256: Half a step to the Western Paradise

"Heavenly Demonic Technique: Netherworld Tribulation!"

Zhongli Wu's low voice sounded like a magistrate from the Nine Netherworlds, pronouncing the final death sentence. His hands formed a complex and eerie seal, and the Netherworld Yin Fire surrounding him suddenly collapsed inward, merging entirely into his body. In its place, a deeper, more ancient, and terrifying aura—seemingly originating from the source of all demons—erupted! His black robes billowed, and his hood was blown back by an invisible force, revealing eyes that had completely turned into pitch-black vortices, within which countless demonic shadows seemed to drift!

He pushed out a palm strike with deceptive simplicity. There was no grand spectacle, no brilliant light, only a pitch-black palm print so condensed it seemed to swallow all light, silently imprinting itself toward Qin Feng's group of four, who were no longer able to form a battle array. Wherever the palm print passed, space distorted slightly, and even sound was swallowed, leaving only the pure essence of "silence" and "the end."

This strike was beyond the comprehension of a Martial King or even an ordinary Martial Emperor; it contained the Law of power belonging to a Peak Martial Emperor!

"Don't you dare!"

A roar erupted—it was Tao Yuanyi, struggling to stand! From some unknown source, he burst forth with his final strength, violently pushing away Cold Peach Blossom, who was treating his wounds, and thrusting the weakened Little Fire into her arms. At the same time, he snatched the thin sword from her hand and, along with his own long spear, crossed them in front of him. Burning his final True Essence and Life Essence, he transformed into a thin but resolute figure, meeting that black palm print head-on! He knew he had no chance of blocking it; he only hoped to buy even a single moment for Qin Feng and the others!

"Senior Brother Tao! No!" Cold Peach Blossom cried out shrilly.

"A mantis trying to stop a carriage," Zhongli Wu said indifferently.

The black palm print collided with Tao Yuanyi's spear and sword barrier.

There was no roar of an explosion.

Only a soft "pop," like a bubble being pricked.

The barrier Tao Yuanyi had condensed at the cost of his life was instantly annihilated. The spear and thin sword in his hands snapped inch by inch, turning into fly ash! Immediately after, the palm print struck his chest with effortless ease.

Crack... Pfft—!

The clear sounds of bones shattering and flesh bursting rang out! Tao Yuanyi's chest caved in at a visible speed, and blood mixed with fragments of internal organs sprayed from his mouth. He was thrown back dozens of yards like a broken doll, crashing into a rock wall and embedding himself deeply within it, silent and still, his life or death unknown. The remaining fragments of the Earth Rank soft armor he wore were also completely reduced to powder.

"Husband—!!!" Cold Peach Blossom let out a heart-wrenching wail, trying to rush over recklessly, but she was stopped by the sneering Corpse Demon Sect Master, who had reacted.

"Hehe, little lady, what's the rush? I'll send you to accompany him right now!" Although the Corpse Demon Sect Master was significantly injured, he was still more than capable of dealing with Cold Peach Blossom, whose mind was in turmoil and who specialized in assassination rather than direct confrontation. He struck out with a palm filled with grim Death Qi, forcing Cold Peach Blossom back in a pathetic state, her situation becoming precarious.

Qin Feng watched helplessly as Tao Yuanyi took a fatal blow to cover them. His eyes nearly split with rage, and a beast-like low growl escaped his throat. He wanted to rush over, but he struggled even to stand firmly.

And Zhongli Wu's devastating palm strike, after annihilating Tao Yuanyi, didn't lose any momentum, continuing to slowly press down toward where Qin Feng, Ji Ruxue, Xiao Chun, and Ye Wuyou were! The shadow of death completely enveloped them!

"Let's give it everything!" Ye Wuyou shouted fiercely, pouring her last bit of strength into her twin blades in a final attempt to block. Ji Ruxue forced out a sliver of True Essence, and the purple moon dagger flew from her hand, turning into a faint glimmer as it shot toward the palm print. Xiao Chun used her last bit of strength to scatter all the remaining poison pills and medicinal powders in her arms.

However, all of this appeared pale and powerless before the Heavenly Demonic Palm Print, which contained the power of the Law. The palm print only rippled slightly, neutralizing all attacks into nothingness as it continued to press down.

Just as the palm print was about to make contact—

A flash of ruthlessness crossed Qin Feng's eyes, and he suddenly crushed a Jade Talisman hidden in his sleeve! It was his final setup—a trigger device mixed with the "Half-Step to the West" powder!

Puff!

The Jade Talisman exploded, and colorless, odorless dust instantly filled the air, which was already turbulent and dusty from the intense battle, spreading rapidly!

The Martial Kings and Protectors of the Yin Demon Sect and Corpse Demon Sect, who were closing in from all sides to kick them while they were down, were caught off guard. To varying degrees, they all inhaled or were touched by the dust!

"Eh? What's going on?"

"My True Essence..."

"My head is so dizzy..."

Exclamations rang out one after another! The toxicity of Half-Step to the West erupted violently. These enemies, most of whom were in the Martial King Realm, suddenly felt their True Essence flow stagnate, their Divine Souls grow heavy, and their limbs go weak. Their combat strength plummeted! Even the Corpse Demon Sect Master, who was toying with Cold Peach Blossom, stiffened, his movements slowing by a fraction, allowing the grief-stricken Cold Peach Blossom to find an opening and gash his arm.

Only Zhongli Wu, surrounded by pure Netherworld Yin Fire and the aura of the Heavenly Demonic Technique, kept the dust out and remained completely unaffected. However, the downward pressure of his palm was slightly disrupted in its rhythm by this sudden mass poisoning.

"Now!" Qin Feng screamed hoarsely.

The remaining vines of the Ghost Cry Vine, which had been lurking on the ground—broken from the previous battle but not entirely dead—seemed to be driven by Xiao Chun's final sliver of will and suddenly surged again! Although their power was greatly reduced, they were still like dying venomous snakes, crazily coiling around the legs and waists of the enemies who had slowed down after being poisoned!

"Ah! This damn thing is alive again!"

"I can't cut through it!"

At the same time, Ji Ruxue held on, and the mechanisms in her sleeves clicked softly. Several Shadow Sleeve Arrows coated with "Blood-Sealing Throat" poison shot out silently, accurately piercing the throats or hearts of several Martial Kings who were frantically dealing with the vines!

Xiao Chun also gave her yan luo umbrella a sudden spin, and dozens of needles as fine as cow hair, also coated with Blood-Sealing Throat poison, shot out from the ends of the umbrella ribs, covering another group of enemies!

Thud! "Urgh!" "Save..."

Screams and the sound of bodies hitting the ground followed! Already slowed by the poison and then ambushed by the entangling vines and poisoned arrows/needles, nearly half of the remaining Martial Kings and Protectors of the Yin Demon Sect instantly collapsed! The casualties were heavy!

However, this was already the final counterattack Qin Feng and the others could muster.

Zhongli Wu watched his elite subordinates fall in heaps before his eyes. The vortices in his pitch-black eyes spun slightly faster, but he didn't show much anger.

Heh, a bunch of trash.

Instead, he revealed a cold expression of inquiry and amusement.

He dispersed the immensely powerful Heavenly Demonic Palm Print. His figure moved like a ghost, crossing dozens of yards in a single step to arrive in front of Qin Feng, who was kneeling on the ground, coughing up blood, barely shielded by Ye Wuyou and Ji Ruxue.

"Hehe..." Zhongli Wu chuckled softly, his voice carrying a chilling sense of insight. "Qin Feng... I am truly becoming more and more curious."

He slowly crouched down, almost level with Qin Feng's gaze. Those eyes, like black vortices, seemed intent on sucking in Qin Feng's Soul.

"Precise Thunder Traps to counter Corpse Puppets... perfectly timed poison arrangements to weaken my people... even the timing of my Heavenly Demonic Technique's attack was disrupted by you using this suicidal method to create a distraction, giving those dying companions of yours one last chance to kill..."

His tone was calm and measured, but every word was like an icicle piercing into Qin Feng's heart.

"It's as if... you can always see a little bit of the future's trajectory in advance. No, not just see it—you can also precisely utilize it to plant the most fatal spikes in the most impossible places."

Zhongli Wu extended a finger, a wisp of pure Netherworld Yin Fire swirling around the tip, as he lightly pointed it toward Qin Feng's brow, as if seeking to explore the secrets within his mind.

"Tell me... what kind of secret of foresight are you hiding?"