Shocking the Nine Heavens With My Sword
Chapter 443 - 427 The Identity of the 4th Heavenly Venerate (2/3)

Chapter 443: Chapter 427 The Identity of the 4th Heavenly Venerate (2/3)

"Miss, don’t worry, we will rescue you from the tiger’s mouth!"

"This young lady really stands out!"

"Truly delicate!"

That group consisted of all males, totaling eight men. The leader had reached the Spirit Sea Realm, while the remaining seven were in the Heaven-Opening Realm. Such a lineup was considered quite formidable amid the chaotic times, powerful enough to dominate a major city and rule like kings!

After all, even if ancient martial artists were to emerge, the entire Xuanqian Star did not have more than a thousand Half-Step Immortals, but how many major cities were there on the continent?

Reaching the Spirit Sea Realm was enough to take control of a city and reign as a carefree emperor.

However, looking at these dusty and tired people, they definitely were not just wandering aimlessly but possessed a clear destination. They had simply run over to stand up to injustice upon witnessing this scene.

From their greedy eyes and the wild talk spewing from their mouths, it was apparent they were not decent folks. Their sudden interjection was because they were captivated by the beauty of the Moon Shadow Saintess and harbored lascivious thoughts.

Zhou Heng’s aura was chillingly murderous, not because his "good deed" was interrupted, but because he sensed the bloodline aura of the Ying Family on these men. He stood up and walked towards the eight, an imposing aura emanating from him as if an Immortal Emperor was touring, with Divine Radiance sparkling and supernatural phenomena burgeoning around him.

"What, what!" Seeing this, the eight men all showed expressions of shock.

They had not sensed any spiritual power fluctuations from Zhou Heng and the Moon Shadow Saintess, not because their power was unfathomably mighty, but truly because there was none! This was why they dared to intervene during such an anarchic period.

Could a man without any cultivation emit such an aura? Could he manifest such phenomena?

—The reason the Moon Shadow Saintess had no spiritual power fluctuations was that she was affected by the Black Snow Powder, and even though Zhou Heng was not affected by the Black Snow Powder, the Stealth Talisman would prevent others from sensing his spiritual power unless he actively utilized it.

"You are from the Ying Family, aren’t you?" Zhou Heng spoke indifferently, his calm tone laden with a chilling murderous intent.

"We are not from the Ying Family; we are disciples of the Heaven’s Grace Sect!" Under the oppressive aura of Zhou Heng, the eight men dared not avoid responding. However, when they mentioned the Heaven’s Grace Sect, they suddenly puffed out their chests, filled with pride.

Indeed, Ying Cheng’en had received legacies from the ancient and even more remote eras, allowing him to "seed" the Bloodline Power to others. Thus, these eight were not actually descendants of the Ying Family, yet they all possessed the Ying Family’s Bloodline Power.

"You, you are Zhou Heng!" Suddenly, one of the eight recognized Zhou Heng, speaking with a trembling voice.

Zhou Heng smiled faintly and said, "Now that you know who I am, you also should know that you are not dying unjustly!"

Indeed, these meddlers turned out to be from the Heaven’s Grace Sect!

"Wait, in war between armies, do not slay the diplomats!" the Spirit Sea Realm martial artist interjected quickly, taking out a letter from a Space Artifact, "This is a battle invitation from our sect master to you!"

No wonder they encountered Ying Cheng’en’s men; they had specifically come to deliver the battle invitation!

"A battle invitation?" Zhou Heng couldn’t help but smile. Ying Cheng’en had hidden and avoided him for such a long time, and finally could not resist challenging him to a decisive battle.

He took the letter. As soon as he opened it, he felt a heavy pressure bearing down on him, as if a Heavenly Venerate was about to leap from the paper, a terror impossible to describe. "Hmph!" Zhou Heng’s breath deepened, and two streams of air blew from his nose, transforming into two golden light halos that settled upon the letter.

The overwhelming pressure instantly dissipated!

Even if this letter was personally inscribed by a Heavenly Venerate, it was, after all, just a piece of paper and a bit of ink, not a Divinity Transformation Realm Magic Artifact. And Zhou Heng was a Heavenly Venerate at the level of his constitution, with unrivaled defensive power. How could he be suppressed by a mere letter?

"Battle!"

There was only one bloody character for "battle" on that letter, quite literally making it a battle invitation.

Zhou Heng’s lips curved slightly. He had flattened the Ying Family’s main residence. The enmity with Ying Cheng’en was absolutely irreconcilable, leaving nothing to be discussed between them, only a battle to the death remained!

However, this letter unexpectedly exerted a Heavenly Venerate-level pressure.

Zhou Heng looked at the eight men and asked, "Is Ying Cheng’en the fourth Heavenly Venerate?"

"Indeed, our sect master has just recently broken through to become the fourth Heavenly Venerate of the Divinity Transformation Realm!" The eight men spoke with immense pride, puffing up their chests.

Indeed it was so!

Zhou Heng, who feared not even the Poisonous Vast Heavenly Venerate, naturally would not consider a newly ascended Heavenly Venerate a threat. What puzzled him, however, was how Ying Cheng’en had managed to advance to the Divinity Transformation Realm.

From his experience, those who had been surpassed by him could never catch up to him in terms of realms. Moreover, the time when Ying Cheng’en had advanced to the Nascent Soul Realm should have been about the same as Zhao Duotian, but Zhao Duotian was now merely at the Peak of First Layer Heaven of the Nascent Soul Realm. How had Ying Cheng’en surged to the Heavenly Venerate Rank so rapidly?

Considering their aptitudes, Zhao Duotian and Ying Cheng’en were supposed to be comparable, or else they wouldn’t have been unable to determine which of them was the top genius for so many years. But now, their progress could be described as heaven and earth, completely beyond comparison!

Ying Cheng’en’s talent could not possibly be so freakish, but remember, he was a person blessed with great fortune, encountering treasures every time he stepped out the door! Perhaps there were some treasures he had previously been unable to use due to his realm, but as he entered the Half-Step Immortal, it was like a wellspring gushing forth, leading to an explosive breakthrough.

Regardless of how Ying Cheng’en had reached the Divinity Transformation Realm, he was now a genuine Heavenly Venerate, poised to challenge Zhou Heng to a fight—a confrontation that was inevitable!

Then let there be a battle!

Zhou Heng’s eyes flashed with a fiery intent to battle. Breaking through rapidly usually meant unstable foundations. Ying Cheng’en might appear to have made terrifyingly rapid progress in his cultivation level, but that didn’t necessarily mean his battle power was remarkably strong. This could be deduced from the fluctuations of his breakthrough into the Divinity Transformation Realm, which were at least ten times weaker than those of the Moon Shadow Saintess and her companions!

"Sir, the challenge has been delivered, and we wish to take our leave!" said the eight people. They had initially had designs on the Moon Shadow Saintess, but once they learned that the "assailant" was Zhou Heng, how could they dare entertain the thought of snatching food from a tiger’s mouth?

This master was the one their sect leader personally wanted to challenge. What significance did they have, mere onions or garlic, to be compared with Ying Cheng’en?

"Who said you could leave?" Zhou Heng said coldly.

"Sir, in war between two armies—"

"Shut your mouth!" Zhou Heng cursed, pushing forward a palm, and with that, the eight of them were simultaneously turned into a bloody mist.

He was already in a foul mood, and these eight were a display of Ying Cheng’en’s ostentation, how could he possibly let them leave unscathed? Since they followed Ying Cheng’en, they were his enemies. Was there any need for mercy toward enemies?

Zhou Heng turned around and saw a complex expression on the Moon Shadow Saintess’s face. She seemed lost in thought, but when she saw him turn, she instinctively took a step back. After all, he had given this woman a spanking. He lost interest in entertaining her any longer and said, "The Great Eternal Emperor might have owed your master a great favor in ancient times. Regardless of the complexities, in consideration of this relationship, I’m sparing you this time!"

"From now on, I owe you nothing from the East Spirit Immortal Pond!"

"If you come to trouble me again, I will kill you!"

Zhou Heng declared sternly. He had too many bothersome matters at present and had no time to deal with a vengeful woman.

Saying this, he strode away.

By the time he had disappeared out of sight, the Moon Shadow Saintess’s legs gave way, and she collapsed onto the ground, her eyes flashing with a dazed look, at a loss where to go.

...

Though he had lost his spiritual power, Zhou Heng’s physical strength was still the greatest in the world. With a single leap, he could cover dozens of miles, and his speed was still incredibly fast. A few hours later, he returned to the city.

"Zhou, where have you been?" Black Donkey immediately greeted him. This sly donkey couldn’t stay still, always tempting Zhou Heng to seek treasures.

"I had a fight with a crazy woman," Zhou Heng said offhand.

"Crazy woman?" Black Donkey mumbled, then his eyes rolled, "The only one capable of fighting with you around here is a Heavenly Venerate! And there is only one female Heavenly Venerate. Did you fight with the Moonshadow Fairy?"

"Sly donkey, you only get smart at times like these!" Zhou Heng sighed, then recounted his encounter with the Moon Shadow Saintess.

"What, you drugged her?" Black Donkey’s eyes lit up, and suddenly, he turned and ran out.

Zhou Heng smirked, not really caring, and simply continued on his way.

Two days later, he was idly drinking tea in the courtyard. It was surprising that, to this day, his spiritual power had not yet recovered, still dry like a depleted spring, not a drop in sight.

This "brief" period was starting to feel excessively long!

The Nine Mystic Trial Tower was an Immortal Object, or at least a Quasi-Immortal Object, originally supposed to be in the Immortal Realm. Like the Hundred Ghosts Sword and the Black Sword, it had fallen into the mortal world for various special reasons. Thus, according to the concept of time for Immortals, a "brief" period might mean ten to twenty days, or even several months!

Zhou Heng also felt quite annoyed. A physical constitution at the Divinity Transformation Realm was still considered low-grade, only the cultivation level of attaining the Dao could be in harmony with heaven and earth, the true path.

Now, with his spiritual power completely suppressed, especially at this critical juncture, time was indeed being wasted!

"Zhou Heng!" a sharp call abruptly rang out.

Zhou Heng was startled. That voice sounded terribly familiar. He turned his head and, to his astonishment, discovered that it was the Moon Shadow Saintess!

How could this woman appear here? Perhaps she was still not reconciled, unwilling to give up?

"You despicable scoundrel!" the Moon Shadow Saintess shouted furiously, her eyebrows inverted in rage, absolutely furious.

How come the villain was playing the victim?

"How am I a despicable scoundrel?" Zhou Heng laughed. Since his spiritual power hadn’t recovered, it was likely the same for the Moon Shadow Saintess, and he could knock her over with just a flick.

"You keep saying that we have settled our grudges, yet you had that sly donkey bring me here—" The Moon Shadow Saintess was furious, her pretty face paled, and her fists tightly clenched.

What?

Zhou Heng finally realized. No wonder the Black Donkey had looked so strange that day and had left in such a rush; he had gone to find the Moon Shadow Saintess. He hadn’t mentioned where he had fought with the Moon Shadow Saintess, but that donkey’s nose was extremely sensitive, and the area of their battle was heavily damaged, easily recognizable from afar.

That Black Donkey had always wanted to take the Moon Shadow Saintess as a maid, it seems he got his wish these past few days!

With this thought, Zhou Heng burst into laughter. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for it, and your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)