A Pyrrhic Victory

"If this keeps up, we're all going to die here today!"

Qin Jue forcibly suppressed the surging blood and qi in his body, using his longsword as a staff to prop up his swaying frame.

The Void Clarity Sword Heart in his mind spun at full speed, allowing him to remain calm even at this critical moment of life and death.

A head-on clash would be nothing short of smashing an egg against a rock! As for fleeing? The opponent's cultivation was several minor realms higher, their speed far surpassing theirs—turning around would mean exposing their backs entirely to the enemy's attacks, only hastening their deaths!

The only chance of survival was to break through the protective blood qi that shrouded that Blood Melting Realm martial artist!

"Blood Melting Realm... isn't invincible!" Qin Jue's eyes locked onto Meng Kuang. The seemingly flawless protective blood qi, in his view, was not indestructible.

"This man's blood qi is released outward, appearing fierce, but in truth, his power is scattered. There must be a limit! If we can condense the strength of all three of us into a single point and unleash a supreme strike that surpasses that limit in an instant, we can definitely tear a gap open!"

This idea was nearly insane.

This was a high-stakes gamble!

They were betting that, in this desperate situation, the three of them could unleash potential beyond their own limits!

They were betting that this madman would give them that fleeting opportunity!

With this thought, Qin Jue's killing intent blazed forth!

"Dare you fight to the death?"

Qin Jue didn't turn his head, his voice hoarse.

"Cough, cough..." Tang Xiaoman coughed up a mouthful of bloody foam, struggling to rise but lacking the strength, "Can't die yet... this bastard's turtle shell is a bit too tough..."

On the other side, Pei Qingyan leaned on his blade, his body swaying unsteadily, yet his eyes remained sharp as ever!

"I can still draw my blade," he said hoarsely.

"Good."

"Listen up, we only have one chance."

"Tang Xiaoman, use your strongest move. Spare no cost—hold him for three breaths! Just three breaths!"

"Brother Pei, gather your strength! Strike the strongest blade of your life, hold nothing back! Wait for my signal!"

Tang Xiaoman was stunned for a moment, then let out a grim laugh.

"Three breaths? Ha... you really think highly of me, you bastard... This is asking for my life..."

He muttered under his breath, madness flooding his eyes.

"...Fine! This young master... is all in!!"

On the other side, Pei Qingyan was silent for a moment before speaking hoarsely, "Three breaths... enough."

"Hm?"

Meng Kuang seemed to sense something. He stopped, eyeing the three suddenly "quiet" prey with suspicion.

"What? Had a change of heart? Ready to kneel and beg for mercy?"

Hearing this, Tang Xiaoman ground his teeth and let out a hysterical roar!

"Dream on! This young master... will fight you to the death!!!"

Boom!!!

A burst of blood-red mist, far more violent than before, erupted from Tang Xiaoman's body!

Blood Boil Second Layer—Life Burn!

This was a forbidden technique that truly burned the essence of one's lifeblood! Once activated, it would inevitably leave one severely weakened afterward, even shortening their lifespan!

Tang Xiaoman's already heavily wounded body, driven by this power, miraculously leaped up from the ground! His skin was red as a branding iron, and his eyes were bloodshot.

"Don't you dare look down on me!!!"

He abandoned all defense entirely, his legs suddenly exploding with force!

"Boom—!"

The ground instantly shattered, sending gravel flying! Tang Xiaoman, like a blood-red cannonball, dragged a violent wake of air as he closed in on Meng Kuang in an instant!

"Die... for me!!!"

Tang Xiaoman's right leg rose high like a battle-axe, carrying the terrifying power bought by burning his life. With a leg strike that could shatter a mountain, he slammed it down viciously at Meng Kuang!

"You're asking for death!"

A flash of irritation crossed Meng Kuang's eyes. He hadn't expected this "ant" to be so annoying, still struggling even at death's door.

"Since you want to die, I'll grant your wish!"

Meng Kuang sneered, his blood and qi surging like a great river, all pouring into his palm. That hand, clad in a gauntlet, instantly turned blood-red, and a faint, blurry blood palm print appeared in its center. With a wave of scorching air, he struck down fiercely!

Boom—!

Palm met leg, and Tang Xiaoman felt a scorching, domineering force of blood and qi brutally surge into his body through his leg bone.

"Pfft!"

He spat out a mouthful of blood, his whole body struck like a hammer, slammed into the dirt by that single palm.

But he gritted his teeth, his hands clamped around Meng Kuang's calf like iron vices, and he roared with the last of his strength:

"Do... it!!!"

"You're asking for death!" Meng Kuang bellowed in fury. Just as he raised his foot to crush this ant's head, a chill made his heart tighten!

Now!

Pei Qingyan moved!

He gripped his blade with both hands, raised it high above his head. Essence, energy, and spirit fused completely in that moment, pouring all his power into this single strike!

"Severing the flow... it's not just severing the water's flow..."

Pei Qingyan's mind was utterly clear in that instant; the boundary between life and death blurred.

A blade artist is born from the blade and dies by the blade!

This strike was everything Pei Qingyan had!

"With this broken body, I offer my blade!"

On the sword's body, the faint frost that had been there instantly condensed into pale white ice crystals. A terrifying blade momentum, enough to freeze the marrow, erupted with a bang!

"Sever—Flow!!!"

With a roar, a pale white blade light tore through the sky. Where the blade edge passed, the air itself seemed to freeze!

"Hm?!"

Meng Kuang's instincts screamed a warning. The power of this strike actually made him feel a hint of threat!

He forgot about Tang Xiaoman at his feet. With a furious shout, his blood energy churned wildly. Both palms shot out, carrying surging blood aura, and slammed together to catch the descending blade light!

"Boom—!!!!!"

The blade edge struck the fist armor with a heavy impact! Terrifying blood energy scattered in all directions. Cracks appeared on the long blade in Pei Qingyan's hands, and he was sent flying backward again.

But this time, Meng Kuang retreated!

He was knocked back half a step by the strike. On the fist armor of both arms, a deep crack now appeared, and a trickle of blood ran down his arm.

"You... all of you will die!!!"

Meng Kuang was completely enraged. Just as he was about to go on a killing spree, he suddenly felt a chill at his back!

That was... the breath of death!

Qin Jue!

He had appeared at Meng Kuang's side-rear without anyone noticing, the Cold Iron Sword in his hand silent and deadly.

Cicada Wing Second Form—Thousand Threads!!!

The sword light was like a thread, aimed straight for Meng Kuang's throat!

This strike was the pinnacle of speed and the peak of ruthlessness!

Meng Kuang's pupils shrank. In that split second between life and death, the instinct of a Blood Melting Realm expert drove his only reaction—

He jerked his neck down sharply while twisting his body desperately to the side!

"Shhh—!"

If you find This Book good, to avoid losing it next time, please remember to bookmark it.

The blade bit into flesh!

Blood sprayed!

Meng Kuang let out a miserable scream, clutching his neck as he stumbled back several steps. A gash deep enough to see bone had been carved into the side of his neck, blood spurting out!

Just a hair's breadth more, and this strike would have severed his carotid artery and taken his life!

"Aaaah! My neck!!!"

Meng Kuang clutched the wound in terror. Massive blood loss made him dizzy. He looked at the three before him—drenched in blood, swaying on their feet, yet their eyes still fierce as wolves—and for the first time, a chill rose in his heart.

These three... are madmen!

At mere Jade Bone Realm, they had nearly killed him, a Blood Melting Realm expert!

By now, Qin Jue's entire right arm was screaming in pain, barely able to hold the sword. But he forced his body upright, staring coldly at Meng Kuang, putting on a stance as if to attack again.

He was gambling—gambling that Meng Kuang valued his life!

Meng Kuang stared hard at Qin Jue. The wound on his neck was too deep; without timely treatment, he could bleed to death. And this kid's Sword Qi was bizarre—it was actively preventing the wound from healing.

If he kept fighting... even if he killed these three, he might end up losing his own life here.

Not worth it for three ants!

"Fine! Just fine!"

Meng Kuang ground his teeth. "Three little bastards, I'll remember this debt! Next time we meet, I'll skin you alive, break your bones, and scatter your ashes!"

With that, he didn't dare linger. He shot the three a venomous glare, then with a flicker of his form, clutching his neck, he crashed through the nearby bushes and fled deep into the mountain forest at top speed.

"Lord Meng! Lord Meng, take me with you!"

Liu Yun, who had been cowering in the back, was scared out of his wits at the sight. Even Venerable Meng of the Blood Melting Realm had been driven off—how could he survive staying here?

He let out a strange shriek, scrambled to his feet, and stumbled after Meng Kuang in a desperate attempt to flee.

"Trying to run?"

A cold gleam flashed in Qin Jue's eyes.

There was no helping Meng Kuang's escape, but if he let the instigator of all this slip away too, then all the wounds they'd suffered would be for nothing!

"Leave your life behind!"

Qin Jue forced a breath, and the Cold Iron Sword in his hand flew out, turning into a streak of light that stabbed straight at Liu Yun's back!

"Thud!"

The long sword pierced through his chest, pinning Liu Yun firmly to the ground!

Liu Yun's body stiffened, his eyes filled with shock and despair, before he finally slumped down limply, his breath gone for good.

Only then did this brutal slaughter finally come to an end.

"Haah..."

Seeing that Meng Kuang had truly left, Qin Jue's taut nerves finally relaxed. His whole body went limp, and he collapsed onto the ground.

"Damn... this monster... really tough..."

Not far away, Tang Xiaoman also lay down, sprawled in a star shape among the rubble. His body was a mess of wounds, yet he was still grinning foolishly. "But still... we drove off a Blood Melting Realm... this bragging rights... are enough for little me to boast about for a lifetime..."

Pei Qingyan leaned against the rock wall. Though he said nothing, his fingers trembled slightly, betraying his inner turmoil.

"That sword strike... was strong."

Pei Qingyan suddenly spoke, looking at Qin Jue with a hint of seriousness on his pale face.

Qin Jue glanced at the cracked war blade not far away and nodded solemnly. "Your blade was strong too."

"Brother Qin, don't... don't just sit there."

Tang Xiaoman struggled to raise one hand, pointing and gesturing. "While no one's coming... hurry up! That Shen Yutang guy was dressed to the nines, he's bound to have plenty of loot! And that bastard Liu Yun, don't let him off!"

For martial artists, resources were life itself! If they came out of a fight this brutal with nothing to show for it, they'd have taken a massive loss.

"You..." Qin Jue shook his head helplessly, but he had to admit, this place wasn't safe to linger.

Enduring the searing pain all over his body, he forced himself to stand.

He walked over to Shen Yutang's corpse and fumbled around, soon finding a heavy money pouch at his waist. Opening it, he saw it was stuffed with Gold Notes of considerable denominations—at least twenty of them.

"Tsk, no wonder he was in the herb business. Quite the fortune." Qin Jue pocketed it casually, then stripped the valuables from the surrounding guards.

After looting the guards, Qin Jue's gaze shifted to Liu Yun's corpse.

As a collateral member of the Ning Family, this guy was the real "fat sheep."

Besides a few Gold Notes, Qin Jue found a delicate jade bottle in Liu Yun's inner pocket.

He pulled out the stopper, and a rich medicinal fragrance immediately filled the air.

"Vitality Blood Dew?!"

Tang Xiaoman's sharp nose caught the scent, and his eyes lit up. "I knew it! That bastard trained in the Blood Burning Sword, a technique that hurts the user as much as the enemy—he'd definitely be carrying something to restore blood essence! Lucky us!"

"Perfect for healing."

Qin Jue gently shook the jade bottle. The blood dew inside had a rosy hue, refined from fifty-year-old spiritual herbs—top quality.

For them, who had just overdrawn their blood essence, this was a godsend.

"Jackpot... we hit the jackpot!" Tang Xiaoman trembled with excitement.

"This place isn't safe. Let's find somewhere to heal first."

Qin Jue put the jade bottle away, bundled up the loot, and slung it over his back. He walked over, propping up Tang Xiaoman with one arm, while Pei Qingyan, leaning on his blade, barely managed to stand.

The three of them supported each other, stumbling into a hidden crevice deep within the Chaos Stone Forest.

Inside the crevice, they sat cross-legged, heavy breaths rising and falling. As the medicinal power spread, gentle waves of warmth flowed through their limbs and bones, nourishing their nearly depleted bodies.

"Ahh... bliss..."

Tang Xiaoman leaned against the stone wall, wincing as he applied medicine to his wounds, while counting the Gold Notes he'd just received, grinning from ear to ear. "Vitality Blood Dew, plus this windfall... this whole beating was worth it!"

Pei Qingyan lowered his head, wiping down [Frost Scar], his expression complicated.

Qin Jue sat at the outermost edge, silently circulating his technique to refine the medicinal power, feeling every bit of strength slowly return to his body. Though this was just a chance alliance, these two were... interesting.

"Let's reintroduce ourselves."

Tang Xiaoman suddenly stopped what he was doing, shedding his frivolous demeanor, and gave Qin Jue a solemn fist-and-palm salute:

"Hunter King Hall, Bronze Hunter, Tang Xiaoman."

Not far away, Pei Qingyan paused mid-motion, sheathed his broken blade, and though his face remained cold, he turned and gave Qin Jue a slight nod:

"Hunter King Hall, Iron Token, Pei Qingyan."

This was recognition.

In the world of martial artists, only the strong are worthy of having their names announced by their companions.

Qin Jue turned around at this, looked at the two companions who had just crawled back from the gates of hell together, and solemnly returned the salute with cupped fists, his voice clear and crisp:

"Qingcang Academy, Qin Jue."

"Qin?" Tang Xiaoman's eyes darted. "Brother, could you be from the Qin Family?"

He sized Qin Jue up from head to toe. "That's not right. The Qin Family is a mid-tier clan in Skywind Martial City, with a solid foundation. How come you look..."

He paused, not finishing the second half of his sentence.

Qin Jue didn't mind. "Though my surname is Qin, I'm only a collateral from the Second Branch. My birth mother died early, and my stepmother rules the household. Resources naturally don't come my way."

Tang Xiaoman was stunned for a moment, not knowing what to say. The rock crevice fell silent, leaving only the three of them breathing heavily.

Pei Qingyan also gave Qin Jue a silent glance, saying nothing, but there was a bit more recognition in his eyes.

"Alright, names are exchanged, and we're acquainted now."

Tang Xiaoman's serious demeanor didn't last three breaths before he reverted to form, grinning wide. "From now on, we've got a bond forged through life and death. Brother Qin, if we ever run into another 'fat sheep' like this, remember to tip each other off!"

Pei Qingyan's eye twitched, and he said coldly, "If the fat sheep you speak of are all this tough, then you'd better pray your luck holds out as well as it did today."

"Heh! You talk sharper than a blade! Brother Qin, you be the judge!"

"If there are Gold Notes involved, it's not out of the question."

"Hahaha! See! Brother Qin's the straightforward one!"

If you can't find the book by its title, try searching by the author—maybe it's just been renamed!

In response to readers' requests, we now offer a VIP membership ad-free feature.

Click to view.