Yin-Yang Hundred-Step Stumble

The instant his fist cracked like thunder, Gao Huaiyi's expression changed dramatically.

Feeling the fierce rush of the oncoming fist wind, he realized at once that he couldn't withstand it!

He hurriedly raised the blade in his hand, trying to block Lu Li's fierce punch.

Lu Li's punch slammed into Gao Huaiyi's blade, and invisible shock waves rippled outward in layers.

The blade bent in an instant. The immense force left Gao Huaiyi completely helpless, hurling him backward until he crashed heavily onto the stone slabs.

With a retch, he spat out a large mouthful of blood.

Lu Li gave him no chance to catch his breath. He used the Flying Swallow Step and rushed forward.

He concentrated all his strength in his legs. The muscles bulged, and he stomped down hard.

Every hair on Gao Huaiyi's body stood on end. He endured the pain wracking him and hurriedly rolled aside, narrowly dodging Lu Li's stomp.

He whipped his head around and stared at the bluestone slab Lu Li had shattered with that one stomp.

His eyelid twitched, and his heart pounded wildly.

If that stomp had landed, his head would have been smashed to pieces!

Without hesitation, he turned and fled for his life.

But Lu Li's movement skills were exceptional. In an instant, he was only a few yards away.

"Brother, we have no grudge between us. Why are you hounding me like this?" Gao Huaiyi's voice trembled, tinged with a plea.

Lu Li's face was expressionless, his eyes filled with endless killing intent.

Gao Huaiyi was chilled to the bone. He was so terrified that even his movements faltered for a moment.

That brief hesitation was all it took. Lu Li paused only a beat before closing in, reaching Gao Huaiyi's back without the slightest effort.

His hands clamped around Gao Huaiyi's shoulders like iron pincers.

Gao Huaiyi grimaced in pain, feeling as if the bones in his shoulders had been crushed.

Gripping his shoulders, Lu Li lifted him and slammed him hard into the ground.

With a crack, the bluestone slabs shattered.

Gao Huaiyi lay sprawled on the ground, dazed and reeling, stars dancing before his eyes.

Lu Li seemed to sway before him, splitting into seven or eight figures.

As Lu Li slowly approached, Gao Huaiyi groaned and struggled to get up.

But the gap in their strength was too great, and his injuries were too severe. His tendons were severed, his bones broken, and every inch of his body screamed with pain.

Now he didn't even have the strength to move a finger. He could only wait to die.

He watched Lu Li draw nearer, his whole body radiating murderous intent, his Blood Mask twisted into a terrifying grimace.

Like a demon god descending upon the world, Lu Li left him utterly despairing.

"Can you at least let us brothers die knowing the truth? Who are you?"

Lu Li stopped in front of Gao Huaiyi and said coldly, "Blood Ghost of the Wind and Rain Pavilion!"

With that, Lu Li stomped and blew Gao Huaiyi's head apart.

Blood splashed across the scarlet mask, making its features all the more savage.

Lu Li straightened and swept his gaze around.

His imposing presence rolled outward like dark clouds pressing down on the land.

The nearby townsfolk grew heavy with dread, cried out in alarm, and fled in every direction.

Uncle Zhao's family supported one another, trembling as they stared at Lu Li.

Lu Li paid them no mind. He quickly searched the two men's bodies.

He remembered that the man named Zhang Tianlong had carried poison, the sort that left you defenseless.

That was why Lu Li had chosen to take him out first.

If he hadn't, and Zhang Tianlong had released the poison, Lu Li might truly have fallen into his trap.

In fact, Lu Li had arrived much earlier and watched from the shadows, waiting for a chance to kill Zhang Tianlong in one blow!

He had to get the poison. It would be another means of protecting himself.

The usefulness of ordinary lime powder had dwindled by now.

Soon, he found a porcelain bottle and a thread-bound manual on Zhang Tianlong.

Then Lu Li picked up the long blade, cut off both men's ears, and used the Flying Swallow Step to leap away, vanishing from the spot.

The whole thing took no more than three breaths. His practiced movements left everyone dumbfounded.

Lu Li returned home before long.

After bolting the door, he wrapped the ears in a handkerchief, planning to visit the Wind and Rain Pavilion another day to turn them in.

For now, he wanted to examine what he had gained.

Lu Li knew nothing about poisons, so he set the porcelain bottle aside for the time being, to avoid accidentally harming himself.

He first picked up the thread-bound manual. On its cover were the four characters Hundred Solutions to Poisons. Inside were countless methods for making poison.

Lu Li found the poison from the bottle listed inside. It was called Yin-Yang Hundred-Step Stumble.

It was a colorless, odorless powder.

Yet it was lethally poisonous. After some time, its victim would feel their strength fade and their steps falter. Then their whole body would convulse, and they would die.

An Organ-Refining martial artist would be doomed without an antidote!

After reading about it, Lu Li was quite satisfied.

A poison capable of killing even an Organ-Refining martial artist was truly extraordinary.

Just imagining himself poisoned made Lu Li shudder.

Good thing I picked my target, launched a sneak attack, and killed him in one blow.

Otherwise, if I'd gotten bogged down in a drawn-out fight, I'd probably be the one who died. Lu Li mused to himself.

After finishing the rest of Hundred Solutions to Poisons, Lu Li closed the book, delighted.

Some of the poisons later in the book can even take down Inner-Qi Realm martial artists. They're incredibly potent.

Unfortunately, making a single dose capable of taking down an Inner-Qi Realm martial artist can cost thousands of taels. Far too expensive.

I'll set those aside for now. Changfeng County only has Blood-Exchange Realm martial artists, so I only need to consider poisons that can take them down.

The ingredients for Yin-Yang Hundred-Step Stumble seem easy enough to find. Hu Niu might even have some growing in her herb garden.

Lu Li stroked his chin and thought for a moment. "Next time I go into the mountains, I'll remind Hu Niu to keep an eye out and gather more herbs."

Lu Li made a show of going to see Uncle Zhao and spent some time reassuring him. Then he returned to his room and got down to business.

The night passed in a flash. After practicing the Elephant Strength Bull Demon Fist, Lu Li spent some time studying Yin-Yang Hundred-Step Stumble.

[Elephant Strength Bull Demon Fist (Tendon-Refining Realm 420/900) One practice per day; mastery in seventy years]

After that, Lu Li went to his shift at Huang Mansion.

Along the way, he heard passersby gossiping. Everywhere, people were talking about his attack on the two members of the Incense Fragrance Sect.

As he passed a teahouse, the storyteller inside slapped his block, then began recounting the tale, swaying his head as he spoke.

"Now, those two men—one with a scarred face, tall and burly, all muscle—started killing anyone they saw the moment they arrived, blades in hand."

"..."

"Who knows who they offended? The Wind and Rain Pavilion had them in its sights."

"There's always a higher mountain. The Wind and Rain Pavilion's martial artist was even more valiant, invincible in battle. It took just one brief exchange."

"Smack!" He slapped his block again, drawing everyone's attention.

"The two men died in an instant, their bodies left in a gruesome state, blood splashed across the killer's mask. He was just like the King of Hell, descending to claim their souls!"

"Truly worthy of the Blood Ghost mask!"

At that, the crowd broke into a hubbub of discussion.

Most of them were common folk. Hearing that Gao Huaiyi and his companion were dead, they cheered.

But some people voiced doubts.

"You're exaggerating. I heard that yesterday those two had even the two family heads, Huang He and Wang Ju, treating them with deference."

"Exactly. They were formidable martial artists too."

"No exaggeration. I saw it with my own eyes yesterday. That man in black really did suddenly kill one of them, then completely overwhelm the other. His blows were ruthless, and he showed no mercy!"

The crowd argued endlessly.

But no matter what, with the two family heads, Huang He and Wang Ju, as a point of comparison, the name of Blood Ghost of the Wind and Rain Pavilion would surely spread throughout Changfeng County!

Lu Li stopped to listen for a moment. His brows lifted, and the corners of his mouth turned up. He was in a rather pleasant mood.

I'm going to become famous.

Lu Li hummed a little tune, feeling great as he ambled toward Huang Mansion.