Madness

"Die!"

Liu Chengfeng did not dare to waste any time.

It was a surprise attack to begin with, so if he could not instantly slay Qin Hao, the plan would be a failure.

After all, Qin Yuntian was right in the Qin main estate, meaning Liu Chengfeng did not have much time.

"Crazy Flame Palm!"

This time, Liu Chengfeng unleashed a martial technique.

"Want to kill me? I'm afraid you, Liu Chengfeng, aren't qualified enough."

"Besides, you came at just the right time—just right to test my true strength!"

Qin Hao let out a cold snort, stepping forward instead of back as he slashed his Long Sword toward Liu Chengfeng in a head-on collision.

"First form of the Firmament Phantom Sword, Shadowless!"

The Long Sword transformed into trails of sword shadows, surrounding from all directions.

Then, the Long Sword continued to sweep, transitioning directly into the second form, Phantom Sword!

Rampant power surged frantically, pouring entirely into the Long Sword.

Clang! Clang! Clang!...

A series of muffled sounds rang out as wave after wave of sword shadows struck Liu Chengfeng's palms.

What? The power of this single sword strike of his is at least twice as strong as it was during the day!

Liu Chengfeng knitted his brows, a flash of astonishment crossing his eyes.

Tidal waves of majestic power surged forth, vibrating his arm until it went somewhat numb.

Before Liu Chengfeng could recover from his shock, Qin Hao's wave after wave of attacks came surging in.

In less than a breath, he had already thrown dozens of sword strikes, every single one aimed at Liu Chengfeng's vital points.

The longer they fought, the more alarmed Liu Chengfeng became.

Whether in offense or defense, Qin Hao's Sword Art was airtight, making it utterly impossible for Liu Chengfeng to score an instant kill.

Damn it, the longer this drags on, the more unfavorable it is for me!

Liu Chengfeng's heart skipped a beat, a faint trace of anxiety rising within him, though shock outweighed it all.

He had originally expected to wipe out Qin Hao in a single move under the cover of a surprise attack, but Qin Hao had actually blocked it.

Furthermore, the strength Qin Hao subsequently displayed far surpassed daytime.

It had increased by at least several fold!

Could it be that he didn't even use his full strength during the Myriad Phenomena Genius Tournament?!

Gripped by a mix of shock and fury, Liu Chengfeng had no time to overthink. With a cold snort, he fought his way toward the window.

"Qin Hao, I didn't expect trash like you to improve in strength so fast. I'll spare your life for today!"

"You can dodge the first of the month, but you can't dodge the fifteenth. For daring to cripple my son's Dantian, you have only a dead end ahead!"

With that, Liu Chengfeng attempted to head outside.

"Liu Chengfeng, do you really take my Qin residence for a place you can enter and leave as you please?"

Qin Hao sneered. "Since you've come, don't even think about leaving!"

Qin Hao abruptly brought his long sword down in a slash.

Liu Chengfeng let out a cold snort. "You can't stop me!"

He might not be able to kill Qin Hao in a short time, but Liu Chengfeng was utterly confident in making a safe retreat.

"Is that so?"

"Liu Chengfeng, your Liu family has repeatedly caused trouble for me. In that case, I'll make your Liu family vanish from Tianshui City!"

Qin Hao's killing intent intensified. "Today, you'll be the first I make an example of!"

"Third form of the Firmament Phantom Sword, Firmament!"

A single sword stroke fell!

Boom!

Qin Hao seemed like a completely different person. A terrifying aura suffused his entire body, resembling an infinitely sharp sword slashing down from above upon Liu Chengfeng.

Unlike the third form Qin Hao had executed during the Myriad Phenomena Genius Tournament, this sword strike was...

Sword Force!

Released at full power! Without a shred of reservation!

What was Sword Force?

It contained the worldly momentum of the Sword Dao.

The sword moved with agility, yet trod a perilous path!

"What kind of Sword Art is this? Could it be... could it be Sword Force? Impossible, absolutely impossible!"

Liu Chengfeng, whose expression had originally been cold, felt his heart leap violently. In an instant, absolute astonishment overtook him, and a sense of crisis welled up from the depths of his being.

Facing this sword strike, he felt an irresistible sense of dread.

Gone was his earlier easy and relaxed demeanor.

"Qin Hao, how dare you!"

Liu Chengfeng bellowed in rage. Disregarding any chance of escape, he desperately raised his crossed arms upward, trying to block Qin Hao's Long Sword.

"Die!"

The next moment.

Clang! Crack!

"Ah!"

Only a Long Sword carrying terrifying momentum was seen descending. The moment Liu Chengfeng's raised arms met it, a crisp snap echoed as they were severed on the spot, spraying a massive plume of fresh blood. Retaining its momentum, the force continued to slam into his body, causing him to crash heavily against the wall with a muffled thud.

Then, he bounced heavily onto the ground, causing the wooden flooring to fracture across a large area.

"Sword Force... it really is Sword Force!" Blood continuously spilled from Liu Chengfeng's mouth, his eyes filled with shock.

Sword Force!

Even Liu Chengfeng had only ever witnessed a peerless supreme genius execute it while traveling abroad in his youth.

Yet for all these years, Liu Chengfeng had never even figured out what "Force" actually was.

How old was Qin Hao? He had actually fully mastered "Force"!

And what was more, it was Sword Force of terrifying might!

Looking down at Liu Chengfeng from above, Qin Hao said indifferently, "You can go die now."

He thrust his sword forward.

"No! Qin Hao, you can't kill me!"

Liu Chengfeng was terrified. The fear of death filled his pale face with panic.

Yet at this moment, Liu Chengfeng's arms were completely severed and his aura was withered, leaving him utterly powerless to resist.

Splat.

Qin Hao drove his sword downward. Liu Chengfeng let out a muffled groan as a fresh mouthful of blood overflowed from his lips. His eyes widened into round orbs, his aura growing weaker and weaker before finally dissipating completely.

Bang!

Almost simultaneously, the wooden door was kicked open violently, and two figures sprinted in at extreme speed.

"Qin Hao!"

"Hao'er, what's going on?"

The arrivals were none other than Qin Yuntian and Liu Wei.

Sensing the commotion of battle, Qin Yuntian had rushed right over without stopping, only to find that the battle between Qin Hao and Liu Chengfeng had already concluded.

"Father, Uncle Liu, I'm fine." Qin Hao retracted his Long Sword.

"The Great Elder of the Liu family, Liu Chengfeng?" Glancing at the corpse on the ground, Qin Yuntian's face instantly revealed a flash of anger, followed by lingering fear.

"Liu Chengfeng actually came to assassinate you! The Liu family deserves death!" Liu Wei was likewise blazing with fury, then blurted out in astonishment, "Qin Hao, you... you killed Liu Chengfeng?"

Qin Hao smiled faintly and said, "He tried to steal a chicken only to lose the rice used as bait—he died by my hand."

Hearing this, both men drew in sharp breaths of cold air.

A veteran martial artist at the Ninth Layer Peak of Body Tempering, the number two figure of the Liu family, had actually died just like that?

"Hao'er, your cultivation... broke through?" Qin Yuntian sensed his aura for a moment before speaking with some uncertainty.

Qin Hao nodded. "Seventh Layer Peak of Body Tempering."

Qin Yuntian and Liu Wei exchanged glances, each seeing profound shock in the other's eyes.

A cultivation breakthrough?

Slaying Liu Chengfeng?

Qin Hao was simply too monstrously talented!

"The Liu family, sooner or later, I will make them pay the price!"

Pondering for a moment, Qin Yuntian spoke with icy sternness, "Liu Wei, deal with the corpse. Do not let word of tonight's events leak out."

"Understood, Patriarch," Liu Wei acknowledged with a cupped-fist salute.

Turning his gaze to Qin Hao, Qin Yuntian said in a deep voice, "Hao'er, Liu Ruoxue entered the Myriad Phenomena Hall before you and furthermore climbed up to hitch herself to the Lei family's high branch. Liu Chengfeng's late-night assassination attempt this time was most likely instigated behind the scenes by Liu Ruoxue. Once you head to the Myriad Phenomena Hall, you must be extremely careful around her."

"And there is also Yang Benhong. They certainly won't let you off easily."

A trace of worry flickered in Qin Yuntian's eyes. With Qin Hao standing alone without backing, his situation would likely prove difficult.

"Offending me is their foolishness. If these people want to court their own deaths, I don't mind making them vanish from this world."

Qin Hao's tone was calm, yet it caused both Qin Yuntian and Liu Wei to feel a dense killing intent.

"Father, Uncle Liu, you don't need to worry. Whether it's Liu Ruoxue, Yang Benhong, or the Lei family, none of them can block my path to rising. Even the Myriad Phenomena Hall is merely the starting point of my martial arts journey."

"Sooner or later, I, Qin Hao, will inevitably stand tall at the zenith of the firmament and look down in disdain upon this entire continent!"