Chapter 1804: One Move Short (1)

Nangong Beidou wanted to kill the fake Chu Feng, yet he made no move at all — it was all just an act.

"An ancestor is an ancestor. Looks like the ancestor won't be showing himself. Four Great Imperial Clans, go ahead and entertain yourselves."

Chu Feng smiled faintly. If Baili Xuanhong had fallen for the trap, he would have struck immediately. But the fact that Baili Xuanhong still hadn't revealed himself told Chu Feng everything he needed to know — the man wasn't coming.

If Baili Xuanhong didn't take the bait, then the elaborate show the Four Great Imperial Clans had put on was nothing but a waste. Not only had it accomplished nothing, but it had also cost them manpower and given Chu Feng a chance to escape.

So Chu Feng planned to seize this opportunity and use the talisman paper Zhang Ming had given him to get out quickly.

Once he left this place and evaded the various formations the Four Great Imperial Clans had set up, Chu Feng had plenty of ways to let Baili Xuanhong know he had withdrawn safely. And once that happened, with Baili Xuanhong's abilities, the old man could extract himself just as easily.

"Nangong Beidou, if you dare so much as harm a single hair on Chu Feng's head, I will not let it go!"

But just then, a furious shout rang out, and simultaneously a wave of imperial might erupted, coalescing into a golden sword that hurtled straight toward Nangong Beidou.

"Oh?" Startled by the shout, Chu Feng turned toward the voice, and a figure entered his field of vision.

"Senior Hong Qiang?" The sight made Chu Feng's body shudder. The one who had struck was none other than Hong Qiang.

And not the fake — the real Hong Qiang. The Hong Qiang standing before him was no longer at the peak of Half-Emperor. He had ascended to the first grade of Martial Emperor. It seemed he had successfully broken through his bottleneck and finally entered the Martial Emperor realm.

But with that level of cultivation, how could he possibly be Nangong Beidou's match? Nangong Beidou swept his sleeve, and all the martial power in the surroundings bent to his will, transforming into golden whirlwinds that swept outward in every direction. The golden sword that Hong Qiang had formed was tossed about like a lone maple leaf caught in a gale, spinning helplessly before shattering to pieces.

Then Nangong Beidou reached out and grabbed, seizing Hong Qiang in his grasp.

By the time Hong Qiang fell into Nangong Beidou's clutches, he had already lost virtually all ability to fight. It wasn't because he was weak — it was simply that Nangong Beidou was far too powerful.

"Damn it… one move short." Chu Feng slapped his thigh in frustration, cursing his own uselessness.

Baili Xuanhong hadn't fallen for the trick, but Hong Qiang had. Chu Feng hadn't anticipated Hong Qiang coming either — that was his oversight. Knowing Hong Qiang's character, the moment he learned Chu Feng was in danger, he would rush over without a second thought. Why hadn't Chu Feng thought of that?

But dwelling on it now was pointless. Hong Qiang had been captured, and Chu Feng absolutely could not stand by and do nothing, or Hong Qiang would suffer unspeakable torment.

"Ha ha ha ha! Chu Feng, still not going to show yourself? Are you just going to stand there and watch this elder of yours wish he were dead?" Just as expected, the moment Hong Qiang was caught, Nangong Beidou began shouting at the top of his lungs.

"What is Clan Head Nangong talking about? Isn't Chu Feng right there in his hands?" the crowd murmured in confusion.

It wasn't until Nangong Beidou released the fake Chu Feng in his grip that the truth became clear. The imposter's body wavered, and his features dissolved, revealing a figure completely black from head to toe.

The creature was repulsive. Though roughly humanoid, it looked as if it had been molded from mud — no nose, no mouth, only a pair of pupilless eyes staring out from its featureless face. The sight was deeply unsettling.

"Huh? So it was a fake — it was… a Hundred-Transformation Mudman in disguise."

"So it was a scheme. The Four Great Imperial Clans orchestrated all of this just to capture Chu Feng."

"Who would have thought they'd even brought in a Hundred-Transformation Mudman? The Four Great Imperial Clans really went all out for this." At the sight of the dark figure, the crowd finally understood.

And from the murmurings around him, Chu Feng learned the origins of this so-called Hundred-Transformation Mudman.