Chapter 1661 (Raw 1673): Gambling with Life; Protecting Xiao Chen
Even the Buddhist pendant was so stressed that cracks appeared. Xiao Chen definitely could not avoid this. He could only face it head-on to find a chance to survive.
That was right. Even after handing everything over, Xiao Chen did not just keel over and accept his fate.
As long as there was a chance, he would do his best to fight for it. He would not give in. In his personal philosophy, no threat was undefeatable.
The black lotus mark on Xiao Chen"s chest made him feel that the other party was getting closer.
After a while, Xiao Chen raised his head and saw a black s.h.i.+p stopped in front.
"Whoos.h.!.+ Whoos.h.!.+ Whoos.h.!.+"
Eight or nine figures leaped from the s.h.i.+p, crowding around a middle-aged monk wearing a kasaya over gray monk robes. Then, they flew towards Xiao Chen.
These figures landed on the surface of the sea, and a black lotus appeared to carry this group of people.
Like fleeting light, this group arrived before Xiao Chen in the blink of an eye.
A soul-deep pressure pressed down. The middle-aged monk wearing the kasaya raised his head and locked his gaze on to Xiao Chen.
"Whoos.h.!.+" The middle-aged monk"s sharp gaze was like a sword light moving even faster than lightning, nearly arriving in an instant.
This gaze kicked up a strong wind and waves around Xiao Chen.
For Xiao Chen, it felt like time slowed. He could see every drop of water from the splashes. He could see a sharp light flying quickly at him.
In the time it took for a spark to fly, Xiao Chen turned his head and dodged this sharp light.
In that instant, Xiao Chen"s long hair fluttered about for no apparent reason, and a strand of his fine black hair slowly fell.
The short probe ended in the time it took for a breath. That middle-aged monk asked somewhat uncertainly, "Xiao Chen?"
Xiao Chen did not say anything. Based on the information he obtained, this middle-aged monk before him should be one of the four Protectors under the banner of the Black Lotus Church"s Church Master.
As for those black-clad arhats, Xiao Chen was already rather familiar with them. He had already seen their strength in Purple Sun City.
All of the Protectors were Cloud Sea cultivators, extremely strong.
Xiao Chen entered deep thought. The others must have gone to the other routes that people would take to get to the blessed lands.
No matter which one Xiao Chen took, he would not have been able to avoid discovery in the end.
These people truly thought highly of Xiao Chen, directly using Star Venerate Protectors to trap him.
No wonder Xiao Chen"s Buddhist pendant cracked. It turned out that there really was a Cloud Sea cultivator here.
Although it was just a Star Venerate, he was not someone Xiao Chen could deal with. Even if Xiao Chen used all of the Black Cutla.s.s"s trump cards, he would not be able to fend off the Protector.
It looked like Xiao Chen"s decision was right.
"Tell me, you are clearly very weak, so why does the Sect Venerate think so highly of you?" the Protector demanded coldly as he gazed at Xiao Chen.
Naturally, Xiao Chen did not know the answer to this question. He retorted indifferently, "Who knows what you bunch of bald monks think? I"ve already left the Kunlun Realm, but you"re still chasing me to death."
"Evil creature, how dare you be so rude?!"
Right after speaking, that Protector charged over at lightning speed. He was strangely fast, leaving behind countless flickering afterimages.
The Protector stretched his arms wide as his broad sleeves billowed, like an eagle spreading its wings. He merged perfectly with the churning starry sea"s water, the gentle sea breeze, and the rippling light from the sea.
No matter where it was, what angle or what posture, the Protector merged into them, carrying this piece of the world along with him.
Suddenly, Xiao Chen felt like he was being rejected by the seawater, the sunlight, the light breeze, and the light. It felt like, despite the vastness of the world, he had no place in it.
This feeling was very hard to express. This was another comprehension that Cloud Sea cultivators had about being one with the world and then applying it to actual combat.
Clash of airs, a battle of minds!
When the other party approached and threw a palm strike, it seemed to grow increasingly larger like it was effortless. This was extremely hard to bear.
This was a very distinctive feature of the Buddhist sect"s Zen Dao Palm Technique.
"Bang!"
Xiao Chen calmed himself and countered with a palm strike, barely catching the attack.
With just slight contact, it knocked back Xiao Chen. He did not have time to bring out even a tenth of his Vital Qi or Veritable Essence Energy.
Quick, heavy, and ruthless!
Xiao Chen, who was in the air, vomited a large mouthful of blood, unable to retaliate at all.
This was not a fight between people on the same level. It was no different from an adult beating up a baby.
However, the other party had to be careful and not use too much force lest he accidentally kill Xiao Chen.
In the eyes of the Protector, all of Xiao Chen"s resistance would be like a baby swinging a sword, looking very laughable.
"Buzz!"
Suddenly, countless stars sparkled in the Protector"s eyes. A force from the depths of his soul appeared.
The surrounding s.p.a.ce froze. Strangely, Xiao Chen, who was flying in the air, stopped.
Xiao Chen could not move at all. There were also countless water droplets hanging crystalline in midair, every drop perfectly frozen and showing all sorts of brilliance.
As the countless stars flickered in the Protector"s eyes, he showed a cold and expressionless visage. Then, he stretched out his hand, and Xiao Chen"s body flew over to him for some reason.
However, the countless crystalline water droplets in the air did not move at all.
How hateful…
Hatred surged in Xiao Chen"s heart. He swore that if he had the chance, he would definitely return this favor to the Black Lotus Church a hundred times over in the future. He was never one to break his promises.
There were the Demonic Calamities, which the Black Lotus Church instigated, repeatedly damaging the Kunlun Realm, and the repeated attacks on Xiao Chen. The hatred he had for the Black Lotus Church meant that they could not share the same skies.
"Boom!"
The Protector punched Xiao Chen, who had been pulled back, and the stars in his eyes disappeared.
The force that froze s.p.a.ce vanished. Xiao Chen"s body fell to the sea together with the droplets of water.
Blood flowed out of Xiao Chen"s mouth continuously. His chest hurt like blazes. His bones felt like they were dislocated and falling apart.
"Even with such strength, you dare to be so rude? I have not even used twenty percent of my strength. Let me ask you again. Do you still dare to be so rude?" The Protector snorted coldly, revealing a disdainful expression.
"Interesting. I have met fools before, but I never imagined that a Star Venerate of the Black Lotus Church would be this stupid. I dared to come alone. That naturally means that I am ready to die. Are you bald monks really missing your brains?"
Xiao Chen did not fear death. At that moment, he was very calm. However, he did feel some regret.
He still had many things to do, people he had not met yet.
However, it had been worth it already. Before he left, he received the reluctance of Xiao Suo and the others on the Black Cutla.s.s. At the very least, there were people who treated Xiao Chen sincerely in this Great Thousand Realms.
Although the mundane world is bitter, at least there are people who understand me.
"You overestimate yourself!" the Protector sneered coldly. Then, he extended his hand, and the surrounding s.p.a.ce froze once more. Countless water droplets remained fixed in the air again, and Xiao Chen"s body was slowly drawn back.
Amid such a predicament, Xiao Chen remained calm, not showing any fear as he looked at that Protector.
The Breaking the Mundane that he comprehended the principle of could hurt the other party.
Xiao Chen was waiting for a chance—the most suitable chance to make a move and deal a peak strike to the other party. Even if it only resulted in both sides getting injured, it would be worth it.
Even in death, he wanted the other party to know that he was no pushover with no dignity at all.
"Boom!"
However, just as Xiao Chen was about to make a move, the surrounding s.p.a.ce and every single drop of water suddenly exploded.
A puissant force infiltrated this s.p.a.ce and recklessly broke it.
Suddenly, a figure descended behind Xiao Chen. Before the Protector could react, this figure grabbed Xiao Chen and retreated at lightning speed.
After Xiao Chen looked over his shoulder, he revealed a shocked expression. It was the Iron Hand Yama—the pirate with a fiendish appearance, the pirate who had cursed and criticized nonstop since boarding the pirate s.h.i.+p. It was this pirate who actually made a move to save him.
"Don"t be so shocked. With just a twitch of your tail, I can tell what you are thinking. You have guts. I could not save the brothers of the Savage Blood Pirate Group. However, this old Iron Hand Yama is definitely saving your life!"
Then, Xiao Chen looked to the back. A pirate s.h.i.+p was rus.h.i.+ng over with all its sails set.
It was the Black Cutla.s.s!
There was an old man holding a flute while standing on a tortoise beast traveling beside the s.h.i.+p. That was the Beast Governing Sect"s Elder Tang.
Luo Nan and Fei`er rode the two Cold Steel Eagles in the sky, showing sullen expressions.
They were all here, the people that Xiao Chen chose to leave behind; they were all here.
"No matter who it is, the Black Scimitar Pirate Group will fight to the death against those who dare to touch our captain! There are no cowards on the Black Cutla.s.s!"
Xiao Suo"s somewhat loud, crazy roar rang out on the surface of the sea. Without exception, the entire crew of the Black Cutla.s.s charged over.
Even if they knew that Xiao Chen faced a Cloud Sea Star Venerate, they still would not retreat.
It was as Xiao Suo said; there were no cowards on the Black Cutla.s.s. Living and dying together, advancing and retreating together!