True Strength, Slashing a Bone Refining Realm Expert with a Blade!

"I originally intended to wait for you to lower your guard before dealing with you, but I never expected you to deliver yourself to my doorstep."

Gu Hualong looked at Liu Chu, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes as his right hand gripped the long sword at his waist: "Since that is the case, then today I shall cripple you!"

"As long as you are crippled, your master's last shred of hope will be completely extinguished, and he will obediently hand over the technique!"

Gu Hualong's voice was cold. Although he said this, he was actually thinking of continuing to poison Liu Chu, relying on the antidote to blackmail Yang Wenhuai!

Of course, he would not truly cripple Liu Chu; doing so might instead provoke Yang Wenhuai into a desperate, suicidal counterattack.

The older one gets in the pugilistic world, the more timid one becomes!

Gu Hualong was more than happy to bully the younger generation, but if he were asked to engage in a life-or-death struggle with someone of his own rank, he would be extremely cautious!

"Come at me together!"

Gu Hualong swept his cold gaze over the group, his eyes devoid of any fear; in his heart, these people were nothing more than a rabble.

"You've misunderstood."

Liu Chu shook his head, his voice calm: "They are here to collect your corpse!"

He waved his hand, signaling the others to step back.

"You arrogant brat!!"

Gu Hualong's pupils constricted, his face twisted in anger. His long sword was unsheathed in an instant, cold light flickering as he pointed it directly at Liu Chu: "With the likes of you, you think you are worthy of collecting my corpse!"

"My master's blade was not fast enough, nor was it ruthless enough!"

Liu Chu's expression was indifferent as he looked at Gu Hualong before him. His voice was cold, as if he were stating a fact: "But I am different!"

Swish!

As soon as the words fell, the killing intent emerged!

Liu Chu's figure flashed, whipping up a howling gale. The long blade at his waist left its scabbard, the friction between the blade and the iron sheath producing a shower of sparks and a sharp, piercing sound!

His footsteps were as swift as the wind, like a tiger released from its cage, and in the blink of an eye, he lunged before Gu Hualong.

A dazzling, eye-catching blade light suddenly bloomed, slicing through the air with the speed of thunder as it slashed fiercely toward Gu Hualong!

Such fast speed—no, he was hiding his strength!

Gu Hualong felt his vision blur, his heart trembling. He had the illusion of facing a Bone Refining Realm expert of his own rank. He could feel that this strike was significantly stronger than when he had seen Liu Chu at the martial arts hall!

Clearly, Liu Chu had been holding back before!

This was his true strength!

What a cunning brat!

Gu Hualong's heart sank, his expression turning grave. Not daring to be careless, he drew his long sword. The sword light flashed in an instant, blooming with a sharp, icy radiance as he met the attack!

Clang!

Blade and sword collided, erupting with the sound of clashing metal. Both combatants felt a surge of force sweep through the impact, leaving their arms slightly numb.

Thump, thump, thump!

The two retreated several steps each, ending in a dead heat!

"How is this possible!!"

Gu Hualong widened his eyes, his face full of disbelief.

He had not expected that he, a dignified Bone Refining Realm expert, would be evenly matched in a full-force strike against Liu Chu, a mere Tendon Refining Realm practitioner!

However, Liu Chu did not give him time to be shocked. The muscles in his legs suddenly tensed, his figure once again turning into a tiger released from its cage. He sprinted like a gale, his long blade dancing and flashing with dazzling, icy light!

Facing the incoming slash of Liu Chu's blade, Gu Hualong suppressed the shock in his heart, focused his mind, and unleashed his sword technique, engaging in a fierce battle with Liu Chu!

Clang! Clang! Clang!

In the blink of an eye, the two exchanged several blows. The collision of blade and sword sent out sharp, surging waves of force that caused the air to wail.

Liu Chu's blade technique was as swift as thunder, yet it hid a subtle agility. At times it was like a violent storm, at others like a gentle, persistent drizzle. The shifts between reality and illusion were unpredictable, and his moves connected seamlessly.

His perfected blade technique, combined with a minor-completion blade technique, gave him a mastery of the blade that surpassed most swordsmen.

Take Gu Hualong, for example; his sword technique was clearly not perfected, and his moves were inferior to Liu Chu's in finesse.

Coupled with a perfected Combat Technique, Liu Chu was able to draw parallels, gaining a deeper understanding that was vaguely superior to ordinary perfected blade techniques.

This meant that after only a few exchanges, Gu Hualong realized his sword technique was inferior to Liu Chu's, and he was gradually falling into a disadvantage!

Damn it, this brat has actually cultivated his blade technique to the perfected realm!!

Waves of shock churned in Gu Hualong's heart; he finally understood why the opponent could trade blows with him and end in a draw.

In fact, Liu Chu had not only perfected his blade technique.

His Yanglian Technique was also perfected. The eight strands of blood-energy within his body surged like roaring, galloping blood-colored dragons, erupting with power comparable to that of a Bone Refining Realm expert.

Added to the force-generating techniques brought by his perfected blade style, the power and speed he unleashed had completely reached the Bone Refining level!

However, the advantage that perfected blade techniques and a perfected Yanglian Technique provide against a Bone Refining Realm martial artist is beginning to shrink...

Liu Chu swung his long blade, the cold light like snow and dazzling to the eye, yet in his heart, he realized his own shortcomings.

Previously, he had relied on his cultivation realm to crush opponents across levels, but many martial artists in the Bone Refining Realm had already cultivated their techniques to Great Success.

This caused Liu Chu's advantage to gradually diminish.

Of course, the advantage was only diminishing, not gone entirely!

After all, Liu Chu had cultivated three techniques to Perfection; it was likely that over ninety percent of Bone Refining martial artists could not achieve such a feat!

Not good, if this continues, I will be defeated...

After exchanging over a dozen moves, Gu Hualong had clearly fallen into a disadvantage, beginning to retreat repeatedly. While his sword light still flashed, he had reduced his offensive maneuvers and was primarily defending.

Anxiety had already begun to stir within his heart.

Liu Chu's saber technique exceeded his expectations; it could be described as exquisite and peerless. Occasionally, when he swung his blade, it would appear as though the move had reached its limit, yet it would strangely erupt with new power, making it impossible to guard against!

He understood that this was the gap in technique brought about by a perfected saber style, a level he had yet to comprehend!

Gu Hualong's inner anxiety was seen through by Liu Chu, whose moves became increasingly fierce. The saber light, like a raging sea, completely enveloped and suppressed him!

In the blink of an eye, the two had exchanged over thirty moves!

Gu Hualong felt a dull ache in the web between his thumb and forefinger, and fear began to take root in his heart.

The more his emotions fluctuated, the more openings he revealed!

Liu Chu keenly seized an opening, his long saber suddenly erupting with a mountain-toppling force. He lunged like a starving tiger, shocking Gu Hualong into retreating several steps and leaving his defenses wide open!

Swish—

A flash of saber light, swift as a shooting star, moved too fast to be captured by the eye!

"Oh no!"

Gu Hualong hurriedly dodged, but he was still struck on the shoulder by the blade!

Pfft!

The sharp long saber sliced through skin and flesh, severing tendons and bone as a spray of blood erupted.

Accompanied by a scream, a severed arm flew into the air.

Gu Hualong's face turned deathly pale, twisted in agony, as he pulled back to retreat.

Liu Chu sprinted forward, his long saber showing no signs of stopping. He continued to unleash fierce arcs of light, pinning the armless Gu Hualong down completely!

Gu Hualong fought while retreating, but in his injured state, it was merely a death struggle. He did not last long before Liu Chu decapitated him with a single strike!

Thud!

Gu Hualong's face was filled with unwillingness as his body collapsed heavily to the ground!

He never imagined that he, with his Bone Refining cultivation, would actually be killed by a martial artist in the Tendon Refining Realm!

"You are the one who has exchanged the most moves with me so far; you may rest in peace."

Liu Chu said in a calm voice.

The one who exchanged the most moves...

Gu Hualong's final lingering consciousness heard these words, unsure whether to feel joy or sorrow.

Liu Chu did not look at him again, instead turning his gaze toward the short-haired youth, his voice indifferent: "I said I would collect your corpses for you; go on your way in peace!"