On the Brink of Life and Death

How could Fifth Master Jin, as a Houtian Mid-Stage martial artist, be willing to die together with a mere Martial Disciple?

Though unwilling in his heart, he could only twist his body abruptly, drifting back like a willow leaf, while simultaneously kicking a golden short rod on the ground with one foot.

With a "boom,"

the golden short rod transformed into a beam of golden light that shot forth, striking the center of the blade wheel.

That golden short rod—what material was it forged from? The Sun and Moon Blades, reinforced with Cold Iron and exceptionally sturdy, shattered instantly.

Shi Mu's face changed drastically. His wrist flicked, and the thin iron chain coiled back, catching the remaining half of the broken blade.

At that moment, freed from any lingering concerns, Fifth Master Jin kicked again with one foot, sending the other golden short rod flying toward Shi Mu as a beam of light, while his body drifted forward, eerily following close behind.

Without a second thought, Shi Mu flicked the broken blade in his hand, and nine blade shadows slashed straight out.

Another thunderous roar!

The golden light trembled slightly, then rebounded, reverting to its short rod form.

Shi Mu, however, grunted and stumbled back two steps. The broken blade in his hand had shattered into fragments, completely destroyed, and his entire arm hung limp, as if the shock from the previous blow had snapped it.

Just then, Fifth Master Jin laughed loudly as he closed in. With a flick of his wide sleeve, a blood-red palm shot toward Shi Mu's head, leaving him no room to dodge.

Shi Mu roared in fury. His remaining good arm moved, and a fist shot up to meet the descending blood-red hand.

"Haha, seeking death!"

Seeing this, Fifth Master Jin let out a wild laugh. He channeled his inner qi, and the already vivid red palm grew even more crimson, almost dripping, with a faint, ethereal red mist forming on its surface.

Just as the fist was about to collide with the blood-red hand, Shi Mu's fingers suddenly moved. As if by magic, a foot-long sharp dagger appeared in his grip, and he stabbed it viciously into the blood-red palm.

Fifth Master Jin screamed in agony, even as the blood-red palm struck Shi Mu's arm holding the dagger.

Shi Mu grunted. His entire body flew backward, crashing through two small trees behind him before slamming heavily into a rock.

He spat out a mouthful of blood, then slid limply to the ground, unable to rise for the moment.

At this point, Fifth Master Jin stared in shock and fury at the sharp dagger piercing through the center of his palm and the rapidly fading blood-red color. His face alternated between pale and red before he suddenly roared:

"You've crippled my Blood Sha Palm! I'll smash every bone in your body, inch by inch!"

With that, he yanked the dagger from his palm, quickly tapped several acupoints on his hand with his fingers, and then strode toward Shi Mu with a ferocious expression.

Shi Mu, enduring the excruciating pain in both arms, looked up at the long-faced man approaching. His facial muscles twitched a couple of times, and a bitter, self-mocking smile appeared on his lips.

A Houtian Mid-Stage martial artist—indeed, not someone a mere Martial Disciple like him could contend with!

He had used the moment when the Sun and Moon Blades' broken fragments exploded as cover to secretly switch the dagger hidden in the handle to his other hand, concealing it in his sleeve without a sound. That was how he managed to catch the opponent off guard and severely wound his palm.

But the power of the Blood Sha Palm far exceeded his expectations!

His original plan—to cripple the opponent's hand and then immediately close in for a desperate attack—had completely fallen apart when he was sent flying by the residual force of the Blood Sha Palm.

Now, his entire body was drained of strength, both arms broken in several places. He had no way left to threaten his opponent.

As Shi Mu was lost in despairing thoughts, Fifth Master Jin reached him. Without a word, he kicked out.

A strange "thud" sounded.

Fifth Master Jin's kick seemed to hit something hard. Though it sent Shi Mu flying over three zhang away, his face deathly pale, the expected shattering of his ribs did not happen.

"Oh? What are you hiding on you?"

Fifth Master Jin snorted and walked over again.

"If you want to kill Brother Shi, then kill me first!"

Just then, a graceful figure rushed out from behind another rock, spreading her arms to shield Shi Mu.

It was Zhong Xiu, who had been hiding nearby watching the fight. Seeing Shi Mu gravely wounded and unable to rise, she had finally charged out, standing fearlessly in front of Fifth Master Jin.

"Ugly girl, since you say so, I'll grant your wish." Fifth Master Jin felt no mercy for an ugly girl. With a vicious sneer, he flickered and struck a palm at the girl's face.

With his profound inner qi as a Houtian Mid-Stage martial artist, even without the Blood Sha Palm, this blow would shatter the girl's skull and kill her on the spot.

"Stop!"

Seeing this, Shi Mu's face changed drastically as he shouted, twisting his body to force himself up. But halfway up, he fell back to the ground with a "thud."

Seeing this, Fifth Master Jin was completely reassured. He curled his fingers slightly, adding even more inner qi to the strike.

Though Zhong Xiu had long resolved to sacrifice herself, as the palm descended like a small mountain, she still paled and closed her eyes. But at that moment, a sudden heat surged through her body. Involuntarily, she opened her mouth, and a piercing scream erupted.

With a "boom,"

under the scream, Fifth Master Jin's chest seemed to be struck head-on by some invisible force. It caved in, and his body flew backward, tumbling three or four times before staggering to a halt.

"Bloodline power! You're a bloodline awakener too!"

Fifth Master Jin lifted his head, spat out a mouthful of blood, and stared at the girl with dead-fish eyes, shouting in shock and fury.

With his experience, he could tell at a glance that this girl was not only a bloodline awakener but that the bloodline she had awakened was far from low-grade.

This made him hesitate, even in the midst of his rage.

But the next moment, recalling the tragic death of Jin Tian and the Blood Sha Art he had painstakingly cultivated for over a decade now ruined, a murderous glint returned to his eyes. Without another word, he drifted toward the girl again.

At this moment, Zhong Xiu's scream had already come to an abrupt halt. She opened her eyes again, somewhat dazed, as if she still didn't know what had happened.

"What, do you wish to murder the third-rank bloodline bearer that Great Qi hasn't seen in a thousand years? If so, I'll have no choice but to send you on your way first."

Suddenly, a cool female voice rang out.

A figure flickered before Zhong Xiu. A woman in a white cloak appeared as if by sorcery, and as the man charged at her, she merely raised a slender jade hand and flicked it.

Pfft.

A blast of white, icy mist rolled out, instantly transforming Fifth Master Jin into a crystalline ice sculpture.