Ascending to Godhood: I Can Foresee All Futures

Chapter 268: Chapter 158: Reverse-Slaying Profound Gang

A dazzling White Tiger Mark, shaped like a winged tiger, coalesced in mid-air. Woven from gold and white, it radiated a terrifying aura of peerless sharpness and overwhelming slaughter.

The White Tiger Mark descended from the sky like a Divine Mountain, crashing down to suppress Elder Liu.

Elder Liu’s eyes nearly split from their sockets as he raised his saber to meet the blow head-on.

”CLANG—!!!”

A metallic clang reverberated in all directions.

The Treasure Saber in Elder Liu’s hand, painstakingly forged and refined, was struck by the mark and bent like a bow. The web of his thumb and forefinger tore open completely, dripping with blood.

He plummeted like a meteor, smashing brutally into the river and kicking up a colossal wave.

Giving the man no chance to recover, Chen Sheng followed close behind, leaping into the churning waves.

”BOOM! BOOM! BOOM—!”

Beneath the river’s surface, a series of muffled, thunder-like collisions erupted.

The river in that area roiled like boiling water, now erupting with towering water spouts, now swirling into massive vortexes.

Flashes of gold and cyan light flickered in the murky water, and occasionally a Sword Gang would burst forth, slicing the distant reeds in half.

On the riverbank, Zhou Chengzong’s face was ashen.

With his level of insight, how could he fail to see Chen Sheng’s intentions?

He was clearly just testing his moves.

He was using a Profound Gang Realm master as a whetstone, calmly practicing his own techniques. If not for that, given the suppressive power Chen Sheng had shown, the fight would have been over long ago.

’An Earth Fiend fighting someone in the Profound Gang Realm... to think it could be like this...’

Zhou Chengzong’s lips trembled, the last vestiges of hope in his heart completely shattered.

At that moment, he suddenly remembered his father’s words:

”Chengzong, do you think ranking ninth among the Ten Heroes makes you a dragon among men? You don’t realize how vast the Jianghu is. Geniuses are as common as fish in the sea. Even the true dragons and phoenixes among men struggle to advance. The so-called Ning’an Ten Heroes are nothing when compared to the whole of Yunzhou. You absolutely cannot afford to grow complacent.”

He had thought nothing of it at the time.

Now, he understood.

Sun Yuzhi stood quietly on the bank, her turquoise robes fluttering gently in the river wind.

Her gaze remained locked on the battlefield at the river’s center. She appeared calm, but waves were already crashing in her heart.

In fact, as far back as Chen Sheng’s battle with Li Xuance, she had faintly sensed that something was off.

That sinister, cold, and domineering Evil Qi was definitely not the Red Lotus Earth Fiend of Golden Spring Temple.

Though the Red Lotus Evil Qi was on the Earth Fiend list, there was no way it could possess such terrifying might.

Now, witnessing this battle with her own eyes, her suspicions were confirmed.

The Evil Qi Chen Sheng had condensed was by no means ordinary.

It might even be one of the extremely rare, top-tier Evil Qis of the Upper Thirty-Six Grades.

Sun Yuzhi mused to herself.

She could sense the bone-chilling cold in Chen Sheng’s Evil Qi, as well as the domineering aura latent within it.

An Evil Qi of this caliber was exceedingly rare, not just in Ning’an Prefecture, but in all of Yunzhou.

’But the question is, how did he get it?’

Sun Yuzhi recalled Chen Sheng’s profile: from a Humble Family in Changshan County. Logically, he should have had no way to access a top-tier Earth Fiend Qi of the Upper Thirty-Six Grades.

’Unless... he had some other fortunate encounter.’

But she had no intention of digging deeper.

’Who in the Jianghu doesn’t have secrets?’

’I have a few secrets I can’t speak of myself.’

’Besides, Chen Sheng is one of our own.’

’The stronger he is, the better it is—both for me and for the Jingwu Bureau.’

As she thought of the battle on Wushan Mountain in two months, a flicker of anticipation crossed Sun Yuzhi’s eyes.

’If Chen Sheng can break through to the Profound Gang Realm before then, with such a terrifying foundation, what level of combat power will he be able to unleash?’

’He might really be able to turn the tide.’

At this thought, the corners of Sun Yuzhi’s mouth turned up slightly without her realizing.

’The man I’ve set my sights on is truly extraordinary, far beyond any ordinary person.’

...

”BOOM—!!!”

With another direct hit from the Black Tortoise Seal, Elder Liu’s Protective Gang Qi finally crumbled completely.

Chen Sheng seized the momentary opening, transformed the seal into a fist, and landed a solid punch square on his opponent’s chest.

”PTUI—!”

Elder Liu spat out a mouthful of blood, his head thrown back. The ribs in his chest were completely shattered, leaving a horrifying, sunken fist mark.

He was sent flying backward like a ragged sack, tracing an arc before landing with a THUD just three feet from Zhou Chengzong, splattering mud and water.

”Elder Liu...”

Zhou Chengzong struggled to go to him, but was restrained by the Evil Qi sealed in his body. He could only watch helplessly as the old man’s life force rapidly dwindled.

Chen Sheng strode across the river’s surface, his steps unhurried as if the brutal, realm-crossing battle had been a mere warm-up. White steam rose from his body as he circulated his Cultivation Technique to dry his damp robes.

Reaching the bank, he didn’t even spare a glance for the dying Elder Liu, instead drawing his Cold-Intimidating Treasure Saber in a backhand motion.

A flash of light from the blade.

The Cold-Intimidating Blade shot from its sheath, transforming into a streak of light that raced forth.

”SHLICK.”

The tip of the blade pierced his heart, protruding half a foot from his back, pinning him dead to the ground.

Elder Liu’s body trembled. His unfocused eyes looked one last time at Zhou Chengzong, his lips moving as if to speak, but no sound emerged. Finally, his head slumped to the side, and he breathed his last.

Zhou Chengzong’s face went white, his gaze toward Chen Sheng a mixture of hatred and fear.

He opened his mouth, but in the end, dared not utter any threats. He simply lowered his head, his heart filled with bitter resentment.

Chen Sheng beckoned with a hand, and the Cold-Intimidating Treasure Saber flew back to his grasp. With a flick of the blade, he shook off a few crimson droplets of blood before slowly sheathing it.

He then turned to look at Sun Yuzhi.

”Not bad.”

Sun Yuzhi’s expression was placid as she calmly spoke the two words.

She did an excellent job of hiding the admiration and passion in her eyes, maintaining her usual cold and stern dignity.

’Otherwise, if I let Chen Sheng see my approval, he’d surely get a big head and start speaking out of turn again.’

”Thank you for the praise, Vice Envoy.”

Chen Sheng smiled faintly, feeling elated.

’This battle let me fully grasp the limits of my current strength.’

’Below the Profound Gang Realm, I can call myself invincible.’

’As for the Profound Gang Realm, ordinary newcomers are no match for me.’

’Even a veteran Profound Gang Realm master like Elder Liu, fighting for his life, was ultimately not my match.’

’As for experts at the Peak of Profound Gang...’

Chen Sheng estimated, ’if I were to go all out, I might be able to put up a fight. But against a fellow prodigy of the same level, or a genius cultivating a top-tier technique, the outcome would be uncertain.’

’Still, that’s more than enough for now.’

’After all, fighting above one’s realm is already incredibly difficult. I can’t expect to be invincible below the Mystic Realm just yet. Besides, I’ve already gotten my hands on the Profound Sun Treasure Pearl.’

’Once I use this opportunity to break through to the Profound Gang Realm...’

’...I will fear no one below the Mystic Realm.’

”This man’s identity is suspicious. We must take him back to the Bureau for thorough interrogation.”

Sun Yuzhi’s gaze turned to the ashen-faced Xu Yuanju at their side.

During the fight, although the man had tried his best to conceal his cultivation style, his use of talismans and the fanatical, death-defying fervor in his eyes reminded her of one particularly troublesome power.

Taiping Dao.

If remnants of the Taiping Dao had truly appeared in Ning’an and were colluding with the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance... then this was a matter of grave importance.

She had to report this to Nie Xuanfeng immediately, and also inform General Ning’an and the Lord.

They had to prevent the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance from actually colluding with rebels to start an uprising and cause instability.

”I understand.”

Chen Sheng nodded.

With the Profound Sun Treasure Pearl secured and his business here concluded, he had no objections.

However, before they left, there was one more thing he needed to do.

”I need to go pay my respects at my parents’ grave to fulfill my filial duties.”

Chen Sheng said with a cupped-fist salute.

This was the reason he had given for leaving the Prefecture City, so naturally, he had to follow through with it.

Sun Yuzhi had intended for them to return immediately, but after a moment’s thought, she said unexpectedly:

”I’ll go with you.”

Chen Sheng was startled for a moment but quickly caught on.

A teasing, knowing smile played on his lips.

’This Sun Siniang isn’t even trying to hide it anymore.’

”The remnants of the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance might not be completely gone, and with assassins from the White Tiger Hall lurking, it could be dangerous for you to go alone.”

Seeing the smile on Chen Sheng’s face, Sun Yuzhi grew a little flustered. She turned her head away and offered the explanation in a calm tone, but the faint blush creeping up her ears...

...completely gave away her inner thoughts.

Chen Sheng laughed to himself at how obstinate she was, but he didn’t call her out on it. He simply cupped his fists and said:

”In that case, I’ll have to trouble you, Vice Envoy.”

The two of them, escorting their prisoners Zhou Chengzong and Xu Yuanju, first headed to a barren hill outside Changshan County Town.

Before the earthen mound marking his parents’ shared grave, Chen Sheng burned incense, poured a wine offering, and stood silently for a moment.

Sun Yuzhi stood ten paces away, cradling her sword in silence. She watched without urging him to hurry.

Yet, her eyes couldn’t help but rest on Chen Sheng’s back. A trace of tenderness flickered through her usually cold and dignified expression, but she swiftly suppressed it.

She was still conflicted, unwilling to reveal her feelings too soon.

However, she was already beginning to consider Chen Sheng’s future cultivation path.

For a moment, her gaze grew profound.

After paying his respects, Chen Sheng suggested staying for half a day to say goodbye to an old acquaintance.

Sun Yuzhi was reluctant to agree, but she couldn’t sway Chen Sheng’s insistence. In the end, she had to compromise, merely reminding him to be careful before she took the two high-value prisoners and returned to the Jingwu Bureau in the Prefecture City ahead of him.

————

Chapter 2 is not finished yet, please wait a bit.

Also, please show your support with a monthly ticket.

Thanks