Chapter 688: Being Struck by Lightning for Showing Off

The Crown Prince of Qi frowned slightly. "Who are you trying to scare with that broken fire poker?"

The Tai'a Sword was unadorned, not gleaming like a typical divine weapon, but appearing somewhat rusty and dull. It was no wonder he mocked it as a fire poker.

"Then perhaps you'd like to experience what it feels like to be poked a few times by this fire poker?" Zu An said with a grin. He wondered if the Crown Prince of Qi would be foolish enough to accept the challenge; if so, he'd teach him a swift lesson.

"Do you take me for a fool?" The Crown Prince of Qi didn't play into his hands. While he didn't believe this flimsy sword could penetrate his elemental shield, he certainly wasn't going to stand there idly and let someone strike him.

"Since you're unwilling, don't blame me for using force." As Zu An finished speaking, he appeared beside the Crown Prince of Qi with incredibly ghostly speed, his sword thrusting towards him at an impossibly strange angle.

The Crown Prince of Qi's expression sharpened. The man's movements were so bizarre that he dared not be careless. Fortunately, his lightning-based abilities gave him an advantage in speed, allowing him to flash aside, evade, and counterattack simultaneously.

Their figures flickered in and out of sight, a dazzling blur to onlookers.

Murong Qinghe was wide-eyed. "How is your brother-in-law so strong?"

This scene somewhat defied her understanding. As a martial arts enthusiast, though her cultivation was unremarkable in the capital, she was still exceptional among her peers. She also possessed excellent judgment, having been immersed in a household of masters since childhood. Her discerning eye was far superior to those who merely trained in isolation.

From every angle, Zu An shouldn't have been a match for the Crown Prince of Qi. After all, Zhao Zhi was an eighth-rank master!

Yet, the two were now fighting on equal footing?

No, she even sensed that the Crown Prince of Qi was gradually being pushed onto the defensive.

Zu An's footwork was so uncanny that his swordplay seemed to appear and vanish like a phantom, evoking a chilling, ghostly aura even from afar.

Miss Chu wielded the same sword art with the grace of a fairy, but when this man performed it, his demeanor was strikingly different.

Beside her, Chu Youzhao proudly puffed out her chest. "Of course! He is my brother-in-law, after all."

Murong Qinghe pursed her lips. Only a few months ago, this same person had been constantly complaining about her brother-in-law, even wondering if her own sister was blind. Now, she had changed so quickly.

At this moment, the Crown Prince of Qi was both surprised and furious. "Very well, you've successfully captured my attention. You are worthy of me drawing my sword."

Given his eighth-rank cultivation, he had initially thought defeating Zu An would be effortless and disdained using a weapon, fearing it would diminish his prestige.

But now, the situation compelled him. He had intended to wait for his opponent's vital energy to deplete, which would naturally make his movements sluggish. However, for some reason, the other's aura was incredibly sustained, and this high-intensity combat seemed to have no effect on him at all.

If this continued, he feared his opponent would injure him before he could wear them down.

As a dignified eighth-rank expert, failing to subdue a mere punk and even getting injured would surely ruin his standing in the capital's circles.

"Still trying to act tough," Zu An scoffed, curling his lip. "If you're so powerful, then don't draw your sword. I'll lop off your third leg in minutes."

The Crown Prince of Qi's face flushed. Several times, he had narrowly avoided being stabbed by Zu An's sword. While he had initially been confident his elemental shield could withstand the blows, Zu An's sword kept targeting his lower regions, and he frankly lacked the confidence to defend against it with his "little brother."

He drew his sword without a word, rage boiling in his heart. "Even if I don't kill him today, I'll chop off his hands and feet, and cut out that annoying tongue."

A massive surge of rage emanated from Zhao Zhi...

Seeing the two locked in combat, Murong Qinghe blinked and turned to Chu Youzhao. "Brother Chu, what exactly is a 'third leg'?"

As a martial arts enthusiast, she was intimately familiar with matters of cultivation, but this term was truly outside her realm of knowledge.

"Children shouldn't ask about such things," Chu Youzhao said, her pretty face slightly flushed. She hadn't understood it herself initially, but after witnessing Zu An pressing against her sister in their room that day, she had instinctively comprehended the meaning of a "third leg" without needing to be taught.

"You talk as if you're so much older than me," Murong Qinghe mumbled, irritated by being dismissed as too young. Just as she was about to speak, she noticed a blush on his jade-like cheeks and felt her heart flutter. Brother Chu was truly handsome, a dashing and refined young man with perfect lips and teeth.

While Murong Qinghe was lost in infatuation, the Crown Prince of Qi's mood was anything but good. Given his family background and status, his personal sword was naturally a top-tier divine weapon. He had expected to easily slice through the "broken junk" in his opponent's hand, yet after several clashes, that "fire poker" remained completely unscathed.

"Is there something wrong with how I left home today?" he wondered.

The Crown Prince of Qi began to question reality. It was bad enough that he, an eighth-rank expert, couldn't swiftly defeat a lower-rank cultivator, but his divine weapon couldn't even cut through his opponent's unremarkable weapon. What was happening?

Despite his confusion, he remained entirely focused. He unleashed a brilliant move, instantly striking his opponent in the thigh.

"Hmph, let's see what you do now!" The smile that had just begun to form on his face froze instantly, as the sensation on his sword tip felt wrong.

As expected, the Zu An he had struck gradually dissipated.

Another afterimage!

Without turning his head, he immediately thrust his sword backward.

Not far away, Chu Youzhao gasped. From her vantage point, Zu An had seized the opportunity to flash behind the Crown Prince of Qi for a sneak attack. Yet, the Crown Prince's reaction was so swift that it seemed as though he had deliberately thrust his own chest onto the sword tip.

Further away, the gap-toothed coachman felt the lady in the carriage lean forward. Knowing her concern, he explained, "Please rest assured, Madam. This young man's footwork is extremely skilled; he hasn't been injured."

The woman in the carriage then let out a subtle sigh of relief.

Meanwhile, the Crown Prince of Qi's expression also shifted, as he realized he had struck only air once more.

He instantly attempted to dodge, but it was a step too late. A sharp pain erupted in his thigh, and a cloud of blood mist bloomed.

The Crown Prince of Qi roared, his long sword dancing wildly, as a violent lightning bolt burst forth, scattering in all directions. This single move was powerful enough to take half of an opponent's life.

Unfortunately, Zu An didn't press his advantage. After landing a hit, he immediately retreated, causing the Crown Prince's powerful move to strike empty air.

"You actually broke through my defense!" The Crown Prince of Qi looked down at the bleeding wound on his leg, filled with both shock and fury.

A fresh surge of fury emanated from Zhao Zhi...

If not for his cultivator's instinctive crisis warning, which made him dodge sideways at the last moment, he might have already said goodbye to his "little brother."

Zu An secretly cursed his luck, knowing that eighth-rank cultivators indeed possessed many hidden techniques. Otherwise, that last strike would have finished him. "Who was just boasting that my attacks couldn't even penetrate your shield? If you don't believe me, I'll give you another chance to try."

Zhao Zhi's eyes turned cold. He glanced warily at the Tai'a Sword in Zu An's hand, realizing that the oddity most likely stemmed from it. "I admit, I did underestimate you before. But do you truly believe you can defeat me with just a peculiar sword?"

"Are you a duck? Your mouth is still so stubborn right now," Zu An retorted mockingly.

Even Chu Youzhao and Murong Qinghe, who were not far off, subconsciously nodded. They, too, felt the Crown Prince of Qi had lost face this time. A loss was a loss, even if by half a move.

He was, after all, a dignified eighth-rank master, pushed to such a state and even injured by a lower-ranked martial artist. What good were all those grand words now?

Conversely, the gap-toothed coachman in the distance frowned. "That boy is in danger," he murmured.

He had originally hoped for a response from the lady in the carriage, allowing him to elaborate further. But there was no sound from within, and all his eloquent words fell on deaf ears, leaving him feeling frustrated.

At this moment, Zhao Zhi's hair tie had unknowingly snapped. His once neatly combed hair now billowed in the air as if caught by a phantom wind, and his pupils had taken on a violet hue. "Do you know the difference between an eighth-rank cultivator and a lower-ranked one?"

Feeling his aura continuously rising, Zu An's expression subtly changed. He recalled the fundamental knowledge he had learned at the academy.

Sixth-rank cultivators could form elemental shields, virtually precluding lower-ranked cultivators from challenging those above their level. This was considered the first qualitative leap in the path of cultivation.

The eighth-rank, however, marked the second qualitative leap in cultivation. Prior to reaching the eighth-rank, cultivators primarily relied on their own stored spiritual energy from heaven and earth—in essence, their own strength. But upon reaching the eighth-rank, they gained the ability to harness the power of heaven and earth itself!

Even in a technologically advanced world like his previous life, where humanity could journey through space and explore the deep sea, a mere typhoon, earthquake, or tsunami could unleash energy equivalent to countless atomic bombs.

Compared to the power of heaven and earth, humanity remained ultimately insignificant.

And at this moment, he could keenly feel the spiritual energy of heaven and earth surging wildly towards the Crown Prince of Qi.

Noticing Zu An's change in expression, the Crown Prince of Qi finally revealed a hint of satisfaction. "It seems you've realized. I originally didn't want to cause such a commotion in the capital, but you've forced my hand. Allow me to demonstrate the true terror of an eighth-rank cultivator!"

No sooner had he spoken than he shot forward like a cannonball, slamming into Zu An. His speed was so immense that even Chu Youzhao and Murong Qinghe, who had been watching the battle intently, couldn't react in time.

Zu An was greatly astonished. His opponent's speed was countless times faster than before. It was too late to dodge, so he gritted his teeth and thrust his sword directly towards the Crown Prince's vital points. As the saying goes, "when two brave men meet on a narrow path, the braver wins." He didn't believe this man, with his precious body, would be willing to trade injuries or lives with him.

"A lowly commoner always has this suicidal fighting spirit," the Crown Prince of Qi sneered. "Unfortunately, that means nothing in the face of absolute power!"

As he spoke, he effortlessly parried the Tai'a Sword with his own. At his current speed, his opponent's desperate strike was a mere joke in his eyes.

Simultaneously, he threw a punch, from which a white surge of energy emanated. It was moving so fast that it had already broken the sound barrier, creating a sonic boom, much like the fighter jets from Zu An's previous life.

Zu An raised his hand to block, but was a step too slow, taking the punch squarely in the chest.

The sound of bones shattering echoed, and Zu An, like a tattered sandbag, arced through the air before crashing heavily to the ground.

"Brother-in-law!" Chu Youzhao cried out in alarm. She had even seen the blood spewing from Zu An's mouth as he fell through the air, like a tragic rainbow.

She quickly ran over and stood in front of Zu An. "Prince, please show mercy."

"Brother Chu!" Murong Qinghe exclaimed in alarm, rushing after her. The combat power of an eighth-rank cultivator was terrifying; even a minor ripple from the battle could cost him his life.

Even so, she instinctively ran to Chu Youzhao's side, attempting to shield him.

The Crown Prince of Qi stopped about ten feet in front of the two, frowning. "For the sake of the Qin and Murong families, step aside, and I can pretend nothing happened."

Murong Qinghe urgently pulled Chu Youzhao. "Yes, Brother Chu, this is a battle between your brother-in-law and the Prince. Besides, your presence here is useless. Hurry and come to the side."

She was primarily concerned about Chu Youzhao's safety, and secondarily, as the Murong family was a staunch supporter of Prince Qi, she wanted to avoid any conflict with the Crown Prince that might jeopardize relations between their families.

As for Zu An, it was somewhat unfortunate, but his initial arrogance had certainly played a part.

As a martial arts enthusiast, she always recognized only victory or defeat in fair duels.

"No!" Chu Youzhao cried out, trembling with fear but refusing to move an inch.

She wasn't sure if it was for her sister, or because her brother-in-law had saved her life and dignity several times. She only knew that she couldn't retreat now, or she would surely regret it for the rest of her life.

The Crown Prince of Qi's face hardened. "Young Master Chu, don't refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit!"

The Chu family of Mingyue City was indeed influential, but after repeatedly rejecting their overtures, they had grown quite displeased.

The reason he had spoken so gently to her before was not because of the Chu family, but out of respect for the Qin family.

But if the other party continued to be so imprudent, then even if something untoward occurred, the two dukes of the Qin family wouldn't be able to fault him.

Feeling the oppressive aura of the eighth-rank expert, Chu Youzhao trembled. She thought, "If only my sister were here. I'm still so young, and my cultivation isn't high. He could crush me with a single finger. Why must I face such a terrifying situation?"

However, she quickly realized that even if her sister were present, she would still be no match for an eighth-rank expert.

Despite her extreme fear, she stubbornly spread her arms, not moving an inch.

"Brother Chu!" Murong Qinghe was also anxious. She even considered knocking him unconscious and dragging him away, reasoning that even if he blamed her later, at least his life would be saved.

Just then, a voice came from behind them. "Youzhao, do you have so little faith in your brother-in-law?"

Chu Youzhao's body trembled. She looked back in disbelief to see Zu An standing behind them, smiling at her.

"Brother-in-law!" Chu Youzhao exclaimed, both surprised and delighted. "Are you alright?"

Zu An shook his head slightly. "Don't worry, his little punches are barely a tickle to me. They're nothing at all."

Beside him, the once-arrogant Crown Prince of Qi's pupils contracted. "This is impossible!"

He had been absolutely certain that punch had shattered his opponent's breastbone. How could he be standing as if nothing had happened, and how was his aura even slightly stronger than before?

Zu An ignored him, turning instead to Chu Youzhao. "Youzhao, please step aside for now. I still have a score to settle with the Prince."

It must be said that the Chu sisters, though initially proud and aloof, were quite soft-hearted beneath their strong exteriors. His efforts to save her these past few times had not been in vain.

"Okay!" Seeing him safe and sound, Chu Youzhao happily moved to the side.

Murong Qinghe was speechless, thinking, "I tried so hard to convince you just now, and you wouldn't budge. But your brother-in-law says one word, and you happily scamper off."

After they had moved away, Zu An finally turned to the Crown Prince of Qi. "It's time we settled our business."

"Why are you completely unharmed?" Even when the Crown Prince of Qi had been previously stabbed, he hadn't panicked, feeling entirely in control. But now, he was genuinely flustered. Humans always harbor fear of the unknown.

Zu An chuckled softly. "Who told you to be so weak? Your punch was barely a tickle."

The Crown Prince of Qi gasped. His punch could demolish a city wall, yet this man called it a mere tickle. "Hmph, I don't know what secret art you used to recover so quickly, but let's see how many more hits you can withstand."

No sooner had he spoken than he swiftly attacked Zu An again. In his mind, such a miraculous secret art surely came with a steep price, and Zu An would eventually collapse.

But for Zu An, the *Primordial Chaos Scripture* offered powerful physical regeneration, while the *Phoenix Nirvana Scripture* actually allowed him to increase his cultivation by taking damage. Zu An had initially considered using this opportunity to simultaneously raise the levels of both scriptures.

However, with his sister-in-law and others watching, being too severely beaten would undeniably tarnish his magnificent image.

Forget it, he needed to save face!

In front of so many people, Zu An simply couldn't bring himself to endure a beating, so he decided to end the fight swiftly.

It was then that the Crown Prince of Qi made a horrifying discovery: his opponent's speed and strength had suddenly increased manyfold, now matching his own. Coupled with Zu An's bizarre movements, this actually pushed him onto the defensive.

It should be known that the Crown Prince was only at the early stage of eighth-rank, while Zu An was already at the peak of seventh-rank. Furthermore, Zu An's cultivation level was inherently different from others; his actual standing was significantly higher than a typical peak seventh-rank.

Therefore, when truly calculated in terms of cultivation, the Crown Prince of Qi was actually the weaker party.

But the Crown Prince of Qi was unaware of this. The more he fought, the more his heart pounded with alarm. After sustaining several more injuries, he finally became terrified, letting out a roar. Abandoning close-quarters combat, he directly unleashed his ultimate move.

"Overlord's Sacred Thunder!"

His body slowly ascended, his hands spread wide, and his entire form radiated a blue-violet light. He became intensely bright, as if transforming into a massive sphere of lightning.

Lightning bolts as thick as arms, like chains, shot out from him in all directions, completely engulfing an area roughly thirty meters in radius. Electrical sparks flickered everywhere within, transforming it into a sea of lightning.

The Crown Prince of Qi's voice, thick with menace, rang out: "Dodge, go on, dodge again! What good is your miraculous footwork now? This entire area is a sea of lightning. Where can you hide? Prepare to face the consequences of angering this prince."

Chu Youzhao's face was rendered deathly pale by the lightning's glow. Remembering their earlier lesson, Murong Qinghe quickly grabbed her, holding her tightly.

The woman in the distant carriage could no longer remain composed. "Go save him!" she urgently commanded.

The gap-toothed coachman's expression became solemn. Just as he was about to rise, he suddenly halted. "Perhaps I won't need to intervene," he murmured.

In the center of the lightning field, Zu An sighed. "Do you know what I hate most in this life? It's lightning!"

It was, after all, a ball of lightning that had caused his transmigration; he truly had no desire to experience that sensation again.

"You hate lightning, yet you're about to be punished by me with lightning, and there's nothing you can do about it. Isn't that utterly infuriating?" The Crown Prince of Qi finally felt a surge of satisfaction. This fellow had consistently humiliated him, and now it was time for him to taste the consequences of his disrespect. "I'll give you one last chance. If you kneel down now and kowtow to me a hundred times, I might consider sparing your life."

It had been a long time since anyone had pushed him to such an extent. Only by publicly humiliating Zu An could he truly quench the hatred in his heart.

Zu An chuckled. "Then I'll give you a chance too. If you kneel down and kowtow to me a thousand times right now, I'll spare your life."

The Crown Prince of Qi was enraged. "Since you wish to die, then I shall grant your wish!"

"Thunder God, aid me!"

He pointed both hands to the sky, and thunderclouds churned in the sky above the thirty-meter radius. Anyone could feel the terrifying pressure within.

Immediately after, lightning flashed, and bolts of lightning revealed their ferocious forms.

Just then, a massive orb of water suddenly appeared, striking the Crown Prince of Qi in mid-air.

In that instant, he was drenched like a drowned chicken. Immediately afterward, countless lightning bolts that had been aimed at Zu An abruptly shifted course, all striking the Crown Prince of Qi instead.

"Son of a—" The Crown Prince of Qi only managed to utter a single curse before he was blasted, cooked crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and fell stiffly from mid-air.