Chapter 289: Chapter 289: Do Not Wish to Be Your Enemy
This handsome, martially awe-inspiring young genius, his will as strong as steel, was actually weeping in pain, looking as aggrieved as a child weighing hundreds of pounds.
He had it so hard.
Since his first engagement at the Mo River, his Divine Sense invading Heaven Martial had been repeatedly severed by Earth Chicken, and subsequently, severely injured by Hei.
Despite being from the Purple Gold Divine Clan, an unparalleled genius of formidable strength and profound cultivation, he still could not handle Chen Pingping and those two little creatures.
Previously, when he wanted to make a move, he was warned by Lan Xiuzhi with a Heaven Tao Divine Weapon and had to hold back.
Later, he had wanted to act but lamentably found no opportunity.
Moreover, during this time, he had been constantly explaining to his kinsmen that the dog was extraordinary, as was Earth Chicken, and that Chen Pingping was not from the Spirit Realm.
Regrettably, no one believed him.
How suffocating this is for Jin Chan!
Fortunately, time proved his words true: Hei was indeed powerful, and Chen Pingping was not from the Spirit Realm.
The sobs were intermittent.
Jin Chan arrived, roaring with a choked voice, "Chen Pingping!" A longsword forged from the brilliance of Liuli aimed at Chen Pingping from the void. Though not yet unsheathed, its Sword Intent was already descending.
Alas, it was still blocked by Hei. He wasn’t surprised, as this wasn’t his first encounter with Hei.
"Jin Chan is about to make a move," someone whispered.
"He seems unable to defeat Hei."
Jin Chan staggered, nearly falling from the Void. With eyes burning like flames, he coldly scanned the gossiping crowd and retorted, "If you think you can, then you go up!"
What utter nonsense! Was it just him who couldn’t defeat Hei? Of course not; no one here could! Do these people even know how to talk?
But Jin Chan was certain that as long as Hei and Earth Chicken didn’t intervene, he could definitely slay Chen Pingping.
"Chen Pingping, do you dare come out and fight?" Jin Chan shouted angrily.
"Hey, you from the Purple Gold Divine Clan! The appointed time with Chen Pingping isn’t up yet, is it?" Huang Mingzhi interjected. "Besides, I believe I was here first, wasn’t I?"
He grumbled, thoroughly dissatisfied, with only one thought in his mind: defeat Chen Pingping at all costs and wash away his shame.
Jin Chan’s eyes flashed with a cold gleam. "Are you seeking death?"
Huang Mingzhi was unafraid. "You think you’re the only one who broke through to the Emperor Tao realm?" With that, he too unleashed his Emperor Tao Principles.
At this, the two major powers, the Ancient Dynasty and the Purple Gold Divine Clan, also tensed for a standoff.
The Heavenly Dragon Prince narrowed his eyes, his tone neutral as he remarked, "How interesting. With a formidable enemy before us, you people of the Spirit Realm have started quarreling amongst yourselves."
His words had a significant effect; the killing intention emanating from the two powers instantly vanished.
Jin Chan also took a step back, though his gaze towards the noodle shop remained icily menacing.
At this moment, the Heavenly Dragon Prince added, "Huang Mingzhi, I’ll give you one chance. If you cannot defeat Chen Pingping, then forget the title of ’genius’ from this day forward. You don’t deserve it!"
"You dare mock me, you wretched eel?" Huang Mingzhi retorted, a hint of anger in his voice. "Just you watch! This young master will surely defeat Chen Pingping!"
The brief quarreling thus came to an end. But it seemed they had all forgotten one thing: the initiative was not in their hands, but in Chen Pingping’s.
Hei, under Chen Pingping’s command, guarded the entrance to the noodle shop. No one could enter, nor could anyone leave. Whether Chen Pingping would accept their challenges depended entirely on his mood!
Huang Mingzhi strode forward, shouting, "Chen Pingping, come out and fight!"
Chen Pingping transmitted a message to Lin Yuexin: "You go. He’s at the Second Heaven of Emperor Tao, and you’re at the First Heaven of Emperor Tao. It’s a perfect match."
Lin Yuexin’s expression stiffened. Just one minor realm apart? Is that what he calls a ’perfect match’?
Doesn’t he know that within the Emperor Tao realm, even a single minor realm’s difference is like the chasm between heaven and earth—an insurmountable gap?
Besides, my condition has deteriorated drastically. Fighting Huang Mingzhi now would be suicide.
Lin Yuexin remained silent.
Chen Pingping transmitted another message to her, his voice calm, "Only through utter destruction can one achieve true creation. If you don’t dare to face death, how can you ever overcome your inner demons?"
Though his words were spoken lightly, they struck Lin Yuexin with a sense of sudden enlightenment. In that instant, she seemed to perceive something different.
It was the Great Tao floating beyond, the Dharma Principles drifting in the void—the power of the Wooden Attribute.
She wanted to reach out and grasp it, but no matter how hard she tried, she could never touch it. It was slipping further and further away.
Lin Yuexin’s heart trembled. She slowly opened her eyes. This time... she looked back at the noodle shop, and for the first time, she felt something truly peculiar about the man who was as serene as still water.
It was not affection, but a mysterious sense she had never felt before, as if this man held many secrets.
He came from Heaven Martial with two small pets. Yet, he never showed any panic, always maintaining his composure and calm, as if all the slaughter in the world could not faze him.
This person was different from the rest.
After only a few breaths, she retracted her gaze and walked step by step towards Huang Mingzhi.
"Lin Yuexin of the Heavenly Phoenix Imperial Academy, step aside!" Huang Mingzhi rebuked. "The person this young master wants to kill is Chen Pingping, not you."
"I’m sorry," Lin Yuexin whispered. She had to act, whether because of the Six Tao of Reincarnation or Chen Pingping’s words. She yearned to grasp that Wooden Attribute Dharma Principle drifting in the void, a principle far more powerful than any she had comprehended before.
Before Huang Mingzhi could respond, Lin Yuexin struck. Her delicate hands waved, long sleeves fluttering, as Wooden Attribute Power began to spread, mending the injuries within her body, though the effect was minimal.
Her figure suddenly accelerated. Strands of green light erupted from her hands, transforming into fierce Sword Intent that slashed forward.
This was her attribute’s power and her Tao. Ordinarily, it was quite common. But shockingly, the usually gentle Wooden Attribute Power, in Lin Yuexin’s hands, took on a completely different form. It exuded a frigid chill and a sharp Sword Dao, laden with potent killing intention. Very strong, incredibly strong.
Her eyes flared with determination. In that instant, she seemed to return to the past.
Huang Mingzhi made his move as well. He was not a Sword Cultivator but a Divine Power Holder. He immediately unleashed a skill, and Divine Brilliance burst forth, transforming into a giant beast that lunged forward.
BOOM!
The two attacks collided, the impact exploding like thunder. Waves of energy rippled outwards, and another swath of houses collapsed into ruins.
Terrifyingly, a wisp of Wooden Attribute Power slashed into Huang Mingzhi’s body. His expression changed drastically. "You!"
"Withdraw," said Lin Yuexin. "I don’t want to be your enemy."
Another beam of Sword Intent flashed from her fingertips, piercing Huang Mingzhi’s body. It was too fast; before he could react, he was grievously wounded.
But how could a genius of the Emperor Tao Second Heaven be defeated so easily?
Huang Mingzhi staggered back several steps, keeping a certain distance from her. He swallowed a Spirit Pill to heal his wounds, his face grim as he shouted, "You’re asking for death!"
A prominent genius from the Heavenly Phoenix Imperial Academy of the Spirit Realm, actually siding with someone from the Heaven Martial continent! What a disgrace!
Experts from the Ancient Dynasty stepped forward. "Young Master Huang, you proceed. We’ll handle this woman."
Huang Mingzhi frowned upon seeing this. Although he was reluctant to bully the weak or use superior numbers, the current situation left him no choice. His target was Chen Pingping, not Lin Yuexin.
He immediately ordered, "Stop her."