C21 Killing Lu Hong

"Did you ever imagine it would come to this?" Lu Chen fixed his gaze on the Third Elder, his voice icy with contempt.

"You wretched fool, your slaughter of family will not go unpunished."

Fully aware of his impending doom, the Third Elder did not plead for mercy. Instead, he stood tall and bellowed at Lu Chen, "You insignificant worm, the head of our family will seek vengeance for me."

"Lu Hong? After I kill you, I'll be sure to send him your regards in the afterlife!"

With a sudden burst of speed, Lu Chen lunged forward, his finger aimed like a dagger at the Third Elder's throat.

The Third Elder attempted to evade, but to his horror, he found the space around him seemingly solidified, rendering him utterly immobile despite his frantic struggles.

His pupils dilated, bloodshot eyes staring as death inexorably drew nearer.

"You dare, you beast!" A thunderous roar, trembling with force, erupted from the distance.

A wave of relief washed over the onlookers as they turned towards the source of the voice. There, a middle-aged man clad in white was hastening towards them. Who else could it be but the Lu family's patriarch, Lu Hong?

The Third Elder's eyes, once filled with despair, now glimmered with a flicker of hope at the sight of the newcomer.

But before that glimmer could fully ignite, a chilling, merciless voice cut through the air.

"What should I fear?"

With a "Pfft!" Lu Chen's finger, sharp as a blade, penetrated the Third Elder's throat.

Blood sprayed out in a crimson arc as the Third Elder gurgled, his gaze quickly growing vacant.

"You little beast, I will have your life today!"

Just then, Lu Hong arrived on the scene. His eyes swept over the carnage, and his face turned ashen with rage.

With a "Buzz!" he stepped forward, closing the distance to Lu Chen in an instant. His body radiated with a pale red energy, enveloping him like a blazing furnace and sending waves of intense heat in all directions.

Simultaneously, a formidable aura descended upon Lu Chen, seeking to immobilize him.

Lu Chen felt the air around him thicken and press down like a heavy weight.

With a contemptuous "Hmph!" he shook his body, unleashing a surge of pure and powerful energy. The air vibrated, sending ripples outward, and the oppressive aura was effortlessly dissipated.

As Lu Chen was defusing Lu Hong's oppressive force, the earth suddenly split with a loud bang. Lu Hong had broken through a hundred meters of void and appeared right in front of Lu Chen, his unrestrained power causing the ground beneath him to crumble into pieces.

"Little beast, die!"

Lu Hong's aura surged dramatically as he spread his palm, charged with Origin Power, and slammed it down towards Lu Chen with a wave of intense heat.

The wind arrived before the palm, lifting a strand of Lu Chen's hair to reveal his deep, calm, pitch-black eyes.

Lu Chen channeled his Yuan Qi to protect Uncle Mo behind him, then raised his hand to meet the oncoming strike. The palms met with a resounding bang, their Yuan Qi entwining in a fierce clash. A violent gale erupted from the epicenter of their collision, sweeping across the surroundings.

"Puff, puff..."

"Ah! Don't..."

Those nearby were hit by the blast, crying out in agony before losing consciousness.

Others, further away, were spared but looked on in horror, retreating as if fleeing from venomous serpents.

Thud! Thud!

Both combatants shuddered from the impact, each stepping back to regain their footing.

"Fire Cloud Palm!"

Lu Hong roared, giving Lu Chen no respite as he lunged forward, unleashing another ferocious palm strike.

"Boom!"

Lu Chen grunted and staggered backward several steps, then quickly tapped the ground with the tip of his foot, putting a safe distance between himself and Lu Hong.

"Phew!"

With a furrowed brow, Lu Chen exhaled softly. The Essence Gathering Layer Two was indeed formidable, far surpassing the might of Layer One.

The Essence Gathering Stage was a different beast compared to the Body Tempering Realm. While prodigies could easily fight across levels in the Body Tempering Realm, crossing realms in the Essence Gathering Stage without exceptional abilities was a daunting task, let alone emerging victorious.

As the members of the Lu family witnessed Lu Chen being overpowered, their initial panic slowly faded, giving way to a mix of glee and spite. Their eyes widened in anticipation of the moment Lu Chen would meet his end.

Without Lu Chen's demise, they would never find peace.

In contrast to the Lu family's reaction, Lu Hong's pupils contracted slightly, not out of fear but in awe of Lu Chen's formidable combat abilities.

Could this be the might of the Divine Weapon Fragment? If so, he was determined to secure it at all costs.

While these thoughts raced through his mind, Lu Hong sprang into action once more. His Origin Energy burst forth, unleashing a ferocious offensive on Lu Chen.

A barrage of punches, kicks, and slashes rained down, threatening to engulf Lu Chen completely.

"This time, that demon should be finished!" the onlookers thought, a sense of relief washing over their faces as they watched Lu Hong's wild assault. They were convinced that not even Lu Chen could withstand such a relentless attack.

But in the very next moment, their confidence wavered. Lu Chen's body pulsed with Origin Power, and with a casual sidestep, he evaded the relentless onslaught as if it were a leisurely walk in the park.

"Ha!" With a swift motion, Lu Chen lunged forward, his punch landing on Lu Hong's chest with the force of a spear thrust. Lu Hong grunted and stumbled backward.

"You! You little wretch, just you wait..."

Lu Hong's face turned grim, but his yearning for the Divine Weapon Fragment only intensified. He was convinced that Lu Chen's strength was solely due to that Fragment.

Fixated on Lu Chen, Lu Hong inhaled deeply, extending his right palm as a fiery red Origin Energy surged forth, enveloping his arm and radiating intense heat like a blazing inferno.

The fiery red energy accumulated, and soon his entire arm glowed as if it were a red-hot iron bar. A wild aura emanated from him, slowly filling the air.

The Lu family members surrounding the scene gradually fell silent, consciously muffling even their breaths. Their eyes were wide with anticipation as they watched the battle that would determine their destiny unfold.

"Is it time for the final strike?"

Lu Chen's gaze fixed on Lu Hong, poised for action, his expression turning grave and earnest.

"Well then, let's see just how powerful that move is! I hope it doesn't let me down."

Muttering to himself, Lu Chen suddenly clenched his right fist, channeling the Origin Power within his body along his meridians and towards his fist with fervor.

The overwhelming Origin Power amassed at the tip of his fist, reaching a dazzling crescendo at a critical juncture.

Those with keen eyesight would notice a miniature demonic elephant roaming atop Lu Chen's fist at this moment.

A formidable aura radiated in waves.

Lu Hong, feeling the formidable presence emanating from Lu Chen, narrowed his eyes and spoke with a chilling tone, "You little beast, if you can withstand this move, I'll let you walk away. But if you can't, you'll leave your life behind!"

With a thunderous "Boom!" he soared, trailing a line of fire through the air as the atmosphere burned and collapsed around him. He then let out a fierce roar, lifting his palm high before slamming it down towards Lu Chen.

"Flame Fist!"

This punch, though not exceedingly fast, descended like a meteor, instilling a profound sense of impending doom.

"Demonic Elephant Rampage!"

Simultaneously, Lu Chen launched his own punch. His fist transformed into the phantom of a demonic elephant, bellowing skyward with an air of ancient dominance and unrivaled might.

The very essence of heaven and earth quivered and turned tumultuous in the wake of his punch.

With a resounding "Crash!" the fists drew closer and finally collided with unyielding force, sending a muffled roar echoing across the land. Flames and the phantom elephant clashed, each vying for dominance in a fierce tangle.

"Crack! Crack! Crack!"

The earth fractured in a web-like pattern centered around the two combatants, then suddenly gave way, collapsing into a crater nearly ten feet deep.

"What's happened..." The Lu family members encircled the battlefield, shrouded in smoke and dust, their expressions fraught with anxiety.

As the smoke cleared, dozens of pairs of eyes were fixed intently on the two figures in the center, unblinking.

They stood facing each other in the crater, one with a detached demeanor, the other with a dark scowl.

Was it a draw?

The onlookers exchanged glances, struggling to accept the inconceivable truth that Lu Chen had managed to hold his own against Lu Hong.

Amidst the crowd's silent contemplation, Lu Hong's complexion turned ashen. He suddenly coughed up a spurt of crimson blood, then his body wavered and he collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud.

Shocked gasps escaped from the Lu family as they witnessed the scene. Horror unfolded before their eyes as Lu Hong's vitality rapidly faded; within mere moments, he was lifeless.

"He's dead, the head of the family is dead!"

A cry of terror erupted among the crowd, and instantly, faces drained of color. Some collapsed to the ground, paralyzed by the impending shadow of death.