Mighty Internal Force

As his words fell, Chu Kuang felt an incomparably mighty internal force form within his body.

This internal force was like gold and iron, like an indestructible great bell, possessing extraordinarily tough and condensed qualities.

With the support of this power, Chu Kuang felt his strength surge by several tenths. Even the immense force of the giant axe before him no longer seemed so overwhelming.

"Come fight!"

In an instant, Chu Kuang abruptly raised his long spear and knocked aside the giant axe, then drove Stone Crushing Gold Splitting straight at Luo Tao's chest.

Luo Tao swung up his giant axe to block. The instant spear and axe collided, blazing sparks erupted. For the first time, Luo Tao felt a vast force crash into him, sending him stumbling back three steps in succession. Even both hands gripping the axe went numb.

"What tremendous strength."

"He actually forcefully refined the Vermillion Fruit."

Startled, Luo Tao stared at Chu Kuang with shock in his eyes.

He cultivated the Savage Elephant Technique, which was famed for strength. By all reason, his strength should have been among the very best, yet he had gained no advantage in this direct clash with Chu Kuang. This was far beyond his expectations.

One had to know that in their earlier exchanges, he had been suppressing Chu Kuang the entire time. Chu Kuang could only rely on the Iron Armor Technique to withstand his force.

"Something is wrong. His strength is exceptionally great, and his defense is beyond what ordinary people can match. Could he possess some kind of Innate Battle Physique?"

Countless thoughts flashed through Luo Tao's mind, and the killing intent in his heart grew ever more intense.

In martial cultivation, the Apprentice Level was merely for laying foundations. Its purpose was to cultivate a Martial Dao True Body upon breaking through to the Mortal Transformation Realm.

Martial Dao True Bodies were divided into four tiers: Martial Body, Battle Physique, King Body, and Saint Body. The difference in combat strength between the various tiers was enormous.

However, people differed greatly in talent. Aside from differences in innate bone structure and comprehension, some geniuses were even born with powerful constitutions such as Battle Physiques, King Bodies, and Saint Bodies.

By comparison, the vast majority of Mortal Transformation Realm martial artists could only ultimately cultivate the lowest-grade Martial Body.

For example, Xu Yue's Martial Dao True Body was a superior Martial Body, and his combat strength already placed him among veteran Mortal Transformation Realm martial artists.

These constitutions each had their own characteristics. Some possessed astonishing defensive power, some had terrifying offensive strength, and some could increase the chances of breaking through martial limits. Without exception, all provided enormous boosts to combat strength or cultivation.

Seeing how abnormally powerful Chu Kuang was, Luo Tao suspected that he possessed an Innate Battle Physique. A hint of wariness immediately appeared on his face. "He cannot be allowed to live. Otherwise, he will surely become a serious threat."

As his words fell, Luo Tao abruptly raised his battle axe and pushed Savage Elephant Transformation to its limit. His height surged by more than three meters, and like a giant, he swung up the huge axe and cleaved down. The broad axe blade swept down with killing intent.

Combined with the oppression of Savage Elephant Soul Suppression, this strike could very likely split even a martial artist with a Life Level as high as eight in two on the spot.

Yet Chu Kuang was not afraid in the slightest. He circulated his cultivation with all his strength, fusing the force of the Iron Armor Technique with the internal force of the Golden Bell Shield. It transformed into a great bell over three meters tall that protected his body.

"Clang—"

With a thunderous crash, the giant axe struck the great bell. The iron bell of astral energy shook violently, unleashing a shockwave that swept in all directions. Then an incomparably powerful rebounding force traveled back along the giant axe.

In an instant, Luo Tao spat out a mouthful of blood. The giant axe was knocked from his hands.

"Die!"

At that instant, Chu Kuang seized the chance created by the recoil, which had slowed Luo Tao's recovery.

He caught up with Heavenly Dragon Pounces on the Moon, then followed it with Golden Spear Piercing the Sun, thrusting straight at Luo Tao's chest.

Luo Tao was indeed a veteran martial artist. Although the impact had severely injured him, he still raised both hands to block. Yet the spear instantly pierced through both fists and drove straight toward his throat.

Luo Tao was greatly alarmed and hastily tilted his head aside. The spear tip grazed past his neck, piercing through his armor and leaving a deep bloody wound.

But Chu Kuang decisively changed moves, sweeping the spear shaft sideways and smashing it heavily against Luo Tao's neck. The armor around his neck shattered even further.

Luo Tao seized the opportunity to roll away, trying to evade him and open up some distance.

"Whoosh—"

However, Chu Kuang pressed his advantage without mercy. With a sweep of his sleeve, mighty internal force reached out from afar. The war spear that had pinned Shen Quan to death in the distance trembled slightly, then shot over like a massive crossbow bolt. Its cold spearhead had already predicted Luo Tao's path.

With a soft "pfft," the lance blade passed through a gap in the shattered armor and pierced his neck.

"Pfft—"

Chu Kuang drew back the war spear and stood upright. A huge head flew into the air, while the towering figure over three meters tall collapsed to its knees before crashing heavily onto the ground.

From the moment Luo Tao was struck by the Golden Bell Shield's rebound force to the moment his head was severed, it seemed like a long process, but the battle had in truth lasted only an instant.

The twins were so frightened that their souls nearly fled their bodies. They immediately tried to escape into the distance, but Li Gang and Chu Yang held them firmly in place.

Chu Kuang charged out with his great spear in hand and instantly blocked one of them. In fewer than three explosive exchanges, he forcibly suppressed and killed him.

Just as the three of them prepared to pursue the other, an enraged roar came from the distant valley. "You dare kill my people? You're courting death!"

As the voice fell, an Azure Sword Light flew over from afar.

Chu Kuang swung the war spear to block it, sending the Azure Sword Light flying back. Yet his expression suddenly changed, and he decisively pulled Li Gang and Chu Yang away with him.

At the same time, a slender figure in azure battle armor pursued them from several hundred meters away. His eyes were incomparably cold as he said, "Trying to run? It won't be that easy."

"This is bad. It's Poisonous Snake. He refined the Vermillion Fruit, so his strength must have advanced even further. We absolutely cannot face him head-on."

At that moment, Li Gang's expression changed drastically, and he revealed extreme wariness.

Chu Kuang's expression was also grave. Brother Snake had long reached the peak of Intermediate External Martial Arts, with a Life Level as high as 8.5. Now that he had consumed two Vermillion Fruits in succession, his strength would surely undergo a qualitative change.

In fact, during their brief exchange just now, Chu Kuang had already sensed that Brother Snake's internal force was incomparably powerful. The Intermediate Internal Martial Arts he cultivated had most likely reached perfection as well. That was why Chu Kuang had fled with the other two the moment they met.

"Clang—"

While the three were speaking, Brother Snake had already rapidly caught up.

He moved as fast as lightning, and the azure sword in his hand was as swift as a swimming snake. Several flashes of sword light bloomed, targeting Chu Kuang's brow, throat, and heart.

The opponent's speed was astonishing. Chu Kuang could only push the Iron Armor Technique with all his strength to resist, yet he discovered that the opponent's power could actually pass through the Iron Armor Technique and inflict some damage on him.

One had to know that Azure Snake Strength was not known for its offense, yet it could still harm Chu Kuang despite the traits he possessed. This showed that the opponent's Life Level was at least half a level higher than Chu Kuang's.

The gap brought by such a difference in Life Level meant that the opponent's speed, strength, and agility all far surpassed Chu Kuang's. Chu Kuang had no chance at all of defeating him.

"Little Kuang."

Seeing that Chu Kuang was no match for Brother Snake, Father Chu's expression abruptly changed. He immediately took out a blood-red pill and prepared to swallow it, only for Li Gang to snatch it away.

Li Gang shook his head, then calmly swallowed the pill himself. "After these successive fierce battles, the poison has already entered my marrow. Even if I get out, I cannot be saved."