Chapter 243: Shrouded in Mist and Fury

A shroud of clouds and moonless night; swirling mists roil as gusts whip up dust, converging from all directions to blind the eyes and silence all sounds.

It plunged the world into a deathly silence!

Every sound seemed smothered by an unseen hand, leaving not a whisper or ripple.

The wind, thunder, even the flapping of banners —

All transformed into a mute spectacle, full of motion but completely silent!

Long Tai gripped his Crocodile-Headed Axe; every hair on his body stood on end, piercing the air like steel needles.

He couldn’t help but recall the time he had defended City Lord Su Huai Li and the horrors he faced then—

That overwhelming feeling of doom—

When the entire world was sealed off, and every perception, every sound, every cry for help was locked within a confined space!

It was an utterly despairing sensation. He knew this was the mysterious power unique to the Underworld, capable of confining everything.

Within that sealed zone, even the greatest commotion could never escape!

Long Tai fell silent. He knew his shouts would never break free; his calls for help were doomed to remain trapped.

Even though tens of thousands of soldiers from the Divine Guard Army stood outside his tent, there was no way to signal them—they remained oblivious to the events in the General’s tent.

A heavy dread settled in Long Tai’s heart.

Haunted by the memory of witnessing City Lord Su Huai Li’s brutal killing, a shadow lingered over him as he glanced at Blue Bird, who was visibly on edge.

This was the first time Long Tai had ever seen Blue Bird so tense, as if every nerve in her body was taut like a drawn bowstring.

“Blue Bird, that day when you fired an arrow from outside, it broke the seal. Try to shoot one more arrow outward to alert the outside world of our situation,” he commanded in a low, steady voice.

Long Tai growled those words.

Blue Bird shook her head. As a divine archer, she trusted her instincts.

She knew all too well that her arrow simply couldn’t pierce this mysterious barrier.

It was as if an invisible array of divine talismans encircled them.

Shooting in from the outside was simple, but firing an arrow outward from inside was nearly impossible:

Unless her strength surpassed that of the master who set up this barrier by tenfold,

Only then could she shatter a myriad of formations and break this mystical seal!

Blue Bird’s shaking head sent Long Tai’s heart plummeting.

He then looked toward the motionless General’s tent.

Amid the thick, almost tangible fog,

It was as if a divine arbiter of death lurked, silently watching.

Inside the tent,

You Liqing sat regally on his cushion.

He slowly raised his head; through the billowing canvas stirred by the wind and waves, he saw the relentless, impenetrable fog outside.

He even heard Long Tai’s furious roar.

That roar echoed relentlessly, as though sound waves clashed wildly within the sealed zone.

You Liqing seemed to grasp something, his eyes twinkling with satisfaction as a smile blossomed on his face.

Then, suddenly, his laughter deepened.

“Underworld—”

“What an arrogant Underworld—”

You Liqing laughed heartily, his expression unrestrained.

It was as if he recalled a most amusing thought, so much so that tears almost welled up.

His booming, measured chuckle resounded, completely unfazed by the surrounding deadly scene, like smooth, flowing water echoing gently within the tent.

Though gravely injured and with his vital energy waning, an invisible aura surged from his gradually straightening spine, churning the air inside the tent into a maelstrom.

It was like two radiant suns slowly rising.

“Only a clinging clown dares show himself while I am in critical condition. Surely no top-tier expert would dare—”

“Underworld—Ogre? Ma Mian? Divine Monkey? Or perhaps—Thunder Dragon, who slayed Su He Lian?”

Even Thunder Dragon—

You Liqing showed no fear. Even if every savage of the Underworld came to kill him, he remained utterly undaunted!

After all, even the mightiest Thunder Dragon struggled to fell Su He Lian—Su He Lian was merely a novice in the Breath Retention Transformation stage.

For You Liqing, killing him would be a cakewalk.

Thus, this joint attack was likely centered on Thunder Dragon, backed by Ogre, Ma Mian, and Divine Monkey.

Nothing more.

And that was enough!

With his wild black hair streaming and a bare, scarred torso revealing wounds like a swarm of worms, his piercing eyes shone with a hint of anticipation.

How strong is this mysterious Underworld, anyway?

And will it bring any surprises?

Could there be other enigmatic figures lurking about?!

With a flick of his fingers, from his Qian Kun Jade he donned a fresh set of golden armor. His once battered aura was instantly cleansed, replaced by an overwhelming, merciless might.

A brilliant surge of golden light erupted, like a resplendent sun rising at the edge of the world, fierce and unmatched!

His jet-black hair whipped wildly, and the scars on his face only added to his menacing look.

A raging torrent of emotion churned within him!

Facing this encirclement from the Underworld, he found himself strangely excited.

Boom!

He rose from his seat—a mere gesture that sent shockwaves through the tent, as if a hurricane were about to tear it apart.

The heavens seemed to roar with thunder!

In his grasp, the glimmering Zhangba Snake Halberd pulsed with golden light. Muscles tensed and rippling veins emerged like coiled dragons.

With one step, he burst out of the tent in an instant.

He landed squarely between Long Tai and Blue Bird.

A majestic, imposing aura surged upward, threatening to shred the rolling, turbulent fog and stir the heavens.

Crack, crack, crack!

Boom!

The vaulted sky, piled with leaden clouds, roiled with rolling thunder, sizzling with electric energy!

Long Tai heard thunder once more.

But he soon realized that these sounds emanated not from the stormy clouds, but from You Liqing’s own body!

“You want to kill me?”

“Then come on—”

“General, I am right here—”

“Come kill!”

You Liqing gripped the halberd at an angle; his golden armor dazzled, his eyes flashed with lightning, exuding overwhelming dominance.

At this moment, Long Tai and Blue Bird were visibly stirred.

In that instant, You Liqing seemed to merge with the majestic aura of a princely warrior!

The thick fog roiled, born from Li Che’s evaporated qi that rose from the melting snow, effectively blocking the view of the soldiers in the surrounding tents.

It thickened the concealment, preventing the troops in the outer camp from discerning what was unfolding in the main tent.

They assumed it was merely a thickening of the mist.

Ten zhang away from You Liqing’s tent,

Li Che, wearing an Ogre Mask, stood silently in the storm. His overwhelming aura surged into the earth like a coiled serpent, melting the snow and stirring the mist with bursts of heat.

His Black Robe flapped wildly as the murderous intent spread like dark ink.

“You Liqing,”

Since arriving at Daocheng, this man had been an immense threat—even injuring him once.

For the first time, Li Che felt an uncontrollable surge of battle rage.

Of course, You Liqing also posed a tremendous threat to him.

Moreover, witnessing You Liqing risking everything to shield the Dragon Queen stirred Li Che’s resolve; if she were to fall, You Liqing must be eliminated.

Li Che had no desire for You Liqing to interfere when taking down the Dragon Queen.

If You Liqing were in full form with every skill at his peak, he’d pose an enormous risk—forcing Li Che to split his focus.

Li Che exhaled a cloud of foul breath.

Boom—

Surging with boiling qi like molten rock, his inner might exploded!

His aura rose steadily, as if two peerless warriors, hidden behind the swirling fog, sensed each other despite being unseen.

“Come on! I am right here—let’s kill!”

His voice, though faint, resonated and broke through the barrier of the Cosmic Chessboard.

Li Che’s eyes burned with intensity!

“I longed for a fair fight,”

“But it’s a pity—”

“I’m here to kill you,”

Li Che whispered.

“When I heard of your injury— I haven’t been able to eat or sleep properly—”

Fair fight?

As long as I can kill you,

it will be a thoroughly satisfying battle.

With a sudden upward thrust of his fingers,

At that moment, a Painted Immortal clone of Ma Mian unfurled a freshly enhanced Xiangong Bloodfire Bodhi Barrett.

He tiptoed onto the snow, causing tremors like that of a dragon shaking the earth, snowflakes bursting up all around.

He became a razor-sharp line in the mist, seizing the perfect vantage to strike!

One after another, Bloodfire Bodhi Dragon Tooth Bombs, crafted from Bloodfire Bodhi Wood etched with divine marks, began to hover like tiny stars around him.

With each determined step, Ma Mian slowly raised the Xiangong Bloodfire Bodhi Barrett. The long, slender barrel, lined with vivid divine inscriptions, gradually lit up—

Buzz, buzz, buzz—

Three blood-red Eternal Divine Seals pulsed upward from the Barrett.

These three seals were the pinnacle of what the Bloodfire Bodhi Barrett could unleash!

They spun at high speed like three rising red suns behind Ma Mian, as his very essence merged with the power of the Barrett!

Bang—!!

At the moment of the explosive sound, the Bloodfire Bodhi Dragon Tooth Bomb had already erupted, sending out rippling shockwaves of pale light with breathtaking speed, streaking across dozens of zhang toward that enigmatic, fog-enshrouded tent!

Meanwhile, Li Che adjusted his Bamboo Hat. Beneath his tensioned, jet-black battle attire, his muscles moved like silent serpents; nine massive tendons on his back snapped like bowstrings.

With a single step, he descended, causing countless piles of snow to collapse silently.

Fiery qi roared from his body as if his spine were an enraged dragon, its roar echoing mightily.

His internal organs trembled as 360 strands of Five-Elders Divine Crystal energy burst forth from his meridians, his entire being resembling a starlit night sky shimmering with untold brilliance!

Bang—!!! The ground shattered like drums being pounded!

It was as if thunder itself roared, compressing clouds that suddenly exploded into rings!

Ogre then burst forward, following closely on the trail of the enhanced Bloodfire Bodhi Dragon Tooth Bomb!

His speed was blinding, his momentum ferociously accelerating!

Unlike a mere bullet slicing through air,

Ogre charged with wild, dominating force, like a submerged dragon surging forth—a rampaging beast!

All the air in his path shattered under his brute force!

He grew ever faster!

Fiery qi erupted like the blazing tail of a comet against the night!

In the midst of his charge, Li Che’s sleeve twitched as his fingers grasped a refined powder forged from meticulously ground Five-Elders Divine Crystal.

He readied himself!

“They’re coming!”

Within the fog,

A faint glimmer suddenly burst forth!

Blue Bird’s hair stood on end, her fair skin pricking with goosebumps. Nearly thirty streaks of Inherent Divine Guts roared wildly over her body like an unleashed dragon!

As a divine archer, she was acutely sensitive to changes in her surroundings!

In the distance, the thick fog was torn apart as if by an unseen force!

And Ogre’s charge was so fearsome—the twisting, contorting qi shattered the fog, obliterating the airwaves!

It shone as brilliantly as the noonday sun!

An indomitable martial will condensed like a storm, surging from the fog like a tidal wave crashing ashore!

So domineering!

So reckless!

A streak of light flashed silently—and no, it was too swift, its sound lost in the rush!

Blue Bird bit fiercely into her tongue as fresh blood blossomed between her teeth. Her eyes suddenly narrowed as three thousand strands of her jet-black hair whipped wildly backward!

Boom—!!!

After drawing her Divine Bow, its string resonated as if releasing all built-up tension in one go!

The air itself was flung aside like fabric trembling in the wind!

A searing blue arrow, like a regal phoenix taking flight, pierced through the raging light accompanied by a cry reminiscent of a screeching crane, surging toward that terrifying streak in the fog!

This was—

The full-power strike of a Preeminent Divine Archer!

Blue Bird dared not hold back an ounce!

News that the Underworld had moved to strike as soon as You Liqing was injured only confirmed their audacity. How could she dare to relent?!

“Underworld—Ma Mian!”

At the instant her arrow soared, Blue Bird’s long, graceful legs struck the ground forcefully, and she leapt upward as if defying gravity.

Her dark hair streamed behind her while streams of Inherent Divine Guts swirled around her. Her dantian pulsated fiercely as her body radiated overwhelming qi that pooled into her Divine Bow!

“It’s a duel between divine archers!”

Blue Bird roared, stringing up arrow after arrow as she drew her bow tight!

Boom—

!!!

In the distance, arrows streaked forth, about to collide with that blur of light moving even faster than sound!

But then—

In Blue Bird’s bewildered gaze, the streak from Ma Mian’s barrage suddenly veered in midair!

It curved in a heart-stopping arc, dodging her explosive volley!

Blue Bird cried out; her own martial will ignited into a blistering flare!

It was as if a resplendent phoenix burst forth behind her!

Thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack!!!

She notched and released arrow after arrow in rapid succession!

Blue streaks of light rained out like torrents, colliding with the onrushing luminescence in the fog!

Yet that streak—

It twisted in the air, controlled by an invisible will, dodging her arrows time and again!

When there was no escape, one of her arrows struck it hard!

Boom!!!

The explosion sent forth dazzling flames that surged through the fog, wild and all-consuming!

And then—

From the ruptured flame emerged a dark silhouette, rolling out of the mist!

Speed—

Unbelievably fast!

Like wind and lightning, roaring like thunder!

“Ogre—!!!”

Long Tai cried out in shock, his face contorting into a snarl a moment later.

“Is it you?”

“You dare—you really dare come to kill the General?”

“Who do you think you are, Ogre?”

Long Tai roared and stamped forward. The ground beneath him collapsed, fissures spreading like spider webs in an instant.

A terrifying force surged from the earth into Long Tai, and Inherent Divine Guts coiled like serpents around him.

With arms veined like writhing snakes, he snatched his Crocodile-Headed Axe and hurled it at Ogre with all his might, the air around it bursting under the strain!

“Fall back—!”

But then,

Long Tai felt a powerful force seize him, flinging him backward. The energy in his axe evaporated, and he crashed onto the tent, shattering it completely!

“General!”

Long Tai’s wild beard and his flushed, furious face told all.

“Why did you hold me back?!”

Yet You Liqing said nothing in response to his plea and confusion.

Because in the next moment, Long Tai understood—

You Liqing’s eyes sparkled, his golden armor trembling as the brilliant, radiant Zhangba Snake Halberd in his hand stabbed into the ground.

With his fingers clenched into fists, he tore through the currents of qi with a punch that sent 360 waves of divine energy crashing forth!

A single burst of Inherent Divine Guts emanated from him!

Yet You Liqing’s eyes betrayed no hint of weakness!

For amidst those 360 divine pulses, he sensed a concentration of power that made his scalp tingle—

As if he had caught a glimpse of the true essence behind the Martial Saint Technique!

Not just one, but multiple such techniques!

He even felt—four? Five?

Five strands of the true essence forged from Martial Saint Technique!?

“What monster are you?!”

You Liqing stared hard at the hulking Ogre, whose body swelled like a mountain and whose qi bubbled like a molten furnace. His fist, raised like a bolt of lightning, seemed to strike down with the force of a storm!

Yet, in the silence, only a fearsome dragon’s roar echoed!

You Liqing’s fist flipped over as he stomped heavily. From his shoulders to the crown of his head, brilliant sparks flew like swaying lanterns!

Although weaker than the image Li Che had once seen of him, he was still the peerless grandmaster with blooming heroic aura!

“No matter who you are—Wanlong Fushen, you’re no match for me!”

You Liqing bellowed, his aura collapsing like a landslide. His golden armor trembled as his black hair whipped backward!

His true intent expanded, his transformation into the God of Martial Might complete, merging with the might of Wanlong Fushen!

With a punch, with Wanlong Fushen, he hurled a mighty blow at Ogre!

It clashed!

Both martial arts, both fields of true intent, both laden with murderous will!

Countless dragon silhouettes collided as two realms crashed together!

The sound of collapsing heavens and roaring thunder echoed as the fog churned, like winter storms high above!

Their fists clashed with brutal force, bones and sinews cracking like exploding popcorn!

One clad in pitch black and the other in gleaming gold!

It was as if two dazzling sources of light collided fiercely!

Ogre attacked head-on with eight fierce slashes!

Like two giant bowls clashing behind them!

Boom—!

In an instant, the air within dozens of zhang around them burst asunder, the fog dispersing as if blown away!

Their fists struck with divine precision, dragon silhouettes interwoven—each collision a cataclysmic explosion!

Gale-force winds surged upward, defying the heavens as a hundred collisions erupted between their realms!

It was as if thunder itself roared to shatter the mortal world, blasting apart the compressed clouds into rings!

The ground split open, ice-encrusted earth shattering into splinters, flying like arrows!

Thump—!

Long Tai staggered from the ruined tent, eyes narrowed, his spine chilled to its core!

Faced with a barrage of stone-like shrapnel, he roared and smacked his hand down; his Inherent Divine Guts exploded in a wild frenzy, pulverizing them all!

Yet his wild beard visibly trembled.

That Ogre—

How could this Ogre be so terrifyingly powerful?!

To dare trade blows with the General’s fist?!

And to wield Wanlong Fushen at such a transcendent level—could it be that this Ogre is also a disciple of the Prince?!

At last, Long Tai understood why You Liqing had pulled him away—

Facing Ogre’s punch would have meant certain death!

Boom—Boom—

Leaden clouds piled up high as endless thunderous serpents roared, shaking the sky!

In the Divine Guard Army’s camp, a rolling mist engulfed the barracks, surging unceasingly!

Within the tents, many resting soldiers appeared bewildered, as if they had heard thunder unlike any before—

Sounds seemingly emanating from the General’s tent, mixed with a gentle breeze that stirred the mist into hazy waves.

Soon, within the camp, many high-level generals felt uneasy as their divine senses swept toward the main tent—yet found nothing amiss.

Some whispered, “Has the General sacrificed himself to shield the Dragon Queen? Are we to worry?”

Others mused that with the fierce competition among the various Guard Armies of Daocheng and the City Lord’s Residence, the injured General might soon pale in comparison in future military drills.

One voice sighed, “It isn’t worth risking so much for the hot-headed Dragon Queen.”

Another retorted, “She is the wife/consort of King Ping Luan—a sacred position beyond our reproach. Her sacrifice makes sense.”

Unaware of the true danger, the high-ranking generals exchanged words among themselves.

Finally, someone looked up.

Boom—!!! Two fists collided!

Li Che, in the midst of unleashing his full fury, trembled violently, his sinews clattering like a rapid-fire cannon!

The fearsome, overwhelming power from You Liqing’s punch bloomed like three dazzling, exquisite flowers before Li Che’s eyes.

These were You Liqing’s three manifestations: his flesh, his martial art, and his indomitable will!

They embodied the essence of body endurance, the mastery of qi and strength, and the fierce spirit of combat!

Where body was honed to perfection, qi flowed masterfully, and spirit burned with intensity!

When these three converged, they yielded a supreme force far surpassing even the Inherent Divine Guts of a Preeminent Grandmaster!

Bang, bang, bang!!!

In an instant, Li Che felt his 360 strands of Five-Elders Divine Crystal energy dampened after two deep breaths!

Even if matched against Long Tai’s Inherent Divine Guts, his Five-Elders energy was no match for the overwhelming Guiyuan Gangqi!

But Li Che had long anticipated this—

You Liqing’s eyes burned wildly as his black hair flew and his armor clanged.

When he saw that Ogre’s divine pulse—imbued with the true essence of five Martial Saint Techniques—was being suppressed by his Guiyuan Gangqi ignited by his three manifestations,

You Liqing couldn’t help but laugh!

He looked toward Ogre, but—

Ogre’s eyes beneath his mask were as still as a deep well, calm and distant!

In the next moment,

Thud!

Ogre’s foot slammed heavily onto the ground like the beating of a drum!

In that instant, his already formidable form expanded once more!

Two fragments of Muduya burst forth, exploding midair into a shower of Five-Elders Divine Crystal powder that danced on the wind.

You Liqing’s face shifted slightly; the powder, though unable to fully suppress his Breath Retention Transformation, was enough to momentarily slow his divine cultivation!

Damn it!

Any trace of his earlier satisfaction vanished in an instant!

This Ogre—

Is the most treacherous, cunning, and despicable of all the Underworld fiends!

City Lord Su Huai Li had warned him before dying never to engage Ogre in a fair fight!

When You Liqing witnessed Wanlong Fushen, he nearly choked in disbelief!

To think he would seek a fair duel with Wanlong Fushen!

At that moment, a cold shudder overtook him!

Yet,

A low, ominous dragon’s roar echoed from Ogre’s mighty form, reverberating within ten zhang!

Then behind Ogre, a colossal, blood-red divine elephant reared up, trumpeting wildly. Entwined about its body was a divine dragon roaring like thunder!

It was the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit!

Divine Art Ascension Two!

Dragon Elephant Convergence!

Dragon Elephant Tian Gang!

——!!!

Ogre’s Black Robe exploded, revealing a bronze, sinewy torso like molten streams spewing forth in relentless surges.

A tangible force burst from every pore of Ogre’s body, as solid as condensed mercury!

Colossal, converging dragon-elephant might envelop Li Che’s arms like ethereal ribbons. As Li Che clenched his fists, thunderous booms resounded like falling meteorites!

Behind him, a series of divine seals gathered,

Finally merging into two mighty seals.

“Eternal Divine,”

You Liqing’s golden armor resounded; his black hair whipped as he leaned back to catch a glimpse of the two divine seals.

At that moment, Ogre swung a fist as though unleashing the power of a marching dragon!

Fiery qi surged like torrents!

It was as if he had molded his own true intent realm!

Wanlong Dragon Elephant!

A punch crashed down, shifting forms in an instant.

As if both divine dragon and giant elephant were raining down!

You Liqing’s eyes flared bright; he did not back down and countered with his own three manifestations, unleashing Guiyuan Gangqi!

Dragon Elephant Tian Gang collided with Guiyuan Gangqi!

Boom—the explosion ensued, and the ground beneath them collapsed into a massive crater, splintering with clouds of smoke!

Then they plunged downward in a frenzied descent!

Yet amidst it all, You Liqing felt an odd serenity—

For his Guiyuan Gangqi, honed as the pinnacle of a Grandmaster’s three manifestations, had managed to counter Ogre’s assault!

It was an even contest!

Ogre’s dominating divine energy had halted Guiyuan Gangqi in its tracks!

Suddenly, a piercing alarm shattered You Liqing’s focus!

In the next moment, a torrent of dark silhouettes blotted out his vision!

And behind Ogre, two blood-red divine seals spun frantically,

Then, like explosive blood-charged currents, they erupted in midair!

At that moment, a monstrous behemoth materialized above his head!

Blocking out the sky!

Scores of Five-Elders Divine Crystals burned frenetically from the mechanical beast’s form!

The machine awakened!

Clashing sounds of Spirit Wood mechanisms echoed; scores of mechanical seals lit up simultaneously!

The Blood God Nine-Sun Vajra Ape!

It was as if nine blood-red suns ascended from the back of a terrifying mechanical demon ape!

You Liqing seethed with fury!

A chill spread upward from his feet!

“Six Divisions? No! Five-Elders Mechanized Beast?!”

“Ogre—despicable!”

Long-range sniping, divine crystal powder, and a Five-Elders Mechanized Beast—all conspired with vile cunning!

This was the lower-ranked machine of the Five-Elders!

A terrifying war meat grinder!

That it appeared out of nowhere above You Liqing’s head was calculated to the last detail!

A deathly aura enveloped him!

Every step meticulously planned!

It was… a finishing blow!

Boom! In an instant, like a sledgehammer pounding a drum!

The entire earth seemed to tremble like a quivering carpet, ripples spreading endlessly!

The already gravely injured You Liqing had his golden armor shatter and pores spew blood mist!

His nine-zhang frame!

In that moment, it was like being impaled by countless nails!

Blood and flesh shredded into a gruesome mess!