197: Chapter 197 Spying, Turmoil

Accompanied by a dull, thunderous sound, a bone-chilling cold struck his heart.

Chen Ran's body stiffened.

A sensation of extreme danger exploded at the center of his brow.

The next moment, a force as overwhelming as a collapsing mountain slammed into his body.

Crack.

The hard bluestone floor beneath his feet shattered inch by inch like a fragile wafer; large slabs of stone were ripped up, ground into powder by the violent wind while still in mid-air.

Bang!

Chen Ran's body turned into a blur, smashing fiercely into the thick wall outside the prison cell.

The hard black stone wall caved in and collapsed like tofu.

Spiderweb-like cracks spread wildly in every direction with him at the center, emitting a teeth-grinding cracking sound.

Thick dust, accompanied by falling rubble, completely submerged the entire space.

Rumble.

The shockwaves had not yet subsided.

The thick iron chains overhead rattled, causing years of accumulated dust that had never seen the sun to fall like rain.

...

Outside the cell, dust filled the air.

Shen Jixuan's expression remained unchanged as he slowly retracted the two fingers he had pointed out.

One breath.

Two breaths.

Three breaths.

From within that deathly silent ruin, a strange sound suddenly emerged.

The sound was very faint.

But in this prison where a pin dropping could be heard, it sounded exceptionally harsh.

Thump.

Shen Jixuan paused.

Thump.

The sound grew louder.

It was not the sound of rolling stones, but... a heartbeat.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

The heartbeat grew from weak to strong, faster and faster, heavier and heavier.

In the end, it was like a war drum beating, shaking the surrounding air until visible ripples appeared! Every beat felt as if a heavy hammer was slamming against one's chest.

Boom!

A terrifying, scorching-hot Qi and blood, like a long-suppressed volcano, erupted violently from the ruins!

The dark red smoke of Qi and blood shot into the sky, instantly evaporating the pervasive dust.

The surrounding temperature soared crazily at an incredible speed.

The originally cold and damp prison now felt like being inside a furnace.

The air was scorched until it twisted and deformed, emitting unbearable cracking sounds.

Crack, crack, crack...

The scattered gravel on the ground could not withstand the pressure of this terrifying high heat and shockwave, shattering into powder.

Bang!

From within the sunken wall, a thick, vein-covered arm suddenly burst through the rubble, grabbing the edge of the black stone.

The five fingers exerted force.

The hard black stone was crushed like tofu.

Clatter.

A large amount of rubble fell off.

Chen Ran's figure slowly walked out from the sky-filling dust.

As he walked, the immensely vast dark red Qi and blood behind him seemed like a tangible, heavy suit of armor, tightly enveloping his entire body.

His originally tall and straight body appeared even more robust, filled with Qi and blood.

The high heat distorted the air.

Chen Ran lowered his head to glance at the large hole broken in the wall behind him.

He raised his head, his gaze piercing through the distorted air, locking firmly onto Shen Jixuan inside the cell.

"Senior Shen."

Chen Ran's tone was calm, with no hint of anger detectable.

But those blood-colored eyes lighting up in the darkness revealed a tyrannical murderous intent.

"What is the meaning of this?"

The moment his words fell.

Boom!

Even more violent True Qi poured out from Chen Ran's body, like a burst dam, rapidly filling the space outside the prison cell.

The crimson True Qi rolled and roared, tightly surrounding the middle-aged man in the prison.

Shen Jixuan stared fixedly at the unscathed Chen Ran; his face showed astonishment first, then, suddenly, uncontrollable ecstasy surged forth.

"Good, good, good!"

Shen Jixuan said the word "good" three times, his voice trembling slightly from excitement.

"As expected, this old man did not misjudge you!"

He knew all too well the weight of his attack just now.

Even if it was just a casual strike, it was a killing blow comparable to the Peak of the Return to Truth Realm!

Even an ordinary Martial Artist of the same Realm, even a master specializing in hard training, would have their bones broken and tendons snapped after taking that hit.

Yet this youth before him...

Took a direct hit and was actually unscathed.

Such Physical Body strength was simply shocking!

If he had such a Physical Body with Qi and blood like a Dragon, combined with his own powerful Divine Soul that had been polished for a hundred years...

Shen Jixuan swallowed, his appreciation undisguised in his eyes, and he spoke loudly:

"With such talent and strength, hiding in the Celestial Prison as a Jailer is simply too much of a waste. Why not follow this old man and pursue the end of the Martial Dao!"

"Regardless of what royal Dynasty it is, it will all vanish like smoke in the end. Only strength can stand above this high heaven, and by then, wealth and glory can all be enjoyed!"

Shen Jixuan became more and more excited as he spoke, looking expectantly at the man in the black robe.

But all he got in return was one sentence,

"Go to your mother!"

Boom!

Before the words had even faded, the bluestone floor beneath the youth's feet exploded!

Borrowing this terrifying reactionary force, Chen Ran's body, like a heavy cannonball leaving the barrel, instantly tore through the distance of more than ten meters.

It was so fast that the air didn't even have time to escape, being forcibly compressed into a visible white wall of air.

The fanaticism on Shen Jixuan's face had not yet faded before a huge fist shadow, wrapped in crimson Qi and blood, rapidly enlarged in his turbid pupils.

"You—"

Shen Jixuan only had time to spit out one word.

Rumble!

Crimson-as-blood True Qi tightly covered Chen Ran's fist.

The moment the fist fell, the surrounding air was torn to pieces by the violent power, sending out a terrifying, visible shockwave.

The shockwave, like a blade, cut deep white marks into the prison's refined steel bars.

Bang!!!

A teeth-grinding dull thud.

Chen Ran's fist slammed solidly onto Shen Jixuan's chest.

Crack, crack, crack—

The dense sound of bones breaking rang out like firecrackers.

The ribs on Shen Jixuan's chest snapped and shattered instantly upon contact, his entire chest caving inward at a bizarre angle.

The violent power passed through his body, erupting from his back and blasting a large hole in the wall behind him.

"Pfft!"

Shen Jixuan spat out a large mouthful of blood mixed with pieces of internal organs.

His withered body, like a tattered sack, left the ground and flew backward.

Bang!

Shen Jixuan was forcibly blasted into the wall deep within the prison cell.

A human-shaped pit was smashed into the hard black stone wall, covered in dense cracks.

Rubble fell, burying half of his body.

Inside the wall pit.

Most of the bones in Shen Jixuan's body were shattered, and his internal organs were a mess from the hidden force of that punch.

He raised his head with difficulty, blood dripping down his chin.

Those eyes stared fixedly at the robust figure standing like a demon god not far away.

There was not a hint of fear, only a nearly pathological fanaticism and greed.

Too perfect.

Shen Jixuan roared crazily in his heart.

This Physical Body was simply the most perfect vessel in heaven and earth!

That pure power, that flawless Physical Body, that terrifying Qi and blood like an abyss or a sea...

If he could perform Possession on it,

If he could occupy this body,

He would not only return to his Peak, but even have hope of peeking into that legendary, ethereal supreme Realm.

As his mindset grew, his body also underwent changes.

A vast, netherworld aura poured out from the bottom up.

...