Chapter 319: Zhang Tiangui's Revenge
Just as Zhang Ruochen was contemplating how to rescue Si Xingkong and Chang Qiqi, a group of Black Market martial artists emerged from the cabin of the giant red spider warship.
Among them, Jin Chuan and Guo Shisan walked at the front, while the martial artists behind them all possessed Earth Extreme Realm Great Perfection cultivation, clad in black wings and carrying broad-backed combat blades at their waists.
Each of them exuded an overbearing aura.
"Why have you brought me here? Who are you people? I am the heir of the Wang Clan, Wang Jingtian! If my father finds out, you're all dead!"
A rather flamboyantly dressed man, bound to a ship's mast with iron chains, kept shouting arrogantly, as if being the Wang Clan's heir made him formidable enough to intimidate his captors.
Hearing Wang Jingtian's clamor, Jin Chuan's expression turned cold, and he gave an order to a nearby Black Market martial artist.
That Black Market martial artist nodded, a sneer curling on his lips as he walked up to Wang Jingtian and drew a whip of sixth-rank True Martial Treasure level. Sparks flickered along the whip as he lashed it at Wang Jingtian.
"Crack!"
"Crack!"
After just two lashes, Wang Jingtian immediately howled in agony, begging for mercy incessantly.
But the Black Market martial artist did not stop, continuing to strike relentlessly, tearing Wang Jingtian's flesh and sending blood flying.
Only when Wang Jingtian was beaten to the brink of death did he finally stop.
"Pah! A mere Wang Clan dares to threaten our Black Market?"
After finishing his flogging, the Black Market martial artist spat a thick glob of saliva onto Wang Jingtian's face.
The other captured Earth Extreme Realm martial artists on the deck, who had been considering resistance, all calmed down at the sight of this. Even if they wanted to fight back, they could only remain silent for now. Hadn't they just seen that Wang Clan expert beaten half to death?
Jin Chuan's gaze swept across the martial artists on the deck, finally locking onto Si Xingkong. He walked over and said coldly, "Si Xingkong, you were once the number one expert of the younger generation in Demon Ridge, different from the rest of them. Our young master values talent, so I'm giving you one last chance. Tell us where Zhang Ruochen is, and the young master might spare your life. Think carefully—this is your final opportunity."
Si Xingkong's long hair covered most of his face, but it could not conceal his free and unrestrained demeanor.
A faint smile curved at the corner of his mouth as he said, "First of all, I don't know where Junior Brother Zhang has gone. And even if I did, I wouldn't tell you."
Jin Chuan snorted coldly, a murderous intent flashing in his eyes as he channeled true qi to his fingertip, ready to stab it toward Si Xingkong's heart.
"Hold on."
Zhang Tiangui stepped out of the cabin, hands clasped behind his back, and walked up to Jin Chuan with a smile. "Senior Jin, the young master is quite interested in Si Xingkong. He wants to see just how strong the former number one genius of Demon Ridge really is."
"The young master wants to personally test Si Xingkong's cultivation?" Jin Chuan asked.
Jin Chuan did not dare to underestimate Zhang Tiangui, for he was now a favored figure by Di Yi's side, deeply trusted by him.
Zhang Tiangui shook his head and chuckled. "Why would the young master need to act personally? Let me take his place—that will be more than enough."
Chang Qiqi burst out laughing. "Zhang Tiangui, you're nothing but a loser who lost to Senior Brother. Just a few months have passed, and you dare to spout such nonsense?"
Zhang Tiangui was not angered. "Times have changed. Recently, with the young master's guidance, my strength has reached a new level. Do you believe I can crush Si Xingkong under my foot in just ten moves?"
Chang Qiqi sneered. "Who do you think you are? You think Senior Brother will just agree to a duel with you? You're way too full of yourself."
It had to be said, Chang Qiqi's tongue was indeed venomous. Even with Zhang Tiangui's composure, he was provoked.
Zhang Tiangui's eyes turned cold. He moved like lightning, grabbing Chang Qiqi by the neck and lifting him up.
His five fingers tightened, squeezing Chang Qiqi's neck thinner and thinner, producing a "cracking" sound. It felt as if his throat and cervical vertebrae were about to be crushed.
Chang Qiqi's face grew paler and paler, the veins on his face bulging as if they were about to burst.
"Enough! Let him go. Zhang Tiangui, I'll fight you." Si Xingkong said.
Zhang Tiangui's lips curled slightly, a mocking smile appearing on his face. He loosened his fingers and dropped Chang Qiqi to the ground. "Good! Very good! Truly deep brotherly bonds. Someone, untie Si Xingkong."
Two Black Market martial arts experts, who appeared to be in their sixties or seventies, immediately stepped forward to release the iron chains binding Si Xingkong's hands and feet.
As for Chang Qiqi, he was dragged aside by the two experts.
One of them drew a battle blade and held it against Chang Qiqi's neck.
"Don't touch my junior brother!"
Seeing this, Si Xingkong radiated a chilling aura and charged toward Chang Qiqi's direction.
Zhang Tiangui's figure flickered, blocking Si Xingkong's path with a smile. "Si Xingkong, if you can defeat me, you'll naturally save Chang Qiqi's life. But if you lose to me, then there's no helping it—you'll be the one who killed your junior brother."
Standing on the deck, Si Xingkong clenched his fists tightly, his eyes bloodshot.
"Zhang... Tian... Gui..." Si Xingkong gritted his teeth, his eyes blazing with fury.
As true qi surged from within Si Xingkong's body, the surrounding air trembled slightly.
Si Xingkong threw a long punch, a purple light flaring from his fist, forming a massive fist shadow.
Zhang Tiangui's lips twitched. He slightly parted his stance, sidestepping to evade Si Xingkong's full-force punch.
Si Xingkong was slightly startled. He hadn't expected Zhang Tiangui to dodge his punch so effortlessly, with speed and agility that were worlds apart from just a few months ago. Truly a Four-Excellence Genius—in just a few months, Zhang Tiangui's cultivation had reached a new level.
"Si Xingkong, last time we fought, you defeated me in seven moves. Today, I'll defeat you in just five moves, so you can taste what it's like to be beaten."
Zhang Tiangui snorted, lifting his feet off the ground and kicking toward Si Xingkong's chest.
Si Xingkong stomped on the deck, launching himself into the air, soaring over ten zhang high. He dodged Zhang Tiangui's attack while simultaneously striking downward with a palm aimed at Zhang Tiangui's head.
"Thousand-Hand War God!"
Zhang Tiangui bent his legs slightly and thrust his palm upward, producing countless hand shadows, as if a thousand palm prints were striking at once.
"Boom!"
Their palm strikes collided, creating a ripple of energy that spread in all directions.
The Black Market martial artists standing nearby were forced back by the palm wind.
"Truly a battle between top talents of Demon Ridge—formidable! Both of them probably have the strength to defeat a Heavenly Extreme Stage martial arts myth!" one of the Black Market martial arts experts murmured in astonishment.
"Pfft!"
Si Xingkong's body shuddered violently, blood spilling from his mouth as he was sent flying backward.
That single palm strike from Zhang Tiangui had unleashed power beyond Si Xingkong's expectations—far more than just a slight edge.
Seeing Si Xingkong injured, Zhang Tiangui felt a surge of joy. "That drop of dragon blood Di Yi bestowed upon me is truly remarkable. With my current physical constitution, I'm already close to the level of a mid-stage Heavenly Extreme Stage martial artist. With my current strength, I should be considered a Four-and-a-Half-Excellence genius, right?"
"Rumor has it that there might be a golden dragon corpse in the underwater dragon palace. If I could obtain golden dragon blood, I'd definitely reach the Five-Excellence Genius level, or even stronger."
Zhang Tiangui harbored his own ambitions. Flattering Di Yi was merely a means to obtain precious cultivation resources from him.
In truth, he felt no respect for Di Yi at all.
"Si Xingkong, now you see the gap between us, don't you? Haha!"
Seeing Si Xingkong sent flying, Zhang Tiangui laughed loudly, charged forward, and struck another palm against Si Xingkong's chest.
"Boom!" Si Xingkong was thrown into the air again, another mouthful of blood spilling out.
Zhang Tiangui stomped the ground, leaping up, and descended from above, stomping one foot onto Si Xingkong's back.
"Crash!"
This stomp from Zhang Tiangui slammed Si Xingkong directly onto the deck.
Si Xingkong's body collided with the deck, producing the sound of bones breaking.
"Senior Brother!"
"Zhang Tiangui, I'll kill you, you bastard!"
Chang Qiqi roared, trying to break free from the two Black Market experts.
But both experts were Earth Extreme Realm Great Perfection masters, old-timers who had cultivated for fifty or sixty years. Their true qi was abundant, and their strength was not much weaker than Chang Qiqi's.
One of them used the hilt of his blade to strike Chang Qiqi's temple viciously, shattering the meridians there and causing droplets of blood to seep out.
Chang Qiqi's face was covered in blood. His vision went dark, and he collapsed heavily, crashing onto the deck with a thud.
"Chang... Junior Brother Chang..."
Si Xingkong lay on the ground, his bones feeling as if they had fallen apart, blood hanging from the corner of his mouth. His heart was filled with self-blame—if only he could have defeated Zhang Tiangui, he might have saved his junior brother.
Zhang Tiangui's foot pressed hard on Si Xingkong's back, a smile curling on his lips as he spoke in a victorious tone, "Si Xingkong, I'll give you one more chance. Kneel before me and kowtow three times, and I might consider sparing your junior brother. What do you think?"
"Zhang... Zhang Tiangui, you're dreaming."
Si Xingkong gritted his teeth, each word seeming to be squeezed out from between them.
"Is that so? I admire your unyielding spirit, but your junior brother's life hangs in the balance."
Zhang Tiangui shot a glance at the two Black Market experts and chuckled. "Chop Chang Qiqi into pieces and throw him into the water to feed the savage beasts."
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