Chapter 82. Natural Enemy (7)

Whoosh!

Ming Chien's body staggered and retreated.

Swoosh!

The energy that had been burning from his hands spread rapidly to his wrists, elbows, and shoulders, engulfing his entire body in an instant.

Thud!

As he moved his feet to regain his balance, the ground shook.

He hadn’t used any special technique or footwork, yet the ground trembled as if an earthquake had struck.

Haa.

Lian Huozheng looked up at the sky without realizing it. A pale mist rose from his slightly open mouth.

Rumble! Rumble! Rumble!

A transparent red light swirled beneath his clear skin.

Sizzle!

Xuanwu’s aura was startled and retreated to his kidneys.

Rumble! Rumble!

The red light that enveloped his entire body met with Baihu’s aura.

Swoosh!

Though the energies were completely different, a sense of kinship was felt. Baihu’s aura suddenly grew stronger, enveloping the red light and anchoring it to his heart.

Crackle! Crackle! Swoosh!

The chest of his blood-stained robe burned in a circular pattern.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

His heart beat much more strongly than usual.

The force squeezing his blood vessels became terrifyingly strong. It felt as if the blood squeezed out once was sweeping through his entire body dozens of times in an instant.

It’s hot.

His heart rate quickened and his body temperature rose. Even though it was a temperature that a human body couldn’t withstand, the red light continued to raise Lian Huozheng’s body temperature.

Sizzle!

Lian Huozheng’s body instantly blurred. His extremely hot body was meeting the cold air, emitting steam.

Ming Chien, and the four swordsmen.

Even the Red Dragon Army lined up behind the carriage.

They were all watching Lian Huozheng. But none of them could move.

‘...!’

They needed to swing their swords immediately. They needed to kill him right now.

Their emotions were shouting that.

However, behind the murderous intent, another emotion surged like a tidal wave, forcing their actions.

It was fear.

Sizzle!

A red glow flickered wildly in the misty steam.

Whoosh!

At some point, the misty steam cleared, and there was a young man crouching, surrounded by a red aura.

Thump!

The sound of his heart beating was heard like thunder in everyone’s ears.

Thump! Thump!

Lian Huozheng slowly raised his upper body.

Whoosh!

A white wind rose from his feet and shot the heat from his entire body high into the sky.

It was a red and white whirlwind. The wind of the West Heaven, carrying the heat of the Sun God, howled with joy.

“So, you came before the East Heaven.”

Zhuque.

Zhuque, one of the Four Symbols, is the embodiment of Bingwu, symbolizing summer. It is responsible for the heart among the five organs and six viscera, and it invigorates vitality.

Baihu maximizes lung function, granting powerful physical strength, robust bones, and formidable recovery abilities.

Xuanwu extracts turbid qi, thoroughly protecting the body while preparing to lead to the best outcome in the worst-case scenario.

However, the highest level of defense and body stability is not achieved with just the energies of Baihu and Xuanwu.

The highest safety is to kill before being killed, ensuring survival. This is the essence of martial arts on the battlefield and the true meaning of the art of killing.

Baihu’s energy, receiving the qi of heaven and earth, resonates with Zhuque’s energy, creating explosive output. It enhances heart and lung functions to the extreme, and with infinite output, it burns enemies like lightning. This is the art of Tian Sha (Heavenly Killing).

This is Zhuque.

Killing before being killed, and killing the already dead. Among the martial arts of the Four Symbols, it is the fastest and the most ruthless.

Lian Huozheng opened his eyes.

Whoosh!

Ming Chien suddenly felt an inexplicable thirst.

It’s hot. His throat was dry. It felt as if all the moisture in his body had evaporated.

The moment that young man opened his eyes and glared at him, he felt the same sensation.

“I’ve been waiting.”

Rumble!

Lian Huozheng, holding an axe, took a powerful step forward.

It was Baihu Junlin.

“I’ll end this quickly.”

Ming Chien’s face twisted again.

Though he was overwhelmed by a more mysterious aura, his murderous intent had not yet died.

“What the hell is this!”

Crack!

Ming Chien’s body disappeared.

It was an extraordinary footwork technique. A technique that could achieve this level of speed was rare in the entire martial world.

But Lian Huozheng could see it.

Ming Chien’s movements, the direction he would head before he even moved, appeared as red lines to Lian Huozheng.

And he could even see what martial arts he would use and where he would strike.

Clang!

Ming Chien’s eyes widened.

He countered a rear attack with a similar attack.

His reaction speed was incredible. But more impressive was the destructive power emanating from the axe.

“Gah!”

Bang!

Ming Chien’s body flew and crashed to the ground.

“Gah!”

Somehow regaining his composure, he prepared the Phoenix Soaring Sword again.

‘...?!”

Ming Chien’s eyes widened to the point of tearing.

Lian Huozheng had disappeared.

‘Where is he?’

Boom!

“Cough!”

Ming Chien was spat out to the side, spewing blood.

Whoosh!

Ming Chien’s eyes were bloodshot.

Lian Huozheng, who had appeared where he had been flung, punched his abdomen. It was a powerful blow that seemed to have penetrated to the wrist.

“Ugh!”

Ming Chien spat out blood.

The fiery qi rising from his abdomen dismantled the Phoenix Qi, battering his entire body.

It was a terrifying penetration. The Phoenix Qi couldn’t block it.

‘This, this guy, how...?’

Moreover, what is this speed? When did he get here?

Ming Chien gritted his teeth and unleashed the Phoenix Water.

Boom!

The ground was shattered by the futile force.

Lian Huozheng was already gone from that spot. He had moved three zhang and one chi away, out of the range of the Phoenix Water.

It was a jaw-dropping speed. Within the combat area, it seemed even faster than the Phoenix Soaring.

“This is Xueyi Huitian.”

It’s not a footwork technique but a movement technique.

A movement technique specialized for the annihilation of enemies, using explosive power to achieve extreme speed. It’s simple but that much faster. It’s the movement technique among the Four Symbols’ techniques that consumes the most internal energy.

And the attack.

Whoosh!

The sound of the air being torn was much sharper than expected.

Lian Huozheng, breaking through the air, was already beside Ming Chien.

Ming Chien instinctively swung his sword.

Clang!

The clash of their weapons created real sparks.

‘Gah!’

Ming Chien staggered back.

He was overwhelmed by force. And the force that created this was speed, and the speed was made possible by the Zhuque Qi that burned his heart.

Whoosh!

In Ming Chien’s eyes, Lian Huozheng rapidly enlarged.

“You bastard!”

The great sword drew a cross. It was the Phoenix Soaring Sword’s Feifeng Cross Blade.

Flash! Boom!

The cross-shaped sword qi completely destroyed the carriage he had been riding in.

It was a powerful sword technique. Despite the Zhuque Qi disrupting his internal energy, he could still use such a martial art. Truly, he was the head of the number one family in the world.

‘Indeed, he is strong.’

Even when possessed by madness, even when outmatched in psychological warfare, even when his internal energy was restricted.

Ming Chien was still strong. Even after cutting his opponent’s abilities by more than half, it was difficult to be confident of a decisive victory in a direct confrontation.

This was the head of one of the seven great families, the master of the number one family in the world.

However.

“I will also take your martial arts, as a Grandmaster.”

Whoosh!

It was a continuous strike from the middle. Ming Chien was sent flying, spewing blood.

Lian Huozheng, glaring at him with fierce eyes, poured Zhuque Qi into his axe.

Xuanwu is a defensive technique, and Baihu is an offensive technique. Then what is Zhuque?

It is an instant death technique.

The ruler of the South Heaven, the embodiment of fire, the disaster of the Fire God, raged through Ming Chien’s body.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

“Gah!”

A large amount of blood splattered in all directions.

Whoosh. Thud!

Ming Chien rolled on the ground.

His entire body was covered in blood. His body, torn by the great axe’s attack, was horrific. Though he wasn’t dead, he couldn’t move.

Lian Huozheng stood proudly, while Ming Chien rolled pitifully on the ground.

Thus, the battle was decided.

“Huff!”

Lian Huozheng’s face turned pale.

‘I pushed it too far.’

He had been cut twice by Ming Chien’s sword. The cuts were deep, piercing his veins and reaching his bones.

In a state of severe internal injuries, he had awakened the Zhuque Qi and suppressed his enemy with explosive movements. His vision was spinning.

Whoosh.

That was as far as it went.

The mysterious aura emanating from Lian Huozheng’s body quickly subsided. The Three Symbols Qi was dispersing.

The four swordsmen and the Red Dragon Army, who had been watching the battle in a daze, finally came to their senses.

“This, this can’t be!”

Ming Jiliang shouted.

“What are you doing! Kill him immediately!”

“Kill him!”

The four swordsmen rushed at Lian Huozheng. The Red Dragon Army, lined up in the rear, also drew their weapons.

It was a life-or-death moment.

“Stop!”

Boom!

A bolt of sword qi controlled the front of the four swordsmen.

Lian Huozheng raised his head.

“Prince! Are you alright?!”

Lian Huozheng smiled bitterly.

“Ultimately, you broke the seal.”

Whoosh!

A majestic aura rose from Shen Mo’s body.

It was a completely different energy from what he originally possessed. It was the manifestation of Longpo Xin Gong, one of the five great techniques of the Lian family.

Shen Mo shouted.

“The Changying Team, protect the Prince!”

“Yes, sir!”

Crack!

They, who had been mesmerized by Lian Huozheng’s overwhelming martial arts, finally drew their swords to protect him, ready to die.

Lian Huozheng frowned.

‘This is bad.’

It would be difficult to block both the four swordsmen and the Red Dragon Army. Even if the martial artists waiting in the rear joined, a chaotic battle would break out.

At that moment, a thunderous voice erupted as if waiting for this moment.

“The martial artists of the Ming family, kneel where you are!”

“Ugh!”

Hundreds of martial artists from the rear of the Red Dragon Army rushed in.

It was an astonishing number. Each of them displayed restrained footwork, looking very experienced.

And at the forefront were Jia Dushang and Li Chongjing.

Jia Dushang shouted again.

“The martial artists of the Ming family, all kneel where you are! You have been declared public enemies of the martial world!”

Ming Jiliang’s face was filled with shock.

“What, what did you say?!”

“The temporary martial alliance has declared the Nine Great Families as public enemies of the martial world! If you resist, you will all die!”

“What the hell are you talking about!!”

Jia Dushang’s eyes flashed.

He took out a letter from his sleeve.

“This is a formal order, stamped with the seals of the leaders of the Nine Great Families and the Seven Great Families!”

“...!”

“Put down your weapons immediately! If you resist even one, a death warrant will be issued to all members of the Ming family after this time!”

Ming Jiliang’s face turned pale.

Eight knots, the successor of the Beggar Sect. Such a person mentioned the four characters of public enemy and even the death warrant.

The four swordsmen and the Red Dragon Army looked at Ming Jiliang in confusion.

‘This, this is...!’

They couldn’t understand what was happening.

Jia Dushang smiled.

“Not putting down your weapons?”

“...!”

“Fine, because of you, the Ming family will be wiped out.”

Jia Dushang said to Li Chongjing.

“Master Li! Send a letter to the Sect Leader immediately! Issue a death warrant to the entire Ming family!”

“I understand.”

Ming Jiliang was startled.

“Wait, wait a moment! I’ll put them down! I’ll put them down, so wait!”

“You bastard! You should have done that earlier!”

Jia Dushang looked at Lian Huozheng with a delighted face.

He subtly raised his thumb.

“Am I cool?”

Lian Huozheng chuckled.

“I did all the hard work, what about you?”

“You’re crazy. Didn’t you say you wanted to fight?”

“I have nothing to say.”

“Haha.”

After laughing for a while, Jia Dushang tilted his head.

“Eh? What are you doing?”

Lian Huozheng, holding his axe, stood up. Even taking a step seemed difficult.

“Why don’t you rest? You look like you’re about to die.”

“I have something to do.”

“Something to do? What?”

“Revenge.”

“...?”

Lian Huozheng walked towards the fallen Ming Chien.

His eyes were filled with fierce murderous intent.

“That guy said he would cut off my limbs. I thought it would be a good revenge.”

“...?!”

“Just so you know, don’t try to stop me. I deliberately didn’t kill him.”