Chapter 222: Is This Part of the Plan?
Facing the drenched in cold sweat, completely demoralized Dou Zong from the Lion Swallowing Sect, Lu Bu let out a mocking laugh, losing all interest in continuing the fight. With a flick of his finger, a black robed figure shimmering with silver light appeared in front of him.
"Kill him," Lu Bu ordered indifferently.
At his command, the Earth Demon Puppet roared, its silver iron fist smashing forward with ferocity.
Xiao Yan, who was currently entangled in a fight with the Iron Guardian, glanced back at the Earth Demon Puppet battling the Lion Swallowing Sect's Dou Zong. He shrugged helplessly. That puppet was his, yet Lu Bu had taken it for his own use.
In this battle, Xiao Yan's agreed compensation was a six star Dou Zong's corpse, which Lu Bu had already provided. In exchange, Xiao Yan was required to fight according to Lu Bu's instructions. That wasn't a problem in itself, but Lu Bu's first request was to borrow the Earth Demon Puppet?
It was strange. After all, Lu Bu already had a puppet of his own. What was the trick behind this? Xiao Yan couldn't help but speculate. Based on Lu Bu's usual battle tactics, there was bound to be some hidden scheme. But… could a Dou Zong level Earth Demon Puppet really be a game changing trump card in a battle like this?
Additionally, Xiao Yan originally planned to keep a six star Dou Zong's corpse as a vessel for his teacher's future body. Yet seeing the two peak Dou Zongs on the opposing side made the one in his possession seem less impressive.
Around the battlefield, fierce shouts echoed as energy ripples from combat shook the air. Every battlefront was locked in a stalemate. The Lion Swallowing Sect had mobilized their entire combat strength, leaving only lower level disciples and stewards those at the Dou Ling and Da Dou Shi levels back at their headquarters.
Meanwhile, the Jia Ma Empire side still had Lu Bu, an idle force that hadn't engaged yet. He watched the battles unfold with a playful gaze, ready to intervene at any moment. Once he joined the fray, it would spell the Lion Swallowing Sect's total collapse.
Lion Heaven roared continuously, swinging his golden blade to strike at the Titan Puppet. Metallic clashes reverberated through the air as the blade struck the puppet's steel like body, sending sparks flying. But the blade only managed to cut a few inches deep before halting.
Lion Heaven had considered focusing all his energy on destroying the cursed puppet. However, it couldn't be done in one blow, and any hesitation would leave him vulnerable to the Azure Snake Elder's relentless attacks. Not to mention the lurking threat of that one star Dou Zun watching from nearby.
He had to split his focus to deal with all these threats, or he risked being overwhelmed by the full might of the two Dou Zuns.
Clang!
The golden blade struck the Titan Puppet's shoulder, creating a burst of sparks. But the puppet's empty eyes remained emotionless as it delivered a simple, unadorned punch. The sharp sound of its fist cutting through the air was enough to send shivers down one's spine, aiming directly at Lion Heaven's throat.
While the throat wasn't a fatal weakness for a Dou Zun, being hit there would still be a significant hindrance. Especially since Lion Heaven was already surrounded. Losing the initiative in such a situation would leave him with no chance to counterattack.
Lion Heaven's eyelid twitched, fury surging in his chest. Fighting this puppet was infuriating.
These lifeless, indestructible creations didn't fear injury. They fought with reckless abandon, trading blow for blow as though life and death didn't matter. But as much as he wanted to destroy it, he couldn't afford to gamble with his own life.
Gritting his teeth, Lion Heaven quickly retreated, slashing his blade to send a golden arc of energy toward the puppet. The attack hit the puppet squarely in the waist, sending it flying backward.
"Don't forget about me, Lion Heaven!" came a cold shout. A massive serpent tail whipped through the air with terrifying force, its shadow covering the ground below.
Boom!
The tail struck Lion Heaven squarely, unleashing an overwhelming impact that left him coughing up blood.
The Azure Snake Elder laughed heartily, patting the head of his summoned serpent. The creature opened its mouth, a green light beginning to condense within as it prepared another devastating attack.
"Do you think killing me will be that easy?" Lion Heaven roared defiantly, his golden hair standing on end. Behind him, the image of a massive lion quickly materialized, radiating a savage aura.
"Fool." The Azure Snake Elder snickered. "Why fight you head on when we can gang up on you?"
Boom!
The sound of an explosion rang out as a golden figure shot across the battlefield, slamming into Lion Heaven from the side. His attempt to gather energy for a powerful Dou Technique was interrupted, leaving him spitting blood, his face flushed red.
"This isn't working! I'm going to die if this keeps up!" Lion Heaven's mind screamed in desperation as he swung his blade wildly, blocking the Titan Puppet's relentless strikes while keeping an eye on the Azure Snake Elder's movements.
He knew that if the battle continued like this, defeat and death was inevitable. He needed a way to break free.
Smack!
The Titan Puppet's foot suddenly lashed out, kicking Lion Heaven squarely in the face. Blood sprayed as a few teeth flew out, leaving half his face disfigured.
"Curse you!" Lion Heaven roared in humiliation. When had he, a dignified four star Dou Zun and leader of the Lion Swallowing Sect, ever suffered such disgrace?
Then, out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Lu Bu floating calmly in the distance. His expression shifted as an idea struck him.
Seeing this, Lu Bu raised an eyebrow and flicked his finger, summoning his Earth Demon Puppet to stand before him. The puppet's blank eyes glowed faintly as it stood upright like a loyal guard.
Lion Heaven's eyes gleamed with hope, a sinister grin spreading across his bloodied face. He wasn't angry anymore he was overjoyed.
This young man was the key to breaking the stalemate!
Lu Bu must have been desperate, resorting to using the same silver puppet twice now. He must've run out of stronger puppets, like the golden Titan Puppet. With only these two Dou Zong level silver puppets left, Lu Bu was vulnerable. Capturing him would turn the tide of the battle!
"Still distracted in the middle of a fight?" The Azure Snake Elder sneered, sending another crushing blow with his serpent tail.
Boom!
The attack landed squarely, causing Lion Heaven to stumble, but this time, he grinned instead of grimacing. With newfound resolve, his energy surged as he prepared for a final gamble.
From a distance, Lu Bu watched the determined Lion Heaven with an amused smirk, his playful gaze growing sharper.
…
Clang!
A fierce slash cut through the air, leaving a deep wound on Elder Miao Jin's chest.
The peak Dou Zong coughed, blood seeping from his wound as he staggered backward.
Medusa's cold expression remained unchanged beneath her black cloak. Her jade fingers flicked, sending a shiver through her sword as it shook off the bloodstains.
"Damn it… How is this woman so strong?" Elder Miao Jin growled through gritted teeth, cursing the rainbow colored energy wreaking havoc on his meridians.
At that moment, a faint hum echoed. Miao Jin's chest tightened, and he spat out another mouthful of blood this time laced with a grayish purple hue.
"Poison?!" His face twisted in horror. These two women were impossible to deal with together.
Xiao Yi Xian remained silent, her expression cold under her black robe. Her light footsteps followed closely behind Medusa.
…
Boom!
A green energy beam struck Lion Heaven, shattering the golden armor protecting him. Fragments scattered as the once dominant leader of the Lion Swallowing Sect stood bloodied and disheveled, his face a picture of despair.
"Today, you die," the Azure Snake Elder declared coldly, his serpent's glowing yellow eyes narrowing with deadly intent.
"Hisss!"
The giant serpent let out a piercing screech, its maw opening wide as a concentrated green light began to gather.
With a crisp shatter, the golden blade in Lion Heaven's hand broke apart. His eyes bulged with fury as he roared, and the shattered fragments of the blade exploded into countless sharp projectiles, scattering in all directions.
Shh, shh, shh!
On top of the serpent's head, the Azure Snake Elder's robe tore open, and several bloody gashes appeared on his clothing.
"Courting death!" The Azure Snake Elder's eyes flashed coldly, a chilling smile spreading across his face.
In a flash of golden light, the Titan Puppet appeared beside Lion Heaven and smashed its fist into his face.
Bang!
A heavy, muffled sound erupted as Lion Heaven was sent flying sideways, barely managing to stabilize his battered body.
"Huff, huff…" Lion Heaven clutched his chest, panting heavily, his face stained with blood that matted his once flowing golden hair. The majestic golden armor he had worn earlier was long shattered, its fragments scattered who knows where. His torn robes made him look like a beggar.
Cough, cough, cough… With each cough, more blood spattered onto the ground. Against two opponents of equal strength, even Lion Heaven's formidable skills were insufficient to withstand the onslaught.
"Damn it! This is the most humiliating I've ever been!" Lion Heaven growled through clenched teeth, his gaze venomous as he glared at the Azure Snake Elder.
"What's the matter? Do you still think you have a chance to turn this around?" The Azure Snake Elder sneered. After battling for so long, he had come to fully grasp the Titan Puppet's capabilities.
While the puppet's combat strength was slightly inferior to his and Lion Heaven's, its undead, injury immune nature was infuriating.
An opponent could show off their power against the Titan Puppet in the short term, but over time, they would inevitably be worn down by its relentless attacks. Even without him, Lu Bu alone could grind Lion Heaven to death with this creature.
Cough, cough, cough… Lion Heaven suddenly chuckled through his bloody coughs. "Heh, heh… Then open your damned eyes and watch closely!"
He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, a sinister grin spreading across his face.
In the next moment, the faint golden light around Lion Heaven abruptly transformed, condensing into an intense aura of murderous intent. Strange, bone white Dou Qi began to swirl around him.
The Azure Snake Elder's expression shifted. What was this? A new Dou Technique?
Green light surged around him as his white hair floated upward.
"Heh, heh… Too late!" Lion Heaven cackled. "Did you really think I was enduring all those heavy blows for nothing?"
It was all part of the plan!
The Azure Snake Elder's pupils contracted sharply as he cursed inwardly.
"Heavenly Underworld Shura Hand!"
Lion Heaven's roar tore through the air as the space around him violently trembled. Pitch black cracks spread across the void, and the overwhelming murderous intent that erupted left everyone in the vicinity pale with fear.
"Heavenly Underworld Shura Hand? Are you from the Heavenly Underworld Sect?!" The Azure Snake Elder's face turned ashen, and he couldn't help but cry out.
In his travels across the continent, he had learned much about the powerful Heavenly Underworld Sect. This ancient faction's hallmark technique, the Heavenly Underworld Shura Hand, was one of the most fearsome offensive abilities in existence.
"Heh, heh… Not bad, you old bastard. Your knowledge is impressive. Now, die beneath my Heavenly Underworld Shura Hand!" Lion Heaven's face twisted into a malevolent grin as his body flashed forward, enveloped in a tidal wave of killing intent.
"Die!"
Lion Heaven's bone white, ghostly palm shot toward the Azure Snake Elder's heart, leaving jagged black cracks in the air as it moved.
Caught off guard by the sudden, ferocious attack, the Azure Snake Elder's expression changed drastically. Lion Heaven had clearly been planning this move for some time, and the Elder had no chance to mount a proper defense.
He briefly considered pulling the Titan Puppet in front of him to act as a shield, but Lu Bu had commanded the puppet to attack, not defend.
"Damn it!" The Azure Snake Elder's face darkened as green Dou Qi erupted from his body. Sparks crackled as arcs of green lightning flickered around him, causing the surrounding air to thicken with tension.
"Lion Heaven, let's see just how strong your Heavenly Underworld Shura Hand really is!" The Azure Snake Elder growled. Bringing his palms together, he summoned a surge of green light that coalesced in his hands.
"Come at me!" With a shout, the Azure Snake Elder thrust his hands forward, sending a dazzling beam of green energy shooting toward Lion Heaven.
But at that moment, Lion Heaven's lips curved into a peculiar smile.
Smack!
The ghostly white palm collided with the Elder's attack. However, in the next instant, Lion Heaven's bulky frame twisted unnaturally, slithering like a serpent to evade the clash. He then surged toward Lu Bu with terrifying speed.
"Brat, your life is mine!" Lion Heaven laughed maniacally, his murderous intent surging as he closed in on Lu Bu.
Heh heh, Azure Snake, did you really think you were my target? Fool! Who'd bother fighting you head on? That was just part of my plan!
"Damn it!" The Azure Snake Elder's face twisted in alarm. That bastard's real target was Lu Bu!
"Get out of there, Lu Bu!" The Elder shouted in panic. Taken completely off guard, he was too far to intercept Lion Heaven in time.
In that instant, all eyes turned to Lu Bu. If he fell, the battle would be lost.
Faced with such a dangerous situation, Lu Bu's expression turned slightly pale, but he did not panic. The Earth Demon Puppet standing beside him leapt forward to intercept the attack, while Lu Bu quickly retreated, flapping his Dou Qi wings to distance himself from the battlefield.
"Not bad, kid. But your response is also part of my plan. Get over here!"
Lion Heaven's grin widened as he struck the Earth Demon Puppet's silver chest with his ghostly white palm. Simultaneously, he raised his other hand, releasing a powerful suction force that pulled Lu Bu toward him.
Bang!
The Earth Demon Puppet's chest caved in, causing it to stagger and freeze in place as if it had lost control.
"Now it's your turn!" Lion Heaven roared, reaching for Lu Bu with a victorious sneer.
Buzz, buzz, buzz…
A strange humming sound echoed as a silver formation beneath Lu Bu's feet lit up. A skeletal figure bathed in silver light appeared behind him.
"Shadow Demon Howl!"
Lu Bu's expression was calm, his hands forming seals as he shouted. A horrifying soundwave, aimed directly at the soul, erupted from the skeletal figure.
"Resistance is futile!" Lion Heaven snarled, pushing through the mental assault. His muscular frame burst forward with even greater speed, closing the distance to Lu Bu in the blink of an eye.
Bang!
The soul shaking soundwave struck Lion Heaven, causing him to grunt in pain and falter for just a moment. But he quickly recovered, his left hand reaching for Lu Bu's throat.
"You're not getting away…" Lion Heaven laughed, his fingers closing in.
But before he could finish his sentence, Lion Heaven noticed the eerie smile on Lu Bu's face.
Shh!
A muffled sound echoed as though a blade had pierced flesh.
Lion Heaven's body trembled, all his strength draining away in an instant. A silver hand had punched through his chest, its surface wreathed in a strange, invisible flame that burned his soul.
"How… is this possible…" Lion Heaven turned his head slightly, catching a glimpse of the translucent soul body clinging to the puppet behind him. His face turned deathly pale.
"Is this part of your plan too, Sect Master Lion Heaven?"
A playful voice rang out as Lion Heaven's fading gaze locked onto Lu Bu, whose face was full of mockery.
(Chapter End)
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