C10 Profound Opening Scroll
Su Li didn't avoid contacting the Three Heroes of Wind, Thunder, and Lightning clandestinely out of reluctance; it was simply impossible for him to do so. There were two methods to control the Heart Devouring Gu Insect: one involved a specially crafted drum, and the other, sound waves, which took precedence. If Su Li emitted sound waves, the drum would inevitably shatter. Consequently, Su Li's only option was to exert control over the Three Heroes and withstand a direct attack from Mo Ling, all in an effort to carve out precious time for the trio.
Aware of his own capabilities, Su Li knew that without resorting to the Regeneration Supreme Bone, he could defeat an average Oceanic Wheel realm warrior at the middle stage. With the Supreme Bone, he could take down a peak warrior at the same stage, making it exceedingly difficult for Mo Ling to best him.
"How is this possible?" Mo Ling's jaw dropped in astonishment at the formidable force behind Su Li's palm strike. Su Li's level of cultivation was merely at the early stage of the Oceanic Wheel realm. How could a warrior of such a level unleash a blow that rivaled those of late-stage practitioners? Mo Ling was utterly taken aback, but his shock was futile at this juncture.
He knew he had to eliminate Su Li; failure to do so would leave him vulnerable to the encircling Three Heroes, sealing his fate. "You've driven me to this!" Mo Ling's expression was one of bitter resentment. He, too, had a secret weapon, much like He Shun's Berserk Pill. Yet, his was intended for a confrontation with the Master of the Coldhammers, not for a situation where Su Li cornered him.
With a swift motion, Mo Ling flicked his wrist, and a scroll materialized in his grasp—the Mystic Insight Scroll. This artifact, as its name implied, was crafted by Mystic Insight realm masters at a substantial cost, capable of unleashing the full might of a warrior within that realm. Mo Ling's heart ached as he clutched the scroll; the Mo Family had sacrificed greatly to procure it from the Stormshapers.
This time, he arrived with the Mystic Insight Scroll and the core of a peak Celestial River demonic beast, his intentions crystal clear.
He planned to lure the Pavilion Master of the Coldhammers with the beast's core, then use the Mystic Insight Scroll to inflict severe damage, or even to slay him.
But now, everything had gone awry.
Su Li's unexpected arrival had thrown his plans into disarray.
Left with no other choice.
He was forced to deploy the Mystic Insight Scroll prematurely, for if he waited for the arrival of the Three Heroes of Wind, Thunder, and Lightning, his demise was certain.
"Fall back!"
Upon seeing Mo Ling produce the scroll, Xie Yan immediately shouted a warning.
Though Su Li was formidable enough to endure a strike from Mo Ling and survive, Xie Yan was well aware of the Mystic Insight Scroll's terrifying power.
Not even the Pavilion Master himself could be sure to withstand its force.
"The Mystic Insight Scroll?"
A look of gravity crossed Su Li's face.
Mo Ling's ace in the hole had indeed taken him by surprise.
Given his current level of strength and assuming he utilized the Regeneration Supreme Bone, unless Mo Ling unleashed the might of the Celestial River, Su Li was confident he could hold out until the Three Heroes of Wind, Lightning, and Thunder arrived.
He inhaled deeply.
Su Li stepped forward, his Qi Sea churning as his Genuine Qi surged wildly.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
The Regeneration Supreme Bone emitted a series of cracking sounds.
His right hand morphed from a fist to a palm and came crashing down with force.
In a flash.
The very fabric of space seemed on the brink of tearing apart.
"Absolute Sky!"
The third form of the Heavenly Evil Palm, Absolute Sky!
Su Li recognized the gravity of the situation.
Thus, he pushed the Supreme Bone to its limits, unleashing the most powerful technique available to him at this stage.
"No!"
Mo Ling's pupils contracted as he stared at the colossal palm print hurtling toward him, his face etched with terror.
So much so that.
He even forgot to use the Mystic Insight Scroll.
Crack!
In the blink of an eye.
The palm print struck Mo Ling's chest with a ferocious impact.
The tremendous force sent Mo Ling flying backward in a straight line.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
As fate would have it.
Just as Mo Ling was sent reeling, the Three Heroes of Wind, Lightning, and Thunder arrived, encircling him at the perfect moment.
He Shun and Xie Yan, who were spectating, involuntarily gulped.
He Shun, in particular, felt a twinge of fear. Su Li's commanding presence almost made him want to bow in submission.
Cough, cough!
Having just fended off Mo Ling with a single palm strike, Su Li coughed hoarsely and staggered over to where Mo Ling lay.
"Go ahead, kill or flay me, it's your choice!" Mo Ling declared defiantly. "But remember, killing me means a complete fallout with the Mo Family. Every last one of the Su Family will pay for my death..."
Smack!
Su Li didn't let Mo Ling finish. He swiftly raised his hand and delivered a slap.
"Still so tough even on death's doorstep. If you weren't somewhat useful, I'd end you right here," Su Li sneered.
He had no intention of killing Mo Ling just yet. As the Mo Family's Second Elder, Mo Ling likely held valuable secrets.
For instance, the Mo Family's strongest cultivator's capabilities, their hidden cards, and the forces backing them were all vital information.
More crucially, Su Li aimed to keep Mo Ling under his control.
At this moment, with the impending news from the Trembleglades, a war between the royal family, the Mo Family, and the Su Family seemed inevitable.
Even with the Three Whirlwinds of Wind, Lightning, and Thunder at his command, Su Li's forces paled in comparison to the combined might of the Mo Family and the Imperial Family.
The Mo Family and the Imperial Family both boasted practitioners of the formidable Celestial River Realm.
"Pitiful creature."
After rummaging through Mo Ling's belongings, Su Li found an inner core. His primary goal in visiting Wen Feng Temple was to secure the inner core of a Peak Celestial River Demonic Beast to advance to the mid-stage of the Oceanic Wheel Realm.
Ideally, the core of a Peak Celestial River Demonic Beast would propel Su Li to the mid-stage of the Oceanic Wheel Realm, potentially even to its peak.
However, the intense battle with Mo Ling had nearly caused Su Li's painstakingly cultivated regenerative bone to show signs of dissipating.
Compared to advancing to the middle stage of the Oceanic Wheel realm, Su Li was more concerned with repairing his Most High Bone.
Crack!
Su Li had planned to return to the Su Family and consume a demonic beast core for cultivation. However, just as he was about to leave, he felt the Rebirth Most High Bone within him crackle, threatening to dissipate completely.
"Damn it!"
He cursed under his breath.
With no other option, Su Li sat down cross-legged, popped the demonic beast core into his mouth, and began channeling the Heaven Battling Technique to mend the Most High Bone.
"Feng Xiao, stay here. Lei Xiao and Xie Yao, head to the Su Family in Suuton City and follow Su Hai's commands!"
Unsure of how long it would take to repair the Most High Bone and reach the middle stage of the Oceanic Wheel, Su Li instructed Thunderbolt Warrior and Lightning Warrior to return to the Su Family as a precaution.
As for himself...
He remained at Wenheng Temple to continue his cultivation.
He Shun and Xie Yan exchanged glances.
Their silhouettes flickered as they followed Lei Xiao and Xie Yao.
In Suuton City, the Su Family's home was shrouded in a tense atmosphere.
Or rather...
The entire city of Suuton was engulfed in a palpable tension, with the Su Family feeling it most acutely.
"I believe everyone is aware of the Su Family's current predicament," Su Hai stated, his gaze sweeping across those gathered in the hall. "The other three major families in Suuton City have suddenly encircled our home, indicating they're likely seeking a confrontation."
"Humph! Our Su Family has nothing to fear!"
A bald warrior in the hall snorted coldly, his voice resolute. "Given our family's current power, even if the three families unite against us, they may not succeed. If it comes to it, we'll fight to the bitter end!"
"The only fear is that the fish may die before the net breaks," a middle-aged man standing behind the bald warrior remarked softly.
