Could it be that I am the cruel villain?
Chapter 211 - 148 Each Amplifies

Chapter 211: Chapter 148 Each Amplifies

"What’s going on..."

This thought occurred in his mind.

At the moment when his Soul Body shattered into pieces, Wu Mingsheng only felt dizzy, his vision blackened, and his brain felt as if countless steel needles, each with barbs, were thrusting in and dragging back and forth through his mind.

Even someone like him, who had already stepped into the Nascent Soul Stage, could not withstand the pain that came from the depths of his soul.

His eyes wide open, it’s a pity that no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t see clearly what was in front of him. He even doubted whether he was experiencing illusions due to over-exertion. What did I just see?

"Why has Lord Lu Wu been so badly injured by a beast that has only recently achieved Foundation Establishment?"

"What was that powerful explosion just now? Which ultimate technique?"

"Could it be that the Purple Cloud Palace really imparted some unspeakable High-level Skill to him... Ah!"

A sudden pang in his chest.

On closer inspection, it was that Southern Border girl with a face full of rage and her body burning with Li Fire, her Vermilion Bird attacking his face.

Those were three tail feathers, or rather... three golden hairpins that had been unnoticeably thrown by the girl.

Becoming the carrier for the Vermilion Bird was the true purpose of those three golden hairpins.

He felt a tearing pain in his abdomen and chest!

The terrifying impact leveled everything in several dozen meters around him, and the entire mountaintop was filled with a burning and pungent smell – it was the scent of the Gu Worms in the air being incinerated.

"Glazed Purifying Demon Flame! Vermilion Bird! Reveal yourself!"

Miss Cen, who was a bit mischievous and liked to quibble over titles, finally showed her sharp fangs for the first time...

Who would have thought that a grand Nascent Soul Stage expert could be driven into a dire situation by a Mid Grade Core Formation cultivator and a child who had just achieved Foundation Establishment.

The unique techniques of a Sect are indeed unique, capable of animating paper into objects, granting them life, molding forms, and fighting in coordination between one person and one soul, achieving an effect greater than the sum of their parts.

But the more domineering the unique techniques are, the more likely it is they have fatal flaws.

Common people might not know this, but Jiang Feng knows, because in his mind he has the memories of Wu Mingsheng’s fellow disciple, Wu Fangsheng, even to the extent of knowing the Sect Leader’s weaknesses like the back of his hand.

A rootless Soul Body needs to be continuously nourished and nurtured with one’s own Essence Blood, Essence Qi, and Essence Soul in someone else’s body, so it can be summoned for battle when needed, exhibiting boundless power.

Different from Jiang Feng, a temporary worker, who kept the few Soul Bodies obtained from Wu Fangsheng within the Soul Summoning Banner, if by chance he reaped some lives, he’d slightly nurture them, otherwise he couldn’t be bothered to nurture them, letting them perish on their own.

However, Wu Mingsheng was intimately connected to that Spirit Tiger, a treasure passed down through generations in his family and the guardian Beast Soul that had protected their sect for many years, akin to a brother or a father.

In other words, this so-called "Lord Lu Wu" represented for Wu Mingsheng what a Lifebound Magical Treasure represented, and only successors of the Sect Leader of Fan Yin Sect were qualified to accept this Divine Soul into their body and devote themselves to it daily.

To put it simply, the difference between the two is like the way a pet animal is kept at home.

One doesn’t even let you into their house, only taking you out for a fight when it’s needed, feeding you something when they’re in a good mood, or making you find your own food or even starve when they’re not.

Wu Mingsheng, on the other hand, not only needs to nurture his pet well, spending a great deal of time and effort on it, but also keeps it living in his own home, fattening it up before taking it out to fight others.

Naturally, the latter is superior, after all, the strength of Lord Lu Wu is widely acknowledged – able to travel through earth and sky, and its sense of smell can track a felon for thousands of miles, its physical strength nearly matching a small truck.

But the downside...

"Ah ah ah ah!"

He let out a piercing scream, but the next second, he couldn’t even cry out. Even the "Demolishing Demon Frost Palm" that had already been condensed with Spiritual Energy in his hand and was ready to strike at any moment had temporarily halted.

Spiritual Energy backlash. In the veins, it reversed direction, and his entire body was struck dozens of meters up into the air by the Vermilion Bird, even piercing several giant gashes through his chest and abdomen, revealing the distinctly red flesh to the naked eye.

The clothing on his upper body blazed fiercely, the high temperature charring the exposed skin of Wu Ming black, while Cen Yueyue still clasped her hands in spells, forcing out all the Spiritual Energy from her body.

Although she was only at the Mid Grade Core Formation, the condensed nature of her Spiritual Energy was so exaggerated it was almost unbelievable, especially the intense flames enkindling her body, which would’ve certainly drawn shocks from any connoisseur present.

Those were the Scarlet Flames from the Vermilion Bird of the South, known as Li Fire. If an old monster were standing here, their eyeballs would probably pop out in terror.

Because the Cultivation Technique the girl possessed had already transcended beyond the scope of "Grade."

And this terrifying strike was precisely the opportunity Jiang Feng had created for her, risking his life.

"Although the Secret Techniques of the Fan Yin Sect are indeed domineering, their flaw is that the spirit and Wu Ming share the same root and origin, twin-born from the same body. If the Soul Body were to be damaged, backlash would immediately ensue."

"If he doesn’t summon that Spirit Tiger, then he would never be able to see through the effect of this silver crown that conceals your aura, dragging out the time until Yu Ying arrives, ensuring his defeat. So, he would definitely force the summoning of that Spirit Tiger.

"Once he summons it, that would be his only vital weakness!"

"Typically, a Soul Body can only be out for two or three hours. He has, however, recklessly allowed it to chase for three to four hours. And now, after barely half a day of recuperation, if he forces the summoning, it would definitely be when the Spiritual Body is at its weakest."

"If it really comes to that, leave the Spirit Tiger to me. You just keep that silver crown with you, and later... when he suffers from backlash..."

"I’m relying on you, Yue Yue."

The young man’s words kept emerging in her mind.

Her ten fingers interlaced, the Fire Feather pattern on her brow unexpectedly began to spread across her body and face, her pretty face showing a touch of pain. This was not the strength she should possess at her current realm.

Strictly speaking, Cen Yueyue could only wield less than one percent of the power of Li Fire she could currently control, but she still squeezed out every last bit of potential within her body.

Just as Jiang Feng had said, whether it was Wu Ming’s agonized expression from the backlash or the enemy deliberately sending his Lifebound Beast Soul after her, everything was within expectations.

She didn’t even have the chance to consider whether Jiang Feng was dead or alive and directed all her fury towards Wu Ming. However, no one expected that, amidst the high skies wrapped in the Vermilion Bird’s Li Fire, a man’s low chant, resembling that of an evil ghost, came through.

"You little beast... I will kill you!"

"Demolishing... Frost Palm!"

"Die, damn you!"

Finally, Wu Ming also abandoned his own dignity.

The dual torments of body and mind were enough to completely madden a normal person, mobilizing all the Spiritual Energy in his body. Even if he was being tricked, a Core Formation Stage cultivator should not be challenged.

The angry roar, accompanied by the overwhelming Spiritual Energy, neared as the girl defiantly stared on. Li Fire and Cold Frost finally approached each other in this world, and at the moment of contact, time seemed to stand still...

That instant.

Heaven and earth lost color.