Provocation

Zhu Ping'an walked forward slowly and picked up the martial skill that had fallen to the ground.

"The Windfall Spear Art. So Brother Ye managed to get his hands on a martial skill? What good fortune."

Zhu Ping'an grinned, then casually tossed the martial skill into the charcoal fire where he was roasting chicken wings.

"No!!!"

Watching the paper burn fiercely in the flames, Ye Qingxian's eyes nearly split with rage.

"Brother Ye, a man must pay the price for what he's done, and this is the price for not trusting me." Zhu Ping'an shrugged, feeling like he must look like a real villain right now.

"Zhu! Ping! An! I'll kill you!"

"Spear, come!"

Ye Qingxian roared in fury, grasping the pitch-black Breaking Dragon Spear in his hand as it let out a low, rumbling dragon's cry.

He had already been simmering with rage, and Zhu Ping'an's act of burning the Windfall Spear Art completely ignited the fire in his heart.

"Spiral Lotus Flower!"

Ye Qingxian leaped high into the air, the Breaking Dragon Spear in his hand unleashing a terrifying momentum. He spun downward, spear tip leading like a venomous dragon drill, boring straight toward Zhu Ping'an with even greater power than before.

Clearly, Ye Qingxian had also broken through to the First Order Mid Stage.

The eight martial artists Leng Yuanting had sent to protect them were about to step in, but Zhu Ping'an stopped them.

He wanted to test, after nearly half a month, whether the gap between him and Ye Qingxian had widened.

"Nine Mountain Divine Sword, Fourth Form: Four Symbols Mountain Devouring Slash!"

Zhu Ping'an shouted deeply, the Chuyi Sword in his hand blazing with intense light. With his current Qi and Blood Value, executing the fourth form of the Nine Mountain Divine Sword came as easily as reaching into his pocket.

Supported by the Nine Revolutions Starry Sky Technique, the power of the Nine Mountain Divine Sword was pushed to its limit, as if it could cleave through everything before it.

Neither side showed any intention of retreating. Spear tip met sword light, colliding with a metallic clang. Both staggered back several steps, clearly neither gaining the upper hand.

Ye Qingxian shook his spear, thrusting it out again like an enraged dragon, each strike aimed at Zhu Ping'an's vital points.

Facing such an onslaught, Zhu Ping'an dared not underestimate his opponent. He parried each move while tangling with Ye Qingxian using the Nine Mountain Divine Sword. For a time, countless spear shadows and sword lights intertwined in the air.

The clash of the Breaking Dragon Spear and the Chuyi Sword sent sparks flying. The more Ye Qingxian fought, the more alarmed he became. The terrifying force constantly transmitted through the spear shaft reminded him relentlessly of Zhu Ping'an's fearsomeness.

After another collision, the two separated once more, and Zhu Ping'an's gaze turned sharp.

"Ye Qingxian, it's over."

"Nine Mountain Divine Sword, Fifth Form: Linked Peaks Suppressing Sword Art!"

After refining the Rainbow Surprise Tai Sui, Zhu Ping'an's Qi and Blood Value had reached five hundred, finally allowing him to unleash the fifth form. His sword slashed down from above, and in Ye Qingxian's eyes, it was no longer a blade but a mountain range bearing down to crush him.

He raised the Breaking Dragon Spear horizontally before his chest to block the strike, but the moment he lifted it, Zhu Ping'an's sword had already arrived!

"Clang!"

Ye Qingxian stumbled backward, the tiger's mouths of both hands split open, blood staining the black spear shaft red.

Watching from the side, Leng Tianjiao's expression was extremely complicated. When she first met Zhu Ping'an, he hadn't even been her equal, yet in such a short time, he had already surpassed her.

She could clearly sense that even if she were to face Zhu Ping'an, she wasn't sure she could withstand that sword strike.

But it wasn't over yet. No sooner had one sword landed than Zhu Ping'an's next came. Five strikes in a row, each heavier than the last. By the fifth, it weighed tens of thousands of jun! With lightning speed, it slammed fiercely into the shaft of the Breaking Dragon Spear.

The Breaking Dragon Spear bent into a bizarre arc. Ye Qingxian could no longer hold out against the fifth strike. He was sent flying back dozens of meters, then collapsed to the ground, sitting in utter disarray, thoroughly humiliated.

A look of bewilderment flickered in Ye Qingxian's eyes, as if he hadn't expected to have already lost.

This time, Zhu Ping'an hadn't even used that strange golden light sword technique, and he was already defeated. In just half a month, had the gap between them truly widened again?

"Pfft!"

At this thought, Ye Qingxian was filled with even more resentment. He spat out a mouthful of blood and fainted on the spot.

"Qingxian Ge!" Yan Shubing rushed over quickly to support Ye Qingxian. After checking his injuries, she shouted loudly, "Zhu Ping'an, you've gone too far!"

She glared at Zhu Ping'an angrily. This was the first time she hadn't called him Ping'an Ge.

"Hand over healing pills right now and apologize to Qingxian Ge, or else... I won't forgive you!"

This time, Zhu Ping'an didn't bow his head. His pitch-black eyes instantly filled with sorrow.

"Bingbing, are you condemning me right now for another man?"

Yan Shubing suddenly felt flustered. In the past, whenever she got angry, Zhu Ping'an would immediately apologize and fulfill all her demands. But this time, he was acting completely out of character.

And she didn't know what was wrong with her. Given her nature of choosing the best branch to perch on, seeing Zhu Ping'an outperform Ye Qingxian should have made her shift to flattering him instead.

Yet the moment she saw Ye Qingxian injured, an inexplicable rage surged within her, as if it were fated.

"Ping'an Ge, I'm not blaming you. But you burned Qingxian Ge's martial skill and injured him. Shouldn't you take responsibility for that? You know I hate men who lack a sense of responsibility the most!" Yan Shubing reverted to her usual two-faced demeanor.

"Heh..." Leng Tianjiao let out a cold laugh and rolled her eyes. "Listening to you makes me want to throw up."

Women understood women best. Yan Shubing was clearly trying to manipulate Zhu Ping'an.

Yan Shubing shot her a glare but said nothing more, instead turning to Zhu Ping'an with a pitiful look.

"Ping'an Ge, Bingbing believes you're definitely not a man without a sense of responsibility, right?"

"Of course!" Zhu Ping'an straightened his chest as if he had received immense encouragement. "Don't worry, Bingbing! I'll definitely cure Brother Ye! I'm not one to hold grudges!"

He pulled a pile of bottles and jars from his bosom and began treating the unconscious Ye Qingxian. Yan Shubing cooperatively stepped aside.

"Brother Ye, I'm going to treat your wounds now." Zhu Ping'an flashed a harmless, kind smile. These bottles and jars were all fine goods he'd gotten from Leng Tianyan.

Treat wounds? I'll treat you to death!

Watching Zhu Ping'an gently and attentively feed Ye Qingxian medicine, Yan Shubing breathed a sigh of relief.

It seemed this simp Zhu Ping'an was still under her control. When her peripheral vision caught Leng Tianjiao's icy face, Yan Shubing's gaze turned cold.

Leng Tianjiao had a better family background than her, better martial arts talent, and even her face and figure seemed to edge her out. Yan Shubing had long harbored resentment toward her.

"Playing all aloof and cold—who knows, in bed she might be a little vixen."

Yan Shubing thought viciously, then her eyes rolled as a scheme instantly came to mind.

She quietly sidled up next to Leng Tianjiao, a smug smile on her face as she whispered.

"Leng Tianjiao, do you really think Ping'an Ge likes you? Don't be naive. You're just a tool. Ping'an Ge has only ever loved me from start to finish. In his heart, you can't even compare to a single strand of my hair."

Leng Tianjiao glanced at her calmly and said nothing.

"Don't believe me? I'll prove it to you right now!"

A sly smile curled at the corner of Yan Shubing's lips. She grabbed Leng Tianjiao's hand and slapped it against her own face.

With a sharp smack, Yan Shubing fell to the ground, her eyes glistening like a pitiful little puppy.

Seeing Zhu Ping'an turn around, she immediately spoke in a pitiful tone.

"Sister Tianjiao, I know you've always been hung up on Ping'an Ge having liked me before. If hitting me makes you feel better, you can slap me a few more times—it's fine. But please, don't make things hard for Ping'an Ge."