Five Stars in a Row

Five iron arrows streaked across the night sky like swimming dragons.

"Who's backing you? Who put you up to this?"

"What is your relationship with Divine Bow Hall?"

Faced with this utterly unnatural archery, Cao Cheng was shocked, but his mind raced as he considered his own enemies and those of the Cao Family.

Li Yi's archery was too heaven-defying. It was simply not something a farmer-born man like him could have mastered. There had to be something fishy going on here.

Divine Bow Hall?

Li Yi froze slightly. Was that some kind of faction?

Judging by the name, it seemed to have something to do with bows and arrows!

As each of them entertained their own thoughts, the iron arrows had already swept through the night sky and arrived before Cao Cheng in an instant.

"My Cao Family has stood tall for a hundred years on more than money and grain!"

Cao Cheng roared, instantly unleashing the Cao Family's secret spear technique. The spear in his hand abruptly transformed into something like a flying bird; its tip darted like a swallow, an eagle, a night owl, striking dozens of times with lightning speed.

As the spear tip struck again and again, Li Yi could even vaguely hear the cries of a hundred birds.

The Cao Family spear technique—[Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix Spear]!

Hearing the birdsong by his ears, Li Yi recalled some of the Cao Family's secrets that General Guan had told him.

Over a hundred years ago, the Cao Family's ancestor had wielded a long spear and followed the Chen Kingdom's emperor of the time into battle with the [Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix Spear Technique]. After rendering unparalleled merit, he received countless rewards.

From then on, the Cao Family possessed the foundation to become a century-old clan.

With this spear technique and the efforts of successive Cao Family heads, the Cao Family endured countless brutal battles and rose into the ranks of the Chen Kingdom's seven great families.

Amid the chorus of a hundred birds, the iron arrows were either deflected or knocked flying. In the blink of an eye, the killing move formed by the combination of four skills had been broken.

"You should consider yourself fortunate to see the [Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix Spear] before you die!"

Cao Cheng sneered viciously as his blood and qi surged throughout his body.

His footwork resembled birds skimming the water. With each step, he crossed more than a meter, constantly closing the distance to Li Yi.

"I told you, you talk too much!"

Li Yi watched Cao Cheng draw closer with an icy gaze, then took out another five iron arrows, drew his bow, and fired.

[Five Stars in a Row]!

[Arrow-Fighting Art]!

[Scouting and Concealment]!

[Hunting]!

This time, Li Yi replaced his breathing technique with the [Scouting and Concealment] skill, forming an entirely new killing move.

Under the effects of this new skill combination, the five arrows he fired this time carried not a trace of killing intent, hurtling plainly and unadorned toward Cao Cheng.

"What?"

Yet in Cao Cheng's eyes, the five arrows left the bow at staggered intervals, forming a long dragon in the night sky. Their arrowheads gleamed coldly, like a venomous serpent made of arrows!

Danger!

His sixth sense screamed a frenzied warning. Cao Cheng stopped at once and deployed the top-secret spear technique again.

He had a premonition: if he could not stop these five arrows, he would die!

Perhaps because the distance had closed, or perhaps because of Li Yi's archery, these five arrows came even faster than before.

Clang!

With a crisp ring, the spear in Cao Cheng's hand shuddered as the first iron arrow was knocked away.

Clang!

Another crisp ring sounded. The spear tip veered aside, and an iron arrow grazed Cao Cheng's cheek as it flew past.

"Not good!"

Cao Cheng was horrified, experiencing the scent of death so clearly for the first time!

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Before Cao Cheng could react, the remaining three arrows arrived one after another, following the same trajectory as they shot straight at him.

Pfft!

The chorus of a hundred birds abruptly fell silent. Under the impact of several iron arrows, the spear in Cao Cheng's hand trembled loose from his grasp and embedded itself in a nearby tree.

"Argh!"

Cao Cheng let out a miserable scream. An armor-piercing arrow had embedded itself in his left shoulder.

Earlier, with the wolf pack holding him back, Li Yi had successfully wounded Cao Cheng's left shoulder.

This time, the armor-piercing arrow Li Yi had obtained from Old Zhang struck Cao Cheng under the cover of the first four iron arrows, successfully crippling his left shoulder.

At this point, Cao Cheng retained only half of his former strength!

Body Tempering Level Four was known as Bone Tempering!

After cultivating to this realm, a martial artist's flesh and skin had already reached the pinnacle of ordinary warriors.

The next step was Body Tempering Level Five—the Meridian Opening Realm!

And after Level Five lay an entirely different world.

It could be said that the gap between Level Four and Level Five was ten times greater than the gap between Level Two and Level Four!

"You think this is enough to kill me?"

"Dream on!"

Under Li Yi's many killing moves, Cao Cheng was finally forced into a desperate corner.

He took out a red pill and swallowed it. His aura instantly surged, and with a sharp yank, Cao Cheng endured the pain and pulled the Army-Breaking Arrow from his shoulder.

"You made me waste a life-saving spirit medicine. I'll repay you with your whole family's lives!"

Cao Cheng lunged forward, pulled the spear embedded in the tree free, and charged toward Li Yi.

At this moment, Cao Cheng was no more than ten meters from Li Yi. At such a distance, the bow could no longer be of any use.

"You want my whole family's lives? Worry about your own first!"

Seeing the crazed look on Cao Cheng's face, Li Yi's expression hardened. He tossed aside the iron-backed bow, seized the Plum Blossom Spear, and met him head-on.

[Gale-Rending Formation-Breaking Spear]!

Fight!

For a time, the forest rang without pause with the cries of a hundred birds and the howling of fierce winds.

"I'll help you!"

Han Jia hefted his nine-ring broadsword, leaped fiercely into the air, and brought it down in a Mount Hua-Splitting strike aimed straight at Cao Cheng's shoulder.

The nine-ring broadsword was a heavy weapon, and Han Jia possessed innate divine strength. That single chop even tore out a sonic boom.

At the sight, Cao Cheng thrust his spear, forcing Li Yi back. Then he spun the weapon behind him and caught Han Jia's broadsword.

"You've got some strength!"

Cao Cheng laughed loudly and viciously swept his spear aside. The tremendous rebounding force drove Han Jia back.

Hit!

The spear abruptly changed course, turning into a night owl as it stabbed straight into Han Jia's thigh.

Fortunately, Han Jia wore heavy refined-iron armor. The blow merely shook him internally and did not leave a bloody hole.

"Hold on! He can't maintain this state forever!"

After exchanging blows for a while, Li Yi quickly realized that Cao Cheng's current might was entirely dependent on that red pill.

As long as they stalled for a while and waited for the medicine's effects to fade, Cao Cheng would be a turtle in a jar!

"Alright!"

With Li Yi's reminder, Han Jia no longer focused on killing him. Instead, he activated the [Wind-Breaking Breathing Technique] and continuously harassed and wore Cao Cheng down.

"The Cao Family's [Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix Spear] truly is extraordinary!"

Working together with Han Jia, Li Yi barely managed to hold Cao Cheng back.

As Li Yi fought Cao Cheng with the [Gale-Rending Formation-Breaking Spear], he continuously compared their spear techniques, using each to verify the other.

For a time, the experience of Li Yi's spear skill continued to rise.

After the time it took for an incense stick to burn, the forest had been turned into a ruined wasteland.

The blood flowing from the three of them had even stained much of the earth red.

Feeling his qi and blood gradually ebbing away, Cao Cheng grew anxious.

"I can't drag this out any longer!"

There was still some time before dawn, but his current state could never last until daybreak.

With that thought, Cao Cheng's expression turned ruthless. His spear came to a halt, then its momentum suddenly shifted.

"Watch out!"

After warning him, Li Yi instantly pushed his breathing technique to its absolute peak. His qi and blood moved through his body like a flood dragon, brimming with wild savagery.

Hundred Birds Take Flight!

In an instant, the cries of a hundred birds erupted. Cao Cheng's spear became like a flock of flying birds, rapidly stabbing out and enveloping Han Jia and Li Yi.

"Die!"

This was a killing move within the [Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix Spear]. Cao Cheng had only barely mastered it, and under the threat of death, he could only force it out regardless of the damage to his meridians.

"Brother Yi, I'll do it!"

Faced with the dazzling spear shadows, Han Jia gritted his teeth and directly entered his blood-rage state. Wielding the nine-ring broadsword in his hand, he shielded Li Yi behind him.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

A rapid series of clashes between blade and spear rang out. The cries of a hundred birds abruptly ceased, and Han Jia was sent flying backward.

His limbs had gone weak, and blood kept spilling from his mouth.

Even protected by heavy refined iron armor, Han Jia had been injured by the powerful force of the spear.

"So spear techniques can be used like this!"

Watching Cao Cheng unleash [Hundred Birds Take Flight], Li Yi's heart stirred. He gained a new understanding of several aspects of the [Gale-Rending Formation-Breaking Spear] that had previously confused him.

[Gale-Rending Formation-Breaking Spear (Proficient): 50/800]

[Effect: The spear moves like a dragon, able to thrust dozens of times in an instant and overwhelm opponents with an onslaught like a violent storm!]

After watching Cao Cheng and Han Jia's battle, Li Yi suddenly achieved enlightenment. His spear technique instantly broke through from the skilled realm to the proficient realm!

And with that breakthrough, Li Yi successfully grasped one of the killing moves within the [Gale-Rending Formation-Breaking Spear].

Gale Triple Thrust!

Cao Cheng had just sent Han Jia flying. His old strength had faded, while his new strength had yet to arise.

This was the chance!

Li Yi instantly seized the opening. He stepped forward, and the Plum Blossom Spear shot fiercely toward Cao Cheng.

[Gale Breathing Method]! Blood Surge!

In an instant, the qi and blood within Li Yi, coiling like a flood dragon, transformed into a berserk beast and surged ceaselessly through his body. The powerful tide of qi and blood even flushed his face blood-red.

His strength increased by thirty percent!

Though the aura around his body had become wildly violent, Li Yi's mind remained exceptionally calm.

Feeling the changes within himself, Li Yi fixed his gaze firmly on Cao Cheng.

Gale Triple Thrust!

The killing move he had just mastered was unleashed at once. As he used it, Li Yi incorporated some of the insights he had gained from Five Stars in a Row and the Arrow-Fighting Art.

Empowered by the force of his qi and blood, the spear in Li Yi's hand thrust out three times in succession.

The three thrusts came one after another without end, all striking toward the same spot.

From Cao Cheng using Hundred Birds Take Flight to send Han Jia flying, to Li Yi breaking through in the heat of battle and unleashing Gale Triple Thrust after Blood Surge, only a few breaths had passed.

After Li Yi seized that fleeting opportunity, Cao Cheng had no time at all to respond.

Gale Triple Thrust knocked aside the spear Cao Cheng had desperately raised to block it. In the next instant, Li Yi's Plum Blossom Spear pierced Cao Cheng's chest.

In an instant, Cao Cheng's qi and blood went limp. The powerful qi and blood that had only been sustained by the red pill instantly dissipated, and a stream of hot blood gushed from the wound.

"How is this possible?!"

Cao Cheng lowered his head to look at the bloody hole in his chest, then stared at Li Yi in disbelief.

Thud.

With his qi and blood shattered, Cao Cheng no longer had the strength to stand and dropped straight to his knees.

Seeing this, Li Yi unconsciously let out a breath of relief.

After a long and bitter fight, firing three successive volleys of Five Stars in a Row, and using Blood Surge to unleash his spear technique's killing move, Li Yi was now covered in wounds as well.

Holding the Plum Blossom Spear, Li Yi took several steps to reach Cao Cheng.

Looking down at the pale-faced Cao Cheng, Li Yi did not waste a single word. He raised the Plum Blossom Spear and thrust it straight down.

"You can't kill me!"

"If you kill me, the Cao Family won't let you off!"

"Spare my life, and I swear I'll never seek revenge!"

"Besides, name any conditions you want, as long as you let me live!"

"Whatever you want, my Cao Family can give it to you!"

Watching the spear tip draw ever nearer, Cao Cheng completely broke down and begged for mercy again and again.

"I told you, you talk too much!"

With a wet pfft, Li Yi's Plum Blossom Spear pierced straight through Cao Cheng's throat.

Afterward, Li Yi thrust several more times, stabbing every vital fatal point on Cao Cheng's body.

"Brother Yi, you're incredible!"

Han Jia, leaning against a tree in the distance, stared at Li Yi in shock and muttered to himself.

After killing Cao Cheng, Li Yi was exhausted beyond measure as well. Supporting himself with the Plum Blossom Spear, he sat down on the ground.

Cao Cheng truly deserved to be called a powerful Body Tempering Fourth Layer expert. Even after being worn down by the wolf pack's assault, he had still inflicted tremendous damage on Li Yi and Han Jia.

"Take this medicine. We need to leave quickly!"

Li Yi and Han Jia were both seriously injured now. If anyone else came, they would be in danger.

After tossing a bottle of healing medicine to Han Jia, Li Yi forced himself over to the corpses of Cao Cheng and the others. After searching them, he sprinkled beast-luring powder over the bodies.

The Hundred Trees Forest was teeming with wild beasts. This medicinal powder would draw in a great many of them, destroying the corpses and all traces at the scene.

"Let's go. We'll split the spoils once we're back!"

Casting one last glance at the Hundred Trees Forest, Li Yi and Han Jia supported each other as they hurried back to the military camp.

As several bronze gongs rang out, Li Yi, his body wrapped in white gauze, slowly opened his eyes.

"My lord, the Cao Family's merchant convoy has already left Qinghe County!"

Captain of the personal guards Liu Ye quietly reported on the situation within Qinghe County to Li Yi.

After returning to camp, Li Yi had ordered his personal guards to keep the Cao Family's merchant convoy in the city under constant surveillance, day and night.

Following the traces left behind by Cao Cheng and the others, the convoy's men entered the Hundred Trees Forest. Before long, however, they fled back to Qinghe County in blind panic.

In less than a day, the merchant convoy had left Qinghe County.

While eating meat porridge, Li Yi made arrangements for the many affairs of Gale Camp.

Before long, Liu Ye left the tent to carry out Li Yi's orders.

"This Cao Family really is rich!"

Setting down his wooden bowl, Li Yi took out a bundle and examined its contents closely.

After killing Cao Cheng, many of Li Yi's skills had gained a large amount of experience. Even the [Gale Breathing Method], which was easy to learn but difficult to master, was on the verge of a breakthrough!

By Li Yi's estimation, once this breathing method broke through, he would be able to step into the third level of body tempering—the Hard Flesh Realm!

The bundle contained the spoils taken from Cao Cheng and the others.

Altogether, there were more than three hundred taels of silver, some insights into the spear techniques Cao Cheng had gained while practicing the [Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix Spear], a bottle of healing pills, and a great deal of miscellaneous items.

"With this book of spear insights, drawing inferences from one instance to another should also improve the [Gale-Rending Formation-Breaking Spear]. If I thoroughly absorb it, this spear technique will likely break through to the Minor Mastery realm."

"As for the silver and pills, Han Jia and I will split them evenly."

Li Yi quickly sorted out the spoils, then summoned Li Tao and ordered him to deliver Han Jia's share.

For more than ten days in a row, Li Yi remained in his tent recovering from his injuries while cultivating the breathing method.

"My lord, General Guan has sent military orders!"

Personal guard Liu Ye quietly approached Li Yi's side and said in a low voice:

"The general says that once your injuries have healed, you are to report to the main camp and see him at once!"