Escaping from Desperation

Whoosh whoosh.

The Long River Duo, with blowpipes in their mouths, fired with extreme stealth amidst the surging waves, the arrows leaving with muffled sounds, swift as strong grass.

Fortunately, Shen Yi had already focused his senses.

He instantly perceived the trajectories of the two arrows, but being in mid-air, he found it inconvenient to twist and dodge. He simply brought two fingers together and reached out towards the arrows.

This was a finger technique from the six scattered forms of the Bone Dislocation Hand.

It was called "Grasping Clouds and Seizing the Moon."

Shen Yi's finger moved, like a ripple of light on the water.

In the blink of an eye, he pinched the two flying blow darts between his fingertips, and then with a flick of his wrist, he flung them back with a whoosh.

The two ghosts did not expect Shen Yi to have such a quick reaction. They immediately raised their broadswords in a fluster to block.

Clang clang!

The two weren't worried about Shen Yi's counterattack.

He was still in mid-air, and falling into the water was inevitable.

As long as he fell into the water.

That would be the domain they, the two water ghosts, controlled.

With one of them at the First-Rate Realm and the other at the Second-Rate, they were absolutely confident in killing Shen Yi in the river.

Shen Yi knew this as well.

Although he knew how to swim, compared to these people who made a living in the water year-round, he was just a landlubber.

Once he fell into the water.

He would surely be in a losing situation.

In this crisis.

Shen Yi poured all of his remaining 8 months of secluded cultivation into his lightness skill. In an instant, he entered the secluded cultivation space at this critical moment:

[You continue to study the Grass Treading Flight technique, focusing on lightness and speed, combined with the internal energy cultivated from the Array Breaker Art. Your Grass Treading Flight has improved further.]

[After 8 months of secluded cultivation, your Grass Treading Flight has reached the Perfect Realm, comprehending a unique skill, Water Treading Wave Step.]

In an instant.

Shen Yi had a flash of insight.

His internal energy circulated throughout his body, and he immediately felt as light as a feather.

His feet lightly touched the water surface, actually borrowing a force from the soft water, his figure darting like the wind.

In the astonished eyes of the two water ghosts.

Shen Yi's hands formed claw shapes, like a falcon swooping down, his claws grabbing towards their throats. This move was called "Eagle Strikes the Water."

Crack.

One's arm was twisted and broken, letting out a shrill scream.

The other's neck was pierced by Shen Yi's fingers on the spot, spilling gurgling blood.

[Killed a Second-Rate martial artist of the jianghu, gained secluded cultivation time, three years and four months.]

[Secluded Cultivation] Remaining: 5 years

Shen Yi borrowed the force to flip in the air, lightly touching the river surface, his figure rapidly swinging towards the shore.

If Qin Jianghe saw this scene, he would definitely be shocked.

He absolutely could not imagine that the mere Third-Rate martial art, Grass Treading Flight, could actually be cultivated to the realm of Water Treading Wave Step.

Unfortunately.

Qin Jianghe was preoccupied with his own safety.

Although he had the cultivation of the Acquired Realm and rich combat experience.

But after all, he was seriously injured.

His combat power was limited, and as soon as Shen Yi flung him ashore, he immediately turned and ran.

It wasn't that he was disloyal.

But in his current state, facing the current crisis.

The faster he ran, the better it would be for both Shen Yi and him.

However, he still underestimated the Whale Gang's arrangements. Not only did the two ghosts leap onto the embankment behind him, chasing after him with swords.

Ahead.

There also appeared two figures, one black and one white.

Qin Jianghe's heart jumped.

Damn it.

The thought had barely formed when a gust of wind howled.

Two steel forks stirred up twin currents of air.

They spun and stabbed towards Shen Yi.

Wherever they passed, wild grass and shrubs were sliced in half by the sharp force.

This was the core combat strength of the Whale Gang's Yaksha Branch.

The Black and White Rakshasa.

A man and a woman, both lovers and comrades.

Both possessed first-rate cultivation.

Their cooperation was seamless and perfectly synchronized.

Even Qin Jianghe in his prime couldn't overcome them in a short time, let alone in his severely weakened state.

Qin Jianghe abruptly halted.

He slashed horizontally with his broken blade.

Not daring to meet force with force, he used a clever technique to deflect the heavy blow with minimal effort, hoping to buy some time.

However, the Black and White Rakshasa seemed to have anticipated this.

The force generated by their two steel forks.

One was fiercely powerful, the other subtly insidious.

Even with Qin Jianghe's vast experience, the moment his blade made contact with the two steel forks, he immediately felt a vortex-like force strangling him.

He felt nauseous.

Bang!

Qin Jianghe barely managed to borrow the force to retreat.

He escaped the Black and White Rakshasa's encirclement, breaking out to the side.

The corners of his mouth were already faintly stained with blood.

His body, which had been recovering from its injuries, was now in even worse shape.

"Hehehehe..."

A silvery laughter rang out.

The burly, white-clad woman, wielding a steel fork, used a voice that didn't match her figure at all to issue a final warning:

"Qin Jianghe, today is your death day!"

The Black Rakshasa, as thin as a twig, let out a low wail like a ghost, the demonic sound whistling in Qin Jianghe's ears.

It made Qin Jianghe truly feel a surge of Blood Essence.

What made him even more desperate was that the Long River Duo, who had been chasing him from behind, arrived with sinister smiles, brandishing their short blades.

He was surrounded on all sides.

He had almost no hope of survival.

Unless...

Suddenly, a black shadow was as swift as a breeze, as powerful as lightning, as light as a feather, treading on the grass.

In an instant.

Shen Yi arrived after everyone else.

In a single breath, he closed in on the Long River Duo who were chasing Qin Jianghe.

He was in mid-air.

A thought arose in Shen Yi's mind.

He poured his three years of diligent training into his fists and feet.

You have diligently practiced Bone Dislocation Hand. The six grappling techniques and six striking techniques are completely integrated, allowing you to innovate.

Your Bone Dislocation Hand has reached the realm of perfection, and you have comprehended the ultimate technique, Bone Dislocation Tendon Severing.

Crack!

A glint of light flashed in Shen Yi's eyes.

His hands shook.

A series of cracking sounds rang out from his bones and tendons.

Layers upon layers of palm shadows spread out.

How could the Duo have imagined that someone would suddenly interfere? Even more unimaginable was that Shen Yi was unharmed...

Then their two brothers...

Their thoughts, like the figures, were as chaotic as light and shadow.

In the blink of an eye.

Shen Yi had already exchanged several blows with the wiry man before him.

Shen Yi took three steps in quick succession, closing the distance.

The man retreated repeatedly, struggling to parry.

Shen Yi spread his arms, his fists and claws a blur, like a storm engulfing the man.

"Bone Dislocation Tendon Severing."

Every joint in the man's body was dislocated, and he collapsed to the ground, letting out a heart-wrenching scream.

The short blade in his hand had somehow fallen into Shen Yi's possession.

Clang!

The blade, aimed at the man's neck.

Was blocked by another short blade that had just been swung.

An angry roar rang in Shen Yi's ears:

"Damn it, you're asking for death!"

Shen Yi felt regret; in the end, the Long River Duo covered each other, preventing him from advancing further, and he couldn't afford to be greedy for merit.

Qin Jianghe was already in a dangerous situation.

He swayed, whirling towards Qin Jianghe, who was once again being pursued by the Black and White Rakshasa, and whispered:

"Duck down!"

Qin Jianghe understood immediately, and without regard for the deadly double forks coming from behind, he lunged forward in Shen Yi's direction.

Shen Yi held the short blade.

Blood Essence surged through his body.

His focus as sharp as a blade.

His arm as swift as lightning.

The blade flashed, like moonlight flowing over the clear river, converging into a fatal line where water met sky at the edge of the horizon.

A horizontal slash!

"Falling Moon over the River."

The battle intent instantly stirred by the Array Breaker Art allowed Shen Yi to reach an unprecedented peak.

The perfected Wind Severing Saber Technique, the blade light condensed into a radiant glow, its sharpness fully revealed, and already possessing a hint of profound meaning.

Clang!

Three forces erupted simultaneously, stirring up a wave of energy like a raging tide, and the surrounding weeds were reduced to powder.

The next second.

The short blade shattered!

Both steel forks snapped!

Shen Yi flashed, grabbed Qin Jianghe by the back of his collar, and sprinted away into the distance.

"Everyone, until we meet again!"

The dust dissipated.

The figures had already disappeared.

Leaving only the Long River Duo roaring in anger, and the Black and White Rakshasa standing in stunned silence.