Chapter 67

Chapter 67 — Spirit City (2)

The envoys from the Heaven Dou Empire were halfway toward their destination after travelling for 11 days.

Their travelling speed was fast with them the most part consisted of travelling on the official road and rarely taking shortcuts via some remote small roads.

However, right now they were taking a shortcut. They were between two low hills and reportedly heard that they could save several dozens of miles by passing through here. Moreover, even though the road between the hill was narrow, it was still flat, allowing the carriages to easily pass without a problem.

Swoosh...!

A chilling and auspicious sensation suddenly came from the hills on the either sides of the road. The imperial knights captain frowned and quickly shouted aloud.

"Imperial Guards, on your guard! There's troubles!'

The imperial knights escorting the various academies immediately raised the lances in their hands. The spirit masters from various competing academies wore a relaxed expressions. With so many talented spirit masters gathered here, they had nothing to worry about even if several bandits attacked them.

Even though the students were fewer than all of the imperial knights combined, their strength wasn't directly proportional to their numbers. There were also many academy teachers that had at least ranks surpassing the sixtieth or seventieth ranks. This kind of group was more than enough to confront a large army.

Just at this moment, countless falling stones tumbled down the hills like rain. These stones not only appeared suddenly, it was also in an extremely orderly manner, swiftly falling towards the ground.

The terrain before them was definitely unfavorable for them, causing the imperial knights captain to immediately pass down the order to speed up their advance. He also ordered towards all of the imperial knights to intercept the falling stones and protect the envoys.

This short moment demonstrated the intrinsic qualities of the imperial knights which were honed through extreme trainings. And even though they weren't spirit masters, their physical strength was extremely powerful.

The imperial knights took their firm and solid formations, raising their lances vigorously and meeting the falling stones.

Their steel lances clashes with the stones, constantly sending rock after rock into sideways. The imperial knights formed into something like a solid steel wall. Even with such an unfavorable terrain, they unexpectedly didn't let a single rock past them.

Watching this scene, the students were all stunned speechless. However, it was different for their teachers, who swiftly led the way outside the hills. In order to move even faster, they had abandoned the carriages, all students hurrying along on their foot. As long as they could leave this terrain, they thought there wasn't anything to fear them next.

Xue Qinghe's imperial carriege was lucky compared to them, managing to safely leave the hills since it was located at the very front.

At this moment, a whistle abruptly sounded somewhere. On the either sides the hills, thousands of black-robed people suddenly appeared, charging down with astonishing speed.

The situation was quite complicated with the imperial knights still in the process of retreating, forcing the students and teachers from the various academies to rely on their own strength to protect themselves.

Dazzling beautiful lights exploded everywhere as spirit rings and martial spirit came to life. They were all prepared for battle.

Although there weren't any cooperation between each academies, they formed into small groups.

They thought they could easily smash their opponents down, but reality proved very different.

The moment both sides clashed, these bandits unexpectedly displayed astonishing teamwork. There were three or four people often besieging one people with their attacks being accurate and powerful, catching the spirit masters unprepared. Their combat experiences was based on small scale fights, it was their first time participating in such a large scale battle.

"You better not leave your carriege. I'll protect you."

Ning Chen instructed carefully.

Xue Qinghe nodded with a smile, but then said something important toward Ning Chen.

Ning Chen was astonished, but quickly nodded and stepped outside, examining the surrounding area.

"This is definitely not an ordinary bandit attack."

And it also appeared to be organised and throughly prepared beforehand.

"Rong'er..." Ning Chen was worried about Ning Rongrong, but soon shook his head.

No, she was surely fine. She was with the Shrek Academy, after all.

However...

Ning Chen's cold, bloodthirsty eyes swept over the black-cloaked bandits pouncing toward him.

...If they happened to lay their dirty hands upon his sister and his friends, what shall await them was his sword.

His eyes eerily flashed with crimson light, as he slowly unsheathed his sword and silently walked forward.

He didn't used any stances nor postures, making him appear to have many openings.

The bandits saw this as a chance, quickly aiming at the opening Ning Chen showed, but what they saw as an opening wasn't an opening at all.

Swiish!

Before they could know it, crimson flames, that burned everything, blocked their vision.

The final thing they saw were their own burned, smoking decapitated body, with their head and blood flying on the sky.

More bandits rushed toward Ning Chen, not even feeling angry at the sight of their comrades dying.

Swishh!

Swishh!

Swoosh!

Ning Chen's sword repeatedly killed the incoming swarm of bandits pouncing toward him.

He only needed one strike to kill them before they could even realize it.

Crimson blood dyed the ground completely, dozens of heads and blood flying everywhere each time Ning Chen slashed his sword.

It was a one-sided massacre.

Ning Chen continued killing the bandits that kept pouncing at him, slowly losing counts of how many people he killed.

He thought he had already killed over a hundreds of bandits.

This numbers wasn't that large compared to the thousands of bandits swarming down the hills.

As for feeling guilty about killing so many people?

His heart was feeling numb at this point, he was now completely used. Its simply natural on this cruel world.

Ning Chen continued walking forward, leaving a trail of corpse and blood behind him. He then realized something, the man behind this attack was targeting someone from the Shrek Academy.

His bloodlust grew stronger and intense upon realizing this — the bandits he killed serving as the nutrients for his bloodlust to grow even stronger.

Ning Chen hastened his pace, causing his speed of killing the bandits to also increase as a result.

The people from his side noticed his terrifying strength and slaughter, causing them to be stunned and also to feel slightly afraid.

The bandits were also gradually feeling afraid even though they tried their best to hide. However, they couldn't back down now.

More and more bandits swarmed toward Ning Chen, hoping to even exhaust and eliminate him.

However, their efforts were simply futile.

They were just uselessly adding more powerless livestock to be slaughtered.

Ning Chem was covered with crimson blood, his sword constantly moving without ever stopping while activating all kinds of spirit abilities.

He was slowly getting exhausted, but his reserves were simply humangous. The fourth spirit ring ability also increasing his regeneration speed.

Ning Chen soon reached the Shrek Academy's location, seeing a man, who looked slightly like a woman, flying above them.

He narrowed his brows, wondering why a Titled Doulou was here. However, everything soon connected.

All of them noticed Ning Chen's arrival, feeling slightly surprised and intimidated by his blood-soaked clothes.

It was more apparent with his cold eyes that eerily shined with four lights. His gaze calmly swept over the entire area, feeling relieved to see Ning Rongrong be okay.

He then stared at the man flying above, raising his brows.

Dugu Bo was also here, but his appearance changed greatly with his green hair now completely black.

"Are you one of them?"

Ning Chen asked straightly, but felt it was needless to say.

"What if I am? A mere rank 48 brat isn't worth of my precious time or even interrogate me."

The feminine-looking man simply chuckled, wearing an arrogant expression.

"Brother, please help us! He want to kill brother Tang San!" Ning Rongrong pleaded helplessly.

"...." Ning Chen simply nodded, feeling it would be very difficult to even win against a Titled Doulou. However, it caused his blood to boil intensely. He wasn't stupid enough to fight against a Titled Doulou without any plans because that would be simply courting death, but he needed to buy some time.

"I will try to defeat him with all of my best."

Ning Chen reassured his sister. He smiled, but it looked scary with hints of blood covering parts of his face.

The man frowned, feeling that the brat in front of him was very insolent to even dream of defeating a grand Titled Douluo like him.

Although they tried to hide it, the others also thought the same.

"Conquest: Punishment."

Ning Chen's left eye turned completely golden, while his right eye gaining four colours.

"Ice Stance: Sit Upon The Frozen Heaven."

He pointed his sword forward, a garguantua ice dragon emerging. Its scales showed some feint golden veins with its sheer size exceeding what he could summon in the past.

"Hmm, its kind dangerous, but not a problem at all. Bloom!"

The man was quite surprised to feel hints of danger, but a spirit ring quickly flashed behind him, a beautiful flower blooming in front of him.

Boom!

The large flower and ice dragon clashed, the flower freezing instantly with icicles raining down from the sky.

Still, the ice dragon didn't managed to destroy the barrier.

Ning Chen's sword wings unfolded widely and he quickly flew towards the man.

Swiish!

His sword was enveloped with crimson flames, but it still didn't managed to destroy the barrier. He connected another strike to be blocked once again.

However, he didn't stopped attacking and relentlessly slashed his sword — each and every strikes connecting, causing its momentum to gather with more power with each swings.

Crack!

The barrier finally shattered apart, but a large petal suddenly rushed toward him. It was dangerous, causing Ning Chen to quickly avoid it.

Dugu Bo was about to help Ning Chen, but a black shadow suddenly intercepted him.

"Your opponent is me!" The shadow exclaimed.

Dugu Bo was forced to fight against this black shadow which was also another Titled Doulou.

Ning Chen felt the situation growing more complicated, especially when another titled douluo joined the frame. It was after all simply shocking to see three Titled Doulou together.

He soon calmed down and thought he needed to buy more time. He knew that his father and Grandpa Sword would arrived soon. From what he had heard from Xue Qinghe, they were gonna meet up with them with the task of protecting the crown prince.

Ning Chen had to buy time until then...

"I would like to battle with you for a longer time, but I am in a hurry you see... So you must die now!"

Ten fuzzy petals floated forward, moving towards Ning Chen. The petals which seemed to be floating slowly were travelling as if they were following the heaven and earth principles, completely sealing Ning Chen's escape route.

"So petty. Why won't you allow me to buy enough time?"

Ning Chen clicked his tongue, but then became determined. "However, I won't go down so easily."

"Conquest: Obedience and Governance!"

Ning Chen's sword glowed intensely with four coloured lights, slowly condensing with powerful strength.

A loud dragon roar reverberated everywhere, the sky growing extremely dark.

Ning Chen raised his sword and mumbled solemnly. "Garguantua Banish—!" He was about to continue chanting, but suddenly stopped.

A weird feeling appeared in his heart, he then suddenly discovered that everything before his eyes seemed to got sliced apart. The concept of Space itself being sliced into pieces.

Everything in the surroundings suddenly went quiet.

The ten petals of the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum suddenly turned into dust, dispersing in all directions. A white clothed, tall, big and straight figure silently blocked his vision.

"Grandpa Sword!" Ning Chen exclaimed after seeing who it was.

Chen Xin looked at him and then smiled. He then stared sharply toward the man, formless killing sword intent scattering everywhere.

"Yue Guan! To think you will try to harm my grandson! You're seeking death!"

He roared furiously, his voice alone shaking the heaven and earth.

The man was silent, but was soon surprised to see another person standing besides Ning Chen.

Dressed in simple clothes, Ning Fengzhi without anyone knowing when, already appeared.

The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda shined on his hand — eight spirit rings floating up and down.

Although it was only eight rings, but in the instant he saw Ning Fengzhi, Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan had already made his decision.

"We will admit our defeat, but we will remember this!Gu Mei, let's go."

Yue Guan said with a dark expression. He then flew away from the battlefield along with the black shadow.

The army of bandits also started fleeing after their leaders surrendered.

The chaotic battle soon concluded.

Following their departure, Ning Fengzhi offered protection to Tang San by sending him to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan Headquarters with Chen Xin. However, Tang San rejected his offer, stating he wanted to help his teammates win the tournament.

Ning Chen could only shook his head, it was admirable, but also foolish. Wouldn't he also placed his friends in danger if he stayed with them?

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