The Killing Strike! . . .
Cha Eun Xiao retracted all of his spiritual qi, including the shield he had employed to defend himself. He stood prepared to absorb rather than emit energy. This strategy resembled what he had done during his confrontation with Wenren Chuchu, attempting to break through the current situation.
In this dire moment, he resembled a colossal whale drawing in the vast expanse of the ocean, desperately striving to break through. Failure to do so meant certain defeat in the ongoing battle. Even if he managed to hold on for a brief period, eventual defeat was inevitable.
The full-force palm strike unleashed by Nan Tianxing channeled energy into Cha Eun Xiao's dantian with tremendous pressure, resulting in a resounding impact. Cha Eun Xiao couldn't help but let out a moan as he was struck forcefully, causing him to stagger backward like a falling leaf. Simultaneously, a profound change occurred within his body, marking the breaking of the barrier between the first and second levels of the Sky Origin Stage.
In this perilous moment, Cha Eun Xiao displayed remarkable courage. Confronted with a life-and-death situation, he chose a bold and reckless course of action. He harnessed the energy from his adversary's attack, combined with the unexpectedly abundant spiritual qi within his own body, to forcefully breach the boundary. Astonishingly, he succeeded!
Cha Eun Xiao's audacious pursuit was undeniably a gamble with life on the line, a perilous journey through the very corridors of death itself.
Upon the shattering of the formidable boundary, an unrestrained surge of spiritual qi inundated his Jing and Mai like an unrelenting tidal wave. However, the attainment of the second level of the Sky Origin Stage exacted a hefty toll upon him.
In the tumultuous moment of breaking through the boundary, Cha Eun Xiao involuntarily spat out blood three times, his Jing and Mai sustaining immediate injuries. Even his internal organs were compromised by the violent shockwave. Nan Tianxing's full-powered assault was far from ordinary; it left no part of Cha Eun Xiao untouched. Blood flowed not only from his mouth but also from his nose, ears, and eyes, painting a portrait of profound injury.
Nan Tianxing's initial surprise transformed swiftly into escalating fury. Blood seeped from between his lips, and his entire being was enshrouded in crimson, yet he persisted in his unyielding assault. "How dare you! You are but meat destined for my victory, and yet you dare harbor escape as an option! I must extinguish your existence, you wretched miscreant..."
In that pivotal moment, Cha Eun Xiao's eyes lit up as he observed the multitude of wounds adorning Nan Tianxing's body, with particular attention to those on his slightly sunken chest. It was a moment of revelation.
All of Cha Eun Xiao's relentless efforts had finally paid off. Against all odds, he had seized the coveted opportunity he had relentlessly pursued, even if it meant teetering on the precipice of death itself.
When Cha Eun Xiao's needle attack had failed, he recognized that Nan Tianxing possessed a formidable level of cultivation, likely superior to most elite cultivators in the Land of Han-Yang. Even his potent needle attack had barely scratched Nan Tianxing.
Thus, Cha Eun Xiao had crafted a meticulous plan to confront this formidable adversary. Initially, he inflicted cold damage upon Nan Tianxing, making him excessively cautious and forcing him into a defensive posture. This provided Cha Eun Xiao with the time needed to prepare his soul and saint soul power. The Monarch's Sword, his special martial art, was his next move. While it would have been ideal if he had vanquished Nan Tianxing with it, merely deploying it had already caused significant trouble for his adversary and increased Cha Eun Xiao's odds of emerging victorious.
That had been Cha Eun Xiao's strategy. Remarkably, the fracturing of Nan Tianxing's chest bone was not part of the plan.
Given the substantial disparity in their cultivation levels, Cha Eun Xiao had kept his expectations modest. However, he had not foreseen Nan Tianxing's impressive reflexes and strength. Cha Eun Xiao had assumed that he would gain an overwhelming advantage when wielding the Monarch's Sword, but Nan Tianxing had proven to be a formidable defender. Despite landing three sword strikes, none had inflicted a fatal wound upon Nan Tianxing.
Cha Eun Xiao's most significant error lay in overestimating his own abilities. Even with his breakthrough to the new stage, the Sky Origin Stage, and the simplification of the Monarch's Sword technique, executing three strikes had depleted his spiritual qi. Otherwise, he would not have suffered such a devastating counterattack from Nan Tianxing, culminating in being pinned beneath his foe's foot.
The Boundless Space had indeed been a vital asset during this ordeal.
An unexpected turn of events, this was. Even without the intervention of the Boundless Space, Cha Eun Xiao might have still had a chance to save himself and defeat Nan Tianxing. However, assistance was undoubtedly welcomed.
Nan Tianxing, now struck and seething with anger, leaped into the air—a development that precisely aligned with Cha Eun Xiao's intentions at this critical juncture. Having just achieved a breakthrough to the second level, Cha Eun Xiao had gained newfound confidence, along with a measure of luck.
And it was this very confidence and luck that would shape the fate of their encounter.
In Nan Tianxing's eyes, Feng Monarch seemed to descend like a fragile leaf, seemingly devoid of the power to defend himself. Little did he know that, at this precarious juncture, Cha Eun Xiao had staked his life on pushing himself to a new level—a feat unprecedented in history.
Nan Tianxing, however, remained oblivious to this extraordinary turn of events.
His mind was preoccupied with torturous fantasies and anticipation. In his eyes, there existed only torment and delight.
[I shall capture you and systematically break your arms and legs, only to mend them before subjecting you to further torture—breaking and mending, breaking and mending, ad infinitum. This shall be the first game we play once you become my captive!
Show me how you can resist, if you dare!]
Nan Tianxing was wholly immersed in these sadistic musings as Cha Eun Xiao, amidst the chaos, contorted his body in a peculiar manner mid-air.
However, Nan Tianxing paid little heed to this seemingly innocuous motion. Such aerial contortions often occurred as a natural response when one was struck with great force. It was a common occurrence.
But then, an unusual aura permeated the air—a fleeting presence of dark energy, appearing and vanishing in an instant.
Finally, Cha Eun Xiao executed his decisive, lethal strike.
In the next moment, Nan Tianxing emitted a shrill scream.
Suddenly, over a dozen of his wounds erupted into intense, searing pain, and they all seemed to emanate a chilling coldness.
It felt as though a multitude of hidden weapons had instantaneously pierced his body, striking deep within.
In the midst of a black glow in the air, three flying knives plunged into his chest, while twelve flying needles embedded themselves all over his body.
The penetration was deep, and the agony was excruciating.