Chapter 174: This Boy Is Too Dangerous to Be Left Alive
With a loud thud, Mo Tianxing landed atop a large boulder, clutching his chest and panting heavily.
He hadn't suffered any serious injuries during his battle with Gong Heng, just some superficial wounds on his chest. But even so, things were far from good.
"Damn brat… I swear I'll kill you!" Mo Tianxing's eyes gleamed with murderous intent, his chest throbbing painfully. He had truly been angered to the point of spitting blood by Lu Bu earlier. If not for his formidable strength, he might have already succumbed.
What should he do next?
Taking out a few pills, Mo Tianxing consumed them to stabilize the turbulent blood within his chest. He began to think about his next move. That brat was certainly strong, but the two star Dou Zong woman wasn't by his side.
Moreover, there was that little girl present a major weak point. Although the puppet protected her, it wasn't capable of much.
"Should I take this opportunity to ambush him while he's without strong allies?" Mo Tianxing considered. Once the thought emerged, it became impossible to suppress. That brat had not only killed his son and many of his subordinates but had repeatedly ruined his plans.
If he didn't kill him now, his hatred would never be quenched. Furthermore, if the boy kept interfering as he had before, this entire secret realm exploration could end up being a wasted effort.
"... In that case, he must die!"
Having made up his mind, Mo Tianxing's eyes gleamed with savagery. He couldn't afford to hesitate any longer. He had to strike while Lu Bu hadn't yet joined forces with Su Qian. If those two teamed up, he wouldn't stand a chance.
Crack!
Mo Tianxing crushed a jade token in his hand. Moments later, nine figures sped toward him. Leading them were a red faced elder and a middle aged man dressed in blue.
"Greetings, Sect Master!" the red faced elder called out loudly.
By this point, Mo Tianxing had mostly recovered. From his appearance, it was impossible to tell he'd been injured at all.
Mo Tianxing nodded slightly at the nine people before him. These were the last remaining elites of the Black Emperor Sect. The red faced elder, Qi Shan, was the sect's chief alchemist and a four star Dou Huang. The middle aged man in blue, Hong Bian, was a four star Dou Huang whom Mo Tianxing had recruited just a year prior.
"Qi Shan, Hong Bian, did you encounter anyone or run into any trouble on your way here?" Mo Tianxing asked.
"Sect Master…" Qi Shan hesitated for a moment before speaking gravely. "We didn't encounter anyone, but we did hear some news… about Elder Ying Shan."
"Speak!" Mo Tianxing frowned. He hoped this wasn't more bad news.
"It's said that Elder Ying Shan and Su Qian got into a fight beneath a giant dead tree, seemingly over some kind of treasure…" Qi Shan explained, though he sounded uncertain.
"You're saying Su Qian and Elder Ying Shan are already fighting?" Mo Tianxing was overjoyed, ignoring the other details.
"Uh… yes," Qi Shan confirmed with a nod.
"Excellent!" Mo Tianxing sneered. He didn't know what conflict had arisen between Su Qian and Elder Ying Shan, but it was clear Su Qian couldn't be with Lu Bu right now.
This time… no one could save you, Lu Bu!
He would have Qi Shan and Hong Bian deal with the puppet, the seven Dou Wangs subdue the little girl, and he himself would take down the boy. Let's see how he would escape this time!
A cold light flashed in Mo Tianxing's eyes. If it weren't for that puppet, dealing with the brat would've been far easier.
"Not an issue… He has a puppet, and so do I." Mo Tianxing flicked his fingers, and a gray brown scroll appeared in his hand. Once this was over, he would create a formidable puppet of his own!
"Follow me. Time to kill," Mo Tianxing said coldly, activating his movement technique and heading back. His only goal now was to find Lu Bu and eliminate him completely.
"Yes!"
The nine figures replied in unison, following closely behind him.
…
Elsewhere, Lu Bu stood atop a sand dune, his senses spreading outward. After a brief moment of silence, he headed northwest with Zi Yan.
In such a vast area, finding Elder Su Qian wasn't an easy task. Lu Bu needed to find someone to ask for directions first.
Zi Yan seemed a little downcast. She knew Mo Tianxing wouldn't let the two of them go so easily, and she understood that dealing with that scoundrel was a priority.
But she still didn't like the idea of seeking out Elder Su Qian while treasure hunting with Lu Bu. To her, it felt like a restriction. Being with Lu Bu was far better free and unrestrained.
Lu Bu gently pinched Zi Yan's puffed up little cheeks and smiled helplessly. "Once we deal with that bastard Mo Tianxing, we can go treasure hunting on our own without bothering with Elder Su Qian. How does that sound?"
"You said it! No take backs!" Zi Yan grinned.
"Of course," Lu Bu replied with a chuckle. "If we don't deal with Mo Tianxing, we won't even enjoy treasure hunting. We'd have to be on guard all the time. So… let's just deal with him for now."
"Mm hmm, I understand," Zi Yan nodded enthusiastically. "But why don't you and Sister Medusa just take him down together? Why do we need that old man?"
"It's not that simple," Lu Bu said seriously. "Even though Medusa and I are confident, Mo Tianxing is a four star Dou Zong. If he retaliates, it won't be easy to handle."
As they spoke, Lu Bu and Zi Yan arrived at the entrance to a collapsed cave. After inspecting it closely, Lu Bu frowned.
"The people here have already left. We'll need to find someone else to ask about Elder Su Qian's whereabouts."
"Ugh, how annoying…" Zi Yan pouted, leaping onto Lu Bu's back and pulling out a pill to munch on.
But just then, Lu Bu's body stiffened, and his expression shifted as he looked toward the horizon. A group of people was approaching many of them, and their hostility was palpable.
"Hahaha… Looking for Elder Su Qian? I've got plenty of information for you!"
A booming voice echoed across the sand. Lu Bu and Zi Yan exchanged a glance, their expressions turning grim. They recognized that voice it was Mo Tianxing's.
Before the thought even finished, ten figures appeared in their sight. In a few quick flashes, they surrounded Lu Bu and Zi Yan in a loose formation.
This is the kid we're supposed to take down? Hong Bian and Qi Shan exchanged doubtful looks. Was this really just one boy?
Though they had their doubts, they wouldn't dare question Mo Tianxing's judgment.
"That sly old fox… He's already brought his people here!" Lu Bu cursed inwardly. But he didn't consider trying to break through and escape.
Mo Tianxing clearly had him pegged. Running would be futile. He could only fight. Surviving wouldn't be an issue, but maximizing his gains…
"Your Majesty, I'm counting on you for this one…" Lu Bu muttered, raising his hand to lightly brush his chest as a faint smile curved his lips.
"Heh heh heh… Brat, this time there's no one to save you!" Mo Tianxing sneered, stepping forward. His fists clenched, and the sound of cracking knuckles echoed ominously.
"Are you so sure you can take me down?" Lu Bu scoffed, waving his sleeve as the black puppet appeared beside him, towering like a steel fortress.
"Hmph… Just as I thought!" Mo Tianxing sneered. "So these are your tricks!"
"Qi Shan, Hong Bian, the two of you handle the puppet. All 'Imperial Guards,' capture the little girl. Don't underestimate her she's a Dou Wang. As for this boy… I'll deal with him myself!"
"Your name is Lu Bu, isn't it? Any last words?"
…
"Attack!"
Qi Shan and Hong Bian roared in unison. Red and blue Dou Qi surged forth, erupting into two sharp beams of energy that shot toward Lu Bu and his puppet.
The puppet stomped its foot. Facing the two beams of Dou Qi shooting toward it, it neither dodged nor avoided but instead clenched its fists and punched forward with tremendous force.
Boom! Boom!
The beams exploded into fragments on impact, forcing Hong Bian and Qi Shan to groan in unison, their faces filled with shock. "What a powerful puppet!"
"This thing can't use Dou Techniques and doesn't have intelligence. Just focus on keeping it occupied!"
The two exchanged a glance and quickly aligned their strategy. They couldn't destroy the puppet, so they would focus on keeping it from providing support elsewhere.
"Die!" Mo Tianxing roared, swinging his sleeve as a golden streak of light shot out like lightning toward Lu Bu's throat.
"Hmph!"
A wave of icy killing intent enveloped Lu Bu, but his eyes gleamed sharply as he snorted coldly. Clenching his fist tightly, he punched out with all his might.
Ding!
The golden light was deflected, the faint outline of a handleless dagger visible as it ricocheted back.
"What a terrifyingly strong body!" Mo Tianxing's expression shifted slightly, but he didn't let up. With a furious shout, he conjured an invisible blade from the void.
Clang!
A blade several meters long materialized out of nowhere, slashing down with dazzling light and sharp energy that surged like crashing waves, completely engulfing Lu Bu.
For a brief moment, the surrounding space seemed to distort. Lu Bu felt the air tighten around him, locking him in place with no way to dodge.
"Zi Yan, take care of yourself!" Lu Bu said sharply, glancing over his shoulder at the girl behind him. His eyes suddenly lit up with a deep purple gold glow.
The gleaming blade of light slashed down viciously, striking Lu Bu directly.
"Did it work?" Qi Shan and Hong Bian felt a mix of excitement and disbelief. Could someone the sect master had gone to such lengths to corner really be defeated so easily?
Clang!
Just as they thought the blade had succeeded, a crisp metallic sound rang out.
In the next moment, an overwhelming aura exploded outward. Brilliant purple gold light surged from Lu Bu's body, forming a protective shield. Above him, a faint beastly shadow hovered, its figure indistinct but imposing.
The blinding blade of light had struck Lu Bu's scaly hand, which was now covered in dense, metallic scales. Mo Tianxing's pupils constricted sharply. What kind of monster is this boy?
Crack… Boom!
The next moment, the massive blade of light shattered in Lu Bu's grip, exploding into fragments.
"What?!" Mo Tianxing's face paled. He thought he had a good grasp of Lu Bu's abilities his soul strength rivaled that of a Dou Zong, but his Dou Qi cultivation was relatively average. Even with his rapid progress, he was still just a Dou Wang. How could he block an attack head on like that?
Ignoring Mo Tianxing's shocked gaze, Lu Bu grinned and let out a thunderous roar. Pulling his left hand back to his waist, he thrust it forward in a powerful straight punch aimed at Mo Tianxing.
Boom!!
The punch roared outward like a dragon's cry and a tiger's roar, shaking the very air around them.
"Not good! This kid's body is ridiculously strong!" Mo Tianxing's pupils shrank as he shouted, warping the space around him to form an impenetrable barrier.
However…
The purple light surged forward, and the supposedly unbreakable space barrier shimmered briefly before shattering entirely without offering any resistance.
Confusion flickered across Mo Tianxing's face. Why had his defense been so ineffective? Spatial defenses should be nearly impossible to bypass, even for a Dou Zong!
A loud bang echoed as Lu Bu's massive fist struck Mo Tianxing directly.
The impact sent a violent force coursing through Mo Tianxing's entire body, blood spraying outward in a crimson mist.
Boom!
The force of the punch sent Mo Tianxing flying, crashing into the distance.
Idiot… using spatial powers against someone with the Ancient Void Dragon bloodline? Are you asking to get beaten up? Lu Bu's eyes flashed with mockery, though a hint of disappointment lingered as well.
The punch had been effective, but killing a Dou Zong in one blow was impossible. Their vitality was far too tenacious.
As expected, Mo Tianxing stopped his backward momentum mid air with a shake of his shoulders. He coughed up blood, flipping upright to hover in the sky.
"Cough… cough… You brat, I underestimated you!" Mo Tianxing spat blood, his face cold enough to freeze the air around him. His voice squeezed out through gritted teeth, and the bone chilling killing intent radiating from him left the nine other members of the Black Emperor Sect trembling.
The sect master was furious. This was going to get messy.
Qi Shan and Hong Bian exchanged a glance and silently retreated as they fought, drawing the puppet away from the enraged Mo Tianxing.
The seven Dou Wangs fighting Zi Yan did the same. Despite being Dou Wangs, they found her strength overwhelming she wasn't inferior to a Dou Huang at all. A single punch from her was enough to incapacitate anyone, leaving them coughing up blood and unable to stand.
Recognizing their predicament, the seven Dou Wangs abandoned their plan for a quick victory and instead shifted to a strategy of containment and attrition. Surely, seven Dou Wangs could outlast one girl, right?
Zi Yan scoffed disdainfully. "A bunch of trash thinks they can stop me?"
With a loud shout, a pair of faint purple Dou Qi wings sprouted from her back, flapping violently as her speed surged.
She excelled at brawls like this. Picking out the weakest opponent and hammering them into submission was her specialty!
Grinning mischievously, Zi Yan punched a three star Dou Wang so hard he went flying, then unleashed a barrage of Dou Qi enhanced strikes, leaving him spitting blood and completely out of the fight.
"She's tough!"
"Go all out!"
The remaining six Dou Wangs shouted in unison, forming pairs and sticking close together like conjoined twins. This tactic left Zi Yan struggling to gain the upper hand.
"Annoying…" Zi Yan cursed under her breath, realizing she couldn't rush in recklessly anymore. Instead, she adopted a more patient strategy, engaging in a drawn out battle as she searched for an opportunity to repeat her earlier success.
However, this entire fight hinged on one thing Lu Bu defeating Mo Tianxing. That was the key to everything.
On the other side of the battlefield, Mo Tianxing stared at Lu Bu, whose body had grown larger and whose skin was covered in metallic scales. His eyes widened in fear. "What… are you? A human or a magical beast?"
Lu Bu's scaled skin glinted in the sunlight like polished metal. His razor sharp claws gleamed, his muscular arms bulged with strength, and his black eyes had turned into piercing purple gold orbs. The divine aura he radiated was oppressive and overwhelming.
"Whether you're human or magical beast… you won't leave here alive!" Mo Tianxing quickly suppressed his fear, his voice cold and resolute.
A mere Dou Wang had already proven this troublesome. If given a few more years, Mo Tianxing wouldn't stand a chance against him. Lu Bu was too dangerous to let live.
"This boy is terrifying… He cannot be allowed to live!"
"Then come and try," Lu Bu replied with a cold smirk, his purple gold eyes glinting with a murderous light.
Mo Tianxing responded with a chilling smile of his own, slowly forming hand seals. Black and gold energy flowed from the center of his brow, spreading across his body. A sinister, domineering aura swept through the air like a storm.
"Brat, I'll make you wish for death!" Mo Tianxing's venomous voice echoed ominously.
(End of Chapter)
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