Escaping Divinity, Returning Body

As soon as Chen Chuan said that, Howling Moon Hermitage seemed to sense something and suddenly raised the Horse Chopping Saber across his front.

The next instant, a thunderous explosion rocked the hall.

Hu Kan was taking his medicine off to one side. His hand shook, and he nearly dropped the pills. He had happened to be looking away and missed what had happened. All he saw was that both men had vanished.

A huge crater had appeared where Chen Chuan had stood. Rings of cracks spread outward from it, and threads of searing gold-white light seeped into the gaps between the bricks and stones.

Behind Howling Moon Hermitage had stood a long screen wall carved with dragons, serpents, and other creatures. Now a breach seven or eight meters wide had been smashed through it. Broken stone had burst out the other side and scattered across the ground, some pieces still bouncing and rolling.

Then came a succession of booms from farther back, like thunderclaps exploding right beside him. The ground beneath Hu Kan's backside and feet shook continuously. This was no occasional tremor like before; it went on without pause, nearly shaking him off his seat.

"Well, I'll be damned..."

Hu Kan scratched his head, stunned. That young fellow who just showed up is this fierce? He hurriedly swallowed his medicine. After sitting for a while, he roared, "All set!"

As he stood again, his body rapidly swelled. Ignoring the armor on the ground, he snatched up his two great hammers and strode after them.

Farther ahead, with a boom, Howling Moon Hermitage slammed into a smooth stone wall engraved with scripture. Hairline cracks spread across the wall behind him. He slid down it, the Purple-White Light around his body flickering erratically.

He looked up and saw Chen Chuan