Chapter 1278: Opportunity for a Breakthrough
Ning Fan raised his head to look at the elderly man in the sky, his eyes slightly narrowed, filled with caution.
"Old man, come down and speak," Ning Fan said, looking at Zhou Wu.
"Old Family Head, we beg you to take action and suppress this junior!" The Great Elder looked up at the sky and shouted to Zhou Wu.
"Please, Old Family Head, take action!" All the members of the Zhou Family spoke in unison. Their hearts had already fallen into despair; even Zhou Shan, who used secret techniques, was not a match for Ning Fan. Who else could suppress Ning Fan?
But when they saw the old Family Head Zhou Wu appear, they were instantly overjoyed. Being able to traverse the sky meant one's realm was above True Origin Realm, at Aerial Mastery Realm! Such strength, could it not suppress a Martial Artist at the Peak of True Origin Realm?
Zhou Wu made a virtual pressing gesture with both hands, signaling everyone present to quiet down.
Upon seeing Zhou Wu's gesture, the previously speaking members of the Zhou Family immediately quieted down, as Zhou Wu was the previous Family Head of the Zhou Family!
Although Zhou Wu had now retired, who would dare be disrespectful towards him?
Once Zhou Wu heard all the surrounding noise quiet down, he then spoke to Ning Fan, "Junior, I offer you an opportunity to live. If you abolish your True Qi now and accept the Zhou Family's punishment, I can spare your life!"
"Old geezer, what do you count for?" Ning Fan asked coolly, eyes slightly squinting while looking at Zhou Wu. "To want me to abolish my True Qi, you don't have the qualification!"
Upon hearing Ning Fan's words, the Zhou Family members instantly became furious.
"You dare speak to our old Family Head like this! You're really asking for death!"
"Damn it, Old Family Head, you must kill this bastard! Otherwise, he won't know fear!"
"Old Family Head, if this bastard doesn't die, our Zhou Family will be utterly disgraced in the future. Other families will probably look down on us!"
...
The Zhou Family youngsters loudly spoke up one after another, all of them pleading with Zhou Wu to directly kill Ning Fan.
In the sky, Zhou Wu's expression darkened a little upon hearing Ning Fan's words; it had been a long time since anyone dared speak to him like this!
"Boy, you will pay for your words!" Zhou Wu said coldly.
As Zhou Wu's voice fell, his old, tree-branch-like hands slowly pressed down towards Ning Fan's body.
As Zhou Wu's palms pressed down, Ning Fan felt the surrounding air obey Zhou Wu's command, transforming into an invisible giant mountain bearing down on him.
"Heh, mere tricks; they won't have any effect on me!" Ning Fan's face showed a slight sneer as he spoke.
Previously, when dealing with Nalan Jiuhuang, Ning Fan had also been suppressed by Nalan Jiuhuang's aura; that enormous pressure was still fresh in Ning Fan's memory.
However, Nalan Jiuhuang was a master at the Intermediate Stage of Aerial Mastery Realm, and an outstanding one at that. This Zhou Wu is merely at the Early Stage of Aerial Mastery Realm; they are not on the same level at all!
It can be said that Ning Fan could not physically withstand the pressure from Nalan Jiuhuang, but he could withstand the pressure from Zhou Wu!
Standing tall against the pressure from Zhou Wu, Ning Fan spoke coldly, "If you have the skill, come at me!"
Boom!
The aura released by Zhou Wu weighed heavily on Ning Fan, who suddenly felt as if a giant stone was pressing down on his body, making it difficult to breathe.
Moreover, fine sweat appeared on Ning Fan's forehead, clearly indicating that using his body to withstand Zhou Wu's pressure was somewhat strenuous.
"Oh? I didn't expect you could withstand my pressure." Zhou Wu looked somewhat surprised at Ning Fan, not expecting him to bear his pressure!
It's known that, although there is only a realm difference between True Origin Realm and Aerial Mastery Realm, the gap between them is vast!
It could be said that a Martial Artist at the Peak of True Origin Realm defeating one at Aerial Mastery Realm is practically impossible. Last time, Ning Fan defeating Nalan Jiuhuang was only a fluke, and to defeat Zhou Wu, he clearly couldn't rely on last time's methods again.
"Since this pressure isn't strong enough, let's increase it a bit." Zhou Wu's face showed a cold smile.
As Zhou Wu's voice fell, the pressure he released suddenly increased several fold, and the giant stone pressing on Ning Fan's body instantly became a mountain!
"Damn it! It seems using True Qi for defense is necessary!" Ning Fan cursed inwardly, realizing he had underestimated Zhou Wu's pressure.
Yet just as Ning Fan intended to release his True Qi to form a defensive circle, he suddenly sensed that the bottleneck within his body seemed to show signs of loosening under the enormous pressure!
"Could enduring this immense pressure help me breakthrough?!" Ning Fan's heart was full of joy; he had previously struggled to find a breakthrough opportunity.
Ning Fan originally thought he would have to wait some time before breaking through. Unexpectedly, under Zhou Wu's pressure, signs of breakthrough began to appear!
"Damn it, as long as I can breakthrough, I'll endure the greatest pain!" Ning Fan gritted his teeth, steeled his mind, and withdrew his True Qi.
Without the protection of True Qi, Ning Fan's body was entirely exposed to Zhou Wu's oppressive force.
The immense pressure pressed on Ning Fan's body like a mountain, and he clenched his teeth tightly, feeling as if his body was about to be crushed. Under this immense pressure, his muscles and bloodline gradually became fragmented, struggling to withstand.
Fortunately, the True Qi within Ning Fan's body continuously helped him recover from internal injuries, protecting his muscles and bloodline, preventing him from dying from an internal explosion under this immense pressure.
But Ning Fan's vast sacrifice was not without return; he felt the bottleneck within his body loosening even more. Ning Fan felt he was only a step away from breaking through to Aerial Mastery Realm!
"Just a little more, just a little more! I have to hold on!" Ning Fan clenched his teeth too hard; blood flowed from his mouth, staining his lips and clothes.
Seeing Ning Fan's wretched state, the surrounding Zhou Family disciples became instantly excited. Watching Ning Fan, their eyes showed gleams of delight.
After fighting Ning Fan for so long, they finally saw this demon injured! This was truly not easy!