Fierce Battle

Chapter 11: Fierce Battle

Lu Zhaojin bypassed the battlefield of Li Yue and the others, heading to pick the Blood Ginseng Grass. He intended to uproot it with the soil still attached.

However, Zhou Ran, who was closest, wouldn't allow him to have his way. He clenched his fist and charged at Lu Zhaojin.

The situation shifted from three against one to two against one, giving the man in black some breathing room.

Lu Zhaojin swung his sword, but it cut through empty air.

Zhou Ran's danger sense was indeed sharp, and his reaction speed was incredibly fast. He retracted his fist in advance and, using the opening created by Lu Zhaojin's missed swing, threw another punch, aiming for his chest.

The fist landed squarely on Lu Zhaojin's body, Internal Energy erupting. Yet, it was Zhou Ran who was injured. The punch felt like it had struck steel or bronze. The Internal Energy that rebounded shattered most of the bones in his right hand, leaving only flesh and skin hanging. He could no longer form a fist.

Zhou Ran screamed in shock. He hadn't expected his opponent's swordplay to be so formidable, nor his Hardening Technique to be so advanced. A sense of retreat washed over him; this person was too powerful to fight.

Lu Zhaojin couldn't let his source of experience points just run away. Besides, what kind of logic was it to attack someone and then try to flee without taking responsibility?

This time, Lu Zhaojin closed the distance. Zhou Ran couldn't even see the trajectory of his sword strikes. In the blink of an eye, several sword lights slashed across his body. Strangely, he felt no pain, only a dizzying sensation. The last thing he saw was a headless corpse standing upright.

Facing Zhou Ran, who was also at the Eighth Rank early stage, Lu Zhaojin felt almost no pressure.

He had managed to kill Mu Kui, who was at the Eighth Rank middle stage, while still at the Ninth Rank late stage. Of course, Mu Kui's strength was greatly diminished as he hadn't cultivated Internal Energy, and Zhao Nuanyu had assisted him, making it a hard-won victory.

Now, having broken through to the Eighth Rank and with the Golden Body Technique initiated, Lu Zhaojin felt that within the Eighth Rank realm, no one was his match.

Seeing that Zhou Ran had also fallen to Lu Zhaojin, Li Yue's eyes widened in fury. Disregarding the man in black, he drew his sword and charged at Lu Zhaojin.

"Twelve Vertical and Horizontal Sword Arts."

His sword strike was an immediate killing move.

Li Yue continuously unleashed the twelve sword stances, alternating between chopping, thrusting, slashing, and lifting. The transitions were seamless and flawless, indicating he had reached the great accomplishment stage.

Lu Zhaojin parried with his sword, hearing the continuous clang of metal against metal, a sharp and piercing sound. Not a single blow injured him.

He also counterattacked with a few sword strikes, leaving a bloody gash on Li Yue's body.

The more Li Yue fought, the more alarmed he became. The pressure this young man exerted on him was even greater than that of the man in black. Especially his swift swordplay – even if he could discern some of the trajectories, he was always a step too slow to dodge. Fortunately, the wounds were not deep, merely superficial cuts.

On the man in black's side, only Mu Zi remained to fight.

Mu Zi was only at the Eighth Rank early stage and was no match for the man in black. After just a few moves, her long whip was snatched away, and she was whipped repeatedly, crying out in pain. Her purple dress became tattered, revealing raw, bleeding wounds.

Li Yue hadn't expected things to turn out this way today.

He had set out with great confidence, believing that simply invoking the name of the Dingshan Sect would command respect throughout Mount Qi.

But recently, the Dingshan Sect had encountered one misfortune after another. Not only was Elder Hengshan's beloved disciple brutally murdered, but now he, Li Yue, might also perish on Mount Qi.

He, Li Yue, was an inner disciple of the Dingshan Sect, apprenticed to Elder Qiushui, and had a bright future ahead of him. How could he die here!

Lu Zhaojin sensed Li Yue's aura becoming erratic, and his swordplay was no longer as fluid and practiced as before. It was likely due to the influence of the woman fighting him.

He naturally wouldn't let such a golden opportunity slip away. However, his peripheral vision caught sight of the man in black, who, after injuring Mu Zi, was now moving to seize the Blood Ginseng Grass.

Lu Zhaojin also wanted the Blood Ginseng Grass and wouldn't let it fall into the hands of the man in black.

He repelled Li Yue, along with his sword, with a palm strike, then swung his sword towards the man in black.

"I'll help you!"

At this moment!

Niu Hang let out a great roar. Wielding a Xuanhua Great Axe, he brought it down with the force of splitting a mountain towards the man in black.

The man in black was forced to withdraw his outstretched hand again. He tilted his head back as the axe descended, smashing heavily onto the ground right in front of him.

However, he couldn't evade a flash of sword light. His hood was sliced open, and a red line appeared on his neck.

Lu Zhaojin hadn't expected this sword strike to miss his head. It seemed the opponent did possess some skill. However, as he got a clear look at the person's face, a memory from his past life surfaced, "Zhao Jinzhi."

Zhao Jinzhi, son of Zhao Yuanshan of the Zhao Family in Shiqiao Town.

The reason his past life's memory recognized him was that Zhao Jinzhi possessed a High-grade Bone Structure and was hailed as the Zhao Family's Kirin Son, the foremost prodigy of Shiqiao Town.

However, ever since Zhao Jinzhi's High-grade Bone Structure was revealed, his cultivation realm had stagnated around the Ninth Rank, unable to advance further. Over time, he gained the reputation of a fallen genius in Shiqiao Town.

Lu Zhaojin knew Zhao Jinzhi's history from his past life's memories. His gaze towards Zhao Jinzhi held a hint of surprise as he wondered if this person was the chosen one of this world.

After all, this experience was remarkably similar to the novels he had read before.

The only difference, perhaps, was the absence of a broken engagement plotline.

Li Yue, surprisingly, also recognized him. As if harboring a deep-seated hatred, he raised his voice, "It's you!"

Furthermore, upon hearing Lu Zhaojin address the man in black as Zhao Jinzhi, Li Yue instantly recalled Zhang Jiao's suspicions, "So it really was you, Zhao Jinzhi!"

Li Yue glared at Zhao Jinzhi and said fiercely, "Regardless of today's events or the revenge for my senior brother's murder, our Dingshan Sect will not let this go unpunished."

With the Blood Ginseng Grass so close, Zhao Jinzhi no longer cared about his identity being revealed by Li Yue. "You mean Mo Yu? If he hadn't been blinded by greed and tried to snatch the treasure from my hands, leading to his death, he can only blame himself for being less skilled."

Li Yue was enraged, pointing at Zhao Jinzhi, "You...!"

At this moment, Niu Hang pulled out his Xuanhua Axe, preparing to strike again.

Zhao Jinzhi casually kicked him away.

Niu Hang slammed into a large tree, spitting blood, and fell to the ground, unconscious.

Only then did Zhao Jinzhi turn his gaze to Lu Zhaojin, his eyes filled with surprise. "You've changed so much, I almost didn't recognize you."

Lu Zhaojin replied, "You too."

Zhao Jinzhi had heard about the Sihai Escort Agency incident in Qishan County and hadn't expected the Zhao Family to be involved. Now, he and Lu Zhaojin were enemies, not friends.

From the strength Lu Zhaojin had just displayed, even though he was only at the early Eighth Rank, he could kill martial artists of the same rank effortlessly. Therefore, Zhao Jinzhi couldn't treat Lu Zhaojin with ordinary logic.

Furthermore.

Li Yue was also eyeing him covetously.

If the two of them joined forces, they would undoubtedly be more troublesome than the three of Li Yue had been against him just now.

Zhao Jinzhi had intended to appeal to their emotions and reason to see if he could persuade Lu Zhaojin. However, he hadn't expected the latter to suddenly attack with his sword, without any warning at all.

Lu Zhaojin had no time for pleasantries when facing the son of his enemy.

Besides.

Zhao Jinzhi was right next to the Blood Ginseng Grass, and he couldn't let him secretly pick it.

Li Yue did not join the fray.

From their previous exchange, he knew he was no match for them.

But that didn't stop him from calling for backup.

Li Yue turned to leave.

Zhao Jinzhi wanted to muddy the waters of the battle. So, after dodging Lu Zhaojin's sword thrust, he struck at Li Yue with his palm.

Li Yue felt a surge of anger and drew his sword to block. But as the sword tip met his palm, it failed to pierce it.

Upon closer inspection, Zhao Jinzhi's palm was actually emitting a jade-like luster.

It was clear that Zhao Jinzhi had cultivated a palm technique of no small caliber.

Li Yue, struck by the immense strength, retreated repeatedly, only stopping after taking five steps.

This made him feel even more humiliated.

"Jade Palm."

Zhao Jinzhi intended to force Lu Zhaojin back with another palm strike and seize the Blood Ginseng Grass.

However, this time he was unsuccessful.

The two palms collided, and their internal energy clashed, emitting a loud explosion.

Zhao Jinzhi's expression shifted slightly.

Lu Zhaojin smiled.