Li Jingtian squinted at the sky.
Something black was coming down swiftly. At a closer look, it appeared to be a pitch-black chain making rumbling sounds like lightning as it shot for Li Jingtian.
The pressure it released was akin to bearing the full weight of the world on one's shoulders. Everyone's breathing faltered, their feet plunging into the dirt, and their waists bent from the mountain-like pressure.
Even 8th layer of Radiant Stage experts like the odd couple shuddered, the ground cracking beneath their feet in all directions.
As for Li Jingtian, who felt the brunt of it, had his face shudder and his clothes rustled. The wind snapped at his face as his feet also sank deeper into the earth.
Shocked, Li Jingtian instantly made the connection that this man was unlike those men in black.
The men in black were like ants compared to this secretive person. He was the true expert among them.
The person was yet to show himself, but the power behind his first strike had put Elder Li on guard.
Gnashing his teeth, he squinted at the incoming black chain and his power erupted. Black energy curled around him, [Ghostly Dragon Claw!]. He chose to face the chain head on.
"Eh?"
The voice from the cloud clearly stated his surprise in Li Jingtian's course of action, and praised, "Youngster is quite brave. A pity…"
Bam!
With an ear-piercing explosion, Li Jingtian's black claw tightened on the chain. Yet the chain kept on going, slamming him into the ground.
The earth shattered, picking up a huge cloud of dust. Yun clan cried out, frantic in their retreat. Qiu Yanhai and Xue Qingjian moved in front of the people, to fend off the incoming shock wave.
When the dust settled, everyone gasped in horror.
The mighty Li Jingtian was planted in a huge hundred-meter-deep hole. Pale and panting, he was even bleeding from his mouth.
Most shocked was the power couple.
They were more clear than anyone about Li Jingtian's power, holding their own against him only by using their combined art. Yet this powerhouse was in a sorry state after just one blow. [What kind of power was that?]
Looking up at the black cloud, the two picked up a person drifting down while holding the black chain.
He was nine-foot tall, covered in black armor and a billowing black cape. Just like those men in black, he wore a helmet as well, blocking his features yet not his outrageous aura, instilling fear in all of them, including the elders.
The first thought that came to mind was the feeling of death…
"Captain…" The black men saluted. But instead of looking grateful to their boss for lending a hand, they reeked of fear.
The captain ignored them, "The enemy this time is a sharp thorn. It is not your fault for needing me to step in."
They all eased a breath, a weight off their shoulders.
Their captain had outrageous demands off them. He demanded success on every mission they were sent on. Which was pretty much guaranteed when this inhuman power that was their captain joined the fray.
The captain had a rule, though, to not let the conceit get to their heads. He would never interfere in a mission. If he did, the mission was deemed as failure regardless of the outcome and the men would be subjected to harsh punishment.
Having experienced that appalling pain once, no one wanted to go through such torment ever again.
No surprise then that their first reaction on seeing the captain step in was that of lament.
But with this being a special occasion and all, the captain waived all punishments.
It was also a form of recognition from the captain's part. That none of them could finish this powerful enemy.
Or why else would the captain step in?
Bang!
Li Jingtian threw the heavy chain to the ground and wiped the blood off his chest. With a jump, he was next to the power couple.
The three watched their enemy with heavy silence, their fists shaking. The enemy this time was so strong, it had forced them to join hands, making them feel excited and dreadful.
With a flick of his wrist, the black captain pulled back the chain and nodded at Li Jingtian, "Junior, not bad at all. You're still breathing after taking a hit, so you do have some skill after all."
"Humph, arrogant punk!"
Li Jingtian shouted, "You may be strong, but are not in the Ethereal Stage yet. There's not a single peak Radiant Stage expert out there who can kill me in one blow."
His front was tough, but his insides were quaking. That chain almost took his life. The tiniest slip would've had the chain run through him.
The black captain shook his head with a smile, "Whelp, are you that ignorant or in denial? Two people may have the same cultivation, but not the same talent. That alone translates to a huge gap in power between them! Huangpu Qingtian was the prime example and now it's your steward's turn."
"At merely the 3rd layer of Profound Heaven Stage, he took two peak Radiant Stage experts' all-out blows. It actually reminds me of an old rival of mine. I would feel privileged if I could experience Steward Zhuo's masterstroke myself!"
The black captain sighed at the sky, strolling down the memory lane.
The three elders never let him out of sight.
"Well, this has nothing to do with your Luo clan anyway. If it were up to me, I wouldn't be facing you so soon either." The black captain waved and said, "Please step aside, elders, I am taking the Yun clan!"
"Get bent! If I just give them to you, I won't even be able to face the world with shame! "
Xue Qingjian snapped, shooting for him with Qiu Yanhai fast behind.
The two were on him in a blink, striking his chest with their combined power.
"Fire and water fusion, Life and Death Art!"
Boom!
With a flash of heat, a white jet shot through the black captain's chest and shot into the distance. It then enlarged into a huge glaring light.
Everything was burned to a cinder.
With a bang, the black chain clattered on the ground and with the dying of the light, the power couple started panting. There was no one in front of them.
The two had finished him off.
The two smiled and the Yun clan cheered. Li Jingtian grinned as well, but the black men' gaze made him think twice, [Damn it!]
Because they were unphased.
Their confidence was justified as well. While the couple celebrated, a familiar laughter came, "Ha-ha-ha, is this the Luo clan's martial art? Quite impressive I must say. Today I've truly lived and learned. It's something I have never seen in my life. I see why so many experts got turned on their side."
"That move might have worked on them, but now…"
Sss~
Black smoke gathered in the form of a person and then a suit of armor. The black captain was back with a smile, "I am neither man nor shade, but in between. The same move won't work on me!"
The two's hearts seized.
They should've known this by now. With the black men turning into black smoke to avoid physical attacks, their captain ought to follow the same logic.
The earlier move was merely a test run to see if it had any effect and indeed it didn't.
And with the captain being far stronger than his men, it went without question that he could phase in and out as well.
The black men had a hard time becoming real once they turned into shadows. While the black captain could do it at will. He was a true undying monster and a pain to deal with.
The couple gnashed their teeth and fell back.
Far too late however.
The black captain's wave brought the chain to his hand and then it shot towards the couple. The two went flying with blood trailing from their mouths.
They hit the ground hard, grievously injured.
"Humph, I warned you of this outcome. But since you struck first, you only have yourselves to blame." The cold eyes flashed in the darkness as the chain went for the two again.
Li Jingtian covered himself in black energy and shot to intercept, "Wraith Style's 1st move, Soaring Demonic Dragon!"
Roar!
With a black dragon image around him, Li Jingtian clashed with the chain, but it shattered his dragon. Li Jingtian was flung into the air and spat blood.
Falling to the ground, he looked lifeless.
At least he had covered for the power couple by sending the chain away from them.
"You two, cough~… this is as far as I can help you…" Li Jingtian was panting, blood seeping into the ground around him.
Qiu Yanhai nodded in gratitude, "Old Li, you're a true friend!"
Yun clan was in tears, unknown if from fear or from the touching scene.
Li Jingtian and the Ice and Fire Lords were usually at odds with each other, but when it came to fighting, neither left the other behind.
The black captain paused, then his tone turned angry for the first time and he snarled, "What camaraderie! Mad Dipper, since you want to save them so badly, you can die first!"
Whoosh!
The black chain came for Li Jingtian to finish the job. Qiu Yanhai and Xue Qingjian struggled but couldn't budge at all.
Li Jingtian sighed at the black chain reflecting in his eyes. [Is this how I, the great Mad Dipper, would meet my end? Without even knowing who killed me?]
Ice and Fire Lords stared enraged, their fists clenched.
But in times like these, one particularly familiar voice lifted their spirits, "Yo, spade, were you perhaps left for dead to find the Luo clan's bromance so revolting?"