Bloodbath

Bloodbath

"Heh heh heh... Your spirit is restrained, your body powerful, and incomparably pure. As expected, you are a fine seedling Heaven has gifted this old woman..."

"Your body is not bad. I'll take it."

Evil light blazed in the old woman's eyes as Sha Qi erupted around her, a terrifying sight to behold.

Seeing the blade light bearing down on her, she showed no fear whatsoever. She extended her blackened right claw and lunged forward.

The nails on her hand were several inches long, gleaming with a sinister light. Even the air rang with explosive booms.

"Hmph... Just you?"

Lu Changsheng drove the Pig-Slaughtering Blade in his hand to its limit. Its cold gleam flickered through the air as though it could cut apart everything in its path.

"Boom boom boom..."

In an instant, the two sides collided brutally.

A world-shaking crash rang out in the air, like rolling thunder.

Massive force blasted wildly in every direction, sweeping up great amounts of grass and trees. The ground was crisscrossed with ravines, a complete mess.

Lu Changsheng only felt an enormous force crashing into him. His entire body was forced several meters back before he landed steadily on the ground.

This fiend is so strong. She is probably close to Bone Forging.

His heart tightened, and his expression turned grave.

That strike just now had contained all his strength, except that he had not activated the Blood Burning Secret Art.

He had not expected her to receive it head-on without suffering any injury.

The old woman, meanwhile, had also been forced several meters back, her face filled with astonishment.

"Your strength is decent, but it is a pity you still have to die."

Her words were full of disdain, but inwardly, she was incomparably vigilant.

Her opponent's strength had somewhat surpassed her expectations.

With strength infinitely close to Bone Forging, she had actually failed to gain the upper hand. This sent towering waves crashing through her heart.

To obtain her current strength, she had drained the essence blood of who knew how many martial artists. Only then had she reached her present realm.

Yet this mere greenhorn could actually fight her to a standstill.

"Die..."

Lu Changsheng did not waste words. His expression was ice-cold.

He directly raised the Pig-Slaughtering Blade, activated Nine Spiral Transformations, and charged forward.

Several afterimages formed around him, swift as racing thunder.

"Do you think I fear you?"

Matron Cao extended her black claws and met him head-on without yielding in the slightest.

"Boom boom boom..."

The two began a fierce battle in the rear garden.

Sharp force burst wildly in every direction, rolling up layer upon layer of green leaves as the stone tiles beneath them cracked apart.

After the two had battled for the time it took to burn an incense stick—

There was still no victor. They continued their bloody struggle without pause.

Lu Changsheng's essence, Qi, and spirit were abundant. After fighting for so long, he did not feel the slightest fatigue. Instead, he grew braver with every battle, like a god of war.

His blade strikes also became increasingly effortless, Blade Aura streaking wildly through the air.

"Bang bang bang bang bang..."

The Pig-Slaughtering Blade struck against her claws, scattering showers of sparks.

As Matron Cao watched Lu Changsheng grow fiercer and fiercer, her expression became increasingly solemn.

If she did not risk her life now, she would never be able to take this man down.

"Screech screech..."

With a piercing shriek, the ground behind them suddenly split apart. A great number of corpses crawled up from underground, their faces bloodless and horrifying.

Very quickly, a group of Corpse Puppets swarmed toward Lu Changsheng, Sha Qi roiling all around them.

Lu Changsheng's expression grew grave at the sight.

These Corpse Puppets had clearly all been refined from martial artists, and their strength was far from ordinary.

They were several grades stronger than those he had killed in the valley.

Clearly, these had all been painstakingly cultivated by her.

"Slash."

He hesitated no longer and directly activated the Blood Burning Secret Art.

"Boom boom boom..."

It was as if a volcano had erupted inside him. Vast amounts of Qi and blood surged madly, and his strength rose step by step.

All of this was completed in the blink of an eye.

Bolstered by the secret art, his strength had initially reached the Bone Forging stage. An incomparably powerful feeling filled his heart.

Then, Lu Changsheng swung the Pig-Slaughtering Blade and swept it fiercely forward.

A dazzling cold gleam flashed through the air, transforming into an arc that spread outward.

"Splat..."

A large number of Corpse Puppets were cut in half at the waist. Emerald-green fluid sprayed across the ground, revolting to behold.

"You're courting death."

Matron Cao flew into a rage. These had all been her treasures, yet they had all been killed in a single strike.

"Roar roar roar..."

She swiftly took out a blood-red bead. Blood light swirled around it, and its Sha Qi soared to the heavens.

Then she swallowed it in one gulp.

In an instant, her aura surged once more, likewise reaching the Bone Forging stage.

"Let's see how long you can hold out."

Matron Cao stretched out her claws and rushed forward.

She knew that once he had ignited his Qi and blood, it could not last long. She was certain to win this battle.

With his body to make up for her losses, she would not be taking a loss either.

"Boom boom boom..."

The two began battling once more, several times fiercer than before.

After less than half an hour—

Matron Cao stared at Lu Changsheng, whose aura was becoming ever more formidable, her face full of disbelief.

"This is impossible! Your essence blood cannot be inexhaustible!"

Lu Changsheng gave a cold smile.

He looked at the status on the panel.

Status: Weak

Add points.

With that silent command, Source Energy Points -10.

Status: Good

His Qi and blood returned to their peak once again, and his attacks became increasingly ferocious.

After another incense stick's worth of time—

Matron Cao went from shock, to disbelief, and finally to despair.

The defenses in her heart crumbled away piece by piece.

She could not understand where this monster had come from. His essence blood seemed inexhaustible.

A moment later—

She could no longer hold on. Her aura suddenly dropped by an entire level.

"Slash."

Seizing the opportunity, Lu Changsheng swiftly swung his blade.

"Crack..."

A flash of light flickered through the air, cutting directly toward her neck.

Matron Cao's face was filled with despair as she hastily twisted aside.

Though she avoided the fatal spot, she still could not evade it completely.

Her essence blood bead had already been entirely depleted, and her speed was far inferior to his. Naturally, she could not dodge it.

"Ah... the Venerable Master will avenge me..."

The next moment, her entire body was cut in half at the waist. The two halves rolled across the ground as dark green fluid scattered everywhere.

Just as Lu Changsheng was about to step forward and deliver the final blow, a series of footsteps suddenly came from behind him.

He turned his head to look.

A man staggered toward Matron Cao's body on the ground, tears covering his vacant face.

"Mother, what happened to you..."

The fool squatted on the ground and clutched Matron Cao's upper body tightly.

"My son... Mother has wronged you..."

As she spoke, Matron Cao suddenly thrust out her claw, piercing the fool's chest.

She knew that once she died, her son would not live either. Better for him to accompany her on the road, so that she would at least have company.

Thus, enduring the pain, she personally killed her own foolish son.

"Splat..."

The fool fell straight into Matron Cao's embrace.

Before long, both of them had breathed their last.

Lu Changsheng looked at the scene before him, his gaze rather solemn.

Before dying, she had mentioned the Venerable Master yet again.

Just who was this "Venerable Master" she spoke of?

The Scent Worship Cult, or the Black Mountain Bandits?

Or perhaps some evil organization that bewitched martial artists?

Coupled with County Magistrate Du Wentao seeking revenge, all of Changping County had fallen into a state of swirling clouds and sinister currents.

Countless doubts tangled around his heart like a knotted mass of hemp.

It made him extremely vigilant.

There was a distinct sense that wind and rain were about to descend.

After a moment, Lu Changsheng gathered his thoughts and prepared to investigate her lair.

Just then—

He suddenly spoke, his expression icy.

"Come out."

After his words fell, there was not the slightest movement.

"Must I invite you out myself?"

His voice rose another notch, his tone exceptionally sharp.

After several breaths, a lovely figure slowly emerged from the corridor behind him.

It was the missing Li Family Woman.

After the demon had been slain, she had regained the ability to move as well.

"This humble woman thanks you for saving her, sir."

The woman gave him a salute.

Yet in the instant she lowered her head, a cold gleam flashed through her eyes.

She had long heard the commotion outside from within the room. The moment she regained the ability to move, she had hidden in the shadows and watched.

She had been utterly shocked.

He possessed such strength, yet had not rescued her first. This filled her heart with resentment.

She had planned to return to her family and notify the experts within the clan...

Just then—

A dazzling cold gleam flashed through the air and swept across the woman's neck.

"Crack..."

The woman clutched her neck, her face full of disbelief.

"Wh... why..."

"Your eyes displeased me."

Lu Changsheng gave a cold smile.

He could also guess some of her thoughts, so naturally, he would not leave behind any hidden danger.

When dealing with enemies, one had to use thunderous methods and cut off the source.