Shang Xia knew that even if he turned to run now that Sima Zhanxing was here, he wouldn’t be able to escape.
Since that was the case, he might as well kill Chu Chen and deal with things from there. He would have to fight Sima Zhanxing anyway and if he were to die eventually, Chu Chen would be waiting in the underworld for him.
Also, Shang Xia didn’t think that it was truly scary to go up against a first layer Martial Extermination Realm expert. He was no stranger to Martial Extermination Realm experts! He went around messing with them when he remained hidden in the Changfeng City all the way up to the war for the Tongyou Mysterious World. He had assisted in the killing of a Martial Extermination Realm expert and that wasn’t all. He even killed one personally!
It was true that a cultivator would experience a fundamental transformation when they entered the Martial Extermination Realm. The transformation would allow them to manipulate heaven and earth qi as they wished and touch on the true mysteries of the world and cultivate using world origin. However, that didn’t mean that they were unkillable!
Sima Zhanxing had arrived after Chu Chen was sent to the underworld. The extermination origin under his feet shot towards Shang Xia and it seemed to rob its surroundings of heaven and earth qi. For the first time in his life, Shang Xia discovered that the heaven and earth qi around him had been sucked dry and he couldn’t feel their existence.
He didn’t feel so much suppression when Youshang and Gao Yun fought above the City Lord Manor in the Changfeng City, and he didn’t feel it when Youshang, Bu Jingshuang, and the black robed mystery man surrounded Liang Shuangren back in the depths of the Thousand Leaf Mountain Range. When Shang Pei advanced into the Martial Extermination Realm, she didn’t showcase such power either.
Something finally clicked in Shang Xia’s mind when the strange feeling overwhelmed him when he faced Sima Zhanxing. Those Martial Extermination Realm experts before didn’t bother using their full strength on a Martial Intent Realm ant like him! Of course, there was also the reason of there being Martial Extermination Realm experts on his side that lightened the suppression on him.
Shang Xia realized that Martial Extermination Realm experts weren’t as weak as he had thought! Everything he knew in the past was a serious misconception!
Well, whatever the case, it was too late for regrets now. He would finally have a chance to experience how strong a Martial Extermination Realm expert truly was!
Shang Xia understood that there was no retreat. There was only one thing he could do and that was to advance desperately! Only then would he manage to find a glimmer of hope to stay alive!
Feeling the torrential pressure that was coming his way, Shang Xia sucked in a deep breath before drawing a horizontal arc before him.
He released his eighth move once again, Starting Moon!
Shang Xia was clear that the first six moves were probably useless against an expert at Sima Zhanxing’s level.
Celestial Disruption, Startling Moon, and Piercing Sun were the only moves that could affect a Martial Extermination Realm expert.
Startling Moon could affect space itself, and it was effective in disturbing a Martial Extermination Realm expert’s divine sense. It allowed Shang Xia to carve out a small space for himself when faced with Sima Zhanxing’s attack.
“Huh?” Sima Zhanxing gasped when he noticed how Shang Xia took his attack. Confusion filled his heart, but at the same time, he became extremely frustrated with himself for being unable to take down a Martial Intent Realm expert.
Behind him were Liu Qinglan and Pan Yunbi. They definitely noticed what happened.
“Why the hell are you here kid? Why aren’t you running? Oh, never mind!” Liu Qinglan’s voice rang through the air, but there was a trace of helplessness in it.
As the words left her lips, a massive explosion rang through the air. The skies seemed to split into two as a massive pillar of light tore into the heavens. A small strand flew straight for Sima Zhanxing’s back.
After Shang Xia forcefully blocked Sima Zhanxing’s attack, Sima Zhanxing wanted to release a follow-up strike but was interrupted by the sudden threat from behind.
Another shrill voice boomed through the air as the strand of light shot at Sima Zhanxing. “Hmph, Liu Qinglan, can you afford to be distracted when fighting me?!”
Two balls of light appeared in the air as they made a pincer attack in the air at a seemingly random spot in the void.
Liu Qinglan’s figure emerged from the location and a deep frown could be seen on her face. Her eyelids jumped as she looked at the situation where Shang Xia was before she sent out a flurry of attacks. Her whip danced in mid air and several blasts rang through the air. They smacked both light balls coming from her left and right and the void trembled violently.
Even though neither of them seemed to be at an advantage at that moment, Pan Yunbi clearly had the upper hand as she managed to seize the initiative to attack. Liu Qinglan could only defend passively.
Without Liu Qinglan to distract him, Sima Zhanxing turned his attention back to Shang Xia.
Just when he turned around to end the Martial Intent Realm ant, he discovered a massive spear that was intricately formed with heaven and earth qi shooting towards him.
Shang Xia unleashed his ninth move, Piercing Sun!
Sima Zhanxing’s expression changed as a huge hole was punched through his extermination origin!
At that moment, he realized that Shang Xia could actually pose a threat to his life.
Facing a Martial Extermination Realm expert, Shang Xia didn’t just plan on staying alive. He was even planning to turn the situation around and threaten Sima Zhanxing’s life!
Unfortunately for him, Sima Zhanxing was much more prepared than Gao Yun. Facing the giant spear that had broken through his extermination origin, Sima Zhanxing circulated his inner qi and shattered the void in front of him with a single punch. Several cracks in the void obstructed Shang Xia’s spear and it eventually whittled it down to nothing.
Shang Xia’s Piercing Sun was nullified by Sima Zhanxing’s punch!
However, defending himself came at a cost. When Sima Zhanxing pulled his fist back, he noticed that three of his fingers had been sliced cleanly off!
“You actually managed to wound me! Is that the martial intent you comprehended after practicing the Providence Spear Art?!” Sima Zhanxing finally turned serious as he spoke seriously to Shang Xia. “Your Shang Clan Spear Art definitely lives up to its name. Your move was extraordinary and you should be proud of yourself!”
“Hmph, useless trash!” A soft voice came from the void and rang in his ears again. Pan Yunbi’s voice rang loudly in Sima Zhanxing’s mind.
With his facial muscles twitching uncontrollably, Sima Zhanxing suppressed the humiliation in his heart and he growled at Shang Xia, “You might be a super talent carefully nurtured by the Tongyou Institution, but it ends here!”
Channeling all the rage he felt, Sima Zhanxing’s extermination origin reappeared and he sent a punch towards Shang Xia. The weight of a mountain tried to press Shang Xia down into the ground as his divine sense came crashing down.
Unfortunately, Shang Xia stood as straight as a rod as he stared at Sima Zhanxing without batting an eyelid.
“Did I say that that was my third martial intent?”