Chapter 169: Chapter 167: Full of Threatening Intent

Everyone thought Jiang Jichen would surely die from the full-powered strike of an ordinary Foundation Establishment Early Stage Cultivator.

However, the crowd discovered that Jiang Jichen was nowhere to be seen at the site of the blast.

’Could Jiang Jichen have been blasted to dust?’

Yet, just as this thought crossed their minds, they saw the Zhongg Family’s Foundation Establishment Cultivator—the very one who had attacked Jiang Jichen—suddenly begin to sink into the ground.

The Zhongg Family Foundation Establishment Cultivator, being the one caught in it, understood the situation best.

A pair of hands had shot up from the ground and clamped tightly around his ankles. Before he could even react, he was being dragged into a deep hole in the earth.

The deep hole was filled not only with a thick, black toxic fog but also with a constant swarm of emerging Poisonous Beetles. If one were to fall in, even a Profound-level Foundation Establishment Early Stage Cultivator would meet a bitter end, let alone a mere ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

His expression changed drastically. Terror finally gripped his heart as he screamed, "Oh no! Jiang Jichen is underground! He’s dragging me into the hole!"

As he screamed, his entire body was dragged by Jiang Jichen into the hole filled with black toxic fog. Furthermore, attracted by the noise, seven or eight Poisonous Beetles scurried over and began spraying clouds of poison at the Zhongg Family’s Foundation Establishment Cultivator from a distance.

Only then did the onlookers understand. Jiang Jichen had silently emerged from the ground at the Foundation Establishment Cultivator’s feet and dragged him into the pit.

’But Jiang Jichen is only at the Innate Sixth Layer. Isn’t jumping into that pit just suicide?’

’Or maybe he plans to take the Foundation Establishment Cultivator down with him?’

The crowd was filled with confusion, but some people still rushed over, intending to pull the Foundation Establishment Cultivator to safety.

"Aargh, help me!"

However, all that came from the pit was a wretched cry for help. Those who rushed over could only see that the Foundation Establishment Cultivator had been blinded by the black toxic fog, his body a mess of mangled flesh and blood.

Of course, they also saw Jiang Jichen. While he had wounds on his body, the black toxic fog seemed completely unable to harm him, as if repelled by some mysterious force.

Not only that, but seven or eight Poisonous Beetles as large as water vats were charging them, spraying a sky-blotting torrent of venom that rained down on the two men.

But in close quarters, Jiang Jichen was nearly invincible, his entire body a weapon.

BOOM!

Jiang Jichen slammed a palm onto the Zhongg Family Foundation Establishment Cultivator’s shoulder, preventing him from leaping out of the pit.

The Zhongg Family Cultivator’s rising body suddenly felt a heavy pressure, and he plunged back into the hole.

At the same time, the torrent of venom rained down!

"Everyone, attack together! Pin Jiang Jichen down and don’t let him get out!"

"But one of our Foundation Establishment Cultivators is still down there."

"Forget about him. He’s surrounded by seven or eight Poisonous Beetles, severely poisoned, and blinded. Even if we rescue him, he’ll be a cripple. What’s the use? It’s better to let him take Jiang Jichen down with him. Only then will he prove his worth!"

The Zhongg Family’s Profound-level Foundation Establishment Early Stage Spirit Cultivator Powerhouse spoke with a cold voice.

And so, without any more hesitation, they ruthlessly attacked Jiang Jichen in the pit, vowing to kill him and giving him no chance to escape.

Never mind the seven or eight attacking Poisonous Beetles and the rain of venom; the attacks from these men alone were enough to kill both Jiang Jichen and the trapped Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

"You... you’re so ruthless!"

The Foundation Establishment Cultivator had clearly heard the conversation outside and now screamed with venomous hatred.

However, nothing could change the fact that he had been abandoned. In the end, death was inescapable.

Jiang Jichen looked at the closest Innate Ninth-Layer Spirit Cultivator and gave a strange smile.

BOOM!

Five or six terrifying attacks, a deluge of venom, and the combined assault of seven or eight Poisonous Beetles all struck at once, completely overwhelming the deep pit.

The immense Power of Destruction instantly blew open a massive crater. Dust filled the air as black toxic fog swirled within the pit.

"Jiang Jichen is dead!"

The Profound-level Foundation Establishment Cultivator sneered.

PFFT!

However, the words had barely left his mouth when the head of a Grandmaster beside him suddenly flew into the air. He was a headless corpse before he even had time to scream.

"What the..."

By the time the crowd reacted, they saw Jiang Jichen—the man they thought was dead—standing lightly several yards away, facing them from a distance.

"How is that possible? Just now..."

A disciple of the Zhongg Family cried out, his face showing a flicker of panic for the first time.

"Position Shifting... He actually knows an Ancient Spirit Body Technique!"

In the end, it was the Profound-level Foundation Establishment Cultivator who understood. He realized one person was missing from his side; apparently, Jiang Jichen had used the Shifting Technique to swap places with the Innate Ninth Realm Supreme Minor Grandmaster.

’To think that Jiang Jichen, a mere Innate Sixth Layer Cultivator, would be so difficult to kill.’

It was a grave miscalculation. To sacrifice a Foundation Establishment Cultivator and still fail to kill him made the expressions of the Zhongg Family disciples turn extremely sour.

’This man is a Supreme Transcender!’

At that moment, it dawned on everyone. Even if he had used the terrain to his advantage, the fact remained that he had killed a Grandmaster and a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

"You’re all trash. You’d kill your own people at the drop of a hat. You’re completely inhuman. What’s the difference between you and a bunch of animals?"

Jiang Jichen retreated gracefully, leading Yee Youmeng and Luoo Long onward.

By this point, the Poisonous Beetles were already appearing in droves. It was no longer safe to stay here.

Seeing the swarms of Poisonous Beetles closing in to attack, they knew they had lost their chance to kill Jiang Jichen. At least, not here.

Zhongg Li, watching all of this from the front, remained remarkably calm as he ordered, "Everyone, regroup! We’ll push for the valley exit first! That brat will die sooner or later. There’s no rush to kill him now!"

At this point, they had no choice. The Poisonous Beetles’ assault was intensifying, and their members were continuously dying. How could they possibly spare any effort to chase Jiang Jichen?

This made things incredibly easy for Jiang Jichen. He advanced at a leisurely pace, quickly overtaking Zhongg Li and catching up with the Guo Family’s contingent.

"Hmph, so what if we let him pass? It’s not like the Guo Family will spare him?"

Zhongg Li sneered sinisterly.

In fact, after assessing the situation, he had deliberately let Jiang Jichen pass, intending for the Guo Family to take care of him.

And just as Zhongg Li expected, the moment Jiang Jichen reached the Guo Family’s group, he was attacked by their disciples and followers.

But why would Jiang Jichen be afraid?

With a swing of the Red Copper Sword in his hand, Jiang Jichen cut down several Innate Ninth Realm Supreme Minor Grandmasters before they could even fight back.

"Anyone who stands in my way will end up like that Foundation Establishment Cultivator. If you don’t believe me, feel free to try!"

Jiang Jichen let out a cold laugh, his voice echoing in all directions, laden with threat.

The expressions of the Guo Family members changed. One of them snorted coldly, "A lowlife dares to threaten us? And he compares our Guo Family to the Zhongg Family? He deserves to die!"

However, Guo Qishan spoke with indifference, "Ignore him. Full speed to the valley exit!"

The words had barely left his mouth when everyone felt the ground begin to shake violently. Then, a behemoth burst forth from the earth...