Shocking the Nine Heavens With My Sword
Chapter 254 - 242 - s Block my finger (3/3)

Chapter 254: 242 Chapters Block my finger (3/3)

To satisfy Feng Lianqing, this big eater and super foodie, Zhou Heng had to stuff the Nine Mystic Trial Tower with food, always on hand to supply her needs; otherwise, the travel would be interrupted frequently, as she would become hungry after walking just a few steps.

Accompanied by the saliva-inducing sounds of the two food lovers, they finally arrived at the Imperial Capital, Lanling City.

This ancient city boasted a history even longer than that of Qianhe City. Each brick and tile exuded an ancient aura, giving one a sense of travelling through the vicissitudes of time.

The Zhao Family resided within this imperial city!

In the eyes of common folk, the saying goes: it’s better to be a head of chicken than a tail of ox. Since the Zhao Family has an expert at the Spirit Sea Realm to its name, why would they degrade themselves by moving to an empire where Nascent Soul Realm big shots reside? They could have ruled like kings in any major city, burning it down to the ground if they wished, and who would dare to blame them?

Having reached the Spirit Sea Realm, should they still grovel at the feet of the Nascent Domain’s elites?

Although Zhou Heng had not yet met Zhao Duotian, he knew that this uncle was undoubtedly a man of immense pride. The Zhao Family’s placement in the imperial city was not because Zhao Duotian wanted to cozy up to this elite circle but rather a display of his overwhelming dominance.

He sought neither to be a lowly tail nor a lesser head, but to be the king among kings, establishing the Zhao Family’s supremacy in this imperial city!

—So what if there are Nascent Soul Realm experts? He would still crush them!

The most famous in the imperial city naturally were the three major families at the Nascent Soul Realm; the Ying, Mei, and Bai families, with the Bai Family holding the empire’s divine artifact and reigning as the rulers. The Zhao Family came next.

With just a casual inquiry, Zhou Heng learned of the Zhao Family’s location and promptly made his way there.

"Young Master Heng!"

When Zhou Heng arrived at the Zhao Family’s gate, four guards immediately recognized him and respectfully knelt in half-bow.

Zhou Heng waved his hand, saying, "I wish to see Zhao Duotian!"

"Hmm!" The expressions of the four guards hardened, showing signs of anger.

In the Zhao Family, Zhao Duotian was revered like a deity, absolutely intolerant of any disrespect.

"Go in and announce my arrival!" Zhou Heng’s aura subtly released, like a Divine Dragon from the heavens, untouchable and awe-inspiring!

The four guards were taken aback; they were merely at the Spirit Gathering Realm, and whether it was Zhou Heng or Zhao Duotian, either could crush their worlds. Naturally, they couldn’t discern the difference in strength between Zhou Heng and Zhao Duotian.

They could only instinctively sense the aura between the two, and Zhou Heng...was not the slightest bit weaker!

Looking at Zhou Heng was like seeing Zhao Duotian himself, both were like deity-like beings that commanded endless reverence.

Their only job was to relay the message; why should they needlessly involve themselves in family affairs?

Immediately, one of them went to pass on the message, while the other three stayed outside. Due to Zhou Heng’s impolite words, they coldly faced him, yet showed no fear whatsoever, bolstered by Zhao Duotian’s presence who feared no expert.

This was the confidence of a powerful family.

"Zhou Heng, you’ve finally arrived!" Soon after, a burly man came out from inside, his towering frame and commanding presence like that of a deity, exuding an overwhelming aura.

Was this Zhao Duotian? Zhou Heng was momentarily taken aback.

Although nobody knew Zhao Duotian’s exact age, there was a common consensus that he was definitely under a hundred years old. As a Spirit Sea Realm martial artist with a lifespan of up to two thousand years, in comparison, Zhao Duotian was terrifyingly young.

If he appeared to be only in his twenties, even younger than Zhou Heng, that wouldn’t have surprised him. But the imposing muscular man before him looked to be in his forties, his face framed with a full beard, far from how Zhou Heng had imagined Zhao Duotian to be.

"Greetings to the Family Head!" The three guards at the gate immediately bowed deeply, their eyes filled with fervent adoration.

Zhou Heng set aside his thoughts on Zhao Duotian’s appearance, saying, "Zhao Duotian, you once told my father that if he could block one of your fingers, you would let my mother go, did you not? As his son, I am willing to fight in his stead!"

His spirit was high, facing one of Bright Moon Country’s two greatest prodigies without any hint of fear.

"You think you can block one of my fingers?" Zhao Duotian laughed heartily with a calm tone, devoid of condescension, yet permeated with an air of ’who else but me’ dominance.

"I have to give it a try!" Zhou Heng said firmly.

His uncle indeed possessed fearsome power, with nearly tangible humanoid shadows forming behind him, as though a deity was about to step out from within him.

It was said that Zhao Duotian had one foot in the Nascent Soul Realm; that was indeed no exaggeration! Because those shadowy human figures were proof that deities were about to materialize inside him, and once fully formed, that would signify the Nascent Soul Realm.

Precisely because of this, Zhao Duotian could not hide his terrifying strength, being at a critical point of breakthrough where he might step across at any moment.

Or perhaps upon encountering a catalyst, he might experience a profound realization, or it might take three to five years, even up to fifteen to twenty years!

For an expert of this realm, a hundred years was not long!

"If you can block my finger, you may take your mother," Zhao Duotian said with his hands behind his back, his aura naturally dominating heaven and earth, effortless yet awe-inspiring, "However, if you fail to do so, you must agree to a condition of mine!"

"What is it?" Zhou Heng asked.

Although he was very confident, he dared not underestimate his prodigiously talented uncle and did not believe success was guaranteed. Thus, he would not rashly promise more than he could deliver and box himself into a corner.

He aimed to block a finger, not merely dodge the blow, which was categorically different.

To dodge, Zhou Heng was very confident, for the Swift Cloud Radiant Step was not without merit. But to block a finger meant he had to face it head-on, which would not allow him to rely on his movement technique, effectively adding a significant limitation, restraining his most powerful ability.

"Stay with the Zhao Family for three years!" Zhao Duotian said offhandedly.

"Alright!" Zhou Heng thought for a moment and agreed.

Although Zhou Dinghai was also famed as a genius, that reputation was only within Origin Stone Town, and he seemed extremely mediocre in a slightly larger setting. If Zhou Dinghai were to fulfill this agreement, it would require Zhou Heng to become a celestial immortal in the Nine Heavens, using divine skills to completely transform Zhou Dinghai.

To bring back his mother, he had to rely on himself!

"Follow me!" Zhao Duotian turned and moved forward, with a dragon’s stride and a tiger’s pace. Each step he took had a natural mystery to it, involuntarily making one want to emulate him, subtly being influenced by this big shot.

Zhou Heng had his own path in his heart, thus he firmly kept to his own mind, unaffected.

The two arrived at the Martial Battle Arena.

The Family Head’s decision to personally take action naturally caused a huge stir throughout the entire Zhao Family, drawing crowds into the Martial Battle Arena. However, despite the hundreds of people, there was complete silence, as everyone held their breath, demonstrating Zhao Duotian’s absolute authority.

"I will not show mercy," Zhao Duotian stated indifferently.

Zhou Heng took a deep breath, not feeling the slightest bit that the man was boasting. Although this man was also at the Spirit Sea Realm, his battle power was perhaps many times stronger than that of the person from the Mao Family!

It was normal, just as he was nearly two hundred times stronger than a regular Heaven-Opening Realm in strength, Zhao Duotian could be equally monstrous!

"Please!" He bowed to Zhao Duotian, a sign of respect from a lower realm martial artist to a superior.

Zhao Duotian showed a hint of a smile, then turned serious, and pointed a finger.

Boom!

Zhou Heng hardly had any time to react when suddenly countless rays of light emerged around him, each transforming into fingers, pointing directly at him.

Covering the sky and encompassing everything!

This was... Domain!

Somehow, Zhou Heng knew this was not a Martial Arts Technique, but the sublimation of skills, the Realm of Domain!

So this was the Realm of Domain!

Where the mind goes, the attack follows, a single thought alarming the world!

Domain was an attack at the level of Divine Sense, where thoughts drew nature’s spiritual energy to form an assault like flowing mercury spilling out!

If one could still dodge the Realm of Momentum using Swift Cloud Radiant Step, then this Realm of Domain was utterly unavoidable by any movement technique!

Mind moves, attack reaches!

How to dodge? How to evade? How to defend?

Pitter-patter, countless finger forces crazily stabbed into Zhou Heng. Even if he wanted to use Swift Cloud Radiant Step to dodge, it was impossible!

Blood fluttered around him, and even though Zhou Heng’s physique was comparable to a Mountains and Rivers Realm Magic Artifact, it was useless against Zhao Duotian’s terrifying attack power. His proud physique was like paper in front of his opponent.

In just an instant, Zhou Heng was covered in blood, his bones radiating a Crimson Gold Divine Light.

A gleam in Zhou Heng’s eyes flashed and vanished, and with a thud, he crashed heavily onto the ground, losing consciousness.

Since he could cultivate, this was the first time he had experienced such absolute suppression; that feeling of helplessness continued to haunt his mind before he passed out.

Had it not been for his bones as tough as a Mountains and Rivers Realm Magic Artifact, the blow would have likely been more severe than merely being heavily injured and knocked unconscious – it could have been fatal.

Zhao Duotian’s battle power was terrifyingly boundless!

Fortunately, Zhou Heng faced him rather than Ying Cheng’en, otherwise... he really would have been doomed!

Seeing Zhou Heng’s bones shining with Golden Light, all members of the Zhao Family showed affectionate expressions, recognizing the Crimson Gold bloodline distinct to their family, admitting no falsehood!

Following the great tragedy of the family more than two decades earlier, the Zhao Family cherished each of its members incredibly. Although Zhou Heng did not bear the Zhao surname, the same blood flowing through his veins instantly generated affection and identification among all Zhao Family members.

"Zhou Heng—" Xiao Huoshui exclaimed, while Orchid Concubine and her daughter had more complex expressions. Feng Lianqing, however, seemed extremely excited, as if she couldn’t wait to rush forward and kick Zhou Heng a couple of times, seizing the opportunity to kick him while he was down.

"Take him away, and treat him well!" Zhao Duotian commanded without even looking at the four women, then turned his head to give instructions.

"Yes, Family Head!"

...

Zhou Heng abruptly woke up after an unknown amount of time, trying to sit up, but with a hiss, he lay back down, feeling an extraordinary pain throughout his body, as if every bone and every piece of flesh had shattered into millions of pieces, any movement causing whole-body discomfort.

"Heng’er, you’re awake?" A beautiful, gentle female voice spoke up, and a middle-aged beautiful woman appeared in front of Zhou Heng, her face full of tenderness and concern.

A feeling of indescribable closeness spread in Zhou Heng’s heart as he stared blankly at the elegant and gentle beauty.

"I am your mother!" (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to qidian.com to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)