335: Chapter 335 Thrilling Combination Techniques

[When Chu Sheng rushed back to the outskirts of Heaven Lake, the scene before him made his footsteps abruptly halt.]

[Jiuer was being suppressed.]

[It wasn't an evenly matched suppression, but an almost entirely one-sided one.]

[Her purple light was retreating step by step in the face of Wan Qiba's black mist, forced back several steps with every collision.]

[She already had several Dao wounds, and a streak of dried blood hung from the corner of her mouth.]

[Wan Qiba stood before her, black mist surging around him. His expression was calm, as if he were merely sparring with an ignorant child.]

[His aura was far deeper than Chu Sheng had imagined.]

[It wasn't the instability of someone who had just stepped into the Divine Ability realm, but a solid, almost unshakable Foundation accumulated over at least a thousand years.]

[Chu Sheng's heart sank.]

[He had previously thought that even if Jiuer couldn't win, she could at least remain undefeated.]

[But reality was far harsher than he had anticipated.]

[It had been less than a year since Jiuer's Breakthrough into the Divine Ability realm, and those thousand years had mostly been spent in the Boundless Sea, which was devoid of Spiritual Qi.]

[Meanwhile, Wan Qiba had already entered the Divine Ability realm a thousand years ago.]

[Every step of his Foundation had been watered with the flesh and blood of his fellow Fox Clan members.]

"Little Sister, you are too young."

Wan Qiba's voice was unhurried, like an elder instructing an underperforming Junior. "Did you think that by making a Breakthrough into the Divine Ability realm, you could contend with your elder brother?"

[He raised his hand, and several distorted figures emerged from the black mist.]

[Those figures had blurred faces, but the outline of the Fox Clan could be vaguely seen.]

[There were old and young, and some even wore the unique attire of the Fox Clan from back then.]

[Jiuer's body shuddered violently.]

"You..."

Her voice trembled. "You... refined their souls into your Divine Ability?"

[Wan Qiba smiled, a very gentle smile.]

"They are not dead. They have simply changed their form to continue protecting the Fox Clan."

[Jiuer's expression changed completely.]

[Her attacks became disorganized, as if this scene had pierced her right where it hurt most.]

[Wan Qiba seized this weakness, and the black mist condensed into a spike, piercing straight through her left shoulder.]

[Jiuer groaned, dropping to one knee as blood flowed down her shoulder.]

[Her aura began to turn chaotic, and Life Qi spilled uncontrollably from her body, as if being forcibly drawn out by something.]

[The soul-wither lamp.]

[That Low Grade Magical Artifact hovered above Wan Qiba's head, its mouth aimed at Jiuer, slowly extracting the Life Qi from her body.]

[Wan Qiba had planned this long ago; the soul-wither lamp had the power to inject Death Qi and strip away Life Qi.]

[Even with Chu Sheng's treatment, Wan Jiuer still lacked Life Qi and was permeated with Death Qi.]

[What he needed to do was not inject Death Qi into Jiuer, because her Death Qi was already pervasive.]

[Instead, he would extract Jiuer's scarce Life Qi, completely breaking her balance of Life and Death Qi, winning without a fight!]

[How insidious!]

[Chu Sheng did not hesitate.]

[The four zhu xian swords unsheathed simultaneously. The Formation unfolded around Wan Qiba, and Sword Qi surged out like a tide, creating a barrier between him and Jiuer.]

[At the same time, the sea-suppressing cauldron flew out of Jiuer's Dantian, and Chu Sheng activated his authority.]

[A bronze glow enveloped Jiuer, temporarily cutting off the suction from the cup.]

[Wan Qiba's movements paused.]

[His gaze shifted from Jiuer to Chu Sheng.]

[He watched for a moment, then smiled.]

"So it's you."

He said, "That Human Race fellow. Have you come to seek death as well?"

[He raised his hand and waved it casually, sending a wave of black mist crashing into the sword Formation.]

[The sword Formation shook, but it did not break.]

[Chu Sheng's aura faltered for an instant, but he quickly adjusted.]

[Chu Sheng was setting up the Formation!]

[In a one-on-one fight, he had almost no chance of winning against a Divine Ability user.]

[Only by setting up the Zhu Xian Sword Formation and trapping Wan Qiba, just as he did against Pride, would he have a chance to strangle the opponent.]

[Wan Qiba's eyebrows twitched slightly, as if somewhat surprised.]

"Oh? You actually have some tricks up your sleeve."

[Without any panic, his figure flickered, and he slipped directly through the gaps in the sword Formation.]

[His understanding of Formations was profound; he saw through the weak points of the sword Formation at a single glance.]

"Human, your Formation is indeed perilous, but since it hasn't been fully set up, it's all for naught."

[He landed on the outskirts of the sword Formation and formed hand seals.]

[The Fox Clan Resentful Souls within the black mist shrieked piercingly in unison and pounced toward Chu Sheng.]

[Jiuer forced herself to stand, shielding Chu Sheng.]

"Go. He is using a soul-type Divine Ability that specifically targets the Divine Soul. It is extremely insidious; you are no match for him."

[Her voice was already somewhat weak, but her gaze remained firm.]

[Chu Sheng did not leave.]

[He glanced at the wound on Jiuer's shoulder, then at the soul-wither lamp still slowly spinning overhead.]

[Suddenly, he said, "Can I borrow your Death Qi for a moment?"]

[Jiuer was stunned.]

[Without waiting for her answer, Chu Sheng reached out and took her injured hand.]

[Palm to palm, a warm power surged from within Chu Sheng's body—Endless Vitality.]

[A colorful glow flowed along their connected hands and into Jiuer's body.]

[Stabilizing, guiding, and converting those extracted Death Qis back into life force.]

[Jiuer's complexion quickly regained some color, and the wound on her shoulder healed at a speed visible to the naked eye.]

[Wan Qiba's smile finally faded slightly.]

"A Divine Ability?"

[His voice carried a hint of disbelief. "A mere Daocheng Realm cultivator like you can use a Divine Ability?"]

[Chu Sheng did not answer.]

[He released Jiuer's hand. The four zhu xian swords flew back to his side, and the sword Formation unfolded once more.]

[This time, the sword Formation's power was even stronger than before.]

[Jiuer also stood up straight, this time.]

[The Death Qi on her did not dissipate; instead, it intertwined with the life force in her body, forming a brand-new balance.]

[The two stood side by side, one on the left and one on the right.]

[They were like two completely different yet mutually echoing forces, slowly rising within the same space.]

[Chu Sheng looked at Wan Qiba and said in a calm tone, "Before the fight, I was indeed a bit apprehensive. But now, I suddenly feel—"]

[He turned his head to glance at Jiuer.]

[Jiuer also glanced at him, saying nothing but nodding slightly.]

[Chu Sheng turned back to look at Wan Qiba, the corner of his mouth curving upward.]

"Let me show you our blood-boiling combination skill."

[The four zhu xian swords flew up simultaneously, and dark gold Sword Qi poured down like a torrential rain.]

[Endless Vitality nourished the sword hilts.]

[Jiuer also struck at the same time. Her purple light intertwined with the sword light as a deathly aura permeated the air, like a giant flower blooming in the night sky.]

[Life and death, Chu Sheng and Wan Jiuer, two Divine Abilities unleashed at the same time!]

[Wan Qiba's expression finally changed.]

[He mobilized the black mist to meet the attack with all his might, but this time...]

[...his black mist began to rapidly disintegrate like melting snow in the face of the colorful life force and the purple Death Qi.]