Broken Temple

The temple was eerie and dilapidated. The open space in front of the main hall was overgrown with weeds, and a broken, collapsed incense burner lay toppled.

Desolate, dark, uncanny.

In such an environment, coupled with what had happened before, it was enough to make anyone's skin crawl.

But some people were simply born bold, scoffing at talk of ghosts and gods.

Zhao Jiu of the Hun Yuan Yi was that kind of man.

After committing a bloody crime in Linjiang City, he had been hiding out in this broken temple.

He had a fierce, menacing face, all brutal features, and was leaning against the wall, sound asleep.

Whoosh whoosh~

Suddenly, two poisoned darts shot into the main hall, flying straight at Zhao Jiu.

"What little thief dares—!"

Zhao Jiu's eyes snapped open. His right hand swept out, deflecting both darts with a single motion.

"Hun Yuan Yi!"

"Tonight is your death day!"

Two agile figures burst in, longswords in hand.

They were bounty-hunting wandering swordsmen from near Linjiang City. Having tracked down Zhao Jiu's hiding place, they planned to take him together.

Word was, Zhao Jiu had killed too many people in the city. Besides the county office's bounty, several families had put up rewards too. The total prize was substantial.

"And the two of you think you can take my head?"

Zhao Jiu grinned savagely, then launched himself into the air!

Whoosh.

A sword-light stabbed toward Zhao Jiu's chest.

Zhao Jiu didn't dodge or evade. He let the blade fall!

Bang~

The sword tip couldn't pierce through. The wandering swordsman felt as if he'd struck solid iron.

"How is that possible?!"

The swordsman's face went pale with shock.

Thump!

The next moment, Zhao Jiu's heavy palm slammed into his head, sending him flying.

Seeing this, his companion swung his sword at Zhao Jiu's neck!

Thump~

Again, it was blocked by a fierce burst of inner force.

At the same time—

Schlick!

Zhao Jiu's right hand, sharp as a scalpel, plunged straight into the swordsman's heart.

The swordsman's eyes filled with despair. He coughed up a torrent of blood and died.

"Hmph. A couple of small fry, and they dare cause trouble for your master?"

Zhao Jiu sneered dismissively.

He glanced at the two corpses on the ground, not the least bit bothered, and planned to go back to sleep.

But just as he turned, a sudden chill ran through his body.

Deep in the hall, the old, broken Buddha statue was grinning, staring straight at him.

Normally, temple Buddha statues were solemn and dignified. They didn't come in this style.

And in the pitch-black darkness, the statue looked even more bizarre and sinister.

"Strange... was it like this before?"

Zhao Jiu frowned.

In the few days he'd been hiding in the temple, he'd never really paid attention to what the Buddha looked like.

"What are you smiling at?"

"Smile again, and I'll smash your head to pieces."

Zhao Jiu spat viciously, annoyed that a Buddha statue had managed to startle him. He was about to make a move—

When footsteps suddenly sounded from outside the main hall.

A young man with a proper, upright face and bright, sharp eyes walked in, carrying a large chopping blade on his back.

Zhao Jiu turned around, a little surprised. "How come so many people are looking to die tonight?"

Qin Yang looked at the two corpses on the ground, then at Zhao Jiu, and understood.

It seemed the Wandering Swordsman who sold the information to Luo Jian wasn't playing straight—selling the same tip to both sides.

"You're Hun Yuan Yi?"

Qin Yang didn't rush to act.

"Never change my name, never sit on my title—your grandpa right here."

Zhao Jiu grinned.

"Good. Remember this."

"The man who kills you is named Qin Yang."

Qin Yang smiled.

"Haha!!"

"So there's someone even more arrogant than me!"

Zhao Jiu laughed loudly, kicked off the ground, and his palm swept through the air with a roaring gust.

Qin Yang kept his smile. The moment Zhao Jiu moved, his Martial Arts uniform swelled as if inflated—pushed taut by the explosive surge of his muscles.

He didn't even draw his blade. He clenched his fist, knuckles cracking, and punched forward!

Boom!

The terrifying force compressed the air instantly, producing a thunderous roar.

When fist met palm, Qin Yang took a small step back. Zhao Jiu stumbled three steps back, his breathing clearly ragged.

"How is that possible?"

Zhao Jiu was shaken.

In raw blood-and-qi power, he had lost to this young man.

"Hun Yuan Yi doesn't seem all that."

Qin Yang shook his head slightly.

Canglang Seventh Level had long surpassed the limits of an ordinary man.

"You're asking for death!"

Zhao Jiu had a hot temper—easily provoked, quick to rage.

He roared, crossing his arms as if gathering some kind of force.

Then, in the next instant.

His hands shot out like twin short blades, weaving a whistling blur.

"Thousand Blade Instant Shadow!"

This had to be the ultimate technique of Zhao Jiu's palm style. Qin Yang felt as if countless knives were hurtling toward him, carrying a dreadful killing intent.

"That's more like it."

Qin Yang's eyes finally turned serious. He drew the Fine Iron Great Saber from his back, gripped it with both hands, and his whole body erupted with a wild, violent aura.

Po Jun: Fierce Fire Stance!

Fierce Fire focused on offense—the blade's momentum had to be as swift and ruthless as raging flames, leaving no room for mercy, an explosive outburst!

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!!

Swift, savage blade-light filled the entire main hall of the Broken Temple, clashing madly with Zhao Jiu's hands in a thunderous roar.

Both sides had explosive power, their attack rhythm pushed to the extreme, air currents shattering with each collision.

They fought from the hall all the way to the Open Space outside.

Sand and stones flew, weeds and gravel crushed and blown away by the pressure.

Finally, they fought back from the Open Space into the hall.

Qin Yang's stamina was too enduring—like an endless river, gradually overwhelming Zhao Jiu.

Clang clang clang~

Zhao Jiu's reputation as Hun Yuan Yi was well-earned. His hands were wrapped in tough, resilient energy, and even the Fine Iron Great Saber could only leave shallow marks.

"Haha!!"

"You can't kill me!"

Zhao Jiu jeered wildly.

He kept guarding his vitals, trying to drag Qin Yang down.

Such explosively fierce techniques, he was sure, couldn't last long.

But he had no idea how deep Qin Yang's blood-and-qi reserves ran.

"Can't kill you?"

"Then I'll crush you to death."

Qin Yang's expression didn't change.

He didn't want to drag this out either.

Because this guy was too noisy—it really pissed him off.

The next instant.

The aura around Qin Yang shifted.

From aggressive as fire to unmoving as a mountain.

Zhao Jiu's face filled with shock.

He felt as if a massive mountain had been laid across his body.

"Po Jun: Mountain Fall Stance!"

Qin Yang roared.

Gripping the blade with both hands, he swung it down at Zhao Jiu with the weight of a mountain.

Mountain Fall—the saber's momentum was heavy as a peak, crushing the opponent with sheer force!

"Useless!"

Zhao Jiu screamed, face red, unleashing all his energy as he crossed his arms to block!

Boom!

The saber crashed down!

A terrifying, mountain-like weight pressed down.

Forcing Zhao Jiu's knees to buckle!

"He's been erupting for so long—how does he still have this monstrous strength?!"

Zhao Jiu was stunned with terror.

This young man was like a primordial beast in human skin.

Qin Yang laughed wildly, every muscle coiling and bulging, and like a demon possessed, he swung a second strike!

Boom!!!

Zhao Jiu screamed in agony, his knees cracking open as he slammed hard onto the ground!

This time.

Fear finally flickered in his eyes.

"Spare me!"

Zhao Jiu begged loudly.

Qin Yang paid no heed.

No matter how ruthless he seemed, he was still human. After three months of bitter training at Qin Manor, he had accumulated loneliness and boredom.

This fight with Zhao Jiu let him vent all that pent-up frustration, disgust, and irritation!

Muscles burst and squeezed out terrifying force.

Shlick!

The Fine Iron Great Saber finally shattered Zhao Jiu's energy barrier completely.

From head down to the abdomen.

The Mountain Fall Stance's brutal power split Zhao Jiu in two, drenched in blood.