Chapter 19: The Divine Physician Shatters the Talisman, Shaking the Firmament
Runes swirled wildly, as if intent on devouring everything in their path. Niu Yichen held Zhan Qingxue tightly, braving the howling wind and the rune power pressing down like a mountain.
He narrowed his eyes; these runes were ancient and mysterious, radiating a power that sent chills down the spine. His mind raced with lightning speed, like a supercomputer analyzing the trajectory and changes of the runes.
“Brother Chen, I... I’m scared...” Zhan Qingxue’s voice trembled as she clung tightly to Niu Yichen’s arm.
“Don’t be afraid. I’m here,” Niu Yichen assured her with a steady, resolute gaze.
“Such mere runes dare to trap me? What a joke!” A faint smirk curved his lips, a gleam of sharp insight flashing in his eyes.
What appeared as chaotic runes gradually revealed their pattern to him.
“I see now...” he murmured softly, as if grasping the key.
The rune power intensified, oppressive enough to suffocate.
Niu Yichen took a deep breath, mobilizing his internal energy. A powerful force erupted from him, forming a protective shield that enveloped both him and Zhan Qingxue.
“Brother Chen, you’re amazing!” admiration sparkled in her eyes.
He smiled faintly, no time to explain—this was the crucial moment.
He extended his fingers and began tracing symbols in the air with lightning speed.
Golden runes shot from his fingertips, colliding with the surrounding runes.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Explosions erupted continuously, space trembling violently.
The two rune forces clashed and neutralized each other, unleashing tremendous energy.
Niu Yichen’s expression grew grave; he dared not relax even for a moment.
It was like dancing on the edge of a blade—one mistake could lead to utter ruin.
He continually adjusted the runes’ paths and power, searching for the perfect way to break through.
Sweat drenched his clothes, yet his gaze remained unwavering, as if he commanded all.
The surrounding runes gradually diminished, and the space steadied.
His breathing evened out, a faint smile playing on his lips.
“Looks like I’ve won this battle.”
Then suddenly, an even larger rune materialized out of thin air, emanating a suffocating aura.
Niu Yichen’s face darkened. “No! This... this is...”
The “Heaven’s Retribution Rune”!
Legend said only those who defy the heavenly order would invoke this rune!
A heavy weight settled in his heart; the rune’s power far exceeded his expectations.
Could it be that his path to immortality truly violated the heavenly will?
Zhan Qingxue turned pale, gripping his hand tightly. “Brother Chen, what... what do we do now?”
Niu Yichen inhaled deeply, forcing calm upon himself.
So what if it’s the Heaven’s Retribution Rune?
He, Niu Yichen, was not one to be easily frightened!
“Don’t panic. I will find a way to break it!”
---
Just when they thought they had no choice but to endure this earth-shattering force, a sudden spark of inspiration lit up Niu Yichen’s mind.
He sharply sensed that the energy fluctuation of the Heaven’s Retribution Rune was intricately linked to the surrounding magnetic field!
Could it be...
“Got it!” his eyes blazed with brilliance. “So that’s how it is! The rune’s power stems from the magnetic field. If I alter the magnetic field, I can break it!”
He immediately sat cross-legged, hands forming seals, channeling his internal energy to manipulate the magnetic field around them.
This was the insight he had gleaned over years of pursuing the path of immortality—and now it was finally useful!
The air around them began to warp; the magnetic field shifted violently.
The rune’s glow flickered erratically, as if on the verge of collapse.
“Brother Chen, you’re incredible!” Zhan Qingxue’s eyes brimmed with tears of joy. This was nothing short of a miracle!
Niu Yichen’s lips curved slightly as he continued to control the magnetic field.
The rune’s light weakened steadily until finally, with a loud bang, it vanished without a trace!
Zhan Qingxue threw herself into Niu Yichen’s arms, clutching him tightly. “Brother Chen, you’re truly my hero!”
He stroked her hair gently, but unease stirred within him.
Something told him this was far from over...
Suddenly, an ancient voice descended from the heavens: “Boy, you actually managed to shatter my Heaven’s Retribution Rune? Impressive...”
Niu Yichen looked up to see an elderly man in white robes hovering midair, his cold gaze fixed on him.
The old man’s beard bristled with anger at the destruction of his rune.
“Well, well, you’ve got some skill! After so many years roaming the martial world, this is the first time I’ve seen anyone break my Heaven’s Retribution Rune! But do you think this means you’ve won? How naive!” He sneered, rapidly forming hand seals as the temperature plummeted, chilling the air to a biting cold.
“Ice Soul Divine Needles!” he shouted, and countless icy spikes materialized, raining down like a fierce hailstorm on Niu Yichen and Zhan Qingxue.
“Brother Chen, watch out!” Zhan Qingxue cried, clutching his arm tightly.
A smirk flickered across Niu Yichen’s lips, disdain flashing in his eyes.
“Such petty tricks, and you dare show off?” he whispered, pulling Zhan Qingxue along as he moved with ghostlike speed, evading the ice needles effortlessly—not even their clothing was grazed.
“That’s it? I thought you had some powerful move, but this is just elementary school level,” he mocked as he dodged.
The old man’s face turned ashen; how dare this brat belittle him!
He roared, surging his internal energy, increasing the speed and quantity of the ice needles, nearly sealing off all escape routes.
Yet Niu Yichen remained calm.
He circulated his internal energy, releasing a strange force that absorbed all the chilling cold from the ice needles!
“What?!” the old man’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Impossible!
His Ice Soul Divine Needles were a supreme technique of utmost yin and coldness—hardly any expert of equal rank could withstand them. How could this youth absorb the cold?
Before the old man could react, Niu Yichen converted the absorbed cold into his own power and struck out with a palm.
“Fight fire with fire!”
A fierce cold wave surged out; the ice needles reversed course, shooting back at the old man!
“Ah!” the old man screamed, struck by his own attack, his body riddled with countless ice holes, blood gushing out.
“That’s all? You call yourself a warrior?” Niu Yichen sneered, eyes dripping with contempt.
Though gravely wounded, the old man’s gaze burned with hatred.
“Boy, you... you just wait! I... I won’t let you off!” he growled.
---
Niu Yichen shrugged, wearing a nonchalant expression.
“Bring it on. I’m ready whenever you are.”
The old man struggled to his feet, a ruthless gleam in his eyes.
“You forced my hand! Today, I’ll show you my true power!” He inhaled deeply, slowly raising his hands as a terrifying energy radiated from him...
“Brother Chen...” Zhan Qingxue gripped his hand tightly, worry shining in her eyes.
Niu Yichen patted her hand reassuringly, offering a comforting glance.
“Don’t be afraid. I’ve got this.” He lifted his gaze to the old man, a sharp gleam flashing in his eyes. “Let’s see what tricks you still have...” A stronger force surged within him.
The old man howled to the sky, his hair bristling wildly, as a cataclysmic power surged through his body.
“Boy, you left me no choice! Taste the wrath of my ‘World-Ending Divine Thunder’!” No sooner had he spoken than dark clouds gathered, lightning flashed and thunder roared. A massive purple thunderbolt, thick as a wooden barrel and filled with cataclysmic might, descended straight toward Niu Yichen.
Zhan Qingxue’s face paled in terror as she clung tightly to him. “Brother Chen!”
A disdainful curve lifted Niu Yichen’s lips.
“This? You really underestimate me!” He did not dodge, instead opening his arms wide and howling to the heavens. “Come! Let me see how powerful your thunder really is!”
Golden light surged from his body, a majestic force of immortality bursting forth to form a colossal golden pillar that collided head-on with the purple thunderbolt!
Boom!
A deafening explosion shook heaven and earth, space itself seeming to tear apart.
The golden pillar and purple thunderbolt intertwined, crackling fiercely.
Everything around trembled under the immense power—dust and debris swirled, trees toppled.
Zhan Qingxue squeezed her eyes shut, unable to bear the terrifying sight.
Time seemed to stretch on endlessly before the shaking finally ceased.
Slowly opening her eyes, Zhan Qingxue was stunned by the scene before her.
The purple thunderbolt had vanished completely, and Niu Yichen stood bathed in golden light, like a god descended from the heavens.
The old man had been utterly obliterated by this power, not even a trace remaining.
Niu Yichen descended gently, the golden light fading from his body.
He looked at Zhan Qingxue, a tender smile gracing his lips. “It’s over, Qingxue.”
She threw herself into his arms, her eyes full of admiration and love. “Brother Chen, you’re incredible! You’re my god!”
He softly stroked her hair, a deep sense of accomplishment filling his heart.
At last, he had become a true master, capable of protecting the one he loved.
Yet just then, a powerful unease stirred within him.
He looked up at the sky, once clear, now split by a massive rift.
Within the fissure lay a void of utter darkness, as if bridging to another world.
An unsettling aura emanated from the crack, as if some dreadful presence was watching them.
Niu Yichen’s expression darkened, a foreboding sense rising.
“Qingxue...” He squeezed her hand tightly, his voice low and grave. “It seems... we have trouble coming.”
His gaze pierced the vast rift in the sky, deep and icy.
His hand clenched involuntarily.