22: Chapter 22 Snatch and Run!

Within the valley, the fierce battle had reached a fever pitch.

"You beast! Die now!"

Second Elder Li Qingcang's hair and beard were bristling, his appearance like a crazed demon.

Each swing of the crimson flame longsword in his hands stirred up towering waves of fire, dyeing half the night sky a deep crimson.

He pushed the might of a Golden Core Stage powerhouse to its limit. Blade rays of flame, dozens of feet long, tore through the air with the force to incinerate mountains and boil seas, madly slashing towards the colossal silver wolf.

However, the strength of the Moon-Howling Sky Wolf far exceeded his expectations.

Facing the flame blade rays capable of splitting mountains, it merely raised its sharp claws disdainfully. A layer of pitch-black Demonic Qi instantly condensed before its claws into an indestructible barrier.

*CLANG——!*

The flame blade rays and the Demonic Qi barrier collided violently, erupting with a deafening metallic clash!

A violent shockwave of energy spread out in ripples, scraping the ground three feet deep and sending rocks flying through the air.

Second Elder Li Qingcang only felt an irresistible, terrifying force transmitted through his blade. It numbed his tiger's mouth, churned his Qi and blood, and sent his entire body flying uncontrollably backward dozens of feet before he barely managed to steady himself.

His heart was filled with extreme shock.

Under the suppression of the moonlight, this demon king's strength should have been weakened by nearly half.

Yet even so, the power it displayed still made him, an Early Stage Golden Core powerhouse, feel a deep sense of helplessness!

This beast's Physical Body was simply more solid than a Magic Treasure!

"Third Brother, use the 'Earth-Binding Chains'!" Second Elder Li Qingcang roared, reminding Li Qingshan on the other side.

"Good!" Third Elder Li Qingshan's expression was grave as his hands rapidly formed seals.

"Kun Character Technique, Earth Dragon Overturns!"

*RUMBLE!*

The entire valley's earth shook violently. Thick, earthen-yellow chains, thick as barrels, burst from the ground like awakened earth dragons, entangling the Moon-Howling Sky Wolf's limbs from all directions.

At the same time, the surviving Late Stage Foundation Establishment Disciples, suppressing their injuries, also summoned their respective Magical Artifacts. Streams of light, like swarms of locusts, continuously harassed from the side, sharing the pressure for the two Elders.

Above the valley, hidden in the shadows of the cliff, Chu Xiao took in all of this.

His eyes were as calm as an ancient well, but his mind was crystal clear.

These people from the Li Family seemed to be fighting desperately, but in reality, their goal was not to slay this demon king at all.

Given the strength displayed by the Moon-Howling Sky Wolf, even without the moonlight suppression, the Li Family going all out might not be able to capture it, let alone now.

Their tactics were clear—attrition, harassment, provocation!

This Moon-Howling Sky Wolf was a demon king, possessing high intelligence. But precisely because of this, it possessed the pride befitting a ruler.

Provoked by a group of ants in its eyes, it could not remain indifferent.

The Li Family was using lives as the price to lure this demon king out of the valley!

The complete plan became instantly clear in Chu Xiao's mind.

The two Golden Core Elders were the bait, the remaining Foundation Establishment Disciples were the cannon fodder, and Li Feng was the sharp knife prepared to steal the fruit.

Sure enough, under the relentless, fearless harassment of the group, the Moon-Howling Sky Wolf, already fiercely savage by nature, was finally thoroughly enraged.

"Awooo——!"

A wolf howl brimming with boundless rage echoed through the heavens!

The Moon-Howling Sky Wolf's icy beastly pupils instantly turned blood-red. It completely abandoned guarding the crystalline platform, its massive body transforming into a silver lightning bolt as it recklessly, frantically chased after Second Elder Li Qingcang, who had provoked it the most!

It would tear this ant who dared challenge its majesty to shreds!

"Beast! Come chase me!"

Seeing this, Second Elder Li Qingcang was overjoyed. While desperately fending off the Moon-Howling Sky Wolf's frenzied attacks, he fled towards the valley's exit with all his might.

Third Elder Li Qingshan immediately understood. Shouting "Protect the Second Elder!", he led the remaining Disciples, closely following behind, successfully luring the enraged demon king completely out of this core area.

The Opportunity had arrived!

Li Feng, ambushed within the pile of rubble, saw the demon king successfully lured away. A wild, ecstatic light erupted in his eyes.

He could no longer restrain himself. Seizing this fleeting, opportune moment, his entire person shot out from his hiding spot like an arrow from a bowstring!

He executed a Family-inherited movement technique to its extreme. Wind seemed to sprout beneath his feet. In a few leaps, he crossed hundreds of feet, charging straight for the crystalline platform radiating a holy halo!

The kongchan spirit milk! So close at hand!

His eyes were filled with greed and excitement. The Spiritual Qi within his body surged madly. A cyan-colored giant hand, condensed from pure Spiritual Qi, materialized out of thin air, viciously grasping towards that pool of milky-white liquid!

He seemed to already see the glorious future where he seized the treasure, received heavy rewards from the Family, rose rapidly in status from then on, and became a man above others!

However, just as his Spiritual Qi hand was about to touch the kongchan spirit milk...

A sudden change occurred!

A slender, hair-thin, yet incredibly sharp purple lightning sword ray shot out explosively from the shadows behind and to his side, without the slightest warning!

This sword ray was extremely fast, utterly silent, as if appearing from nowhere. Its target was not Li Feng's vital points, but the cyan giant hand he had extended!

"What?!"

Li Feng's face changed drastically in shock. He had no time to react, only feeling a terrifying sense of crisis originating from his Soul instantly envelop him!

*SHWIP!*

That Spiritual Qi hand he was so proud of, the moment it contacted the purple lightning ray, was pierced and torn apart as easily as a hot knife through butter, instantly collapsing and dissipating!

Not only that, after shattering the Spiritual Qi hand, the sword ray's momentum unabated, flashing past his fingertips!

"Ah!"

Li Feng let out a shrill scream. He felt a sharp pain in his right hand. Looking down, he saw his five fingers had been severed cleanly at the base by that domineering lightning Sword Qi, blood gushing out wildly!

And in that brief moment when his movements faltered from the intense pain...

A blurry, cyan-colored phantom, like a ghost, appeared beside the crystalline platform.

The newcomer was none other than Chu Xiao!

He didn't even glance at the screaming Li Feng. His movements flowed like clouds and water. He took out a prepared mutton-fat jade bottle from his Storage Pouch,

gave his wrist a gentle flick, and collected every last drop of that precious kongchan spirit milk into the bottle, not wasting a single bit.

The moment the jade bottle was stored back into the Storage Pouch, that familiar System notification tone rang out in his mind as expected!

[Ding! Detected host successfully snatching the Opportunity from Li Feng, possessor of the 'Average Luck' Destiny. Commencing Opportunity return settlement...]

[Ding! Congratulations, host, for triggering a thousandfold return!]

[Congratulations, host, for obtaining the legendary wonder—primordial dao spring spirit liquid (one drop)!]

Success!

Chu Xiao felt joy in his heart, but his face showed no expression.

"You little bastard! How dare you steal my Li Family's treasure! Die!"

Having his treasure snatched and his fingers severed, Li Feng was now completely blinded by rage and despair.

His eyes were bloodshot. Disregarding everything, he mustered all his remaining Spiritual Qi, summoned a Flying Sword, transforming it into a stream of light, and frantically stabbed towards Chu Xiao's back!

This was his all-out, desperate strike!

However, facing this furious attack, Chu Xiao didn't even turn his head.

He merely reversed his grip on his sword and casually parried backward.

*Clang!*

A crisp, loud ring.

Li Feng's Low Grade Spiritual Artifact-level Flying Sword, upon contacting the seemingly ordinary hundred-refined steel sword in Chu Xiao's hand, let out a groan of strain. It was sent flying by an irresistible, immense force!

As for Li Feng himself, it was as if struck by lightning. He spat out a mouthful of blood and flew backward like a kite with a severed string, crashing heavily to the ground, completely losing his fighting ability.

One move!

With just one move, he had effortlessly crushed a Foundation Establishment Cultivator!

After succeeding, Chu Xiao had not the slightest intention of lingering.

He could sense that the two auras belonging to Golden Core Stage powerhouses in the distance had already detected the commotion here and were rushing back at an astonishing speed!

"Li Family, I'll remember this debt."

Chu Xiao coldly glanced towards the chaotic battlefield in the distance, leaving behind an icy statement.

His figure flickered as he pushed the 'Flying Cloud Flash' to its limit.

His entire person transformed into a faint wisp of cyan smoke, instantly vanishing into the boundless sea of forest on the other side of the valley.