You Want My Life? You're Not Worthy!

Faced with Wang Tie's murderous bellow, Qin Jue acted as if he hadn't heard a thing.

His movements remained unhurried. His hand was steady as bedrock, his eyes fixed intently on Stone Hollow.

"Clink."

With a crisp sound, the final drop of Stone Marrow fell into the bottle.

Only then did Qin Jue leisurely stopper it. He even reached out and carefully wiped away the tiny bit of residue on the rim with his fingertip, then put it in his mouth. The whole process flowed like water, without the slightest hint of tension or haste.

The scene fell into utter silence.

Behind him, Zhao Li watched, swallowed hard, and stared in shock.

He'd seen plenty of arrogant people, but never anyone this brazen!

That was Wang Tie! A Hundred Refinements Fifth Layer expert, a ruthless man with countless lives on his hands! Was this kid deaf, or had he really grown tired of living? How dare he ignore him like this?!

"Good! Good! Very good!"

Wang Tie laughed in fury, his voice rolling like thunder. The surrounding stones rattled down, and even the air trembled!

He'd been ignored.

Wang Tie had ruled this territory for years. Even the scions of powerful clans gave him some respect when they saw him. When had a snot-nosed brat ever humiliated him like this? Being ignored hurt worse than being killed. It was the height of disgrace!

"I'm talking to you, you little beast! Got donkey hair stuffed in your ears or what?!"

Wang Tie roared. His bones crackled, his blood surged through him, and the terrifying might of a Hundred Refinements Fifth Layer expert erupted!

The rocks beneath his feet burst apart and crumbled to dust! He launched himself forward like a cannonball, his Wolf Fang Club tearing through the air with a foul, rancid gust as he brought it crashing down!

"I'll beat you into a pulp!"

The strike was crushingly powerful, impossible to block! Before the Wolf Fang Club even fell, the terrifying pressure sent dust scattering across the ground, while the force of the wind plastered Qin Jue's green robe against his back.

The savage club was less than three feet from Qin Jue's head. Zhao Li's eyes widened as he sucked in a breath, as if he could already see Qin Jue's brains bursting out, his flesh mangled beyond recognition—

At that very moment, Qin Jue finally moved.

But he still didn't turn around.

In a flash, Qin Jue quickly stoppered the jade bottle and slipped it into his robes with a flick of his wrist. Almost at the same instant, he gripped the sword hilt in reverse and thrust backward, scabbard and all!

"Vmmm—"

The scabbard shook violently, letting out a clear ring!

Tide Rising Sword Technique—Tide Rising Stance!

It was a move meant to block attacks head-on, yet he used it effortlessly with his backhand. The scabbard struck first, like a supple stream of water, pinpointing the weakest point in the Wolf Fang Club's force and gently redirecting it!

A deft touch!

"Slip!"

Qin Jue turned his wrist, his body as light as a feather. He glided several feet with the gusting force and narrowly dodged the club!

"Boom!"

A muffled crash rang out. The Wolf Fang Club smashed into the ground. With a sharp crack, the hard stone floor caved into a deep pit, and shards of rock shot in every direction like hidden weapons!

"Your force is spread too thin, and your intentions are too obvious."

A calm voice sounded through the billowing dust.

Qin Jue's figure blurred, and he was already three zhang away. He casually brushed the dust from his sleeve and looked at Wang Tie with a placid gaze, as if he were watching a clown.

"Jade Bone Realm, over a thousand jin of force." Qin Jue glanced at the savage Wolf Fang Club in Wang Tie's hand and chuckled. "Too bad you've got nothing but brute strength. Your flaws are everywhere!"

"Little beast! You'll pay for your arrogance!"

Wang Tie's first strike had missed, and he was livid. He yanked the Wolf Fang Club from the ground, scattering a spray of stones, then gripped it in both hands. His muscles bulged, and his bones cracked and popped.

"I'll smash every bone in your body, inch by inch! I'll make you beg for death and wish you were dead!"

"Vmmm—vmmm—"

The bones in Wang Tie's body vibrated furiously!

Their dull, thunderous rumbling reached a strange resonance with the rhythm of the Wolf Fang Club swinging in his hands.

"Black Sha Cudgel Technique, first move—Sweep a Thousand Armies!"

The club swung, unleashing a shrill whistle through the air!

The enormous Wolf Fang Club carved a black arc across the sky, sealing off every direction Qin Jue might dodge. The rocks beneath it exploded into powder as it swept past!

"So fast!"

Qin Jue's gaze sharpened.

Wang Tie might look like a brute, but he was no fool! This wide sweeping strike left Qin Jue no room to dodge. He could only retreat or take it head-on!

"If I can't dodge it... then I'll break through it!"

Qin Jue's expression darkened. Instead of retreating, he surged forward and sharply flicked his wrist.

In an instant, the Cold Iron Sword rang out, vibrating violently at incredible speed.

Cicada Wing—Flap Wings!

The sword moved at blinding speed. Just before the Wolf Fang Club's momentum peaked, it stabbed at the point where the force converged, from an impossibly tricky angle!

"Bang!"

Metal clanged against metal, and sparks flew!

But just then, Qin Jue's pupils shrank. A sinister force ignored the sword's vibrations and snaked along its hilt into his body!

"Hundred Refinements Fifth Layer... Bone Penetrating Force?!"

Qin Jue grunted. His entire right arm went nearly numb from the impact of the force.

"Heh heh, you little bastard! Die!"

Wang Tie gave a cruel grin. He didn't give Qin Jue a moment to catch his breath. With Qin Jue's blood and energy churning, he meant to finish him off in one blow!

Riding the force of the rebound, Wang Tie surged forward instead of retreating. He raised the Wolf Fang Club over his head and drove his blood and energy to their limit!

"Second move—Collapse Mountain Fall!"

Wang Tie roared, his face twisted with murderous intent!

He poured all his strength into this strike, determined to smash Qin Jue into a pool of flesh on the spot!

The Wolf Fang Club hadn't even fallen when its violent gusts shattered the ground inch by inch, sending cracks racing outward!

Qin Jue was completely locked in the grip of murderous intent!

There was nowhere to dodge! Nowhere to retreat!

The threat of death descended in an instant!

"Die! Die!"

Watching from afar, Zhao Li was overjoyed. He could practically see Qin Jue's bones shattering beneath the club, his body reduced to a pool of mangled flesh!

But at this critical moment—

Qin Jue's pale face held not a trace of despair. Instead, a desperate, cornered madness rose in his eyes! His will to pursue the martial path was as unshakable as ever!

"You want my life? You're not worthy!"

Qin Jue grinned, revealing teeth stained red with blood. He looked like a madman!

Retreat? Retreat meant death!

Then he would fight! Stake his life against his foe's!

Qin Jue forcibly suppressed his surging blood and energy, ignoring the shattering pain in his right arm. He poured all his strength and will into this single strike!

Even if he had to cripple his arm for good, he would deliver this earth-shaking sword strike!

All he could see was the Wolf Fang Club crashing down on him and Wang Tie's savage, laughing face.

"Break! For! Me!!!"

Crack!

A sharp snap rang out as the bones in his right arm gave way!

But the price he paid unleashed a power capable of destroying heaven and earth!

In that instant, the sword light flared!

Millions of hair-thin sword threads, delicate as cicada wings, burst into existence and wove together into a white storm that tore through the air, threatening to grind everything in the world to dust!

The sword threads quivered, emitting a piercing hum. With a tragic, unstoppable momentum, they slammed into the Wolf Fang Club crashing down upon him!

Cicada Wing, second move—Thousand Threads!