Song Ding's opening move was a killing strike meant to take his life!
At that moment, he did not dare be careless either, striving to kill Yang Qingyun in a single move!
Even though more than a month earlier,
he had been defeated in three moves by Hall Master Feng of the Sifang Society in the battle at the city gates.
That did not mean he was weak!
Five years ago, his opponent had already broken into the Viscera Refining Realm and eventually become the Vice Leader of the Black Tiger Gang, holding great power in his hands.
After years of honing himself, although he had failed to advance to the mid Viscera Refining Realm, his strength was still absolutely among the very best in all of Huangshi Town!
His strength was even a level higher than that of Golden-Eyed Leopard from Black Wind Mountain!
A ferocious grin spread across Song Ding's face,
as if he could already see Yang Qingyun's neck being completely crushed beneath his claw!
However,
a fair palm moved as lightly as a suspended antelope's horn, changing forms with effortless grace. Almost in the blink of an eye, it shattered his flood-like momentum, pierced through the claw shadows, and precisely seized his wrist!
At the same time, a strange force passed through Yang Qingyun's palm and instantly dispersed the power behind Song Ding's grab!
In that instant,
Song Ding felt as if his palm had struck a wall, unable to advance even an inch!
"What?!"
Song Ding's expression changed, and his pupils abruptly shrank to the size of needles.
He suddenly realized
that this young man before him was probably not as simple as he appeared!
In his fear, Song Ding abandoned all else. He stepped forward and pressed in close, then threw a punch with his left hand, unleashing the full strength of the Viscera Refining Realm. Carrying a chilling fist wind, it thundered toward Yang Qingyun's head!
With the punching power of a Viscera Refining Realm martial artist exceeding fifteen thousand kilograms, if this punch landed, even a huge boulder would likely be shattered to pieces, let alone a human body!
He was trying to use offense as defense and advance as retreat, hoping to force Yang Qingyun back.
However,
Bang!
It was almost exactly the same as before.
Song Ding's fist was firmly caught in Yang Qingyun's hand, and the Blood Essence power within it was bizarrely squeezed apart by his opponent!
At that very moment,
Song Ding's entire expression finally changed to one of utter horror, disbelief written all over his face!
If having his first move caught had been an accident,
then having this punch effortlessly intercepted again—if he still thought the young man before him was merely lucky—would mean he was a brainless fool!
"How could you possibly?!"
Both Song Ding's claw and punch had been caught, and it felt as if a bucket of icy water had been poured over his head.
He had originally thought
that he was merely dealing with some insignificant Peak of the Entering Realm brat, and that taking him down would be as easy as turning over his hand.
But what was happening now?!
Song Ding was utterly shaken!
Yang Qingyun did not answer.
Bang!
Almost at the same moment, a leg swept across like an iron whip. Its immense force surged like a raging torrent and slammed heavily into Song Ding's horrified chest. The tremendous impact sent his entire body flying like a cannonball, crashing into the wall behind him and blasting a huge hole through it. In an instant, smoke and dust billowed everywhere!
At the same time,
the Black Tiger Gang underlings who had come with him all revealed unconcealed terror!
Leader Song was the gang's second-strongest expert,
a Viscera Refining Realm martial artist!
How could this be?!
Some were terrified and could not help retreating.
But several others were brave enough to shout, "Protect the leader!" before charging over with their blades.
Yang Qingyun did not dodge in the slightest. He thrust his palm toward the blade and reached out to seize it, then cut into one of the blades with his other hand. With a burst of force, he dispersed the strength. The Black Tiger Gang underling felt his arm go numb, the strength leave his wrist, and the long blade fall into Yang Qingyun's hand.
The long blade immediately flashed through the air like lightning. A brilliant line of saber light swept across the sky in a circular arc.
Blood splattered into the air. Several figures spurted blood, clutching their throats as they were sent flying backward.
"The Black Tiger Gang's Vice Leader, Song Ding?"
"I heard your Black Tiger Gang was negotiating with the Sifang Society in the square at the center of town. What are you doing here?"
Yang Qingyun carried the bloodstained long blade in his hand and slowly walked toward Song Ding.
The surrounding Black Tiger Gang underlings retreated in terror, their trembling footsteps echoing. None of them dared to block him.
"Could it be that your leader, Shi Meng, has some trump card and is confident he can deal with Hall Master Feng of the Sifang Society this time?"
A glint flashed in Yang Qingyun's eyes as a possibility crossed his mind.
"You bunch of useless trash, all of you attack!"
Not far away, Song Ding was climbing out from among the rubble, clutching his chest. He did not answer Yang Qingyun. Instead, he stared fearfully at the approaching Yang Qingyun and shouted at the Black Tiger Gang underlings retreating around him.
"Take this man's head, and you'll be rewarded with a thousand taels of gold!"
"Anyone who dares retreat will be killed without mercy!"
Forced by Song Ding, the surrounding Black Tiger Gang underlings could only grit their teeth and charge forward.
Seeing this, he stamped both feet. His entire body turned into an afterimage, and like a gust of wind, he suddenly retreated backward!
He had actually taken advantage of his subordinates charging in and fled directly!
Yang Qingyun's displayed strength was far too frightening.
After just two exchanges,
he no longer possessed even the slightest thought of resisting!
"Do you think you can escape?"
Yang Qingyun softly exhaled.
He held the long blade he had seized from an underling. At that moment, a strand of condensed Blood Essence that did not disperse began to cling to the blade's icy edge!
Blood Essence Projection!
This was something a Blood Changing Realm martial artist—or certain exceptionally powerful late Viscera Refining Realm martial artists—could barely accomplish. Yet at that moment, it was being displayed in the hands of Yang Qingyun, who was merely at the Peak of the Entering Realm!
"These past days, I've been tempering the Blood Essence within my body and honing the saber intent in my heart. Combined with my Viscera Refining Realm from my Previous Life, I've grown stronger while also developing a few minor techniques."
"Then I'll use you to test the power of this new technique!"
Yang Qingyun thought to himself.
Then,
Swish!
Yang Qingyun flung the long blade from his hand. The edge tore through the air, streaking across the sky like a blood-colored bolt of lightning as it shot toward the fleeing Song Ding!
Because the force formed by combining the Blood Essence with the condensed saber intent clung to the blade,
it had even reached the point where the Blood Essence remained intact after leaving the body, something only a Viscera Refining Realm martial artist could accomplish. It endowed that blade with terrifying killing power!
Amid the sharp, shrill whistle,
Song Ding turned back in horror.
He saw the heavens and earth seemingly fall silent at that moment. Blood-colored radiance surged like a roaring torrent, tearing through everything!
In that instant,
the terrifying "intent" struck directly into the depths of his soul, even rendering his entire body unable to move or dodge!
"Oh no!!!"
Song Ding let out a terrified roar, activating all the Blood Essence in his body as he crossed both arms before him in defense!
With the Bronze Skin Iron Bone body of a Viscera Refining Realm martial artist, ordinary blades and swords could hardly injure him.
But this blade
was no ordinary attack!
Hiss!
The fusion of condensed saber intent and Blood Essence power gave it unimaginable killing force!
The defense formed by Song Ding's gathered Blood Essence and Bronze Skin Iron Bone was easily pierced. His entire body was carried away by the blade and pinned to a huge boulder several yards away.
Seeing this, how could the remaining Black Tiger Gang underlings have the courage to stay?
They hurriedly threw down their weapons and fled in all directions.
Yang Qingyun did not pursue them.
He raised his head and looked toward the center of town. There, a powerful aura suddenly erupted, and the ground trembled faintly.
"Looks like the Black Tiger Gang really does have a backup plan."
Yang Qingyun's expression shifted slightly.
"I wonder how Brother Zhou is doing."
"Forget it. I'll go take a look. Hmph, I was peacefully staying here to cultivate, yet for no reason they sent people to kill me?"
"If I don't avenge this grudge, my thoughts will never be clear!"
With a cold snort,
Yang Qingyun's figure rose and fell several times before he drifted swiftly toward the center of town.
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