Ze Tian Ji (Way of Choices)

Chapter 1102 – Moving the Body Like a Sword

In White Emperor City, Bie Yanghong had used the supreme technique of Xiling’s Ten Thousand Years Pavilion, A Point of Red, to pour all he had experienced in his battle with the Angels of Sacred Light into Chen Changsheng’s mind. Within was the essence of the fist style that he had habitually used in his last few years.

In the past, Bie Yanghong had not been in the habit of using his fists.

But in the battle of the Mausoleum of Books, he had personally witnessed the momentum of the Tianhai Divine Empress’s fist, which seemed like it could destroy the world. Enlightened, he created this fist style.

This did not mean that he was surrendering to the Tianhai Divine Empress. On the contrary, this attitude of learning from an expert was what it meant to truly be fearless.

A fearless fist possessed unfathomable power.

When Chen Changsheng punched, the air in a several-hundred-zhang radius around him moved with his fist, creating a fierce gale.

The forest bent as one behind him, expressing its reverence.

Shang Xingzhou could also not avoid this fearless fist.

But he caught it.

There was a massive explosion, casting grass, water, and mud into the air, blocking out the sun and sky.

The forest slowly straightened and the fierce gale faded.

The terrifying pressure had compressed the soft ground downward, leaving it countless times harder.

Chen Changsheng’s fist had been stopped in his palm, unable to press forward.

If he still had the Vault Sheath, Chen Changsheng could think of ten-some methods of launching a fierce assault on Shang Xingzhou.

But now, he did not even have a sword.

Fortunately, this did not mean that he could not strike with a sword.

The temperature on the edge of the plains began to rapidly rise, the nearby grass even beginning to yellow.

Chen Changsheng was using his mightiest and most resolute move, the Blazing Sword.

The true essence in his body began to madly blaze. Traveling through his right arm that was now a sword, it surged in an endless torrent toward Shang Xingzhou.

Shang Xingzhou’s expression did not change in the slightest. It remained a visage of cold indifference.

He was a majestic mountain, seemingly unmovable.

A vigorous power emerged from his palm.

Chen Changsheng’s fist could not advance a single inch.

This vigorous power was rather special. It did not seem condensed from star radiance. It seemed even more intense, seemed to have a true heat.

From its external appearance, it looked rather like the true essence mobilized by Chen Changsheng’s Blazing Sword.

Chen Changsheng guessed at a certain possibility and was shocked.

But he did not have time to think, because Shang Xingzhou’s counterattack was here.

It was just like at the peak of Sunset Valley.

Shang Xingzhou’s right hand seemed to casually descend, a fallen leaf on the wind, without any rhyme or reason.

Chen Changsheng still found it impossible to avoid.

Shang Xingzhou’s right hand landed on his stomach, gentle, yet containing the strength of the world.

Two deep furrows appeared in the hard, just-compressed ground.

Chen Changsheng retreated to the edge of these furrows, and when his calves hit the ground, his entire body was sent flying.

He was like a stone that had been tossed out by a strong man. As it whistled through the sky, it became a little black dot.

Shang Xingzhou’s gaze moved with it and stopped several li away.

For some reason, he was not at all happy, nor was he as indifferent as before. Instead, he creased his brow.

A cool breeze stirred and his sleeves fluttered. Transforming into a wisp of smoke, he rushed toward that place.

……

……

Several li away, Chen Changsheng lay facedown in the water, looking much like a corpse.

Suddenly, he turned around and rose. Not eve turning his head to glance back, he began to madly run forward.

He was as fast as a galloping horse, leaving a trail of splashes in his wake. However, one could vaguely make out that his right arm was rather stiff as if it had been injured.

No one could possibly receive two of Shang Xingzhou’s palms and walk away, even if his cultivation level had to be suppressed in the Garden of Zhou.

That Chen Changsheng was still alive and could still run was not solely because of the toughness of his body. It was also because Shang Xingzhou’s two palms had not completely struck true.

In the final moments before Shang Xingzhou’s two palms landed, he brought his arm up to block.

Though he had no sword, he had still used a sword.

Before he had used the Blazing Sword, he had already used the Stupid Sword.

The number one defensive sword technique in the world.

Moreover, though he could not avoid Shang Xingzhou’s palm that descended like a falling leaf, he could choose where the attack sent him.

He could also choose how to discharge the force of the attack.

He had even used the Yeshi Step another time while in the air.

As a result, he knew where he had landed.

He was already in the Plains of the Unsetting Sun, precisely where he wanted to go.

Upon confirming that he could not throw off Shang Xingzhou using the Yeshi Step, he had begun preparing for what came next.

It now seemed that he had succeeded.

The increasing number of howls and rustles from within the plains seemed to be cheering him on.

In truth, those were the monsters of the plains catching a whiff of his odor and coming to greet him.

The monsters quickly sensed Shang Xingzhou.

Despite their excessive fear, the monsters still drummed up their courage and rushed forward.

Ten-some dragon snakes swam around the water grass, wiping away Chen Changsheng’s tracks.

Even more dragon snakes, giving off their awful stenches, silently and stealthily began to make their way toward Shang Xingzhou several li away.

Several black dots appeared off in the distant sky, most likely the demon vultures hurrying over.

It could be believed that in a short while, a tide of monsters would drown out the plain.

But this was not Chen Changsheng’s original intent.

Risking being tracked down by Shang Xingzhou, he shouted, “Retreat!”

……

……

Shang Xingzhou was currently standing in a lonesome patch of reeds that was being lightly blown to and fro by the wind.

He listened to the subtle sounds from within the water and sensed the Qis concealed in the plains. Raising his brow, he said, “Evil beasts, seeking your death.”

At this moment, a thunderous boom reverberated across the plains.

It was Chen Changsheng’s voice.

Shang Xingzhou’s raised brows gradually dropped back down.

He was somewhat surprised.

……

……

No monster dared to disobey Chen Changsheng’s orders.

Because he was the master of the Garden of Zhou, but more because he had saved this world.

The obedience these monsters felt to him came from both their soul and nature.

Upon hearing his order, even the most vicious and untamable Wind Wolves silently retreated.

In front of the Mausoleum of Zhou, the massive figures of the Mountain-toppling Fiend and the Monster Bull glanced at each other and lowered their bodies once more.

The plains returned to silence, the only sounds left the buzzing of insects and the gentle sloshing of water.

Chen Changsheng’s feet struck solid ground.

The white grass served as the path, a frosty white before him. The old and run-down temple was still in its original place.

He ran to the old temple and sat himself behind where the idol used to sit.

His breathing was heavy, his face pale.

He took the needles from his fingers and thrust them into two Qi openings on his neck, after which he closed his eyes and began to meditate.

Shang Xingzhou with his cultivation suppressed was not the strongest opponent he had faced in his life, but he did give him the greatest pressure.

Even facing Zhu Luo in Xunyang City or the Demon Lord in Mount Han had not been so hard to bear as today’s fight.

Not much time had passed between the peak of Sunset Valley and the old temple, and they had only exchanged two rounds, but he was already exhausted to the extreme.

This was probably the mental pressure one had to endure when a student challenged their teacher.

Though it was hard to say how long he could last or just where it was he wanted to get to.

Chen Changsheng suddenly opened his eyes.

Shang Xingzhou had come to the temple.