NABC Chapter 2131 Encirclement and Kill
Chapter 2131 Encirclement and Kill
Chapter 2131 Encirclement and Kill
Cao Feiyu looked at the vengeful demon's origin floating in front of her, then looked up at Shi Pojun's seemingly gentle smiling face. Anger surged in her chest, almost uncontrollable.
How could she not hear the hidden barb in Shi Pojun's words?
This is not about distributing spoils; it's clearly using the guise of distribution to exert pressure and issue warnings.
He blocked their path with his cultivation at the late stage of the half-step realm, using the excuse of camaraderie among fellow disciples and criticism from outsiders to forcibly give them these two sources of origin. He seemed generous, but in reality, he was declaring his dominance in a condescending manner and subtly drawing a line.
You can only take what I give you. If I don't give it to you, you can't fight for it. Even if I'm being unfair, you have to accept it.
This is even more disgusting than outright robbery.
Cao Feiyu wanted to smash the two clumps of essence with a single palm strike, but reason told her that turning against them at this moment would be unwise.
Shi Pojun is incredibly powerful, and Chang Guwu is clearly aligned with him. Chen Fei on their side is still weak, and they themselves are seriously injured. If they really fight, they have no chance of winning.
Moreover, although Shi Pojun's words about camaraderie among fellow disciples were hypocritical, they still occupied the surface of reason.
Cao Feiyu took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing her surging blood and anger, her face as if covered with a layer of eternal ice.
She didn't look at Shi Pojun again, but coldly waved her hand, and a gentle surge of Yuan energy swept out, collecting the two clumps of vengeful demonic essence.
"Now, can we leave? Senior Brother Shi?" Cao Feiyu's tone was cold and distant, with undisguised disgust.
Shi Pojun seemed completely oblivious to the coldness in Cao Feiyu's words, his smile unchanged as he stepped aside to make way for her.
"Of course, Junior Sister Cao, Junior Brother Chen, please make yourselves at home. But this ruin is fraught with danger, so please be careful."
Shi Pojun's tone remained gentle, even showing some concern, but his meaningful gaze sent a chill down one's spine.
Cao Feiyu said no more. She gripped Chen Fei's arm tightly and, disregarding her injuries, channeled her inner energy. The two of them transformed into two streaks of light, one blue and one white, instantly passing through the passage cleared by Shi Pojun and disappearing into the dark, deep corridor in the distance.
In the blink of an eye, it had vanished, leaving only a faint fluctuation of Yuan energy that quickly dissipated into the deathly silence.
The square fell silent again, with only a faint aura of death and dust drifting slowly. Only Shi Pojun and Chang Guwu remained, along with the two wisps of vengeful demonic mist on the ground that were gradually thinning.
The wind, seemingly slipping in from some crack, brought a low, mournful murmur, stirring up fine dust that swirled and drifted over the broken stone slabs, adding to the desolation and bleakness.
Shi Pojun remained standing in the same spot, his body as upright as a mountain, but his gaze lingered on the direction of the corridor where Cao Feiyu and the other person had disappeared. His usual composure seemed to have solidified into a mask, and only in the depths of his deep eyes were there an indescribable complex emotion surging.
Cold, scrutinizing, and with a hint of murderous intent perfectly concealed. He stood there quietly, like an ancient stone sculpture, only occasionally showing a trace of life when the hem of his robes was stirred by a gentle breeze.
Chang Guwu stood beside him, looking at his old friend in this state, and doubts grew and entangled in his heart like vines.
He knew Shi Pojun's character well: proud, assertive, and meticulous in planning, he was by no means someone who spoke without thinking.
The almost harsh allocation of resources to Cao Feiyu and Chen Fei, as well as the act of blocking their way at the end, all had an unusual meaning and could not be explained by simply allocating resources according to contributions.
He and Shi Pojun were bosom friends, having gone through several life-or-death situations together, and knew each other's temperaments and habits inside and out. At this moment, Shi Pojun's silence seemed more like a suppressed, brewing of some kind of decision.
After hesitating for a moment, Chang Guwu stepped forward, lowered his voice, and broke the suffocating silence:
"Brother Shi, what's going on...?"
His voice carried undisguised doubt and inquiry. He believed Shi Pojun must have a reason for doing this, but what was that reason? Was it merely because of his inexplicable dislike for Chen Fei?
That doesn't seem enough to explain the near-breakdown in their relationship. After all, even if there are some disagreements among fellow disciples, maintaining a facade of harmony and working together to deal with unknown risks is the best course of action in a dangerous place like the ruins.
Shi Pojun seemed to be awakened from some deep thoughts by Chang Guwu's voice. He slowly withdrew his gaze, and the complex emotions in his eyes receded like the tide, returning to the calm of an ancient well.
He didn't answer Chang Guwu's question directly. Instead, he turned his head and looked towards the darker passageway on the other side of the square, which seemed to lead to a deeper part of the ruins. He asked in a calm voice:
"Yan Qing... she should be arriving soon, right?"
The words "Yan Qing" came out of his mouth with a gentleness that was different from usual, but more so with a calmness that confirmed the facts.
Chang Guwu was slightly taken aback, then suddenly realized and nodded, saying, "Yes, based on the previous sensations and the response from the communication talisman, she should not be far from here. She should be able to arrive in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea."
In the hearts of Shi Pojun and Chang Guwu, the name Liu Yanqing represented absolute trust and reliability.
She was not a cultivator from the Danchen Sect, but rather came from the Tianyin Pavilion, a medium-sized sect renowned for its array formations and musical techniques.
Years ago, the three met during an extremely dangerous exploration of a secret realm. They fought side by side, sharing life and death, and forged a deep friendship. Liu Yanqing was not only Shi Pojun's confidante, but also a life-and-death friend whom he and Chang Guwu could entrust with their backs without reservation.
Her cultivation was profound, having reached the peak of the mid-stage of the Tai Cang Realm. She was especially skilled in using formations to trap enemies and in using music to disturb their spirits. Combined with Shi Pojun's frontal assault and Chang Guwu's treacherous attacks, the three of them worked together, their power multiplied.
"It's alright."
Shi Pojun waved his hand, his voice still devoid of much emotion, "Even if Chen Fei hadn't appeared, and we had held our ground and waited for reinforcements until Yan Qing arrived, then the three of us could have taken down those two vengeful demons. It would have just been a bit more work."
He spoke casually, but his words revealed his trust in Liu Yanqing's abilities and his confidence in the three of them working together.
Indeed, with their teamwork and strength, even without Chen Fei's illusion-breaking technique, defeating those two vengeful demons was only a matter of time; the process might just be more tortuous and exhausting.
Chang Guwu nodded, having no objection.
He was increasingly puzzled. The vengeful demon had been exorcised, and Shi Pojun's deliberate mention of Liu Yanqing's upcoming arrival reminded him of his earlier attitude towards Cao Feiyu and the other person...
A vague idea quietly surfaced in his mind. He looked at Shi Pojun, waiting for him to continue.
Shi Pojun did not explain immediately. He turned his gaze back to the entrance of the corridor where Cao Feiyu and Chen Fei had disappeared. The deep darkness seemed to devour all light and reflected the growing chill in his eyes.
The howling wind in the square seemed to pause for a moment, and the air became heavy.
After a moment of silence, Shi Pojun spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but like a cold wind blowing from the deepest ice cave, carrying a resolute indifference:
"When Yan Qing arrives, please do me a favor."
He paused, then turned his gaze to Chang Guwu, his eyes sharp as knives, no longer concealing the resolute killing intent contained within them.
"The three of us joined forces..."
Shi Pojun's voice was even lower, yet all the clearer, carrying a metallic, abrasive quality. He enunciated each word clearly, uttering the second half of the sentence:
"Chen Fei and Cao Feiyu were killed here, right here in these ancient ruins."
Even though he had a premonition, Chang Guwu was still taken aback when Shi Pojun uttered the word "kill".
Why is that?
Chang Guwu suppressed his surprise, his voice unconsciously lowering as well, "Once it leaks..."
He couldn't understand why Shi Pojun would suddenly try to kill these two.
"Because my nephew died at the hands of Chen Fei. I didn't have the chance before, but now that I'm here, I naturally want to avenge him!"
"And he's growing too fast. I can sense his murderous intent towards me. Now is the time to eliminate him and prevent future troubles!" Shi Pojun stared at the dark corridor, his tone chilling.
Chang Guwu remained silent for a moment, then finally nodded and said, "Brother Shi, I understand. I will help you with this matter."
No unnecessary words, no hypocritical excuses; a few simple words clearly stated our position. This is the kind of friendship that transcends life and death; no further explanation is needed.
But then, Chang Guwu frowned slightly and raised a new question, which was also the biggest puzzle in his mind.
“But… Brother Shi, Chen Fei is only at the early stage of the Tai Cang Realm, and Cao Feiyu, although at the mid stage, is already seriously injured and his strength is greatly diminished. If we had wanted to, the two of us could have easily captured and killed them on the spot without even needing Yan Qing. Why did we have to wait for Yan Qing to arrive before we could join forces?”
Chang Guwu paused, glanced at the remaining traces of the battle on the ground, and continued, "The distribution of the vengeful demon's essence just now was an excellent excuse to launch an attack... Why let them leave and then plan for what to do next?"
Chang Guwu's doubts were not without reason. With Shi Pojun's cultivation at the late stage of the half-step Tai Cang Realm, plus his strength at the mid-stage of the Tai Cang Realm, dealing with a heavily injured mid-stage cultivator and Chen Fei, who had just entered the Tai Cang Realm, seemed like an overwhelming victory.
Even if Chen Fei's illusion-breaking technique is somewhat miraculous, how much of a role can it play in a direct confrontation with an absolute difference in strength?
Shi Pojun is known for his decisiveness and ruthlessness. Given his murderous intent and absolute advantage, why didn't he act decisively instead of waiting for Liu Yanqing to arrive before making a plan?
Upon hearing Chang Guwu's question, Shi Pojun did not answer immediately. Instead, he slowly closed his eyes, seemingly recalling something. After a moment, he reopened his eyes. The killing intent in his eyes had not diminished, but instead, there was an unprecedented solemnity and caution.
"Brother Chang, you are unaware of something."
Shi Pojun's voice lowered, "That kid... is definitely not as simple as he seems on the surface. I always felt that there was something strange about him."
"Strange?" Chang Guwu's eyes narrowed, and he pressed, "Brother Shi, are you referring to his illusion-breaking technique? It is indeed profound, but ultimately it is a support skill, not for direct combat..."
"It's not just about breaking illusions."
Shi Pojun shook his head, his gaze becoming deep. "Brother Chang, Chen Fei has only been a disciple of my Danchen Sect for a few months. What kind of technique is the Undying True Light Mirror? It is known for its profound and obscure nature and extremely slow progress. Often, even after decades of hard work, one may not be able to grasp the basics, let alone use it against an enemy."
Shi Pojun slowly exhaled: "But you just saw how exquisite the illusions of those two vengeful demons were. They created illusions and reality, confusing the mind and bewildering the soul. Even you and I would have difficulty seeing through them in a short time if we didn't use our full spiritual sense to attack them and combine them with special techniques."
But Chen Fei, with only the early stage of the Tai Cang Realm cultivation, caused those layers of illusions to vanish without a trace in the blink of an eye. What kind of skill is this?
Shi Pojun's voice carried a complex emotion that he himself was unaware of, a mixture of fear and confusion.
“I have also practiced this method for many years, and I have devoted countless efforts to this path, but I can honestly say that I could never achieve his level of insight into the essence. How long has he been practicing?”
Chang Guwu's expression gradually became serious as he listened. He had only been amazed by Chen Fei's skill in breaking illusions, but had not thought deeply about the meaning behind it.
Now, listening to Shi Pojun's detailed explanation, it truly seems unbelievable. There are no shortcuts in cultivation, especially for such a top-tier technique that directly points to the Great Dao, which requires even more painstaking effort. Chen Fei's progress is almost unreasonable.
“I always like to go all out when I do things. Since I’ve decided to kill him, I have to make sure there are no mistakes, leave him no chance to turn the tables, and leave no potential hidden dangers.”
Shi Pojun raised his head, his gaze seemingly piercing through the many barriers of the ruins, looking in the direction Liu Yanqing might have come from, and also in the dark depths where Cao Feiyu and Chen Fei had disappeared:
“Although Cao Feiyu is injured, she is still at the mid-stage of the Tai Cang Realm. Chen Fei is even more unpredictable. With just the two of us, there's no guarantee that nothing unexpected will happen, but if we add Yan Qing…”
A cold killing intent flashed in Shi Pojun's eyes: "Yan Qing's array formations and musical techniques are most adept at trapping enemies, disturbing their minds, and cutting off their escape routes. With her help, the three of us can join forces to lay a net of heaven and earth, and strike with the force of thunder, giving them no chance to react or struggle."
"We must ensure a swift and decisive kill, annihilating them completely, so that the dangers deep within these ruins become their final resting place, and all possible doubts are obliterated here."
Chang Guwu nodded silently, the last trace of doubt in his eyes disappearing, replaced by a calm and murderous aura before a hunt.
Shi Pojun's caution was not without reason; when dealing with an enemy who might be hiding secrets and dangers, no amount of caution is too much.
The two fell silent and began to meditate, waiting for Liu Yanqing to arrive.
In the square, only the howling wind and the faint whispers of an unknown entity in the distance could be heard.
"Whoosh!"
A clear, melodious sound, like the gentle tinkling of jade, came swiftly from afar.
The next instant, a pale purple streak of light swept out from the passageway at the other end of the square. The light receded, revealing a slender figure.
The newcomer wore a well-tailored light purple silk dress, the hem of which was embroidered with intricate and mysterious cloud patterns in silver thread, swaying slightly as she appeared, like ripples on water.
The visitor was none other than Shi Pojun's confidante, Liu Yanqing, a true disciple of Tianyin Pavilion.
As soon as Liu Yanqing landed, her clear, autumn-water-like eyes quickly swept across the entire square.
The ground was crisscrossed with huge ravines, shattered stone slabs, scattered traces of battle, and the air still lingered with the pure death energy and remnants of soul power left behind by the fallen mid-stage Tai Cang Realm vengeful demons...
A clear look of surprise flashed across Liu Yanqing's exquisitely beautiful face. Her delicate brows furrowed slightly as she looked at Shi Pojun and Chang Guwu who were approaching, her voice clear and melodious like a mountain stream:
"Brother Shi, Brother Chang, have you killed those two vengeful demons?"
She paused, her gaze sweeping across the battlefield again, especially the traces of battle, and continued, "Judging from these traces, the battle seems to have ended some time ago? But I just received a message from Brother Chang, clearly asking me to come quickly to help surround and kill the vengeful demon. Could it be that you have already found a way to counter the vengeful demon's illusion?"
Chang Guwu sent his message when the attack had stalled. Based on her speed, Liu Yanqing estimated that when she arrived, the battle should have been at its most intense, and she might even have needed to join the fight to secure victory.
But the scene before them clearly showed that the battle had already ended, and Shi Pojun and Chang Guwu had even taken a short break to rest.
Faced with Liu Yanqing's question, Chang Guwu smiled and explained, "Sister Yanqing, you're not late, but the battle situation changed and ended a little faster than expected."
He pointed to the remaining traces of the battle on the ground, then to the direction of the corridor where Chen Fei and Cao Feiyu had disappeared, and continued:
"Just as we were locked in a fierce battle with those two vengeful demons and struggling to break their illusionary scheme, a Tai Cang Realm cultivator from Brother Shi's sect happened to pass by and used a rather profound illusion-breaking technique to shatter the vengeful demons' illusionary world in one fell swoop, rendering their greatest reliance instantly ineffective."
Upon hearing this, Liu Yanqing's bright eyes showed even greater surprise: "Oh? Brother Shi's sect actually has a disciple who is so proficient in breaking illusions? His cultivation level must be quite high, at least at the mid-stage of the Tai Cang Realm?"
She had known Shi Pojun for many years and had heard of some of the famous techniques of the Danchen Sect. The ingenuity of an illusion technique that even Shi Pojun and Chang Guwu struggled to break in a short time was evident.
Chang Guwu shook his head, a complex smile on his face: "No, the newcomer's cultivation is only at the early stage of the Tai Cang Realm."
"Early stage of the Tai Cang Realm?" Liu Yanqing was slightly taken aback.
Although there is only a minor realm difference between the early and middle stages of the Tai Cang Realm, the difference in strength is often enormous. How could an early-stage cultivator break through an illusion that troubled two middle-stage cultivators?
"and,"
Chang Guwu added, "What he used was the Danchen Sect's Undying True Suchness Spiritual Mirror, a technique known for its profound and obscure nature."
"The Immortal True Light Mirror?" Liu Yanqing murmured repeatedly.
As Shi Pojun's confidante, she had naturally heard him mention this technique and knew how difficult it was to cultivate and how slow the progress was.
Shi Pojun himself possessed exceptional talent and had cultivated for many years, achieving considerable mastery of this technique. However, even he seemed unable to quickly decipher the illusion of the vengeful demon. How could a disciple at the early stage of the Tai Cang Realm have cultivated this technique to such a degree?
"With his early-stage Tai Cang Realm cultivation, he actually managed to break through that illusion in one fell swoop by using the Undying True Light Mirror..."
Liu Yanqing murmured to herself, her eyes sparkling with admiration, "This boy's mastery of this technique has probably reached an astonishing level. He is truly gifted and has exceptional comprehension."
She looked up at Shi Pojun, puzzled, and asked, "Brother Shi, since you have such a skilled fellow disciple who is adept at breaking illusions to help you, why didn't you keep him here? This ancient ruin is fraught with danger, and there must be many illusions and illusions. With him here, wouldn't the exploration be much safer and avoid many risks? Why let him leave?"