Chapter 276: Surrender? Or Leave?
“Huff… huff… huff…”
Rough, heavy panting came from Lu Qingyang’s throat.
Like a wild beast returning from the hunt, heavy and urgent.
He clutched his chest with both hands, his face twisted in pain.
This strike was the most brutal one since he began cultivating.
The pallor on his face was like autumn leaves.
A thread of bright red blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.
That blood seemed to declare the fragility of his limit, dripping to the ground, making the surrounding darkness seem even deeper.
His originally fair and handsome face now appeared exceptionally pale from excessive depletion and pain.
Like a bright moon about to sink below the sea’s horizon, carrying an unwillingness to fade.
On the ground beneath his feet, spiderweb-like cracks spread outward.
As if split open by an invisible force, the surface was torn into shocking wounds.
As if narrating the ferocity and brutality of this battle.
“Cough, cough, cough…”
Lu Qingyang coughed violently several times.
He felt as if gravel had been stuffed into his lungs.
Every breath was like swallowing scorching flames, extremely unbearable.
But at this moment, he could not afford to care about any of that.
Because his eyes, like a hawk’s, were fixed tightly on the massive creature within the swirling dust.
His enemy, whom he had exhausted every ounce of strength to slay — the grievously wounded Ao Kai — was now slowly raising its head.
At the same time, the sound of “Crack! Crack!” echoed in his ears.
Like a bell tolling through the silence.
Accompanying Ao Kai’s rise, it shook the entire canyon.
Within that sound was mixed the mournful cry of pain and the roar of hope.
Like an ancient legend reenacted in this moment, chilling to the bone.
As Ao Kai raised its head, the surrounding storm seemed drawn in by its aura.
Fierce wind howled past, sweeping up dust that filled the sky.
Though the dragon scales on its body were already shattered, they still emanated an unyielding majesty.
More importantly, that blood-red chain began to crumble segment by segment right before Lu Qingyang’s eyes!
At this moment, Ao Kai was draped in armor of black blood.
It seemed to transform into an unparalleled black shadow, reflected under the blood-colored sky, appearing even more massive and terrifying.
Lu Qingyang’s heartbeat was like a war drum, violent and urgent.
Watching Ao Kai’s aura gradually swell.
Lu Qingyang felt every inch of his muscles trembling, his blood boiling within his body.
Not good!
The suppression has been broken!
Damn it!
Jiangxin! Try to mobilize the power of heaven and earth to suppress this beast!
Lu Qingyang did not dare be careless.
He knew that Ao Kai was about to break free from its bonds.
To revive upon this vast land.
He understood that if he did not act immediately, the consequences would be unimaginable.
And as he spoke, the surrounding air began to tremble violently.
As if responding to the desire within his heart.
The fierce wind abruptly stilled, and the dust in the canyon solidified in this moment.
The entire world seemed to resonate with him in this single instant.
Above the firmament, dark clouds began to churn, lightning flashed and thunder roared, as if foretelling the will about to descend.
A powerful might was converging from all directions.
The ground began to tremble slightly, the cracks continuously expanding.
Low thunder rumbled above the firmament.
The entire canyon quaked in this moment, filled with a suffocating pressure.
And Ao Kai, facing that surging Heavenly Dao might head-on, flickered with disbelief in its eyes.
It seemed to also realize the change before it, its gaze startled.
“Heavenly Dao?”
“I never imagined even a world’s Heavenly Dao would listen to you.”
“Just what are you?”
Ao Kai’s cold gaze was like a blade’s edge, piercing through the surrounding dust and boring straight into him.
But even so, Lu Qingyang’s gaze remained firm, his heart unwavering.
Ao Kai slowly raised its head.
The wounds across its body were like red petals.
Blooming on black armor, emanating a strange beauty.
Yet behind this beauty was a hair-raising threat.
Though its aura was somewhat faint, it still carried a suffocating pressure, as if proclaiming its power and unyielding spirit.
“Cough… cough!”
Lu Qingyang’s voice was drowned out by dry coughs. He forced himself to focus his attention on the enemy before him.
The surrounding air began to grow heavy, as if it could be torn apart at any moment, and time in this instant became abnormally slow.
Meanwhile, Ao Kai’s heart surged like waves. It knew it was now in grave danger.
That might from the Heavenly Dao was like an invisible tidal wave, sweeping in and shrouding its surroundings.
Every heartbeat seemed to remind it that danger was drawing near.
Though its power was still immense, at this moment it had no choice but to consider the possibility of retreat.
Just what kind of existence is this Human Race member?
Ao Kai pondered secretly, finding it hard to believe.
A person from a Middle Thousand World could actually summon such powerful Heavenly Dao force.
This was unprecedented in its experience.
And at this moment, its gaze grew even colder, realizing that the opponent before it was no ordinary human.
It might even be a massive threat lurking in the Lower Realm.
Lu Qingyang sensed the change in the other, his gaze like an eagle’s, locked firmly on Ao Kai.
Just as he wanted to continue having Jiangxin mobilize the power of heaven and earth.
Ao Kai had already fallen into contemplation, as if weighing its next move.
Its inner hesitation and struggle instantly spread through the atmosphere.
Using my power to fight the Heavenly Dao might result in mutual destruction.
Ao Kai smiled bitterly inwardly. Though unwilling, it also understood that the choice before it was not merely about life and death.
It was about whether it could return to the Upper Realm in the future.
It stared at Lu Qingyang, a trace of wariness rising in its heart.
In this instant, the air in the canyon seemed to freeze, time stagnating in their standoff.
And Lu Qingyang clearly heard the implication in the other’s words.
“What? You want to surrender?”
Lu Qingyang’s voice was indifferent as water.
“Surrender?”
“It is merely each of us taking a step back. I will leave this world and never disturb it again.”
Ao Kai raised its head.
Lu Qingyang’s brow arched slightly. “Leave?”
“You mean I let you go, and then when your cultivation recovers you come back and easily destroy me?”
“Heh heh heh heh…”
Ao Kai had never intended to spare him.
And as it happened, Lu Qingyang thought the same way!
“Jiangxin! You must slay this beast within this world!”
“If you cannot, I would rather use the Chaotian Palace to crush the entire Chaotian Realm than let it escape!”
Lu Qingyang suddenly roared.
As his voice fell, the power of Jiangxin erupted with a boom, and Heavenly Dao force immediately surged crazily toward Ao Kai.
Ao Kai’s pupils instantly contracted to needle points.
It could clearly feel that the entire world seemed to be turning against it in this moment…