Chapter 8: Final Battle at the Mountain Stronghold (7)
In most people’s minds, when a competition begins, both sides usually start with some harmless probing, testing each other’s strength. Rarely does anyone pull out their big moves right off the bat, attempting to end things as quickly as possible. Those who do are usually just young, hot-headed folks who think they can crush their opponents with sheer power, forgetting how crucial experience is in a battle.
But today, Master Liao Chen decided to shake things up. He unleashed the Demon-Subduing Formation, which he had never used in previous matchups. Countless Buddhist beads whirled and danced in the air, instantly attracting a massive crowd of onlookers.
“Who’s the one that made that woman spout nonsense? Now she’s really got the holy monk riled up; she’s going to regret it!”
“You said it! I thought she was some free-spirited heroine, but turns out she’s just a disgrace. Talk about letting my doggone eyes deceive me!”
“I can’t believe it! I bet all my 100 taels of silver on that woman! Am I going to lose it all now?!”
As people chattered nervously, Ao Hongtu and Mu Zhi, who had been outside the arena, jumped into the fray almost in sync, their sharp swords aimed right at the chanting Liao Chen.
Regardless of what the onlookers said, Miss Ta was their teammate, and in this crucial moment, how could they just leave her to fend for herself?
Liao Chen seemed to have anticipated their move. His right palm shot up to his chest, while his left fist clenched tightly. Then, he unleashed a punch that sent a fierce wave of force crashing towards them like a monstrous tsunami.
Ao Hongtu and Mu Zhi had never seen power like this. What was usually the elegant dance of blades felt utterly impotent against Liao Chen’s looming presence, unable to even pierce the air an inch before him.
“Boom!”
Both of them flipped through the air, resembling a couple of kites with severed strings, crashing to the ground with astounding force.
Their long swords shattered into bits from the overwhelming impact, some fragments even collided with the Buddhist beads and turned into metallic powder that floated around like snowflakes.
The gathered crowd, including members of the Demon-Subduing Alliance, gasped in disbelief. Not a single one of them had imagined Liao Chen would be this powerful. Some who had previously clashed with him were now sweating bullets and grateful to still be standing in one piece.
“Guh…”
Ao Hongtu and Mu Zhi’s backs slammed into the stone wall of the stronghold, spitting bl**d and nearly knocking themselves unconscious.
“d*mn it, that bald donkey is stronger than I thought!” Ao Hongtu coughed out.
“Miss Ta… Guh… If she’s holding on this far, the pressure she’s under is probably beyond what we can imagine!”
Mu Zhi wiped the bl**d from his mouth, his eyes increasingly glimmering as he looked at Ta Hong Chen.
At this moment, the figure in red, trapped by the Buddhist beads, whirled around like a spinning top, bouncing back and forth amidst the beads’ confinement.
The sound of “clink, clink” resonated, almost as if a catchy tune was being played, drawing everyone’s attention to that graceful, flowing red silhouette.
“Demoness, why won’t you reveal your true form?”
With distractions cleared away, Liao Chen’s hold on the Demon-Subduing Formation tightened. Power flowed continuously from the beads above and into the formation. If the person trapped wasn’t a formidable force like Lin Nan, she’d probably be reduced to a puddle of crimson goo in a blink!
“Hundred and eight troubles! No shame! No guilt! k*ll! k*ll! k*ll!”
Liao Chen was indeed taken aback by Lin Nan’s endurance. But to hasten her defeat and free the monks plagued by heart demons at the subduing temple, he recited the demon-subduing incantation again.
The beads spun faster than ever before, and the original forms vanished under a cascade of dazzling lights that surrounded the striking red figure.
“System, how much Luck Value do I need to escape from here?”
Lin Nan had honed her Unique Nine Swords to the extreme, feeling grateful to Liao Chen for this fantastic opportunity to boost her skills and confidence.
But every good thing must come to an end. No matter how sharp the Unique Nine Swords were, they ultimately belonged to the realm of humans. Meanwhile, the Demon-Subduing Formation had surpassed the boundaries of the Low Martial World. And as the flying beads picked up speed, she knew that her frail body could be pierced at any moment, turning her into nothing but a puddle of bl**d.
Urgency struck her; it was time to burn through her precious Luck Value.
【This escape will cost all your Luck Value; are you sure you want to proceed?】
“d*mn it! Is it really just an escape? Can’t I at least get a divine skill to turn that bald donkey into a doormat?”
【You may confuse him and create a crack in his rock-solid worldview. Isn’t that enough?】
“Fine, let’s do it your way!”
Lin Nan had initially considered haggling, but the beads were getting alarmingly tight around her. Red fabric was beginning to tear, the once-flowing skirt now looking like it could crumble any moment.
“Boom!”
Just when Liao Chen thought the demoness would burst into oblivion, a pure, radiant light suddenly erupted from Lin Nan and spread in all directions.
A thunderous sound rang in his ears, nearly sending him into disbelief.
“Great Might Heavenly Dragon! Earth Treasure Buddha! Prajna Buddhas! Prajna Ba Ma Kong!”
Accompanied by those four demon-breaking chants, Lin Nan, who was trapped inside the formation, unleashed an astounding surge of power.
As the sun hung low, painting the sky in fiery hues, countless piercing rays shot up into the sky. For a brief moment, everyone thought the sun had reversed its course, returning them to the blazing noon.
When that dazzling light finally subsided, onlookers gasped at the sight of Liao Chen, once confident and radiant, now half-kneeling on the ground, bl**d trickling from his lips.
Floating around him were the burning Buddhist beads, and with a gust of wind, those still flickering with flames turned to fine dust and completely vanished.
He lost…
He actually lost?
But that wasn’t even the main point. Before him, like a celestial being, floated the red-draped woman who had just unleashed a spell of the Buddha.
This utterly shattered his beliefs and rocked his foundational ideologies. Even now, he felt a lingering demonic energy swirling faintly around her.
How could this be possible?
His previously unwavering faith, as solid as a rock, now had a tiny crack appearing.
No, he refused to believe it! This must be a coincidence!
Just as he thought about standing up, the all-too-familiar power of Buddhism temporarily restrained his limbs.
“Wow…”
He spat out a mouthful of bl**d, his face as pale as a sheet.
