346: Scale Breakthrough

Approaching rapidly, the Black-Robed Elder controlling the Ghost Claw was about to strike again.

But then, Zhou Xiangyu's figure suddenly vanished from the spot.

The alarm bells in his heart suddenly rang out.

Instinctively, the Black-Robed Elder controlled the Ghost Claw to fly back, grabbing behind him.

"Buddha Devil Seal!"

Behind the Black-Robed Elder,

golden-black Qi manifested.

The swastika symbol on Zhou Xiangyu's brow rotated.

His right hand reached out.

In the center of his palm, a swastika symbol also flowed,

accompanied by the two types of golden and black Qi.

Buddhist chants sounded, seemingly coming from beyond the heavens, sinking into the Black-Robed Elder's mind, carrying the intent of conversion and deliverance.

Simultaneously, devilish intent emerged from the depths of his heart, aiming to tear the sky apart.

Under the intertwining of these two completely different Concepts,

conflict and contradiction rapidly wove together in his mind.

The Black-Robed Elder paused.

Seizing the gap created by this pause,

Zhou Xiangyu struck decisively.

His right palm pressed onto the Black-Robed Cultivator's back.

"Boom!"

Boundless power erupted from his palm.

"Bang!"

The Spiritual Robe on the Black-Robed Elder instantly shattered.

Although the power of the Buddha Devil Seal was diminished after breaking the defensive Spiritual Robe, it still had residual force,

which slammed into the Black-Robed Elder's body.

"Pfft!"

Blood spilled from the Black-Robed Elder's lips. Under this attack, he had already awakened from the Buddhist chants and devilish intent.

The Black-Robed Elder steeled his heart.

He forcefully overcame the instinct to dodge, continuing to endure Zhou Xiangyu's palm strike without retreating.

Instead, he controlled the Ghost Claw to fiercely grab at Zhou Xiangyu.

Zhou Xiangyu was startled.

He hadn't anticipated the Black-Robed Elder's ruthlessness.

"Boom!"

The Ghost Claw pierced his Protective Golden Light and seized Zhou Xiangyu,

tearing his Spiritual Robe.

"Buzz~"

A green light was triggered.

The green light originated from a green hairpin stuck in Zhou Xiangyu's hair.

This was a Peak Grade 2 Defensive Spiritual Artifact.

The Ghost Claw was blocked.

But with the immense force transmitted, Zhou Xiangyu could only retreat with the momentum.

"I was careless!"

The Black-Robed Elder had intended to trade injuries, but he hadn't expected that even a strike at such close range couldn't injure Zhou Xiangyu.

While he himself was wounded.

Fortunately, Zhou Xiangyu's cultivation was slightly insufficient; if he had also been a Late Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator, this single strike would have left him completely at the mercy of others.

Even so, he was not feeling well.

This was absolutely not the strength a Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator from a Loose Cultivator or Minor Power should possess.

"Could it be..."

The Black-Robed Elder's mind raced.

"Cough~"

The Black-Robed Elder spat out a mouthful of blood, his Aura dropping by several points.

He took out several Medicinal Pills and swallowed them.

He looked at Zhou Xiangyu with a solemn expression.

This brief exchange was enough for him to cast aside all contempt.

In the distance,

Zhou Xiangyu's expression was also somewhat grim.

Although his strike had succeeded, it was still lacking slightly.

"Trash!"

A cold female voice came from afar.

A fiery red Long Whip flew out from a distant Open-Air Palace.

Zhou Xiangyu's figure moved, turning into an afterimage.

The fiery red Long Whip struck through the afterimage, leaving behind a scorching heat.

Above the Open-Air Palace,

the Red-clothed Young Lady, Gao Hongluan, floated up from the Jade Bed and flew toward Zhou Xiangyu.

On the other side,

the Grey-Robed Elder's eyes were filled with anger. The foot-long Heart-Biting Pen he held had already transformed into a sharp sword several feet long.

The Black-Robed Elder looked solemn.

Three people, three directions, surrounded Zhou Xiangyu in the center.

"Retreat."

Zhou Xiangyu weighed his options. Judging by the strength displayed by the Red-clothed Young Lady, although she was not a Late Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator, she could not be underestimated.

Moreover, the fiery red Long Whip and the palace were both impressive Spiritual Artifacts.

She was likely more troublesome than the two elders.

"Three Forms of Heart Severing!"

A five-foot-long Miao Saber appeared in Zhou Xiangyu's hand.

He consecutively slashed three times toward the three directions.

The Heart Severing Art has four forms: Hands and Feet, Beloved, Immediate Kin, and finally, the Severing Self Blade.

Zhou Xiangyu had not mastered it deeply,

but using it now was perfectly suitable.

"Buzz~"

An invisible saber light rose from the five-foot-long saber.

That irresistible feeling made the three instinctively step back.

Zhou Xiangyu seized this gap.

Golden and black colors exploded, and his figure shifted toward the exit.

Three invisible saber lights rose from the depths of the hearts of the Red-clothed Young Lady and the two men.

Although the trio retreated and instinctively resisted, it was ineffective.

Struck by this invisible saber glare, the three felt a simultaneous pang in their hearts.

When they looked again, Zhou Xiangyu was already fleeing outside.

"Damn it, kill him!"

The Red-clothed Young Lady, Gao Hongluan, gritted her teeth.

This was humiliation; a small Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator had played her like a fiddle.

If this spread,

wouldn't the other peers in the Family laugh at her?

She could never accept this outcome.

Therefore, Zhou Xiangyu and the others must die.

In fact, anyone who witnessed this scene must die.

"Chase!"

The three quickly pursued him toward the entrance of the massive Stone Gate.

At the Stone Gate, Zhou Xiangyu lowered his figure. Sensing the Aura approaching from behind, he didn't stop.

He dove out of the Stone Gate and headed outward along the passage.

Along the way, there were traces of fighting,

but he did not see the figures of Zhou Xiangxu and Chang Yuanshan.

They must have escaped from this place, though he didn't know where they had fled.

As long as they returned to the entrance guarded by Jiang Ningchan, they would be safe.

However, he couldn't flee backward, as the speed of Qi Refining Stage Cultivators was much slower than Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

If he fled, he would certainly catch up to the people ahead,

which would likely put Zhou Xiangxu and the other man in greater danger.

Zhou Xiangyu constantly pondered, thinking of a strategy to defeat the enemy.

"Perhaps..."

Zhou Xiangyu thought of the rolling Yellow Wind deep within the Secret Realm that he had sensed immediately upon entering.

"The Old Ancestor possesses the ability to control storms; even if it's just a scale, it should have some effect..."

Zhou Xiangyu's heart stirred.

The imposing might emanating from that place ravaged by the violent Yellow Wind was too strong; it made him tremble even from this distance.

Thinking of the scale in his Storage Pouch, Zhou Xiangyu felt resolute.

That scale was placed in the Storage Pouch Zhou Xiangxu gave him when he went to the Jiang Family.

Later, he found out and wanted to return it, but failed.

"Boom!"

Zhou Xiangyu kept attacking while running, destroying the passages along the way to obstruct the pursuit of the three people behind him.

"Damn it, damn it, damn it!"

Faint sounds of cursing continuously came from behind.

Zhou Xiangyu remained unmoved.

Before long,

he flew out from the sunken entrance.

As Zhou Xiangyu flew out, he casually struck down with a palm.

"Boom!"

Yellow sand filled the sky.

The area suddenly collapsed,

burying the entrance.

Zhou Xiangyu looked up toward the source of the mighty force deep inside.

His mind moved, and he activated his Escape Technique, turning into a streak of light and rushing toward the place where the violent Yellow Wind raged.

After Zhou Xiangyu's figure disappeared,

"Ah!"

Three figures broke through the yellow sand and emerged.

Gao Hongluan was furious,

her eyes practically spitting fire.

"That way!"

The Grey-Robed Elder said, pointing in the direction Zhou Xiangyu had left.

Gao Hongluan took the lead, also flying toward the depths.

The Black-Robed Elder's heart stirred, and he wanted to say something,

but recalling Gao Hongluan's current state of rage,

he decisively shut his mouth.

He could only silently follow, accompanying the Grey-Robed Elder beside Gao Hongluan.