629: Chapter 618: The Vajra Protector 629: Chapter 618: The Vajra Protector Today was supposed to be a joyous occasion for the Shangguan Family, with Shangguan Yunyang and Huo Qiuran set to marry.
However, the arrival of Ning Fan interrupted the wedding ceremony.
Not only did he cause a scene, but he also intended to take the bride away, which was a disgrace to both the Shangguan Family and the Huo Family.
But as with all things, there are exceptions, and it was not going to be easy for Ning Fan and Huo Qiuran to leave, especially with Shangguan Tanglong standing in their way.
With his early-stage Object-Manipulating Realm strength, Ning Fan soon found himself in a bitter struggle against Shangguan Tanglong, who had already stepped one foot into the True Origin Realm.
During the fierce battle, Ning Fan landed punch after punch on Shangguan Tanglong’s chest, with just one punch from Tanglong forcing Ning Fan to catch his breath for a while, not daring to face him directly in combat.
“Whoa!”
Spitting out a mouthful of black blood, Ning Fan wiped the corner of his mouth, looking somewhat disheveled as he eyed the equally distressed Shangguan Tanglong.
Injuring the enemy at the cost of greater damage to oneself, Ning Fan’s actions were driven by necessity, facing such a strong opponent he had no other choice.
“Cough cough…”
As Shangguan Tanglong covered his face to cough, Ning Fan raised his head, his eyes shining with a blood-red light, and charged at him like a fierce wolf.
Shangguan Tanglong stared at Ning Fan in astonishment, not expecting him to still make a move at this point.
He too did not dare to be careless, exerting his full strength to cope.
Ning Fan also did not hold back, his attacks were fast enough, but to his surprise, Shangguan Tanglong was even faster!
With two thuds, Shangguan Tanglong first landed a strike on Ning Fan’s shoulder and then, seizing the initiative, Ning Fan punched Shangguan Tanglong in the chest.
The result was Ning Fan being sent flying backward, while Shangguan Tanglong clutched his chest, his stance waning and his complexion growing paler.
A draw?
Seeing Shangguan Tanglong’s current frail condition, it did indeed seem like Ning Fan had fought him to a draw, but if one had to say who was in a worse state, it was definitely Ning Fan.
Struggling to get up from the ground, Ning Fan’s chin was dyed red with blood, looking extremely disheveled.
If the battle continued, Ning Fan was sure to lose.
In fact, in Ning Fan’s eyes, he had indeed lost, for the first time!
His loss was not in terms of skill, but rather in the difference of their realms.
Had they been at the same realm, Ning Fan could have leveraged his numerous life-and-death battle experiences to utterly outmatch Shangguan Tanglong.
What a pity, however, was that Shangguan Tanglong was at the peak of the Object-Manipulating Realm, while Ning Fan was still only at the early stages of the same realm.
“To achieve this level at the early stage of the Object-Manipulating Realm, you are quite remarkable!”
It was not mockery but a fact.
Shangguan Tanglong looked at Ning Fan, his eyes filled with shock.
Ning Fan’s strength had exceeded his expectations.
He was merely at the early stage of the Object-Manipulating Realm, yet he managed to fight on par with him.
Such a person would be considered extremely rare talent anywhere.
But sadly, for the Shangguan Family, Ning Fan cannot be allowed to leave.
Letting him go would be like a time bomb for the Shangguan Family.
Despite how much Shangguan Tanglong admired Ning Fan, he had to nip this threat in the bud.
A smirk curled at the corner of Ning Fan’s mouth, showing a hint of defiance, but there was also helplessness in his heart.
The Shangguan Family truly deserves its reputation as an ancient family with over a hundred years of foundation in Jiangcheng, producing martial artists one after another.
First were the Twin Evils, then came Shangguan Tenglong, a high-level practitioner in the Object-Manipulating Realm, and now the former Family Head Shangguan Tanglong, at the peak of the Object-Manipulating Realm!
If Ning Fan were to lose here, it wouldn’t be unjust but rather regrettable.
The families of Huaxia, some with a hundred years, others with over a thousand years of history, are truly terrifying.
The Shangguan Family only rose to prominence at the end of the Qing Dynasty.
The foundations of other families with longer histories are even more formidable, surely filled with an innumerable number of experts.
At this moment, the Shangguan Tanglong that Ning Fan faced was, by far, the strongest opponent he had ever encountered, without a doubt!
“Ning Fan!” Huo Qiuran, seeing Ning Fan severely injured, couldn’t help but shout out his name.
Not far from Ning Fan, Shangguan Tanglong was preparing to make another move.
“Ah!”
A huge figure descended from the sky, forcing Shangguan Tanglong to retreat.
Immediately after, three figures in black arrived by Ning Fan’s side, and seeing this, Huo Qiuran also rushed over and hugged Ning Fan.
“It’s you!”
Though all four were dressed in black and wore masks, Ning Fan still recognized them.
Feng, Yu, Lei, Dian—the Four King Kongs from Chen Fengnan’s side!
“Heh heh, we can’t let you hog all the glory, let us join the fray too!”
Who else could say such a thing but Lei?
Seeing another four figures in black enter the fray, Shangguan Tenglong grew restless and with a grand wave of his hand, he shouted, “Attack, don’t let any of them escape!”
At the same time, within the church, the Object-Manipulating Twin Evils, having recovered, also emerged.
Both walked over to Shangguan Tenglong’s side and shouted in unison, “Family Head!”
Seeing the Object-Manipulating Twin Evils had also recovered, a look of great joy appeared on Shangguan Tenglong’s face, and he immediately shouted, “Join in too, take them all down!”
In an instant, the Shangguan Family’s experts all made their move, all advancing to kill Ning Fan and the others.
The experts from the Huo Family were not to be outdone, surging forward one after another.
For a while, even the Four King Kongs, no matter how strong, faced so many ancient martial artists and were also embroiled in a difficult battle.
Shangguan Tanglong saw that the situation was under control and shook his head, no longer taking action—why use a cleaver to kill a chicken!
“Be careful of those two, they’re both Object-Manipulating Realm experts!”
Seeing the Object-Manipulating Twin Evils hiding among the crowd, Ning Fan immediately shouted out a warning.
The Object-Manipulating Twin Evils were the strongest among them; even if Feng, Yu, Lei, Dian teamed up, they couldn’t defeat them.
Unfortunately, despite Ning Fan’s early warning, the Twin Evils had the cover of many experts.
The Four King Kongs, after repelling a wave of attackers, met the Twin Evils and, unsurprisingly, were injured, all four of them severely.
“You two, run!” Yu called back to Ning Fan and Huo Qiuran.
Ning Fan was deeply moved; he shook his head and firmly said to the four, “If we run, we run together!”
Today, not a single person should be left behind, not only did he have to take Huo Qiuran, but also the Four King Kongs without exception!
Seeing Ning Fan and the others trapped within layers of encirclement, Shangguan Tenglong was overjoyed and stepped forward, looking at Ning Fan with arrogant triumph, he taunted, “Four years ago, I made you scurry out of Jiangcheng in disgrace, and today, I’ll make you leave without a shred of dignity!”
Meanwhile, Shangguan Tanglong, wielding his horsetail whisk, attacked with an icy demeanor, and his Peak Object-Manipulating Realm power was more than any of them could handle right now.
Clang!
Shangguan Tanglong’s expression changed as his horsetail whisk was struck by a hidden weapon and forcefully deflected, the force of the impact pushing him back.
“Picking on a little kid like this with so many people, don’t you feel the least bit ashamed?”