But could four Open Heaven Realm experts have failed to notice someone following them in the shadows?

For a moment, Zhou Heng’s status in everyone’s eyes soared. As the saying goes, "only an expert artist would dare to be so bold." To venture in alone, he must possess extraordinary skills, otherwise, wouldn’t he be seeking death?

"He’s just a junior from the Land Cleaving Realm!" Zhang Family’s Old Ancestor said coldly, being a full great realm above, he could easily see through Zhou Heng’s foundation.

What, only the Land Cleaving Realm?

Everyone felt a surge of frustration, as if their full strength had been thrown into thin air, feeling extremely uncomfortable! They had definitely overestimated Zhou Heng; how could he not at least be at the Open Heaven Realm level? Otherwise, why would he come here?

To court death? What a fool!

"Who sent you here?" Another Open Heaven Realm expert spoke, a woman who appeared to be in her forties, still quite charming. Surely she had been quite the seductress in her youth, ensnaring many admirers.

Zhou Heng cracked a slight smile and said, "No one sent me. I just saw there were a lot of people here and thought I’d join in on the fun!"

Everyone’s expression darkened at his words. Join in on the fun? He really dared to say that!

"Ming Xuan, take him down!" the third Open Heaven Realm Old Ancestor commanded, a man around fifty, portly and short, resembling a rolling ball.

"Yes, Old Ancestor!" The one called Ming Xuan was a young man whose aura also reached the Land Cleaving Realm. Of course, looking young didn’t necessarily mean he was really in his twenties or thirties; for those above the Gathering Spirit Realm, age had lost its significance.

His surname was Zhao, given name Ming Xuan, and he was just over seventy years old. Yet, he was already at the Second Layer Heaven of the Land Cleaving Realm’s cultivation level, a genius of the Zhao Family. Greatly favored and cherished by the Zhao Family’s Old Ancestor, considering the seven hundred years of lifespan of the Land Cleaving Realm, he was indeed shockingly young.

Both being of the Land Cleaving Realm, a genius like Zhao Ming Xuan naturally had full confidence in capturing Zhou Heng. There was no need for an Open Heaven Realm expert to make a move, or else, wouldn’t that be the subject of mockery by the other three?

——Many experts are not afraid to be ridiculed by those of lower realms because they don’t need to take the reactions of ants to heart and can crush them with a flick of their hands. However, they cannot ignore the gaze of peers from the same realm, which suddenly becomes very important to them.

That’s why Zhao Family’s Old Ancestor ordered Zhao Ming Xuan into the fight, confident in his victory.

"Kneel and surrender, and you can avoid the pain of flesh and blood!" Zhao Ming Xuan said, hands clasped behind his back, standing arrogantly in front of Zhou Heng, with disdain written all over his face.

Zhou Heng grinned and replied, "Since you’re so fond of kneeling, I don’t mind you knocking a few heads on the floor for me!"

"Insolent!" Zhao Ming Xuan grunted angrily, his figure dashed forward, stretching out his right hand towards Zhou Heng’s shoulder.

Although the family ancestor had ordered him to take Zhou Heng alive, he hadn’t said he couldn’t give Zhou Heng a taste of pain. Zhou Heng’s words had greatly enraged him, and he intended to ruthlessly shatter Zhou Heng’s shoulder.

Zhou Heng’s gaze turned icy. He was merely returning the other party’s words, so if Zhao Mingxuan was ruthless in his attacks, then he shouldn’t blame Zhou Heng!

His right hand vibrated, instantly turning into a golden fist as he counterattacked towards Zhao Mingxuan.

"You think your mere bloodline power can contend with me?" Zhao Mingxuan scoffed with a cold smile. His hands turned jet black in the blink of an eye, as if they were cast from dark gold. That wasn’t bloodline power but martial arts techniques!

He hadn’t inherited bloodline power, but this didn’t impede the rapid advancement of his cultivation level, making him a freakishly strong individual who could overwhelm any spiritual body with bloodline power. What he detested most were those with bloodline power, something he could never attain no matter how hard he tried.

Bang!

Fist and claw collided, sending out a strong shock wave that vibrated in all directions.

The four Open-Heaven Realm experts quickly expanded their power defenses. Although such strength was unlikely to harm them, the armory was equipped with restrictions, and with the clash of powers, the restrictions would inevitably be triggered. When several, dozens, or even hundreds of restrictions detonated simultaneously, it would be no joke!

Staggering backwards, Zhao Mingxuan left a trail of bloodstains. Clutching his right wrist with his left hand, he had been severely injured by Zhou Heng’s strike!

Seeing this scene, everyone showed expressions of surprise.

They all recognized Zhao Mingxuan, the most promising talent of the moment, regarded by countless people as destined to advance to the Mountains and Rivers Realm. Such a genius should have been unrivaled among his peers, yet he met his match—a crushing defeat with just one move!

Zhou Heng gave Zhao Mingxuan another look. The guy was arrogant, but he had some real skills. Zhou Heng’s original intention was to disable his entire arm, but he ended up only breaking the wrist.

"Mingxuan!" The Zhao Family’s Old Ancestor immediately leaped out. This was the hope of the Zhao Family; they couldn’t afford any setback on the martial path! Damn it, he only meant to secure a win over Zhou Heng, which is why he sent out this highly valued junior. He did not expect Zhao Mingxuan to be injured by Zhou Heng instead!

Such a setback could affect Zhao Mingxuan’s martial heart. What if he never recovered from the blow?

"Old Ancestor, I’m fine!" Zhao Mingxuan circulated his spiritual power to stabilize his injury. Lacking bloodline power made his healing slow. With a solemn expression, he said, "Old Ancestor, I was careless just now! Give me another chance, and I will surely defeat him!"

"You are injured; you should get treated first," the Zhao Family’s Old Ancestor waved his hand. He knew his junior was too proud to admit defeat and would certainly want to regain his lost face. However, being at the Open Heaven Realm, his vision was far superior to Zhao Mingxuan’s, and after one exchange, he knew Zhao Mingxuan was no match for Zhou Heng.

Not wanting to damage Zhao Mingxuan’s self-respect, he dismissed him to the side under the pretext of needing treatment, to keep him from being beaten by Zhou Heng again, which might deeply impact his martial heart.

Zhao Mingxuan was reluctant but did not dare to disobey the Old Ancestor. Glaring fiercely at Zhou Heng, he retreated to the side and took out medicine to treat his injuries.

Zhou Heng’s killing intent stirred—truth be told, there was no grievance between them, but the world of martial artists was just like this, often a single sentence would lead to a life-and-death feud!

If that’s the case, then just kill!

"Youngster, who is your master?" the Zhao Family’s Old Ancestor asked, standing with his hands behind his back. If Zhao Mingxuan was arrogant, then, as an Open Heaven Realm Old Ancestor, he had all the right to be.

Zhou Heng smiled slightly, his face taking on a serious expression, "My teacher’s surname is Hu, and his name is Badao!"

Hu Badao?

Talking nonsense!

The Zhao Family’s Old Ancestor was stunned at first but quickly realized that the young man was clearly making fun of him—talking nonsense!

"You really have some nerve, but trouble comes from your mouth!" the Zhao Family’s Old Ancestor flipped his palm and grabbed towards Zhou Heng. An Open Heaven Realm expert exerting dominance over a Land Cleaving Realm was absolute suppression; he didn’t need to use any martial arts techniques, just a palm would be enough to subdue.

Zhou Heng executed the Swift Cloud Radiant Step, his figure flashing as he swept toward the nearby armory, completely ignoring the Zhao Family’s Old Ancestor.

Having already affixed the Void Shattering Talisman to himself, with a faint glow flickering, he moved his hands rapidly, swiftly emptying an armory rack without pause before leaping towards another.

He didn’t care about the rank of the magic artifacts; he was only interested in the materials they were made of, which he could absorb to enhance his physique.

"How audacious!" everyone exclaimed in anger. They arrived before Zhou Heng and yet he had started looting audaciously, completely disregarding everyone else! However, just how did Zhou Heng manage to break through the restrictions protecting the armory racks? If that were easy, the four Open Heaven Realm experts would have already divided the spoils among themselves.

This brazen young man had some nerve breaking in alone!

The four Open Heaven Realm experts, including Zhang Family’s Old Ancestor, moved to attack Zhou Heng. Their massive hands spread across the sky, a sight that in the wilderness would surely be as overwhelming as an eclipse.

Zhou Heng had no intention of getting entangled with them; twisting his body, he continued to collect magic artifacts while storing items inside the Nine Mystic Trial Tower.

As rack after rack was emptied, the onlookers were filled with anger, anxiety, and amazement. This youngster was defying the heavens, even daring to loot amidst the onslaught of four Open Heaven Realm experts—what audacity!

But damn, this kid was fast! (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)