The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 1255 - 668: Fist-Killing Wu Xiankui (Part 2)
The most marvelous aspect was that after the awakening of the Dragon Essence, he suddenly discovered that the divine suppression from the Sea God pressing on him had completely disappeared. He even felt that this sea region, this land, had become incredibly congenial to him as he ran.
He understood that this was not the power of the Half-step Heavenly Realm but most likely due to the connection between the Dragon Essence and the dragon remains at the sea bottom.
When that Divine Dragon was alive, as an almost god-level being living in the East Sea, how could it be affected by the Sea God?
Therefore, with the Dragon Essence inheriting the divine charm from the dragon remains, Zhao Douan could now exert his power without restraint.
Of course, this was also because the Sea God was largely being constrained by the Old Heavenly Master.
Perhaps it’s precisely for this reason that he was incredibly fast; it wasn’t long before he caught up with the fleeing Wu Xiankui ahead.
When Wu Xiankui sensed that only Zhao Douan was pursuing him from behind, he was initially startled, but then he turned around and suspended himself over the dark sea, standing amidst the endless cold rain. His empty sleeves fluttered in the wind as Wu Xiankui cautiously stared at Zhao Douan, who had also stopped about ten meters away, with cold eyes, asking, "You want to stop me?"
Zhao Douan laughed and said, "Master Wu, hitting someone and then running away, is this the style of the Qingshan people? It was the same on the day of Sealing, the same at Daluo Island later, and the same today. In Yu Country officials often say, ’The law is like a gray net, loose but can’t escape,’ you think I, as an official, can allow you to escape multiple times?"
There was undoubtedly hatred between the two.
Though they had only met twice until today, their opposing stances had already formed an irreconcilable enmity.
Wu Xiankui coldly stared at him, the flame-like cinnabar mark on his brow shining bright red like volcanic magma, glaringly conspicuous amidst the dark sea.
He seemed both surprised and disdainful: "Just you? If Zhang Yan Yi were chasing as well, given my current injuries, I might fear you somewhat. But just you alone? Trying to intercept me? You simply don’t know the immensity of heaven and earth. You think taking Half-step would allow you to contend with the Heavenly Human? You think my injury makes it possible for a shallow cultivator like you, barely a few years into cultivation, to hunt me down?"
His sarcasm was genuine, not an act.
This arose from the innate confidence, or perhaps arrogance, inherent in power.
Wu Xiankui was indisputably the number one Martial Artist in the world today.
As for the Empress, after all, she wasn’t purely a martial artist, and she had the Emperor’s Dragon Qi as an aid.
Zhao Douan maintained a calm appearance facing him, speaking indifferently: "When you heard I was here before, sneaking in for a surprise attack, it wasn’t like this. When your arm was severed by His Majesty a few days ago, abandoning the Qingshan disciples and fleeing, it wasn’t like this. Your shameless attack at Luo Mountain back then wasn’t like this."
With each word spoken, Wu Xiankui’s expression grew darker.
Zhao Douan continued: "You proclaim martial arts to be the best worldwide, yet your conduct is as shady as a rat’s, truly puzzling how you cultivated to this level. It seems the millennium-old Qingshan lineage is ultimately also declining. Ha, are you angry? I, as an official, give you a chance today. You want to seize the Royal Family’s Martial God legacy, take a look? Here, the Dragon Essence from the Grand Ancestor Emperor of Yu Country resides within me. Kill me, and it all belongs to you."
Wu Xiankui’s heart was moved, his gaze involuntarily fell upon Zhao Douan’s abdomen.
Zhao Douan kept smiling: "However, saying I am merely Half-step Heavenly is not entirely accurate. Did you forget, I can also borrow strength?"
As he spoke, he took a step forward without any sign of smoke or fire.
"Crack!"
It was as if some shackle within him broke once again, the Dragon Essence roared in his Qi Sea, suddenly dazzling rosy clouds surged from Zhao Douan’s surface, his aura soared another step, reaching the Heavenly Human level.
Just like at Daluo Island before, Prince Jing, real cultivation of Half-step Heavenly, had once temporarily elevated his realm through Shariputra.
Today Zhao Douan followed the example of Prince Jing, rising another step.
With Wu Xiankui’s sudden change in complexion, Zhao Douan laughed freely, his Chasing Saber already slashed through the air towards the other!
Sky Opening!
"Boom——"
This saber slash initially seemed ordinary, but the dark sea suddenly split down the middle, millions of gallons of sea water parted to either side, leaving a gorge-like rift on the sea surface, and at the end of this gorge stood the Qingshan Sect Leader.
Wu Xiankui’s face twisted and trembled as he felt the razor-sharp sword energy seemingly tearing him apart; the mark on his brow erupted with flames, and the surrounding air fissured like porcelain shattering, countless "shards" falling into the sea.
This formidable martial artist’s entire martial arts cultivation actually distorted the surrounding air as a shield to ward off the Sword Energy.
Truly superb.
Yet a bright red gash appeared on Wu Xiankui’s chest and abdomen, which seemed to infuriate him. Like a frenzied lion, Wu Xiankui fixated on the saber-wielding youth ahead, roaring angrily.
Then, he suddenly transformed into a burning scarlet meteor, charging at Zhao Douan with overwhelming momentum.
"Is this still not enough..." murmured Zhao Douan softly, he chuckled, merely tucked away the Chasing Saber, recalling in his mind the image of the Grand Ancestor of Yu Country practicing fist skills in the Martial God Map.
He slowly loosened up his posture, radiant rosy clouds shone on his skin, delivering a heavy punch right into the incoming single-arm strike from Wu Xiankui.
"Boom!"
With the two as the center, the sea surface exploded into a circular ring, a massive wave of pure white burst outwards, nearly shattering the dark clouds above, and a part of the Sea God’s consciousness seemed to notice the commotion, angrily unleashing twisted lightning serpents from above.
Suddenly, this sea area was filled with lightning serpents, and Zhao Douan and Wu Xiankui continued their frenzied fist fight.
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
...
The martial artist’s fight is always brutally simplistic.
Zhao Douan felt as if he was once again back in the battle against Prince Jing, wholly immersed in the fist skill, forgetting all techniques, merely exploiting his instinct to channel all energy inside his opponent’s body.
And this time, rising to Half-step Heavenly, he finally understood why Prince Jing was so resilient back then.
At the Heavenly Human Realm, the body connects with heaven and earth; any attacks striking it automatically channel into the surrounding sea stretching miles wide.
Wu Xiankui was also taken aback as he fought because he realized Zhao Douan was more powerful than anticipated.
That rosy light learned from the Grand Ancestor Emperor now showcased its true defensive power, a defense harder to penetrate than the Buddhist Golden Bell Shield.
Wu Xiankui felt a depressing revelation; his injuries were too severe to exert full force.
After battling with the Empress and Zhang Yan Yi, even a Heavenly Human martial artist couldn’t hold out.
Moreover, he was left with only one arm, contending with Zhao Douan of nearly equal level, he gradually started falling behind in the fight.
Fear and panic rose suddenly within Wu Xiankui.
He froze, fear? Panic? Emotions he hadn’t felt in years, almost foreign now... 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖
The battle raged on. The sea water gradually evaporated, countless fish at the sea bottom were killed by the residual force of their fight, bright white fish corpses floated all over the sea.
Wu Xiankui began to feel breathless, his movements slowing, external noises faded, yet the pounding of his heart was vividly clear.
Right before his eyes, Zhao Douan, so much younger, still full of life.
A punch fears youth.
At this moment, Wu Xiankui suddenly recalled his youth days, stepping out of his home to learn martial skills at a county martial arts hall.
The mean old fist master’s first words to him in the first lesson:
"A punch fears youth..."
Am I... old already?
"No... can’t keep fighting..." Wu Xiankui suddenly awakened, intending to flee.
Yet his eyes met Zhao Douan’s scarlet eyes: "Trying to escape? Too late..."
Subsequently, in Wu Xiankui’s horrified gaze, Zhao Douan suddenly pressed a palm onto his chest and abdomen, then a phantom golden dragon from Zhao Douan’s arm burrowed into his own Qi Sea.
"Do you want it? Then let me give it to you!"
