146: Chapter 146 Chen Zilong vs. Su Hao

The air inside the dilapidated house was so heavy it felt as if water could be wrung from it.

The three sat around a broken wooden table, briefly exchanging information and their respective suspicions.

"Su Hao's goals are Senior Brother Ye's remains and the Peerless Fate,"

Chen Zilong's voice was low and raspy, carrying a suppressed fury. "We must stop him, rescue Xiaoxiao, and either seize or destroy Ye Wushuang's body."

Lu Bingyun's gaze was as sharp as ice as she quickly analyzed the situation.

"Su Hao's personal cultivation might not match yours, but he is cunning and possesses the secret arts of the Tianji Sect."

"As for Su Yan, who has possessed Senior Sister Ye, her strength cannot be underestimated. Moreover, she is extremely familiar with Senior Sister Ye's physical body and any potential hidden trump cards."

Jin Mei bit her lower lip and suggested,

"Why don't we split up?"

"Senior Brother Chen, you have the highest cultivation. You can pin down Su Hao from the front and draw their attention."

"Senior Sister Lu and I will take the opportunity to infiltrate the interior, deal with Su Yan, and rescue Junior Sister Tushan."

Chen Zilong and Lu Bingyun exchanged a look, both agreeing that this plan was feasible.

Chen Zilong carried the true legacies of the Daoist, Buddhist, and Demonic schools.

Furthermore, he was protected by the first-generation artifact, the five thunders heavenly heart armor, and his Lifebound Treasure, the overlord cauldron, which integrated offense and defense. His chances of winning a head-on confrontation against Su Hao were very high.

Meanwhile, Lu Bingyun's swordsmanship was peerless, and Jin Mei's Hehuan Sect secret arts were eerie and difficult to defend against.

Working together to deal with Su Yan, they also stood a great chance.

"There's no time to lose, let's set out immediately!"

Chen Zilong stood up abruptly, the flames of revenge and the desire to save his friend burning in his eyes.

Although the spiritual energy within his body had not yet fully recovered to its peak,

not only had the soul-eroding powder been purged, but a new, purer power was surging through his meridians.

Based on the faint clues Jin Mei had left behind during her tracking and Lu Bingyun's keen perception of spiritual energy, they quickly locked onto an extremely luxurious manor outside the city, nestled against the mountains and near the water.

This was a secret property under the name of the Village Chief, Su Yue' daughter.

As dusk fell, the manor was brightly lit, yet it exuded an eerie, deathly silence.

"Proceed as planned."

Chen Zilong nodded to the two women, took a deep breath, and strode toward the manor's grand, gilded gates.

Lu Bingyun and Jin Mei, like two specters, used the shadows and garden scenery as cover to silently circle toward the manor's flanks.

Chen Zilong came to a halt ten zhang from the gates, no longer suppressing his aura.

Boom!

A majestic spiritual pressure erupted with him at the center. The might of the Nascent Soul Stage swept out like a storm, causing several stone lions at the manor's entrance to develop fine cracks from the invisible pressure.

"Su Hao! Get out here and face your death!"

His voice was like a resonant bell, containing the thunderous intent of the Nine Heavens Thunder Control True Canon. It made the entire manor hum and vibrate, causing the lanterns under the eaves to shake violently.

Almost the instant the words fell, the manor gates slid open silently.

Su Hao, dressed in a black robe, walked out slowly. His face still wore that nauseating mask of gentility, but deep in his eyes, a flash of unavoidable shock and suspicion flickered.

He never expected that Chen Zilong, who had been afflicted by the soul-eroding powder, would be able to recover his combat strength in such a short time, with an aura even more formidable than before!

"Junior Brother Zilong, why such a great fuss..." Su Hao attempted to stall with words.

"Shut up! Traitor!"

Chen Zilong gave him no chance at all. His eyes were blood-red, woven with fury and killing intent. "Today, I shall avenge my fellow Daoist and clean out the sect for my Xuantian Sect!"

He wasted no more words and clenched his right hand.

A simple and heavy three-legged cauldron, exuding a primordial aura, appeared out of thin air—his Lifebound Treasure, the overlord cauldron!

Upon the cauldron's body, the faint image of a Kunpeng circled, emitting a heavy power that could suppress all things.

"Go!"

Chen Zilong gave a thunderous shout. The overlord cauldron grew as it met the wind, expanding to several meters in size. It smashed down toward Su Hao's head with a terrifying momentum that could crush mountains and rivers!

Su Hao's expression changed drastically. He hadn't expected Chen Zilong to use his Lifebound Treasure right from the start, nor did he expect such a brutal fighting style.

He didn't dare meet it head-on. His figure retreated rapidly while his hands quickly formed seals. One by one, talismans flickering with starlight flew from his sleeves, quickly constructing a translucent 'Heavenly Secret Shield' in front of him.

Boom—!!!

The overlord cauldron slammed violently into the Heavenly Secret Shield, producing a deafening roar.

The shield vibrated violently, starlight splashing across its surface.

Although it didn't shatter immediately, Su Hao was shaken by the massive impact, his blood and qi churning.

He retreated repeatedly, each step leaving a deep footprint on the hard bluestone ground.

"Peak late Golden Core stage? Merely this!"

Chen Zilong pressed his advantage, and with a thought, the overlord cauldron took to the air again.

The cauldron's mouth pointed downward, spewing out chaotic-colored air currents, attempting to suppress and refine Su Hao along with the space around him.

A flash of ruthlessness crossed Su Hao's eyes; he knew he could no longer hold back.

"Heavenly Secret Guidance, Shifting Stars!" He shouted low, using a core secret art of the Tianji Sect.

The space around him distorted slightly. The chaotic air currents spewed by the overlord cauldron were actually guided and deflected by an invisible force, striking the nearby rockery and gardens instead.

In an instant, the exquisite scenery was leveled to the ground, stones flying and dust filling the air.

"Hmph, petty tricks!"

Chen Zilong snorted coldly. The five thunders heavenly heart armor, inscribed with countless thunder runes, suddenly lit up with blinding electrical light. "Purple Firmament Divine Thunder, heed my command!"

Crack—!

In the night sky, dark clouds gathered instantly.

A bolt of purple divine thunder as thick as a bucket tore through the night like a sword of heavenly punishment, striking with pinpoint accuracy toward the crown of Su Hao's head!

Su Hao was scared out of his wits and hurriedly sacrificed a simple tortoise shell shield; it was one of his life-saving artifacts.

The divine thunder struck the tortoise shell shield, erupting with light as brilliant as the sun. The violent thunder power surged in all directions, charring the manor's outer walls black.

Although the tortoise shell shield blocked the strike, its spiritual light dimmed, clearly having suffered significant damage.

Chen Zilong's offensive was like a tide, giving Su Hao no chance to catch his breath.

At times he manipulated the overlord cauldron for brutal collisions, and at others, he summoned the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder for a wild bombardment.

Occasionally, he would manifest the Vajra Demon Subduing Scripture, his body blooming with golden Buddhist light and his fist prints like mountains, fierce and peerless.

He even secretly circulated the Heaven Swallowing Demonic Art, devouring the scattered spiritual energy around him to replenish himself while simultaneously interfering with Su Hao's spiritual energy flow.

Su Hao was beaten into a wretched state, only able to bitterly endure through the Tianji Sect's eerie secret arts and several life-saving artifacts.

He excelled at deduction and planning.

Under the direct crushing weight of such absolute power and violent speed, they were almost useless.

The cultivation techniques of the Xuantian Sect in his hands also seemed far less harmonious and overbearing than Chen Zilong's.

After several hundred rounds, Su Hao was at the end of his rope, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth and his hair in disarray.

His black robe had also become tattered.

His eyes were filled with resentment and malice, yet he could not change the situation of being completely suppressed.

"It's over, Su Hao!"

Killing intent surged in Chen Zilong's eyes as his hands formed seals. The overlord cauldron, the five thunders armor, the Buddhist light around him, and the flickering demonic qi actually showed signs of merging at this moment!

He was about to unleash his ultimate trump card to deliver a fatal blow to Su Hao!