Chapter 42: Breaking the Five Elements Formation

Qin Hao also struck out with a palm toward Lu Xingchen.
Their palms collided, triggering a massive wave of spiritual energy.
Lu Xingchen was sent flying backward instantly, spitting a mouthful of fresh blood mid-air.
Lin Jing hurriedly leaped into the air and caught Lu Xingchen.
"Lu Xingchen, are you alright?"
"I can still fight!"
Lu Xingchen had intentionally met Qin Hao's blow head-on to test the power of this "Five Elements Formation."
Naturally, he had no intention of continuing to play the passive defender.
Seeing Lu Xingchen rebuffed, Qin Hao could not help looking somewhat smug.
"Hahaha, Lu Xingchen, with just your strength alone, it is impossible for you to break our Five Elements Formation!"
Lu Xingchen let out a cold snort. "You are celebrating far too early."
"It seems you won't shed a tear until you see your coffin! Brothers, attack!"
The five members of the Five Elements Sect simultaneously unleashed their martial arts techniques.
Lu Xingchen produced the Primeval Chaos Umbrella and opened it wide. A dark green barrier of light enveloped the seven members of the soaring firmament sect.
The attacks from the five members of the Five Elements Sect landed on the Primeval Chaos Umbrella, causing only ripples to spread across its surface without breaking Lu Xingchen's defense.
Qin Hao was somewhat surprised.
"A High-Grade Mysterious Spirit Artifact? Lu Xingchen, you are thoroughly prepared! I just wonder how long you can maintain this spirit artifact?"
Lu Xingchen handed the Primeval Chaos Umbrella to Lin Jing and said in a deep voice, "Lin Jing, protect everyone. I will go break the formation."
Lin Jing was greatly shocked. "Lu Xingchen, how can you do that? You'll die!"
Lu Xingchen chuckled softly. "Don't worry, with the Shadow Sword in hand, they cannot touch me."
With that, Lu Xingchen stepped out from beneath the protective barrier of the Primeval Chaos Umbrella.
Through the earlier probing, Lu Xingchen had already figured out the pattern of the Five Elements Formation.
They could concentrate the strength of all five individuals into one person, just as Qin Hao had done when he first repelled him.
At the same time, however, the battle qi of the other four would be significantly weakened.
As long as his speed was fast enough, he might just find a breakthrough point.
Seeing that Lu Xingchen actually dared to step out, the five members of the Five Elements Sect were all rather astonished.
Qin Hao said in a deep voice, "Lu Xingchen, you actually dare to come out? Are you tired of living?"
Lu Xingchen chuckled lightly. "I have already seen through the pattern of the Five Elements Formation; it can be broken with a flick of the hand."
Qin Hao retorted, "Then come and try!"
Lu Xingchen tossed the scabbard of the Shadow Sword aside and immediately struck out with a palm toward Qin Hao.
Having suffered at Lu Xingchen's hands earlier, Qin Hao dared not be careless. He immediately concentrated the power of all five individuals onto himself and struck back with a matching palm strike.
Just as their palms were about to meet, Lu Xingchen activated the Shadow Sword, teleporting instantly in front of a ten-star martial master.
Panicking to the extreme, that ten-star martial master hurriedly mobilized the power of the Five Elements Formation, crossing his arms across his chest.
By the time Lu Xingchen's attack landed on that ten-star martial master, the power of the Five Elements Formation had already shifted back, and Lu Xingchen was once again sent flying backward.
Qin Hao let out a triumphant laugh. "What does it matter if you've seen through the mystery of the Five Elements Formation? As long as we have a single thought, the power of the formation will instantly concentrate on one person. Lu Xingchen, no matter how fast your sword is, can it surpass the speed of our thoughts?"
Lu Xingchen frowned deeply without replying, choosing instead to attempt attacks on the other four members.
After testing all five members in turn and being repeatedly knocked back, Lu Xingchen was forced to face reality.
Their Five Elements Formation was indeed flawless. If he wished to break the formation, he would likely have to resort to brute force.
The five members of the Five Elements Sect were also extremely annoyed.
Although Lu Xingchen could not harm them, they could not touch him either.
His spatial shifting abilities were simply too numerous!
Qin Hao roared angrily, "Lu Xingchen, do you only know how to hide? Do you dare to fight me head-on?"
"Very well, then I will let you witness my true strength."
Lu Xingchen brought his hands together, battle qi surging throughout his body, and a massive battle qi handprint materialized above his head.
Indeed, the technique Lu Xingchen was using was none other than the "Heaven-Obliterating Seal."
Since skill alone could not break the formation, brute force it would be!
Sensing the extraordinary nature of the battle qi handprint, Qin Hao cursed inwardly, "Damn it, we haven't seen each other for just a few hours, how has this guy grown stronger again?"
The power of the five individuals was concentrated on Qin Hao, who also unleashed his ultimate move as an enormous fireball gradually condensed.
Lu Xingchen activated "Jade Shatter," then slammed his palm forward with tremendous force, sending the battle qi handprint hurtling toward Qin Hao and his companions.
The battle qi handprint collided with the fireball, producing a violent explosion.
After a brief deadlock, the fireball was ground down and extinguished by the battle qi handprint.
Although the battle qi handprint had grown somewhat illusory, it still crashed fiercely into the five individuals.
The Five Elements Formation shattered instantly, and all five were sent flying backward, coughing up blood continuously in mid-air before crashing heavily to the ground.
Witnessing this scene, the disciples of the other three sects gathered at the edge of the plaza all drew in sharp breaths of cold air.
"Qin Hao has been defeated again!"
"After using that formation, their battle-qi strength was already no less than that of a five-star great martial master, yet they were defeated by Lu Xingchen alone. How is this even possible?"
"Could the technique Lu Xingchen just used be an Earth-grade martial art? The power is simply too terrifying!"
"I suspect it most likely is. Needless to say, he must have obtained it from the Enlightenment Stele."
"I also managed to seize an Enlightenment Stele, but I only acquired a Mid-Grade Mysterious martial art. What gives Lu Xingchen the right to obtain an Earth-grade one?"
Seeing Lu Xingchen emerge victorious, Lin Jing put away the Primeval Chaos Umbrella and, along with the other five members, surrounded the fallen disciples of the Five Elements Sect.
Lu Xingchen also walked up to stand before Qin Hao.
Protected by a close-fitting inner armor, this fellow had not died despite being the primary target of the Heaven-Obliterating Seal; he had merely lost his combat capability.
Lu Xingchen placed a foot on Qin Hao's chest and said indifferently, "The Five Elements Sect's Five Elements Formation is nothing special after all."
Qin Hao stared fixedly up at Lu Xingchen, his gaze filled with disbelief.
"This is impossible! How can this be? Even with the Five Elements Formation, I am still no match for you. You are merely a seven-star martial master!"
Lu Xingchen calmly replied, "Those who have been defeated by me have never been regarded as my rivals. I will give you time to catch up, right up until the point where I am far beyond your reach. Qin Hao, you shouldn't have come back!"
With that, Lu Xingchen raised the Shadow Sword.
Qin Hao panicked and screamed, "Lu Xingchen, you cannot kill me! I am the Holy Son of the Five Elements Sect. If you kill me, the Five Elements Sect will pursue you to the bitter end!"
Lu Xingchen said coldly, "The two sects are already feuding; adding five more corpses changes nothing. When you hunted down Senior Brother Lin Xu, did you ever consider the relationship between the two sects?"
The hand rose, and the sword fell.
[Congratulations to the host for slaying a three-star martial master, gaining three hundred experience points and three hundred exchange points!]
With sword stroke after sword stroke, Lu Xingchen executed all five disciples of the Five Elements Sect.
His own cultivation realm also broke through to the eight-star martial master level.
Even the disciples of the Soaring Firmament Sect felt a chill run down their spines.
Lu Xingchen's methods were simply too ruthless!
Five disciples of the Five Elements Sect, including three Holy Sons, were slaughtered just like that without a moment's hesitation!
Was he truly not afraid of the Five Elements Sect's retaliation?
Only Lin Jing smiled faintly and said, "Lu Xingchen, well done!"