Claiming the Bounty, First-rate Internal Art in Hand

Splurt!

Zhou Qing swung his saber again.

Before Li Baichuan's body could hit the ground, he severed his head, then swiftly reached out with his left hand and caught the head that had been split in two.

Drip, drip—

Warm blood mixed with brain matter flowed down, pattering crisply onto the ground, while Li Baichuan's body, cleaved in half, crashed down with a bang.

Zhou Qing's expression remained calm as still water, as though killing Blood Hand Butcher Li Baichuan had been a trivial matter. He slowly withdrew his Mysterious Iron Saber. Not a speck of blood stained its blade.

Silence.

The foot of the mountain lay utterly silent.

At that moment, the air around them seemed to have frozen solid.

Everyone held their breath, staring at the scene in horror.

Perhaps they would never forget this sight for the rest of their lives.

This was Blood Hand Butcher Li Baichuan—a figure of notorious evil in the martial world, one who killed like mowing hemp and wielded ruthless, cruel methods. He was someone whose very name struck terror into people's hearts.

Yet now, he had been cut down by Zhou Qing in a single stroke, like an ant.

Yes, in the eyes of these people, they simply could not make out how many strikes Zhou Qing had delivered. To them, Zhou Qing had only swung once—and with that one stroke, he had slain the infamous Blood Hand Butcher Li Baichuan.

And he had even been cleaved in two with a single blow, a sight that chilled the heart.

Zhou Qing's strike had not only slain Li Baichuan, but also carved a deep imprint into everyone's hearts. It was as though invisible shackles had been placed upon them, binding them firmly where they stood and leaving them unable to move.

Only after Zhou Qing carried Li Baichuan's bisected head up the mountain and vanished from their sight did they feel those invisible shackles fall away.

"Who exactly is this man? He actually killed Li Baichuan with one strike!"

Someone spoke in a low voice, a tremor in his words.

"Li Baichuan was a Peak First-rate Martial Artist, yet he was killed in one stroke. The gap is far too great."

"Does anyone know who he is? With such terrifying strength, he cannot possibly be an unknown in the martial world. If he challenged one of the experts on the Human Ranking, he could definitely ascend the Human Ranking."

"No idea. He was wearing a bamboo hat, so we never saw his true face."

"He uses a saber, wears a bamboo hat, and cultivates a body-tempering art. Doesn't that sound rather like Zhou Qing, the Mad Blade ranked eightieth on the imperial wanted list?"

"That can't be likely, can it? Li Baichuan was a Peak First-rate Martial Artist. The reason Mad Blade Zhou Qing ranks above Li Baichuan on the wanted list is because Zhou Qing killed Eagle Wolf Guards and a County Magistrate. Killing imperial officials is an act of rebellion."

"Don't forget, Zhou Qing has acted three times, and each time he was stronger than the last. People in the martial world have all guessed that Zhou Qing has encountered some great fortuitous opportunity. If it really is Zhou Qing, then it would not be impossible for him to kill Li Baichuan this time."

"Whether it is Zhou Qing or not, so long as there is even a trace of suspicion, the top Blade Catchers of the martial world will come rushing over once they hear the news."

"Exactly. No First-rate Martial Artist who wishes to advance further and break through to become a grandmaster could remain unmoved by an opportunity to enter the Xiantian Realm."

The surrounding crowd began discussing the matter in earnest, speculating about Zhou Qing's true identity.

After all, in the martial world, advancing one's cultivation was every martial artist's cherished dream. With strength came power, wealth, and beautiful women, all within easy reach.

An opportunity to enter the Xiantian Realm was even rarer than one in a thousand years.

Once one stepped into the Xiantian Realm, it was like a carp leaping over the Dragon Gate. Whether in the imperial court or the martial world, one would become a figure of paramount importance.

In the imperial court, one would be a great official governing a frontier or a regional lord. In the martial world, an Innate Grandmaster would be qualified to found a sect and reign as an ancestor.

More importantly, compared to Acquired Realm martial artists, Xiantian Realm grandmasters could double their lifespan. For most martial artists, this was an absolutely irresistible temptation.

Everyone wanted to live a little longer.

The ultimate pursuit of martial arts was immortality.

Elsewhere.

Zhou Qing had already arrived before the villa.

The villa had been built against the mountain, magnificent and imposing, with red walls and green tiles that looked even grander amid the lush trees surrounding it.

However, Cold Moon Villa's entire household had been slaughtered by Blood Hand Butcher Li Baichuan. Even though Shen Qingyue had held an auction, there were not many people in the villa, making it seem somewhat desolate.

Servants stood at the entrance to welcome guests.

They wore matching uniforms. Shen Qingyue had hired them from an auction house to receive the guests coming to attend the auction.

But because of Blood Hand Butcher Li Baichuan's threat, no one had dared come up the mountain for the auction. With nothing to do, these servants had nearly fallen asleep.

Zhou Qing's arrival naturally drew their attention.

Especially since he carried a head split in two in his hand, with blood still dripping onto the ground. It filled the servants with both curiosity and terror.

It was their first time seeing someone arrive at an auction carrying a head.

Still, these servants had received professional training and quickly regained their composure. One of them hurried forward and asked respectfully, "May I ask, honored guest, are you here to attend the auction?"

"I was before. Now, there's no need to attend the auction." Zhou Qing pointed at the two halves of the head dangling from his left hand and said calmly, "Take me directly to Miss Shen, the master of Cold Moon Villa. Blood Hand Butcher Li Baichuan has already been slain by me. This is his head. I have come to claim the bounty."

"What? This is Blood Hand Butcher Li Baichuan's head?"

Upon hearing this, the servants all revealed shocked expressions and instinctively retreated several steps.

They could scarcely believe it.

After all, only a quarter of an hour earlier, Blood Hand Butcher Li Baichuan had declared that whoever dared attend Cold Moon Villa's auction would have their entire household exterminated. Not a single distinguished guest had dared come to the auction, all cowed by Li Baichuan's fearsome reputation.

More than a month had passed since Shen Qingyue issued the bounty for Li Baichuan's head, and Li Baichuan had continued living freely. Yet unexpectedly, during this auction, someone had slain him and brought his head to claim the reward.

One servant asked in a trembling voice, "Hero, are you certain this is Blood Hand Butcher Li Baichuan's head? We wouldn't dare confirm it carelessly."

Without realizing it, this servant's form of address had changed from honored guest to hero.

Hearing this, Zhou Qing smiled faintly. "If you do not believe me, you may invite Miss Shen to come and identify him."

"Yes, Hero, please wait a moment. This lowly one will report it at once."

The servant did not dare delay. He immediately turned and ran into the villa.

Before long.

Zhou Qing sensed two fairly powerful auras rapidly approaching.

These two were far stronger than the servants around him. They should be Shen Qingyue and her master.

Zhou Qing's expression did not change as he waited quietly.

Soon, a young woman in plain clothes emerged first. She possessed peerless beauty and a cool, aloof bearing. This woman was Shen Qingyue, the current master of Cold Moon Villa.

Behind Shen Qingyue stood an old man in a gray robe. His features were antique and dignified, his gaze deep, and a faint pressure emanated from him. He was a Peak First-rate Martial Artist at the ninth level of the Acquired Realm.

Shen Qingyue's gaze fell upon the head in Zhou Qing's hand, and she immediately asked, "Hero, you killed Blood Hand Butcher Li Baichuan?"

Zhou Qing said, "Miss Shen may send someone to verify it at the foot of the mountain. Blood Hand Butcher Li Baichuan was slain by me, and many people witnessed it."

"There is no need for such trouble. The imperial wanted list has a portrait of Li Baichuan." Shen Qingyue stepped forward and carefully examined the head in Zhou Qing's hand. After a moment, she nodded and said softly, "That's right. This is indeed Li Baichuan's head."

Zhou Qing handed the head to Shen Qingyue, then said, "Miss Shen, when can the bounty reward be paid?"

Shen Qingyue said, "Rest assured, Hero. The bounty reward has long been prepared, awaiting only your arrival to claim it."

As she spoke, Shen Qingyue took a secret manual from her robes and handed it to Zhou Qing.