Old Demon Li Appears, Split in Two with One Slash

"Look, someone's going up the mountain."

"This man has some nerve, climbing the mountain so brazenly."

"Blood Hand Butcher Old Demon Li issued a warning: whoever dared attend Cold Moon Villa's auction would have their entire family exterminated. And he still dares go up?"

"Yeah, does he not know Old Demon Li's fearsome reputation? He's a great fiend who kills like mowing grass, ranked among the top hundred on the imperial court's wanted list."

"Who exactly is this man?"

"No idea. But since he dares ignore Old Demon Li's warning and go up the mountain, he must have something to rely on. We'll just wait and see."

"..."

Seeing someone heading up the mountain, everyone turned to look toward the mountain path.

Old Demon Li's vicious reputation was renowned far and wide. His nickname in the martial world was Blood Hand Butcher, which spoke volumes of his cruelty and the sheer number of people he had killed—enough to make one's hair stand on end.

To cultivate his demonic art, he had once wiped out a village of several hundred people in a single night, leaving neither chicken nor dog alive. His ruthless methods struck terror into the hearts of everyone in the martial world.

More than a month ago, Old Demon Li had even massacred Cold Moon Villa, making his vicious prestige soar still higher.

Thus, when Old Demon Li declared that anyone who dared attend Cold Moon Villa's auction would have their entire family exterminated, no one dared answer the call. Even the wealthy merchants and local gentry who had nearly reached Cold Moon Villa immediately headed back down the mountain, not daring to attend the auction.

After all, no one wanted to become the next dead soul beneath Old Demon Li's blade.

Yet now, someone dared disregard Old Demon Li's warning and boldly climb the mountain. This could not help but make people wonder whether he had some backing.

Or perhaps he was simply a reckless fool who knew neither heaven nor earth.

But regardless, Zhou Qing's ascent was undoubtedly a challenge to Old Demon Li's authority. If Old Demon Li had not secretly left, he could not possibly remain inactive.

If Old Demon Li did not make a move, then perhaps he had already left.

After all, Cold Moon Villa was only fifty-odd li from the Prefecture City. Old Demon Li was a fiend ranked among the top hundred on the imperial court's wanted list. If he showed himself here, the Eagle Wolf Guard could not possibly do nothing after receiving the news. They might already be on their way.

Discussion rose and fell among the crowd at the foot of the mountain. Everyone was startled and curious about the figure ascending the path. Yet no matter what those below thought, Zhou Qing seemed entirely unaffected by the tense, oppressive atmosphere. Unhurriedly, he made his way up the mountain path.

His steps were steady and his expression calm, as though he did not care in the least about the danger he might encounter. If Blood Hand Butcher Li Baichuan dared show himself, he would simply cut him down with one slash.

Perfect. Once he killed Li Baichuan, he could exchange the man's head for Cold Moon Villa's first-rate internal martial art, directly saving over a hundred thousand taels of silver.

Just then, Zhou Qing suddenly stopped. Looking toward the forest not far ahead of the stone steps, he said blandly, "No need to hide. Come out!"

"You can actually sense my presence. It seems you have some skill."

As the words fell, a figure emerged from behind an ancient tree. He stood in the shadows, his entire body shrouded in a black cloak. An Asura Bronze Mask covered his face, leaving only a pair of eyes exposed, gleaming coldly like icy stars and exuding an eerie chill.

"Blood Hand Butcher Li Baichuan has appeared."

"Sure enough, Old Demon Li hasn't left Cold Moon Villa."

"That man dared ignore Old Demon Li's warning. He's dead for sure now."

"Shh, keep your voice down. Calling him Old Demon Li at a time like this—aren't you afraid he'll hear you?"

"..."

When the crowd at the foot of the mountain saw the figure wearing the Asura Bronze Mask, they immediately cried out in alarm. Some of the more timid people fell silent as cicadas in winter, hurriedly shutting their mouths for fear of catching the eye of that murderous fiend.

The demonic cultivation method practiced by Li Baichuan was extraordinarily cruel. He could improve his cultivation by devouring the blood of living beings. Influenced by his demonic path, he was cruel and bloodthirsty by nature, ruthless in his actions, and enough to make people pale at the mere mention of his name.

He never asked why before killing. So long as he was in a bad mood or disliked someone's face, he would cut them down with a single slash, showing no mercy whatsoever.

"I'm going to Cold Moon Villa to attend the auction. Are you trying to stop me?"

Zhou Qing said blandly.

"I have said that whoever dares attend Cold Moon Villa's auction becomes my enemy. I will exterminate their entire family. You truly do not take my words seriously!"

Li Baichuan's gaze was as sharp as an eagle's, fixed tightly upon Zhou Qing.

"Get lost, or I'll cut you down!"

Zhou Qing said coldly.

"Hahaha! You truly are arrogant, daring to boast that you'll kill me. Today, I want to see exactly what skills you possess!"

Hearing this, Li Baichuan threw back his head and laughed wildly, as though he had heard the greatest joke in the world.

"Die!"

As Li Baichuan spoke, his body had already pounced toward Zhou Qing like a ghost. A blood-red saber in his hand flashed with cold light, stirring up waves of bloody, fishy wind.

Whoosh—

In an instant, Li Baichuan erupted with a towering momentum.

As he cleaved out with that saber, Zhou Qing "saw" a river of blood appear above Li Baichuan's head. Its waters surged and roared, baleful aura soaring into the heavens.

The blood river swept toward him along with the saber light, intending to drown him.

At the same time, Zhou Qing felt the blood inside his body begin to boil beyond his control, as though drawn by some force and about to burst from his body.

This was the Power of Momentum wielded by Blood Hand Butcher Li Baichuan. The might it unleashed was several times greater than that of Red Wolf Deputy Commander Lin Feng.

Red Wolf Deputy Commander Lin Feng was merely at the seventh level of the Postnatal Realm. The Power of Momentum he wielded had only reached the entry level. Li Baichuan, however, was a Peak First-rate Martial Artist at the ninth level of the Postnatal Realm, and the Power of Momentum he wielded had already been cultivated to great mastery.

"Drawing your blade before me? You're swinging a broadsword before Guan Gong!"

The Mysterious Iron Saber in Zhou Qing's hand instantly left its sheath as well.

Immediately afterward, an incomparably terrifying golden blood qi erupted. A vast, powerful aura burst forth, transforming into a river of blood qi above his head.

The blood river unleashed by Blood Hand Butcher Li Baichuan was a power of the mind, capable only of reflecting within the spiritual awareness of others. It could not actually be seen in reality.

But Zhou Qing's golden river of blood qi was plainly visible. Then the river gathered together, transforming into a blazing golden Blood Qi Furnace.

In an instant, Zhou Qing's momentum rose to its peak. The influence brought by that blood river dispersed completely, as though it had never existed at all.

The Mysterious Iron Saber slashed silently toward Li Baichuan.

"What?!"

Li Baichuan's expression changed drastically.

He had never expected Zhou Qing to be a first-rate body-refining martial artist, capable of remaining unaffected by the Blood River Momentum. But he was, after all, a battle-hardened Peak First-rate Martial Artist, not some fledgling novice.

In that flash of lightning and spark of flint, he had already reacted.

Though Zhou Qing's slash was soundless, Li Baichuan, as a Peak First-rate Martial Artist, possessed formidable spiritual power. Besides wielding the Power of Momentum, his perception of his surroundings was incomparably sharp.

Clang!

Metal struck metal.

"What terrifying strength!"

Li Baichuan's tiger's mouth went numb from the shock, and he nearly lost his grip on his saber.

Fortunately, he had blocked the slash.

But before Li Baichuan could react, the second slash had already fallen.

Traceless Thirteen Wave Blade Technique!

In an instant, Zhou Qing could unleash thirteen slashes.

Moreover, all thirteen slashes struck the same spot. Each slash was stronger than the last; by the thirteenth slash, its power would be more than three times that of the first.

The internal force of the Golden Gang Art clung to the Mysterious Iron Saber, shooting forth golden saber light that could slice through iron as though it were mud. By the second slash, Li Baichuan's saber had been broken. When the third slash fell, Li Baichuan's body was split into two.

From the center of his brow atop his head, he was cleaved into two with a single slash.