Eve of the Coming Storm

Three days later, at dawn.

Thirty miles outside Qingyang Town, at the edge of Black Wind Ridge.

Luo Heng stood beneath an ancient pine in a blue robe, his hands clasped behind his back as he calmly gazed toward the end of the official road.

He had deliberately chosen this place to wait.

Black Wind Ridge was treacherous terrain, with towering mountains and dense forests—the perfect place to "deal with trouble."

More importantly, it was already quite far from Qingyang Town. Even if a fierce battle broke out, it would not affect the town or cause his family to worry.

The winter morning wind swept through the woods, bringing waves of chill. Luo Heng had restrained his aura to the utmost, as though he had merged with the surrounding mountains and forest.

Yesterday evening, intelligence from the Myriad Gold Merchant Guild had reached him through a special channel. Liu Chong, a guest elder of the Blood Wolf Gang and a Small Perfection of the Core Formation Realm cultivator, had left the Blood Wolf Gang and was heading toward Qingyang Town.

His purpose was obvious. He was coming for Luo Heng.

"Small Perfection of the Core Formation Realm..." Luo Heng slowly exhaled, a trace of gravity flashing through his eyes alongside faint excitement.

This was the strongest opponent he had ever faced in his life.

The Heaven Yuan Realm and the Core Formation Realm appeared to be separated by only one major realm, but in truth, the difference was as vast as heaven and earth.

Core Formation Realm martial artists had already condensed a true Yuan Core. The quality of their Primal Energy underwent a qualitative transformation, and as long as their Yuan Core remained intact, their vitality would never cease.

Ordinary Heaven Yuan Realm martial artists, even if ten of them joined forces, might not be able to harm a Small Perfection of the Core Formation Realm expert in the slightest.

But Luo Heng was different.

The quality of the Primal Energy refined by the Great Devouring Art far surpassed those of the same realm. The offensive power of the Tai Xu Swordplay was even more unfathomable. Added to that were the Spiritual Power of a Peak Two-Seal Symbol Master, the Myriad Law Seal, the Stone of Enlightenment, and all his other hidden cards...

"It may not be impossible to fight."

Battle intent rose in Luo Heng's eyes. A serious expression crossed his face as he looked forward to the coming battle. The dark gold Yuan Core Phantom in his dantian slowly rotated, the Myriad Law Seal in his Niwan Palace circulated with light, and his spiritual perception spread five miles in every direction, catching every abnormality.

After roughly the time it took an incense stick to burn, a black dot appeared at the end of the official road.

The black dot rapidly enlarged, turning into a streak of blood-red light that tore through the air!

It was a middle-aged man in a blood-red robe. His face was sinister, his nose hooked like an eagle's beak, and his gaze sharp as blades. Faint blood-red Primal Energy rippled around him, and the air trembled wherever he passed.

It was none other than Liu Chong, the Blood Wolf Gang's guest elder!

He was incredibly fast. In the blink of an eye, he reached the edge of Black Wind Ridge, yet he abruptly stopped a hundred zhang from Luo Heng. He hovered in midair, looking down at the seemingly ordinary youth in blue below.

"You're Luo Heng?" Liu Chong's voice was hoarse and filled with icy killing intent.

Luo Heng looked up and calmly met his gaze. Rather than answering, he merely said, "A guest elder of the Blood Wolf Gang?"

"Smart." A cruel curve lifted at the corner of Liu Chong's mouth as he slowly said, "Gang Leader Yue has ordered me to take your life. If you kill yourself, I can leave you an intact corpse."

Luo Heng smiled, his expression carrying a hint of mockery. "Yue Shan sent a Small Perfection of the Core Formation Realm cultivator to deal with me. He thinks highly of me."

Liu Chong's gaze sharpened before he snorted coldly. Narrowing his eyes, he said, "Sharp tongue. Let's see whether you can still laugh later!"

Before his words had even faded, his body abruptly vanished!

When he reappeared, he was already thirty feet above Luo Heng's head. His five fingers spread wide as blood-red Primal Energy surged out like a tide, transforming into a massive blood-red palm thirty feet across that smashed down with terrifying pressure!

Blood Wolf Palm!

Before the palm wind even arrived, the ground began to crack. The ancient pines around them swayed violently, and leaves scattered through the air!

The power of this palm far surpassed Yue Feng's Blood Wolf Devours Heaven. Even a Late Heaven Yuan Realm martial artist would be reduced to pulp by a single strike!

Yet Luo Heng neither dodged nor retreated. Instead, a flash of excitement appeared in his eyes.

"Good!"

He stomped his right foot against the ground and shot into the sky. At the same time, his right hand closed around empty air, and the Silver Feather Sword appeared in his grasp.

The sword trembled lightly, its cry clear and ringing!

Tai Xu Swordplay: Void Blade, Three Blades as One!

Three nearly invisible tears in space silently merged at the sword tip, becoming an extremely faint "Blade of Void" that pierced toward the blood-red giant palm!

Ssh!

The instant the Blade of Void collided with the blood-red giant palm, it made an almost imperceptible sound.

The next moment, a tiny crack appeared in the palm of that seemingly unstoppable blood-red giant hand!

The crack rapidly spread, covering the entire giant palm in the blink of an eye!

Boom!

The blood-red giant palm exploded, turning into countless specks of crimson light!

Liu Chong's pupils contracted sharply, and disbelief flashed through his eyes.

He had not used his full strength in that palm strike, but it still contained seventy percent of his power. It was enough to severely injure any Heaven Yuan Realm martial artist, yet this youth had shattered it with a single sword strike?!

"You do have some skill. No wonder you defeated Yue Feng." Liu Chong's voice grew even colder, and the killing intent in his eyes deepened. "But this ends here!"

He formed hand seals with both hands. The Yuan Core within his body spun madly as vast Primal Energy erupted outward!

Blood Wolf Devours Heaven!

Blood-red Primal Energy condensed behind him into the phantom of a blood-red giant wolf thirty feet tall. The wolf threw back its head and howled, its roar shaking the surrounding lands. Then it opened its gaping maw and lunged toward Luo Heng, seeking to devour him!

This attack was several times more powerful than the Blood Wolf Palm from before!

As the blood-red giant wolf passed, the air grew thick and viscous, as though it were about to freeze solid.

The full-force strike of a Small Perfection of the Core Formation Realm cultivator was terrifying indeed!

Luo Heng's face turned grave, and he did not dare to be careless.

He used the Flowing Cloud and Soaring Goose Steps, his body drifting backward through the air like a phantom. At the same time, he raised two fingers on his left hand, and the Myriad Law Seal in his Niwan Palace blazed brilliantly!

Formation of Life, First Stage, Life-Generating Light!

A pale golden beam shot from Luo Heng's fingertips. Soundless and invisible, it carried an aura capable of purifying all things as it instantly entered the blood-red giant wolf phantom!

The Life-Generating Light specialized in breaking spiritual and energy constructs. It was exceptionally effective against phantoms condensed from Primal Energy.

Sure enough, the blood-red giant wolf phantom paused slightly, and its devouring momentum slowed by thirty percent!

"Now!"

A sharp gleam burst from Luo Heng's eyes as the Silver Feather Sword thrust out once more!

This time, he not only used Three Blades as One, but also pushed the dark gold Primal Energy in his dantian to its limit!

At the sword tip, the Blade of Void became thirty percent more solid than before. Carrying bone-piercing sharpness and a strange intent of "shattering," it shot directly toward the blood-red giant wolf's brow!

Riiip!

The Blade of Void pierced into the blood-red giant wolf's forehead. This time, it did not merely leave a small crack—it punched straight through!

Awooo—!

The blood-red giant wolf let out a miserable wail. Its enormous body began to collapse, eventually turning into blood-red mist that filled the sky.

But Liu Chong's attack had not stopped!

The instant the blood-red giant wolf shattered, he appeared at Luo Heng's left side. His right hand shot out like a ghostly claw, grasping directly for Luo Heng's throat!

This claw was as swift as lightning and struck from a vicious angle. It also carried the corrosive power of blood-red Primal Energy. If it landed, even steel would be pierced through!

Luo Heng seemed to have no time to evade. He could only barely turn sideways and raise the Silver Feather Sword in front of himself.

Clang!

Sword and claw collided, sending sparks flying!

A terrifying force traveled through the blade, numbing Luo Heng's arm and sending him flying backward. He crashed through three ancient pines before barely stabilizing himself, a thread of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

"To block two of my moves, you have every reason to be proud." Liu Chong hovered in the air, looking down from above as he said coldly, "But that is all."

He could see that although Luo Heng's swordplay was strange and his Spiritual Power was not weak, he was ultimately only in the Early Heaven Yuan Realm. There was an essential gap between Luo Heng's quantity and quality of Primal Energy and his own as a Small Perfection of the Core Formation Realm cultivator.

As long as he dragged this out, victory would inevitably be his.

Luo Heng wiped away the blood at his lips, yet the battle intent in his eyes only burned brighter.

Although he had been injured by that strike, he had also completely grasped Liu Chong's true strength.

Small Perfection of the Core Formation Realm. Deep and abundant Primal Energy, fierce attacks, and rich combat experience. Liu Chong truly was formidable.

But he was not invincible!

"Then... try this!"

Luo Heng took a deep breath. Within his Niwan Palace, the Myriad Law Seal spun wildly!

The Spiritual Power of a Peak Two-Seal Symbol Master erupted without reservation!

At the same time, eighteen Myriad Techniques Spirit Needles silently condensed. Concealed by his Spiritual Power, they shot toward Liu Chong without a sound!

"Hm?"

As a Small Perfection of the Core Formation Realm cultivator, Liu Chong had keen danger perception. He immediately sensed the invisible threat.

He snorted coldly, and blood-red Primal Energy formed a protective barrier around his body.

But spiritual attacks were intangible and formless, targeting the Niwan Palace directly. The Primal Energy barrier had limited defensive effect.

Ssh! Ssh! Ssh!

All eighteen Myriad Techniques Spirit Needles struck Liu Chong's spiritual barrier in rapid succession!

Liu Chong's expression changed slightly. Waves of stabbing pain came from his Niwan Palace. Though not fatal, they shook his mind and caused his Primal Energy circulation to stall for an instant.

"Now!"

A cold gleam flashed in Luo Heng's eyes as he shot into the sky like a cannonball!

He unleashed the Soaring Goose Style of the Flowing Cloud and Soaring Goose Steps at full power, instantly raising his speed to the limit!

The Silver Feather Sword in his hand burst with unprecedented radiance!

At the sword tip, the Blade of Void was no longer illusory. Instead, it condensed a faint, almost intangible "intent."

It was pure sharpness, a will to "cut through everything"!

Tai Xu Swordplay: Void Blade, Rudimentary Sword Intent!

Under the pressure of life and death, Luo Heng had actually touched the threshold of Sword Intent!

"Cut!"

With a low shout, sword light poured down like the Milky Way from the nine heavens!

Liu Chong's pupils shrank sharply. He sensed that this sword strike was different.

It was no longer merely Sword Qi or a Primal Energy attack. It was a sword strike imbued with "intent"!

Blood Wolf Devours Heaven: Body Protection!

He did not dare to be careless. Blood-red Primal Energy surged out wildly, condensing into a blood-red shield wall thirty feet thick before him!

Ssh!

When the sword light collided with the shield wall, there was no earth-shaking explosion, only a piercing tearing sound.

That Blade of Void imbued with Rudimentary Sword Intent sliced straight through the blood-red shield wall as easily as a hot knife through butter!

The sword light did not slow at all as it slashed directly toward Liu Chong's face!

"What?!"

Liu Chong paled in shock. In his haste, he could only twist aside while swinging his right claw, attempting to shatter the sword light.

Pfft!

The sword light grazed his left shoulder, spraying blood into the air!

A bone-deep wound was cut into Liu Chong's left shoulder, blood streaming down it!

"You... you actually injured me?!" Liu Chong was both shocked and enraged, his eyes filled with disbelief.

He was a dignified Small Perfection of the Core Formation Realm cultivator, yet he had been wounded by a junior in the Early Heaven Yuan Realm?

What humiliation!

"I'll kill you!"

Liu Chong was completely enraged. The blood-red Primal Energy around him surged madly, and his aura rose steadily. He had actually used some kind of secret technique, temporarily raising his strength to a level close to the Great Perfection of the Core Formation Realm!

Blood Wolf Devours Core: Blood-Devouring Frenzied Slaughter!

He formed hand seals with both hands, and blood-red Primal Energy transformed into countless Blood-Colored Chains that swept toward Luo Heng from all directions!

Every chain was as thick as a bucket, radiating a dense bloody aura and corrosive power. Wherever they passed, grass and trees withered while rocks melted!

The range and power of this attack far surpassed every move before it!

Luo Heng's face turned solemn. He knew this was Liu Chong's desperate strike.

He could not take it head-on!

Using the Flowing Cloud and Soaring Goose Steps, he darted rapidly through the forest, trying to avoid the chains' encirclement.

But there were too many chains, and they were too fast. Soon, they forced him into a dead end.

"It's over!" Liu Chong sneered viciously, bringing his hands together!

Countless Blood-Colored Chains coiled toward Luo Heng like giant pythons, intending to crush him into pulp!

At the brink of life and death, a resolute gleam flashed through Luo Heng's eyes.

"I'll risk it all!"

He stopped dodging. Instead, he halted in place, holding the Silver Feather Sword horizontally before his chest as he closed his eyes.

Within his Niwan Palace, the Myriad Law Seal shone brilliantly, and his Spiritual Power poured into the sword without reservation.

At his dantian, the dark gold Yuan Core Phantom spun madly, Primal Energy erupting like a volcano!

He operated the Great Devouring Art to its limit, frantically absorbing the surrounding Heaven and Earth Origin Energy to replenish his expenditure.

But his Primal Energy was draining far too quickly. In the blink of an eye, it was nearly exhausted.

"Not enough... still not enough!"

Luo Heng clenched his teeth, unwillingness rising in his heart.

Was he really going to die here?

No!

He still had too many things left undone. He had not seen enough of this world!

"Break for me!"

A powerful will erupted from the depths of his heart!

The next moment, the dark gold Yuan Core Phantom in his dantian suddenly trembled. Countless fine cracks appeared across its surface before it shattered with a bang!

Yet after shattering, it did not disperse. Instead, it condensed anew, becoming an even more solid and radiant dark gold Yuan Core!

Though it was still a phantom, it was several times more solid than before!

Middle Heaven Yuan Realm, breakthrough!

At the same time, the Rudimentary Sword Intent condensed at his sword tip finally took shape completely!

Half-Formed Sword Intent!

Once Sword Intent was formed, the path of the sword became clear!

Luo Heng suddenly opened his eyes, and what seemed like sword light flashed within them.

The Silver Feather Sword in his hand let out a clear dragon's cry, and a faint, illusory sword shadow appeared along its blade.

That was the manifestation of Sword Intent!

"Slash!"

Luo Heng slashed out with his sword. There was no dazzling sword light, no surging Primal Energy.

There was only an extremely faint, thin gray line.

Wherever the gray line passed, space itself seemed to be sliced apart, leaving behind a subtle black trace.

The Blood-Colored Chains, overwhelming in their might, shattered inch by inch like melting ice and snow the instant they touched the gray line!

The gray line did not lose momentum. In an instant, it crossed a distance of thirty feet and pierced Liu Chong's chest!

"Pfft!"

Liu Chong's movements suddenly froze. He lowered his head to look at the tiny bloody mark on his chest, his eyes full of confusion.

The bloody mark rapidly expanded, and blood gushed out like a fountain.

He could feel a terrifying Sword Intent raging within his body, wildly destroying his meridians and organs. Even his Yuan Core had begun to crack.

"Th-this... what sword technique is this..." Liu Chong rasped, his eyes filled with unwillingness.

"You guess." Luo Heng replied calmly, his face as pale as paper. That strike had nearly exhausted all his Primal Energy and Spiritual Power.

"Monster... ah..." Liu Chong muttered, the light in his eyes rapidly fading.

At last, his massive body crashed to the ground, dead.

Liu Chong, the Blood Wolf Gang's offering priest at Small Perfection of the Core Formation Realm, was dead!

Luo Heng stood supported by his sword, gasping heavily. After this battle, his Primal Energy was nearly depleted.

He had expended over eighty-five percent of it, his Spiritual Power was also close to exhaustion, and his body bore multiple wounds.

But the gains were equally tremendous.

Not only had he broken through to the Middle Heaven Yuan Realm, he had also comprehended Half-Formed Sword Intent!

Sword Intent was a realm countless sword cultivators dreamed of. Once comprehended, it would bring a qualitative transformation to the power of one's sword techniques.

Ordinary martial artists might not comprehend Sword Intent even after entering the Creation Realm.

Yet he had comprehended Half-Formed Sword Intent while still at the Middle Heaven Yuan Realm. Such talent was simply monstrous.

"I have to leave this place as soon as possible."

Luo Heng forced himself to take a breath, put away Liu Chong's Spatial Pouch, disposed of his corpse, then flashed away toward Qingyang Town.

This was no place to linger. The commotion from that battle had been too great, and it might draw others here.

Half an hour later, Luo Heng returned to Luo Manor and silently entered his room.

He sat cross-legged, took out several recovery pills and swallowed them, then activated the Great Devouring Art at full force and began recovering.

Though this battle had been dangerous, it had been worth it.

Not only had he eliminated a threat from the Blood Wolf Gang, but his strength had greatly increased as well.

"Next, it will be Lei Bao and Xie Qian's turn..."

A cold glint flashed through Luo Heng's eyes. He was someone who always repaid his grudges.

It was time to settle Qingyang Town's debts. Once Qingyang Town was dealt with, it would be time for the Blood Wolf Gang in Flame City!