Reverse Knock of Golden Soul Blast . . .
Feng Zhiling, not only unyielding but filled with renewed vigor, remained unfazed by the forceful impact of the collision. Surprisingly, he didn't falter, retreat, or lose his life. Instead, he unleashed a powerful counterattack. With a resounding crack, the air was filled with the sound of shattering bones and Yu Xiangdong's agonizing cry. In an instant, his entire arm was dismembered, and the devastating impact traveled from his shattered shoulder to his chest.
This sequence of events unfolded seamlessly as Feng Zhiling exhibited a relentless, unbroken rhythm.
As Yu Xiangdong crumpled to the ground, the life left his body as he let out a series of piercing screams. His mouth, nose, ears, and eyes all bled profusely, a chilling testament to his life's abrupt and unexpected conclusion. In a shocking twist, one powerful strike was all it took, but the outcome was contrary to all expectations—Yu Xiangdong perished, and Feng Zhiling emerged as the victor.
Spectators were left utterly flabbergasted by this inexplicable turn of events, their eyes almost popping out in disbelief.
"What... What just happened?"
It was blatantly evident that one of them possessed immense strength while the other was clearly weaker. Feng Zhiling was inferior in every respect to Yu Xiangdong, their difference in power insurmountable. The initial exchange of palm strikes had already confirmed this hierarchy. So how did Yu Xiangdong meet his end?
It was a baffling turn of events, confounding in every way. The world demanded a reason, an explanation for this incredible upset.
Indeed, every event had a reason behind it. The fact that Cha Eun Xiao emerged victorious meant that there was a rationale for this outcome. And the reason, though quite unorthodox, was... Cha Eun Xiao had employed Brother Egg. This unique creature was the key to the unexpected victory.
When Cha Eun Xiao initiated his palm strike, he discreetly brought forth Brother Egg, allowing the peculiar being to deliver the decisive blow. Unknown to Yu Xiangdong, he was essentially attacking Brother Egg with all his might. Brother Egg, having previously slain Gu Jinlong, a Dao Origin Stage master, considered Yu Xiangdong little more than a soft morsel. Thus, victory and death were determined with the first clash. Hitting Brother Egg with his full power was akin to shattering an egg with a boulder. Unsurprisingly, Yu Xiangdong was vanquished, his life extinguished.
This outcome was akin to crushing a rock with an egg—or rather, crushing an egg with the rock. The important thing was the rock, in this case, being Brother Egg.
Upon striking Brother Egg, the golden light continued to shine brilliantly. Cha Eun Xiao calmly retrieved Brother Egg, utterly unscathed. It was a clear and decisive victory for those witnessing the event—Cha Eun Xiao had defeated a Spirit Origin Stage cultivator with a single strike.
With a sardonic smile, Cha Eun Xiao wiped away the blood from his mouth and confidently stated, "Spirit Origin Stage, you say? Just like that! Who's next?"
Du Qingpeng's eyes narrowed, his gaze intense and unrelenting as he coolly remarked, "Your level of cultivation, your power... it's impossible for you to be this formidable. I sense that you possessed something in your hand just now... a weapon? A magical treasure?"
In a sudden outburst, he demanded, "Show it!"
Du Qingpeng's eyes sparkled as he fixed his gaze on Cha Eun Xiao. Instantaneously, an immense burst of starlight enveloped Cha Eun Xiao's body. The blinding radiance covered him so swiftly that he was immobilized before he could react.
A potent spiritual presence probed Cha Eun Xiao's body but found nothing. Du Qingpeng's gaze remained locked on the ring adorning Cha Eun Xiao's injured hand. He extended his arm and, with a flourish, conjured a gleaming blade composed of radiant starlight. The ethereal luminescence of the Starlight Blade descended upon Cha Eun Xiao's right hand with a swift, precise strike.
All present onlookers quickly grasped the situation.
"Feng Zhiling may not possess innate power, but he managed to eliminate Yu Xiangdong, a considerably stronger adversary. It must be the result of some extraordinary artifact. What kind of treasure is capable of granting him the means to overcome someone of much greater strength?" These thoughts immediately crossed the minds of those gathered.
However, Du Qingpeng was the first to act on this revelation, causing frustration among the rest. Their vexation stemmed not from Yu Xiangdong's death; they cared little for the fate of the weaker individual. Instead, they shared a common regret in unison: "The precious treasure now belongs to Du Qingpeng. How exasperating! We should have acted before him."
Regret consumed them. In the harsh world of the Qing-Yun Realm, strength reigned supreme, and the demise of the weak held no significance. To the formidable, it was all about personal power and nothing else. Anything that could enhance their strength was not to be relinquished.
Some present even began plotting sinister schemes, mulling over the idea of eliminating Du Qingpeng on their return journey to seize the coveted treasure for themselves.
It was then that the Starlight Blade descended, looming with resplendent colors. Cha Eun Xiao found himself immobilized but his spiritual consciousness was free to act. As Du Qingpeng initiated his attack, a beam of golden light materialized. At lightning speed, it collided with the Starlight Blade, resulting in an explosive clash. Du Qingpeng's expression morphed from surprise to pain, as he coughed up blood and staggered back, retreating a dozen steps before finally collapsing onto the floor. His pallid face bore the weight of serious injury.
In stark contrast, Cha Eun Xiao appeared unscathed. In his grasp, he held a small golden tower, its size matching that of his hand, presenting a curiously adorable image. Emitting a radiant yellow glow, the little tower spun gracefully in his hand.
This unassuming object had effortlessly thwarted Du Qingpeng's overwhelming assault, leaving him severely wounded. Cha Eun Xiao was unharmed. The assembled onlookers were terror-stricken, unable to fathom the power of this mysterious artifact.
Although Du Qingpeng was not the most potent among their group, he was certainly one of the top two or three in terms of strength. His defeat in a single strike left the others deeply unnerved. Their sense of relief was palpable—had they been the ones to launch the attack instead of Du Qingpeng, they might well have perished.
Were Cha Eun Xiao in a better condition, the others would have surely fled by now. The unexpected chain of events continued to unfold. Yu Xiangdong was deceased, and Du Qingpeng gravely injured. Cha Eun Xiao bore the cost, his condition deteriorating, evident by his blood-spattered coughing. Though Du Qingpeng had been the source of the attack, the Golden Soul Tower played the pivotal role in his devastating injury.
The Golden Soul Tower, though not as critical for Master Bai and Lord Ling, was a priceless treasure for the residents of the Qing-Yun Realm. Operated by Cha Eun Xiao's spiritual consciousness, it swiftly intervened, thwarting the Starlight Blade and inflicting damage upon Du Qingpeng.