Chapter 226: Fighting a Golden Core Middle Stage
"Junior, you’ve gone too far! Did you really think I had no way to deal with you? Now, I’ll show you the true power of a Golden Core Middle Stage expert!"
The black-robed old man was no ordinary person. He instantly calmed down and, while retreating, waved his hand. A palm-sized, round Small Shield shimmering with black light suddenly appeared before him.
"Grow!"
The black-robed old man barked a cold command. The Small Shield immediately began to furiously absorb the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, expanding rapidly. In the blink of an eye, it stopped at a height of a hundred feet, forming a wall between him and Zhang Chi.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!...
Zhang Chi’s fists slammed viciously into the surface of the Black Shield, creating a tremendous boom like the striking of a great bell. Though the Black Shield trembled violently, it successfully blocked the tempestuous assault.
"Haha! So this is all there is to Body Refining. No matter how strong you are, you’re still just Golden Core Early Stage and Tier Three Low Grade! My Black Shield, however, is a Low Grade Magical Treasure. It would be a miracle if you could break through it."
"And now, it’s my turn to counterattack! I don’t care what’s going on with you—just die!"
The black-robed old man laughed, pleased with himself.
He had been worried that even the Black Shield wouldn’t hold, but now he realized he might have overestimated his opponent.
While his opponent’s Body Refining was powerful, the earlier attack had been a sneak attack, which was the only reason he had been successfully injured.
Besides, the defenses that had been shattered were just ordinary measures like Magical Artifacts and Spirit Talismans.
Moreover, he wasn’t a Body Refining expert; getting into close quarters was bound to put him at a disadvantage.
SWISH!
But things were different now. He raised his hand again, and a long, snake-like set of black Chains shot out from his sleeve, lashing violently toward Zhang Chi.
The black Chains shimmered with a treasured light and moved with incredible speed; it was clearly another Low Grade Magical Treasure.
’Simultaneously activating two Low Grade Magical Treasures?’
By now, Qin Susu had retreated to a safe distance under the protection of her Puppets. She couldn’t help but be shocked at the sight.
It was said that most Golden Core Early Stage Cultivators could only wield a single Magical Treasure, which was why they usually chose one that integrated both offense and defense.
Only exceptionally powerful Golden Core Early Stage Cultivators, or those at the Golden Core Middle Stage, could activate multiple Magical Treasures at once.
This black-robed old man was clearly one of them.
CRACK!
The black Chains struck Zhang Chi in an instant. Like a kite with its string cut, he was sent flying backward.
’This is bad!’
The color drained from Qin Susu’s face. She immediately executed a Flying Escape to retreat further, freeing up her two Puppets to join the battle.
"Haha, excellent!"
Seeing this, the black-robed old man was overjoyed. He immediately continued to command the Chains, planning to press his advantage and kill Zhang Chi in one fell swoop.
But just then, Zhang Chi had already steadied himself. He was completely unharmed, without a single injury.
He hadn’t even activated any defensive Magical Treasures, nor had he used any Spirit Talismans or Defense Magic.
In other words, he had withstood the attack of the Magical Treasure Chains with nothing but his physical body.
"You..."
When the black-robed old man saw this clearly, his face filled with horror. He was instantly overcome with an ominous premonition.
"As expected of the Golden Core Middle Stage. You’re somewhat interesting!"
But just then, Zhang Chi smiled. His body trembled slightly as he activated the Asura Blood Burning Technique.
BOOM!
Then, he charged forward again and threw a vicious punch. The Black Shield’s light instantly dimmed as it shrank and was sent flying backward.
He then ignored the attacking black Chains. Instead, quick as lightning, he raised a hand, spread his fingers, and snatched the black Chains right out of the air.
The black Chains struggled violently, like a living creature. A large amount of black mist billowed from it, creeping toward Zhang Chi.
But Zhang Chi simply gave his arm a shake. The black Chains instantly let out a mournful cry, its light dimming.
CRACK!
With another shake of his arm, Zhang Chi used the Chains as a melee weapon, whipping it viciously at the black-robed old man.
’Not good...’
The black-robed old man hurriedly dodged backward, breaking out in a cold sweat.
He never would have dreamed that his opponent’s Body Refining Cultivation had reached such a powerful level.
The man was clearly only at Tier Three Early Stage, but the Combat Power he displayed was already comparable to the Tier Three Middle Stage.
’What in the world is going on? And this is supposed to be the weakest Top Grade Golden Core?’
The black-robed old man inwardly cursed the Sect Cultivator who had provided the intelligence. He decisively spat out a large cloud of blood mist, then his entire body transformed into a slender streak of blood-red light, fleeing into the distance as fast as lightning.
"Trying to leave already? I haven’t given you permission!"
Zhang Chi sneered. Flames erupted around him, and he transformed into a dazzling streak of firelight, giving chase with incredible speed.
In the blink of an eye, the two streaks of Escape Light vanished into the distance, one in hot pursuit of the other.
’Junior Martial Uncle Zhang actually chased away a Golden Core Middle Stage Demon Cultivator!’
Qin Susu, who remained at the scene, was utterly dumbfounded. She even suspected she had fallen under an Illusion Technique.
Even though she knew Zhang Chi was stronger than he let on, she had never imagined he was *this* powerful.
"Go back first!"
Just then, Zhang Chi’s voice suddenly echoed in her ears.
Immediately, without another word, the two Puppets took hold of Qin Susu and quickly flew off into the distance.
Qin Susu didn’t resist.
For one, she couldn’t resist.
For another, she knew that even if she stayed or followed, she would be of no help and would only become a burden.
"Junior, don’t push your luck! It’s not that I can’t beat you, I just don’t want to fight you to the death! I still have many powerful techniques I haven’t even used yet!"
Meanwhile, the black-robed old man grew more terrified the farther he fled.
He was using a Blood Escape Secret Technique. Though he had only reached Minor Success with it, once activated, it was as fast as lightning.
Even Cultivators of the Same Tier would have trouble catching him unless they used their own ultimate Escape Techniques, to say nothing of a Low Tier Cultivator.
What was even more unexpected was that his opponent wasn’t even using a special Escape Technique. He was just using an ordinary Fire Escape Technique, yet his speed was this astonishing.
This meant he wasn’t just a Body Refining expert; his proficiency with Magic might also be incredibly powerful.
He couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret. He regretted ignoring Qin Susu’s earlier warning and pursuing them relentlessly.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t be in this mess.
Furthermore, if he had just chosen to plunder White Cloud Marketplace from the start, he would have likely already made off with a fortune.
"Alright, this spot will do!"
But Zhang Chi turned a deaf ear. He swept the area with his Divine Thought and, finding no other Cultivators nearby and confirming that Qin Susu was long gone, immediately raised a hand and pointed to the sky.
WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!...
Instantly, seven Magical Treasure Flying Swords flew out. Carrying an incomparably sharp Sword Qi, they soared into the sky, then descended swiftly, completely sealing off a large area from its surroundings.
The black-robed old man was trapped within this space.
"Seven Lifebound Low Grade Magical Treasure Flying Swords? And a Sword Array? You... how are you doing this? Fellow Daoist, spare me! I was wrong! I’m willing to apologize and offer compensation, I beg you, don’t kill me!"
The black-robed old man was finally, truly afraid, and he hurriedly begged for mercy.
It wasn’t the Sword Cultivator techniques that frightened him, but the fact that Zhang Chi could simultaneously wield seven Lifebound Magical Treasure Flying Swords and directly form a Sword Array—something that even the vast majority of Golden Core Middle Stage Sword Cultivators were incapable of.
Wielding Magical Treasures placed extremely high demands on a Cultivator’s Divine Thought and Magical Power. Even he could only wield two at the same time.
He could understand that Zhang Chi, having a Top Grade Golden Core, would have Magical Power and Divine Thought far surpassing others of the Same Tier. But to be this strong was clearly beyond anything ordinary.
He was so afraid that a spoken plea would be too slow that he broadcast his voice directly with his Divine Thought.
At the same time, however, he wasn’t just sitting back and waiting for death. He immediately summoned a silver-white coffin, pointed a finger to open it, and instantly rushed inside.