Slaying the Muscle-Refining Evil Cultivator

Chapter 25: Slaying the Muscle-Refining Evil Cultivator

The terrifying pressure of a Muscle-Refining realm evil cultivator descended like a ten-thousand-foot ice abyss, instantly engulfing the entire waterside depression. The air solidified, and an eerie wind howled. The black-robed figure stepped out from the dense fog, his ghost-fire eyes locking onto Li Yifan, radiating a tidal wave of killing intent.

"Form up! Fight to the death!" Li Yifan roared, his voice like thunder, instantly dispelling the chill in his teammates' hearts. His gaze was sharp; far from being afraid, his fighting spirit surged! With his peak Bone-Forging cultivation, two Grandmaster-level techniques, and a team of well-coordinated allies, he would try to defeat an enemy of a higher realm today!

Hearing the order, the team members were greatly invigorated! Zhao Xiong and Sun Shi roared, their shields and sabers clashing, forging the foremost defensive line. Qian Xiaoliu nocked his crossbow bolts, his eyes sharp as a falcon's. Chen Feng and Zhang Tie drew their twin sabers, their auras connected, guarding the flanks.

Li Yifan stepped forward, positioning himself at the front of the formation. The Nine Yang Burning Heaven Technique roared to life, its supreme Yang true qi surging like a mighty river, ceaseless. Heat emanated from his body, dispelling and burning away the encroaching yin-evil energy! The Grandmaster-level Iron Bone Technique was secretly circulated, his muscles and bones chiming in unison, an ancient bronze sheen appearing, making him as steady as a rock.

"Heh heh... an ant dares to act tough?" the black-robed evil cultivator cackled. His body flickered, transforming into a distorted wisp of black smoke, moving so fast it left afterimages, lunging straight for Li Yifan! His withered claws extended, the tips black and gleaming, carrying the profound yin malevolent energy that corroded the soul, aiming straight for Li Yifan's crown!

"Good timing!" Li Yifan neither dodged nor blocked. With a precise step of the Spirit Fox Steps, he sidestepped the sharpest edge. Simultaneously, his waist saber was drawn! The Grandmaster-level Burning Wood Saber Technique was unleashed with full force. The saber blade instantly turned red as a branding iron, its scorching saber intent tearing through the air. He countered with a "Burning Wind" strike, slashing at the evil cultivator's wrist! It was both offense and defense!

"Clang--!"

Blade and claw met again, erupting in a deafening clash of metal! This time, Li Yifan's body only swayed slightly before he stood firm! The evil cultivator, however, felt a burning, searing pain in his claw. His protective evil qi was actually being scorched by the saber intent, sizzling!

"What?!" The evil cultivator was shocked. This brat was far stronger than when they last fought!

"Now! Kill!" Li Yifan shouted!

Qian Xiaoliu, who had been ready, shot three demon-breaking crossbow bolts in a triangular formation, silently aiming for the evil cultivator's back, knee, and shoulder! The timing and angles were extremely cunning!

Zhao Xiong and Sun Shi surged forward simultaneously, their sabers and shields attacking in unison, slashing at the evil cultivator's ribs from left and right! Chen Feng and Zhang Tie rolled forward close to the ground, their twin sabers aiming for his lower legs and ankles!

Surrounded! The evil cultivator was shocked and enraged. With a furious roar, the profound yin evil qi erupted from his body, forming a black wave of energy that pushed outwards in all directions!

"Bang! Bang! Bang!" The crossbow bolts were deflected. Zhao Xiong and Sun Shi were momentarily slowed by the energy wave. However, Chen Feng and Zhang Tie, with their lower cultivation, were jolted, their qi and blood churning, their movements momentarily stiffened.

Yet, this momentary disruption created a perfect opportunity for Li Yifan! He was unaffected by the surge of evil qi, protected by his Nine Yang True Qi, impervious to all evil! He pushed the Spirit Fox Steps to their limit, like a shadow, sticking close to the evil cultivator! Saber light flared again, the Prairie Fire Style spreading like a sea of fire, engulfing all his vital points!

The evil cultivator was forced to retract his claws to defend. The sounds of blades and claws clashing were dense as rain! The more he fought, the more shocked he became. This brat's true qi was supreme Yang and extremely potent, greatly suppressing his profound yin techniques. Furthermore, his saber techniques were sharp and seasoned, his footwork bizarre, and his defense astonishing. Occasionally clashing head-on, he found himself unable to gain any advantage! Coupled with the constant buzzing harassment from the surroundings, it made him agitated.

"Profound Yin Ghost Howl!" The evil cultivator, enraged, suddenly opened his mouth and let out a sharp, piercing shriek! The sound waves contained mental attacks and evil qi, rushing straight for everyone's souls!

Zhao Xiong, Sun Shi, and the others felt a sharp pain in their heads, their movements instantly slowing. Qian Xiaoliu also grunted, nearly dropping his crossbow.

Only Li Yifan! The supreme Yang righteous qi of the Nine Yang Burning Heaven Technique guarded his spiritual platform, giving him extremely high resistance to such evil arts! He merely frowned, his saber momentum unwavering. Instead, he seized the moment when the evil cultivator was using his sonic attack and his defenses were slightly slackened. His saber light flashed like lightning, stabbing straight for the evil cultivator's heart! This strike condensed all his power, fast, fierce, and accurate!

The evil cultivator was greatly alarmed. In a hasty attempt, he swung his claws to block, but he was half a beat too slow!

"Screech!"

The blade sliced across his chest and abdomen, tearing his black robe and revealing dark inner armor! But the scorching Nine Yang True Qi had already penetrated the armor!

"Ah!" The evil cultivator let out a piercing scream. His chest felt as if it were seared by a branding iron, black smoke billowing out, his profound yin true qi instantly in disarray!

"Good opportunity!" Li Yifan's eyes flashed with brilliance, knowing the decisive moment had arrived! The Nine Yang True Qi within him gathered at an unprecedented speed. The saber in his hand blazed with a crimson-gold light, as if transforming into a miniature sun! A terrifying saber intent that could burn all directions locked onto the evil cultivator!

"Nine Yang Burns Heaven! Burning Wood--Final Kill!"

Man and saber became one, transforming into a crimson-gold rainbow that tore through the darkness, an unstoppable force, slashing straight for the evil cultivator's head! This was the ultimate strike, condensing all the cultivation of a peak Bone-Forger and the essence of two Grandmaster-level techniques!

The evil cultivator was instantly terrified out of his wits! He had just suffered a heavy blow, his true qi in chaos. Facing this supreme Yang nemesis, this earth-shattering saber strike, he felt an insurmountable power! He desperately urged his profound yin true qi, crossing his claws to protect his head, while simultaneously retreating rapidly!

But it was too late!

Where the saber light passed, it was like a hot knife cutting through butter! The evil cultivator's claws, along with his protective evil qi, were instantly severed and vaporized! The saber momentum, undiminished, passed through his neck without obstruction!

A head, filled with a look of horror, shot into the sky! The headless corpse stood stiffly for a moment before crashing to the ground. Dark blood splattered out, quickly being burned and dissolved by the residual Nine Yang True Qi!

An early-stage Muscle-Refining realm evil cultivator, vanquished!

Silence fell upon the depression. Only Li Yifan, standing with his saber, his figure breathing slightly, and the crimson light on his blade slowly dissipating. Zhao Xiong, Sun Shi, and the others stared dumbfounded at the headless corpse, almost unable to believe their eyes. Captain... had actually killed a Muscle-Refining realm evil cultivator by crossing realms!

[Cross-realm kill of a Muscle-Refining realm evil cultivator! Mental state breakthrough, Nine Yang Burning Heaven Technique proficiency greatly increased! Burning Wood Saber Technique comprehension deepened! Martial will further condensed!]

Li Yifan calmed his churning qi and blood. That final saber strike had consumed a great deal, but the results were outstanding. He walked to the corpse and examined it carefully, searching its person and finding a black token inscribed with strange runes, a bag emitting a chilling aura, and several bottles of unknown pills.

"Clean up the battlefield and collect all evidence! Qian Xiaoliu, maintain vigilance around us! Zhao Xiong, Sun Shi, tend to Chen Feng and Zhang Tie!" Li Yifan quickly gave orders, his voice steady, carrying an unquestionable authority.

"Yes, Captain!" The others snapped back to reality, extremely excited, and immediately sprang into action. The captain had killed an enemy of a higher realm; this battle could be considered a complete victory! The name of the Seventh Squad would surely echo throughout Qing Province's Xuntian Guard!

In this battle, under Li Yifan's leadership, the Seventh Squad, with their exquisite coordination and absolute strength, successfully slew the Muscle-Refining realm evil cultivator who had been endangering Fenglin County, perfectly completing a Grade C- mission! The captured items from the evil cultivator were even more crucial clues.

A moment later, the squad, carrying the evil cultivator's head and the captured items, swiftly retreated from the edge of the Misty Forest. The moonless night had not yet passed, but the dark clouds hanging over Fenglin County had begun to dissipate with the evil cultivator's demise.

Li Yifan knew that slaying this fiend was only the beginning; the forces behind him might be even more formidable. However, after this battle, his confidence had soared. Though the road ahead was perilous, he would forge ahead!