Lin Bai had just left his cave abode when he heard the sounds of fighting coming from the forest.
"Is someone fighting?" Lin Bai crept over and hid in the woods.
In the forest, a group of burly men were chasing a cold-faced woman.
The woman's skin was slightly dark, and her whole bearing was crisp and capable. She wore a short skirt and short sleeves, exposing her thighs and arms. Her eyes were lively, like a fox's.
Although the woman lacked the air of a virtuous and elegant lady, she possessed a wild beauty instead.
"Tie Haitang, you won't escape the palm of this young master today!" Among the men pursuing the woman, one with a sinister smile and a gloomy face called out coldly.
The woman ahead was named Tie Haitang. She was the daughter of the Demon Slayer Alliance's leader. She had loved martial arts since childhood, possessed a fierce temperament and profound cultivation, and was renowned throughout the Azure Spirit Mountain Range as the "Overlord Flower."
"Qin Xiang, don't get cocky. Once I purge the poison from my body, I'll make you pay!" Tie Haitang shouted furiously from ahead.
Qin Xiang was the son of the Soaring Heavens Alliance's leader. Relying on his profound cultivation, he was an expert in poisons. His faction was also the local tyrant of the Azure Spirit Mountain Range, making him arrogant and lawless, with no evil deed left undone.
Many young ladies from various cities had once come to the Azure Spirit Mountain Range to train, only to fall victim to his vicious hands!
Earlier, Qin Xiang and Tie Haitang had suddenly encountered each other in the forest. The Demon Slayer Alliance and the Soaring Heavens Alliance had long been mortal enemies in the Azure Spirit Mountain Range. On top of that, Qin Xiang had wanted to test himself against the Overlord Flower for a long time. Thus, the moment they met, a fierce battle had erupted.
After Qin Xiang had used poison to kill all the Demon Slayer Alliance martial artists, Tie Haitang had also been ambushed and was forced to flee.
Qin Xiang sneered. "Heh heh, Tie Haitang, do you know why I've chased you for so long? Haven't you felt that the circulation of true qi and blood in your body is no longer as smooth as before?"
Qin Xiang let out a cold laugh, speaking with immense smugness.
"Could it be..." Tie Haitang was startled. She hurriedly examined the movements inside her body, then cried out furiously, "Qin Xiang, you despicable bastard! You actually used Limpening Powder on me!"
"Hahaha, you're only noticing now? It's too late. In another minute, you won't be able to circulate your true qi, and your whole body will go limp."
Qin Xiang followed unhurriedly behind Tie Haitang, his face full of smugness.
"Despicable!"
Tie Haitang was frantic inside.
Limpening Powder was a potent drug that had been lost for a long time. It could be taken orally or dispersed by the wind, and was colorless and odorless. Any martial artist who took Rapture Powder would have their true qi sealed and their entire body rendered weak and limp within a quarter of an hour.
"Damn it, the drug's taken effect!" Tie Haitang ran three more steps before her body suddenly went weak, sending her pitching toward the ground.
The effects of Limpening Powder were like a fierce tiger, swallowing Tie Haitang's delicate body in an instant!
Tie Haitang lay on the ground, powerless and unable to rise. She could only watch as Qin Xiang approached with the smile of a man who had finally gotten his way.
"How is it? Didn't I say you wouldn't escape the palm of this young master today?" Qin Xiang said smugly.
Tie Haitang raged, "Qin Xiang, even if I die, don't you dare touch me!"
With that, Tie Haitang tried to bite through her tongue and kill herself.
"Hey—in your current state, you don't even have the right to die." Qin Xiang grabbed Tie Haitang's cheeks and clamped her upper and lower teeth together, preventing her from biting through her tongue.
Qin Xiang turned around and saw that the Soaring Heavens Alliance martial artists were still behind him. He roared furiously, "What are you still doing here? Get lost!"
"Yes, Young Alliance Leader!"
These Soaring Heavens Alliance martial artists naturally had no intention of interfering with Qin Xiang's pleasure. After answering, they turned and left.
"Hahaha." Qin Xiang laughed loudly and walked toward Tie Haitang.
Tie Haitang's eyes seemed ready to devour someone when she saw this scene. Unfortunately, she could not circulate her true qi, and her entire body was without strength. She had no power to resist at all!
"Wow, what are you playing? It looks like so much fun! Can I play too?"
Just as Qin Xiang was preparing to display his prowess, a cheeky voice rang out behind him.
Qin Xiang turned around furiously and saw a youth who looked about sixteen years old standing ten paces away. He wore an innocent, harmless smile and was looking at him with narrowed, smiling eyes.
"Where did this wild brat come from? If you don't want to die, get lost!"
Qin Xiang roared in utter fury.
That youth was Lin Bai.
Lin Bai had just left his own cave abode when he witnessed this scene. Although he did not want to play the hero, after hearing the exchange between Tie Haitang and Qin Xiang, he had already decided to intervene and help.
But using Limpening Powder through such despicable means was truly contemptible!
Thus, the moment Qin Xiang mentioned Limpening Powder, Lin Bai decided to interfere!
For no other reason than the bright justice of Heaven's law!
"I just thought the game you were playing looked fun, so I wanted to play too." Lin Bai smiled.
"Brat, are you refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit?" Qin Xiang stood up in fury and shouted, "Fine, then this young master will send you to your death first!"
"Surging Thunder Fist!"
Before Qin Xiang had even finished speaking, he had already stepped forward.
Thump, thump, thump—
A series of movements as swift as lightning unfolded beneath Qin Xiang's feet. In the blink of an eye, he arrived before Lin Bai.
He blasted out a punch, lightning serpents surging across his fist.
"An Earth-tier Grade Five or higher movement technique, and an Earth-tier Grade Five or higher offensive martial technique!"
Lin Bai was startled. He slid his foot aside, causing Qin Xiang's punch to slam into a large tree.
The tree was immediately smashed in half by a single punch!
"You actually dodged? Then can you dodge this punch?" Qin Xiang sneered as his second punch came roaring in.
"One Sword Bloodspray!"
Clang!
The sound of the Spirit Severing Sword leaving its sheath was exceptionally crisp. A cold gleam flashed instantly, and a scarlet sword light swept out, colliding with Qin Xiang's punch. Neither side gained the upper hand, and both were sent staggering five steps backward!
"Sixth Stage of the Martial Path, and an Earth-tier Grade Five or higher sword technique!" The instant Lin Bai struck, Qin Xiang saw through his sword technique and cultivation.
Lin Bai changed his tone. Since they had already exchanged blows, he no longer intended to play dumb with Qin Xiang. "Sir, doing something so despicable in broad daylight, in full view of everyone, is rather inappropriate, don't you think?"
"Why not show some regard for my face and leave now? Otherwise, if the two of us fight, we'll both suffer heavy losses."
Lin Bai offered his final warning.
Upon hearing this, Qin Xiang burst into wild laughter. "Both suffer heavy losses? Hahaha, wild brat, this young master is the Young Alliance Leader of the Soaring Heavens Alliance. I cultivate profound martial techniques. You're only at the sixth stage of the Martial Path. Though you're in the same realm as me, killing you would be as easy as crushing an ant!"
"Since you refused to leave just now, you can bury your bones here!"
"Thunder God Fist!"
Qin Xiang roared once more. The Thunder God Fist came crashing in, and a bolt of divine lightning descended from the Ninth Heaven, striking his fist. The mighty lightning churned the winds and clouds of heaven and earth, whipping up a howling gale through the forest!