Whoosh!!
The Ghost-Head Saber tore through the air with an explosive crack!
Qin Zheng's figure instantly arrived before Wuchang the Monk, and the blade's cold gleam slashed down in an instant!
This strike carried boundless strength, along with surging savagery!
This strike had already surpassed the scope of the first martial realm's four great barriers!
Qin Zheng attacked in fury, holding nothing back!
Wuchang the Monk had no time to dodge and could only take the blow head-on.
Boom!!
He was then sent flying like a sandbag, smashing through the newly built temple wall.
Mud bricks collapsed, and dust billowed into the air.
Fortunately, this place was secluded, with no commoners living nearby, so the tremendous commotion drew no attention.
After slashing out, Qin Zheng showed no mercy or hesitation. With the Ghost-Head Saber in hand, he stamped his foot and prepared to strike again.
Strike while you're sick, take your life!
Today, he would make him repay his blood debt in blood—come in alive, leave dead!
Roar!!
At this critical moment.
From beneath the wall's ruins, a beastly roar suddenly burst forth.
The sound rolled out like waves, surging forth in ring after ring.
Then, a black paw reached out from the rubble, gleaming with the luster of cold iron, and struck at Qin Zheng's Ghost-Head Saber.
Clang!!
A loud, crisp collision rang out.
Qin Zheng's body was immediately forced back several steps, as though beyond his control.
At the same time, beneath the ruined wall, a tall, pitch-black figure slowly rose to its feet.
The night was dark, and this figure nearly blended into the darkness.
But upon closer inspection, it was clearly a black bear demon standing roughly three meters tall!
"You wretch, you have truly enraged me!!"
The Black Bear Demon looked at the bone-deep bloody wound on its paw, then spoke in human words as it roared furiously at Qin Zheng.
Meanwhile, Qin Zheng remained calm, icy light surging within his eyes.
Above the sea of his mind, the Merit Scroll trembled lightly, and a new line of text emerged.
Bear Fiend, mixed-blood Half-Demon, sins grievous. Kill it to obtain twenty-one taels and three mace of merit!
What a mixed-blood Half-Demon!
Qin Zheng tightened his grip on the Ghost-Head Saber, stamped his foot, and swung his blade once more!
The Black Bear Demon also took a stride, instantly darting an immense distance away.
The two collided again almost in the blink of an eye!
Bang!!!
This time, the Black Bear Demon's massive body was once again sent flying. It crashed heavily onto the ground and slid all the way to the edge of the temple.
Another terrifying, bone-deep gash had appeared on its body!
"Roar! How is this possible?!!"
"There is no aura of an opened Life Wheel on you! You have yet to become a grandmaster—how can you possess such strength!!"
The Black Bear Demon writhed in pain, yet it still quickly forced itself to stand, roaring unwillingly at Qin Zheng.
As a Half-Demon—and one from the Black Bear race, famed especially for its strength—how could it lose to a human still tempering his physique in a contest of power?!
But Qin Zheng had no interest whatsoever in listening to its roar.
With a stamp of his foot, he charged before the Black Bear Demon again.
The saber shattered the air, as though saber qi crisscrossed around it.
A savage gleam rose in the Black Bear Demon's eyes. Black light surged over its body, and its frame swelled once more!
Then its enlarged bear paws slammed out again toward the Ghost-Head Saber!
But this time, Qin Zheng before it did not stagger backward as he had before.
The sharp Ghost-Head Saber, carrying immense strength, severed the bear paws it had thrust out in an instant, then continued down toward its bear head.
"Stop!!!"
The Black Bear Demon cried out in panic at that instant.
But what use could that possibly be?
With one slash, its enormous black bear head rolled and flew away.
At the same time, blood spouted like a fountain, and foul-smelling demon blood gushed violently from its neck.
On the ground, the Black Bear Demon's huge headless body trembled and twitched a few times before falling still.
Although Qin Zheng's expression remained calm, his body trembled ever so slightly.
After all, it was a demon known for its strength.
The price of killing this Black Bear Demon was greater than he had expected.
But none of that mattered anymore.
Qin Zheng walked over, lifted the Black Bear Demon's head, and entered the temple's main hall.
He then placed it before that pile of ragged clothing and shattered bones.
Afterward, Qin Zheng recalled the scriptures the old monk would always chant outside the execution grounds.
He set the Ghost-Head Saber aside, pressed his palms together, and silently recited them as well.
Only after finishing did he gather up the tattered clothes and broken bones from the ground, then turn and leave the temple with the bear head in hand.
He used his lightness skill, speeding away like a shadow.
With the help of Zhang Wei, the Canoe Gang's chief, he found a fairly decent patch of land and buried the scraps of clothing and bones.
"Brother Qin, this time... sigh!"
Zhang Wei stood beside Qin Zheng, looking at the enormous bear head on the ground as he let out a heavy sigh.
He had never expected that Wuchang the Monk, who appeared so handsome and refined, would actually be a demon!
When he first saw Qin Zheng arrive carrying it, he had been thoroughly frightened.
He was then shocked by Qin Zheng's strength.
With such an enormous bear head, this demon's strength was likely beyond what ordinary martial artists could handle.
At the same time, however, his heart was filled with deep concern.
This Black Bear Demon had been able to don human skin and enter Black Goose City, even becoming a favored figure before Magistrate Gao.
Clearly, it was no ordinary demon, but one with backing.
Now that Qin Zheng had killed it, he would surely offend the force behind it.
Yet Qin Zheng seemed wholly unconcerned about this.
There was still a long while until dawn. After handling what lay before him, Qin Zheng thanked Zhang Wei.
Then, with the massive bear head in one hand and the Ghost-Head Saber tightly gripped in the other, he used his lightness skill and swiftly departed.
A short while later, Qin Zheng appeared in the small courtyard in the south of the city.
He casually tossed the bear head onto the ground first.
Then he entered the room, sat on the bed, and let out a deep breath.
He had not expected a Half-Demon to be able to fully manifest its demon body.
Thus, while killing this Black Bear Demon had appeared easy, it had actually contained considerable danger.
After the opponent manifested its demon body and knocked him back with one blow, Qin Zheng had not hesitated in the slightest. He immediately raised the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill.
Therefore, in killing this black bear, Qin Zheng had already pushed his strength beyond its limits.
At this thought, Qin Zheng stirred his mind and inspected the Merit Scroll.
Qin Zheng Lifespan: 70 (17) Martial arts: Five Viscera Inner Cultivation Method (minor mastery), Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill (sixth layer), Great Sun Golden Cicada Skill (major mastery) Merit: fifty-four taels and eight mace Current martial art · Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill can be enhanced. Requires one tael of merit. Enhance? Current martial art · Great Sun Golden Cicada Skill can be enhanced. Requires eight taels of merit. Enhance? Current martial art · Five Viscera Inner Cultivation Method can be enhanced. Requires ten taels of merit. Enhance?
He had killed a band of fake monks, then slain a real demon.
His merit was more abundant than ever before!
Without the slightest hesitation, Qin Zheng silently said in his heart, "Enhance martial art · Five Viscera Inner Cultivation Method!"
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