Chapter 174 - 146: Missed a Golden Opportunity?

This situation left Fang Jingchuan completely baffled.

His partnership with Zou Feng wasn’t based on trust, but on the fact that they shared a common enemy: Yuwen Shuo.

Moreover, Fang Jingchuan and Lu Sen had both anticipated that once Yuwen Shuo was dead, Zou Feng and his people would almost certainly turn on them immediately.

’But now, with Yuwen Shuo on the verge of being slain, what the hell are Zou Feng and his group doing jumping in!?’

’It’d be one thing if they just didn’t help, but have they been kicked in the head by a donkey? Why does it look like they’re trying to protect Yuwen Shuo at all costs?’

In his moment of confusion, Fang Jingchuan’s first instinct was to ignore Zou Feng’s attack and continue trying to take down Yuwen Shuo.

However, as the Poison Fury Fire Lotus Seal drew nearer, he instinctively sensed that something was terribly wrong.

’No, I can’t take this attack head-on!’

Making a split-second decision, Fang Jingchuan lashed out with the Palm Force of his Great Compassion Hand to neutralize the Poison Fury Fire Lotus Seal.

Yuwen Shuo seized the opportunity to leap from his mountain palanquin and calmly withdraw.

He was quickly surrounded by the other constables who had rushed to the scene.

The last chance to kill Yuwen Shuo had slipped away right before his very eyes...

Fang Jingchuan was so furious he wanted to devour Zou Feng’s flesh and blood.

He truly couldn’t understand why. ’If Zou Feng and the others hadn’t interfered just now,’ he thought, ’and my fellow Guardian and I had attacked with our full strength, then even with that impressive Magical Artifact of his, Yuwen Shuo definitely wouldn’t have lasted much longer.’

"You..."

Fang Jingchuan knew it was pointless to question Zou Feng now. He could only brace himself and kill Zou Feng first.

He pushed his palms forward with deceptive slowness. The Dharma Aspect of the Ten Directions Divine King materialized, generating an immense suction force.

It was as if the Ten Directions Divine King had descended in person, ready to snatch Zou Feng and drag him over.

Seeing this, Zou Feng dared not be careless. He unleashed his fully prepared "Lotus in Lotus," sending it spinning toward the Ten Directions Divine King Dharma Aspect.

"A pathetic little trick! How dare you show off in front of a true master!"

Fang Jingchuan’s Palm Technique shifted as his hands moved into a new stance.

The Ten Directions Divine King Dharma Aspect continued its assault while a long spear rapidly condensed from Gang Qi in his hands.

This was another major difference between the Gang Qi Realm and the Inner Qi stage: the materialization of Gang Qi into weapons!

A weapon formed from Gang Qi wasn’t like the unstable phantoms condensed from Inner Qi. As long as the Gang Qi could be maintained, it was a visible, tangible True Gang Weapon, its power even surpassing that of ordinary Magical Artifacts!

With a Gang Soldier in hand, Fang Jingchuan’s expression turned vicious.

He was truly enraged. ’Yuwen Shuo can live today, but you, Zou Feng, must die!’

With a furious roar, Fang Jingchuan’s spear struck like a dragon, its tip relentlessly stabbing toward Zou Feng’s vital points as if it had locked onto its target.

As Zou Feng dodged in a desperate retreat, he inwardly marveled at his opponent’s strength.

After all, the Ten Directions Divine King Dharma Aspect that Fang Jingchuan had just unleashed hadn’t vanished. Even after neutralizing his Poison Fury Fire Lotus Seal, it was still exerting its suction force on its own.

Even though he knew that Gang Qi Realm Martial Artists had a few tricks up their sleeves, the combat prowess Fang Jingchuan displayed still exceeded his expectations.

’Then again, I haven’t played my trump cards either,’ he thought. ’If I went all out, I might still have a fighting chance.’

’But now isn’t the time to go all out...’

Not far away, Tian Yun’s fight against the other Guardian from the Ten Directions Sect was also starting to turn. She was gradually losing ground and could be defeated at any moment.

But her objective was the same as Zou Feng’s. She had never intended to actually defeat the Guardian from the Ten Directions Sect; she was only stalling for time...

"Die!"

Seeing Zou Feng clearly faltering, Fang Jingchuan quickened his spear attacks once more.

The Gang Qi Long Spear seemed to transform into a roaming dragon, roaring as it shot forward to devour Zou Feng.

Just as Zou Feng was about to be overwhelmed, a streak of jade-green Sword Qi emerged without a sound, striking toward Fang Jingchuan’s back.

The sudden attack was so insidious that not even Fang Jingchuan detected it in advance.

By the time he realized something was wrong, it was too late to dodge. He could only spin around and block the attack with his spear, taking the full force of the blow.

Although he managed to block it, Fang Jingchuan was forced back two steps, his expression turning grim.

A moment later, several disciples from the Celestial Essence Sword Sect, clad in snow-white robes, leaped onto the battlefield as if delivering divine justice.

The one leading them was none other than Shen Xuan, the Gang Qi Realm expert from the Sword Sect whom Zou Feng had met before.

"Fang Jingchuan! You got away by a fluke last time. Let’s see where you can run to now!" Shen Xuan said with a brilliant smile, looking as if he had Fang Jingchuan right where he wanted him.

At last, Fang Jingchuan finally understood the situation.

’So that’s how it is,’ he realized. ’Hunting a Demon Beast, teaming up to kill Yuwen Shuo... it was all just an elaborate trap set for us from the Ten Directions Sect...’

But Fang Jingchuan still couldn’t wrap his head around what Zou Feng stood to gain from all this.

’Don’t tell me this kid really intends to fight to the death for Yuwen Shuo!?’

With no time to think, Fang Jingchuan roared, "Retreat!"

He immediately turned and fled, taking the lead.

’There’s no point in fighting anymore. All that matters now is how to get out of this alive.’

Unfortunately for him, Yuwen Shuo’s Gang Qi Realm guards "just so happened" to be blocking his escape route...

The Ten Directions Sect was now trapped like fish in a barrel. Even with two Guardians present, the outcome was a foregone conclusion.

Seeing that victory was assured, Yuwen Shuo still didn’t make a move. Instead, he personally resumed his pursuit of the frenzied Celestial Eye Cloud Pattern Deer.

This Demon Deer had been captured by the remnants of the Ten Directions Sect hiding on Qifeng Mountain. They had kept it alive specifically to use as bait to lure Yuwen Shuo.

They never imagined that instead of catching Yuwen Shuo, they would be the ones to take the bait.

Zou Feng, for his part, had no intention of joining the fray. Feigning a minor injury, he found a spot to sit down cross-legged and meditate.