The Power of Secret Techniques

Seven Star Rapid Fire took an enormous toll. With every additional arrow, the consumption of Soul Power and mental strength multiplied.

Xiao Chen estimated that even at full strength, he and Hu Liena could fire no more than five arrows in succession.

As things stood, three arrows were their limit.

"Senior Sister, I'll take full control of the bow and arrows from here on. Focus on steadying yourself. The next move will consume an enormous amount of mental strength and Soul Power!" Xiao Chen said to Hu Liena.

When Xiao Chen and Hu Liena used a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, Hu Liena controlled the Blurry Domain, while Xiao Chen took full control of drawing the bow and shooting the arrows.

But the move Xiao Chen was about to use required them to pour all the power of their Martial Soul Fusion into it. Under those circumstances, he had to take over completely.

Hu Liena nodded. She trusted Xiao Chen deeply now.

Even Xiao Chen wasn't sure how powerful Seven Star Rapid Fire would be, so before making his move, he signaled Yan and Xie Yue to go and harass Lu Zheng.

Lu Zheng's vision and perception were both blocked. As long as Yan and Xie Yue didn't get too close, they would be in little danger.

Lu Zheng was at a severe disadvantage inside the Blurry Domain. His Soul Power Level far exceeded that of Xiao Chen and the others, yet he couldn't find a target to attack. The frustration was unbearable.

With Yan and Xie Yue harassing him, Lu Zheng's Soul Power and mental strength were draining even faster.

He knew this couldn't go on. So, after blocking another attack from Yan and Xie Yue, he immediately activated his Sixth Spirit Skill: Ten Thousand Jun Breaking Strike!

Lu Zheng raised his battle halberd high with both arms and brought it down with all his might. His vast, surging Soul Power burst forth, transforming into a fan-shaped sweep of fierce halberd energy.

The ground shattered beneath the force, sending rubble flying. The attack covered a vast area, surging nearly a hundred meters forward and temporarily scattering the pale red light of the Blurry Domain.

Taking advantage of the brief opening, Lu Zheng shot forward at full speed.

He had already pinpointed the carriage and knew that Xiao Chen and Hu Liena were aboard.

He understood that the only way to break free of the Blurry Domain's restraints and turn the tide was to defeat the two of them.

Lu Zheng was fast, but the Blurry Domain recovered quickly too. He had raced more than eighty meters before its pale red light covered him again.

Seeing this, Lu Zheng was about to activate his Fifth Spirit Skill. He had just gathered Soul Power around himself when a bone-chilling sense of death suddenly swept over him.

He stopped in his tracks, skidding to a halt. His expression turned grave as he warily scanned his surroundings.

He knew the attack coming his way was deadly. The slightest misstep could cost him his life.

He knew how powerful a Triple Martial Soul Fusion Skill was, but he had never imagined it could be this terrifying.

Xiao Chen was only at level twenty-five, and Hu Liena was only at level forty-one. The gap between their cultivation and his was enormous.

Yet the lethal pressure bearing down on him made him feel as though he weren't facing two low-ranking Soul Masters at all, but a Spirit Saint whose strength was unfathomable.

Lu Zheng tensed and focused his mental strength.

He knew he couldn't let the Bewildering Illusion affect him. Only by blocking or dodging the coming attack would he have a chance to turn things around.

But he soon sensed the pressure of the Bewildering Illusion around him gradually easing. Its hold on him was weakening, and the pale red light swirling around him was fading.

"Something's wrong. It isn't fading—it's gathering over there!"

Lu Zheng's expression tightened as the outline of the carriage came into view.

At the same time, he saw two figures on top of it.

Xiao Chen stood alone, drawing his bow with an arrow nocked. Pale red light radiated from his entire body.

Hu Liena stood quietly behind him, one slender hand resting lightly against his back. The same light flowed over her body, and their auras were indistinguishable.

Xiao Chen drew the bow to its full length. A red-glowing arrow was poised to fly, while two identical arrows floated beside the bow.

Lu Zheng's pupils contracted when he saw the three arrows. The Blurry Domain had already been dispelled, but he didn't dare run.

He could feel himself firmly locked onto. If he tried to flee now, he would expose his weaknesses. Not only would escape be difficult, but he would fall into a deadly trap even faster.

"Lu Zheng, this move is called the Celestial Fox Moon-Chasing Arrow—Three-Star Rapid Fire!"

Xiao Chen gave a low shout and released the bowstring before his words had even faded.

The red arrow shot from the bow, wrapped in the force of a Bewildering Illusion. It carved an eerie red arc through the sky, streaking forth like a meteor with unstoppable power. In an instant, it was upon Lu Zheng.

Lu Zheng had been ready. The moment the arrow flew, he gathered all his Soul Power and swung his battle halberd, unleashing his Fifth Spirit Skill: Space-Rending Thrust.

A dense, weighty halberd beam met the rushing red arrow. The moment they collided, red and yellow energies erupted, and wave after wave of energy rippled in every direction.

Force surged where the arrow and halberd clashed, churning the air. Lu Zheng was already reeling inwardly.

He knew full well that his Fifth Spirit Skill was a focused, single-target assault. Its explosive power even surpassed that of his wide-reaching Sixth Spirit Skill. Yet now it could only match the red arrow blow for blow.

"A Triple Martial Soul Fusion Skill really is terrifying. They can actually conjure three arrows this powerful!" Lu Zheng thought in alarm.

"But three arrows must be their limit. After firing them, their Soul Power will surely be drained. In my current state, I should be able to withstand two more without much trouble. Looks like I'll be the one to win this fight after all!"

Lu Zheng's reasoning seemed sound, but he didn't know that the first arrow's mental attack and its formless force that ignored defenses had yet to erupt. So far, he had only blocked the Celestial Fox Moon-Chasing Arrow's visible physical attack.

Xiao Chen didn't pause for a moment. He drew the bowstring again and fired the remaining two arrows in succession. Just like the first, both flew toward the same spot.

At this, Lu Zheng was delighted.

He had been worried that the remaining two arrows might come from different directions. Now that all three were converging along the same path, he had nothing else to worry about. He only needed to focus his strength and defend against the attack coming straight at him.

The other two arrows followed close behind and merged with the first. Their three layers of power stacked together, and the resulting force shook Lu Zheng off balance, driving him backward step by step.

He admitted that the three arrows' combined power had multiplied, and holding them back was proving difficult. He would most likely be injured, but he was still secretly pleased.

He had seen Xiao Chen and Hu Liena on the carriage lose all their strength. They couldn't even stand and had to sit atop the carriage.

Their auras were weak, a clear sign that their Soul Power and mental strength were completely spent.

Just as Lu Zheng thought that enduring the combined arrow would secure his victory, a mental attack pierced into his Spiritual Sea.

Before he could react, a strange, unpredictable force surged into his body.

The two attacks erupted at the same time, each building in intensity, one layer after another, three times over.

Lu Zheng lost the ability to resist in an instant. With nothing left to stop it, the red arrow before him plunged into his body.

In an instant, it was as though countless arrows had pierced him. Dense red light shone through his body and spread outward from within.

His eyes turned blood-red, and his consciousness vanished completely. His body disintegrated bit by bit in the crimson light. When it faded, the spot where Lu Zheng had stood was empty, without a trace, as if he had never been there at all.