Chapter 457: Stress Response

Almost at the instant the straw-hatted cultivator spoke, Xu Qing's reaction was incredibly swift.

Without the slightest hesitation, as if he had always intended to do so, his body rapidly retreated. Simultaneously, he fiercely crushed the Chaotic Teleportation Talisman he had taken out six days prior and held in his hand until now.

Yet, upon crushing it, no teleportation fluctuations emanated. The surrounding world seemed to solidify instantly, as if all teleportation power was sealed off in that moment!

Xu Qing's Chaotic Teleportation Talisman was of a considerably high grade, usually able to ignore such seals. Unless... the opponent had gathered intelligence specifically to prevent his teleportation, meticulously planned, and prepared for a long time, using a higher-grade containment item to suppress it.

However, no ripple stirred in Xu Qing's heart, nor was his thinking affected by the inability to teleport. His movements did not falter in the slightest as he continued to retreat.

Furthermore, as he retreated, the eight Heavenly Palaces within him erupted. Three magnificent canopies appeared above his head: a seven-colored Wind Chant protecting his physical body, a black umbrella defending his soul, and netherworld blood wings augmenting his speed.

All of this caused his retreat speed to explode. Moreover, the shadow of a purple moon appeared in his pupils, poison-forbidden pills erupted throughout his body, and the phantom of Ghost Emperor Mountain behind him materialized, radiating immense power.

The Heavenly Dao Azure Dragon also appeared in the sky, roaring towards the heavens as it circled.

With this roar, the power of the Heavenly Dao spread, causing the confinement in this area to loosen significantly.

Xu Qing's reaction was too swift. From the moment he detected the enemy's appearance until now, everything happened in a flash, and he unleashed every method at his disposal.

At this moment, his body flickered and instantly ascended, intending to use the loosening created by the Heavenly Dao Azure Dragon's power to escape the seal.

This scene caused the straw-hatted cultivator in the coir raincape to change his expression. He snorted coldly, then stomped forward, rushing straight into the sky, and pressed his right hand, forming a hand seal, towards the heavens.

Instantly, countless imprints materialized around them, branding the sky and interrupting Xu Qing's escape.

Xu Qing's expression was grim. His body swayed as he changed direction, attempting to forcefully teleport.

However, the straw-hatted cultivator took out a handful of gravel and scattered it in all directions. With a rumble, the confinement here was immediately reinforced, becoming even more solidified, blocking Xu Qing's teleportation.

It wasn't over. The straw-hatted cultivator had clearly prepared for a long time, his killing intent fierce. To prevent any accidents, he immediately bit his tongue and spat out a mouthful of golden blood.

That blood instantly ascended, transforming into a golden curtain in the sky, which suddenly enveloped the area.

All of this caused the sky to rumble, and the confinement, which had been significantly loosened by the Heavenly Dao Azure Dragon, instantly stabilized and did not collapse.

Having done all this, he turned to Xu Qing, a hoarse voice emerging from his lips.

"Xu Qing, long time no see."

"Now, you can't escape. And for a short while, no one will come to disturb us."

As he spoke, the man removed his straw hat, revealing a weathered middle-aged face. Most striking were his eyes, where both pupils and whites had transformed into a pale gold.

His golden eyes exuded a sense of divinity, and at that instant, divine aura also spread from his body.

It was Chu Tianqun, Sheng Yunzi's father!

He was also the Purple-Green Crown Prince's last divine trial subject remaining in Yinghuang Prefecture!

Back when Xu Qing and his group left the Eight Sect Alliance, Chu Tianqun had sworn an oath of vengeance before his beloved son's tomb, vowing to kill Xu Qing as a sacrifice to Sheng Yunzi.

However, Xu Qing had remained in the Prefectural City and never emerged, so Chu Tianqun found no opportunity. Infiltrating the Sword-Wielding Palace, moreover, carried extreme risks.

Therefore, he had been waiting within the Prefectural City's territory. When Xu Qing and Kong Xianglong went out, he had planned to strike, but for some unknown reason, the terrifying great bird, Qing Ling, from Fenghai County suddenly appeared and inexplicably inflicted severe injuries upon him.

Although he escaped, his injuries were extremely severe and had not healed to this day.

Afterward, unwilling to give up, he secretly spent a great deal of resources to secretly track Xu Qing's movements. It wasn't until recently that he detected Xu Qing's departure. Thus, he didn't hesitate to expend his own divinity to cast a divine art, using Xu Qing's name along with the blood and hair he had previously collected as exclusive mediums to divine Xu Qing's location.

With meticulous planning against an unsuspecting target, unless Xu Qing constantly used methods to conceal himself, his location would eventually be found through countless divinations.

Gazing at Xu Qing now, Chu Tianqun's eyes held deep hatred, and his killing intent was exceptionally strong. He believed that apart from his own father's reasons, Xu Qing's actions significantly contributed to Sheng Yunzi's miserable end.

Most importantly, Xu Qing had slain his beloved son.

This intense hatred tormented his heart day and night, causing him to grin sinisterly as he looked at Xu Qing.

Thinking about how he was about to avenge his beloved son, and how this detestable Xu Qing would be brutally tortured and killed by him, a sense of exhilaration rose in his heart.

Xu Qing's expression changed. Staring at Chu Tianqun before him, he recognized his identity at a glance, and also saw the golden light in his eyes and the divine aura surrounding him.

Xu Qing had not forgotten the formidable power Sheng Yunzi displayed as a divine trial subject. At this moment, without the slightest hesitation, his body retreated once more, and all the Heavenly Palaces within him erupted as his hands formed seals.

Seeing Xu Qing still trying to escape, Chu Tianqun burst into laughter.

"A mere Golden Core cultivator, under my divine confinement, where do you think you can escape?"

As he spoke, Chu Tianqun waved his hands, and his cultivation base circulated. A fluctuation of early Nascent Soul realm suddenly spread and erupted from his body.

The surroundings rumbled, the earth and gravel trembled, and his aura was formidable.

Then, like an eagle, he swooped towards Xu Qing, his speed immense, closing the distance in an instant.

Xu Qing's expression was grim, but after sensing the opponent's cultivation, he couldn't help but be taken aback compared to the C-Block jailers.

"Early Nascent Soul?"

Xu Qing was puzzled, but instantly became vigilant. He felt there was a trick, as the opponent couldn't possibly be just at the early Nascent Soul stage.

After all, Sheng Yunzi, as a semi-finished divine trial subject, had displayed astonishing power. Logically, Chu Tianqun, as Sheng Yunzi's father, should naturally be even stronger. In Xu Qing's memory, the opponent had been at the peak of the Nascent Soul realm two years ago.

Xu Qing pondered internally, madness rising in his eyes.

"The Heavenly Dao Azure Dragon can break this confinement, but it needs time!"

"Although I'm not his match, I... I have to fight with all I'm worth!"

Madness instantly appeared in Xu Qing's eyes. At this point, he clearly understood that he had to fight desperately to buy time. Thus, the moment Chu Tianqun charged, Xu Qing's vital energy surged, the eight Heavenly Palaces erupted, and the Golden Crow flared, continuing to erupt even after forming a nine-palace combat power.

Finally, as he approached ten-palace combat power, Xu Qing's aura soared to the heavens.

Chu Tianqun approached.

The two instantly collided in mid-air.

A sky-shaking roar erupted. Amidst the violent rumble, Xu Qing's body retreated several steps, and Chu Tianqun also fell back, disbelief in his eyes.

"He's still faking it!" Xu Qing was highly vigilant, and his trump card fully erupted.

The poison of his third Heavenly Palace was unleashed from his body with unprecedented intensity, wildly spreading in all directions. Wherever it passed, the surrounding sky and earth instantly blurred and twisted.

As this poison-forbidden power permeated, Xu Qing's unique alien substances were also born within this area, forming an invasion. Combined with the power of the poison pills, they sought to poison everything.

Chu Tianqun bore the brunt of it, immediately enveloped by the poison-forbidden power and assailed by the surrounding alien substances. His body instantly began to rot.

This scene made Chu Tianqun's expression change. His hands rapidly formed seals, golden light shone in his eyes, and the divine fluctuations within him spread out as he resisted with all his might.

"Even at this point, he's still faking it!" Xu Qing's heart sank. He felt that the opponent must be preparing some shocking technique, or perhaps trying to toy with him.

A cold light flashed in his eyes. Gritting his teeth fiercely, he continued to unleash his trump card without the slightest pause, expanding it fully and with all his might across the entire area.

With a wave of his hand, the Golden Crow materialized behind him, dozens of its tails sweeping across, flames soaring.

At this moment, the Golden Crow also fought with all its might, letting out a mournful roar, imbued with determination and a hint of madness, charging straight towards Chu Tianqun!

It displayed an intent to fight to the death. It sensed Xu Qing's madness and thus gritted its teeth and fought with everything.

It unleashed boundless red lightning tribulations without hesitation, heading straight for Chu Tianqun.

The shadow also fought desperately alongside them. It rapidly spread out from beneath Xu Qing's feet, encompassing a five-hundred-zhang radius, transforming the area into a Shadow Domain even as the poison permeated it. Innumerable eyes opened simultaneously, gazing fixedly at Chu Tianqun with crimson, frenzied stares.

"Die! Die! Die!!"

Countless roars emanated from within the Shadow Domain, turning into potent curses that enveloped Chu Tianqun.

All of this, like a furious storm, rushed towards Chu Tianqun with absolute resolve.

Chu Tianqun's expression changed drastically at this moment. He rapidly formed hand seals to display divine abilities, constantly blocking, but the surrounding poison was too potent, and Xu Qing had too many techniques. For a time, Chu Tianqun himself began to retreat.

"No, this isn't right. He's so strong, yet he's still retreating. He's about to unleash a trump card!"

Xu Qing's vigilance reached its peak. Gritting his teeth fiercely, he raised his right hand, making a grasping motion behind him. Following his internal intent, he suddenly pulled, as if gripping an invisible sword hilt, and abruptly slashed towards Chu Tianqun, who was feigning distress in front of him!

With this slash, the heavens and earth changed color, wind and clouds churned, and a brilliant sword light, radiating supreme might, erupted from Xu Qing's hand. With an overwhelming posture, it sped towards Chu Tianqun.

From a distance, the sword light before Xu Qing formed a world-shaking sword. This sword exuded imperial aura, carrying dominance, as if an emperor had personally descended to slay evil spirits between heaven and earth.

It was the Emperor Sword!

It wasn't over. Before the Emperor Sword even landed, Xu Qing's Purple Moon Heavenly Palace intensely vibrated. In an instant, the purple moon formed in his pupils transformed into a beam of purple light, casting onto Chu Tianqun's constantly retreating face.

It coalesced into a crescent shape!

Xu Qing was already fully prepared for the opponent to unleash a trump card. At this moment, veins bulged on his forehead. He waved his hands and pointed abruptly. Instantly, the power of the Purple Moon erupted on Chu Tianqun's face simultaneously with the descending Emperor Sword.

A mournful cry emanated from Chu Tianqun's mouth, and his body rumbled as if on the verge of collapse.

Xu Qing's eyes narrowed. His body instantly blurred, directly merging into his shadow, which granted him extreme physical power.

His terrifying physical body, now exceeding ten palaces, transformed into a speed truly comparable to lightning. As his dagger flashed, Xu Qing rushed towards Chu Tianqun, ready to face his trump card, and darted past him.

Xu Qing's dagger directly slashed open Chu Tianqun's neck.

In an instant, Chu Tianqun's head flew off, and his shattered, tormented body crashed to the ground with a thud.

Xu Qing stood there, panting and extremely vigilant. Upon seeing this scene, he was momentarily stunned.

"Dead?"