Chapter 459 - 457: Obstacle

Chapter 459: Chapter 457: Obstacle

"We all thought that was just a rumor the Li Family’s ancestors spread to aggrandize themselves. After all, the Power of Space... that’s an ability said to belong only to legendary Profound Pill Realm Zhenren!"

"If something like that truly existed, there’s no way a minor family like the Li could have held onto it. It would have been seized long ago by the Divine Travel Realm powers of the Nanyue Kingdom."

"But now, it seems we were the ignorant ones!"

Gu Xuanqing’s expression was grim as well.

Just a moment ago, he had warned Shen Changchuan to be careful. That was because he had witnessed the power of the Flying Heaven-Splitting Spirit Ants, and his warning was directed at the ants themselves, the ones the Li Family controlled.

He had no idea the Li Family possessed a Flying Heaven-Splitting Spirit Ant King.

There were ways to deal with the Flying Heaven-Splitting Spirit Ants, but as for their Ant King... they were completely unprepared!

A complication!

A massive complication!

With a weapon like that in play, attacking and destroying Heaven’s End Valley was not going to be easy.

An attack containing even a trace of the Power of Space... not even a cultivator at the Soul Emergence Ninth Layer could withstand something like that!

After a moment of thought, Gu Xuanqing couldn’t help but shake his head inwardly.

’Among all the Cultivators who came on this expedition, no one could possibly withstand such a terrifying attack!’

’And that’s not even counting the various arrays within Heaven’s End Valley, or the strange black mist shrouding the sky above.’

’It makes an already difficult task nearly impossible!’

"Damn it all!"

’No wonder the Li Family didn’t retreat after our battle half a year ago. So this is what they were relying on!’

At this thought, Gu Xuanqing’s expression darkened.

’No wonder the Li Family was still waiting in Heaven’s End Valley for them to attack. With a Flying Heaven-Splitting Spirit Ant King capable of unleashing the Power of Space, even a Divine Travel Realm expert could be taken out if they weren’t careful!’

Gu Xuanqing looked up ahead at Heaven’s End Valley, which was shrouded in black mist, the light of its arrays faintly flickering within.

His heart instantly sank.

The obstacle before them was simply too great.

’Don’t tell me we’ll have to return empty-handed again.’

’Will we have to go back and ask the Old Ancestor for help? Or even report this to the alliance and have them dispatch a Divine Travel Realm expert to handle it?’

Gu Xuanqing’s brow furrowed deeply.

For a moment, the thought of a temporary retreat couldn’t help but cross his mind.

But if they did that, it would mean all of the Ancient Sword Sect’s planning and investment would be for naught. They had called in so many favors and already suffered considerable losses in the fighting.

To leave without accomplishing anything would be too great a loss.

Furthermore, it would surely damage the Ancient Sword Sect’s reputation.

At this moment, Gu Xuanqing was wavering.

"That’s not right!"

Just then, Shen Changchuan, who was standing to the side, suddenly spoke up.

Gu Xuanqing looked up, puzzled.

He saw Shen Changchuan’s brow slightly furrowed, as if a thought had just occurred to him.

"Nephew Shen, did you think of something?"

"That attack just now... it wasn’t from a living Gu Insect!"

"What do you mean?"

Gu Xuanqing looked completely lost.

"As you know, Elder Gu, I have... a little bit of experience with Gu Insect Secret Techniques."

"In any case, that attack just now did not carry the aura of a living Gu Insect!"

Shen Changchuan said with conviction.

He knew this because he had the Golden Wind Jade Dew Gu attached to his very spine, helping him absorb and perform Refinement on Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi to accelerate his cultivation progress.

As a High Tier Gu, it was naturally very sensitive to the auras of other Gu Insects.

Shen Changchuan was certain that whatever launched that attack was not a living Gu Insect.

Instead, it was the power unleashed by a weapon, one that seemed to be created from the corpse of a Gu Insect!

’What’s more, an attack like that... it seems to have limitations!’

’According to the Golden Wind Jade Dew Gu’s perception, after that single strike, the aura of the weapon made from the Gu Insect’s remains seemed to have vanished completely...’

"Is that really true?!"

Gu Xuanqing’s eyes lit up when he heard Shen Changchuan’s explanation.

’If that attack is just a one-time consumable, then there might be a way to win this battle after all!’

After all, while an attack of that magnitude was incredibly powerful—perhaps too powerful for even a Divine Travel Realm expert to block head-on—it wasn’t particularly fast. It could even be detected in advance and dodged!

Gu Xuanqing couldn’t help but glance at Shen Changchuan.

He had seen with his own eyes how Shen Changchuan dodged that strike a moment ago.

’If it can be dodged, and it has limitations... then this battle isn’t necessarily a lost cause!’

"Elder Gu, what should we do next?"

Shen Changchuan asked, his gaze fixed on Gu Xuanqing.

The Flying Heaven-Splitting Spirit Ants were crucial to his future plans, so if at all possible, Shen Changchuan didn’t want to give up halfway.

After all, he had no idea if the Li Family would simply pack up and run after today’s defeat if they were to retreat now.

If that happened, Shen Changchuan had no idea when he might ever encounter the Flying Heaven-Splitting Spirit Ants again.

"In that case, let’s give it our best shot!"

Gu Xuanqing gritted his teeth, his resolve hardening as he made his decision.

...

Before long, Jian Wuheng and Patriarch Ouyang returned from high above. 𝑓𝑟ℯℴ𝓂

Because the fallout from a battle between those at the Soul Emergence Ninth Layer was simply too vast,

both sides had intentionally flown high into the air, moving their battlefield far up into the sky.

Furthermore, because the strange black mist surrounding Heaven’s End Valley could block Divine Sense and even dampen the impact of Magical Power Energy,

the people on the ground had no way of knowing the outcome of the battle raging high above.

Only when the two of them descended from the sky did everyone learn the battle’s outcome.

Judging by their condition, there was no doubt: both of them had won their battles up high.

With their victory in the mid-tier battle, the Soul Emergence Realm Cultivators had started to intervene in the ground battle between the Qi Introduction Realm cultivators, turning the tide there as well. All in all, the Ancient Sword Sect’s side had won a resounding victory!

However, when Patriarch Ouyang learned the details of what had happened, his brow furrowed.

’An attack containing a trace of the Power of Space... The Demon Cultivators in Heaven’s End Valley actually had a weapon like that?’

’According to Shen Changchuan’s perception, the weapon’s aura vanished after Li Changzun used it for that one attack.’

’It was most likely a one-time-use item, but who knew how many such trump cards the Li Family had at their disposal?’

As the one who had to directly face the enemy’s strongest fighter, Patriarch Ouyang couldn’t help but think one step further.

After all, not even he would dare claim he could withstand an attack infused with the Power of Space.

In contrast to Patriarch Ouyang’s thoughtful expression, Jian Wuheng’s gaze toward Shen Changchuan was filled with praise, and even a hint of eager battle intent.

"To think you’re capable of all this. I originally thought I had overestimated you, but now it seems I underestimated you by quite a lot!"

"You’ll be participating in the Immortal Sect’s Grand Competition ten years from now, won’t you? I look forward to seeing what you can do then!"