Yanling

Chapter 19: Yanling

Several factions were locked in a chaotic battle.

This area was divided into three zones.

Lu Jinlin was fighting Xu Huan and Zhao Yuanshan.

The two elders of Hengshan Qiushui were fighting Zhao Jinzhi.

Lu Zhaojin was fighting Chen Kang.

Now, only Zhao Huaishui was left without an opponent. He was happy to be in this situation, having already climbed onto the platform and preparing to claim the treasures on the stone pillars.

Suddenly.

A sharp whistle pierced the air, and an arrow shot towards his palm.

Zhao Huaishui had no choice but to retract his hand, glaring around and shouting, "Who!"

A series of rapid footsteps echoed from the tunnel.

Immediately after, he saw an old man and a youth, followed by eight well-trained attendants.

The youth held a long bow in his hand; it was clear he had fired the arrow.

The youth tossed the bow to an attendant behind him and looked at Zhao Huaishui with an arrogant expression, "No one is taking anything from this Cave Mansion."

Zhao Huaishui had never seen this youth at Mount Qi and didn't know his origins. However, judging by his expensive armor and the halberd on his back, he was undoubtedly from a noble background, and with protectors accompanying him, he was likely the scion of a prominent family.

Zhao Huaishui knew there were no major families at Mount Qi, given its poverty. Therefore, this youth must have come from outside Mount Qi.

Either from Luoshui Commandery.

Or from Yanling Commandery.

Damn it!

Zhao Huaishui harbored no good feelings towards people from these two commanderies. If not for their actions back then, Mount Qi would not have fallen into such disrepair, and even its martial arts scene would have become so weak that they were ridiculed when they went out.

However, he also knew that he couldn't afford to provoke anyone from those two commanderies at the moment. But to give up the opportunity before him, this chance that belonged to Mount Qi, how could he, as the County Magistrate of Mount Qi County, be willing?

Zhao Huaishui's eyes widened, his gaze filled with fierce determination. He was prepared to risk everything to obtain a wooden box.

Seeing that Zhao Huaishui still dared to make a move, the youth's arrogant expression turned angry. "As expected, people in this remote place are all uncivilized and don't understand human speech. Uncle Chen, kill them all."

The protector beside the youth nodded in agreement. "Young Master Jingyi, please wait here for a moment. I'll be back shortly."

As soon as Uncle Chen finished speaking, his late Seventh-Rank cultivation was fully displayed. He stomped on the ground, leaped into the air, and hurled his spear while still airborne. His figure followed the spear, charging towards Zhao Huaishui.

Zhao Huaishui's face contorted in shock. He hadn't expected Uncle Chen to be a late Seventh-Rank cultivator, slightly stronger than himself. Without time to think, True Qi surged around him, and his palm, just like Zhao Jinzhi's, turned jade-green as he blocked the incoming spear. But Uncle Chen pressed his attack, kicking Zhao Huaishui far away.

Zhao Huaishui stopped himself, landing steadily, but a mouthful of blood spurted uncontrollably.

Uncle Chen's kick had been incredibly powerful, almost preventing him from mustering his True Qi.

Uncle Chen hooked the spear with his foot, catching it steadily. He twirled it a few times and sneered at Zhao Huaishui, "To be able to withstand my kick shows some skill, but that's all."

Zhao Huaishui suppressed his turbulent aura and retorted with equal sarcasm, "You only have this much skill. If you hadn't attacked so suddenly, you wouldn't be my match."

Uncle Chen snorted, "People from the wilderness are always stubborn."

A spear thrust, aimed directly at the vital point, flashed with spear light, like the first ray of dawn dispelling the darkness, illuminating Zhao Huaishui's face.

Zhao Huaishui felt immense pressure, but with nowhere to escape, he could only brace himself.

The youth observed the battle. Uncle Chen would likely defeat Zhao Huaishui in a few moves, so he was not a concern. However, the other individuals, especially the two youths, genuinely surprised him. "I didn't expect this remote place to have prodigies. They look no older than sixteen or seventeen and have already broken through to the Seventh-Rank Realm. In Yanling Commandery, they would be disciples of major sects."

The youth thought that he himself was only at the late Eighth-Rank, and his expression turned slightly sinister. "They cannot be allowed to leave alive."

The youth took back his long bow from an attendant, drew an arrow from his quiver, nocked it, and pulled the bowstring taut like a full moon. The arrowhead pointed at Lu Zhaojin, who was currently fighting Chen Kang. With a high-pitched whistle, the arrow pierced the void and flew towards Lu Zhaojin.

Lu Zhaojin felt a prickling sensation on his back. Hearing the whistle, he didn't turn around but simply slashed out with his sword. Sword energy split the arrow in two, sending the halves flying past on either side.

At this moment, Chen Kang seized the opportunity and landed a punch on Lu Zhaojin's chest and abdomen.

Chen Kang had poured all his strength and True Qi into this punch. To his surprise, Lu Zhaojin stood there as if unharmed.

Chen Kang's heart sank. "Hardening Technique."

Their understanding of Lu Zhaojin was far too limited.

This was also related to the fact that no one who had fought Lu Zhaojin had survived.

Otherwise, Chen Kang wouldn't be so astonished.

Lu Zhaojin circulated his True Qi, pushing Chen Kang away. He glanced back at the youth who had shot the sneak attack and thought that once he dealt with Chen Kang, he would go and kill him with a single sword strike.

The youth hadn't expected his arrow to fail and to be targeted by Lu Zhaojin. Facing Lu Zhaojin's cold, murderous gaze, he felt a tremor in his heart, as if he saw mountains of corpses and seas of blood, with him standing beneath them, as insignificant as an ant.

The youth broke free from this strange sensation, his face twisting into a distorted, ferocious mask. He felt shame and rage at the fear that had just arisen within him. "I am from the Yanling Chen Family! How dare this bumpkin insult me?"

Chen Jingyi ordered his attendants to attack Lu Zhaojin.

Lu Zhaojin didn't know the power of the Yanling Chen Family, but even if he did, he wouldn't be afraid. As long as he had enough EXP and cultivation techniques.

The strength of these attendants was slightly superior to those of the Zhang Family. Most of them were at the early Eighth-Rank, and the weakest were at the mid-Ninth-Rank.

Furthermore, with Lu Zhaojin being harassed by the attendants, Chen Kang would have an opportunity to attack Lu Zhaojin's vital points.

These followers, no matter how many there were, were just more EXP.

As the sword energy swept past, the followers stopped moving, their forward momentum halted, and they all fell to the ground, dead.

If one looked closely, they would find a bloodstain on each of their throats.

A single sword stroke to the throat.

[Killed Ninth-Rank Martial Artist EXP +50]

[Killed Eighth-Rank Martial Artist EXP +500]

[...]

[EXP: 6818]

Now, Lu Zhaojin was once again in a predicament, lacking cultivation methods.

Especially sword arts; after mastering Gale Sword Art, he hadn't practiced any other sword techniques.

This caused his comprehension of the sword path to advance quite slowly.

Otherwise, killing Chen Kang wouldn't have been so troublesome.

Chen Jingyi cursed the group of idiots under his breath, while also being surprised by the young man's strength. He didn't rashly advance, intending to wait for Uncle Chen to finish off Zhao Huaishui before dealing with this person.

However, Lu Zhaojin wouldn't let him go. Disregarding the fist shadows Chen Kang sent his way, he drew his sword and charged at Chen Jingyi, causing the latter's face to change drastically.

Chen Jingyi drew the halberd from behind him and attempted to block Lu Zhaojin's attack with a powerful cleave. But facing a Seventh-Rank opponent while being Eighth-Rank was like an egg hitting a rock. Not to mention, Lu Zhaojin's strength was immense; with a casual swing, he swept aside the halberd and then slashed at Chen Jingyi's head.

Seeing Chen Jingyi in peril, Uncle Chen let out an angry roar, "Stop."

He slammed Zhao Huaishui to the ground with a palm strike and hurled his spear towards Lu Zhaojin, attempting to intercept him.

Unfortunately.

Lu Zhaojin's killing intent was resolute.

In that horizontal sword light, Chen Jingyi was cut in half.