Volume One, Chapter 20: The Great Celestial Phenomenon Technique
“Hmm?”
Zhao Qianqiu’s expression remained unchanged as he stepped back, swinging his blade directly at the thunderbolt.
Boom!
A tremendous roar echoed through the air. Zhao Qianqiu’s strength was indeed formidable—he actually cleaved the lightning bolt apart!
However, he was far from unscathed. The ground beneath his feet cracked open, and the Autumn Burial Blade in his hand vibrated intensely, wrapped in faint arcs of electricity that trembled incessantly.
A numbness crept through Zhao Qianqiu’s arm.
How could a celestial thunderbolt suddenly descend?
Even the Supreme Sovereign of Tai Xuan was taken aback.
Had a master intervened?
Who was it?
Yu Qingyang was startled as well, but upon seeing someone stepping forward, he leapt up and moved swiftly to stand beside Ye Ziying and Li Hanzhou.
“Mr. Li, your efforts were in vain,” Yu Qingyang said somewhat apologetically.
Li Hanzhou had gone through great lengths to escort him out of the city without incident, yet it was because of him that the mission ultimately failed.
Now, they still faced the elite of the Blood Sacrifice Pavilion.
“No matter,” Li Hanzhou replied nonchalantly.
“Are you alright, Young Master?” Ye Ziying hurriedly asked.
“I’m fine,” Yu Qingyang said with concern. “It’s mainly that I’ve dragged you both into this. This opponent is not easy to deal with.”
“Uh.”
Ye Ziying glanced at Li Hanzhou involuntarily. While others might have missed it, she clearly saw that it was Li Hanzhou who had struck—his talisman had transformed into celestial lightning that forced Zhao Qianqiu to retreat.
Zhao Qianqiu was a top expert from the Blood Sacrifice Pavilion, yet Li Hanzhou had repelled him with a single talisman!
What kind of power did he possess?
Li Hanzhou looked at Zhao Qianqiu ahead. He sensed that Zhao was indeed powerful, but had no clear idea of just how formidable.
His own thunderbolt had been severed by Zhao Qianqiu’s blade—was that because Zhao was too strong, or was he truly too weak?
“Who dared to intervene? Come out and show yourself!” Zhao Qianqiu’s gaze swept cautiously around.
But he could detect no trace of anyone’s presence.
It was strangely eerie.
Even if a master at the Immortal Realm had arrived, he should have sensed it.
“Stop looking. It’s me,” Li Hanzhou stepped forward on horseback.
“You?”
Zhao Qianqiu and the Tai Xuan Supreme Sovereign were stunned.
Wasn’t he just an ordinary man?
Only now did they notice Li Hanzhou’s Taoist robe—he looked like a Taoist priest.
A genuine Taoist?
Were there still real Taoists in this world?
Most who wore Taoist robes nowadays were charlatans roaming the martial world, so this one was genuine?
“I vouch for this man. I hope you will withdraw,” Li Hanzhou said politely to Zhao Qianqiu.
“Master Taoist, you jest,” Zhao Qianqiu narrowed his eyes. “The Blood Sacrifice Pavilion never abandons a contract halfway.”
“If you insist on protecting him, then I shall have to kill one more and take a loss,” Zhao Qianqiu said, raising his blade again.
“You may try,” Li Hanzhou replied calmly.
He had expected to be nervous facing such a formidable opponent in a life-or-death battle, but instead found himself emboldened, a fiery passion kindling within his bones.
Even he didn’t understand why.
Was it a dream of martial heroes or immortal cultivation?
Perhaps.
Otherwise, back on Earth, he wouldn’t have persisted for so many years practicing the unpromising Northern Emperor Technique.
Now that he had power, how could he not try this world of martial arts?
If he couldn’t win, he would simply flee.
At that moment, a flash of cold light flickered in Li Hanzhou’s eyes.
Zhao Qianqiu struck!
His blade was swift, overwhelming with fierce momentum from all directions, as if Li Hanzhou stood within Zhao Qianqiu’s domain.
“Fall!”
Li Hanzhou wasted no time. With a wave of his palm, thirty-six Five-Thunder Talismans shot forth.
Forming a hand seal, Li Hanzhou intoned, “Heavenly Gang Five-Thunder Array!”
The thirty-six talismans instantly transformed into a terrifying thunderstorm, condensing into a grand formation that unleashed a dense deluge of lightning, shattering the relentless blade momentum to pieces!
Zhao Qianqiu’s blade momentum shattered instantly; his expression changed drastically.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Thunderclaps rumbled from the sky, pursuing Zhao Qianqiu relentlessly.
Beneath one bolt, a massive boulder shattered. Zhao Qianqiu had never expected Li Hanzhou to unleash such a torrent of thunder.
He knew the power of those bolts — they were not easy to withstand.
Quickly, Zhao Qianqiu employed his agility, dodging deftly while infusing his blade with true qi, launching a flurry of strikes to counter the roaring Thunder Serpent.
It was as if the apocalypse had descended.
Everyone present was dumbfounded.
Even the Supreme Sovereign of Tai Xuan was shocked.
What was this technique?
Thirty-six thunderbolts united into an array that relentlessly struck Zhao Qianqiu.
Although his blade was razor-sharp, he could not sever a single bolt outright.
“Bloodfall Seven-Kill!”
Bang bang bang!
Seven phantom blades sliced through three thunderbolts consecutively, but the fourth thunderbolt crashed down.
Zhao Qianqiu gathered his true qi and swung his blade fiercely, forced to fight head-on.
Bang!
He staggered back dozens of steps.
His appearance was pitiful—hair disheveled, clothes tattered, and a faint scent of burning lingering over him.
“Pfft!”
Zhao Qianqiu spat out a mouthful of blood.
“Such strength, Senior!” Ye Ziying was stunned.
That was Zhao Qianqiu, a fearsome assassin known throughout the martial world, with Heavenly Gang cultivation, among the top echelon of experts.
Yet here he was, reduced to a beaten dog by Li Hanzhou.
“Who exactly is this man?” The Supreme Sovereign of Tai Xuan could not help but look at Li Hanzhou in astonishment, no less amazed than Ye Ziying.
“Mr. Li is indeed formidable,” Yu Qingyang’s eyes shone with admiration.
“Still alive?” Li Hanzhou did not expect Zhao Qianqiu to be so resilient, surviving his Heavenly Gang Five-Thunder Array, albeit slightly wounded.
“I underestimated you,” Zhao Qianqiu said, staring intently at Li Hanzhou. “I never imagined someone like you existed in Dongyan Prefecture. I have been ignorant. But as I said, the Blood Sacrifice Pavilion will kill those on its list without fail!”
With that, a scroll flew out from Zhao Qianqiu’s storage pouch.
“Danger—it's a spiritual treasure!”
Ye Ziying exclaimed.
“It’s the Storm Picture!”
Yu Qingyang’s heart leapt.
“A spiritual treasure?” Li Hanzhou stared at the item, puzzled. Was that painting really a spiritual treasure?
His beginner’s guide to spiritual treasures had never mentioned it.
“Unfold!”
Zhao Qianqiu took a step forward, true qi surging as he unfurled the scroll.
Before anyone could discern the image, a fierce storm burst forth from the painting!
The raging wind swept across the land, as if the very heavens were being torn asunder.
A malignant gale whipped by, nearly blinding those present.
“Senior, that’s the Storm Picture. The winds within intensify instantly, turning into countless blades!” Ye Ziying quickly explained to Li Hanzhou.
Snap!
An ancient tree was shredded to splinters by the storm.
The power of the Storm Picture was almost unbelievable.
Li Hanzhou raised his arm to shield his eyes, suddenly realizing his clothes were being torn apart by the tempest.
“My new robes!”
He fumed—this was a brand-new garment.
Fighting was one thing, but why tear his clothes?
That robe had cost a few silver coins!
He had completely forgotten how many clothes his Seven-Treasure Gourd had shredded.
Hum.
A pure surge of spiritual energy erupted from Li Hanzhou’s body.
With a wave of his palm, a mysterious force tore the storm apart by hand.
The many tempestuous winds converged toward his palm, swirling into an air vortex like a vast ocean, finally transforming into rivers that poured into his palm.
Ye Ziying and the others suddenly felt the wind subside.
Looking up at this scene, they were stunned.
“What!”
Zhao Qianqiu could hardly believe his eyes—the storm winds unleashed by his Storm Picture were being absorbed into Li Hanzhou’s palm.
“You…”
“What exactly are you? How can you—” Zhao Qianqiu’s voice trembled.
The Supreme Sovereign of Tai Xuan gasped sharply.
“Supreme secret technique of the Xingluo Kingdom—the Great Celestial Phenomena Art!”