The Third Elder tried to dodge the attack subconsciously. However, it was too late.
A sharp pain shot through his entire body following that chill he felt. It was a familiar feeling, though it was a lot more intense than the previous one that he felt.
Crack! Something seemed to be broken.
The Third Elder had no idea which part of his body was damaged. He merely felt that he no longer had control over his own body.
It was an extreme pain, to the point where numbness was all he felt.
However, the psychological impact and shame that he felt could not be anaesthetized. Two lines of tears flowed down along his pale wrinkled cheeks and dripped into the surging sands.
It was already a tragedy to experience such pain once in a lifetime. When the second attack with more force was dealt to the same sensitive area, anyone would crumble immediately.
The Third Elder was close to a breakdown. He had never imagined that he would experience such pain again for the second time.
Furthermore…
It was merely a bit over half an hour after the previous impact.
The old wounds had yet to heal.
Boom! A loud explosion sound could be heard.
The Third Elder’s body flew into the air uncontrollably under the huge impact. He reached a height of about three feet.
At that instant, the Third Elder’s mind was completely blank. He had already lost his cognitive abilities and could only stare at the ground with a pair of soulless eyes.
A dark world.
He saw countless dumbfounded expressions. These included the Heavenly Dao Pavilion disciples, the four Majesties, the candidates, the Fifth Elder, and the Pavilion Leader Mu Qingfeng…
Boom! The Third Elder smashed right onto the ground. Given his prowess, he would not lose consciousness simply from one attack. However, he had lost all will to fight.
He allowed his body to flail helplessly on the ground.
That was because he could not accept this turn of events.
How could he?
No one could possess that much willpower. This was no longer a question about raw power, but one of shame and dignity.
He could simply say that he was letting his guard down when he was dealt the first blow. He could have been ambushed or looking down on his opponent. There were many excuses.
But what about the second time?
What excuse can he make?
Why did this happen?
The Third Elder could not understand. He had survived the five blows and calculated everything precisely. This should not have happened, but it did.
Most importantly…
Why did he have to go through such humiliation and pain again?
The Third Elder had had a normal life. His life was not particularly smooth sailing, nor was it filled with vicissitudes every step of the way. He had experienced times of glory and also learned to be humble in times when he failed.
However, what happened today was something he cannot bring himself to accept.
This was because he no longer wished to live. When one lost the last bit of dignity that one had, it would be pointless to carry on with life.
As a revered elder of the Heavenly Dao Pavilion, he had been done in by the same technique twice in a row…
How could he still stand up righteously and curse murderously at Fang Zhengzhi?
He could not do it.
Silence. There was complete silence.
All the Heavenly Dao Pavilion disciples witnessed this scene, though they could not fathom how it happened.
The Third Elder had clearly stabbed through Fang Zhengzhi’s heart.
However, why would Fang Zhengzhi be unscathed? Instead, he emerged from the surging sands the moment the Third Elder attacked. Was it an illusion?
No!
It was not an illusion!
It was a Heavenly Descent!
The Tenth Heavenly Descent. In other words, Fang Zhengzhi’s fifth move was not simply Nine Pillars of Heavenly Descent, but a terrifying ten.
“How can this be? How did he do this?”
“It is already terrifying enough to use Nine Pillars of Heavenly Descent at once, how about ten? Just how much power source does this young lad possess?”
“Ten Pillars of Heavenly Descent. He even placed one five feet away in anticipation. Did he really calculate all this right from the start?”
The Heavenly Dao Pavilion disciples were in shock at this scene. They were even more surprised that Fang Zhengzhi could display such prowess right in front of them.
However, there was one thing they could not understand…
Why would the Third Elder be interrupted by the surging sands? If he was not distracted by the sand and lost his balance, Fang Zhengzhi’s attack would not have succeeded.
Just how did Fang Zhengzhi control the sand? That was the Qian Kun Eight Wastelands, a field set up especially by the Third Elder. How could he control it?
The Heavenly Dao Pavilion disciples could not understand it.
However, they had no time to consider this problem. That was because Fang Zhengzhi had already moved. The moment the Third Elder landed on the ground, he followed up with another attack.
He was like a shooting star, stepping on the swirling sands as though he was on flat, solid ground, cruising through its violent waves.
Most importantly, Fang Zhengzhi was pointing his two fingers forward as well.
Sword gesture!
It was the exact same technique as the one the Third Elder used. However, Fang Zhengzhi had made use of the Heaven Dao instead. His speed was comparable to that of the Third Elder.
“No, Third Elder, be careful!”
“Third Elder!”
“Young lad, stop right there!”
The previous time, the Heavenly Dao Pavilion disciples were not worried when the Third Elder fell onto the ground. However, they could not help but worry this time around.
That was because…
The Third Elder’s face deathly pale. There was not as much of a fluctuation of energy around his body. He had given up.
“I will take you when you are down!” Fang Zhengzhi could have cared less about the Third Elder’s current state. He knew that if he did not act now, he would suffer a horrible death.
After all, the Third Elder did not leave him any chances when he supposedly pierced his heart.
He had to cripple him!
Fang Zhengzhi would not allow the Third Elder to get back on his feet. At the very least, he had to make sure he was crippled for half a month to ensure his own safety.
He was getting close!
Fang Zhengzhi carried on forward at full speed, taking aim at the area right above the Third Elder’s chest. This could seal off the power within the small dimension of the Third Elder.
However, just when his attack was around an inch away from the Third Elder’s chest, his body came to a halt.
This naturally was not a conscious effort on his part.
This was because his legs were dragged down by a powerful force. He looked down and noticed a giant thorn vine entangled around his legs.
“Hm?” Fang Zhengzhi stared at Third Elder, who was right in front of him, and noticed that he was still pale and dejected.
Was third elder not the one?
That means…
Not good!
Fang Zhengzhi was just about to dodge, though he was too late. A powerful force had already arrived behind him, surging with malicious intent.
“An ambush?” Fang Zhengzhi finally reacted to the situation, though it was all too late. After all, this force was too powerful and fast.
He had no choice!
Fang Zhengzhi then unleashed all his power and forced himself forward. He was able to move an inch even under the constriction of the thorn vines.
The finger sword pierced through the Third Elder’s heart.
However, the terrifying force had also arrived. It crashed onto him like a tsunami wave, crushing his innards with its tremendous pressure.
Boom! A dull sound reverberated through the area.
Fang Zhengzhi felt as though he was pressed down by a giant mountain. He could hear the crisp sound of his bones breaking.
Crack!
Spurt!
At the same time, Fang Zhengzhi and the Third Elder spurted a mouthful of blood into the air. Following which, their bodies flew across the Heaven Academic Altar.
Fang Zhengzhi collided with a white jade pillar in the middle of the Heaven Academic Altar. The impact was so great that the pillar was smashed to smithereens immediately.
The Third Elder’s body hung in mid-air as a few crystal clear vines held his body in place.
Fang Zhengzhi felt an uneasy force in his chest and spit another mouthful of blood uncontrollably. His face also paled in discomfort.
All of a sudden, the entire Heavenly Dao Pavilion was enveloped in silence once again.
However, this silence was different from the one previously. This silence was not borne from awe. Instead, it was due to the shock they received from witnessing this scene.
All of the Heavenly Dao Pavilion disciples cast their gaze to a spot in the middle of the Heaven Academic Altar. It was the area where Fang Zhengzhi and the Third Elder were at before they were blown away.
At that spot…
A figure stood.
His pristine white robe fluttered amongst the swirling yellow sand.
On his forehead, an emerald character was radiating a brilliant glow. It was an extremely complicated character surrounded by thorn vines.
“It is the Fifth Elder!”
“Did the Fifth Elder just conduct a sneak attack?”
“This… the Fifth Elder…”
The Heavenly Dao Pavilion disciples were still reeling in from the shock of the battle between Fang Zhengzhi and the Third Elder when they witnessed yet another preposterous scene.
They were completely dumbfounded.
They naturally noticed the dire situation previously and understood the danger the Third Eder was in. However, when the Fifth Elder made his move, a sneak attack at that, they were still in disbelief.
Not only were the Heavenly Dao Pavilion disciples in shock…
The candidates who were standing behind the Fifth Elder also could not believe their eyes. Even though this was the Heavenly Dao Pavilion and the Third Elder’s life was at stake…
They could not react in time to the Fifth Elder’s actions.
“This is an extremely weighted attack!” The four Majesties widened their eyes as they stared at the Fifth Elder. They then exchanged glances.
No one dared to speak in this situation. However, they all shook their heads lightly in this scene.