Chapter 333 - 332: Half-Step King
Underground!
The black-robed figure was actually hiding underground!
"Interesting. Hidden quite well, indeed." Qin Ya’s eyes narrowed, a cold glint flashing within them. He unleashed a slash of Sword Qi that stretched over a hundred zhang long, its tip gathering fierce Thunder Power before striking the ground.
RUMBLE... The ground shook and smoke filled the air. The endless thunder destroyed more than half of the Lu Family estate. A massive sword scar instantly appeared on the ground, purple lightning dancing upon it before surging deep underground!
The thunder exploded underground, causing the earth to collapse and crumble.
A few breaths later, a massive crater over a hundred zhang deep appeared. Besides the destruction wrought by Qin Ya, the crater’s size was largely because it had already existed there. With its appearance, wisps of Earth Evil Qi began to spread.
’Such dense Earth Evil Qi.’
’I never expected the ley lines of the Yunxiao Empire to be so unique.’
’Wait, what is this black-robed figure trying to do, hiding underground with such dense Earth Evil Qi? Could it be... his true target isn’t the Empire?!’
Gazing at the Earth Evil Qi, a thousand thoughts raced through Qin Ya’s mind.
Suddenly, his eyes widened. He saw, at the very center of all the Earth Evil Qi, a heart pulsing in the void. With every beat, the Earth Evil Qi diminished slightly. It seemed all the surrounding qi was being drawn into this heart.
And in front of the heart stood the black-robed figure, his face alight with excitement. Crimson threads connected the heart to his chest, and the heart itself was moving toward him. It was now less than two feet away.
’What is he doing?’
’Whatever it is, I have to stop him.’
Killing intent flared in Qin Ya’s eyes. In the next instant, his figure blurred as he unleashed his Mysterious Speed. In the blink of an eye, he crossed the void, appeared before the black-robed figure, and slashed with his sword!
With this slash, wild Thunder surged, and its sharp aura shot straight to the Nine Heavens!
"Haha, Qin Ya, you can’t stop me!"
The black-robed figure laughed boisterously as Demonic Qi erupted from his body, forming a tempest. He then thrust out a palm, and the resulting Palm Qi collided with the sword’s edge, shaking the area for a thousand zhang!!
BOOM! Qin Ya unleashed his full power!
And though the black-robed figure was powerful, he was still blasted over a hundred zhang away, violently coughing up a mouthful of blood. Yet, the expression on his face was one of unprecedented joy, and the crimson threads and the heart that had been extending from his chest were now gone!
"Hah, this feeling is simply intoxicating!!" the black-robed figure roared. Billowing Demonic Qi rolled off him as his aura skyrocketed—from Celestial Human Middle Rank to High Rank, then to Celestial Human Perfection... and finally, all the way to the Half-Step King Realm!
Gazing at the black-robed figure before him, Qin Ya’s expression grew solemn.
’A Half-Step King... The black-robed figure’s power actually rose to this level. What in the world was that heart!’ Qin Ya thought gravely.
With his current strength, even facing a Celestial Human Perfection expert was difficult, let alone someone at the Half-Step King Realm. It wouldn’t be hard for him to escape, but if he did, Huaa Que, Leng Ningshuang, Nangong Wen, and the others would surely suffer a terrible fate!
"That is... the Heart of the Demon King!"
The Ting Xiao Sword at Qin Ya’s waist vibrated slightly as it slowly spoke the name.
"A Demon King? As in, a Martial Arts King of the Demon Race?"
"You’ve guessed correctly. Demon Race Martial Artists have two most important parts: the Demon Core and the Demon Heart. Both are the foundation of their Cultivation and the source of their power."
"But in terms of importance, the Demon Heart is the more powerful of the two."
"As far as I know, members of the Demon Race can enhance their own Cultivation by devouring or fusing with another’s Demon Heart. I didn’t expect this demon to possess a Heart of the Demon King. I suppose his own power was too low, which is why he resorted to fusion."
"Now that he has fused with the King’s Heart, his power is far beyond what it was before."
After this long explanation, the Ting Xiao Sword said to Qin Ya, "Kid, I advise you to run. With your current strength, you’re no match for him!"
Hearing this, Qin Ya shook his head and said, "I can’t run!"
Because the people he cared about were all here!
The Ting Xiao Sword fell silent for a moment upon hearing this. Then, a high-pitched, joyous sword hum rang through the void. Qin Ya couldn’t help but be affected by it; his blood began to boil, and an astonishing War Intent erupted from his eyes as he stared down the black-robed figure!
"Very well, kid. Then let us fight together."
"Heh, I don’t know how long it’s been since I’ve felt this way."
"Let’s fight!"
The same cry rose in both their hearts. Qin Ya then gripped Ting Xiao and charged forward, taking the initiative. Endless Thunder, accompanied by a Realm of Destruction, coalesced as he abruptly unleashed a slash of Sword Qi. The sheer power of the attack surprised even the black-robed figure, who had reached the Half-Step King Realm. But his surprise quickly turned into a contemptuous smile.
"Struggle all you want. It’s useless!"
The black-robed figure’s voice rang out, now tinged with a domineering majesty it lacked before. He thrust out a palm, and an endless torrent of Demonic Qi exploded forth, blasting toward the Sword Qi!
With a loud BOOM, rolling shockwaves swept through the area...
Qin Ya was blasted over a hundred zhang away by the black-robed figure’s palm strike. Although the immense force of the blow was dissipated by Scenic Landscapes, strands of Demonic Qi still coiled around him, trying to invade his body. With a thought, he was about to disperse it when an idea seemed to strike him. A sharp glint flashed in his eyes and the corners of his lips curled up slightly.
Circulating his True Essence, Qin Ya did not disperse the Demonic Qi. Instead, he drew it into his body. In that instant, the Devouring Demon Power within his bloodline erupted, completely consuming the Demonic Qi in a flash. Seeing this, Ting Xiao exclaimed in admiration, "Good kid! To think you’d use that Bloodline Power."
"I have no choice. My opponent is a Half-Step King. I can’t afford to hold anything back, or I’ll die with regrets," Qin Ya said with a faint smile.
Not far away, the black-robed figure was surprised to see Qin Ya completely unharmed. He then said, "I tried my best to overestimate you, but your strength has exceeded my imagination time and time again. I have to admit, you are the most talented Martial Artist I have ever seen. But... before me today, you will still undoubtedly die!"
As his words fell, he took a step forward and said with an arrogant expression, "I am now a Half-Step King, while you are merely at the Sky-Controlling Realm. Come! I will grant you three moves!"
Hearing this, a strange expression appeared on Qin Ya’s face.
’This black-robed figure... something’s not right with him.’
Ting Xiao said, "There’s nothing wrong. As I said before, his own power was too low to devour the Demon Heart, so he could only resort to fusion. This method of fusion has side effects. His mind is being influenced by the heart’s original owner."
"The person is long dead, yet they can still influence the one who fuses with their heart."
"Correct. That is why the Demon Heart can be called the very foundation of the Demon Race."
"How fascinating."
Gazing at the black-robed figure, Qin Ya didn’t stand on ceremony. His True Essence erupted and poured into the Ting Xiao in his hand. Endless Thunder surged wildly. Qin Ya then deployed his Mysteries of Destruction, causing the purple Thunder to become even more violent, twisting the very fabric of space!
He slashed with his sword, and heaven and earth paled in comparison—only the purple lightning shone brightly!
"The first move!"
The black-robed figure smiled arrogantly, then took a step forward as his Demonic Qi shot to the sky!
A shield formed from endless Demonic Qi materialized before him. The moment the Sword Qi collided with the shield, a deafening roar erupted, and the ground trembled violently.