Chapter 22: 22

22 – Two Heaven Realm Experts

There’s a second Heaven Realm experts!

The situation has suddenly become grim . Xue Qilin couldn’t help frowning, and she began to sweat from her forehead .

Whether this Heaven Realm powerhouse was someone from the Heavenly Sword Sect, or a helper invited by Hua Tianji, they were an enemy nonetheless .

Regarding this point, Hua Tianji’s curled lips were the best proof .

“Hua Tianji, it seems like you have dug this hole for a quite a long time!” Looking at the other party’s confident attitude, Xue Qilin uttered, upset .

“Senior Xue, you must be joking . I went to a lot of trouble to make you stay in the Heavenly Sword Gate as a ‘guest’!” Hua Tianji sounded a little aggrieved, yet the meaning behind his words was extreme ridicule .

What rubbish! Xue Qilin scoffed disdainfully at his statement, “Ohhhh, Hua Tianji, the way you ask people to be your guests is really ingenious and beyond everyone’s expectation!”

Be that as it may, but it would be ridiculous if Xue Qilin foolishly jumped down and waited for others to bury her .

What the hell the Heavenly Sword Gate has only one Heaven Realm expert and doesn’t dare yada yada… what bullshit!

However, it couldn’t be blamed on the people of the Merak Palace . After all, no one expected that another Heaven Realm powerhouse would appear out of nowhere to deal with me .

But why does it seem like Hua Tianji has expected my arrival? Or has he originally intended to use this move to deal with Ye Zhen, but then I came, and was made into the target instead?

Xue Qilin was puzzled, but that didn’t matter anymore…

At this time, the Heavenly Sword Gate’s disciples have gradually surrounded her . In addition to swords, they also carried crossbows, which was naturally a countermeasure to deal with the Heaven Realm expert Xue Qilin .

In the face of a rain of bolts, even Heaven Realm experts would have to retreat . If the number was too great, then no matter how strong a person was, they would still have to retreat .

Moreover, the tails of the bolts were still connected to chains . Even if they miss, but so long as the chains wrap around her, that would still be enough to hinder her, not to mention that Hua Tianji was eyeing her like a ravenous wolf .

“So what’s your plan, Senior Xue? Are you going to accept my good intentions and stay, or are you going to reject my good intentions?”

“That so?! I still have a choice?” There was a look of surprise on Xue Qilin’s face . In her heart, however, she scolded gloomily: Shitmuncher .

But she had to admit that her current situation was just like what Hua Tianji had described . She only had two choices – to resist with all her might, or to let herself get caught .

If things continue as they are, then when the second Heaven Realm experts arrives, she won’t be able to escape .

She wasn’t conceited enough to think that she could fight two Heaven Realm powerhouses by herself in her current condition… No, not even at her peak .

Moreover, who knows if Hua Tianji just wants to put me under house arrest, or maybe he wants to kill me, one of the strongest combatants of the Merak Palace .

When you’re weeding you must dig up the roots . Since he desires the Merak Palace’s position, then removing me will greatly weaken the strength of the Merak Palace, and also save him future trouble .

When Xue Qilin thought till here, she felt that Hua Tianji’s words were just an excuse . His real purpose was to reassure her, and have her surrender, and then kill her .

After all, although he is a majestic Gate Master, but he still used a vicious method like poison . Since this is the case, then there’s only one choice… .

“Your good intentions…”

Tongues of fire swirled and lightning danced in the surroundings .

“…, feed them to the dogs – Flying Flames!”

With the wave of her large sleeve, a hail of flame arrows shot towards the crowd of people

The essence of this move was to create confusion, so it wasn’t too accurate, but a large part of the flame arrows were still directed to attack Hua Tianji .

The moment Flying Flames shot out, Xue Qilin shouted “Explode!”, and triggered an explosion at the bottom of her soles . Taking advantage of the force of the explosion, she shot towards an empty space .

Only Hua Tianji reacted fast enough .

Like a violent wind, a fierce aura came from behind .

In midair, Xue Qilin turned back and poured her true qi into her right foot, and a ray of sword qi instantly drew an arc in a counter attack .

Two rays of sword qi met in midair, and then exploded .

The impact lifted a cloud of dust . But in the next moment, the cloud of dust was scattered by numerous sword rays .

Hua Tianji’s agility technique was extremely fast . Taking advantage of the gap that arose from Xue Qilin’s counter attack, he approached her, and his greatsword stabbed at her throat .

Obviously, Hua Tianji didn’t plan to show mercy .

“Tsk!” Faced with the sword tip carrying an irresistible force, Xue Qilin ignored the cries of her qi passageways and raised the circulation speed of her true qi .

In the next moment, a spherical space full of electric arcs appeared with her as the center .

Electricity crisscrossed and interwove into an electric net, and then tightly wrapped the sword tip that had just entered into the scope of the domain .

“Domain!” Hua Tianji exclaimed .

But this didn’t affect his judgment . Without hesitation, he let go of the greatsword entangled by the electric net, sidestepped Xue Qilin’s palm strike, and, before Xue Qilin could withdraw her hand, used his left hand to grab her .

A strong force pulled Xue Qilin towards Hua Tianji .

The distance between the two was shortened in a flash . The lightning arcs attempted to entangle Hua Tianji, yet they were repelled by the true qi covering his body .

The greatsword, which had already landed on the ground by now, was incited by Hua Tianji’s foot to shoot towards Xue Qilin .

Xue Qilin moved her head sideways, but her reaction was too slow, and the greatsword had traced a gush on her face .

“Indeed, you’re not proficient at close combat!” Hua Tianji sneered, then poured true qi into his hand and sent his hand striking at Xue Qilin’s chest .

“Explode!”

An explosion arose between the two of them, trying to separate them .

But Hua Tianji didn’t release his grip on Xue Qilin, not even after his hand was mutilated in the explosion, and dripped blood .

“Don’t think that you can run away!”

“Ah! You stalker!” Xue Qilin lightly gritted her white teeth . The other side was set on keeping her close .

Probably pulled back by true qi, the greatsword has fallen back into Hua Tianji’s hand .

The greatsword flashed with a dazzling sword ray and sliced diagonally at Xue Qilin’s left arm .

With her ability, it was very difficult to evade at this distance .

Electric arcs wrapped around her right hand, and she extended her right had to receive to receive the attack .

… The electric arcs shot in disorder and the sword ray shook violently .

“Unbreakable vajra?!” Hua Tianji was shocked that she received his attack with her bare hand .

Chance! Xue Qilin sent her right foot towards his chin, “Eat my lolly kick!”

“Uh!” Hua Tianji reacted in the blink of an eye . He just released his grip on the greatsword, and then grabbed the greatsword in a reverse-grip and pulled it down .

But this simple change forced Xue Qilin to give up . If she didn’t give up, her foot would be cut off .

But what followed next was the beginning of a nightmare .

His greatsword blurred, and numerous sword shadows appeared in an instant, either stabbing or cutting at her from different directions .

By relying on Discerning Eyes, Xue Qilin barely caught sight of the greatsword moving at high speed .

But seeing didn’t mean that she could react . Although Xue Qilin has tried her best, using both spells and agility techniques, but she still couldn’t avoid them one after one .

Things don’t look good! More and more cuts appeared on her body . Although they weren’t serious, but they added up . These sword cuts were really taxing on her strength .

Under these circumstances, she couldn’t fight back effectively . Her martial proves were too lacking .

If this went on for a long time, then she would be the first one unable to continue .

She urgently needed an opportunity to distance herself .

In fact, the most effective way would to break her arm, but she didn’t have the courage .

However, she could still retaliate…

Tongues of fire emerged from all over her body .

Hua Tianji’s sword quickly slowed down . Obviously aware of the abnormality, he diverted part of his attention to guard against Xue Qilin’s strange move .

… . Third Earlier Heaven, Sixth Later Heaven .

Xue Qilin silently recited the incantation .

… with flames as the body, and a dragon as the shape .

Her true qi poured out and turned into flames . The flames entangles, shook, and eventually converged into a fire dragon .

“Dragon!” Hua Tianji was taken aback, yet Xue Qilin didn’t plan to give him time to react .

“Seventh Explosion Thunder Fire Dragon!” At Xue Qilin’s command, the fire dragon roared and, while carrying a raging aura, bit at Hua Tianji .

Without thinking, Hua Tianji waved his sword in a counter attack .

True qi and fire collided violently . But…

“Explode!” Xue Qilin detonated the fire dragon without hesitation .

The fire dragon’s huge body shrank in an instant, and then suddenly expanded and finally exploded .

The raging fire dragon obscured Xue Qilin’s vision, and Hua Tianji finally let go of her hand .

She shrank into herself and protected her head with her hands, and allowed the blast that nearly tore her body apart to shoot her into the distance .

After breaking out of the the dust cloud, without looking back to confirm the other party’s situation, Xue Qilin endured the pain coming from all over her body and somersaulted in the air . Then…

“Fire!” The sound of strings going off came from behind, and the air shook .

“I’m still being shot at!” The sharp sound of piercing though the air forced Xue Qilin to turn back .

She frantically operated her true qi, and the domain appeared again .

Electric arcs scattered and intertwined with each other and formed a large spherical net that expanded outward in a breath, and the bolts bounced back .

But this move consumed more than half of her remaining true qi .

As a result, the remaining bit of her true qi could no longer suppress the poison inside her, and a dizziness several times stronger than that when the poison had just showed effect erupted in her head .

When Xue Qilin, who had just exhausted herself, landed, she couldn’t adjust her center of gravity, and nearly fell down .

Just when Xue Qilin had steadied herself with great difficulty…

“What?!”

A strong impact entered her body and wrecked damage inside her .

Then in the next moment, everything in her field of vision span, and a nauseating sense of being tossed enveloped Xue Qilin .

Bang!

A heavy impact penetrated her entire body, and the force almost crashed her .

The sound of bones snapping rang in her ears, and pain coming from all over assaulted her mind, making Xue Qilin lose consciousness for a split second .

Xue Qilin rolled on the ground several times before finally stopping .

As if her body was broken and disassembled, a piercing pain engulfed her . Her mouth was filled with the taste of iron and her breathing even stopped for a moment .

Although she would like to lose consciousness, but Xue Qilin still propped her nearly shattered body up .

Then, she broke into violent coughing, and… coughed up a mouthful of blood, which dyed the grass red .

Without wiping the bloodstains at the corners of her mouth, Xue Qilin raised her head and look at the culprit who was responsible for her current state .

It was a man dressed in a black robe, and his face was covered by a strange golden mask .

It was the other Heaven Realm expert .

Yes, this was the person who struck her with his palm .

Xue Qilin didn’t know where this Heaven Realm powerhouse came from . To put it bluntly, he suddenly appeared without any sound or sign .

As if he exited the void, he suddenly appeared in front of Xue Qilin and hit her in the stomach with his palm before she could react .

“Commander Luo, I’ve been waiting for you for a long time now . Senior Xue would have escaped if you hadn’t come in time . ” Looking battered, Hua Tianji slowly approached before stopping three steps away from Xue Qilin .

It wasn’t that he feared that the cornered Xue Qilin would do something desperate, but that he was guarding against this Heaven Realm expert who suddenly appeared .

“Those are some harsh words, Gate Master Hua . I, Luo Hong, will naturally fulfill my promises . ”

Luo Hong? Xue Qilin memorized this name – the name of the person who caused her a great deal of damage .

But for this person to dare to speak his name, isn’t he afraid that if I escape this trap, I’ll look for him to settle accounts? Is it that he’s famous and it’s hard for him to conceal his identity, or is it that he doesn’t deign to conceal it?

Although her body no longer obeyed her, having no strength to stand up, but Xue Qilin’s thinking was still clear .

In any case, as they talked, Xue Qilin was given time to restore her breathing . She didn’t plan to go down without a fight, that wasn’t her style .

“Commander Luo, I’ll remember this kindness of yours . ”

“This isn’t a matter of kindness, nor a matter of face . You’d better keep that in mind . ” The Heaven Realm powerhouse called Luo Hong replied indifferently .

Seeing Hua Tianji being snubbed, Xue Qilin couldn’t help smiling . But she soon regretted it .

“It seems that you’re still quite energetic, Senior Xue . ”

“That so? Young fellow Hua Tianji, do those eyes of yours see me as energetic?” When she finished speaking, Xue Qilin raised her extremely ragged big sleeves . Maybe it was because Xue Qilin made him suffer a lot, but Hua Tianji finally no longer plastered that sanctimonious expression on his face .

He responded with a sneer: “You have a razor-sharp tongue on you, Senior Xue . It seems that you want to suffer some more…”

He raised his hand and looked derisively at Xue Qilin kneeling on one knee .

“Fire!” With a sudden wave of his hand, the sounds of mechanisms going off reverberated .

So he really wants me dead! Xue Qilin gnashed her teeth, and then stood up, unyielding .

Nearly draining the remaining bit of her true qi, she conjured a wall of fire in front of her with the wave of her big sleeve . Her remaining true qi was no longer enough to summon her domain . Like moths flying into fire, numerous bolts hit the wall of fire, but then were burned until practically nothing was left of them .

“Again!” A second volley of bolts rained down on her .

This time, the wall of fire didn’t block the bolts completely . Some bolts managed to struggle through the fire entangling them .

“Flying…” The moment when Xue Qilin intended to use “Flying Flames” to use as a counter, her vision suddenly blurred .

This was the poison’s handiwork . The continuously decreasing true qi was no longer able no affect the poison inside her body, and so the poison erupted completely, implicating Xue Qilin’s consciousness .

Due to this lapse, Xue Qilin missed the chance to use a counter .

The first bolt to hit her landed on her left leg, the second one landed on her right shoulder, the third one shot through her left arm, the fourth one ran through her left calf, and the fifth one… it was stopped before it could shot through her throat .

Even though a stabbing pain assaulted her entire body, but Xue Qilin still looked up in a trance – a black figure was standing in front of her .

He saved me? I’m clearly in this plight because of him, so why would he save me? Xue Qilin was puzzled . If he hadn’t acted, then the bolt just now would have hit her in a fatal key point .

“Gate Master Hua, did you forget what you promised?”

Hua Tianji was silent for a long time, and then responded: “Of course not . It’s just that a disciple of mine slipped up . You wouldn’t quibble with a junior, would you, Commander Luo?”

“What is the meaning of this, surnamed Luo?” Xue Qilin opened her mouth full of a fishy smell and squeezed out this sentence .

“I have to protect your life due to an agreement . ” Without turning back, Luo Hong answered indifferently .

Judging from his words, is there someone else involved in this ploy? There’s still a backstage manipulator? Xue Qilin’s eyes widened, and then she remembered Hua Tianji saying, “Indeed, you’re not proficient at close combat . ”

How does he know? This should only be known to a few people of the Merak Mountain .

At this thought, her eyes widened – did someone betray me?

However, the other side didn’t give her more time to think, “Senior Xue, please come to the Heavenly Sword Gate as a guest . ”

Xue Qilin couldn’t help smiling, “Oh, don’t you mean prisoner?”

She tried to stand up, but due to the sharp pain coming from the places where she was shot, and due to the disciples holding the chains linked to the tails of the bolts restricting her movements, she could only kneel on the ground and let Hua Tianji look down at her .

Hua Tianji sneered and uttered in amusement: “If you had previously agreed to my proposal, then you’d have been a guest, but…”

Hua Tianji shook his head and said sarcastically: “Now I’m afraid you don’t have a choice . ”

“Ohhhh, you really are thick-skinned . ”

Hua Tianji snorted, and then swung his sleeve and turned around, “Take her away!”

Several disciples responded and went to support Xue Qilin .

“No, I’ll go by myself!” Xue Qilin waved their hands away and stood up while bearing the great pain .

After giving Hua Tianji a cold look, she slowly dragged her body away under everyone’s gazes .