71: Chapter 71 Unleashing Power!

The direction provided by Seeking Good Fortune and Avoiding Bad Luck finally stopped at the entrance of a shopping mall.

It was a long-abandoned commercial building. Most of the glass on the exterior walls was shattered, only half of the lettering remained on the signage, and a neon sign hung down, swaying gently in the wind and emitting a creaking, grating sound.

The entrance was piled with overturned shelves, broken billboards, and large patches of blackened blood.

"It's right here?"

Lu Cheng cursed under his breath, the Holy Radiance on the surface of his Dragon Scale Holy Armor glowing slightly as he stepped directly inside.

As soon as he stepped through the mall's main entrance, a thick, fishy smell of blood rushed towards him.

In the next second, Lu Cheng's pupils constricted violently.

The entire first-floor lobby had become a pool of blood.

The ground was covered in black-red blood, flowing into the gaps of the cracked floor tiles, leaving a sticky, dragging sensation with every step.

Severed limbs, minced flesh, broken steel bars, and collapsed counters were mixed together. The air was filled with a mixture of putrid, bloody, and polluted scents that tightened one's throat.

In the center of the lobby, Commander Ji Yunlan and Chen Qichen were being held back.

In front of them, six massive Polluted Creatures were blocking the way.

Each of those six monsters was nearly three to four meters tall, covered in bulging tumors and bone spurs. Black-purple fascia pulsed beneath their skin, and their mouthparts opened and closed. The black blood dripping from them hissed as it hit the blood on the ground.

Commander Ji Yunlan's long blade was soaked in black blood. Every time she swung the blade, it unleashed waves of Source Power light arcs, but she was surrounded by three Polluted Creatures and couldn't free herself.

Chen Qichen was in the same situation. Source Power surged around him, and his sword energy caused the air to explode repeatedly, but the other three Polluted Creatures pushed forward against his attacks, forcing him to retreat step by step, shattering the ground beneath his feet.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Commander Zhao was being held by the neck with one hand by a man in black, hanging in mid-air.

The man in black wore a tight-fitting black outfit. His face was sickly pale, yet a light, airy smile played on his lips. His eyes were cold and playful, looking entirely out of place in this bloody battlefield.

Commander Zhao's face was flushed, veins bulging on his forehead. He gripped the man's wrist tightly with both hands, his protective Qi around his neck trembling under the pressure.

In the next second.

A low roar erupted from Commander Zhao's throat. His Source Power exploded, forcing the hand away. He retreated several steps, dragging a long bloody trail across the floor.

The man in black looked down at his hand, which had been repelled, and chuckled.

"Oh~ You still have strength?"

His voice was drawn out, filled with a mockery that made one's whole body go cold.

After saying this, he slowly turned his head, his gaze landing directly on Lu Cheng at the mall entrance.

The moment those eyes swept over him, every hair on Lu Cheng's body stood on end.

The man in black curled his lips.

"To think another little mouse would wander in..."

Boom!

A terrifying pressure instantly bore down on Lu Cheng!

Lu Cheng felt his chest sink, as if his very breathing were being ruthlessly suppressed. The surrounding air became viscous, and the blood on the ground trembled slightly at this moment.

Strong.

Too strong.

This sense of oppression was even more intense than that of the group of Tier 4 Polluted Creatures.

Lu Cheng's gaze sank bit by bit.

The man in black stared at the Dragon Scale Holy Armor on Lu Cheng, a clear glint of greed appearing in his eyes.

"Little thing, that armor you have is not bad."

"Give me the armor, and I'll let you leave..."

Lu Cheng didn't speak.

His blood and Qi were already circulating on their own. Hardening Pulse and Holy Radiance Regeneration stabilized his body simultaneously, allowing him to stand his ground against the pressure.

Commander Ji Yunlan also saw Lu Cheng at this moment, her expression changing drastically.

"Lu Cheng?! Why did you come in!"

Chen Qichen punched back one of the Polluted Creatures, veins throbbing on his forehead, his voice deep:

"Nonsense! This is no place for you!"

Commander Zhao, having just broken free, turned to see Lu Cheng, a flash of sternness in his eyes!

In the next second.

He didn't hesitate at all; with an explosive stomp, he charged violently towards the man in black!

"You bastard! Get lost!"

Before he even reached him, his fist energy had already blasted out!

At the same time, Commander Zhao roared at Lu Cheng at the top of his lungs:

"Young man, run!"

The man in black's eyes turned cold, and the slight smile on his lips instantly faded.

"Stubborn fool."

As he spoke, he raised his hand and struck with a palm.

Bang!

Commander Zhao's fist energy was shattered on the spot, and he was sent flying by a terrifying force, smashing through half a counter, sending wooden planks and steel frames flying everywhere.

But as soon as Commander Zhao landed, he forced himself back up, blood covering his mouth, and continued to charge forward.

Bang!

Another kick.

The man in black's movements were so fast that only a blur remained. As soon as Commander Zhao got close, he was kicked in the abdomen, curling into a ball as he slammed violently into the wall.

Boom!

A section of the wall collapsed.

Lu Cheng's eyelids twitched as he watched.

They were in completely different leagues.

Commander Zhao was, at the very least, in the Hua Hai Realm, yet in front of this man in black, he was practically being toyed with.

On the other side, Commander Ji Yunlan and Chen Qichen couldn't free themselves either.

The six giant Polluted Creatures had gone completely berserk, flailing black blood, bone spurs, and tentacle-like growths wildly, forcing the two to focus all their efforts on defense.

Lu Cheng stood in place and took a deep breath...

Only ten seconds?

Lu Cheng didn't know how strong that thing was... but there was no time to think about it now!

Commander Zhao charged up again.

This time, even his protective Qi began to destabilize. He was covered in blood, his aura in complete disarray, yet he gritted his teeth and pushed forward.

"Run!"

This shout was practically roared out.

The man in black raised his hand, seized Commander Zhao's wrist, and twisted it back.

Snap!

The sound of bone cracking was so clear it made one's scalp tingle.

Commander Zhao's face turned deathly pale instantly, and cold sweat poured down his forehead, but he didn't utter a sound, his other hand still striking towards the man's chest.

A trace of impatience finally appeared in the man in black's eyes.

"Annoying thing."

He raised his leg, intending to finish off Commander Zhao completely.

At that very instant.

Lu Cheng moved.

Boom!!!

The Dragon Scale Holy Armor suddenly erupted with an unprecedented golden-white holy light!

Layers of Dragon Scale Holy Runes lit up frantically, and a phantom of a dragon soul solidified behind him!

Massive, radiant dragon wings unfurled with a boom, bathing the entire mall lobby in golden-white light!

Complete · Dragon Scale Holy Armor!

Holy Dragon Armament state, activate!

The terrifying Dragon Might instantly swept across the scene, causing even the black-red blood on the ground to ripple in circles.

The six giant Polluted Creatures visibly froze, and Commander Ji Yunlan and Chen Qichen were both stunned.

The smile on the man in black's face disappeared completely for the first time.

"This aura..."

Lu Cheng didn't give him a chance to continue speaking.

He stomped his foot!

Boom!

The ground shattered!

He transformed into a golden-white streak of light that tore through the field of vision, instantly charging in front of the man in black and delivering a fierce punch!

Collapsing Fist - Three Styles: Origin!

The man in black's pupils constricted as he raised his arm to block.

Bang!!!

A loud noise exploded, and the shockwave sent all the surrounding rubble and blood flying!

The man in black was knocked sideways by more than a dozen meters, his feet plowing two deep trenches into the ground. The black clothing on his arm shattered on the spot, revealing skin covered in ruptured blood vessels.

"A bit interesting!"

Before he could finish speaking, Lu Cheng's second punch had already arrived.

Dragon Soul Pursuit!

Holy Dragon Shock Blast!

Boom! Boom!

Two violent forces exploded in overlap, creating two visible white air rings in the air.

The man in black's chest collapsed under the heavy blow, and he flew backward, smashing through the escalator behind him. The steel frame snapped, and large pieces of debris clattered down.

Lu Cheng could feel his own blood and the Holy Armor's energy draining away at an exaggerated speed.

His eyes hardened, and he didn't dare to stop. With a flap of the dragon wing afterimages behind him, he pursued again!

Third second!

As the man in black rushed out of the ruins, Lu Cheng delivered a knee strike to his abdomen. With a muffled "bang," Lu Cheng's knee drove heavily into the man's stomach, the air pressure instantly turning the cloak on the man's back into dust.

Immediately after, his fists became a blur, striking repeatedly.

Holy flames exploded between his fingers, melting the surrounding twisted steel bars into molten iron!

Bang bang bang bang bang!

The man in black was forced to retreat, blood finally spilling from the corner of his mouth, his eyes turning completely dark.

He raised his hand and grabbed, a mass of black Source Power turning into sharp claws, aiming straight for Lu Cheng's throat.

Lu Cheng took the hit head-on, the Holy Radiance on the surface of the Dragon Scale Holy Armor flashing wildly, the dragon flames on his fists burning so hot the air distorted.

Fifth second!

One of the man in black's arms was violently broken by Lu Cheng, the bone piercing through the flesh.

Sixth second!

Half of his shoulder collapsed, his sternum shattered, and he was smashed into the ground by a single punch.

Seventh second!

Lu Cheng stomped down, the Holy Dragon Field pressing down with full force. The ground collapsed with a roar, and the man in black spewed blood, his expression finally changing.

"Who exactly are you! Daring to obstruct the Church!"

Lu Cheng didn't speak... there was no time left!

Eighth second!

He brought both fists down simultaneously, smashing fiercely into the man in black's head and chest, the dragon soul phantom reaching out its claws in sync to deliver a secondary heavy strike!

Boom!!!

The man in black was beaten until he was barely recognizable, half his face caved in, and his aura weakened instantly.

But just as Lu Cheng was preparing to finish him off, a flash of extreme, vicious resentment suddenly crossed the man's eyes.

The next instant, a cloud of black mist exploded from his body!

"Want to kill me? Next time, little thing!"

Boom!

The black mist exploded, carrying a strong polluting and obscuring effect, even briefly dispersing the Dragon Scale holy light for an instant.

Lu Cheng's expression changed, and he raised his hand to blast away the black mist.

But the man in black had already used that instant to drag his broken body, smash through the side glass curtain wall of the mall, and escape!

"Damn it!"

Lu Cheng cursed. He was about to give chase, but it felt as if a bell had been struck hard in his mind.

Last second!

Time was up!

And just at this moment, the six giants went completely insane!

Forcing their way through Commander Ji Yunlan and Chen Qichen's attacks, they lunged directly at the two!

Commander Ji Yunlan's expression changed. Her long blade had just sliced open the one on the left, but the one on the right had already opened its massive mouth to bite down.

Lu Cheng looked at the six Polluted Creatures... he had to clear them out first!

"Holy Dragon Roar!!!"

Roar!!!

A dragon roar of terrifying intensity exploded from in front of Lu Cheng!

The golden-white sound wave, almost solidified, carrying violent Dragon Might and purifying holy flames, slammed directly into those two giant Polluted Creatures!

Rumble!!!

The entire mall lobby shook violently under this blow.

The two Polluted Creatures didn't even have time to finish screaming before their massive bodies were pierced through by the Holy Dragon Roar. Flesh, bone spurs, and polluted Source Power exploded in mid-air, only to be burned into charred debris by the holy flames along the way!

The black-red blood on the ground was swept up, and the surrounding glass shattered in sheets.

The remaining Polluted Creatures were also sent flying by the impact.

And the Holy Dragon Armament on Lu Cheng extinguished completely after this strike.

The golden-white Holy Radiance dimmed rapidly.

The dragon soul phantom behind him dissipated bit by bit, and finally, even the Dragon Scale Holy Armor returned to the system space...

Lu Cheng felt his vision go black. All sounds in his ears began to fade into the distance, his chest felt as if it had been hollowed out, and he couldn't even stand steady.

"Lu Cheng!"

"Lu Cheng!!"

Commander Ji Yunlan's voice and Chen Qichen's roar came almost simultaneously.

But Lu Cheng couldn't hear them very clearly anymore.

His body swayed, and in the end, he only had time for one thought to surface in his mind.

Damn it...

This time... I seem to have overdone it again...

The next second, he collapsed straight into the blood, losing consciousness completely.