This Is Impossible

At the mountaintop, the battle between the Imperial Guards and the bandits had already reached a white-hot stage.

Both sides had slaughtered until their eyes were red, though overall, the bandits still held a slight advantage.

At the center of the battlefield was the fight between the Xu family's eldest, Xu Long, and Banner Officer Yang Yi.

Xu Long shook the massive hammer in his hand.

"Yang Yi, you're quite capable, but it seems your men can't hold on much longer."

Yang Yi swept his peripheral vision over the field. The Imperial Guards had suffered far more casualties than the bandits. Something was very wrong.

Not just wrong—wrong beyond all reason.

Yang Yi's brows drew together as he brought his great axe down in a fierce vertical chop at Xu Long.

The clash of metal rang through the air.

"Where did you get so many men? Judging by their skills, they are definitely not bandits. Who are they?"

"We naturally cannot compare to your Imperial Guards, with your vast estates and great enterprises. But we do have some wealth, enough to hire people to help us."

Inner force surged through Yang Yi's axe, forcing Xu Long back several steps. Yang Yi's expression shifted between light and dark.

In these times, there were not many forces daring enough to attack the Imperial Guards. Yet there truly was one such force in Ning Province.

"You hired people from the White Dragon Cult?"

Xu Long burst into laughter, a vicious look surfacing on his face.

"Smart. No need to start talking about treason and the like."

"Being hunted by you Imperial Guards, our deaths were only a matter of time. We might as well fight you to the bitter end."

Miserable screams rang out constantly from all around. Some belonged to Imperial Guards, while others came from bandits and White Dragon Cult members.

But the Imperial Guards accounted for most of them.

After all, the White Dragon Cult had been founded by remnants of the previous dynasty. Their training of subordinates was no worse than that of the Great Wu Dynasty.

At the same realm, in a one-on-one fight, even the Imperial Guards would gain no advantage, let alone now, when the other side had greater numbers.

Xu Long swung his hammer again, unleashing a massive gust of force as it smashed toward Yang Yi.

"Besides, listen closely. There are still cries of battle from below the mountain. Your men are probably doomed."

"Today will be the day you die, Yang Yi!"

Yang Yi drew a deep breath, pouring out his inner force without holding anything back. He unleashed several consecutive slashes, intending to break through Xu Long's defenses.

He truly could no longer hear any movement from below the mountain. His men were likely wiped out. If he did not deal with Xu Long soon, they would be in danger here as well.

With a light tap of his toe, Xu Long retreated several steps. He could see that Yang Yi intended to risk his life, but all he needed to do now was keep Yang Yi occupied.

Xu Long grinned at Yang Yi. "Yo, Banner Officer Yang, you're getting anxious!"

At that moment, rustling came from the forest behind them. Someone was swiftly making their way through the mountains.

Without even turning his head, Xu Long said confidently, "Look, my men are coming up. Your people have all been killed."

Yang Yi's face turned ashen. He gripped his great axe tightly, ready to make a desperate final stand, but the next moment, he froze.

"Hmm?"

Why did it seem like the person coming through the forest was wearing an Imperial Guard uniform?

The next instant, three cold blade gleams flashed through the air.

A White Dragon Cult member was directly chopped into three pieces.

Without slowing at all, the figure charged toward the next bandit.

"What is that? So fast!"

"Run..."

"Don't come over here!"

Blood and severed limbs flew everywhere. Not a single bandit Shen Qing passed could retain an intact corpse.

Although Shen Qing's face was unfamiliar, he was undoubtedly one of their own.

Overwhelming joy appeared on Yang Yi's face.

At this moment, offense and defense had switched places!

"Hahaha, Xu Long, you're not the only one with reinforcements! We have them too."

"Oh dear, why haven't your men arrived yet? Don't tell me they've all died?"

Shen Qing used Carefree Steps, weaving through the night like a ghost.

With every step he took, a bandit was dismembered. Blood sprayed everywhere, and in the brief span of three breaths, five men had been carved apart by Shen Qing.

"Stop!"

Xu Long's eyes nearly split apart in rage. With a swing of his massive hammer, he charged straight at Shen Qing.

If Shen Qing were allowed to continue killing, they would all be dead in less than half the time it took to drink a cup of tea.

But at that moment, Yang Yi charged out from the side and blocked Xu Long's path, his face full of mockery.

"Yo, getting anxious?"

Yang Yi returned Xu Long's earlier words to him word for word.

But Xu Long was truly anxious. He slapped his chest and spat out a mouthful of blood from his heart.

This was a life-risking secret art he cultivated, one that burned blood essence for power. Its consequence was a drop of one realm in cultivation.

But at this moment, he could no longer care about any of that.

This life-risking secret art truly was effective. After one exchange, Yang Yi, who had previously been evenly matched with Xu Long, fell into a disadvantage.

With an enraged roar from Xu Long, Yang Yi was sent flying, crashing into a large tree to the side.

Yang Yi propped himself up and quickly rose, but he could no longer stop Xu Long from charging toward Shen Qing. He could only shout.

"Watch out!"

Shen Qing slowly turned around and merely raised Qing He in his hand, swinging it upward with a single slash.

Seeing Shen Qing dare to receive his life-risking hammer blow head-on, Xu Long's face filled with a savage grin.

"You've got guts!"

Yang Yi rushed toward Shen Qing. "Don't take it head-on! He used a life-risking secret art!"

But at this moment, the blade and the massive hammer were only inches apart.

The next instant, Yang Yi stopped in his tracks. His mouth hung open, his pupils filled with shock.

As the blade and hammer collided, a tremendous boom made everyone's ears ring. Nearby bandits and Imperial Guards were directly knocked to the ground by the shockwave.

The force was immense, yet Shen Qing's green longsword held the massive hammer firmly in place, preventing it from moving even an inch.

Looking at Shen Qing's expression again, he seemed utterly relaxed, as if he had not used his full strength at all.

It was as leisurely as taking a stroll after the rain.

"Th-this... how is this possible?"

Xu Long's face was full of disbelief. He staggered back three steps before collapsing to the ground, pale-faced.

Shen Qing had received his hammer blow so easily that the breath Xu Long had been holding instantly scattered, prematurely ending his life-risking secret art.

"How did you take that? That's impossible!"

Shen Qing remained expressionless. He flicked Qing He lightly and walked toward Xu Long at an unhurried pace.

What a joke. His Body Sanctification provided him with a boost in strength.

Such a terrifying enhancement was enough for Shen Qing to crush ninety percent of Houtian Realm martial artists.

Did Xu Long really think a mere bandit using a life-risking secret art could compare?

Qing He rested against Xu Long's neck.

"You are the Xu family's eldest?"

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