Devour

Chapter 464 Descendant of the Gun God

"Well done!" The handsome young man shouted, his voice crisp as jade striking the air. Facing the fierce attack, he had already unleashed the exquisite "Scale Armor Tremor."

The gun spun rapidly, its blades gleaming, like a dragon soaring into the sky and turning over. The swirling force was like the opening and closing of dragon scales, effectively dissipating most of the immense force that was about to strike.

The entire shaft of the spear trembled violently, and a subtle, dark force, like a poisonous needle, pierced through the bone and went straight through the shaft, intending to first shake off the enemy's staff and then crush the enemy's hand.

Ningxiang reacted with incredible speed, using the "Soul-Guiding Crossing" technique of the Rebirth Staff. The long staff spun and moved nimbly, cleverly guiding the hidden force into the ground along the staff's momentum.

With a series of loud cracking sounds, several thick basalt slabs on the ground shattered, sending debris flying everywhere.

The fragrant staff moves in a series of circles, drawing stone chips into the illusory wind of the staff, instantly increasing its momentum.

Immediately afterwards, she changed her move to "Soul Entanglement of a Thousand Lamps," her long staff curling into continuous arcs, locking the opponent's body like silk threads, aiming to completely neutralize the opponent's spear force.

As the enemy's staff pressed down, the handsome young man slightly lowered his body, then suddenly used the force to spring up, his spear shooting upwards in a "Reverse Scale Kill" that resembled a furious dragon devouring its prey.

The spear tip, like a rainbow piercing the sun, cut straight through the shadows of the staffs. This was the essence of spear technique, completely suppressing all variations arising from the combined use of two different staff-based martial arts.

The lightning-fast attack forced Ningxiang to retreat several steps, but her staff technique remained intact. She then adopted the rounded defensive stance of "Sand-built Lotus Platform".

A golden-brown glow lingers!

Ningxiang unleashed the power of "Starry Sky Burning Fire," resonating with the earth's energy to construct an indestructible sand lotus platform. No matter how fierce the enemy's attack, it could generate a sticky force that quietly dissipated it.

The spear tip seemed to sink into mud, its momentum suddenly slowed, and its power was ultimately insufficient to penetrate Ningxiang's defense, making it difficult to advance any further.

"If your martial arts skills are lacking, you'll make up for it with magic! Is this all the Immaculate Prince is capable of?" Before the handsome young man's provocative shriek had even faded, the deadly killing move "Dragon Abyss" had already suddenly erupted.

Wherever the spear touched, the air froze as if in an abyss. The handsome young man's fighting spirit soared, his spear like a dragon emerging from the abyss, tumbling and moving swiftly, the spear's light weaving a net of deadly intent, determined to seal off all of his opponent's escape routes.

Ningxiang was driven to the brink of despair. The staff in her hand trembled violently and cracked repeatedly, showing signs of breaking apart.

In that moment of crisis, her mind cleared, and she saw through the limits of the Flying Sand Staff Technique: the staff is not a weapon for offense or defense, but the string of heaven and earth!

"You're all showy with your spear skills, but you're far from mastering them!" Ningxiang snorted coldly and unleashed her ultimate move, "Dust Returns to the Desert."

The Broken City Staff drew mysterious arcs, its continuous magical power drawing in the great momentum, turning the sand and stones into dark currents that flowed into the earth's veins in all directions. The immense power then surged back like rivers flowing into the sea, nourishing her own vital energy.

The stone slabs within a radius of a hundred meters trembled slightly, and the underground energy silently brewed. The terrifying force accumulated in the defensive posture was like a fierce demon that had been imprisoned, almost bursting out of the ground.

When the enemy's spear attack comes, it's like a stone sinking into the desert. If you rashly enter the defensive circle of the staff technique, you will suffer a counterattack from the hidden force, but there will be no trace on the outside.

"A mere elite-grade martial arts staff technique, you dare to show off!" The handsome young man showed no fear, pushing the domineering spear momentum of "Dragon Abyss" to its peak, attempting to use brute force to break through the predicament.

However, the "Reversal of Fortune" light screen suddenly appeared, dissipating most of the spear's force and instead adding several times its power to Ningxiang. The situation between the two sides shifted, and the battle suddenly became complex and unpredictable.

The spear tip and the staff crossed, creating a deafening explosion, and the force surged forth, stirring up a hurricane of dust!

"Hmph!" The handsome young man groaned in pain, withdrew his spear, and staggered backward, crushing several basalt bricks in the process.

Ningxiang was unwilling to fight to the death. Seeing that she had gained a slight advantage, she used the force of the momentary contact to withdraw her staff and retreated quickly, gracefully escaping the battle.

At first glance, it seems like the outcome is undecided, but in reality, both sides know perfectly well who has suffered the greater loss.

At this moment, Cheng Bai brought Bei Tingjun closer and stopped.

Upon seeing the handsome young man's final spear technique, Cheng Bai felt it looked familiar and suddenly realized: "This is the Hundred Dragons Spear Technique. Although it lacks refinement, it has already been passed down to its true master! What is the connection between this person and Wen Ji, who died in the Ninefold Abyss?"

Bei Tingjun quietly commented, "That tomboy disguised as a man has superb marksmanship! If Empress Ningxiang hadn't used her domain phenomenon in time to resolve the situation, she might have suffered a loss instead."

Ningxiang pointed her staff directly at her opponent, her voice laced with sarcasm: "Wenjia, you've quieted down so quickly? Didn't your master set up this puppet of yours to test my strength?"

Wen Jia, his arrogance undiminished, sheathed his gun and stood firmly, saying, "The purpose of this battle with the Empress is to restore the prestige of the Wen family's spear god and to proclaim to the world the indomitable will of women! Our duel is a fair and square contest, not some game of pawns as you imagine. Only a petty person would make such wild speculations."

Not yet satisfied, she added, "In terms of martial arts alone, you are no match for me. As for the profound mysteries of my domain, once the Human King Battle Body phenomenon is unleashed, it will annihilate you body and soul. There's no need to rush to die!"

Ningxiang laughed coldly, as if she had heard something absurd: "For fame? For ambition? Wenjia, you've exhausted the Hundred Dragon Spear Technique, so you rely on boasting about your ambitions and the Human King Battle Body to save face? Once you expose this veneer of virtue, you will have nothing left!"

"A general on his journey does not chase rabbits." Wen Jia quoted this proverb with feigned profundity, glanced at Jinlian and Bei Tingjun behind Ningxiang, decisively abandoned the confrontation, and turned to walk towards the post station.

Watching the other's retreating figure, Min Wushuang, Shen Ya, and the others remained silent, while Yun Juan, who was watching from the sidelines, loudly mocked, "Wen Jia, such a beautiful woman, she would definitely be charming in women's clothing. Why does she have to wear ill-fitting men's clothes all day to show off and be competitive? What a pity!"

Cheng Bai couldn't help but tease, "Little rabbit, little rabbit, so proud, wearing a general's robe and running the road. Don't say the general doesn't chase rabbits, for if he does, he'll turn into a baby rabbit."

Upon hearing this, Wen Jia nearly stumbled, and retorted unwillingly, "Hmph! Today, I forced the Empress to unleash the 'Reversal of Heaven and Earth' phenomenon with only a thousand martial arts techniques, and I haven't even used my 'Bloody Battlefield' yet. The difference in skill is already clear!"

She stomped her foot angrily, causing the basalt bricks to crack inch by inch. Then, with a few leaps, her figure disappeared among the pavilions.

Jinlian shook her head and said, "This girl runs faster than a rabbit."

Ningxiang looked down at the Broken City Staff in her hand and saw that the staff, forged from incinerated star gold, was covered with spear marks of varying depths. The most serious one had penetrated nearly half of the staff, and it would probably break completely if it held on for much longer.

"Your 'Azure Rainbow Mountain-Shattering Spear' clearly has the upper hand, yet you still have the audacity to boast so shamelessly?" Her voice was cold, but contained suppressed anger.

Turning her head, she saw Cheng Bai approaching with a grin. Ningxiang's sharpness completely vanished, replaced by a girlish resentment. She said coquettishly, "Look at this! A perfectly good Heavenly Grade Magic Artifact was broken in the blink of an eye!"

"Don't worry. I have spares of this standard weapon." Cheng Bai said casually as he took a brand-new battering ram from the armory and handed it to her to exchange for the old one.

Ningxiang took the new staff and weighed it in her hand. She nodded slightly, her beautiful eyes filled with anticipation, and said, "It's exactly the same as the original one. But when will you help me forge a suitable weapon? These all feel too light."

Her eyes, like autumn water, rippled with a hint of grievance, and her voice lowered slightly: "Wenjia's Azure Rainbow Mountain-Crushing Spear is forged from Azure Rainbow Copper and weighs 6,760 jin. My staff technique is not as fierce as her spear technique, and I almost suffered a great loss."

Cheng Bai could clearly smell the fragrance of osmanthus on her breath, and he lowered his voice to comfort her, "I've been trying to find materials, and I'll succeed soon. Although Qinghong Copper Essence is good, it's not necessarily irreplaceable."

Among the spectators was Bao Youchuan, who had come specially from Taowu Academy to receive them. He looked down at the mess on the ground, tugged at his white beard, and his old face was filled with regret.

Ningxiang noticed this and politely said to Bao Youchuan, "Mr. Bao, any items damaged in this battle will be charged to me."

Bao Youchuan quickly stood up and bowed, smiling apologetically, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. These few items are nothing to mention."

His gaze fell on the new City-Breaking Staff held by Ningxiang, and he proposed, "I have studied martial arts for many years and am most skilled in staff techniques. Just now I saw that Your Majesty has a very high talent in this art, a solid foundation in martial arts, and exquisite adaptability. I am deeply impressed and am willing to teach you my ultimate technique, the 'Prisoner of the Ox Staff Technique'."

Upon hearing the good news, Ningxiang exclaimed with delight, "Thank you so much, Mr. Bao Liu, for your generosity!"

Bao Youchuan took out the "Prisoner Ox Staff Technique" manual and presented it to him, instructing him: "This staff technique is a top-grade martial art, consisting of six forms. It is powerful enough to shatter the earth and suppress the world, yet gentle enough to pluck souls with its melodies. The staff moves as if commanded by law, and its movements are in accordance with the workings of heaven! If you have any doubts about practicing it, you may come to 'Hanchuan Pavilion' at any time to seek my guidance."