Chapter 1000

Watching his fist, not only was it abrupt and swift, but wherever the fist's edge passed, it faintly caused the air itself to ignite.

Though not as fierce as the flames that burned down Xue Damo's hall, it was clearly terrifying to the extreme.

Though Shangguan Haitang had studied under Lian Wuhen, her Wu Gong was not her strength.

To say nothing of Cao Zhengchun using eighty percent of his cultivation—even if he used only half, Shangguan Haitang still could not receive it.

But now, everyone present, apart from Gu Hongzi and Master Jueyin, thought she was Zhou Zhiruo.

And Gu Hongzi and Master Jueyin were no match for Cao Zhengchun.

Though they wished to act, they held Gu Ji in their hearts.

Though Master Yeyu stood beside Shangguan Haitang, she truly believed the one beside her was Zhou Zhiruo.

Recalling the battle in the valley not long ago, how splendid Zhou Zhiruo had been.

It was said that even Cao Zhengchun had been defeated at her hands.

Added to that, Zhou Zhiruo's Wu Gong centered on Mount Emei's martial arts.

She too wished to see what Mount Emei absolute arts "Zhou Zhiruo" would employ this time.

Zhu Wushi also found it strange—why had Cao Zhengchun endured so long only to suddenly strike now?

After thinking it over in his heart, he did not act at the first moment either.

Lastly, there was Liaofan.

He too could have stopped Cao Zhengchun, but at this moment his heart was wounded over the destruction of Xue Damo's hall, his spirit lost—how could he attend to these matters?

Thus, for this punch of Cao Zhengchun's, there was no one who could intercept it for Shangguan Haitang.

Shangguan Haitang knew her own bitterness; watching this unstoppable punch, she could only force herself to raise her palm.

She brought out a palm technique of Lian Wuhen's, wanting to receive Cao Zhengchun's punch.

"Eh? This palm?"

Zhu Wushi recognized at a glance—this palm seemed to be Lian Wuhen's palm technique.

Why would this Miss named Zhou Zhiruo know Lian Wuhen's Wu Gong?

While he was wondering in his heart, Shangguan Haitang and Cao Zhengchun had already clashed together.

Shangguan Haitang's palm was indeed somewhat exquisite.

But her cultivation was ordinary, and her mastery of this palm was insufficient.

So much so that Cao Zhengchun swept all before him, directly shattering this palm in defeat.

Seeing this palm, Cao Zhengchun had broken it so easily himself.

He could not help but let out a strange, cackling laugh and said,

"You truly are not Zhou Zhiruo. If that is so, then go and die!"

He had already faintly guessed that the person before him was precisely Shangguan Haitang.

If he could kill one of Zhu Tie Dan's trusted secret agents right before his eyes, would that not be one of life's great pleasures?

Therefore, not only did he not withdraw force beneath his fist, he instead increased his power output.

At this moment, the edge of his fist was already but a hair's breadth from Shangguan Haitang.

Even if Zhu Wushi reacted and acted again, it would already be too late.

Cao Zhengchun felt secretly delighted in his heart and accelerated his hand.

Just as he thought it was in the bag, and Shangguan Haitang too felt shared dread, certain of death—

Suddenly, a streak of Ning Daoqi appeared on the horizon; in an instant, evil Qi spread across the blade Qi, rushing swiftly toward Cao Zhengchun's back.

If Cao Zhengchun insisted on killing Shangguan Haitang, this Ning Daoqi would surely gravely wound Cao Zhengchun.

"Damnable…"

Cao Zhengchun made his judgment in an instant, not daring to be careless.

He could only withdraw the greater part of his power back, and thrust both hands outward.

Right beside him, a dense layer of Thunder Gang Qi formed for protection.

Boom!

The Ning Daoqi arrived in an instant, striking his protective Thunder Gang Qi—and suddenly split into a hundred or so blade Qi.

Every single blade Qi was not only fierce and vicious, but also angled with cunning precision.

Unfortunately, Cao Zhengchun's protective Thunder Gang Qi was also extraordinary.

No matter how many or how vicious the blade Qi, they still could not break through Cao Zhengchun's protective Thunder Gang Qi.

It was only that this Ning Daoqi, though it had stalled Cao Zhengchun's offensive—

But what kind of person was Cao Zhengchun? Even as he withdrew force, he still threw out that punch.

Although the power of that punch had been pulled back by the greater part,

It was still beyond what Shangguan Haitang could withstand.

The tremendous force struck Shangguan Haitang's body.

It hit her until every bone in her body felt broken, and her viscera seemed to have shifted from their places.

She spat out a large mouthful of black blood, and her whole person flew backward like a kite with its string cut.

"Haitang…"

A figure swept past swiftly, catching the gravely wounded Shangguan Haitang in one grasp.

Hearing this name, Zhu Wushi looked again and found that the human-skin mask on Shangguan Haitang's face had already fallen off, revealing her own countenance.

Only now did Zhu Wushi understand.

That was no Zhou Zhiruo, but rather his own adopted daughter and capable assistant—Shangguan Haitang.

And Cao Zhengchun had clearly recognized her earlier, which was why he had not hesitated to strike lethally.

"Damnable! Cao Zhengchun, you're asking for death!"

Zhu Wushi was furious beyond words, just about to strike at Cao Zhengchun.

Suddenly, from the direction of the Damo Hall, a blaze of flames shot up into the sky.

A figure could be seen, wrapped in raging flames, bursting out.

"Zhou Zhiruo! Don't think you can run!"

The moment Cao Zhengchun saw that figure, his first thought was that it was Zhou Zhiruo.

How could he still bother with the grievances between him and Zhu Tie Dan? His body moved, and he shot rapidly toward that flame-wrapped figure.

"Zhou Zhiruo? Just who is she in the end?"

Zhu Wushi had nowhere to vent his fury, and could not help feeling a wave of bewilderment.

How could Cao Zhengchun, who had always regarded him as a formidable foe, at this critical moment cast everything aside to chase after some Zhou Zhiruo?

At this moment, Cao Zhengchun was only thinking that Zhou Zhiruo, having come out of that intense sea of fire, must already be wounded.

This was the best chance for him to seize the Heaven-Reliance Sword.

Therefore, beside himself with excitement, he could not be bothered with anything else.

Moreover, he shouted loudly along the way,

"Eastern Depot, hear my order! Immediately follow this Governor to intercept this person!"

The Eastern Depot experts had long since arrived; they all knew the Factory Chief was determined to have Zhou Zhiruo.

Therefore, one after another they revealed themselves, coming from all directions, and attacked that flame-wrapped figure along with Cao Zhengchun.

"No! We cannot let Zhiruo face the enemy alone!"

Master Mie Jue could hold herself back no longer at this point. She raised the long sword in her hand and also charged forward.

Gu Hongzi could only smile wryly in helplessness, and had no choice but to advance with Master Mie Jue to meet the enemy.

789 How is this a man?

The strength of Master Mie Jue and Gu Hongzi, in the Nine Provinces, could only be considered mid-to-low level.

After all, it was only by borrowing Zhou Zhiruo's special qualities that they had barely touched the Earthly Immortal Realm.

Not having comprehended it themselves, in the end they were considerably weaker than those who had comprehended it on their own.

But that was the Nine Provinces!

In this foreign-land Great Ming, the highest cultivation was held by Iron-Bold Divine Marquis Zhu Wushi, and the Eastern Depot Governor Cao Zhengchun.

Both of their strengths had yet to break through to the Supreme Mythical Realm.

They were still merely hovering around the late stage of the Heavenly Being Realm.

The Eight Great Experts of the Eastern Depot were, for the most part, also only at the level of the Supreme Mythical Realm.