Wrathful Heart, Killing Body

"Demon! Die!"

Wu Yi charged at him with a furious shout, scaring Zong Jiu nearly out of his soul.

Come on, brother, you're still coming? That move just now didn't even scare you off?

Though Zong Jiu was a bloodthirsty, murderous, and brutal demon, even he could not help fearing Wu Yi now.

This man! He simply isn't human!

Of the martial artists he had faced before, which one had not been timid and cautious, each meticulous in his thoughts?

Once he used Bone-Eroding Demonic Phlegm, every one of them had been even more eager to keep their distance, intent on nothing but avoiding a fight and fleeing for their lives.

But today, of all days, he had run into someone this bullheaded!

Seeing Wu Yi about to close in for the kill, Zong Jiu could only grit his teeth against his weakness and discomfort. He quickly spat several more globs of demonic phlegm straight at Wu Yi, trying to stop him from advancing.

Now Wu Yi's mind was filled with nothing but bloody battle and a fight to the death. Looking as though he was determined to settle both victory and life or death with Zong Jiu, how could he still fear a little demonic phlegm?

He merely sent several streams of True Qi forward with a casual wave to deflect the phlegm, then dodged it completely with a few quick movements.

While Wu Yi was dodging, Zong Jiu seized the opening to grab the second boss's corpse from beside him and gorge himself, sending blood and flesh flying until his mouth was a bloody mess.

Then he fixed his gaze on the first boss's corpse lying not far away and pounced on it.

The scene naturally did not escape Wu Yi's notice. Even as he attacked the demon, it dared to kill and eat a man before his eyes.

Yi flew into a rage!

The third form of Intent-Suppressing Prison Demon, Wrathful Heart, Killing Body!

An invisible presence exploded around Wu Yi. At that moment, he seemed no longer human, but a monstrously savage beast in human form as he lunged at Zong Jiu, who was trying to heal his injuries by eating martial artists.

The ground sank slightly, dust flew, and invisible shock waves burst out in every direction as Wu Yi shot toward Zong Jiu like a cannonball.

Before the autumn wind stirred, the cicada sensed it. A moment before Wu Yi unleashed his presence, Zong Jiu seemed to have already noticed.

The fear of mortal danger lurking in his demonic bloodline had allowed him to catch the scent of danger a step ahead.

Looking back at Wu Yi's mad figure charging at him with murderous, glaring eyes, he felt as though Wu Yi were the demon and he, Zong Jiu, the human!

He hurriedly threw aside the meat in his hand, turned, and fled for his life.

Zong Jiu ran on all fours, thinking as he went. Fortunately, most of the flesh and blood he had swallowed had already been digested, and his injuries were now about half healed.

It was just a pity about the remaining half of that martial artist's body. It was a rare delicacy and a great tonic.

As for Wu Yi pursuing him?

To tell the truth, he did not think Wu Yi could catch him. Even if the man used some kind of secret technique, he could at most match his speed.

For no other reason than that he was a demon, and Wu Yi was human!

As long as Wu Yi was still in the Meridian-Piercing Realm, he could never catch up, not even if he was at the so-called Half-Step Gang Condensation stage!

After all, demons were stronger than humans at the same realm! This was an undeniable consensus among the common people.

Unfortunately for him, the man he had encountered today was Wu Yi.

Zong Jiu raced through the night, the scenery flying past his eyes as he secretly congratulated himself.

Half-Step Gang Condensation, my ass. Nothing but clay chickens and pottery dogs.

Once I get back and fully recover, I'll send people to search the whole city. Even if you grow wings, you won't escape. That cultivated body of flesh and blood will be mine sooner or later.

Suddenly, he noticed a figure standing abruptly in his path. When he focused and looked closely, wasn't it Wu Yi, who had just been chasing him from behind?!

How did he get in front of me?!

Zong Jiu's heart stopped for an instant. With no time to think, he hurriedly turned and fled.

But before he had taken more than a few steps, something flashed past his eyes like a gust of wind.

That uncanny figure appeared before him again, its back to him. He simply couldn't shake it off!

Zong Jiu gradually slowed, staring fixedly at the figure ahead, caution showing in his pitch-black pupils.

"Sir, you and I have never met, and there's no grudge between us. Why must we come to a fight to the death?

"I'm acquainted with both of the great clans in Cloudwater City. Why don't we turn weapons of war into gifts of jade and silk? Why must it be like this?"

Zong Jiu strained his voice, wanting to say more, but the figure ahead seemed persuaded and slowly turned around.

Wu Yi had already removed his disguise. When Zong Jiu saw his face clearly, he found it somewhat familiar.

Then he remembered. Wasn't this the young master of the Wu Household from the pleasure boat, the one who had seemed so courteous and harmless to man and beast?!

"You?!"

Zong Jiu cried out in shock and anger. Everything that had happened earlier was still vivid in his mind, and seeing Wu Yi's face now, he instantly understood the reasons behind it all.

No wonder the Demon Suppression Bureau found our doorstep even though we'd hidden so perfectly. Someone tipped them off!

Hearing that the demon seemed to know him, Wu Yi was a little surprised.

I don't think I've provoked any demons or monsters lately...

That's right, the Su Household's pleasure boat!

Wu Yi looked Zong Jiu up and down, then spoke with a faint smile. "I didn't realize it was Uncle Su himself. I'm terribly sorry I didn't come out to welcome you!

"But why are you showing yourself in such an ugly form, Uncle? I'm afraid it could stop a crying child in its tracks."

Wu Yi mocked him openly, but inwardly he felt somewhat relieved. Fortunately, the demon had not been present when he fought the painted skin and the fox demon on the Su Household's pleasure boat.

Otherwise, judging by the strength the demon had shown in their fight just now, if he really had been there, the odds would likely have been against Wu Yi.

Hearing Wu Yi's words, Zong Jiu became even more certain that he was the same man from before. He must have been the one who informed the Demon Suppression Bureau!

"So it really was you, you despicable, shameless scoundrel!"

At the same time, his hatred for Wu Yi deepened. If Wu Yi had not killed the painted skin and brought the Demon Suppression Bureau down on them, how would he have been injured? Why would he have had to show his true face?

Wu Yi did not respond to Zong Jiu's slander. He simply stood there, looking at him with brazen disregard.

Zong Jiu could not have wished for a better situation. As long as he was given time, as long as he could recover from his injuries, he refused to believe he could not shake this man off! If all else failed, he could only...

The two faced each other in silence, and the air grew strangely quiet.

Something's wrong, something's wrong! Something's terribly, terribly wrong!

I'm waiting to recover, but what is he waiting for?!

Zong Jiu sensed that something was amiss and made to flee.

But Wu Yi's brows relaxed, and the corners of his mouth lifted in a careless smile that conveyed composure and mockery.

He raised a finger and pointed it at Zong Jiu.

His calm words reached Zong Jiu's ears.

"You're the challenger."

With those words, boundless Gang Qi erupted from Wu Yi, and the invisible shock waves pressed down on Zong Jiu until he could barely breathe.

Y-you've got to be kidding!

Wasn't he at Half-Step Gang Condensation?! How could he use Gang Qi?!

Unfortunately, Zong Jiu had no chance to learn the answer, for Wu Yi was already upon him!

Wu Yi leaped high, raised his right hand, curled it into a fist, and hammered it downward.

Empowered by Gang Qi, every move Wu Yi made carried a fierce, cutting edge. Before the blow even landed, Zong Jiu felt a sharp force scrape painfully across his face.

"Aahhh—"

The roar sounded neither human nor dog, and brimmed with ferocity and malice. As it rang out, Zong Jiu's body swelled in an instant, growing to a full zhang tall.

He raised both hands over his head and forcibly took Wu Yi's blow.

Within five meters of where Zong Jiu stood, the bluestone paving cracked in spreading layers like a spiderweb, and the earth caved in, kicking up a cloud of dust.