Chapter 74

When these words were spoken, Li Wuching inwardly knew it was bad. Xiao Leng’s words had precisely hit Bai Pu’s soft spot. Bai Pu held his master in high regard, and even to gain the upper hand, he could not back down.

If it were Li Wuching, he would be thoroughly a gentleman or thoroughly a villain. Bai Pu used Xiao Yuling to threaten Xiao Leng. Although in the midst of battle, one could resort to any means, such actions were not those of a gentleman.

Since he had already acted like a villain, he might as well go all the way. However, Bai Pu still wanted to adhere to some principles. If it were Li Wuching, he would never do so.

However, he also knew that in the martial world, those with a sense of justice often adhered to the principle of what to do and what not to do, never crossing the line.

Taking a deep breath, Bai Pu said, "Although my master does not allow me to use the sword and does not recognize me..."

He threw the folding fan aside and said, "In my heart, I have always been Gongyang Yu’s disciple."

"Please!"

The two each took a step forward.

Xiao Leng and Bai Pu fought for over a hundred moves, their palm winds destroying the flowers and trees wherever they went.

The "Vast Righteousness" and the "Mysterious Yin Separation Divine Skill" were mutually antagonistic. The two kinds of true qi spread through the air, making a hissing sound.

Both used their best skills, betting their lives on the fight. Xiao Leng, who had been seriously injured and had just recovered, began to show signs of a relapse after a long battle. His palm power weakened, and his movements became sluggish.

Bai Pu’s palm power surged, and in an instant, the situation of attack and defense changed.

Xiao Leng’s eyebrows slightly raised, and his movements changed from extremely fast to extremely slow. His arms sank, and he tightly clenched his fists. With a "hmm," his ten fingers suddenly shot out, and five sharp, blade-like energies burst forth, faintly accompanied by the sound of thunder.

This skill was called "Lightning Finger," a special technique of Xiao Qianjue’s early years, invincible to all.

Bai Pu, no longer showing his previous graceful demeanor, had a solemn expression. His movements were broad and expansive, like a long spear and a large axe, fierce and powerful. This was the Confucian Scholar’s ultimate skill, the "Jade Axe Evil-Breaking Hand," which could split mountains and rocks, ten times more powerful than the "Great Stele Hand."

Although their movements were much slower than before, they had reached the point of comparing true strength, making the fight a hundred times more dangerous than the dazzling battle earlier. The surrounding trees were motionless, and the powerful energies that had filled the air were now concentrated between their palms and fingers, making a "crackling" sound as their muscles and bones moved.

In the end, Xiao Leng, in a desperate move, engaged Bai Pu in an internal energy battle. Both exerted their internal energy, looking like stone statues, with only their hair and beards trembling slightly.

Xiao Leng’s face gradually turned purple, and blood trickled from the corners of his mouth.

Xiao Yuling, tears streaming down her face, called out, "Senior Brother, hold on, I’ll help you."

Suddenly, a dark figure appeared at the temple entrance. Duanmu Changge appeared and smiled, picking up the Hai Ruo saber from the ground. "Mr. Bai, why tangle with him? I’ll help you!"

Xiao Yuling was shocked and shouted, "Shameless scoundrel, taking advantage of someone in distress, truly despicable!"

Before her words were finished, a blue light flashed, and Duanmu swung the saber towards Xiao Leng’s waist. Midway, he changed direction and slashed towards Bai Pu’s abdomen.

At this critical moment, a figure gracefully entered the Great Hero Hall. With a "clang," Duanmu Changge’s Hai Ruo saber flew out of his hand, and a blue light flashed as he was split in two from top to bottom.

After killing Duanmu Changge with one sword strike, Li Wuching did not stop. He placed his hand on Bai Pu’s shoulder and activated the Northern Dipper Skill. Internal energy surged into Li Wuching’s body like a mountain flood.

Bai Pu and Xiao Leng were both top experts in the Iron Blood World. In terms of combat power, Xiao Leng might have a slight edge, but in terms of internal energy cultivation, it was hard to tell who was superior.

Both had profound true qi, with over twenty years of internal energy cultivation. Now, their internal energy was continuously flowing into Li Wuching’s body.

Li Wuching had always been unwilling to engage Xiao Leng in a direct confrontation, not only because he lacked the confidence to kill Xiao Leng but also to wait for this moment.

Previously, the internal energy absorbed by the Northern Dipper Skill had been completely digested by Li Wuching. He urgently needed to rapidly enhance his cultivation, and the moment when Bai Pu and Xiao Leng were battling their internal energy was a rare opportunity.

Although the Northern Dipper Skill was a powerful technique, it was not omnipotent. A low-level martial artist, even with the Northern Dipper Skill, could not absorb a strong opponent’s internal energy.

Unless the opponent was unprepared or in a peculiar state, like Bai Pu and Xiao Leng in their internal energy battle, there was a chance.

Currently, Li Wuching’s Northern Dipper Skill was only at level zero. It was almost impossible to absorb Xiao Leng’s or Bai Pu’s internal energy during a confrontation.

When the two were at a critical point in their internal energy battle and could not focus on anything else, it was the perfect time for the Northern Dipper Skill to exert its power, continuously absorbing their internal energy.

Feeling their internal energy flowing away like a river, both Xiao Leng and Bai Pu’s faces changed. They tried to break free, but it was impossible. The Northern Dipper Skill was extremely dominant, having formed a momentum that clearly stuck them together.

In less than three minutes, Xiao Leng’s internal energy was completely drained. His hands finally separated from Bai Pu’s, and his body slid down weakly.

With a wave of his hand, the Green Jade Sword flew out, transformed into a blue light, and pierced Xiao Leng’s chest, pinning him to the floor.

"Senior Brother!"

Xiao Yuling let out a heart-wrenching cry, feeling dizzy, and tears silently streamed down her face.

Liang Wenjing could no longer hide and rushed out, supporting Xiao Yuling, who was about to fall backward. He urgently called out, "You... what’s wrong with you?"

Continuing to place his hand on Bai Pu’s shoulder, he absorbed more internal energy until he felt his internal energy surging and his meridians swelling. Only then did he stop.

Xiao Leng’s internal energy plus half of Bai Pu’s, combined with Li Wuching’s original Northern Dipper True Qi, made his internal energy as profound as that of someone with about fifty years of cultivation.

As soon as he was free from Li Wuching’s hand, Bai Pu staggered back, looking at Li Wuching with a wary and uncertain gaze.

"Brother Leng, what just happened? Why did my internal energy keep flowing into you?"

Bai Pu asked in a deep voice.

Li Wuching smiled faintly and said, "It’s a martial art I have, called the Power Absorption Technique, which can absorb internal energy. In the heat of the moment, I only thought of killing Xiao Leng and couldn’t control myself. I apologize deeply."

Losing nearly half of his decades of internal energy, Bai Pu was naturally unhappy. However, since Li Wuching had also saved his life, he could not react strongly.

Bai Pu added, "What about Duanmu Changge? He clearly wanted to kill me just now?" He was puzzled.

"Duanmu Changge is originally a Mongol, who has been an internal spy in the Song Kingdom for over ten years. He was the one who revealed the whereabouts of the Prince of Huai’an."

Li Wuching answered.