Chapter 97: Sikong Xu Snatches the Spotlight!

“独孤九剑, breaking sword style!” Si Kong Xu brandished the Elucidator sword toward Chi Lian as she charged forward, swinging his blade with fierce energy.

“独孤九剑? Such a move has never been heard of on the jianghu...” Seeing Si Kong Xu’s ferocious assault, Chi Lian instinctively wished to withdraw, but then reconsidered.

This sly little brat had once frightened her with the name “Hundred Steps Flying Sword,” allowing him to rescue Gao Yue. She would not fall for it again this time!

Chi Lian’s mind worked swiftly. She finally saw through Si Kong Xu’s true face. This man was a slippery character; apart from the barest basics of swordsmanship, he knew no other moves, yet he favored overbearing names to intimidate opponents.

“Hmph, you sly little brat. Mother won’t be fooled again!”

Chi Lian gazed at Si Kong Xu’s charging form and continuously circulated her true energy. The moment Si Kong Xu drew near, he would be overwhelmed by her endless fury.

“Hah—” Si Kong Xu let out a muffled roar and halted seven or eight meters from Chi Lian before unleashing a slashing sword qi.

From Chi Lian’s expression and posture, Si Kong Xu realized his bluffing “Dugu Nine Swords” had been completely exposed! Charging forward now would only invite punishment. He would not be so foolish!

Whoosh—

A surge of sword qi erupted from the Elucidator, slicing through the air and rushing straight at Chi Lian.

“You damned little brat!” Seeing Si Kong Xu’s sword qi, Chi Lian—who had been circulating her energy to catch him off guard—jumped in fright.

She swiftly withdrew her qi and darted sideways. The momentary action caused her face to flush red then white, leaving her feeling deeply uncomfortable, as though she had drawn her weapon only to discover the opponent was male and every inch of her was revolted!

“Sly little brat. When I catch you, you’ll suffer the torment of ten thousand snakes tearing at your flesh!”

“Heh heh, I’ll wait for you.” Si Kong Xu gave a sly grin, then stomped his foot. The Swift Boots’ additional ability, Swiftness, activated instantly.

Whoosh!

Swiftness increasing speed by two hundred percent was no exaggeration. Within the three seconds of its effect, Si Kong Xu’s speed doubled.

The seven or eight meters between them vanished in a blink. Si Kong Xu appeared directly before Chi Lian.

He raised his sword and slashed downward!

The Elucidator, carrying icy killing intent, was swung upward in an instant. Its cold blade and raging sword qi burned with lethal resolve in Si Kong Xu’s eyes.

Since Sand Flow had chosen to strike at him, then he would not show mercy!

Clang—

A violent tremor instantly numbed Si Kong Xu’s left hand. He was stunned.

This was my critical strike! Yet it had been blocked!

Si Kong Xu’s heart raced with countless curses...

The descending Elucidator had been halted by a segmented chain sword striped in red, its comb-like length. Si Kong Xu’s left hand and sword body trembled slightly, while the opponent remained utterly unmoved!

Clearly the opponent had exposed such a glaring opening. Why was his damage so pitifully low!

Si Kong Xu roared inwardly. His strike had been completely blocked by Chi Lian.

“Hahaha, little brother, it seems your strength still falls short.” Chi Lian smiled seductively, her eyes flashing with alluring light.

“Trouble!” Si Kong Xu immediately shut his eyes. He knew Chi Lian was employing the Fire Hypnotic Technique.

The Fire Hypnotic Technique was a strange Korean sleep-induction art, extremely eerie. Chi Lian, who had reached its pinnacle, could alter a person’s memories through this illusion.

However, it had one flaw: the caster must stare into the target’s eyes. To avoid hypnosis, one simply needed to look away from the caster’s gaze.

This was why Si Kong Xu closed his eyes at once.

“Hmph.” Seeing Si Kong Xu’s tightly shut eyes, Chi Lian snorted. The brat was truly strange, familiar with her Fire Hypnotic Technique and even knowing the counter.

She immediately kicked out, her foot carrying her profound internal energy that struck Si Kong Xu’s chest, sending him flying several meters away.

Pfft— Si Kong Xu spat blood. His face twisted in pain, clearly from the brutal kick.

Chi Lian’s kick was devastating. Had Si Kong Xu not reacted swiftly and protected his chest with internal energy, his sternum might have been shattered.

“Hmph, brat, I cannot let you live!”

After sending Si Kong Xu flying, Chi Lian did not pause. Her chain snake soft sword whipped out, striking straight at him.

“You think I don’t see you?” A cold voice suddenly came from behind Si Kong Xu. Duan Mu Rong had struck!

She flung a silver needle infused with thick internal energy that shot rapidly onto the chain snake soft sword, its powerful impact knocking it aside.

“Haha, I almost forgot there was another spectator.” Chi Lian sneered, knowing Duan Mu Rong was like herself—powerful yet not the type for direct confrontation.

Otherwise Si Kong Xu could never have lasted so long against her, let alone seize the advantage several times.

“Do you believe you are my match?”

“You can try.”

Chi Lian smiled disdainfully. Against Duan Mu Rong, she need not fight personally; she only had to summon her pet.

At once, Chi Lian pointed with her jade hand and hissed “s-sss.” Moments later, venomous snakes emerged from the surrounding bushes and surrounded Duan Mu Rong and the Si Kong Xu who had just risen.

“Hey hey, Sister Rong, what now?” Si Kong Xu stood up, his face pale. His left arm was injured and his chest struck hard; his Pseudo Giant Recovery was lagging behind his wounds.

Duan Mu Rong did not answer. She drew a medicine bottle from the pocket at her waist.

“Do you truly think I have no counter to your snake array?” Duan Mu Rong regarded the approaching snakes with indifference.

“What did you say?” Chi Lian’s words made her secretly wary. As a medical immortal, methods against snakes were unsurprising, but so many snakes... Hmph, let’s see her trick!

Likewise, Si Kong Xu glanced sideways at Duan Mu Rong. The snake array posed no great threat to him, yet it looked thoroughly disgusting. Dense snakes; fortunately he was not afraid of them, or he would have been done for.

At that moment, Duan Mu Rong opened the bottle and slowly poured out the green liquid. The liquid flowed downward with gravity.

Drip!

The instant it touched the ground, the entire snake group erupted in chaos. The orderly, dense formation dissolved into disorder in an instant.

“What have you done!” Chi Lian’s beautiful eyes widened. She felt the venomous snakes were completely beyond her control!

“Hmph, nothing much. This liquid is merely a highly irritating potion for snakes.”

“Impossible. Snakes’ sense of smell is not that acute; there can be no such thing!” Chi Lian refused to believe.

“Hmph, still calling yourself a snake-taming expert yet unable to see through...” Chi Lian sneered and walked to Si Kong Xu’s side, pulling him from the snake group.

“You mean... taste!” Chi Lian suddenly realized. Duan Mu Rong’s liquid targeted not snakes’ sense of smell but their taste buds. The moment a venomous snake flicked its tongue, it would be poisoned!

Chi Lian was stunned. The snake array had been one of her proudest weapons, yet it had been broken so easily...

“Excellent opportunity!” Duan Mu Rong’s eyes lit up. The silver needle in her hand was flung out, weaving through the air and locking onto Chi Lian.

“Damn!” Chi Lian was no ordinary person. After her brief daze, sensing danger, she changed her stance and retreated while swinging her chain snake soft sword to intercept the needle.

“Have you forgotten me yet?” In an instant, a figure rushed forth. It was Si Kong Xu!

“You damned!” Chi Lian panicked. Si Kong Xu’s speed was swift; now fully focused on blocking the needle, she had no time for him!

“Haha! Sister Rong’s divine assist!”

Boom!

A heavy thud sounded. Si Kong Xu’s fist struck Chi Lian’s abdomen. The force made her retch once, and the internal energy on his fist shattered her slender waist, knocking her unconscious.

“Head captured!”

Duan Mu Rong watched coldly from behind. Why no smile? Perhaps because Si Kong Xu had snatched her head from Chi Lian...

“Sigh...” Seeing Chi Lian faint, Si Kong Xu exhaled deeply. Had the Elucidator not been sent flying when kicked by Chi Lian, he might have perished here today.

“Hmph... Since ancient times evil has never triumphed over justice... In the end, it is still I...” Pfft...

Si Kong Xu spat blood again. He collapsed to the ground, utterly drained. Fine, even Heaven could not tolerate his pretense.