Chapter 162: 162

Rumbling Blood Bat, a seldom-seen peculiar spiritual beast .

In the world of spiritual beasts, the strong preyed on the weak . The higher the level, the stronger they were . Yet, this creature was an exception . It was no stronger than a 1st level spiritual beast and had neither claws nor fangs .

It had a shocking trait though . the Rumbling Bat Wave . It was a sound attack that struck the soul . It would leave one in a coma or, worse, annihilate one’s soul .

After using it, it would then go and bore its fangs into the victim, sucking blood away . It may be a mere 3rd level spiritual beast, but few were capable of surviving its sound attack .

Not even a 4th level spiritual beast could stand up to a flock of ten Rumbling Blood Bats .

Who cared how tough you were? Who cared how skilled you were? You’d still die from this creature’s sound attack if your soul lacked heart .

This creature that bared Zhuo Fan’s escape was one that could strike fear even in 4th level spiritual beasts .

Jumping out of the hole, Zhuo Fan looked up at the ten bats . He was finally sporting a serious expression . Then looking at the speaker and saw Vicious Pill King .

He was holding a gourd, smiling at Zhuo Fan .

“Now I see . This must be your final move!” Zhuo Fan squinted .

He’d seen the old man carry the gourd for a while now . But only discovered it was a beast holding item .

When cornered by Iris Overseer, Chu Qingcheng, and Long Jiu not too long ago, he was still putting a tough front because of the Rumbling Blood Bats in his gourd .

It was smart of them to back off and not to attack then, or they would’ve been doomed .

This old man wasn’t to be pushed around . Even after using blood essence four times, he still couldn’t be underestimated no matter how weak he appeared .

Zhuo Fan’s eyes flashed in admiration .

Long Jiu’s group just came out through the hole and saw him standing amidst ruins . They turned to the sky and paled, “Rumbling Blood Bat! And ten of them?!”

They all turned grave .

Just when they thought Zhuo Fan had free reign of the skies outside the arena, he was met with ten Rumbling Blood Bats . Zhuo Fan was now cornered by two Profound Heaven experts and a 4th level spiritual beast equivalent flock of bats .

Not even a Profound Heaven expert could pull an escape out of this, least of all, a winged Bone Tempering expert .

Their hearts were now stretched taught .

“Ha-ha-ha, Elder Yan . In the end, you are the most reliable to block this brat!”

Laughing freely, Huangpu Qingyun floated next to the old man . Then, he stuck up his chin at Zhuo Fan, “Kid, let’s see you run now!”

Hell Valley’s 5th elder landed beside them, eyes flashing with cruelty .

Sighing, Vicious Pill King looked on with regret, “Song, uh, Grandmaster Zhuo, I am in awe of sir’s wondrous refining skill . I am pained to have you as my enemy . But I am bereft of any choice!”

His words stirred the sympathy of many clan delegates, as well as the alchemists participating today .

The demon Zhuo Fan, who offended Hell Valley, was Grandmaster Song . Such sorrow!

A cruel death awaited all who dared oppose the Seven Noble Houses . But an exalted alchemist to find his end in such a wretched way, was lamentable .

The least the crowd could do was show deep respect while sending off this great man on his final journey…

But Zhuo Fan only snickered, “He-he-he, Elder Yan, you think too highly of your batsies . They can scare a 4th level spiritual beasts, but in the end, they’re a flock!”

Zhuo Fan vanished as he took flight .

The bats flapped their wings and opened their snouts . The air rippled and a visible wave traveled at Zhuo Fan .

Zhuo Fan sidestepped . The wave hit the ground but nothing happened . Yet, the stones around turned to dust .

The people began to fear the Rumbling Blood Bat even more . A normal Bone Tempering expert struck by this wave would’ve died in anguish .

But Zhuo Fan relied on his uncanny speed to dance among the attacks . He was almost out of their encirclement .

“Damn, Zhuo Fan is too sly . He noticed that the ten bats are unable to coordinate and slipped through the gaps in their attacks . Let’s block him together, 5th elder!”

Huangpu Qingyun cried in panic, to which, Vicious Pill King dismissed his words, “Second young master, don’t worry . You’ll only make it worse if you charge along with the blood bats . I will make sure he won’t have anywhere else to run . ”

Vicious Pill King opened his gourd and made a hand sign .

A screech came from within it, followed by another flock of bats flying to the gap Zhuo Fan was aiming for, shutting it tight .

Hum~

A dozens of times stronger ripple sent Zhuo Fan barreling into the ground, leaving another huge hole .

When he crawled out, he sucked a cold breath at the sight .

The sky was filled with Rumbling Blood Bats . A rough estimate would give around a hundred .

If 10 were enough for a 4th level spiritual beast, then a hundred would even kill a 5th level spiritual beast .

A bolt of fear went through the crowd, including Huangpu Qingyun . They were so frightened they couldn’t speak .

Not even a Radiant Stage expert could come out of this one, least of all this Zhuo Fan freak .

“Holy! Just where did the old coot find so many Rumbling Blood Bats? They don’t grow on trees!” Long Jiu’s mind was in a haze, “Not even the brat could get out of this one . ”

“What?” Xiao Dandan jerked, “You’re saying husband has no chance?”

Nodding gravely, Long Jiu sighed and pointed .

When Zhuo Fan was falling, Vicious Pill King made other signs and had Zhuo Fan surrounded by the hundred bats .

If he dared fly, the bats would blow him back down .

This barricaded area seemed to belong to a different world, covered by a hundred rare Rumbling Blood Bats . They tightened the space so much that it became smaller than Drifting Flowers Arena .

“Damn it!” Zhuo Fan frowned as he jumped in the sky again .

Hum~

Like a pillar coming from the heavens above, Zhuo Fan was sent into the ground without delay . His knees were touching dirt, blood seeped from his mouth, and all the rocks around him were blown away as nothing but dust .

“Ha-ha-ha, a hundred blood bats is so strong that even the kid’s unyielding body is wounded . His death is in sight . ” Huangpu Qingyun laughed, watching Vicious Pill King with newfound respect, “Elder Yan, you’ve surprised me . I never knew you hid such wonderful things . ”

“Second young master, you jest . These bats were gathered over the past thousand years by the Pill King Hall . I was only allowed to use them because of my modest contributions to Pill King Hall . ”

Vicious Pill King then turned a sad look to Zhuo Fan, “Second young master, Zhuo Fan is, after all, a grandmaster alchemist . He may deserve death, but leave his corpse intact . ”

“Humph, I really wanted to tear him apart, but since it’s Elder Yan’s request, I will let it go . ” Huangpu Qingyun waved, pleased inside .

Nodding, Vicious Pill King made the hundred Rumbling Blood Bats open their snouts again .

All of them struck with sound attacks at the same time .

“Ah!”

With a wail, Zhuo Fan felt his head about to explode and his mind fading . His soul was damaged .

If not for the refining he had been through, he would’ve long had his soul scattered .

“Blast it! I still had a way out but now it’s useless . I should’ve used it when I had the chance! These bastards better hope I won’t get out of here or I will slaughter them all . ”

His head hurting like hell, Zhuo Fan gnashed his teeth and held on to his dear life . His bloodshot eyes and veiny forehead let the crowd in on the suffering he was enduring .

“Humph, he is a freak alright . Anyone would’ve hit the dirt by now, but he’s still holding strong . ” 5th elder exclaimed .

Huangpu Qingyun laughed, his eyes sharp, “So what if he’s a freak? He’s just slightly tougher than the average man . He’ll soon drop dead anyway . This is for the best . Killing him here will show the world what end awaits any who stands against Regent Estate . ”

“Ah!”

Zhuo Fan’s wail never ceased, akin to a flogged wild beast . The rocks he had been clutching had long been crushed to powder .

Vicious Pill King didn’t indulge in taking revenge, only feeling endless regret . His greatest and most respected opponent would find himself dead in such a wretched way .

The alchemists around also sighed . But there was no one there willing to stand up to the seven houses .

Xiao Dandan’s face was covered in tears, pleading Chu Qingcheng with her eyes . She bit her lip, about to intervene, but Long Jiu pulled her back .

“Not even we can save him from the hundred Rumbling Blood Bats’ onslaught . We will only throw our lives away . Let it go, there is no point…” Long Jiu sighed at Zhuo Fan’s sorry state . Already thinking about how to abandon the Luo clan .

His alliance was with Zhuo Fan . Without him, the Veiled Dragon Pavilion had no reason to help the Luo clan . With Zhuo Fan dying, the alliance agreement would fall through .

[Sigh, brother, don’t blame me . I will look after your clan, but cannot uphold the alliance any longer . It just isn’t in the house’s benefit!]

Long Jiu sighed, while the rest lowered their heads in resignation .

Zhuo Fan was in dire straits, with no one appearing to aid him…