Chapter 98: Peacock’s Fiery Screen

Update time: 2013-05-20

Tang Tian sprang from the ground with a swift leap, the wind howling past his ears, the flame in his eyes flickering ever so slightly with the breeze.

Murderous intent pierced the sky as the youth stretched out his form in midair, dazzling as the sun itself.

Below, Er Zhu staggered back in panic, his face pale. Gazing up at the sky, his eyes were filled with terror. The strength he once prided himself on had been utterly shattered in this instant.

In midair, Tang Tian locked his aura firmly onto Er Zhu below. He took in every nuance of his opponent's expression—there was neither surprise nor agitation. At this moment, Tang Tian resembled a seasoned predator.

Six throwing knives whistled through the air, drawing six erratic golden trajectories, sharp and shrill as they sliced the wind toward Tang Tian’s back. Xiao Lu, seeing Er Zhu in peril, intervened without reservation. True power surged into the knives, golden blades glinting from their edges, their flight graceful as willow branches swaying in the wind.

The six golden lines crisscrossed and wove together, strange and elusive, their speed as swift as lightning.

No one noticed, in the corner, the black-clad woman drawing her bow to a full moon, her eyes—barely visible beneath a cold mask—brimming with murderous resolve.

On the taut bowstring rested an exceptionally heavy bronze arrow.

This bronze arrow was unlike any she had loosed before. Its shaft was as thick as a thumb, and its fletching was three-feathered instead of two. The cold arrowhead gleamed with a chilling light.

Cunning and unpredictable, she had tangled with Jing Hao a moment before, staying hidden, never revealing her hand. Even Jing Hao had not realized that the bow in her grasp was no ordinary weapon.

Heavenly Arrow Constellation, a bronze secret treasure, known as the Azure Bow!

This bow possessed three utterly unique arrows, of which the bronze heavy arrow was one. Ordinary bronze arrows could not unleash the full might of the Azure Bow. Only the three specially crafted arrows could reveal its true power.

True power coursed into the bronze heavy arrow, fine threads of azure light snaked from nock to tip like lightning.

As the azure glow reached the arrowhead—clang! Two turquoise blades sprang forth from the tip, transforming the flat arrowhead into a four-edged point.

Slender, snow-white fingers released the bowstring.

Twang!

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Jing Hao was momentarily dazed by the sheer dominance of Tang Tian’s attack. Though Tang Tian had surprised him time and again during their sparring, his performance in true combat had once again overturned all of Jing Hao’s expectations.

This fellow…

Suddenly, an overwhelming killing intent made his heart skip.

Jing Hao’s expression changed. He had overlooked the Black Soul Rider!

Damn it!

From the corner of his eye, he glimpsed a ghostly green arrow vanishing into the air—its target unmistakably Tang Tian.

He had no time for anything else. Without a moment’s hesitation, Jing Hao shouted, “Northern Crown!”

The crown on his sword hilt flared with sudden brilliance. At the same time, the Northern Crown sword in his hand thrust forward.

A dazzling white sword light shot from the blade, vanishing in an instant.

Boom!

Sword light and green arrow collided head-on.

It was as if a heavy drum had sounded in everyone’s chests, their blood roiling. The black-clad woman grunted, for Jing Hao’s sword was wielded with full force—she gained no advantage. Yet a glimmer flashed in her eyes.

Jing Hao exhaled in relief. If anything happened to Tang Tian, he would regret it forever. Yet in that very instant, amidst the light of sword and arrow annihilating each other, two slender blades of azure light suddenly shot forth—the very arrow blades just formed by true power.

The two blades transformed into fine light arrows, accelerating abruptly, mingling soundlessly among the six golden flying knives.

In midair, Tang Tian had no way to dodge!

Jing Hao’s face changed again—he had not expected such insidious cunning from the enemy.

Tang Tian was in grave danger!

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Tang Tian felt a deadly aura lock tightly onto him, making his hair stand on end. The explosive sound behind him brought a breath of relief, thinking the crisis had passed, but then a faint, icy murderous intent suddenly emerged.

A chill ran through Tang Tian.

He knew well the strength of Brother Jing Hao. If even he couldn’t block this...

Suspended in air, Tang Tian had no leverage.

The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind...

A strike that should have been certain was disrupted by his opponent finding a flaw. Most would have been deeply shaken, but Tang Tian’s mind was utterly clear. Though the murderous intent was faint, he did not relax for an instant; his instincts screamed of mortal peril.

What to do?

Tang Tian racked his brain. Under the intense stimulus of danger, the Silver Martial Spirit within him grew wildly active, sensing the threat.

Suddenly, a vague thought connected to his Silver Martial Spirit.

What was this?

Tang Tian’s eyes widened in sudden, irrepressible delight. This was...

The flames of the Silver Martial Spirit blazed up, and that vague thought quickly clarified.

Across Tang Tian’s peacock-blue armor, ripples of light began to shimmer, and a wisp of azure flame emerged from beneath the plumes. A powerful aura was taking shape with astonishing speed!

The peacock plumes on his back, wreathed in azure fire, gently shed away, hovering silently in the air.

All who witnessed this scene stared, mouths agape in disbelief.

Tang Tian flashed through the air as fast as lightning, yet the shedding of those blue plumes seemed to happen in slow motion, a contradiction happening vividly before their eyes.

At some point, a blue peacock climbed onto Tang Tian’s shoulder. It turned its head, its cold gaze full of imperious disdain. A delicate red feather on its brow quivered, vivid as blood.

The floating peacock plumes, drenched in azure flame, shone ever brighter. Suddenly, a beam of blue light shot from one plume to another. In the blink of an eye, countless beams wove together, forming a shimmering blue screen. Azure flames danced across it—like a peacock fanning its tail!

Peacock Flame Screen!

Somehow, this name surfaced instinctively in Tang Tian’s mind.

Such breathtaking beauty stunned everyone present.

“Elder Nong…” Jing Hao murmured, transfixed by the blue light screen and the proud gaze of the peacock on Tang Tian’s shoulder. Suddenly, he remembered the tales of Peacock Blue—how, when Elder Nong first acquired it, it was but an ordinary bronze treasure. Yet the elder had poured his heart into it, forging it into one of the greatest bronze treasures in the guild.

Before his death, Elder Nong had fused his martial spirit into the treasure—this peacock…

For some reason, looking at the proud, aloof peacock, Jing Hao seemed to glimpse that hunched, wizened old man with his solitary, arrogant gaze.

The name “Demonclaw” had once struck terror into so many…

Back then, surely this peacock had been just as proud...

Jing Hao’s mind drifted.

Terror flashed in the black-clad woman’s eyes as she stared at the cold, proud peacock on Tang Tian’s shoulder, as if bewitched.

That was… Peacock Blue!

Such a beautiful name, yet it was linked with a name both ruthless and infamous—Demonclaw!

Hadn’t that man died long ago? Could this youth now be the successor to Demonclaw… How could she have known nothing of this…

Her hands and feet turned icy.

Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!

Soft, consecutive sounds—the six golden lights and two green arrows plunged into the Peacock Flame Screen.

The screen caught, wrapped, and drew them in, then returned to Tang Tian’s back. He grunted, his figure accelerating even more. The Peacock Flame Screen had not blocked all eight attacks—Peacock Blue, in its weakened state, could not exert its full power, as Tang Tian had not nurtured it enough.

Three strands of residual force penetrated Tang Tian’s body. One, sharp and fierce, was from the throwing knives; the other two, cold and sinister. The knife energy he soon dispelled with Crane Body Technique, but the sinister energies resisted even that.

For the first time, Tang Tian found the Crane Body Technique unable to dissolve incoming force—his meridians suffered a light injury, filling him with dread. The peacock on his shoulder drooped and melted back into the plumes, having spent much of its strength in defense.

Tang Tian did not pause. Instead, using the momentum, his speed increased even more, shooting toward Er Zhu like a cannonball.

“Heavenly Furnace!”

A thunderous roar erupted. Having just survived death, Tang Tian was now truly enraged.

The flames of his Heavenly Furnace gauntlets turned a translucent blue, radiating a cold and forbidding aura that surged violently.

Below, Er Zhu forced himself into a defensive stance. Fourth-tier earth energy poured desperately into his crescent shovel. Blood trickled from his lips—he knew he had to fight to the death, or else perish on the spot. The fear on his face vanished, replaced by grim resolve.

“Kill!” Er Zhu’s eyes bulged with fury, his crescent shovel sweeping upward, surging with earthen yellow light.

Tang Tian, like a hunting eagle, swooped down from above with overwhelming force, smashing his fist down.

His fist, shrouded in transparent blue flames, rippled with countless waves, crackling with explosive force.

Azure and ochre collided with a crash!

Both shattered!

Er Zhu was forced back again, blood streaming from his eyes, nose, and mouth.

Despite his desperate counterattack, Er Zhu’s earth energy was no match for the Crane Body; it would be dispersed in moments. With his fighting spirit now fully aroused, Tang Tian pressed his true power, sticking to Er Zhu relentlessly like a shadow.

His hand-moon blade struck with cunning and venom.

Er Zhu barely blocked two blows, but took two more to his ribs, flesh torn open.

Tang Tian’s eyes flashed with killing intent. Like a ghost, he closed in beside Er Zhu.

His legs kicked in a whirlwind, relentless as a storm. Already wounded within, Er Zhu was utterly suppressed. Struggling desperately, he saw a sudden red light flare amid the barrage of kicks.

Er Zhu’s heart lurched. In panic, he raised his palm before his face.

The red beam pierced his hand in an instant.

Er Zhu froze, his face twisted in fury, but now a hole as thick as a finger pierced his throat.

Overlord’s Furious Finger!

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There will be another chapter tonight.