Killing for Treasure is the Norm

"Blood Demon Self-Destruction Great Method!"

Seeing his retreat cut off, a decisive madness flashed in the Ghost Masked Man's eyes.

He bit the tip of his tongue fiercely, spraying a mouthful of vital blood onto the long saber in his hand.

Hum--!

The long saber let out a sharp, mournful cry, and blood-red light flared intensely along its blade!

A violent and evil aura erupted from his body. In that instant, his cultivation level was forcefully boosted by a notch, faintly touching the threshold of the Third Level of Qi Condensation!

This was clearly an evil secret art that overdrafted one's life potential to forcibly enhance strength.

"Little beast, you forced me to do this!"

"Today, even if I die, I'll take you down with me!"

The Ghost Masked Man roared like a wild beast. He and the long saber in his hand seemed to merge into one, transforming into a burning blood-colored stream of light that slashed down towards Chen Chen!

This saber strike gathered all his essence, energy, and spirit, and contained his resolve for mutual destruction!

Before the saber even arrived, its sharp wind had already carved a deep沟壑 into the ground!

Facing this world-ending strike, Chen Chen's face showed no fear whatsoever.

In his eyes, blood-red and ethereal light interweaved and flickered, his expression as calm as could be.

Eye of Asura, activate!

The moment the divine ability was activated, the menacing blood-colored saber energy was instantly dissected in his vision.

Countless energy flow pathways, and... several imperceptible weak nodes in the energy circulation caused by the forced activation of the secret art, appeared clearly in his mind!

That's the spot!

Chen Chen's Ink Shadow Sword did not choose to clash head-on with the opponent.

His body tilted slightly at an unbelievable angle.

The Ink Shadow Sword in his hand, like a gazelle leaping over a mountain, leaving no trace, moved with an incredibly tricky trajectory, stabbing towards the lower side of the violent saber energy!

That was precisely the fatal weakness the Eye of Asura had discerned!

"Clang!"

A crisp sound of metal striking metal rang out.

Chen Chen's sword tip landed with pinpoint accuracy on that energy node.

It was like the first domino falling in a chain reaction.

The originally violent and unstoppable blood-colored saber energy, upon being struck at the node, suddenly paused!

Then, like a pricked balloon, it began to collapse from the inside, exploding with a roar!

Countless chaotic True Qi surged outwards in all directions!

"Pfft--!"

The Ghost Masked Man was struck as if by lightning. The secret art was forcibly broken, and the violent energy backlashed against him. He spat out a large mouthful of blood mixed with internal organ fragments. Like a kite with a broken string, he was sent flying backward, crashing heavily into the ruins far away.

The madness and ferocity in his eyes were instantly replaced by endless shock and disbelief.

"No... Impossible..."

"How could you... see through my 'Blood Demon Slash'..."

He struggled to lift his head, looking at the figure that was slowly walking towards him like a demon god. A gurgling sound came from his throat.

He couldn't understand.

The Blood Demon Slash was his ultimate trump card, a life-saving move. Once unleashed, its power was boundless, and no one of the same level could withstand it.

Even a cultivator at the Third Level of Qi Condensation would not dare to face its edge lightly.

Yet, the young man before him had broken it with such ease using just one sword strike!

This was no longer a matter of combat technique.

This was simply... a miracle!

"Nothing is impossible."

Chen Chen walked up to him, looking down at him, his voice icy.

"In my eyes, you... are full of flaws."

With that, the Ink Shadow Sword in his hand swung lightly without any hesitation.

"Puchi!"

A head wearing a ghost mask rolled to the ground.

[Ding! Killed a martial artist at the Second Level of Qi Condensation, gained Cultivation Points +130!]

A cold system notification sounded in Chen Chen's mind.

[Name: Chen Chen]

[Realm: Qi Condensation First Stage]

[Cultivation Arts: Asura God Transformation Art (Second Level), Nine Nether Soul Refining Art (Minor Accomplishment)]

[Martial Skills: Seven Shadows Step (Mastered)]

[Divine Abilities: Eye of Asura, Asura Battle Body (Initial Stage)]

[Cultivation Points: 1870]

Looking at his soaring Cultivation Points, Chen Chen's mood wasn't greatly affected.

Battles within the Qi Condensation Realm were far more perilous than he had imagined.

If not for his Eye of Asura, which allowed him to perceive weaknesses, the outcome of that last fight would have been uncertain.

"My strength... it's still not enough."

He muttered to himself, the desire for power in his eyes burning even brighter.

He walked over to the three corpses and began the practiced routine of looting them.

These "Ghost Shadow Three Fiends" were constantly engaged in murder and robbery, so their wealth should be considerable.

As expected, he found three Storage Bags on their bodies.

As his divine sense probed within, Chen Chen's eyes couldn't help but light up.

Combined, the three Storage Bags held nearly a thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones!

There were also quite a few pills for healing and detoxification.

Besides that, there were a few books on cultivation arts and martial skills.

However, most of them were Yellow-grade and filled with sinister energy, clearly demonic cultivation methods, which were of no use to Chen Chen.

The only thing that piqued his interest was a manual titled Breath Concealment Art.

This was a method to conceal one's aura and disguise their cultivation, and while not high-grade, it was extremely practical.

"Good stuff."

Chen Chen unceremoniously pocketed it.

After finishing, he used a fire to burn the three corpses and the entire ruin to ashes.

Destroying the evidence, leaving no loose ends.

He turned and left the area filled with the scent of blood.

He didn't return to the previous inn.

Although he had handled the murder cleanly, there was no guarantee it wouldn't attract trouble.

Luoyun Town was no longer a safe place for him.

He arrived at the city gate and, without any hesitation, left the city.

His next target was clear.

The Azure Cloud Sect!

Wang Teng!

However, before heading to the Azure Cloud Sect, he needed to make some preparations.

"System, learn Breath Concealment Art."

[Learning Yellow-grade Mid-tier Martial Skill Breath Concealment Art requires 10 Cultivation Points. Confirm?]

"Confirm."

[Consumed 10 Cultivation Points. Successfully mastered Breath Concealment Art.]

A method on how to control one's own Blood Essence and True Qi circulation to achieve the concealment of aura flooded into Chen Chen's mind.

With a thought, the True Qi within his body began to circulate in a peculiar pattern.

His aura, at the peak of the Qi Condensation First Stage, began to recede at a visible rate.

Finally, it settled around the level of the Body Tempering Eighth Level.

"Not bad."

Chen Chen nodded in satisfaction.

With this, as long as he didn't encounter experts far superior to him, it would be difficult for anyone to see through his true realm.

This could save him a lot of unnecessary trouble.

He oriented himself and sped off in the direction of the Azure Cloud Sect.

He chose not to fly on his sword.

Flying on a sword in the wilderness was too conspicuous and could easily make him a target.

Right now, he just wanted to keep a low profile.

However, he didn't know that.

Not long after he left Luoyun Town.

A group of guards, all wearing the same black combat attire and bearing the City Lord's mansion token on their waists, sealed off the ruins where he had just fought.

Leading them was a Black Armored Commander with a steady aura, whose cultivation had reached the Fourth Level of Qi Condensation.

He looked at the ruins, which had been burned to scorched earth, and his brow furrowed tightly.

"Such strong residual energy... A major battle between cultivators in the Qi Condensation Realm just happened here."

A guard stepped forward, holding three shattered soul plates in his hand, and said respectfully, "Commander, the soul plates of the 'Ghost Shadow Three Fiends' are all broken."

"Ghost Shadow Three Fiends?" A hint of surprise flashed in the Black Armored Commander's eyes. "Although these three desperadoes have a bad reputation, their strength is not weak. Their leader was at the peak of the Second Level of Qi Condensation. With the three of them working together, even a cultivator at the Third Level of Qi Condensation would have to retreat. Who could have killed them all in a single encounter?"

"No useful clues were left at the scene. The opponent's methods were very clean," another guard reported.

The Black Armored Commander was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Anyone who can achieve this must be at least a master at the Fourth Level of Qi Condensation or above, and they must be decisive and ruthless."

"Pass down my order: seal the entire city and strictly investigate all experts who have entered the city recently with cultivation at or above the Qi Condensation Realm!"

"Yes!"

A search for Chen Chen quietly began in Luoyun Town.

Unfortunately, Chen Chen was already a hundred miles away at this time.

He had no idea that the three troublesome individuals he had casually dealt with had caused such a huge stir in Luoyun Town.

At this moment, he was standing in front of a massive city called "Tianfeng City," with a cold light flashing in his eyes.