Chapter 5 - Whose Resentment?
On the platform, sword shadows intertwined, their boundless brilliance covering everything, making the white fox mask appear exceptionally clear and distinct.
Nine Elephant Gate cultivates external Dharma Idols; the completed Nine Elephant Art can cultivate a total of eighty-one external Dharma Idols, which, when combined into one, are said to be able to sculpt a divine body to attest to the Great Dao.
And relying on this Nine Elephant Art, Nine Elephant Gate has always firmly occupied a place among the Four Sects.
And at this moment, Chen Ping had already manifested four Dharma Idols; his Dharma Idols flickered with golden light, their human-like figures exuding a lifelike imposing pressure. Compared to the last Immortal Ascension Assembly, his Nine Elephant Art had greatly improved; even aiming for the top thirty was not out of the question.
But at this moment, those four Dharma Idols he was so proud of seemed so insignificant in front of Luo He.
Luo He, dressed in a black robe and wearing a mask, wielded his sword, moving with ease amidst the pincer attack of the four Dharma Idols; no matter how he was surrounded, he could quickly break free.
And during every gap in the Dharma Idols' attacks, he would swiftly strike with his sword, bringing forth a heaven-suffusing cyan sword light.
Every time a sword light flashed, a huge gash would invariably be added to one of his Dharma Idols, spiritual energy leaking from it like a deflating water ball, forcing Chen Ping to painstakingly mend it.
Sweat dripped from his forehead as he looked at the four Dharma Idols around him, which were already somewhat faint and indistinct, his expression grave as he watched Luo He, whose aura was like that of a phantom.
That sharp cyan sword qi... there's no mistake, it must be the uncommonly transmitted secret art of Tianchen Sword Sect, the Nameless Heavenly Profound Sword Art, learned only by the Sect Master and the subordinates of the Tianchen Seven Swords.
However, like Luo Hongyu's sword technique, every time she swung her sword, her sword body would invariably vibrate with an incomparably surging tide of spiritual energy; yet when this person swung his sword, only an incredibly faint spiritual energy could be seen attached to it.
It was as if spiritual energy was so precious to him that he would rather reduce its power to conserve its use.
But it was precisely with so little spiritual energy imbued in the sword body that, after he swung it, it could still inflict damage no less than Luo Hongyu's.
Compared to a sword, his attacks were perhaps more like a scalpel, precisely and quietly striking vital points.
Tsz...
As the entanglement continued, a glint flashed in Luo He's eyes. Finding an opportunity, he actually destroyed one of Chen Ping's Dharma Idols with a single sword strike, instantly tearing an opening in the encirclement.
He immediately charged out from it, heading straight for Chen Ping. Chen Ping was greatly alarmed, bit the tip of his tongue to burn a drop of essence blood, and immediately retreated, barely dodging the sword strike aimed at his neck, thus avoiding defeat.
But he was not well off at this moment either; his originally ruddy face was now incredibly pale, and he panted heavily as he looked at Luo He, who had stopped attacking for some unknown reason.
"Ha... as expected of Luo He, who stays by Young Master Luo's side... This unforgiving sword technique truly leaves no room for slack."
Seeing Chen Ping show signs of decline so quickly, the crowd below couldn't help but cast surprised gazes towards Luo He, who rarely displayed his own strength.
Although the Nine Elephant Art was somewhat lacking in terms of offense, it was particularly adept at wars of attrition and entanglement. In the past, Chen Ping had challenged heaven's favored ones ranked at the forefront before; even if defeated, he had never been defeated so quickly.
Not to mention, the current Chen Ping could be said to be no longer what he was, his strength having greatly increased.
But the current Luo He, in just two or three encounters, forced Chen Ping to burn his blood and retreat. On this Jade Ní Ranking, where should his strength be ranked?
I'm afraid... it wouldn't be much lower than Luo Hongyu's.
And such a person actually willingly stays by Luo Hongyu's side as an attendant, for decades as if it were a single day.
Luo He, Luo He...
That rumor, could it be true?
Could it be that this Luo He is truly Luo Hongyu's illegitimate half-brother who cannot see the light of day, Sect Master Luo Wenshui's illegitimate son? Otherwise, why would he debase himself to this extent...
Evidently, after seeing Luo He make a move, the speculation about Luo He's background became even more fervent.
Luo Hongyu, sitting alone to one side, heard these voices clearly. Her expression did not change, but her eyes grew increasingly cold.
She looked at Luo He's figure standing on the platform, her gaze shimmering, it was unknown what she was thinking.
"Brother Luo He's sword skills, I'm afraid they're not much inferior to Young Master
Luo's, right? For Tianchen Sword Sect to produce two such peerless talents at once truly makes one envious."
Chen Ping steadied himself, wiped the blood from the corner of his lips, looked at Luo He, and said with a smile.
"However, Brother Luo He, why have you put away your sword?"
"I haven't been defeated yet, you know..."
The pendant on Chen Ping's chest shattered according to his will, and his Dharma Idols, whose auras were previously weak, immediately stood up again, and their forms became even taller.
His Dharma Idols originally simulated immortals and deities, but at this moment, his
Dharma Idols actually grew horns and fangs, their eyes wide with anger.
"Futú Elephants..."
Luo He silently recited this name in his heart.
This is a side branch of Nine Elephant Gate's cultivation methods, specializing in slaughter. Naturally, it also requires malevolent qi and a killing intent. It's not considered something presentable, but it's not considered a demonic or heretical path either.
The problem is, Chen Ping had never dabbled in this path before.
As expected, this Immortal Ascension Trial will not be that easy.
Feeling it, the amount of spiritual energy in his body, his dantian which was broken by malevolent qi, could not support him in prolonged combat.
Then there's no way around it.
Luo He gathered his qi and focused his spirit; the iron sword in his hand hummed in response.
In the world, only swords with spirits can respond to their sword masters, but in Luo He's hands, even an ordinary iron sword could resonate for him.
A rainbow light flashed on the platform; the sword qi was so piercing that the people below could hardly open their eyes. When they came back to their senses, Luo He on the field had already sheathed his sword.
Chen Ping's four Futú Elephant idols had already lost their heads and fell powerlessly to the ground, dissipating.
And Chen Ping himself also spat out fresh blood, his glabella darkened, and he knelt on the ground, clutching the extremely shallow bloodstain on his neck.
Shock, astonishment, disbelief, anger, fear, and... a final trace of unwillingness and venomous resentment flashed through his eyes.
Having used that demonic seed in his chest, these four Futú Elephant idols were no longer mere Dharma Idols; the beheading of the Futú had dealt an indelible blow to his spiritual platform's foundation.
From now on, his future prospects could be said to be completely bleak.
He raised his head and showed Luo He a twisted smile:
"Luo He, I couldn't tell you actually possessed such strength. It seems you were merely probing me earlier, haha, what deep scheming."
"I am unwilling to be a seventy-eighth at the bottom. What about you, Luo He? Are you willing? Are you willing to be just someone's shadow for your entire life, unable to face the world, hmm?"
"You and I are merely the same kind of person..."
Luo He sheathed his sword by his side and did not interrupt him.
When the people below heard these words, although they dared not continue discussing due to Luo Hongyu's presence nearby, what they thought in their hearts was still just about those matters.
Chen Ping saw that Luo He's gaze remained unmoved, suppressed those obscure thoughts in his heart, cupped his hands towards Lan Yu in the sky, and then left the Immortal Ascension Platform.
But Luo He, holding his sword, had not yet left.
Just as everyone was feeling puzzled, another person from the ranking stepped onto the platform.
"This humble one, eighty-second on the Jade Ní Ranking, wishes to challenge the tenth place, Young Master Luo of Tianchen Sword Sect."
Luo He said nothing, merely silently drawing his sword.
Seeing this scene, the crowd below gradually began to understand.
Someone has targeted Luo Hongyu.