Quickly conquer the martial arts world, and let your fists dominate the heavens!

Chapter 325 Blood Armor and Wings

Pei Qian was sent flying backward like a kite with a broken string by this domineering force, crashing through several wooden beams before finally coming to a stop. He felt a sweet taste in his throat, and blood welled up in his mouth.

But he still stared intently at the relic in the air, forcefully gathering his remaining internal energy. With a flick of his finger, a condensed internal force was sent towards the relic, attempting to pull it back.

Upon seeing this, the woman in black smiled contemptuously, her voice tinged with mockery: "Little trick."

With a slight twist of her wrist, the white python whip swept through the air, its tip cleaving through the internal force like a sharp blade.

Then, the whip moved like a serpent, precisely wrapping around the relic in mid-air. With a flick of her wrist, the blood-red relic landed steadily in her palm.

Upon landing, Pei Qian roared, "White Python Whip Technique, a direct descendant of the Demonic Sect! Keep firing arrows! Don't let her escape!"

The information from the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot has been combined, and Pei Qian has a deeper understanding of the Demonic Sect. He recognizes their technique as the "White Python Whip Technique," a Demonic Sect technique from two hundred years ago, which, when combined with the Nine Yin Internal Force, is incredibly powerful.

The Imperial Guards and the Eastern Depot's agents were all seasoned veterans, and their orders were strictly obeyed. Pei Qian's shout immediately sent arrows piercing the air.

The giant black bird swept its wings, blocking the arrows aimed at it.

Shen Tong had already led his men to the third floor, waved his hand and ordered the arrows to be fired, and launched a sneak attack on the woman from behind. The crossbow bolts pierced the air.

But the woman in black remained completely calm. She turned her head instantly, her eyes sparkling like stars, her heart as clear as ice. She twirled the white whip in front of her, and the air around her surged. The whip's shadow transformed into a pure white silk cloth, completely protecting her body.

"Jingle bells~"

The arrows not only failed to penetrate the whip's shadow, but were also deflected, injuring several Imperial Guards.

Seeing that the relic was firmly in her palm, the woman in black had no intention of continuing the fight. She quickly formed a hand seal with her fingertips, causing the giant bird beneath her to suddenly turn around with a whooshing sound.

At the same time, he shouted:

"withdraw!"

The three demonic sect experts inside the restaurant were already being surrounded by the Imperial Guards and the Eastern Depot agents, and the weapons around them were almost tearing apart their protective internal energy.

Upon hearing the Holy Maiden's order to retreat, he felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He immediately unleashed the remaining innate internal energy in his body, his palm strikes and fists carrying a chilling aura, forcefully deflecting the weapons that were encircling him. He managed to tear a gap in the encirclement and fled in panic towards the outside of the building.

But just as the old monk from the Demonic Sect was about to jump off the building...
Just then, Chen Zhan found a brocade spring knife that had been dropped by the Imperial Guards. He shook his foot and tapped it with his toes, sending the brocade spring knife flying.

"Pfft~"

The inner force protecting the old monk was pierced through instantly, as if it were nothing.

His forward leap faltered, and the long sword pierced through his abdomen, pinning him to the wall.

The Heavenly King of Dharma leaped into the air, and a faint red energy instantly pierced through his heart meridian. He had no idea what was happening. He was already dead in mid-air, falling from the fourth floor to the ground.

Seeing this, the Soul-Slaying Dharma King could only roar in anger and quickly retreat under the cover of night.

Shen Tong stared intently at the woman in black and the giant bird in mid-air, completely ignoring the other three. His eyes were bloodshot as he roared:
"Place the grappling hook!"

These claw hooks were specially made weapons by the imperial court, capable of both climbing and binding. Every member of the Imperial Guards and the Eastern Depot present wore two of them on their waists.

As the command was given, dozens of cold lights shot out, their sharp claws lunging straight at the giant bird.

With a few "whoosh" sounds, the giant bird's black feathers were torn off in pieces by its hooked claws, causing it to let out a shrill scream in pain, its wings trembling wildly.

The woman in black's expression darkened slightly, and with a rapid flick of her wrist, her white python whip unleashed a flurry of whip shadows.

"Click--click~"

A series of crisp sounds rang out.

Many steel hooks were broken by the whip's force, but several claws remained firmly entangled on the giant bird's wings.

The woman in black glanced at Chen Zhan, a hint of apprehension flashing across her face. However, with the relic in hand, which she could use at any time, she gave a cold snort.
"You wait for me!"

This was said to Chen Zhan.

The giant bird, pulled painfully by the hook claws, swayed slightly. The woman quickly formed hand seals, channeling her inner energy into the bird, which then crashed headfirst into the wooden roof of the restaurant.

With a loud "boom",
The roof was smashed open, creating a huge hole. Debris and wood fell like rain as the giant bird flapped its wings and flew out of the hole, seemingly out of nowhere.

Carrying the woman in black and the Buddha's relics, it flew rapidly into the night.

All that remained was a scene of utter devastation and a group of Jinyiwei and Dongchang agents with ashen faces.

"Go after them! Cough cough cough!"

Pei Qian roared, his sternum shattered, but he still forced himself to get up.

Just as the Imperial Guards were about to take action, Shen Tong spoke up: "No need to chase them!"

As soon as Shen Tong spoke, everyone stopped in their tracks.

Shen Tong is in full charge here.

Pei Qian angrily said, "Why didn't we chase after them? The Soul-Slaying Dharma King is at his last gasp, and that woman's giant bird is also badly injured."

Pei Qian clutched his chest, his breath coming in short gasps as he glared at Shen Tong. The sharp pain in his chest made his voice tremble, but the resentment in his eyes remained undiminished.

Shen Tong didn't look at Pei Qian, nor did he respond to his question. He simply sighed softly. He slowly turned his head, his gaze falling on Chen Zhan in the corner.

Amidst the chaos just moments before, Chen Zhan remained seated and unmoved. Now that the dust has settled, he still stands in the same spot, his aura as calm as a deep pool of water.

Chen Zhan met Shen Tong's gaze and nodded expressionlessly.

He then looked at Pei Qian, who was staggering to his feet, and said in a calm and even voice, "Leave the rest to me. Commander Pei, take good care of your injuries."

Chen Zhan didn't linger. He lifted his foot lightly and walked straight towards the large hole that had been smashed open on the roof.

The Imperial Guards and agents from the Eastern Depot instinctively made way for them, and no one dared to step forward to stop them.

Upon reaching the edge of the hole, Chen Zhan did not hesitate for a moment. He leaped into the hole and his figure disappeared into the night.

Everyone quickly squeezed to the cave entrance and looked up at the night sky.

The night was as dark as ink, making it difficult to see anything, but in the instant they focused their attention, they could vaguely see a figure that did not fall to the ground.

Suddenly, a pair of blood-red wings unfurled from its back, their surfaces shimmering with light, carrying an eerie aura. It flew away like a streak of crimson lightning in the direction where the giant bird had disappeared, vanishing into the depths of the night in an instant.

Everyone inside the building was dumbfounded. Even Pei Qian forgot the sharp pain in his chest and stared blankly at the disappearing red figure.

The blood-red wings were formed from Chen Zhan's Dragon-Snake Demon Armor.

The demon armor, drawing upon its own vital energy, transformed into wings that became one with its physical body.

He spared the life of the Soul-Slaying Dharma King in the Phoenix Pavilion not out of mercy, but because he had planned it all along, attaching a trace of his blood to the other party, just in time for tracking him now.

The woman in black had a very keen sense of perception; she might be able to sense his vital energy.

Following the aura that had long been attached to the Soul-Slaying Dharma King, Chen Zhan chased after it all the way to the north of the city.

Although it was his first time using the Demon Armor to transform into wings and fly, he felt no sluggishness whatsoever. As his blood and qi circulated, the frequency of his wings flapping perfectly matched his will, as if he were controlling his own limbs.

The dragon-serpent demon armor had a wingspan of two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters), and the airflow it generated when flapping carried a faint smell of blood. Its speed was astonishing, far exceeding that of the injured giant bird.

In the darkness of night, a crimson shooting star streaked across the streets and alleys of the capital in an instant. The city walls were rendered useless, and with a flap of its wings, it had already leaped over them.

Chen Zhan's five senses were extremely sharp, and he could already see the giant bird in the distance just a few miles outside the city.

The giant black bird had stabilized its position, its wingspan reaching several meters. However, the marks of being scratched by hooks and chains remained on its wings. Two people were sitting on its back: the woman in black and the pale-faced Soul Slaughtering Dharma King.

The woman in black sat cross-legged, completely unaware of the pursuers behind her. Her hands were folded in front of her abdomen, and on her palms, the Buddha relic was slowly suspended in the air. The rosy glow was particularly conspicuous in the night, clearly indicating that she was trying to refine the essence within the relic.

After chasing for another ten miles or so, they came to a deserted village ahead, its ruins looking desolate in the moonlight.

The giant bird slowly descended, and the woman in black and the Soul-Slaying Dharma King leaped down. The woman walked to the giant bird, reached out and stroked its head, and a gentle stream of internal energy slowly flowed into its body as she softly said:
"You've worked hard, Aying. Go find some food."

"Chirp chirp~"

The giant bird let out two affectionate cries and nuzzled her palm with its head, as if in response.

But just as it was about to take flight, it suddenly stopped, its huge head slowly turning towards the void behind it, its eagle eyes filled with vigilance, its sharp beak slightly open, emitting a low hiss.

"Whoosh~ Hiss!~"

The woman in black was already very observant, and seeing Ah Ying's wary look, her heart sank instantly.

She had raised this giant bird for many years and knew that its senses far surpassed those of ordinary people. The fact that it could emit such a deep, mournful cry was no ordinary sound.

She immediately withdrew the internal energy she had channeled towards the giant bird, slightly turned her body, and stood back to back with the Soul Slaughtering Dharma King. Her gaze was like lightning, locking onto the boundless darkness behind her, and she even deliberately slowed her breathing.

Just then, a dozen or so figures suddenly emerged from behind the ruins of the abandoned village. These people were dressed in various ways, including monks, Taoists, and laypeople.

One by one, they looked anxious and bowed as soon as they approached. The leader asked in a loud voice:
"Holy Maiden, you're back! Have you obtained the Buddha's Relic?"

The others chimed in, their voices filled with anxiety and anticipation, completely oblivious to the strangeness around them.

The woman in black frowned, too lazy to answer their questions. She suddenly swung her wrist backward, and a sharp burst of internal energy erupted.

"Shut up!"

The noisy believers had no time to react before they were blown away like kites with broken strings, and dared not utter another word.

She kept her eyes fixed on the darkness, her palm quietly clenching the Buddha relic, the crimson halo flickering between her fingers.

On the other side, Chen Zhan, hovering in the void, had already released all his divine will, enveloping the entire abandoned village.

He could clearly sense more than a dozen auras hidden within the village, varying in strength, as well as two familiar ones.

Chen Zhan no longer concealed his presence; with a gentle flap of his crimson wings, he slowly emerged from the void of the night.

Its wings were not folded; the wings, formed from condensed crimson blood and qi, spread out to the left and right, each spanning two zhang, and it roared in.

Like a demon descending to earth, a faint aura of blood and oppressive power emanated from him, instantly spreading out and making the air in the entire desolate village seem to freeze.

"It should be their headquarters, right?" Chen Zhan said slowly.

(End of this chapter)