Free Web NovelChapter 293: Chapter 280: Outmatched, a Dead End
Nalan Ziyun’s stratagem was not complex.
She had stuffed the torches with the powder of the "Thousand-Day Intoxicated Orchid" early on, ready to welcome the men from the three forces.
The substance was colorless and odorless, and it didn’t cause any significant harm in a short period. Therefore, Lan Feng and the others neither expected nor noticed it.
By the time Lan Feng noticed something was wrong with the torches, a significant amount of the Thousand-Day Intoxicated Orchid had already accumulated in everyone’s bodies.
After this group had been inhaling the toxic fumes of the "Thousand-Day Intoxicated Orchid" for the better part of the day, she used the "Crane Nether Poison Smoke" to activate it. The resulting toxicity was nearly impossible to block!
At the very least, it couldn’t be controlled simply by holding one’s breath.
The moment the "Crane Nether Poison Smoke" came into contact with the "Thousand-Day Intoxicated Orchid," it instantly transformed into the dreaded "Drunken Crane Poison."
Not only could it be inhaled through the nose, but it could also permeate the skin. The only difference was the speed at which one was poisoned.
Unless one could seal every pore on their body or flee far away before the poison was released, how could an ordinary person possibly resist it?
This was a terrifying substance said to render even Xuanwu Realm powerhouses helpless after being afflicted!
Within just a few breaths, it could warp a Martial Artist’s meridians, making it impossible for their Spiritual Power to circulate.
Nalan Ziyun had learned this trick from Shen Lang. After she used it, this group of people was either dead or injured; even those who weren’t wounded had lost their ability to move. It was practically a complete victory...
But unexpectedly, the four masterminds from the White Rainbow Sect, led by Zhang Cheng, had shown themselves!
Nalan Ziyun dropped from the tree, tightening her grip on the Nebula Chain, facing them as if they were a formidable enemy.
’This is bad!’ Nalan Ziyun thought, slapping a Gold Defense Talisman on herself.
She hadn’t even used a Defense Talisman when she was being besieged by the three masters earlier.
Although the High Tier Talismans on Nalan Ziyun were powerful and could deal with a Spirit Martial Realm Seventh Heaven expert, many Attack Talismans had the disadvantage of being too slow, giving people a chance to dodge.
And now, four experts at or above the Spirit Martial Realm Seventh Heaven had appeared at once!
These four were disciples of the White Rainbow Sect, not like Lan Feng and those other guys who were just there to make up the numbers...
Just as Nalan Ziyun was wracking her brain for a countermeasure, Zhang Cheng strode forward and said coldly, "I say, kid, that weapon in your hand is a Profound Artifact, isn’t it? Who would have thought? The mere Leader of Qingfeng Stronghold actually possesses a Profound Artifact and so many High Tier Talismans to boot. Who on earth are you?"
Nalan Ziyun gave a dry laugh. "Qingfeng Stronghold’s mountains are as steep as if carved by a knife, its cliffs so high that even eagles struggle to climb them. If the Lone Wolf Mercenary Corps and the other forces really wanted to launch a direct assault, they would have had to pay a heavy price. Yet they did it anyway. So it was because you, surnamed Zhang, were pulling the strings from the shadows..."
"Insolent! What do you mean, ’pulling the strings’? For years, you people of Qingfeng Stronghold have preyed on the common folk, robbing and plundering. The nearby people have long since hated you to the bone! Today, we’ve come up this mountain to deliver justice on behalf of heaven!" Zhang Cheng snapped, his voice filled with self-righteousness.
"Holy shit. I’ve seen shameless people, but I’ve never seen anyone as shameless as you... Don’t you just want to get your hands on the Thousand-leaf Dew? No one would blame you if you just said it outright. Why the hell are you spouting bullshit about ’delivering justice’? I’ll deliver justice for your eighteen generations of ancestors!"
Enraged, Zhang Cheng clenched his fists so tightly the bones went CRACK. "You little bastard who doesn’t know life from death! Still talking tough when you’re about to die. In a moment, I’ll sever your limbs, toss you into a den of wild dogs, and leave you in a state where you can neither live nor die!"
As he spoke, he walked toward Nalan Ziyun step by step. A Spirit Light flared around his right fist, and it looked like he was about to strike at any moment!
"Oh, my. Did I strike a nerve? A moment ago you were all about ’delivering justice,’ and now you’re spouting nonsense about severing my limbs? That’s no different from the Demon Dao, you know? Damn it, I’m warning you. You’d better obediently scram right now. Otherwise, if you piss me off, you won’t be able to handle the consequences!"
With a flick of her hand, Nalan Ziyun’s chain moved with a RATTLE, coiling around to protect her.
Zhang Cheng was taken aback. "Such big words! A mere bandit leader dares to say we can’t handle the consequences of angering you? Who do you think you are? Don’t tell me you know the Elder Ancestors of the Imperial Dragon Sect, do you? HAHAHAHA!"
Within the Purple Chu Country, the Imperial Dragon Sect, as the guardian Sect, was the most powerful force. The reputation of its several Elder Ancestors was paramount, and their Cultivation was world-shaking.
That’s why Zhang Cheng mentioned the Imperial Dragon Sect’s Elder Ancestors when mocking Nalan Ziyun.
Nalan Ziyun laughed in spite of herself. "You actually got it right. I do know the Imperial Dragon Sect’s Elder Ancestor... And not just him, I also know the Elder Ancestors of the Flower Sect and the Li Hen Sect. Surnamed Zhang, I advise you to obediently lead your men and get lost, or you’ll be sorry!"
"HAHAHAHA!"
The men from the three surrounding forces and the three men behind Zhang Cheng all burst into laughter.
It was the funniest joke they had ever heard.
If Nalan Ziyun had claimed to know the Illusion Mist City Lord, they might have been a bit wary and would have investigated.
But for this kid to claim to know the Elder Ancestors of three Spirit Copper Level Sects—that was the height of ignorance and shamelessness!
Forget the Three Sect Ancestors, if you had even the slightest connection to these three Spirit Copper Level Sects, would you really be here, acting as a mountain bandit leader?
If you’re going to borrow the tiger’s might, you should at least have a tiger skin to show for it, right?
"There’s a limit to spouting nonsense! Wasting any more time talking to you is a waste of my breath. Go to hell!"
Zhang Cheng’s laughter died, and a harsh look appeared on his face. With a flick of his wrist, he produced a cyan longsword, flourished it with a deft movement, and charged toward Nalan Ziyun.
’Damn it. I should have been a bit more thick-skinned like that bastard Shen Lang and directly asked the Three Sect Ancestors for some Magical Treasures or a token! The way I said it, even I wouldn’t believe me if I were in their shoes.’ Nalan Ziyun felt a pang of regret. She could only swing her Nebula Chain to defend herself.
By now, the men from the three forces on the periphery had already dragged the fallen Lan Feng and the others away. Only Nalan Ziyun and Zhang Cheng remained on the flat ground.
The two of them exchanged blows, Powerful Qi crisscrossing the air. For a short while, they were surprisingly evenly matched!
’This isn’t good. Zhang Cheng might be a piece of scum, but he has the solid Cultivation of a Spirit Martial Realm Seventh Heaven expert. Plus, he cultivates an Earth Element Technique, which is steady and enduring. I’m afraid I can’t hold out for much longer!’
’What should I do? This area is only connected to the other peaks by two suspension bridges. One is already blocked by the men from the three forces... Even though my Qingfeng Stronghold people are on the other side to support me, trying to escape that way is nearly impossible now. Besides, Zhang Cheng and his group of four probably have a Flying Spiritual Artifact; they won’t give me the chance. The other path leads down the mountain, and it’s long since been under their control...’
’Dammit! I should have considered the possibility of Zhang Cheng making a move himself from the very beginning... Only a little bastard like Shen Lang can pull something like this off without any flaws!’
The longer Nalan Ziyun fought, the more her heart sank. Beads of sweat began to roll continuously down her cheeks.
She had only recently raised her Cultivation to the Spirit Martial Realm Fourth Heaven with the help of external forces. In terms of true strength, she couldn’t actually compare to an ordinary Spirit Martial Realm Fourth Heaven Martial Artist.
Furthermore, her corresponding experience was severely lacking.
Two months ago, her Cultivation was only at the Spirit Martial Realm First Heaven. The reason she had advanced to the Spirit Martial Realm Fourth Heaven in such a short time was entirely because after she was injured by Yuwen Huaji, Master Kong Jing had joined forces with the Three Sect Ancestors to save her. The incomparably tyrannical Energy of these four powerhouses had converged within her body.
A day later, in order to get closer to Shen Lang, Nangong Yan paid a visit to Nalan Ziyun’s home. She sealed the four powerful streams of Energy within Nalan Ziyun’s body, making it convenient for her to gradually absorb them as her Cultivation increased over time.
Shangguan Feiyue and Shark’s Kiss had also wanted to take on the task, but since Nalan Ziyun was a woman, Nangong Yan had the advantage in this regard.
And so, thanks to the Energy poured into her by these four powerhouses, followed by Nangong Yan’s guidance, Nalan Ziyun’s Cultivation had skyrocketed over the past few months.
However, increasing one’s Cultivation so rapidly had its pros and cons.
The downside was that her Realm couldn’t keep up at all!
Shen Lang possessed the Marvelous Treasure, the Tai Chi Diagram, within his body. Compared to an ordinary Martial Artist, wasn’t his rate of Cultivation increase ten, even a hundred times faster?
But even a freak like him deliberately controlled the pace of his Cultivation increase, focusing instead on cultivating his physical body. How much more so for Nalan Ziyun?
Although Nalan Ziyun’s Cultivation had now reached the Spirit Martial Realm Fourth Heaven, her Realm had not kept pace, and she was simply unable to use many of the corresponding advantages of the Spirit Martial Realm Fourth Heaven.
Even at the Spirit Martial Realm Fourth Heaven, she still couldn’t even temporarily perform Spiritual Power Release to form wings or other shapes.
Her ability to withstand the siege of Lan Feng and the other two Spirit Martial Realm Third Heaven experts earlier was all thanks to the Nebula Chain in her hands.
But after fighting for a long time, she was now facing Zhang Cheng, who was far more powerful than her. The situation was fraught with danger...
"That chain of yours is mine!" After failing to break through her defense for so long, Zhang Cheng was not angry but delighted, and he shouted loudly.
The more difficult Nalan Ziyun was to deal with and the more powerful the chain proved to be, the happier Zhang Cheng became.
He had originally come for the Thousand-leaf Dew. To think he could also obtain such a formidable Profound Artifact—how could he not be overjoyed?
"In your dreams!" Nalan Ziyun waved her hand, sending out a Talisman.
A bolt of lightning as thick as an arm struck down, instantly sending Zhang Cheng stumbling back, covered in dust and ash.
’Damn it, what’s the background of this junior? How does she have so many Tier Four Talismans! If I didn’t have my Inner Armor for protection just now, I would have suffered a huge loss!’ Zhang Cheng was furious, but his attacks became much more cautious. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
Since Nalan Ziyun still had Tier Four Talismans, he had to be more careful. Otherwise, if he were to fall at her hands in front of so many people, he would lose a great deal of face.
’I can’t just kill everyone from the Lone Wolf Mercenary Corps and the other two forces who came up here, can I?’
"You have trump cards, but do you think I don’t?" Zhang Cheng’s face twisted into an inhuman-looking grimace.
Taking advantage of the moment he took half a step back, he pulled an orange small shield from his Sumeru Ring.
