AGM 219 – Power of a single grab
Luo Qianqiu stood dumbly upon hearing Qin Wentian’s words. As their meaning kicked in, Luo Qianqiu began to howl with maniacal laughter. Taking a step forward, lightning flashed as his Astral Souls were released, evoking streams of violet lightning to shroud his body. The endless streams of lightning contained a highly fearsome energy within.
For Stellar Martial Cultivators, the characteristic of lightning bestowed a piercing attribute to their attacks, causing them to be extremely domineering. After he broke through to Yuanfu, for his 3rd Astral Soul, Luo Qianqiu similarly condensed a lightning-type Astral Soul.
“I’ve never heard a joke this funny in my entire life.” The streams of lightning weaved about his body, as he glowed with a resplendent violet light. The aura Luo Qianqiu exuded, was at the second level of Yuanfu.
“First breath,” Qin Wentian serenely stated, he even stretched his fingers out, taking note of the passing time. Meanwhile, the Astral Energy within his body began to surge.
His long robes fluttered, his hair turned an inky black, as his eyes became increasingly fiend-like. His whole aura was tinged heavily with a demonic Qi, as his bloodline limit activated.
Within his body, the Yuanfu that corresponded with the Heavenly Hammer Astral Soul, as well as the Yuanfu that corresponded with his Demon Sovereign Astral Soul rumbled. Terrifying amounts of Divine Energy was converted from the Astral Energy within these two Yuanfus. An instant later, the overbearing Divine Energy circulated throughout his entire body.
With three Yuanfus, Qin Wentian naturally had three times more energy reserves to ‘waste’ as compared to ordinary Yuanfu cultivators.
Luo Qianqiu’s countenance turned wrathful as he heard Qin Wentian keeping note of the time. Drawing in a deep breath, an illusory form of a Lightning Revenant manifested behind him, further augmenting his strength.
“You truly don’t know what death is. I shall let you taste the power of my Mandate,” Luo Qianqiu spat out. Abruptly, Qin Wentian felt terrifying streams of energy slamming into his body, causing biting stabs of pain within his sea of consciousness. This attack was similar to what Xiao Lan had used back then.
These incredible streams of energy, were akin to countless arcs of lightning. Luo Qianqiu stood there motionlessly, while Qin Wentian felt his entire body growing numb from the thunder shocks.
“How are you feeling now?” Crazed laughter could be seen in the eyes of Luo Qianqiu as he stared at Qin Wentian.
“Third breath.” Just as indifferent as before, Qin Wentian replied. He was still taking note of the passing time, his response caused Luo Qianqiu’s countenance to turn incredibly ugly.
Doesn’t he know how terrifyingly powerful a Mandate was? Even if he didn’t know, why was he acting like he felt nothing?
Qin Wentian continued to stand calmly, every single bit of his actions were overwhelmingly arrogant. It was as though the arrogance had seeped into his bones and blood. This was his natural bearing, that of a regal monarch looking down from the Heavens. As the Divine Yuan Energy fully circulated around his body, a forcefield of absolute obedience blasted outwards.
“Fourth breath,” Qin Wentian continued, as Luo Qianqiu’s smile froze. The stare he directed at Qin Wentian, was bone-chillingly cold. Qin Wentian’s attitude felt like slaps raining on his face. What was Qin Wentian treating him, Luo Qianqiu, as?
Chu Wuwei serenely stood on the balcony. It was as though no matter what might happen, he would still be able to keep his composure.
In truth, he wasn’t that confident in his chances of success for the dispute over the Emperor’s throne. After all, the forces he could control were limited. His source of confidence came from Qin Wentian, there was no way his judgement would be wrong. Since he had already recognised Qin Wentian’s talent, he had absolute trust in him. Thus, he unwaveringly believed that today’s victor would surely be Qin Wentian.
Qin Wentian being victorious, would also mean that he, Chu Wuwei, would be victorious.
“Chu Mang, go protect Qin Wentian from sneak attacks. I’m worried that our third brother might do something against him,” Chu Wuwei commanded.
“Right.” Chu Mang soared out, standing stationary in the air at a place not far from Qin Wentian. His gaze was directed at Chu Tianjiao, taking note of his every movement. He would do anything his elder brother asked him to do.
“Fifth breath.”
As the sound of his words rang out, Luo Qianqiu’s countenance turned malevolent. Qin Wentian was humiliating him.
Drawing in deep breaths, Luo Qianqiu forcibly calmed himself. He knew that rage and anger were the greatest taboo when it came to combat. Yet he involuntarily felt this way because Qin Wentian was a tangled knot in his heart.
The seemingly inexhaustible amounts of violet lightning crackled, as they formed an incomparably immense sword of lightning. The illusory form of the Lightning Revenant behind Luo Qianqiu stretched its hands out, as it wielded the immense sword. The terrifying might the apparition exuded caused the hearts of those witnessing it to tremble.
Boom. Luo Qianqiu advanced forwards as the power from his Mandate of Lightning infused the gigantic sword, the pressure bearing down on Qin Wentian.
“Ten breaths?” This must be the greatest joke ever in the Nine Heavens. He wanted to show all the spectators how pitiful Qin Wentian would look when the ten breaths of time was up, dodging his own attacks like a dog running away with its tail between its legs.
Just as Qin Wentian stated the six breath, Luo Qianqiu begun his attack. The dazzling sword of lightning slashed out with might, the tearing sound of the void akin to a god howling in anger, his attack was incomparably tyrannical.
“Thunder Beheading Slash!” Luo Qianqiu roared in anger, the gigantic sword of lightning slashed down with terrifying speed. The insights of the Mandate of Lightning were also incorporated into this attack.
First level of the Mandate of Lightning – Eruption. The cultivators’ speed and attack would be enhanced tremendously. Luo Qianqiu’s strike contained the insight of Eruption within it.
Qin Wentian inclines his head, the threatening force of the lightning sword felt as though it would penetrate his body. He could obviously sense how strong Luo Qianqiu’s strike really was. However, the conclusion of the battle today would put a punctuation mark on this war of Chu. Thus, to butcher Luo Qianqiu, he decided he would use the most overwhelming and dominant method at his disposal.
That fiendishly handsome countenance reflected cold arrogance. Qin Wentian stepped forwards and actually moved towards Luo Qianqiu, towards the direction of that terrifying gigantic sword.
The crowd only saw Qin Wentian thrusting his left hand up in the air in a grabbing motion. This scene caused the hearts of everyone to shudder, as incredulous expressions of disbelief and stupefied amazement appeared on their faces.
“Wentian.” Qin Chuan’s heart palpitated with fear. Many people had thought that Qin Wentian had gone crazy from the incredible pressure. He was only at the first level of Yuanfu, yet he dared to use his bare hands to catch that? The scenario of Qin Wentian getting sliced in half was already playing in their minds.
Those from the Nine Mystical Palace all had mocking expressions on their faces. How laughable that they had felt some fear for Luo Qianqiu earlier. After all, the pressure exuded from Qin Wentian didn’t lose out to a cultivator at the second level of Yuanfu. Yet in the blink of an eye, Qin Wentian seemed to have turned into a clown. How utterly ridiculous. Luo Qianqiu’s already terrifying sword-slash innate technique was further enhanced by lightning-type Astral Energy, as well as incorporated with his insights in the Mandate of Lightning. A technique of this power could effortlessly slay even a cultivator at the third level of Yuanfu, let alone a Qin Wentian.
This ignorant fellow actually wanted to catch it with his bare hands?
The blood seals within Qin Wentian’s body thrummed, as a demonic will could be felt gathering in spirals within his palm. An almost endless amount of ‘Mountain’ type Divine Energy was being converted from the Astral Energy of the Demon Sovereign Astral Soul, and then channelled unceasingly to his palm. Suddenly, a fearsome demonic Qi emanated; his palm was akin to a towering demon the size of a mountain, possessing heaven-shattering might.
Chi! Ruthlessness flashed in Luo Qianqiu’s eyes, as the gigantic lightning sword descended.
Qin Wentian remained motionless and under the thunderstruck gazes of the crowd, his left palm grabbed hold of the monstrously sharp, terrifying gigantic lightning sword.
The pounding hearts of the crowd threatened to leap out of their chests, no words were sufficient to describe what they felt. Was that still the hand of a human? Even the hand of a demon wouldn’t be so terrifying, right?
“He.. he grabbed it! He really managed to grab it!” The inky black hair of the youth fluttered in the wind, his bare palms were akin to defensive-type divine weapons. While held in Quo Wentian’s grasp, the sword was as immovable as the great mountains, and Luo Qianqiu was unable to maneuver it.
“Monster,” Ouyang Kuangsheng breathed in stupefaction. F*** his grandmother, was this an illusion? He was also at the first level of Yuanfu and all three of his Astral Souls originated from the 4th Heavenly Layer, yet that strike of Luo Qianqiu still sent shivers down his spine.
But Qin Wentian used his bare hands to grab it? And he succeeded? F*** his grandmother. Could he, Ouyang Kuangsheng, still be considered a genius?
He could faintly sense that as long as Qin Wentian wasn’t killed by those in the Grand Xia Empire, he would definitely mature into a character that could summon the rains and hail the winds.
No one knew of the profound mysteries hidden within that grab of Qin Wentian’s. With the domineering Astral Energy absorbed from the 5th Heaven Layer’s Demon Sovereign Constellation; in addition to the fact that such a tyrannical energy was converted into ‘Mountain-type’ Divine Energy; as well as the augmentation of his bloodline limit, along with the enhancement of his physique thanks to the Fiend Transformation Art; and lastly… the first level of the Mandate of Force, Strength, boosting his strength by two folds. The combination of these factors was the reason why he could appear to ‘casually’ grab it with a single hand.
Only he knew of the factors that enabled him to do so. In the eyes of others, his casual movements were incredibly profound and caused great waves of extreme shock to rock their hearts. This was especially so for Luo Qianqiu, he didn’t dare to believe his eyes. How could this be real?
Qin Wentian transformed into a blurry shadow as he dashed forwards, punching out with his right hand towards Luo Qianqiu.
How could Luo Qianqiu, who was still in shock, react in time? How could his hastily prepared defense defend against Qin Wentian’s attack? With the insights of the Mandate of Force incorporated within, how could Qin Wentian’s attack be weak? His strike instantly broke apart Luo Qianqiu’s pathetic attempt at defense, slamming into his throat as he held Luo Qianqiu in a chokehold. Luo Qianqiu had to struggle just to breathe.
“Nine breaths,” stated Qin Wentian, just as calm as before.
“If you dare to kill me, the Nine Mystical Palace will never let you go,” Luo Qianqiu threatened. However, Qin Wentian only shook his head in disappointment. Luo Qianqiu said he was a coward hiding behind meat-shields, yet now that he was going to die, he actually still wanted to use the Nine Mystical Palace to intimidate him. Qin Wentian was truly disappointed.
“How many times have you attempted to kill me now? You still want to live on after you’ve lost? Ridiculous. Also, don’t worry, I will definitely pay a personal visit to the Nine Mystical Palace and get back everything they owe me.” The calm expression of Qin Wentian’s face turned ice-cold as he abruptly tightened his fingers with a burst of strength. Luo Qianqiu howled in madness, but a moment later, his neck was snapped as his eyes turned lifeless.
“Ten breaths, whew just nice.” Qin Wentian slowly released his chokehold, allowing Luo Qianqiu’s body to fall unceremoniously onto the ground. Like he predicted, he only needed ten breaths of time to kill Luo Qianqiu, a genius who was at the second level of Yuanfu!
“This fellow.” Qian Mengyu was dumbstruck as she witnessed the domineering way in which Qin Wentian slaughtered Luo Qianqiu. This level of combat prowess was beyond terrifying. He was immeasurably stronger compared to back when he was facing against the three Swallow swordsmen. He was a true demon. Not only that, he had yet to join any of the transcendent powers. To be able to reach such a level of attainment now, how unimaginable would his prospects be in the future?
“Senior Gongyang’s judgement is truly admirable. It’s such a pity, but I don’t think it’ll be easy to recruit him into our Greencloud Pavilion.” With regret, Qian Mengyu sighed silently in her heart.
