The straw-cloaked ape demon removed its bamboo hat. Sparse black fur made it look somewhat aged.
It was short, with a disproportionately large head. Its lips curled back, revealing two fangs. "Not bad with a blade, but the blade itself is lacking."
The young, tall ape demon dropped to one knee and took out a long bundle tightly wrapped in silk. Carefully, it peeled the silk away, revealing a slender ceremonial blade.
The scabbard was straight, and the whole thing was ink-black, gleaming with an oily sheen and adorned with gilded patterns.
It held the blade up in both hands, respectfully.
The old straw-cloaked ape gripped the hilt with its thin, clawed hand. It drew the blade, its edge gleaming with a dark light, and gazed at it with something close to affection.
Perhaps it was a coincidence.
Shen Yi had noticed that the more powerful these demons were, the more they liked to imitate humans.
The Yellow Weasel rode around in a sedan chair, but its desires still revolved around food. It thought about eating people and had given itself a crude nickname based on its appearance.
The ape demons dressed in human clothes and picked elegant names for themselves from books. One called itself Tongtian, and they even insisted on sleeping with the most delicate women.
As for Old Mother Green Scale, she had even begun to dress up and make herself beautiful. She wanted to kidnap the finest artisans to craft the most splendid, luxurious jewelry.
"My blade is called..." Yuan Tongtian held its breath, eyes burning with excitement as it prepared to give the other a proper account of the treasured blade's origins.
Shen Yi gathered his thoughts, then swung his blade at the tall ape demon kneeling before him.
Who the hell knelt down to kowtow before a fight? What was wrong with it?
Scarlet Killing Intent wrapped around the blade as he brought it crashing down toward the ape demon's neck.
Ever since his Golden Sun Eight Treasures Profound Body had reached perfection, Shen Yi had found his strength as vast and inexhaustible as a mighty river, far surpassing what it had been before.
The two demons seemed not to expect him to attack without warning.
The young, tall one froze for a moment before hurriedly reaching out to block him.
That brief hesitation was all it took. The blade sliced through its neck vertebrae as easily as cutting tofu.
Its head, eyes still wide with bewilderment, rolled to Yuan Tongtian's feet.
Holding the ceremonial blade, it flared its nostrils and let out a shrill screech. "Absurd! Absurd! You uncouth bumpkin, ignorant of all rules!"
Even it wiped its hands with a damp cloth before eating, bathed every three days, and burned incense every five.
And killing was an even graver matter. One had to state one's name and explain the reason: why one was killing the other, and how one intended to defeat them.
How could... how could anyone handle things so crudely, with no beauty at all?
Amid its shrieks, Yuan Tongtian's small, stooped body suddenly sprang into the air. Its Black Blade struck again and again, each swing steady and vicious. Its solid foundation was clear from the very first blow.
Chilling blade energy burst forth, and the little thatched hut exploded.
Even in its turmoil, Yuan Tongtian's attacks with the Black Blade remained orderly, their trajectories wondrously intricate. It was clearly a perfected Initial Realm saber technique.
It hadn't just learned to imitate human behavior. It had even studied martial arts.
"No manners. You deserve to die!"
"You killed my children and grandchildren. You deserve to die!"
"Come and die!"
Yuan Tongtian hunched over and roared, pressing forward step by step. Its two extraordinarily long arms swung wildly, each slash faster than the last.
Under such a violent assault, Shen Yi's face remained calm, and his steps never faltered, though he felt a little helpless inside.
This old ape was clearly no ordinary demon. Someone must have guided it. The saber technique it used seemed specially tailored to its arms, and that ceremonial blade was no ordinary weapon either.
The official saber in Shen Yi's hand had cost no more than seven taels and two mace—and that was before the workshop took its cut...
He hadn't noticed the gap before, but now he was facing an opponent at the same level, both having reached perfection in the Initial Realm, whose martial skills were no weaker than his own. The difference in their weapons had become glaringly obvious.
If he kept trying to take his opponent down without getting hurt, he would likely pay an even greater price.
With that thought, Shen Yi's gaze remained calm. The moment he spotted an opening, he slashed.
The gap between their weapons was greater than he had expected.
After just one full-force clash, the official saber was cut clean in two, its blade flying away.
Fortunately, he had already expected as much. He let go of the hilt and surged forward instead of retreating, forcibly closing the distance between them. His long, powerful fingers abruptly clenched into a fist.
He was going to trade injury for injury!
Yuan Tongtian saw what he was planning. Instead of being afraid, it grinned viciously.
It alone knew how sharp the treasured blade it had carried close to its body for years truly was.
Trade injuries? You won't live long enough to make another move!
In the next instant, the Black Blade slashed viciously toward Shen Yi's shoulder!
There was no flesh being torn apart, no wet sound of a blade cutting through meat.
Bang—
The sound of metal striking metal rang out.
Both of them froze.
Yuan Tongtian gripped its long blade in disbelief. No matter how hard it pressed down, the edge gleaming with its dark light wouldn't budge an inch.
"..."
It looked up and caught a trace of astonishment in Shen Yi's eyes too.
So...
What were you surprised about? What had you been dodging for? Who were you trying to fool by acting like you'd hit back even if you got hurt?!
The moment Yuan Tongtian came back to its senses, Shen Yi's five long, powerful fingers clamped around its face. With a surge of immense strength, he slammed its whole body down onto the ground!
It felt as though all its internal organs were about to shatter.
That strength was far beyond the Initial Realm. It was the very realm it had dreamed of reaching.
A body-tempering martial artist comparable to the Jade Liquid Realm—and he was shameless enough to launch a sneak attack before the fight even began?
Yuan Tongtian couldn't make sense of it. Then a descending fist smashed half its eye socket to pieces.
Blood filled its nostrils. It opened its mouth with a wet, "Hrrk," and the unending rush of blood and sweetness spilled out.
The whoosh of fists rang beside its ears, like the whispers of a deathly ghost come to claim its soul.
In the distance.
Butcher Zhang threw another punch.
He and Thin Ascetic had studied under the same master, and both knew each other's moves inside out. They couldn't decide the winner anytime soon.
But this punch proved unexpectedly effective, smashing into the other's nose.
Thin Ascetic clutched his nose and mouth, his face contorted with pain. Ignoring the blood seeping between his fingers, he stared in horror toward the distance.
"You're too old to still pull this kind of trick. You think you can fool me into turning around? I'm going to wipe out a scoundrel like you who disgraces our school!"
Butcher Zhang raised his fist, about to strike again, when he saw that balding wretch still staring fixedly past him.
He gritted his teeth and turned around.
A chill seeped through his back.
Dozens of strong young men stood there in a daze, their hands limp around their spears and powerful bows.
At the very front, Shen Yi pinned the old ape down and impassively brought his fist down. His hand was spattered with red and white, sticky as paste, dripping to the ground.
With every punch, the ape demon's legs twitched.
Until it stopped moving altogether.
He slowly rose to his feet and let out a long breath of hot air. His dark eyes turned back toward them.
The instant his gaze swept over them, the constables and soldiers' legs gave way. They all dropped to their knees with a thud, too weak even to beg for mercy.
"That was fast..."
Butcher Zhang swallowed. He hadn't even warmed up yet, and it was already over?
Two great demons of the Initial Realm—how had they died without making so much as a sound?
He turned to look at Thin Ascetic.
But in the blink of an eye, the other man had scrambled twenty zhang away. He looked nothing like a martial artist and much more like a startled rabbit.
I wonder if anyone's reading this...
I've got something to take care of today, so there'll only be one update. I'll make it up later. Just wanted to let the readers who are following along know.
I'm still pretty green, but I'll work hard to write better.
I'm going all out to get this book published and secure my full-attendance bonus. Let's go!
(End of Chapter)
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