Chapter 87: Heavenly Lightning Steps
Cultivation...
Why do people cultivate? Is it for the goal of becoming strong?
Or would you prefer eternal life and perpetual youth, never experiencing death and maintaining eternal youthfulness throughout your existence?
Why do you cultivate?
That is a question every cultivator should ask themselves before embarking on the road of no return.
Once you step on the road of cultivation, there is no return, like a land mine.
Once you step on it, you must be prepared for the consequences. Cultivation is a path that requires commitment and sacrifice.
It is not an easy journey, but the rewards can be great.
Some seek strength, while others seek eternal life and youthfulness. Whatever the goal may be, be sure to ask yourself why you are embarking on this journey before taking that first step. Once you do, there is no going back.
"Sigh…" Chen Tian sighed as he looked at the thing in front of him.
It has been several hours since he and Su Bingxin entered the red zone. Lucky for them, they didn't encounter any danger on the way, until now.
"GRRR!"
A creature that stands at an impressive height, with a body covered in thick, shimmering ice-blue fur that camouflages it in snowy environments. Its massive paws are equipped with razor-sharp claws, perfect for traversing icy terrain and catching its prey.
Frostfang possesses a set of large, curved horns atop its head, resembling intricate ice formations. Its eyes glow an icy blue, reflecting the coldness of its habitat. This creature has an elongated, muscular body, built for agility and speed. Its tail, tipped with a cluster of frosty spikes, can deliver chilling blows to its prey.
'A beast at the 7th Stage of the Qi Refinement Realm, what a luck!" Chen Tian thought as he looked at the beast.
The ferocious beast groaned loudly, its eyes fixed on Chen Tian and Su Bingxin, deeming them as its fresh prey.
Chen Tian knew they had to act fast if they wanted to survive the encounter with Frostfang.
With its lethal claws and icy spikes, Frostfang seemed like an unstoppable force.
"Bingxin, stay behind me. I will take care of this beast," Chen Tian said, as he readied his sword.
"What? No! I will also help!" Su Bingxin exclaimed, unsheathing her own sword.
She could feel that the beast in front of her was strong, and the aura around it was strong and intimidating.
Unlike humans, who often prefer to conceal their cultivation, beasts are the complete opposite, as they openly exhibit their strength.
Demonstrating their formidable strength signifies their pride and confidence in their cultivation prowess.
On the other hand, displaying any signs of weakness would make them vulnerable to exploitation or challenges to their dominance by other beasts.
Cultivation beasts are known for their fierce competition and hierarchical structure. Displaying strength in the cultivation beast world.
From the beast's aura, Su Bingxin could feel how strong it was, and she knew that defeating it would not be an easy task.
"Don't worry, I will..." Chen Tian tried to reassure her, but Su Bingxin interrupted him, saying, "No! I will help! With determination in her voice, she raised her sword in front of her.
'Sigh... Stubborn girl.'
"Fine, but you only need to give me support," Chen Tian finally agreed, as he couldn't persuade her.
"Um." She nodded with a smile on her face, but that smile was replaced with a fierce and serious expression.
The beast that was looking at them groaned as he attacked, charging towards them with all its might.
Su Bingxin and Chen Tian stood firm, ready to face the beast head-on. As it approached, Chen Tian swung his sword with precision, aiming for the beast's weak spots.
Su Bingxin provided backup, using her own ice element to distract the beast and create openings for him to attack.
The battle between Chen Tian and the charging beast intensified as they unleashed their full abilities.
As the beast lunged forward, Chen Tian swiftly sidestepped its attack, evading its claws with a graceful movement. In that split second, he counterattacked, slashing his sword with remarkable speed and accuracy.
'Bang'
'Hard!'
The blade rebounded, as the skin of the beast that was covered in ice was too tough to leave a dent. Chen Tian gritted his teeth and prepared for another attack.
But the beast used this chance and swung its massive tail toward Chen Tian.
Chen Tian ready himself to dodging the upcoming tail, but before he could do that, an ice wall suddenly appeared between him and the beast, blocking the attack.
Chen Tian turned to see Su Bingxin, using her ice element to protect him. With her help, he was able to dodge the attack.
Su Bingxin then unleashed her ice powers, conjuring a freezing whirlwind that encircled the beast.
The icy winds wrapped around its limbs, slowing its movements and hampering its attacks. As the beast struggled to break free, Su Bingxin created shards of ice that rained down upon it, further weakening its defenses.
"ROAR!!!"
Despite the relentless assault, the beast refused to back down. It thrashed and roared, attempting to overpower Su Bingxin, which he was able to do easily as Su Bingxin's cultivation was lower than his.
A blue, icy aura started forming around its skin as it drew upon its own powers. Then he opened his mouth as a beam of freezing energy was forming and was directed at Su Bingxin.
'No, you don't."
"Clangggg"
Chen Tian's sword danced through the air as it hit the body of the beast.
Boom
As the freezing beam dissipated, Su Bingxin seized the opportunity to strike the beast with a powerful, ice-cold attack. She gathered her energy, summoning a concentrated burst of icy energy in her palm.
With a swift motion, she launched the attack towards the beast, aiming for a critical hit.
However, much to their surprise, the beast displayed unexpected agility and managed to evade the attack with remarkable speed.
It swiftly sidestepped the icy blast, narrowly escaping its chilling impact. The beast's agility and quick reflexes showcased its formidable abilities, challenging Su Bingxin and Chen Tian to adapt to its speed.
"This bastard is too fast." Chen Tian thought as he watched the beast dodge Su Bingxin's attack. They would need to come up with a new strategy if they wanted to take it down.
"Let's see if you can dodge this!"
"Su Bingxin, keep it distracted!" Chen Tian called out, his voice filled with determination.
He took a moment to gather his energy, focusing on spiritual Qi and channeling it into his next move.
With a surge of power, Chen Tian dashed towards the beast, moving faster than the eye could follow.
As he closed in, he unleashed a barrage of swift strikes, aiming to overwhelm the beast's reflexes. His sword whirled through the air, leaving trails of faint light in its wake.
The beast was able to dodge it easily, but Chen Tian wasn't discouraged. He continued to press forward, his movements becoming more fluid and precise with each passing moment.
"GRRR!"
"Clanggg~~"
Chen Tian's sword clashed against the beast's sharp claws. The sound echoed throughout the arena as the two opponents locked eyes.
As the beast's claws shimmered with an icy glow, Chen Tian's eyes widened with realization. He swiftly reacted, and for the first time he used his movement technique, a lightning-fast movement technique known for its agility and speed.
'Heavenly Lightning Steps'
In an instant, Chen Tian's figure blurred as he executed the first step of the Heavenly Lightning Step. He vanished from his original position, leaving behind an afterimage that deceived the beast's senses.
With unparalleled swiftness, he reappeared behind the beast, evading its imminent attack.
Seizing the opportunity, Chen Tian unleashed a series of lightning-quick strikes. His sword danced through the air, aiming for the beast's head with unmatched precision.
Each strike carried the power of thunder, infused with his lightning Qi energy.
The beast, caught off guard by Chen Tian's sudden disappearance and reemergence, struggled to react in time.
It swung its claws in a desperate attempt to retaliate, but Chen Tian's speed proved too overwhelming. His movements were like a phantom, evading the beast's attacks effortlessly while delivering devastating blows.
Within moments, the beast's defenses crumbled under Chen Tian's relentless assault. Its icy glow diminished, and it staggered, weakened by the successive strikes.
Sensing its impending defeat, the beast let out a final, feeble growl before collapsing to the ground, defeated.