"Transformation Force!"
Fang Xing's pupils contracted. After a brief exchange, he instantly reached his verdict.
This waiting game had brought out the biggest trump card of all, far beyond anything he'd expected.
Looking at the white-bearded monk with one arm severed, Fang Xing immediately thought of the abbot mentioned in the reports.
"Pfft..."
His strike had missed, and the white-bearded monk spat out a mouthful of blood.
He had already suffered grievous injuries, and now a blade had pierced straight through his body. As he tried to channel his force, his aura plummeted.
"Now's my chance!"
Fang Xing quickly snapped back to his senses and darted forward. Demon Subduing Force burst forth as his fist shot out like lightning.
If he'd been facing a Transformation Force martial artist in his prime, Fang Xing would have run without hesitation. But now, the man had suffered a mortal wound. This was a rare opportunity.
Killing a Transformation Force martial artist would surely earn him far more Enhancement Points than taking down a Bright Force martial artist.
The air compressed, and his fist force surged like a dragon!
The punch was blindingly fast.
"You damnable wretch!"
The white-bearded monk's face was deathly pale. Sensing the danger, he immediately marshaled his force to meet the attack.
"Thud!!!"
A dull boom rang out, and Fang Xing was sent flying backward.
He skidded back ten feet before finally coming to a stop.
His internal organs churned. That brief clash alone had sent his blood and qi into turmoil.
Even at the end of his rope, a Transformation Force martial artist was still terrifyingly powerful.
"Whoosh—!"
Fang Xing forced down the roiling blood and qi within him and activated Gale Step, closing in on the monk once more.
Though he had been injured in that exchange, the white-bearded monk's wounds were far worse.
Blood kept pouring from his body.
His strength had fallen to its lowest point.
At a time like this, all Fang Xing had to do was keep him occupied and seize an opening. Then he could kill him for sure.
He darted and weaved, pushing Gale Step, this movement technique, to its limits.
With Demon Subduing Technique supporting him, the white-bearded monk was already at his limit within just a few breaths.
"Crack—!"
Seizing his chance, Fang Xing brought down a Demon Subduing Palm with devastating force. Bones snapped, and the white-bearded monk was sent flying by the blow.
The saber stuck in his body was knocked away as well. He crashed into a nearby tree, snapping the thick trunk in two. It came crashing down, leaving him on the ground, barely alive.
Whoosh—
Fang Xing darted forward and gave him no chance to react. His fist slammed hard into the white-bearded monk's back.
Crack!
Demon Subduing Force pierced through his body. Bones snapped, and his internal organs were shattered.
Pfft...
Blood sprayed from the monk's mouth. His life force faded completely, and a wisp of crimson rose from him and sank into Fang Xing's body.
"Whew..."
Only after seeing the crimson energy enter him did Fang Xing finally relax. He instinctively wiped the sweat beading on his forehead.
He had killed a Transformation Force martial artist!
The man had been gravely wounded, but the fight had still been extremely dangerous for Fang Xing.
If he hadn't learned Gale Step, even with a successful sneak attack, he would likely have paid a terrible price.
Movement techniques were only supplementary skills, but in a fight to the death, they let him move with ease and control.
That fight had been perilous and exhilarating!
It had been like walking a tightrope over a cliff!
"A Transformation Force martial artist should have given me plenty of Enhancement Points..." Once he had steadied himself, Fang Xing quickly summoned the Crimson Panel to check.
Name: Fang Xing
Cultivation: Dark Force
Enhancement Level: One Star (22%)
Enhancement Points: 354
"Three hundred points!!!"
As he looked at the Crimson Panel, Fang Xing's eyelid twitched, and a flush appeared on his face.
Three hundred points!
Killing a single Transformation Force martial artist had earned him a full three hundred Enhancement Points.
This had been a huge score!
His heart pounded at the sight of the points.
With so many Enhancement Points, he could raise his strength rapidly.
Once he'd calmed down, Fang Xing closed the Crimson Panel, though excitement still rippled through him.
I've hit the jackpot...
As expected, evil cultivators were the fastest way to get rich!
He felt an urge to go on a killing spree.
But in the end, he held it back.
"Whoosh—!"
Just then, a figure appeared before Fang Xing like a ghost.
He jolted in alarm and immediately stepped back. But once he saw who it was, he relaxed.
It was Shen Ye!
"He's dead..."
Shen Ye looked at the white-bearded monk's corpse on the ground, his pupils contracting slightly.
His gaze shifted to Fang Xing.
Though he had gravely wounded the white-bearded monk himself, the man had still been a Transformation Force martial artist. He hadn't expected Fang Xing to kill him, much less so quickly.
"Lord Shen." Fang Xing cupped his hands toward Shen Ye.
Shen Ye came back to his senses and looked at him with admiration. "Well done. I didn't expect you to kill the ringleader this time. You've earned great merit."
Fang Xing kept his composure. "You flatter me, Lord Shen. It was only because you gravely wounded that villain. Otherwise, your subordinate couldn't have killed him."
At that, Shen Ye's smile grew brighter. He patted Fang Xing on the shoulder. "Good. Don't worry. I won't let you go unrewarded when this is over."
Fang Xing smiled but said nothing.
Whether Shen Ye rewarded him or not wasn't important.
What mattered was that he had obtained a great many Enhancement Points this time.
With these points, he had a massive trove of resources at his disposal.
"My lord, is everything inside over?" Fang Xing asked, looking toward Lingyuan Temple.
Shen Ye nodded. "Yes, it's over. The ringleader was the last one."
"Was there any trouble at the entrance up ahead?" Fang Xing asked.
"It was quiet up there. Just a few nobodies, and they've all been dealt with," Shen Ye said.
Fang Xing nodded.
Shen Ye looked at the white-bearded monk's corpse on the ground, then surveyed the area and turned to Fang Xing. "Stay here and keep watch. I'll have someone notify the County Yamen."
"Understood."
Fang Xing nodded. Shen Ye promptly left.
As he watched Shen Ye disappear into the night, Fang Xing turned his gaze to the white-bearded monk's body.
He crouched down and searched it, finding a money pouch on the monk.
Inside were layers of gold leaves.
There were about a dozen taels' worth.
Fang Xing didn't hesitate to pocket the money.
After checking the body to make sure he hadn't missed anything, he stood up.
The County Yamen's people arrived quickly.
They surrounded all of Lingyuan Temple. Aside from the cult ringleader's corpse, which was carried away, the other bodies were buried where they lay.
The mission had ended without any serious trouble.
Fang Xing had undoubtedly gained the most from it.
Money was secondary. What mattered most was the three hundred and fifty Enhancement Points he'd gained.
To him, that was the real windfall.
He wasn't responsible for what came next, so Fang Xing, Shen Ye, and several constables returned to the county seat.
Fang Xing went straight home, washed up, and went to bed.
The County Yamen's large-scale operation had quickly drawn the attention of many forces in the city.
But the details were still unclear.
After all, it had only just happened, and word hadn't spread very far yet.
The night passed quickly.
The next morning, Fang Xing woke up early.
After washing up and eating breakfast, Fang Xing didn't hurry out. He went inside and took out the booklet on Gale Step.
"One hundred and fifty points..."
Sitting on the bed, Fang Xing stared at the crimson prompt before his eyes and took a deep breath.
Before, he would have needed to think it over carefully. Now, he didn't hesitate at all.
Though movement techniques were supplementary martial arts, their importance in a fight to the death was undeniable.
Without Gale Step in last night's battle, he'd either be dead by now or badly wounded.
At a thought, a wash of crimson light curled around the booklet.
Soon, it settled back to stillness.
[An ordinary martial art (Gale Step) was successfully enhanced, granting a superior martial art (Wind God Step)]
Crimson words appeared before his eyes, and Fang Xing's gaze brightened.
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