Chapter 528 - 39: The Tan Family, All Together

Tan Shanzhong, in his line of sight, spoke again, his bloodshot eyes fixed on him.

In the next split second.

Under Lu Chao’s curious gaze, the old man coughed lightly, formed his hands into sword fingers, and struck several acupoints on his own body in rapid succession. In the blink of an eye, mist-like sweat sprayed from his pores, and a hint of morbid flush appeared on his pale face.

"Oh?" Lu Chao raised an eyebrow. In his Life Sensing, Tan Shanzhong’s life force was surging, as if he were using a Secret Technique to forcibly stimulate his body and suppress his injuries.

Along with it, the illusory silver Qi Flame solidified once more, infinitely approaching the Non-human Level.

"I have roamed Red Maple unhindered for seventy years and remained at the Peak Transcendence Level for over thirty years." Staring fixedly at Lu Chao, Tan Shanzhong wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. All the pain in his body had vanished without a trace.

"For the past thirty-plus years, I have studied the strengths of a hundred schools and practiced countless Martial Skills and Secret Techniques.

"Finally, at the age of eighty, I created a Martial Skill—the Returning Dragon Technique."

BOOM!!

The Qi Flame pulsed, causing the air to detonate. His hair turned from grayish-white to dark gray. His life force completely returned to its peak state, making him look as if he had aged in reverse by twenty or thirty years.

Moreover—

RIIIIP!!

Tan Shanzhong tore off his tattered black uniform in one swift motion, revealing a bronze upper body with bulging muscles and veins twisting like pythons.

"Since you relied solely on physical strength to reach this level, it means you aren’t a true Non-human.

"In that case..."

SWOOSH!!

Tan Shanzhong shot through the air like a bolt of lightning. Instead of retreating, he advanced, charging right in front of Lu Chao.

"Let’s see who will have the last laugh."

BOOM!!

Fist and palm collided, blossoming a ring of airwaves between them. As their eyes locked, Tan Shanzhong’s gaze flashed like lightning. With a face full of killing intent, he unleashed a barrage of Palm Seals.

BOOM BOOM BOOM!

...

BOOM BOOM BOOM!!

Artillery fire roared. Countless fiery-red meteors smashed into the surface, exploding everywhere above the base. One defensive fortification after another was destroyed by the shells, the concrete and rock strata evaporating and melting together in the intense light and heat.

With Lu Chao drawing the enemy’s fire, the Alliance Country army advanced with crushing momentum. Like a lightning invasion, they broke through the Rebels’ base defenses and charged straight toward the various underground entrances. Armored vehicles and tanks charged continuously like steel behemoths. Leading the team, Yue Zhenhong and the others wore solemn expressions as they relentlessly launched breach operations into the underground base.

"Hurry, hurry, hurry!

"Inspector Chen is risking his life to hold off that old ghost, Tan Shanzhong! We can’t waste any time!

"Quick, hurry up and support the Inspector!"

Anxious orders were transmitted one after another over the comm channels. Yan Zhengfeng, Yue Zhenhong, and the others successively tore open gaps in the alloy doors’ defenses, only to be pinned down by the base’s powerful firepower.

Amidst their worry—

BOOM BOOM BOOM!!

Intense, muffled explosions rang out from the depths of the underground base, detonating the air. Everyone’s eardrums buzzed. Looking through the gaps in the steel plates beneath their feet, they could see two figures moving at high speeds, battling in the facility’s depths.

The booming sounds of clashing fists and palms echoed like artillery fire. Dozens of explosions reverberated every second, kicking up rings of air shockwaves. The aftermath shattered steel plates and alloy walls, sending a cloud of debris flying. In just a single breath, the two figures disappeared into the corridor below. Like a crashing truck, they smashed right through the base’s walls and landed in another fortification zone.

BOOM!!

Suddenly, another clash of fist and palm erupted.

Tan Shanzhong, looking as though he had regained his youth, slid backward, his heavy footsteps crushing the floorboards. Before he could fully recover, he saw Lu Chao lunging forward with a cold expression, shooting toward him like an arrow.

"Good timing!" Tan Shanzhong shouted coldly. He forcefully stomped the ground to discharge the impact and took a sharp, deep breath.

His body seemed to grow half an inch taller in a split second, and his muscular right arm expanded by half its size. Erupting with his Qi Flame, he threw a right punch forward!

Cannon Punch!

THUD!!

Fist against fist!

The alloy floor beneath his feet violently exploded. Abundant Qi energy surged and clashed, causing the muscles in both of their right arms to tremble slightly at this moment.

Lu Chao raised an eyebrow, vaguely sensing that Tan Shanzhong’s current condition was abnormal. Before he could react—

"Mountain Cleaving Palm!"

SWOOSH!

With cold eyes, Tan Shanzhong struck out with his palm. His left arm, which had been gathering momentum at his waist, rushed out like a warhammer, aiming straight for Lu Chao’s heart.

BANG!!

Lu Chao threw a punch to block, neither dodging nor evading. Both of their bodies jolted simultaneously. A tremendous force unloaded madly straight into the ground beneath them, causing the rock strata to crack and splinter.

In that very instant, the two locked eyes.

BOOM!!

Tan Shanzhong unleashed his Qi explosion again, its power doubled compared to before. Lu Chao did not retreat. Relying on his Bulwark state once more, he withstood it, taking advantage of the momentum to lock the entire impact within his muscles.

CRACK CRACK CRACK!

The ground fractured. Cracks spread across the surrounding walls once more before they collapsed.

WHOOSH!!

At that moment, Lu Chao heard the faint sound of surging airflow. Following the sound, he saw mist-like sweat spraying continuously from Tan Shanzhong’s pores, and white steam flowing from the tip of his nose. His skin turned entirely crimson in a brief instant, as if steaming from a high temperature. Veins bulged all over his body, making him look exceptionally savage.

As if noticing Lu Chao’s astonishment, Tan Shanzhong said, "This move of mine compresses my vitality at the cost of my lifespan!" His face was scalding red, and his words carried both killing intent and searing heat. "Even against a Non-human, it can hold its own!"

BOOM BOOM BOOM!!

Suddenly, Tan Shanzhong unleashed a flurry of berserk punches. His body seemed to turn into a cannon barrel as his fists struck out continuously, leaving behind blinding afterimages and silver-red light, aiming straight for all the fatal points across Lu Chao’s body.

Every punch was like an artillery shell, enveloped in the [Edge] trait and carrying an utterly terrifying destructive power. At the same time, because he was burning his vitality, the high temperature of his Qi Flame was magnified once more. Every strike was no less devastating than a low-speed missile.