Chapter 156: Chapter 156: Empress Bloodline! Who are the Mere Ants?
Captain Lu looked at Luo Cheng as he approached step by step. His throat felt dry, and he took a deep breath before continuing:
"Li Yun is a key disciple cultivated by the Extreme Dao Sect. Beyond that, he’s also a descendant of the Li family of the Great Chu Dynasty! If you kill him, you won’t survive either. Stop now, and we can stay out of each other’s way!"
"Stay out of each other’s way?"
Luo Cheng sneered, "Those words should be said to the hundreds of villagers who tragically died! Enough of the nonsense, don’t try to stall for time! No matter who he is, today he will meet his death!"
Whish!
As his words fell, Luo Cheng sprang forward, leaving a blur behind as he charged swiftly.
So fast!
Captain Lu’s scalp tingled. Gritting his teeth, he shouted fiercely:
"Form up! Bind and kill!"
Clang!
Nearly ten members of the Black Qilin Army assembled in formation. Their combined momentum resembled a black serpent, spiraling towards Luo Cheng.
Luo Cheng squinted his eyes. His left hand clenched into a fist, using the opening move of the Heavenly Cauldron Fist, and punched forward.
Boom!
The air exploded with sound. Ninety-nine-thousand pounds of force, combined with the dominance of the Heavenly Cauldron Fist, rendered this punch terrifying beyond description.
The Black Qilin soldiers at the front didn’t even have time to react. Their blades and bodies were torn apart, scattering chunks of flesh and broken armor like rain. The ground was instantly stained crimson.
"Kill!"
"Kill!"
"Kill!"
The Black Qilin soldiers were all elite warriors. Even Luo Cheng’s immense power didn’t instill fear but instead ignited a fierce momentum of sacrificing their lives, charging forward like tigers.
The soldiers in reserve attacked all at once, launching a ferocious assault on Luo Cheng!
"Such strong fighting spirit!"
Admiration flickered in Luo Cheng’s eyes as he understood why the Black Qilin Army of the Great Chu Dynasty was undefeated.
Despite the overwhelming disparity in strength, these men remained composed in battle, seizing every opportunity during his attacks to counter with full force.
Normally, during such moments, an ordinary person’s previous strength would have dissipated, and their new strength yet to arise. Facing the Black Qilin Army’s coordinated assault, any mistake would lead to certain defeat!
But they were facing Luo Cheng!
Having mastered the True Dragon Technique, Luo Cheng’s body was incredibly resilient, his stamina enduring, and a thread of Essence Energy continuously replenished his physical strength. He was a human beast!
"Heavenly Fall Second Form: Wind Stopping!"
With a gleam like lightning in his eyes, Luo Cheng spun around. The Meteor Sword in his hand hummed softly and danced through the void, delivering dozens of slashes in an instant.
Splurt!
Splurt!
Blood sprayed everywhere as the Black Qilin soldiers rushed forward. Without even a chance to cry out, they were dismembered on the spot, their torn remains scattering across the ground.
Now, only Captain Lu was left!
Watching his comrades fall one by one, Captain Lu’s eyes turned bloodshot.
However, he had been waiting for this final moment!
"Black Snake Dance!"
With a furious roar, a black demon snake containing five star-like cores emerged behind Captain Lu!
Raising his long blade high, he swung madly at Luo Cheng. The chilling arcs of blade light resembled venomous snake fangs, intertwining into an inescapable web!
Luo Cheng shook his head. The Meteor Sword erupted with Sword Qi, slicing through the air before striking diagonally.
Slash!
The web of venomous fangs was severed entirely, and Captain Lu’s burly figure froze in place.
"Not a bad formation."
Luo Cheng praised Captain Lu.
It was genuinely worthy of admiration.
"Momentum builds, then wanes, and finally exhausts itself!"
The formation’s attacks were relentless, like unceasing rain, giving no chance to breathe.
If Luo Cheng hadn’t cultivated Essence Energy, facing this would certainly have been far more challenging.
As Luo Cheng walked past him, Captain Lu’s face showed a bitter smile. His neck tilted, and he fell to the ground, lifeless!
Elsewhere.
Two members of the Black Qilin Army supported Li Yun, swiftly retreating to their mounts.
"Young Master Li Yun, hurry up! Time is running out!"
One soldier urged Li Yun to mount the horse.
"Kill him! You must kill him! When I get back..."
Li Yun’s face was pale, though his eyes burned with madness.
"Huh? Why is it so quiet?"
The other Black Qilin soldier suddenly noticed.
Moments ago, the rocky path was filled with savage combat and deafening chaos. Now, it had fallen deathly silent!
The two soldiers turned back, their eyes widening, souls seemingly escaping their bodies.
Luo Cheng was already within ten steps of them, sword in hand!
"Quick..."
Just as the two tried to shout, two streaks of Sword Qi instantly arrived.
Splurt!
Splurt!
Blood sprayed as both soldiers fell lifeless to the ground.
Li Yun, splattered with blood, turned to meet Luo Cheng’s gaze. His face twitched briefly before attempting to feign calmness as his voice trembled:
"Boy, I am a member of the Li family of the Great Chu Dynasty, and a disciple of the Extreme Dao Sect! If you dare to kill me, no matter where you flee, death will be your only fate! Are you courting death?"
"Ha, is this your way of flaunting your family background?"
Luo Cheng shook his head, "It seems you still don’t understand the reality of the situation."
As his words landed, Luo Cheng raised his sword and swung.
"Ah! Ah! Ah!"
Li Yun let out a piercing scream as a bloody hole was carved into his leg.
The terrifying specter of death crushed his pride and dignity to ashes. Falling to his knees, he wept and begged endlessly:
"Don’t kill me, please don’t kill me, I don’t want to die..."
Luo Cheng asked, "Why did you come to our Great Yue Dynasty?"
Li Yun answered without hesitation: "We came to find someone!"
Luo Cheng raised an eyebrow. "Who?"
Li Yun replied, "The Great Chu Empress’s bloodline!"
"The Great Chu Empress’s bloodline?"
Luo Cheng frowned slightly, staring at Li Yun with piercing eyes like steel needles:
"As far as I know, the Great Chu Empress devoted her life to Martial Arts, never married, nor had a partner. How could there be a bloodline?"
"This... I don’t know either. I’m just carrying out orders. The sect elders instructed us to secretly search for a woman resembling one shown in a painting, claiming it’s related to the Great Chu Empress’s bloodline." 𝚗𝚘v𝚙𝚞b.𝚌𝚘m
"This is the painting!"
Fearing Luo Cheng’s wrath, Li Yun spilled everything he knew like beans from a bamboo tube before pulling out a scroll from his robes.
Luo Cheng unfurled the scroll and paused briefly.
The painting depicted a woman, a woman of unparalleled beauty!
She stood in front of a Golden Palace, her dress billowing, black hair fluttering. She appeared ethereal, almost celestial. Her eyes, in particular, shimmered with unmatched brilliance—both spirited like stars and veiled with mist, exuding elegance and imperial majesty!
Luo Cheng had seen this painting before!
It was in Wushi City where he encountered Ling Chulan.
Ling Chulan had been suspected of having a connection to the woman in the painting, and the pursuit to capture her had ensued!
"Could it be that the woman in the painting is the Great Chu Empress’s bloodline? Is Ling Chulan related to the Great Chu Empress’s bloodline?"
Luo Cheng’s heart filled with doubt. If this were true, it would be incredibly significant.
However, after a moment of thought, Luo Cheng found it unlikely.
Given the stature of the Great Chu Empress, her bloodline would undoubtedly be revered as prodigies!
If Ling Chulan were truly tied to the Great Chu Empress’s bloodline, she wouldn’t need to join the Xuanyuan Sect as a mere Outer Disciple.
"Cough!"
Li Yun let out a light cough, breaking Luo Cheng’s train of thought.
Staring at Luo Cheng, Li Yun pleaded, "I’ve told you everything I know. Spare my life..."
"Don’t worry. As long as you don’t kill me, I’ll let all of this go! I won’t seek revenge! If you doubt me, I swear I’m sincere!"
Luo Cheng tucked the scroll away, casting a cold glance at Li Yun before slowly shaking his head:
"In this world, the strong reign supreme, and ants have no right to cling to survival..."
Li Yun shuddered.
These were the very words he had once spoken to Luo Cheng!
But he hadn’t anticipated that their roles would reverse so soon!
"No... don’t kill me... I don’t want to die... Ahhhhhhhhh!"
As he sensed the killing intent in Luo Cheng’s eyes, the fear of death overwhelmed Li Yun. He turned and scrambled desperately toward the northwest.
As long as he returned to the Great Chu Dynasty!
He would still be a prominent member of the Li family!
As long as he returned to the Great Chu Dynasty!
He would still be an esteemed disciple of the Extreme Dao Sect!
In that moment, countless images flashed through Li Yun’s mind!
The figures begging for mercy at his feet, and the mother and daughter kneeling before him, pleading for the daughter’s life, only for him to carve out the mother’s heart with a single palm!
Back then, he controlled the fates of others. A mere thought determined life or death, his superiority unmatched!
Now, he grasped their fear.
Death—was terrifying!
He was nothing more than an ant crawling in desperation!