Chapter 70: Heavenly Thunder Bell

Chapter 70: Heavenly Thunder Bell

"Boom!"

The Great Perfection-level Lightning Divine Beast, its body a staggering 10 meters long, loomed like a mountain forged from lightning, wielding unparalleled destructive power. With a single swipe of its claw, it tore a piece of fabric from Xiao Li's collar, leaving behind a shallow bloodstain.

Meanwhile, the blade in Xiao Li's hand slashed down onto Ning Xiaochuan's right shoulder, slicing off a chunk of flesh as crimson blood gushed forth.

Failing to kill Ning Xiaochuan with the first strike, Xiao Li wasted no time and swung his blade a second time.

Ning Xiaochuan sat cross-legged on the ground, channeling Profound Qi beneath him as his body darted swiftly. Electric sparks continuously erupted from between his brows, clashing with the lightning arcs unleashed by Xiao Li's strikes, deflecting several of his lethal blows.

Yet, Ning Xiaochuan was still struck multiple times by the blade's energy. His clothes were shredded, and blood streamed from his wounds. The massive blood loss left him dizzy—a dire situation.

Qi Chan'er had arrived but refrained from intervening, standing at a distance as she watched the battle between Xiao Li and Ning Xiaochuan.

Xiao Li swung his blade fourteen times in succession but failed to finish Ning Xiaochuan off. Growing increasingly frenzied, he hurled his battle saber directly at Ning Xiaochuan.

The saber, shrouded in Profound Qi, shot like a streak of light toward Ning Xiaochuan's heart.

Ning Xiaochuan sidestepped by a meter, narrowly evading the blade. But Xiao Li lunged forward, his palm cracking open as his skin split apart, transforming into a massive Gluttonous Giant Claw. The claw, sharp as a greatsword, enveloped Ning Xiaochuan completely.

Ning Xiaochuan sensed overwhelming danger—if this strike landed, death was certain.

"Boom!"

A deafening roar erupted from within Ning Xiaochuan's body, like waves crashing against rocks, mountains collapsing, or metal snapping. Heaven and Earth Profound Qi surged toward him wildly, flooding his pores, merging with his blood, and converging into his Martial Arts Heart Palace.

The Source of Divine Ability dissolved, turning into fine threads that fused with his flesh, bones, and marrow!

Ning Xiaochuan's body seemed to transform into a thunderous core. His eyes snapped open, shooting out bolts of lightning as he roared, "Heavenly Thunder Bell!"

"KABOOM!"

His voice thundered like the heavens, shaking the ground and sending dust and stones flying. The sound waves condensed into the shadow of a massive bell, three meters tall, with characters flickering across its surface. It slammed into Xiao Li's chest.

The thunderous impact left Xiao Li momentarily deafened, his mind blank as his body froze in place.

Seizing this fleeting moment, Ning Xiaochuan exploded into motion. Snatching the Mystic Artifact-level battle saber embedded in the ground, he swung it in a single, decisive slash—severing Xiao Li's left arm.

"Thud!"

The arm flew off, landing somewhere in the thicket.

Blood gushed from Xiao Li's shoulder, snapping him out of his daze. Staring at his missing limb, he let out a shrill, agonized scream, his eyes burning with savage fury. "My arm! I'll kill you!"

Xiao Li stomped the ground violently, hurling his body at Ning Xiaochuan and slamming into his chest, sending him crashing to the ground.

Xiao Li had gone completely mad. Ning Xiaochuan had crippled him—his body would forever bear this flaw. Even if he became a peerless expert in the future, he would remain a cripple.

"Bam!"

Ning Xiaochuan kicked out, striking Xiao Li's chest and sending him flying backward.

Ning Xiaochuan was also severely injured, his body covered in wounds. He stood up from the ground, shaking off the dirt, which was now stained with blood, and fixed a cold gaze on Xiao Li.

"Boom! Boom!"

The two collided again, exchanging relentless blows.

Lightning surged, thunder roared, and the Taotie's deafening roars shattered towering trees one after another. The scene resembled a battle between two colossal beasts.

Qi Chan'er was stunned. She never expected there to be two such formidable figures among the younger generation.

Although Xiao Li had effortlessly killed Lin Hen earlier, he had only used a single strike, not fully displaying his destructive power. But now, as he clashed with Ning Xiaochuan, his true strength erupted like a revived ancient Taotie—unstoppable, capable of smashing a massive tree with a single palm.

"The Second Level of the Divine Body Realm is actually this powerful. They are undoubtedly the kings of their cultivation realm." Qi Chan'er had reached the First Level of the Divine Body Realm and was already considered a top talent among the younger generation. Yet, either Xiao Li or Ning Xiaochuan could kill her in an instant.

In the forest, the fluctuations of Profound Qi were intense, the sound like crashing waves, stirring the powerful mystic beasts of the Fire Demon Mountain Range.

"Roar!"

"Roar!"

Enormous mystic beasts bellowed, charging toward the battlefield with earth-shaking steps.

From afar, the silhouettes of numerous mystic beasts could be seen emerging from the jungle—a golden three-headed wolf as large as an elephant, a blood-red spider three meters tall, a black lion with wings—all ferocious creatures slowly closing in.

Ning Xiaochuan showed no intention of retreat. Today, he was determined to take Xiao Li's life, even if it cost him his own. He roared, "Heavenly Thunder Bell!"

The sound was like a thunderclap exploding in the air, shaking heaven and earth.

The distant mystic beasts were startled by the thunder, retreating a few steps in fear. Lightning was their natural weakness, filling them with dread.

Xiao Li was also momentarily stunned by the Heavenly Thunder Bell, his mind blank, his eardrums throbbing in agony.

Seizing this brief opportunity, Ning Xiaochuan struck like lightning, his blade slicing through Xiao Li's neck.

A head flew through the air.

"Thud!"

Blood gushed from Xiao Li's severed neck.

Ning Xiaochuan finally let out a sigh of relief, feeling utterly exhausted. At last, he had eliminated this formidable enemy.

Though Xiao Li's head had been severed, his body did not immediately collapse. Instead, it lunged forward, its claw slamming into Ning Xiaochuan's chest, nearly piercing through it.

"Boom!"

With this final strike, Xiao Li's body finally collapsed lifelessly to the ground.

Upon reaching the Divine Body Realm, a martial artist could achieve "Internal Control." Even if decapitated, they would not die immediately, able to use their residual will to continue fighting.

The higher one's martial cultivation, the stronger their vitality. Legends spoke of a peerless martial artist whose head was severed, yet he did not perish—his nipples transformed into eyes, his navel into a mouth, as he brandished his axe and shield against the heavens, his battle will unyielding, undying.

Xiao Li, at the Second Level of the Divine Body Realm, was far from reaching such heights. But in the moment his head was severed, he could still cling to life for one last breath.

In the end, with the last moment of his life, he severely wounded Ning Xiaochuan before collapsing to the ground, dead for good.

Ning Xiaochuan was already heavily injured, and now, with Xiao Li’s final strike piercing through his chest, his condition worsened. A wave of weakness washed over him, nearly causing him to stagger and fall.

Hold on! Hold on! Hold on!

If he fell now, he would surely die—becoming food for the mystic beasts.

Gritting his teeth, Ning Xiaochuan immediately circulated his Profound Qi to seal the wound in his chest. Just as he stood up, he saw Qi Chan'er standing opposite him.

She wore a white silk robe, smooth and flowing, her eyebrows slender like willow leaves, her lips red and glistening like gemstones. From between her five delicate Jade Fingers, white Profound Qi surged forth, condensing into an ancient sword four feet long. The sword intent at its edge pulsed like breathing.

"Are you here to avenge him?" Ning Xiaochuan asked.

Qi Chan'er shook her head. "He was deliberately deceiving me, trying to get close. His intentions were far from pure. Why would I avenge someone like that?"

Ning Xiaochuan was slightly taken aback. "You knew he had ulterior motives? You knew he was lying to you?"

"Disciples of Marquis Qi Tian’s Manor have no right to cultivate within the manor. The moment he spoke his first lie, I knew he was deceiving me." Qi Chan'er stood tall and graceful, her wariness directed not only at Ning Xiaochuan but also at the fierce mystic beasts slowly closing in from afar.

Ning Xiaochuan couldn’t help but regard her with newfound respect. "Then why did you let him stay by your side?"

"With his cultivation, he could kill Lin Hen in a single strike—naturally, he could do the same to me. Besides, I was severely injured at the time, making me no match for him. Since he wanted to pretend, I played along. Once my injuries healed, I would have found the chance to kill him."

Who said women were easy to fool?

If you thought all women were fools, then the fool in the end would surely be you!

Just like Xiao Li, now lying dead on the ground—he probably never realized, even in his final moments, that the one who most wanted him dead wasn’t Ning Xiaochuan, but Qi Chan'er.

Ning Xiaochuan said, "It seems you’re a clever woman. That makes things easier. I’ve already helped you by killing him, though I’m not one to ask for repayment. There are too many mystic beasts here—I’m leaving."

Badly injured, Ning Xiaochuan had no intention of fighting Qi Chan'er and prepared to flee immediately.

"Don’t move!" Qi Chan'er’s sword rested at Ning Xiaochuan’s head, her wariness toward him evident.

Ning Xiaochuan had killed Xiao Li, proving he was even stronger. And now, he knew she possessed the Black Firewood Pearl. If she let him escape to recover, would he return later to seize it from her?

Thus, Qi Chan'er hesitated—should she kill Ning Xiaochuan now and eliminate the future threat?

But she had never killed anyone before, and her hand wavered.