Moving Armory

Lin Qing did not meet the attack head-on; his feet flashed with rapid steps as he drew the horizontal blade at his waist, maneuvering to engage with the Wave-Breaking Blade Technique.

"The Wave-Breaking Blade Technique! So it really was you who killed my brother, and you even dare to use our family's heirloom blade technique!"

Seeing Lin Qing use his sect's blade technique, the tall, thin man became even more certain of his suspicions. Consumed by rage, his blade strikes grew increasingly wild and violent, like surging waves, intent on completely swallowing Lin Qing whole!

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The two blades collided repeatedly, sending sparks flying in every direction.

Lin Qing felt his arms go numb and his blood roiling, his heart secretly alarmed:

Such immense strength. This explosive power definitely surpasses the Skin Refining Realm; he is a martial artist of the Tendon Opening Realm!

The gap in cultivation realms left Lin Qing at a complete disadvantage in both strength and speed, forcing him to rely on his exquisite blade technique to circle his opponent, narrowly escaping death at every turn.

Little did he know that the tall, thin man was even more astonished, never having expected the masked man to have cultivated the Wave-Breaking Blade Technique to such a state of pure perfection.

One had to know that it had taken him three whole years to reach this level.

Instantly, the killing intent in the tall, thin man's eyes intensified.

"A mere amateur in the Skin Refining Realm, yet you dare to kill my brother? Die!"

With a sudden stomp, the tall, thin man propelled himself forward amidst the explosive crackle of his internal energy, bringing his blade down in a crushing overhead strike!

The moment the tall, thin man launched his lethal assault, Lin Qing's blade erupted with light as he met the attack head-on, striking directly against the edge of the incoming blade.

Clang!

A burst of sparks exploded outward.

At the moment of impact, Lin Qing's arm shuddered and his feet were forced back several paces, his heart filled with slight shock.

This tall, thin man's blade technique was seasoned and ruthless, his killing intent decisive.

He had definitely claimed many lives.

"In the middle of a life-or-death battle, you still dare to let your mind wander?"

Realizing the extent of Lin Qing's strength, the tall, thin man immediately let out a sinister grin.

His horizontal blade slashed past with lightning speed.

Clang—!

"Drop it!"

Lin Qing's tiger's mouth was jarred, and the horizontal blade in his hand flew out upon impact.

It spun through the air and embedded itself into the dirt not far away.

Lin Qing's eyes widened in shock, and he immediately retreated with hurried steps.

"Hmph, you little bastard, is that all you've got?"

The tall, thin man approached with his blade, a cruel, cat-and-mouse smile plastered on his face.

"For killing my brother, I will carve off your limbs one by one, let you howl in agony as you slowly die, and make you regret ever coming into this world!"

Upon seeing that Lin Qing was only at the Skin Refining level, he felt completely secure.

He was in no rush to kill Lin Qing immediately; he wanted to torture him slowly to vent the hatred in his heart.

With a flick of his wrist, the blade's edge glinted with cold light as he struck toward Lin Qing's right shoulder, intending to cripple one of his arms first!

However, the scene of flesh and blood flying that he had envisioned did not occur.

"Rip—!"

The sharp blade merely tore through the gray cloth of Lin Qing's tunic, revealing a heavy, dark iron plate strapped underneath!

Even more astonishing was that the iron plate was cleverly fitted with leather buckles holding three gleaming throwing knives, a small row of poison needles shimmering with a green luster, and several large powder pouches.

The tall, thin man's strike, which he had been certain would succeed, left only a shallow white mark on the iron plate, not even breaking the skin.

The sinister grin on his face froze instantly, his eyes filled with bewilderment.

His hand, still gripping the blade, hung suspended in mid-air.

He looked up at Lin Qing in disbelief.

And Lin Qing, in turn, looked back at him in silence.

His gaze was calm and ripple-free.

The air seemed to solidify at this very moment.

The tall, thin man's mind went blank.

He had roamed the pugilistic world for many years and killed countless people, but this was the first time he had ever seen someone strap an iron plate inside their clothes, and damn it all, carry so many miscellaneous trinkets along with it!

Is this guy even a martial artist?

This is clearly a walking armory and poison shop combined!

In that very instant, Lin Qing moved!

The true killing blow erupted only now!

He no longer hid his strength, unfastening the iron rings from his arms. His muscles bulged as eighteen iron rings slid from his sleeves, clanging sharply.

He did not reach for the horizontal blade on the ground, instead clenching his fists.

With a fierce step forward, he threw a straight punch, like a heavy cannon firing from its chamber.

"Ha!"

The wind of his punch whistled, fierce and violent!

Though startled, the tall, thin man remained composed; he was, after all, an experienced warrior of the Second Gate, and he forcefully suppressed the absurdity rising in his heart.

He swung his horizontal blade back, meeting Lin Qing's iron-clad arms head-on.

He knew well that this punch was too fierce to take directly, so he attempted to use finesse to overcome the brute force.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

Fist and blade collided, producing a deafening sound like metal striking metal.

The iron rings on Lin Qing's arms smashed violently against the blade's edge, sending sparks flying!

The two traded blows at high speed, clashing dozens of times in an instant.

Though Lin Qing's realm was slightly inferior, the condensed power brought by his minor mastery of the Iron Wire Fist, combined with a body tempered day and night, kept him from falling behind.

When he unleashed a "Hard Bridge" opening move, the faint, overbearing intent contained within it made the tall, thin man's heart skip a beat.

He was forced to avoid the sharp edge and retreat half a step!

"Iron Wire Fist? Just who are you..."

The tall, thin man was shocked and furious, never expecting his opponent's fist technique to be so exquisite and fierce, a complete contrast to the wretched and insidious style he had shown moments ago!

However, before he could finish his sentence, Lin Qing swung his arms and shouted, "Flying Dragon Fist!!"

The tall, thin man felt his heart tighten.

Instinctively, he slashed his horizontal blade toward Lin Qing's chest, hoping to seal off the incoming punch.

But the next instant.

Lin Qing tapped his toes, his leg muscles suddenly tensing as he exerted force; his left leg whipped out like a steel lash, slamming violently into the tall, thin man's crotch.

"Bang—!"

Struck by this heavy blow, the tall, thin man's eyes bulged, his entire face turning a bruised purple. The horizontal blade nearly slipped from his hand as he clamped his legs together tightly.

The excruciating pain made his entire body tremble like a sieve, and he nearly fainted on the spot.

He was driven mad by shame and fury.

"You piece of trash, I will tear you into ten thousand pieces!"

Enduring the agony, his eyes turned blood-red like a mad demon, and he swung his horizontal blade recklessly, hacking wildly at Lin Qing!

The blade light surged like chaotic, violent waves, attacking without any defense.

It was a desperate, suicidal style of combat!

Facing this storm of life-or-death attacks, Lin Qing did not meet them head-on.

He retreated rapidly, his figure moving like the wind as he wove through the blade light.

His iron-clad arms parried and blocked, the iron rings clinking as he neutralized most of the attacks into nothingness.

The tall, thin man was shocked and enraged; he could not fathom how this man in black, only in the Skin Refining Realm, could be so difficult to deal with.

Suddenly, the urge to retreat took root in his heart.

He feinted with his blade, then turned and fled.

Seeing his opponent trying to leave, Lin Qing immediately stepped forward, refusing to let him go.

During the exchange, every time they clashed, layers of white powder were stirred into the air.

The tall, thin man suddenly felt his arm go slightly numb.

His blade-swinging motion faltered for a split second.

He initially thought it was the effect of his rage and paid it no mind, continuing his fierce assault.

After a few more moves, the numbness did not fade but instead spread through his body like a tide.

At the same time, a wave of dizziness washed over him.

What he found strange was that there was no dirt or dust on his own body.

His opponent also looked clean, and the powder pouches hanging on his person hadn't even been touched.

How could a cloud of dust explode every time they fought?

Just then, the previously silent Lin Qing suddenly spoke.

"Do you smell something?"

The tall, thin man was stunned by the question.

The offensive slowed down involuntarily.

A scent?

He subconsciously sniffed the air, but aside from the smell of blood and sweat, there was nothing else.

He suddenly realized something and looked down at his forearms, which had been numbed by Lin Qing's iron fists just moments ago.

Beneath the skin of his arms, he saw that at some unknown point in time—

Fine, spiderweb-like purple-black veins had actually emerged!