When the longsword pierced in, screams echoed ceaselessly through the cavern.
Shen Bai's longsword gleamed with magnificent righteous energy. Scorching Qi flowed through the blade and poured into the Five Hearts Sect Master's forehead.
The Five Hearts Sect Master screamed without pause. "You'll die! You'll die horribly! I'm an important pawn of the Upper Evil Gate in Ascending Cloud County. If I die, they'll definitely investigate! You won't escape!"
"Whether we can escape can be discussed later."
Shen Bai said flatly, "You should die first."
A cloud of black smoke appeared within the cavern.
The headless Five Hearts Sect Master twitched once, then fell still.
At the sight, Cheng Shuang felt a chill run from head to toe.
The man before her was not only highly skilled, but also decisive in killing. He killed the moment he said he would, without the slightest hesitation.
Even the geniuses Cheng Shuang had seen in Maple Forest Province could not compare to such a temperament.
In Cheng Shuang's view, most of those geniuses had grown up within sects and powerful factions.
They had experienced too few storms and waves.
Only Shen Bai had emerged from a tiny county town. At certain times, he truly could be considered a man who stopped at nothing.
"I..."
Cheng Shuang opened her mouth, intending to speak.
But before she could say anything, Shen Bai looked at the headless corpse on the ground, a faint smile curving his lips.
"It's not over yet."
As he spoke, he swung his sword again, cutting into the corpse's left arm.
Terrifying Qi tore the left arm into fragments.
At that moment, the remaining right arm and both legs suddenly detached from the torso and flew in every direction.
"Your Five Hearts Sect's Five Hearts Technique separates the head and limbs. Did you really think playing dead would be enough?"
Golden light burst from Shen Bai's left fist, and amid that dazzling brilliance, he smashed the remaining three parts to pieces at full speed.
With a backhanded thrust, he drove his sword into the torso. This time, the torso was pierced through by Shen Bai's longsword and completely turned to ashes.
"Now it's truly settled."
Shen Bai yawned, then lifted the Rusty Longsword.
At that moment, after enduring battle after battle, the longsword finally could not hold on any longer and shattered across the ground.
"What a pity. It's been with me for so long—I'm actually a little reluctant to part with it."
Though Shen Bai claimed reluctance, he showed not the slightest trace of it. He turned and immediately ran over to the pile of coffin fragments, rummaging through it.
The sight left Cheng Shuang utterly dumbfounded.
Where had that air of a lofty master gone?
He was a powerful expert, yet he was now digging through a heap of coffin splinters. What was this supposed to be?
Cheng Shuang felt the lofty image Shen Bai had built in her heart collapse in an instant.
But very quickly, a new image was rebuilt in Cheng Shuang's heart.
"That's right. A lofty master should walk an extraordinary path. If he were the same as ordinary people like us, how could he be called a lofty master?"
Cheng Shuang thought to herself.
By then, Shen Bai had already found what he wanted amid the pile of coffins.
Ancient True Scripture Appraisal progress: 0% One wisp of Killing Intent can rapidly complete the appraisal
As though he had obtained a priceless treasure, Shen Bai tucked the Ancient True Scripture into his robes before turning to Cheng Shuang beside him.
"It's done. What do you plan to do with the rest?"
Now that the Five Hearts Sect Master had been executed.
The entire Five Hearts Sect was gone as well.
The transaction between Shen Bai and Cheng Shuang had come to a complete end.
Cheng Shuang came back to her senses and said, "Leave the rest to them. I'll contact the yamen, explain what happened, and settle these commoners. Are you coming with me?"
Shen Bai shook his head. "Don't mention me to the yamen. I don't want to get involved in this kind of thing. Remember, everything between us is always a transaction."
Having said that, Shen Bai turned and walked out of the cavern.
The transaction was complete, and he did not waste words.
Under Cheng Shuang's hesitant gaze, Shen Bai quickly departed.
Cheng Shuang looked over the ruins covering the ground. After some thought, she followed Shen Bai out of the cavern.
The county yamen.
Cheng Shuang entered alone.
Only after Shen Bai saw Cheng Shuang disappear did he return home.
Too much had happened that night. For Shen Bai, it had been an unforgettable experience.
Especially the battle against that Stitched Monster, which had left Shen Bai feeling utterly exhilarated.
But he still had proper business to attend to.
"I'll grind Blood Sword Dance tonight first."
Shen Bai thought to himself.
At present, both Blood Sword Dance and Vajra Demon-Subduing Fist were Level 3.
But Blood Sword Dance had already gained over 1,400 proficiency points and was only one step away from reaching Level 4.
Vajra Demon-Subduing Fist had not increased at all. Grinding Vajra Demon-Subduing Fist was terribly uneconomical.
As for Jade Body, it was currently stuck at Level 2 and required Killing Intent to advance.
Shen Bai had no Killing Intent right now, so there was no use grinding it.
Most importantly, the Ancient True Scripture also required Killing Intent for appraisal.
Shen Bai was still short two wisps of Killing Intent, so he could only shift all his attention to Blood Sword Dance for now.
As for the damaged longsword, it was no great problem. His pawnshop still had several longswords.
The night passed quickly.
By the time daylight arrived, Shen Bai had ground another 200 points in Blood Sword Dance, bringing it to 1,600 points.
When Shen Bai sensed dawn had come, he drank another bowl of medicine to replenish his Qi and blood.
"The loss of Qi and blood is getting greater and greater. It seems I'm also running low on Qi-Blood Medicine." Shen Bai thought to himself.
The farther he progressed, the greater the consumption of Qi and blood became. Moreover, Blood Sword Dance itself required his Qi and blood to tremble and surge. At present, another shortage seemed to have appeared.
"But fortunately, I can barely keep it going."
With that thought in mind, Shen Bai opened the door. After heading out for breakfast, he returned to the pawnshop and waited for Zhang Chaofeng to arrive.
After waiting for nearly an hour, Zhang Chaofeng came to the pawnshop.
Zhou Qing came with him.
"Old Zhou, shouldn't you be busy at the yamen today? What made you suddenly think of coming here?" Shen Bai brewed Zhou Qing a pot of tea and asked with a smile.
Zhou Qing and Shen Bai had always been on good terms, so he did not stand on ceremony. Only after drinking the tea did he speak.
"Old Shen, the matter of the Five Hearts Sect has been resolved. You can go out for a stroll at night now. There won't be any danger."
As Shen Bai's friend, once such a matter was settled, Zhou Qing naturally came to notify him at once.
Shen Bai naturally knew the reason behind it, since he had personally taken part in it. Still, he put on an act and asked what had happened.
Zhou Qing did not answer, but Zhang Chaofeng beat him to it.
"I heard that a lofty master joined forces with a new disciple of the Five Immortals Sect and wiped out the Five Hearts Sect's lair. That was truly incredible."
"However, it seems that lofty master had no intention of showing himself, so that Five Immortals Sect disciple concealed the matter for him."
Without needing to ask, Shen Bai knew Zhang Chaofeng must have learned it from Zhou Qing beforehand.
Shen Bai nodded. "That truly is good news for Ascending Cloud County."
Zhou Qing clenched his fists excitedly. "I wonder who this lofty master is. If I ever get the chance, I must pay him a visit. After all, he has now eliminated a great scourge for Ascending Cloud County."
Shen Bai drank a sip of tea expressionlessly. He thought, The lofty master is right beside you, but did not say it aloud, merely refilling Zhou Qing's cup.
Zhou Qing once again drank it in great gulps like an ox. As though recalling something, he slapped his thigh. "Right, Old Shen. If anyone comes to your shop lately to ask about public safety in Ascending Cloud County, just say it's excellent."
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