Chapter 121: The Terrifying Rain of Blades

“Leader Tiemu, although the head of the Nangong family is absent, none of us here could defeat you in single combat,” Nangong Hao said honestly, despite his deep displeasure at Tiemu Qiu’s strength. Ye Cheng could hear the resentment in his voice. “However, Leader Tiemu, although you have already broken through to the Great Completion stage of the Ancient Core Realm, I imagine your cultivation has yet to stabilize completely. With the strength of the four of us old fellows, if you insist on making things difficult for Young Brother Ye, we will stake our lives and fight you to the bitter end.”

By the end of his speech, Nangong Hao’s tone had grown increasingly grave. In the past, when Tiemu Qiu had only been at the peak of the Minor Completion stage of the Ancient Core Realm, Nangong Hao might still have been able to contend with him. But now that Tiemu Qiu had reached Great Completion, even if the four of them joined forces, they had little confidence of victory.

“Young Brother Ye, rest assured. With us old fellows here, that old Tiemu devil won’t be able to touch a hair on your head.” Xie Cang cast Tiemu Qiu an irritated glance, a solemn look flashing across his face before he turned to Ye Cheng and thumped his chest in assurance.

“Thank you, Senior Xie Cang, and Senior Nangong Hao, for your help today.” Ye Cheng clasped his fists toward the two men in gratitude. Seeing how readily Nangong Hao and the others were helping him, Ye Cheng knew that although part of it was because he had agreed to fight on behalf of their family, that alone was not enough to make them go this far. There was undoubtedly a debt of goodwill involved as well.

“Hahaha, you’ll fight me to the bitter end? Without Nangong Xiong here, what can a few old fellows like you possibly do to me?” Tiemu Qiu laughed arrogantly. “I’m taking this brat. As for you old fellows meddling in my affairs, that depends on whether you have the ability to do so.”

A curved saber appeared in Tiemu Qiu’s hand. His figure tore through space as he repeatedly slashed viciously at Nangong Hao, Xie Cang, and the other two stewards standing in front of Ye Cheng.

Arc-shaped blades of light, each seeming brighter than the sun itself, swept toward them one after another, carrying terrifying fluctuations of elemental energy.

Feeling the dreadful power spreading from the blades, Nangong Hao’s expression tightened. “Tiemu Qiu’s strength at the Great Completion stage of the Ancient Core Realm has yet to stabilize. If the four of us join forces, we should be able to fight him. Everyone, join hands!”

The other three stewards agreed with Nangong Hao. Within the Ancient Core Realm, the gap between two minor stages was like an impassable ravine. To deal with Tiemu Qiu, the four old men would have to work together.

Nangong Hao and the others unleashed their full strength simultaneously. Four streams of elemental energy converged before them, forming a protective barrier intended to neutralize Tiemu Qiu’s attack.

Bang!

The blades of light crashed heavily into the barrier. Under the four men’s concentrated gazes, it trembled violently, but in the end, it wore away the attack without being breached.

Seeing that the barrier had held, the members of the Nangong family breathed a sigh of relief.

“Old Tiemu devil, looks like your attacks aren’t anything special!” Xie Cang shouted with a curled lip.

“Hmph. Is that so?” A trace of mockery appeared in the corner of Tiemu Qiu’s eye. He raised his curved saber above his head and began to spin, transforming into a storm of blades. With his body carrying the saber, waves of energy churned violently, and the entire martial arena began to shake.

“What technique is Tiemu Qiu using? The momentum is terrifying. It feels as though the entire earth is trembling!”

“He’s incredibly strong. Who would have thought Tiemu Qiu would be so ruthless, attacking the Nangong family openly and without the slightest hesitation?”

“In this world, strength is everything. In my opinion, Tiemu Qiu is now completely suppressing even the Nangong family’s four stewards. It seems the Nangong family’s position is truly in danger this time.”

The commotion produced by the battle between Ancient Core Realm experts forced the martial artists who had come merely to watch the spectacle to retreat a considerable distance. They feared that one careless moment might leave them caught in the aftermath of the battle, which would be disastrous.

Sighs and exclamations continued to rise from the crowd. The Nangong family had ruled Eternal City for a hundred years, and their might had long since become deeply rooted in the hearts of ordinary martial artists.

Yet even the most powerful force would eventually face moments of peril. In this world, nothing could ever remain an immutable law.

“Whirling Blade Technique…”

With his body carrying the saber, Tiemu Qiu sent countless blades of light raining down from the sky. Those that struck the ground gouged out deep cracks. Seeing this, Nangong Hao and the other three stewards immediately recognized that this was likely Tiemu Qiu’s ultimate killing move.

The storm of blades was formed entirely from elemental energy, yet its sharpness was astonishing. Anyone below the Ancient Core Realm who was caught in it would likely be shredded into pieces in an instant.

Tiemu Qiu moved with incredible speed. In Ye Cheng’s eyes, the attack appeared before he even had time to react. Countless blades of light descended in an instant, enveloping Nangong Hao and the other three stewards.

“I never intended to deal with you so soon. But since you’re so eager to meet the King of Hell, I’ll gladly grant your wish.” Tiemu Qiu extended his blood-red tongue and licked his upper lip like a snake before giving a sinister laugh.

“Quickly! The blades are impossible to guard against from every direction. We’ll have to join forces and form the Golden Shield Formation.” Xie Cang’s expression changed, and he hurriedly transmitted his voice.

Nangong Hao exchanged a glance with the other two stewards and nodded in succession. The four men crossed their hands, unleashing the terrifying elemental energy of the Minor Completion stage of the Ancient Core Realm. In an instant, a golden cauldron dozens of yards tall appeared and shielded them within.

“The Golden Shield Formation?” Tiemu Qiu glanced at it disdainfully. He then swept his curved saber downward. The densely packed storm of blades, as torrential as rain, crashed onto the golden shield above Nangong Hao and the others. Blades of light flashed in every direction as the golden cauldron shook violently, ringing with metallic clangs.

Countless fragments of the blades shot outward, instantly changing the expressions of the spectators. They hurriedly raised their defenses to block the fragments flying toward them. Those who failed to react in time cried out in succession as the blades carved bloody gashes across their bodies. They scrambled away on hands and feet, staring in terror at the battle between the Ancient Core Realm experts.

“Steward Nangong Hao, your Golden Shield Formation is fairly impressive, but it can only defend against my attacks for a while.” Tiemu Qiu gave a contemptuous smile. The storm of blades suddenly increased in power by another fifty percent.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Rip!

The force of the blades abruptly intensified, and Nangong Hao and the others’ expressions darkened. Their faces flushed as they desperately maintained the golden shield’s defense. Yet under the gazes of countless onlookers, the golden cauldron still proved unable to withstand such high-frequency, high-intensity attacks. Cracks began to appear, spreading rapidly in a spiderweb pattern.

“Damn it. How can the strength of the Great Completion stage of the Ancient Core Realm be so overwhelming? If this continues, we old fellows are going to die here too.” Xie Cang’s expression was grim as he struggled desperately to maintain the golden shield.

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