Chapter 512 - 221: Shock (2)
’I have to break this stalemate!’
As his thoughts raced, Chen Qing made his decision.
He once again took a fierce ram from the Shield-Holding Puppet head-on. As his body shuddered and slid backward from the impact, the Blade Puppet shadowed him as expected. It raised its Battle Blade high, gathering all the True Astral in its body and transforming it into a colossal blade of light that tore through the air, intent on cleaving him in two!
Chen Qing forcefully halted his retreat and formed a seal with one hand!
The True Astral surging through his body converged.
A majestic momentum, enough to suppress all creation, burst forth from his hand!
True Martial Seal! Mountain-Suppressing Technique!
A simple, heavy seal containing unparalleled suppressive power instantly materialized before him. As he thrust his palm forward, the seal didn’t fly toward the Blade Puppet. Instead, it teleported directly above the Shield-Holding Puppet and crashed down!
The Shield-Holding Puppet sensed the immense threat. It thrust its Profound Iron Shield upward, pouring every last bit of its faint golden True Astral into the shield in an attempt to block the crushing blow!
BOOM!!!!
The Mountain Suppression Seal slammed into the Profound Iron Shield! It was like a meteor striking the earth!
Chen Qing had already cultivated his True Martial Seal to the Minor Achievement stage. This single move not only concentrated all of his True Astral but was also infused with the full Power of his Eight Extremes Vajra Body.
The ground beneath the Shield-Holding Puppet’s feet caved in. Its massive body buckled, and its shield-bearing arms let out a sickening CREAK. It was clearly under unimaginable pressure, and its movements froze for an instant!
And in that split second—
The Blade Puppet’s terrifying blade of light was already descending on him!
Chen Qing could even feel the sharp edge of the blade about to tear his scalp!
But he still didn’t look back!
The ultimate Void Escape Power of the Startled Swan Escape Shadow Technique erupted!
His body seemed to become an incorporeal wisp of smoke, drifting backward and to the side!
RIIIIP!
The blade of light slashed down, nearly grazing his nose as it shredded the afterimage he’d left behind. The sharp Saber Qi still managed to slice a wound across his chest.
But the price Chen Qing paid had bought him a golden opportunity.
Chen Qing’s figure shot forward like a pouncing cheetah. The Diancang Spear, already back in his hand, let out an unprecedented hum!
The Momentum of the Mountain! The Momentum of Thunder!
In that moment, he poured them into the spear without reservation!
The Diancang Spear became a destructive torrent that tore through everything, stabbing with unerring precision into the Blade Puppet’s chest, left wide open after its all-out attack!
PSHHHT!
The spear tip pierced through its Body-Protecting True Astral and tough armor without pause, instantly shattering its core!
The crimson light in the Blade Puppet’s eyes suddenly froze!
Chen Qing didn’t pause for a second. He ripped the spear out and spun!
He swung the Blade Puppet’s rigid body around like a meteor hammer, smashing it violently into the Shield-Holding Puppet, which had just struggled free from the Mountain Suppression Seal!
CRASH!
The Shield-Holding Puppet staggered back from the sudden, heavy impact, its shield defense faltering!
Chen Qing and his spear moved as one, shadowing its every move!
The Diancang Spear flared with a cold light as he focused all his remaining Cyan Wood True Gang into a single, brutally simple yet devastatingly sharp thrust!
SHLUK—!
This spear strike seized the fleeting opening, precisely slipping through the gap at the edge of the Giant Shield and viciously stabbing into the Shield-Holding Puppet’s throat!
CRACK!
The sound of the core shattering rang out again!
The Shield-Holding Puppet’s movements froze. Then, with a loud CLATTER, it collapsed into a pile on the floor.
The battle was over.
Leaning on his spear, Chen Qing swayed violently.
The wound on his chest was already closing, and the ache was beginning to fade.
This was the power of the Eight Extremes Vajra Body.
Twenty-ninth floor, cleared!
Chen Qing spent a dozen breaths catching his wind before finally looking toward the stairs to the thirtieth floor.
The mysterious purple light in his mind pulsed with greater activity.
But Chen Qing was keenly aware that in his current state, challenging the thirtieth floor was impossible.
He sat down cross-legged, took out an Elixir to restore his True Astral, and wasted no time meditating to recover.
.....
Outside the Treasure Tower, it was eerily quiet.
A tide of whispers surged through the crowd, thick with disbelief.
"The twenty-ninth floor? He actually dared to try?"
Ruan Hongjin of the Chaoyang Sect sneered, "Does he really think the twenty-ninth floor is that easy to reach?"
Someone beside him nodded and said, "For someone with a Mid-stage Astral Force Cultivation, reaching the twenty-eighth floor is already the limit, right? He’ll probably be out in a moment."
"He probably knows the final rankings are close and wants to risk it all on one big gamble."
A disciple ranked in the twenties, who had once been defeated before the twenty-ninth floor, crossed his arms. He knew better than most how difficult it was.
Shen Xiuyong’s hands were clenched, and his heart was pounding with nervousness.
Qiao Hongyun’s expression was grave as he slowly shook his head. "The twenty-ninth floor... It’s too difficult. Two Late-stage Astral Force Puppets working in perfect coordination. The pressure is far greater than fighting one-on-one on the twenty-eighth floor."
Shang Lujing’s eyes flickered, his thoughts racing: ’If he really passes... then his previous success was definitely not a fluke! This guy is hiding his strength even deeper than I thought!’
He felt an unprecedented amount of pressure.
Zhuo Xiaoyun’s eyes were fixed, her heart in turmoil. ’The twenty-eighth floor might be possible to brute force with a Spear Technique and a Hard Skill, but the twenty-ninth... Only someone with an incredibly deep foundation could do it. How on earth is he managing?’
Even the True Successor Candidates in the distance had their eyes fixed on the tower gate.
Elder Huo’en took a deep breath and said to the young woman beside him, "Regardless of success or failure, this young man is worthy of a higher evaluation. To be able to hold on for this long is already extraordinary."
The young woman nodded quickly, rapidly flipping through the scant information she had on Chen Qing.
In the pavilion, Deng Ziheng, Gong Nansong, and Elder Feng had all put down their wine cups.
"He’s still inside..." Deng Ziheng’s tone held a barely perceptible hint of anticipation.