Countercurrent Cold stammered for a long time without managing to say anything substantial. He truly couldn't think of any reasonable explanation!
Suddenly, his expression turned ice-cold as he abruptly made his move. In that brief moment, he had already formulated his plan - to directly kill this Chu family elder and then relocate the entire sect! At worst, they could move to another region. Did the Chu family truly think they could dominate the entire Mortal Realm?
The instant he attacked, a terrifying aura erupted from the depths of Countercurrent Sect. It was the aura of a Martial Saint - their Martial Saint ancestor had made his move!
"Originally if your Chu family had let bygones be bygones, we wouldn't have resorted to this. But now, there's no other choice!" Countercurrent Cold roared as he unleashed his full power at the peak of Martial Venerable realm, throwing a punch directly at Chu Zhennan's face. Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on novel⁂fire.net
According to their intelligence, the strongest members of Chu family were only at Martial Venerable level. Even after a year's time, how much stronger could they possibly become?
"Kill him!" Angry shouts rang out as a group of Martial Venerable elders brandished their spiritual artifacts and attacked simultaneously. The violent energy instantly destroyed the entire grand hall.
With an earth-shaking explosion, the hall was blown apart as a skeletal, aged hand stretched out from the sect's depths, grasping toward Chu Zhennan's head.
"Die!" A cold voice filled with boundless killing intent accompanied the attack. Countercurrent Sect was a genuine eight-star power. In the former Qian Region, they could rival even the Beast Taming Sect. They had only appeared insignificant because they were previously overshadowed by Myriad Stars Mountain.
But when the attacks were mere inches away, his eyes suddenly narrowed slightly as strands of light radiated from his body. The devastating energy that could destroy heaven and earth was completely blocked just outside his body.
"What?!" This scene shocked everyone present. Even the Martial Saint ancestor from Countercurrent Sect's depths exclaimed in horror. Their combined full-power attacks couldn't even touch his body? Was he also a Martial Saint? Impossible!
It was common knowledge that apart from their mysterious Beast God and that golden Demon Emperor flood dragon, the Chu family's strongest members were only at Martial Venerable level. How could this man before them be a Martial Saint? Each breakthrough at this level required considerable time accumulation - what could possibly be achieved in just one year? Certainly not breaking through from Martial Venerable to Martial Saint!
"I'm giving you one last chance. See if you can grasp it." Chu Zhennan remained with his hands behind his back, expression calm as if completely disregarding their previous attacks.
"Your Chu family's Beast God may indeed be powerful, but that doesn't mean you can look down on everyone else! Since you're so arrogant, go die!" The Countercurrent Sect's Martial Saint ancestor suddenly appeared several meters away from Chu Zhennan. A golden cauldron flew out from between his eyebrows, crushing through space as it came bearing down on Chu Zhennan.
"Hmm? An imperial artifact? A mere Countercurrent Sect actually possesses an imperial artifact?" Sensing the terrifying aura emanating from the black cauldron, Chu Zhennan showed genuine shock. Countercurrent Sect was only an eight-star sect - how could they possibly have such a treasure? To his knowledge, even Heavenly Dragon Abyss, a Saint-grade power, didn't possess such an artifact!
"Hmph! Our Countercurrent Sect has existed for hundreds of thousands of years as an eight-star sect. Did you think we wouldn't have some trump cards? Consider it an honor to die under an imperial artifact!" The Martial Saint ancestor coldly snorted. This imperial artifact was their sect's sacred treasure passed down since ancient times, only to be used in life-or-death situations. Everyone who had seen it had died, keeping its existence a secret until now.
Hearing it was an imperial artifact, Countercurrent Cold and others showed astonishment. Though even they hadn't known of its existence, it now served as their reassurance. With this artifact, wouldn't crushing their opponent be effortless?
"My honor?" Chu Zhennan scoffed. If this had been years ago, dying under an imperial artifact might indeed have been an honor. But now? Imperial artifacts were nothing special! Did they think the Chu family lacked such items?
Facing the cauldron radiating faint imperial majesty, Chu Zhennan advanced instead of retreating. He extended his five fingers as dazzling golden light erupted, a surging battle intent sweeping outward as he collided with the cauldron with a thunderous "DONG!"
A tremendous energy shockwave instantly spread in all directions from the impact point, shattering surrounding space and sending nearby elders flying while vomiting blood. The area around the cauldron turned into a pitch-black void. Despite this overwhelming display, the Countercurrent Sect ancestors and leaders all showed horrified expressions for one reason - Chu Zhennan had blocked an imperial artifact with one hand.
"This...how is this possible?" Though the imperial artifact hadn't unleashed its full power, it still shouldn't be something a Martial Saint could withstand.
The Countercurrent Sect ancestor's eyes widened in disbelief as he shrilly exclaimed, "You...you're not a Martial Saint! You're a Martial Emperor?" Who besides a Martial Emperor could block an imperial artifact bare-handed? But how could this be? Apart from that mysterious Beast God, how could the Chu family have another Martial Emperor? The ancestor found this absolutely inconceivable!
Chu Zhennan coldly chuckled without answering, merely saying, "This isn't how you use an imperial artifact!" His large hand gripped the cauldron's side and gave a sudden shake.
In the next instant, the Countercurrent Sect ancestor vomited blood, his face pale with horror as he stared at Chu Zhennan. "You severed my connection to the imperial artifact?" It had taken him thousands of years to barely refine this imperial weapon, yet now all connection to it had vanished under the other's technique! This confirmed beyond doubt that his opponent was indeed a Martial Emperor - no one else could accomplish such a feat.
Then, with a thud, the Countercurrent Sect ancestor knelt on the ground, begging: "Elder Chu, considering we didn't take that steward's life, please show mercy and spare our Countercurrent Sect!" At this point, he had no more cards to play and could only kneel in surrender. As for fleeing? Where could one escape from a Martial Emperor?
"This is no longer about that steward! Had you surrendered before attacking, I might have spared you. But now? Do you really think that's possible?" Chu Zhennan's expression was icy. Had he not obtained a Breakthrough Pill during his trials in the Heart Refining Pagoda allowing him to reach Martial Emperor realm, he would have been the one dying today!
The great cauldron suddenly radiated golden light. Wherever the light passed, everything was annihilated! Whether elders or the Martial Saint ancestor, all were utterly erased within the golden radiance.
"Ah! How I regret this!" Countercurrent Cold roared as he realized the ten-thousand-year foundation of Countercurrent Sect was being destroyed by his own hands. In this moment, he remembered Elder Autumn Phoenix Cry's earlier warnings. Had he heeded that advice, things might have been completely different now.
With his final cry, Countercurrent Cold's body too dissipated within the cauldron's golden light.