Slaying Another Man

"Since that was the case, then we had no choice but to fight." Zou Xin's expression turned grim as he let out a whistle. The Black Ape pounded its thick palms against its chest several times. In the blink of an eye, the black fur over its body and its exposed muscles turned pale gold, making it look imposing and majestic.

Zou Xin was deeply wary of Lu Xiaotian's hidden cards, so he had the Black Ape take the lead.

The Black Ape roared and charged at Lu Xiaotian. Its enormous body made the ground tremble faintly as it ran. Demon beasts' physical strength was usually greater than that of cultivators at the same level. After casting the Golden Armor Technique, the Black Ape's defense increased severalfold, making it somewhat threatening even to cultivators at the Qi Refining Middle Stage.

Lu Xiaotian frowned slightly, then quickly relaxed. With a flick of his left hand, he threw several Luo Yan Fruits. Black smoke immediately billowed forth, blanketing everything within several yards.

"Not good, come back!" Zou Xin's heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly ordered the Black Ape to retreat, lest Lu Xiaotian ambush them and defeat them one by one. At the same time, Zou Xin cast the Whirlwind Technique and Spirit Eye Technique to prevent Lu Xiaotian from taking advantage of the situation to launch a sneak attack. However, he failed to notice the faint sound of something landing on the ground.

"Fire Arrow Technique!" As the black smoke scattered, Lu Xiaotian unleashed a basic spell. More than ten fiery arrows shot toward the Black Ape.

"Roar!" The Black Ape roared, leaping and dodging with agility utterly mismatched with its bulk. It evaded most of the fire arrows, though several still struck it. Yet it was as though the arrows had hit a layer of iron armor. Sparks flew in all directions, but they failed to pierce the Black Ape's skin.

The Black Ape howled in pain and leaped about wildly. As the black mist grew thinner, Lu Xiaotian looked closely and saw several bloody marks on the Black Ape's body. He could not help smiling. That was more like it. It was only a first-order demon beast. Even if it was somewhat stronger than ordinary, it had only barely blocked his spell and still suffered minor injuries.

Zou Xin flew into a rage and fiercely swung the spiked club in his hand at Lu Xiaotian's head.

Sword and club clashed back and forth. In the span of a moment, the two had exchanged dozens of moves. Lu Xiaotian's heart sank. He used a short sword. Though the brocade-clad man's weapon was also a mid-grade spirit artifact, the spiked club held a tremendous advantage in size. After several dozen collisions, Lu Xiaotian's hand had begun to go numb. He also had to evade the Black Ape's harassment, leaving him in a rather sorry state under the brocade-clad man's attacks.

"That's all you've got, kid. You're dead for sure."

Zou Xin laughed heartily. He had experienced no fewer than a hundred battles, great and small, and possessed tremendous combat experience. After several exchanges, he had already gauged Lu Xiaotian's strength. Their cultivation levels were roughly equal. Lu Xiaotian was decisive enough in his attacks, but lacked polish and experience. It matched his age well enough.

However, this man was extremely shrewd. The Big Forehead Freak had fallen into his hands most likely because he possessed an antidote to the Shadow Ants' venom and was exceptionally skilled at laying traps. He also carried a large number of spirit talismans, causing the Big Forehead Freak to capsize in the gutter. It had truly been an unjust death.

"I'm afraid not." Lu Xiaotian forced Zou Xin back with one slash. A fierce wind stirred behind him, and Lu Xiaotian hurriedly sprang several steps forward. Even so, a burning pain flared across his back. He did not need to look to know that the Black Ape's claws had wounded him.

"A duck with a hard beak even in death. Let me show you what I can do." Zou Xin raised a hand and took out a strange leather talisman. Its markings were intricate, and unlike ordinary spell talismans, which carried the spiritual fluctuations of various attributes, this talisman pulsed with a violent, savage bloody baleful aura.

"Blood Demon Talisman!"

Shock appeared on Lu Xiaotian's face. Ordinary spirit talismans could only be used by cultivators, not demon beasts. However, long ago, powerful cultivators had developed a talisman that demon beasts could use: the Blood Demon Talisman! It could stimulate a demon beast's potential for a short time, causing its strength to soar. But using such a talisman came at no small cost. Once its effects wore off, the spirit beast's strength would plummet sharply. The Black Ape, originally comparable to the Third Layer of Qi Refining, would likely fall to the Second Layer, perhaps even to strength comparable to the First Layer of Qi Refining.

"That's right, it's the Blood Demon Talisman. You do know your stuff. Dying by my hand is your honor." Zou Xin gave a sinister grin. He only had two Blood Demon Talismans, meant to save his life at critical moments, and had always been reluctant to use them. But because of the Big Forehead Freak's miserable death, Zou Xin still held some fear toward Lu Xiaotian. He worried that Lu Xiaotian still had a large number of spirit talismans and would launch a sudden attack while he was unprepared.

If he had to deal with dozens of basic spells without preparation, he would follow in the Big Forehead Freak's footsteps—caught in a flurry of panic and killed by a sneak attack. Thus, Zou Xin chose the safer method: use the Blood Demon Talisman to stimulate the Black Ape's potential. At the crucial moment, the Black Ape would hold Lu Xiaotian back while he attacked from the side. As long as he could take down Lu Xiaotian, sacrificing the Black Ape would be well worth it.

Lu Xiaotian hurriedly thrust several times at Zou Xin. Zou Xin let out a strange laugh and blocked the attacks in succession, while the Blood Demon Talisman in his hand had already been activated.

The Blood Demon Talisman transformed into a crimson streak in midair and shrouded the Black Ape.

The Black Ape roared wildly again and again. Its body suddenly grew several feet taller, its fangs extended from its mouth, and its appearance became terrifying. Its aura surged from that of a first-order demon beast to that of a Second-Order Demon Beast, crossing an entire rank.

"Ha ha, kid, surrender without a fight." Seeing the Black Ape's strength skyrocket, Zou Xin's heart settled completely. With two against one, no matter how cunning this kid was, he could not change the gap in their strength.

"Is that so?" Lu Xiaotian sneered. A man was often closest to success when he was at his most careless. The brocade-clad man believed victory was already in his grasp, but how could Lu Xiaotian have come unprepared?

Lu Xiaotian stepped forward with the air of a man risking his life. Zou Xin casually swung his club several times, neutralizing Lu Xiaotian's attacks as he retreated. With victory already certain, he naturally did not wish to risk fighting Lu Xiaotian at close quarters. Yet Lu Xiaotian's successive sword strikes were exceptionally fierce.

Zou Xin retreated several steps. The Black Ape was about to finish absorbing the Blood Demon Talisman's power. Once his spirit beast pounced, this kid's death would be at hand, Zou Xin thought viciously.

But as Zou Xin retreated, he suddenly felt something strange around his legs. It seemed something had crawled onto them. In his haste, he lowered his head and saw several Shadow Ants already crawling up his legs and biting down. Even more startlingly, dozens more ant corpses that should have been dead flapped their wings and rose from the ground, lunging toward him.

Zou Xin was so frightened that two of his three souls nearly fled. He hurriedly tried to knock the Shadow Ants from his legs, but Lu Xiaotian's sword had already thrust straight toward his chest like meat laid upon a chopping block. With no other choice, he watched as the Shadow Ants clung to his legs. His protective spiritual barrier was completely useless against them.

Zou Xin could only swing his spiked club to force Lu Xiaotian back. In his fury and panic, the heavy blow sent Lu Xiaotian flying more than a yard away. But Zou Xin's legs were bitten several times, and the yuan qi that had been circulating smoothly through his body suddenly stagnated. Then even more Shadow Ants flew onto his body and bit him. In the blink of an eye, he could no longer mobilize even a trace of spiritual power.

Zou Xin's heart sank straight to the bottom. Even now, he could not understand why. Were the Shadow Ants not the Big Forehead Freak's spirit insects? The Big Forehead Freak was dead. Even if Lu Xiaotian had obtained the remaining spirit insects, without refining them, he absolutely could not command them like his own limbs in such a short time and carry out such an exquisite ambush.

"This kid wasn't afraid of the Big Forehead Freak's Shadow Ants earlier. He must have taken the antidote beforehand. He may be an insect cultivator too."

Zou Xin shuddered in alarm. The more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. Yet he could not understand it no matter how he racked his brains. From Lu Xiaotian's battle with the Big Forehead Freak until now, he had seen everything clearly from within the formation. Lu Xiaotian had shown no sign whatsoever of using Shadow Ants. Otherwise, they could never have escaped his notice.

"You... how exactly did you do this?" Seeing Lu Xiaotian approach again, Zou Xin shouted in fury.

"Die a confused ghost."

Lu Xiaotian's expression was icy as he swung his sword to take Zou Xin's life. A roar sounded behind him. Lu Xiaotian cursed inwardly. The Black Ape had finished absorbing the Blood Demon Talisman's power and was lunging at him. He could certainly kill Zou Xin with one sword strike, but the Black Ape's strength was now comparable to that of a Second-Order Demon Beast, hardly inferior to his own. Moreover, the Black Ape's physical strength had always been several times greater than his. Lu Xiaotian did not dare receive one of its blows head-on with his body. If things went wrong, he might perish together with the brocade-clad man. That was not an outcome he wanted.

After weighing it briefly, Lu Xiaotian turned and struck with his sword. The enormous force drove him back several steps. The Black Ape was flesh and blood after all. After taking his sword strike head-on, a gash appeared on its claw, blood gushing out.

Yet the Black Ape did not slow in the slightest because of its injury. Instead, it became even more frenzied. Its already wild eyes turned blood-red.

"Want to kill me? It won't be that easy." Zou Xin was inwardly lamenting bitterly. He had no fighting strength left and could only hope that the Black Ape would kill Lu Xiaotian. Thus, he spoke up, trying to distract Lu Xiaotian during the battle.

"Shut up. Killing you would take no more than the blink of an eye." After dodging one of the Black Ape's savage charges, Lu Xiaotian glanced at Zou Xin.

"You're only good with your tongue. If you have the skill, kill me right now." Zou Xin provoked him.

"You really think I can do nothing to you? As you wish." Lu Xiaotian pressed a hand to the spirit beast pouch at his waist. White mist flashed, and the Leopard shook its head before revealing its agile form. With ferocious light in its eyes, it pounced toward Zou Xin.

Zou Xin's face immediately turned ashen. He had never expected Lu Xiaotian to have another spirit beast. Though it was weak, with strength only comparable to a cultivator at the Second Layer of Qi Refining, to him now it was no different from a flood and savage beast.

The Leopard ran several steps, then leaped forward and knocked Zou Xin to the ground, biting through his throat in one snap.

"Fall back!" Lu Xiaotian ordered the Leopard back when it tried to pounce on the Black Ape. He feared it might come to harm. The Leopard could not withstand even a single strike from the Black Ape, whose strength had already surged dramatically.

Strength gained through the Blood Demon Talisman could not compare to one's own strength, wielded as naturally as one's limbs. Although the Black Ape's brute force was formidable, Lu Xiaotian had ways to deal with it. With a wave of his hand, dozens of Shadow Ants flew up from Zou Xin's corpse and buzzed toward the Black Ape.

The Black Ape furiously slapped more than ten of them to death, but unlike a cultivator, it could not flexibly use spells or other tactics to evade them. Before long, it was bitten dozens of times by the Shadow Ants.

Lu Xiaotian seized the opportunity and cut off the Black Ape's head with one stroke.

The Leopard ingratiatingly carried Zou Xin's storage pouch over and placed it at Lu Xiaotian's feet.

"You're quite the clever one." With the crisis before him finally resolved, Lu Xiaotian smiled in relief and stroked the Leopard's head. "When we get back, I'll look for a method to refine higher-grade Spirit Beast Pills and see if I can raise your strength too. Go inside."

Delighted, the Leopard rubbed its head against Lu Xiaotian's trouser leg and entered the spirit beast pouch.

Lu Xiaotian waved a hand and drew the storage pouch into his grasp. He then collected all the remaining Shadow Ants and searched Zou Xin's corpse once more, making sure nothing had been left behind.

With his strength, he truly could not have contended against Zou Xin, whose cultivation was equal to his own, along with a Black Ape whose strength had risen to that of a Second-Order Demon Beast. Nor was his ability to control Shadow Ants equal to the Big Forehead Freak's. A direct clash offered no chance of victory. But Zou Xin had ultimately become too carried away. From the very beginning of their battle, when he released the Luo Yan Fruits and black mist filled the area, Lu Xiaotian had not actually intended to launch an ambush. He had merely used the prospect of one as bait to draw Zou Xin's attention away, while secretly releasing his own Shadow Ants and having them fall to the ground.

During his previous battle with the Big Forehead Freak, he had already killed and injured dozens of Shadow Ants. The ground was a complete mess, pitted and uneven.

Having witnessed Lu Xiaotian's abilities, Zou Xin had kept his attention fixed on Lu Xiaotian the entire time, fearing Lu Xiaotian might suddenly unleash a mass of spirit talismans and catch him completely off guard. During their fierce battle, he had no energy to spare for noticing a few more Shadow Ant corpses on the ground. Later, after Zou Xin activated the Blood Demon Talisman, he believed victory was in the bag and lowered his guard again. That was why Lu Xiaotian's scheme succeeded and cost him his life.

Lu Xiaotian tossed out two small fireballs. The Big Forehead Freak's and Zou Xin's corpses were reduced to ash in an instant. Lu Xiaotian quickly left the small forest. Several fierce battles had taken place here, and residual spiritual power fluctuations still lingered. Passing cultivators might notice something amiss. This was a place of trouble and conflict, not somewhere to linger long.

At dusk, Lu Xiaotian arrived at a river valley and happened to spot a brawny brown bear crawling out from the hollow of a towering ancient tree. Lu Xiaotian smiled faintly. It seemed he had found lodging for the night. Traveling alone through the mountains at night was hardly safe.

While the brown bear went out to forage, Lu Xiaotian lightly climbed into the tree hollow. The interior was spacious enough to hold several people of his size. It was completely dark without any light, but that did not trouble him. As yuan qi circulated through his body, his eyes felt cool and clear. The light was still dim, but after using the Spirit Eye Technique, he was able to see.

Lu Xiaotian took out the two storage pouches. He opened Zou Xin's first. Inside were sixty or seventy spirit stones of various kinds, some healing medicine, a large quantity of spirit herbs, several pieces of ore for artifact refinement, as well as some demon beast furs and materials. Lu Xiaotian had no interest in those.

However, several of the spirit herbs were actually mission items for Soaring Heavens Palace and Azure Elixir Palace. There was also a Blood Demon Talisman, an exceptionally precious item. He had no idea how the brocade-clad man had obtained something so valuable.

Lu Xiaotian swept all those items into the barrier at once, then opened the Big Forehead Freak's storage pouch. He was immediately startled. As an alchemist, he was already considered wealthy, yet the Big Forehead Freak, who raised more than a hundred Shadow Ants, possessed such an abundant fortune as well—over a hundred spirit stones of various types. From the storage pouch, Lu Xiaotian found several more mission spirit herbs for Soaring Heavens Palace, some of which duplicated herbs he already possessed.

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