"Stay here to die? How laughable! You're the one coming to seek your own demise!"
Qin Yang pointed at the crimson clouds above his head. "These are your death warrants. One comes, I kill one. Two come, I kill a pair!"
His heart held no remorse. First, these were once servants of the Qin Family who had betrayed their masters. Second, they had come to kill him!
Those who kill shall be killed!
"What a bold claim! Truly delusional!" The old man narrowed his eyes. "It seems this monumental achievement will be mine!"
Seeing Qin Yang's composed demeanor, the old man sneered. "Don't think that your scheme to kill Qin Li makes you worthy to oppose the Zongshi Realm. Qin Li was merely the twenty-seventh-ranked elder. I am Qin Jian, ranked nineteenth!"
"Qin Jian? How 'jian' is he?" Qin Yang chuckled softly.
Qin Jian's fury erupted. "Boy, are you courting death?"
Copy: Opponent's technique - Anger Blood Art. Transcendental copy does not enhance host's cultivation realm. Technique: 8/10.
Copy: Opponent's martial art - Explosive Punch. Martial art proficiency automatically set to peak mastery. Martial art: 8/10.
"Anger Blood Art? Explosive Punch?" Qin Yang's eyes lit up. These are excellent techniques to copy!
The Anger Blood Art, when activated, would make his blood boil with fury, greatly enhancing his physical strength like a burst of explosive power. However, it left hidden injuries and couldn't be sustained for long battles.
The Explosive Punch gathered true qi into a single point, unleashing a powerful explosion. When facing an opponent, it was like casually holding a bomb against their body before detonating it.
"Do you need Dragon Might?" the Dragon Jade asked.
Having previously devoured the Ice Dragon, Qin Yang could now wield Dragon Might without restraint.
"No need," Qin Yang shook his head gently, his eyes blazing with endless combat intent.
After his body had been tempered by the ice, his physique now rivaled that of a mythical beast. Now that he'd copied the Anger Blood Art, his Yin-Yang All-Embracing Art also gained formidable explosive capabilities.
Yet unlike the pure Anger Blood Art, it wouldn't leave hidden injuries. Moreover, Qin Yang had previously copied Jin Wanshan's City-Connecting Art and others' Thick Earth Art, giving him an abundance of true qi. This meant he could sustain prolonged combat without weakening afterward.
In other words, Qin Yang could fully harness the effects of the Anger Blood Art without any side effects!
With the Anger Blood Art, his already formidable physique received further enhancement, and his abundant true qi became even more substantial!
"So what if he's a Zongshi Realm expert? I might just stand a chance against him!"
Facing Qin Jian's Explosive Punch, Qin Yang didn't counter with a similar martial technique. If he were to use the Explosive Punch now, he wouldn't be able to release his true qi properly. The energy would remain trapped within his body, potentially causing it to explode.
This meant that every time he attempted the Explosive Punch, Qin Yang risked self-destruction...
"Breeze Brushing Willows!" Qin Yang roared, maintaining the Dragon Soaring Steps to keep pace with the Zongshi Realm expert's speed. He channeled the true essence of the Boulder Crushing Hand into his Breeze Brushing Willows technique, concentrating all his power into a single strike.
Thud!
With a muffled sound, Qin Yang successfully deflected Qin Jian's Explosive Punch.
A massive explosion then erupted behind him as Qin Jian detonated his true qi.
"Hmm?" Qin Jian was taken aback. How could this brat be so bizarre? To think he could actually divert his attack?
Having failed to land a decisive blow, Qin Jian began to take his opponent seriously.
Just a Qi Sea Realm expert at its peak. Normally, I could kill him with a casual strike. Even a simple martial technique should have left him severely injured, yet Qin Yang remains unscathed...
Qin Jian's mind raced with confusion, unable to comprehend the situation.
Meanwhile, Qin Yang felt a surge of confidence. Having successfully countered the Zongshi's attack, he now knew he could face this master without fear! If he could create an opening to deflect the opponent's assault and counterattack, victory might be within reach!
"You brat!" Qin Jian roared, "I held back to avoid reducing you to minced meat, making it impossible to claim your head for the reward! That was only eighty percent of my power! Don't get too smug!"
"Explosive Punch!"
"Breeze Brushing Willows!" Qin Yang raised both hands. Though he successfully deflected the attack, the tremendous rebound force sent him sliding sideways.
A fully committed Zongshi Realm expert is truly formidable!
Qin Yang remained unharmed, but the missed opportunity for a counterattack left him frustrated.
How is this possible?! Another time... Qin Jian's heart tightened. This brat is too damn freakish!
Hack! Cough! Qin Jian's face flushed crimson as he erupted into violent coughs. "Dammit! Why are my hidden injuries flaring up now?!"
Whether it was the Anger Blood Art or the Explosive Punch, both techniques demanded extreme physical exertion, easily pushing one's body beyond its limits.
Over the years, Qin Jian had climbed to become the nineteenth-ranked elder through these very techniques. Yet he'd reached a plateau, unable to ascend further.
His body had accumulated too many hidden injuries. Every strike he made only worsened his condition.
"Hmph! Just wait until I've recovered. Then I'll take your head!" A cold light flashed in Qin Jian's eyes as he turned to leave, deliberately avoiding any martial arts movements that might reveal his weakened state.
Qin Yang's heart leapt. This was his chance! He roared, "Old bastard! Where do you think you're running?!"
Activating the Dragon Soaring Steps, he effortlessly closed the distance.
Racing Thunder Fist! A punch crackled with lightning as it shot toward Qin Jian's back.
Suddenly, Qin Yang's heart clenched. A wave of overwhelming danger washed over him.
"Haha, you fell for it!" Qin Jian roared with laughter, spinning around to deliver an Explosive Punch.
"Damn, this old scoundrel..." Qin Yang desperately shifted his stance, but it was too late!
"Boom!" Qin Jian bellowed.
True Qi detonated against Qin Yang's chest, sending shockwaves that made leaves and flowers whirl wildly as a dust cloud expanded outward.
Qin Yang's body flew backward like an arrow loosed from a bow.
CRASH! Qin Yang slammed into a tree, the impact stopping his flight.
The two-man-wide trunk bore a terrifying dent, the entire massive tree trembling violently.
As the momentum dissipated, Qin Yang's body slid down the trunk to the ground.
"Hmm? Such incredible resilience?" Qin Jian frowned. His punch should have shattered Qin Yang's body, leaving only a head behind. Yet Qin Yang remained intact. Moreover, the sensation from his fist felt odd - not like striking a Qi Sea Realm cultivator, but rather a beast.
"Enough! Cut off his head and claim the reward!" Qin Jian shook his head, his expression darkening. With a wet "pfft," he coughed up a mouthful of blood.
The internal injuries had erupted—not an act, but genuine!
Yet Qin Jian used this moment to feign retreat, luring Qin Yang into his trap.
Fortunately, it worked!
Qin Jian felt a perverse sense of relief, completely forgetting that as a mid-stage Zongshi Realm expert, he should never need such underhanded tactics against a Qi Sea Realm cultivator...
As he approached Qin Yang, his hand reached out to seize the man's head, intending to wrench it off.
Just as his fingers extended, his eyes widened in shock, a sharp pain stabbing through his chest.
"Shocking Sword Finger!" Qin Yang's fingers shot forward like a blade, piercing directly into Qin Jian's heart!
With a vicious twist, he shredded Qin Jian's heart to pieces!
"This... can't... be happening!"
Qin Jian felt his life draining away, terror and disbelief twisting his face as death approached.
"Playing dirty? Don't blame me for returning the favor!"