Chapter 51: Chapter 50: The Wakening of Insects
Under the cover of night, Zhao Changhe dashed frantically toward the rear mountain, with Fang Buping in hot pursuit.
Killing a bastard might feel good in the moment, but the real challenge was whether he could escape alive from Fang Buping's relentless chase.
Under the moonlight, Fang Buping's face twisted into a sinister grin mixed with a hint of joy, "Zhao Changhe! You've recklessly slaughtered your fellow sect brothers and violated our sect's rules. Where do you think you're going now? Hand over your life!"
Fang Buping was genuinely pleased.
Zhao Changhe's status as an "official disciple" was annoying, and with the "Holy Daughter" backing him, Fang Buping dared not act rashly. He couldn't just kill Zhao Changhe, only bully him with his authority, making Zhao Changhe swallow his grievances.
Yet Zhao Changhe became impatient so easily, showing his vulnerability after just a couple of provocations.
Wang Dashan might not rank as a "brother in the sect." Strictly speaking, Zhao Changhe only killed a bandit, similar to the case when Zhang Quan was killed – hardly a matter for sect rules to handle. However, interpretations of such deeds varied. Back then, when an instructor claimed the dead were trash, the incident was buried without question. Now, as a squad leader, Fang Buping could declare the victim a sect brother post-mortem. What could you argue against that?
It was a delightful surprise.
He knew that Zhao Changhe had just broken through to the Mystical Gate Third Layer, and his potential was indeed terrifying. Frankly, he couldn't comprehend how a human could achieve a breakthrough to the Third Layer of the Mystical Gate in just four months... Everyone had practiced the Blood Evil Skill; did anyone not know about it? Even if Zhao Changhe secretly practiced some Inner Strength to aid him, wasn't this still too preposterous?
The more outstanding Zhao Changhe was, the more urgent it was to eliminate him. They had been rivals for a long time, so why wait for him to grow into a threat?
Had he just become remarkable by reaching the Third Layer? He hadn't had the chance to cultivate and refine his abilities at this level for long, so his strength at the Third Layer might still be untested. Fang Buping, on the other hand, had polished his skills at the Fourth Layer for many years. Not to mention, his twenty years of experience in fighting within the Worldly Society and his mastery of the Saber Technique were something this greenhorn couldn't match.
Did he think he was Yue Hongling, capable of challenging the Sect Hierarch at such a young age?
Even Yue Hongling had trained since childhood, practicing for over a decade, no less!
"Zhao Changhe, you also utilize the Flying Blood Traceless. How could you possibly outrun me? Just come back with me obediently to face trial, hahahaha..."
"Bullshit! Did you become a squad leader by farting the loudest?"
"... Wait till I catch you. You'll beg for life in vain and yearn for death without release!"
The sound of his garments slicing through the air drew nearer, and Zhao Changhe sprinted ahead, his expression as calm as ever.
They both practiced the same qinggong - the Flying Blood Traceless. Fang Buping had reached a higher level of cultivation, making him naturally faster. There was no way Zhao Changhe could outrun him if he tried. But Zhao Changhe never intended to run; his goal was to fight. Escaping the stronghold was merely to avoid being surrounded and to lure Fang Buping to the rear mountain.
Yue Hongling could see that he had "a very clear objective," and she was right. From the start, Zhao Changhe's target had always been Fang Buping.
The current Vice Leader was appointed after the elite's withdrawal, but Fang Buping wasn't just an interim leader. He was in charge since the beginning, commanding elites like the instructors and holding the position of a squad leader – a Sealing Boundary Official within the notorious Demon Sect, regardless of his ranking... This was the toughest and most dangerous fight since his arrival in this world.
For example, his Basic Skills might not be limited to the Blood Evil Skill; they could include even superior techniques from within the sect, potentially some Blood God Skill.
And the "Flying Blood Traceless" was a Light Body Technique requiring Inner Strength to activate. The fact that Fang Buping also used this qinggong indicated he had Inner Strength, not merely an external skill practitioner.
He was versed in both Inner and External Training! At the Mystical Gate Fourth Layer!
And his Saber Technique was perfected, his experience vast.
Would it be possible to fight above his level?
"Whoosh!" The sound of the saber whistled through the air, its deadly intent perceptible from afar, tensing his back involuntarily.
He was closing in fast!
Zhao Changhe suddenly turned and slashed, as if he had eyes on his back, accurately intercepting the side of Fang Buping's incoming saber.
With a single stroke, he didn't exhaust his strength, quickly danced lightly on his feet, then sprang diagonally away, covering several meters in a blink of an eye.
Fang Buping had to admit that the kid's Basic Skills were solid—saber, hands, legs, body all moved in perfect harmony. His precision and control of power were refined to the point his Saber Technique could truly be considered advanced. Moreover, his skill in using sound to pinpoint positions was uncanny; he didn't even need to look to know where to strike.
But unfortunately for Zhao Changhe, who had just broken through the Mystical Gate Third Layer, there was a genuine gap in power.
"Your hands are trembling, aren't they?" Fang Buping pursued once more, amused as he chuckled, "Why bother running away? Wouldn't it be better to have a proper fight for a few rounds and see how much of a surprise you can give me?"
Zhao Changhe's hands were indeed shaking a bit, but his heart was far from the panic and flight Fang Buping imagined. Instead, it was much more resolute.
There was no feeling of hitting an immovable wall, and Fang Buping's saber held no unexpected formidable follow-through. It was only a matter of strength disparity! That meant there was a fight to be had!
Without a word, he continued his escape, suddenly leaping, and clearing the grass ahead.
Fang Buping followed suit, jumping over the grass with a smug smile, "You think I don't know all the traps in your stronghold? Trying to turn the tables with them? Hahaha... does it feel hopeless?"
With that leap, the saber in his hand started to glow with a bloody hue, overflowing with malevolent Evil Qi that seemed ferociously ruthless under the moonlight.
All gods and buddhas scatter!
Zhao Changhe could feel the Blood Evil Qi within his body being utterly suppressed by his opponent, even stirred and pulled to some extent. Seeing the malicious blood-red aura seemed to backfire, touching his soul with real "fear."
But the feeling was fleeting. How could Zhao Changhe be scared by such 'fear'? He turned and struck again with his saber.
"Clang!"
The violent collision echoed into the night. Zhao Changhe spat out a mouthful of blood and flew backward. Midair, he grabbed a vine dangling in front of him and swung onto the trunk of a nearby tree with a strong kick, propelled toward the direction of a pond, smoothly in one go.
Fang Buping staggered a step, astonished.
How could Zhao Changhe have pinpointed the weakest point in his Energy Transfer so precisely, as if he had unravelled it thousands of times? It made no sense... Even if he had been taught, it was impossible for him to have the experience to be consciously aware of the weaknesses in his own moves. That would be against nature...
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As the thought flashed through his mind, he saw Zhao Changhe swinging on a vine, so he grabbed a vine of his own, using the momentum to swing forward.
However, while Zhao Changhe swung without issue, the moment he pulled on the vine, he felt a sudden emptiness in his hand as the vine abruptly snapped.
At the same time, it seemed as if some mechanism had been triggered, with sharpened wooden spears flying in from all directions.
——So, leaving that twenty-fifth kid to signal, wasn't it all for this moment? Letting him think he understood the situation here inside out, yet in reality, Wang Dashan had no damn clue about the things Zhao Changhe had secretly set up!
But there Fang Buping was, seemingly weightless in mid-air, his saber dancing like pear blossoms in the wind, and in an instant, he deflected all the incoming wooden spears, not even slightly threatened—an experienced powerhouse indeed.
Behind the trees beside the pool, Zhao Changhe had, unbeknownst to the others, already drawn his bow and nocked an arrow, his eyes filled with a tangible murderous intent.
"Bang," the bow thundered, the arrow shot like a shooting star.
Just as Fang Buping had dealt with the threat of the traps and his mind relaxed for a moment, the sound of the bowstring resonated, and the arrow's tip was already bearing down on his face.
Where did he get that bow? He clearly wasn't carrying one!
The thought flashed by, and Fang Buping let out a roar, his saber moving at lightning speed to deflect the arrow.
Boosted by Inner Strength and doubled with the Blood Evil Qi, the Arrow Energy Spiral exploded, and the terrifying Blood Evil Qi rushed into his meridians, causing even his own Blood Qi to churn tumultuously. He couldn't help but step back to counteract the powerful impact, but ultimately, he deflected the arrowhead.
Before Fang Buping could even catch his breath, a surge of blood light flared before his eyes.
The Blood Saber sliced through the sky, and the figure leaping over the pond under the moonlight appeared like a Heavenly Demon descending.
All gods and Buddhas scattered!
This wave upon wave of assaults was relentless, as unyielding as a surging river.
"Clang!" Fang Buping swung his saber up to block, the earth-shattering sound of their clash echoing as though it could be heard from afar within the encampment.
The old strength had gone, new strength yet to form. Zhao Changhe, who had been biding his time, awaited just this moment.
As one faded, the other grew; this saber strike was indeed a match of equals.
Blood trickled from the corners of both their mouths, their arms swollen and their eyes turning red like beasts.
"Unexpected, that you really could fight me to this extent, impressive..." Locked in battle, Fang Buping, with slightly more strength to spare, slowly spoke, "But this is as far as..."
Before he could finish his sentence, his vision became a blur of white.
A bag of lime exploded in his face, the powder filling his mouth, and his eyes were in such excruciating pain that he couldn't see anything.
Damn it, to think he was a heroic and unyielding warrior, yet during this most intense, ferocious, and truly martial artist's spirited clash, he would suddenly throw lime!
Fang Buping didn't even have time to curse before he felt a sudden chill at his throat.
The moon hung silent.
With his head and face covered in lime, blood oozing from his throat, Fang Buping slowly fell backward, and with a "thud," he marked the end of the chase.
He likely never imagined, in his dying moments, that his pursuit would end this way.
Zhao Changhe, incredibly weakened, took a few steps back, planting the saber into the ground and kneeling, heaving for breath.
This arrow and saber strike, long in the making, had drained every ounce of his strength, exhausting all his potential. If he hadn't finished this in one go, he would have surely died.
Indeed, the Demon Sect squad leader was no ordinary man, very strong. If he stepped into the Worldly Society, a multitude of heroes would appear, and challenging higher ranks was not as simple as one might think.
As for the lime?
The Heavens have their ways, not preserved for the virtuous nor doomed for the wicked.
Even the Chaotic World Book would recognize it, wouldn't it?
Zhao Changhe drew in a deep breath, barely propping himself up, withdrew the saber, and started descending the mountain with large strides.
"Big brother, hurry, hurry up!" The young girl anxiously pulled her brother along, racing through the forest: "He hasn't even broken through the Mystical Gate Third Layer, and Fang Buping has been refining his skills at the Fourth Layer Heaven for how many years, he can't beat him!"
"I told you to abandon the mission, who allowed you to sneak out for a night attack!"
"Still talking about that, let's go home and I'll scold you, okay?"
Cui Yuanyong helplessly followed his sister as they rushed into the mountains, and just as they entered the mountain path, his expression changed, looking up at the sky.
A flash of golden light crossed the sky, the Chaotic World Book revealing a new Chapter.
"February, awakening of insects. Zhao Changhe's cultivation, a mere four months, Mystical Gate broke through the Third Layer. At this time, he slayed the Blood God Sect Branch Leader Fang Buping at Beimang."
"The Hidden Dragon List changes."
"The Hidden Dragon, ninety-first, Zhao Changhe."
"Changhe falls from the Nine Heavens, converging in the Worldly Society."
[End of Volume One]