Chapter 232

Chapter 232: Tie Sha vs. Han Ling Shu (2)

Hearing Han Ling Shu’s shout, Lou Yun immediately understood everything. Beside him, Wen Hou wore an expression of clarity, evidently having known long ago.

Tie Sha belonged to an extremely rare type of magical weapons master: the strength-focused kind. From the moment Lou Yun met him until now, Tie Sha had always kept his eyes shut. Initially, Lou Yun assumed he was blind. Later, he learned Tie Sha was no blind man. The reason he closed his eyes lay in a far more powerful force sealed within his body, concentrated entirely in his eyes. Only by shutting them could he restrain this immense energy. Simply put, his eyes served as a seal. Should he open them, that power would erupt completely!

Now, Tie Sha had finally opened his eyes. The sealed force burst forth, instantly releasing that overwhelming, almost suffocating spiritual energy!

Though unaware of Tie Sha’s reason for opening his eyes, Han Ling Shu could still sense that terrifying power. He knew Tie Sha was inevitably unleashing a formidable skill.

Han Ling Shu accelerated his hand-sealing movements. A massive book mountain abruptly manifested in the air, crashing down with a thunderous roar directly onto Tie Sha, imprisoned within the Book Prison.

Daring no respite, Han Ling Shu continued weaving intricate hand seals as swiftly as fluttering butterflies. Immediately, another book mountain plummeted down!

Like pouring rain, book mountains descended one after another, each carrying a dreadful howl, layering upon Tie Sha’s body!

Within moments, eight book mountains piled upon one another!

It was plain to see Han Ling Shu’s speed and mastery in executing his weapon technique, Nine Layers of Book Mountains, far surpassed Han Rui’s capability from before!

Yet he too had failed to reach the true pinnacle of Nine Layers of Book Mountains. Eight layers represented his current limit!

Though only one mountain appeared visibly, it carried the combined weight of eight. Merely observing it sent chills down the spine—let alone imagining the sensation for one crushed beneath all eight!

Lou Yun and Shui Lingluo’s hearts simultaneously leapt into their throats, especially Lou Yun, who had personally endured the torment beneath book mountains. Back then, it was only Six Layers of Book Mountains. Without the Chaos Golden Cauldron, he’d surely have been flattened!

Now, Tie Sha lay suppressed beneath Eight Layers of Book Mountains, without any Chaos Golden Cauldron. And Han Ling Shu’s power clearly outstripped Han Rui’s, meaning this Eight Layers must be immeasurably heavier. Lou Yun deeply feared for Tie Sha’s condition.

Hidden in the shadows, Han Tianfang chuckled softly. "Though Ling Shu can only manifest Eight Layers of Book Mountains, even I would be utterly subdued beneath Nine-Layered Book Prison and these Eight Mountains. This battle ends here; victory is settled!"

Yet before his voice faded, Tie Sha’s muffled tone suddenly sounded: "Weren’t you touting Nine Layers? I only feel eight. Can’t manage that final layer? Truly disappointing!"

Tie Sha’s abrupt words startled everyone present except Wen Hou. Joy immediately lit Lou Yun and Shui Lingluo’s faces, while the others paled drastically—especially Han Ling Shu, whose shock and disbelief twisted his features beyond recognition.

Then, Tie Sha spoke again: "Have you exhausted your tricks? Then, my turn!"

Though other methods remained to Han Ling Shu, with Tie Sha fully trapped under the mountains, nothing else availed him. He could only stand there, gaping.

Putting status aside, Han Tianfang roared: "Check his state inside there, quickly!"

This bellow snapped Han Ling Shu from his daze. During the execution of Nine Layers of Book Mountains, all one’s spiritual sense must focus on controlling the mountains, prohibiting any other action. Only after lowering them could spiritual sense be freed. Previously, opponents under his book mountains never resisted or survived long enough for inspection—a habit Han Ling Shu lost over time.

Thus reminded, Han Ling Shu snapped back to reality. He initiated spiritual probing, but Tie Sha unleashed a furious roar first: "Kun-level upper-tier weapon technique: Thousand Armies Shattered!"

A blinding golden beam erupted from the heart of the book mountains, piercing the heavens and staining half the sky crimson!

Then came a sharp "Cling!" A second ray shot straight upward from the mountain’s peak. Following its emergence, crackling sounds tore across the mountain face. A crevice fissured top-down at dizzying speed, cleaving the mountain bottom to top.

"BOOM!"

An ear-splitting detonation shuddered the entirety of Biko Island. Lou Yun and the others distinctly felt the earth quake violently beneath their feet.

Mimicking Tie Sha’s earlier feat of raising his sword skyward to pierce the first book mountain, his current action blew apart the Eight Layers pressing upon him!

As these mountains were forged of condensed spiritual energy, their explosion inundated a kilometer radius in chaotic spiritual shards and unleashed energy pandemonium.

Amid the mountains’ dispersion, Tie Sha’s towering, indomitable frame rematerialized before everyone. Standing ramrod straight, his greatsword had expanded astonishingly from two meters to nearly ten! Blade upright, it stabbed defiantly at the sky!

Seeing this sky-piercing sword, all understood the mountains’ obliteration.

Suppressed jointly by book mountains and Book Prison, Tie Sha had opened his eyes, unleashed his full might, elongating his blade to ten meters. Coupled with his Kun-level weapon technique, his overwhelming power cleaved clean through both the Book Prison and Eight Layers of Book Mountains!

What level of power was this? Immeasurable, unstoppable strength!

Utter silence gripped the scene. Not a soul uttered a sound; breaths seemed suspended. Gazing at Tie Sha, greatsword upheld, his visage blurred into something superhuman—a god, a deity of brute force!

Yet among them, only Chang Xiang perceived differently. His unique nature and extraordinary spiritual sight allowed him to glimpse, beneath Tie Sha’s towering silhouette, the fleeting shadow of a beast.

Finally, Han Ling Shu spat a mouthful of blood, shattering the stillness. Others snapped back to reality.

Unlike Han Rui of the past, Han Ling Shu hadn’t fused his true magical weapon book into these mountains. Still, the explosion of the Eight Layers inflicted grievous backlash. Severely injured internally, he possessed no strength left to fight.

But the wound to Han Ling Shu’s pride cut deeper than his physical injuries. Arrogant by nature and deservedly so—he was this generation’s sole bearer of the name ‘Ling Shu,’ designating him the future Han family clan head. His status within the Han family exceeded even Elders, equating to their patriarch. Gradually, hubris took root, fostering disdain towards all.

Today, Tie Sha’s crushing power pulverized his arrogance without remorse.

That blood spilled marked Han Ling Shu’s collapse. Abruptly, his eyelids closed, his body tilting backwards.

Overcome by humiliation and rage, Han Ling Shu fell unconscious.

At Han Ling Shu’s collapse, Han Tianfang abandoned stealth, darting forth instantly. In seconds, he reached the second floor beside Han Ling Shu, fearing Tie Sha might strike the vulnerable future Han clan head. He had to safeguard Han Ling Shu’s life!

Yet Tie Sha made no move. Casting a frigid glance at Han Ling Shu prone on the ground, he turned and strode toward Lou Yun and the others.

He halted before Lou Yun. Gazing calmly at Lou Yun and then Shui Lingluo, his stern countenance softened into a faint smile: "I finally see you both!"

The moment those words left him, Tie Sha’s eyes slowly shut. His greatsword vanished. His frame swayed twice before he pitched forward.

Lou Yun reacted with keen swiftness, catching him instantly. Looking up at Wen Hou, he asked, "Is he alright?"

Wen Hou shook his head, smiling. "Perfectly fine. The power from opening his eyes is overwhelming, exceeding his body’s tolerance. So after each unsealing, he inevitably collapses into slumber."

"I understand fully!" Lou Yun nodded, relieved. Such exhaustion-induced unconsciousness was something he knew well himself.

Gently laying Tie Sha on the ground, Lou Yun raised his head. Onlookers near the valley entrance—Han Ling Shu and Han Tianfang—had vanished. Clearly, they’d departed.

Lou Yun bent down towards Tie Sha: "Here. Lift his body onto my back. I’ll carry him."

After a moment’s hesitation, Wen Hou nodded, grinning as he hefted Tie Sha onto Lou Yun. "He’s enormously heavy, though; this coma might last days. Bear up, lad!"

Lou Yun chuckled: "Days? I’d carry him for years if needed!"

Straightening his back with Tie Sha secured, Lou Yun declared cheerfully: "Alright. Forward we go!"