Chapter 78

The resentment between Yunwu County and Sifang County has run deep, and naturally, the martial artists of the two countries have come to hate and oppose each other.

While Zhang Ruochen and Zixi were sniping at the martial artists of Sifang County, the martial artists of Sifang County were also hunting down the martial artists of Yunwu County.

Even other counties got involved.

The next morning, Zhang Ruochen and Zixi found a woman's corpse by a small stream. The woman was completely naked, covered in bruises, and there were bloodstains between her legs. It was clear that she had been brutally violated while alive.

The fatal wound was on her neck, where her carotid artery had been cut, causing blood to continuously gush out, turning the stream water red.

The air was filled with the smell of blood.

"What a cruel way to kill," Zhang Ruochen frowned, a surge of anger rising in his heart.

He walked into the stream and carried the woman's body to the shore.

He had some memory of this woman; she was a noble's daughter from Yunwu County, with her cultivation reaching the middle stage of the Profound Realm, and she had great talent, with a high chance of being admitted to the Martial Market Academy.

Zixi, who was already accustomed to killing, said, "Judging by the killing technique, this should be the work of the genius from the Qing family of Sifang County, and there is indeed his lingering aura here!"

Zhang Ruochen, who was not familiar with the young martial artists of Sifang County, asked, "Who are you talking about?"

"Qing You. He can be considered the most outstanding genius the Qing family has had in a hundred years. He reached the Great Perfection stage of the Yellow Realm at fifteen, became a Yellow List martial artist at sixteen, and broke through to the Profound Realm at seventeen. Now, at the age of twenty-one, he has already reached the Lesser Perfection stage of the Profound Realm."

Zixi continued, "It is said that he cultivates an evil technique that allows him to absorb the true qi of women, which is why his cultivation speed is so fast."

Zhang Ruochen closed the woman's eyes and buried her body by the stream, saying, "Among the young martial artists of Sifang County, there are only three who have reached the Lesser Perfection stage of the Profound Realm. I didn't expect to encounter another one so soon!"

Zixi asked, "Do you want to kill him?"

Zhang Ruochen replied, "Don't you?"

"You need to know that Qing You is not Feng Zhiyi; he is a very difficult opponent to deal with."

Zixi continued, "Although Feng Zhiyi is a genius, he is far inferior to Qing You. Qing You's cultivation has already reached the peak of the Lesser Perfection stage of the Profound Realm, and even middle-stage Profound Realm martial artists are no match for him."

Feng Zhiyi had just broken through to the Lesser Perfection stage of the Profound Realm, but Qing You was at the peak of the Lesser Perfection stage, and the gap between them was significant.

Zhang Ruochen's expression turned serious as he looked around, "Danger is approaching."

Zixi's ears twitched, and her face changed. She immediately drew her sword and assumed a defensive stance, staring into the dense forest, "We've been ambushed."

"Ha ha! You are quite alert, I didn't expect you to notice so quickly!" A cheerful laugh echoed.

"Whoosh!"

Prince Huoxing rode a second-tier lower-grade savage beast, the Green麟Eagle, flying out of the forest, circling above Zhang Ruochen and Zixi.

Standing on the back of the Green麟Eagle, he looked down at the two with arrogance, "You are quite impressive. At least fifteen martial artists from Sifang County died at your hands last night, right?"

Zhang Ruochen looked up slightly and asked, "How did you track us?"

"Clap clap!"

Footsteps sounded.

A man with a cold expression walked out of the forest, wearing a crimson robe and holding a one-foot-long curved blade. He sneered, "As long as we found the first person you killed, it wasn't hard to catch up with you. Ha ha!"

Zixi's eyes narrowed as she stared at the man in the crimson robe, "Qing You."

Qing You's lips curled slightly, and his gaze swept over Zixi's round chest and buttocks before settling on her beautiful face. He smiled sinisterly, "What a fine specimen, and your cultivation is not low. If I can absorb your true qi, I might be able to break through to the middle stage of the Profound Realm."

Zixi's eyes turned cold, and she said coldly, "Since you've set the ambush, all of you come out!"

"Swish swish!"

A series of wind-breaking sounds came from the forest.

Seven figures flew out, three of whom were at the middle stage of the Profound Realm, and four at the early stage.

The seven young martial artists stood in different positions, blocking all of Zhang Ruochen and Zixi's escape routes.

Prince Huoxing, standing on the back of the Green麟Eagle, laughed, "Why don't you shatter the Qilin ball and raise the Qilin smoke? Do you think you still have a chance?"

Zhang Ruochen immediately released his spatial domain, his gaze sweeping over the nine people present, his heart sinking slightly.

Qing You's combat strength alone was already above that of Zhang Ruochen and Zixi, and defeating him would be an extremely difficult task.

Moreover, there was Prince Huoxing, whose combat strength was not much weaker than Qing You's, flying in the sky, ready to attack at any moment, catching Zhang Ruochen and Zixi off guard.

In addition, there were seven Profound Realm martial artists blocking all of Zhang Ruochen and Zixi's escape routes, leaving them no chance to flee.

Prince Huoxing laughed, "Even if you shatter the Qilin ball and raise the Qilin smoke, it won't help. No one will come to save you. The outer palace disciple guarding this area is a young genius from our Sifang County, and I've already spoken to him. Even if he sees the Qilin smoke, he won't come to your rescue."

Zhang Ruochen said, "Prince Huoxing is indeed thorough. Are we doomed today?"

Qing You's gaze was sinister, and he shook his head, smiling, "No! Prince, you are the one who is doomed. As for that purple-clothed beauty, she is so beautiful that we can't just kill her easily. Ha ha!"

A middle-stage Profound Realm martial artist beside him also smiled lecherously, "Young Master Qing, after you absorb her true qi, can you let us brothers have some fun too?"

"Looking for death!"

Zixi transformed into a purple blur, rushing out at a speed of forty meters per second, her sword aimed at the middle-stage Profound Realm martial artist.

It should be noted that a typical Lesser Perfection stage Profound Realm martial artist could only reach a speed of thirty-six meters per second.

Only middle-stage Profound Realm martial artists could burst to a speed of forty meters per second.

Clearly, Zixi was truly angry, unleashing her maximum speed to strike the man down in one move.

Qing You's cold snort was even faster, reaching a speed of forty-four meters per second, comparable to a Great Perfection stage Profound Realm martial artist.

He appeared in front of Zixi like a ghost.

He extended a green hand, covered in green scales, resembling a monster's claw.

"Clap clap!"

Qing You's hand was as hard as iron, colliding with Zixi's sword, scattering a large number of sparks.

"Boom!"

Qing You's fingers closed, actually grabbing Zixi's sword with his bare hands.

Zixi's face changed, and she immediately tried to pull back her sword. However, Qing You's fingers were like iron clamps, tightly gripping the sword, and no matter how hard Zixi tried, she couldn't budge his hand.

"Green Devil Hand!" Zixi said.

Qing You smiled, "That's right! It's the lower-grade spirit-level martial technique, Green Devil Hand. I have cultivated it to the lesser success stage, making me impervious to blades and fire."

Zixi immediately abandoned her sword and retreated.

Qing You's speed was even faster, his hand reaching out to grab her neck. Five green hand shadows appeared in the air, simultaneously attacking Zixi's neck.

A poisonous wind emanated from Qing You's hand, carrying a faint bloody smell.

Zixi's body twisted, dodging Qing You's hand. She supported herself with her hands and kicked out with her long, slender legs, striking Qing You's chest.

"Boom!"

Qing You took the kick, stepping back three steps, but he was not injured. Instead, he laughed maniacally, licking his lips, "Interesting!"

Zixi immediately picked up her sword from the ground, channeling her true qi to activate the eight inscriptions on the sword.

A layer of green light appeared on the surface of the sword, emitting a bone-chilling cold aura.

"Swift Wind and Flying Snow!"

Zixi's arm moved continuously, the sword drawing circles in the air, creating a howling wind. As the cold aura from the sword dissipated, white frost appeared in the air.

The frost grew larger, turning into white snowflakes.

"Spirit-level sword technique!"

Qing You's eyes turned extremely fierce, and he let out a long whistle, "Green Devil Hand!"

Qing You transformed into a green shadow, charging straight into Zixi's sword circle.

With a loud boom, the green ghost hand struck the tip of the sword, releasing a wave of green energy.

Zixi let out a muffled cry, her tiger's mouth splitting open, and her sword was knocked out of her hand, falling into the stream.

"Boom!"

Qing You's palm struck Zixi's right shoulder, sending her flying over ten meters away.

In mid-air, she spat out a mouthful of blood, her face turning pale, suffering severe internal injuries.

"Ha ha!"

Qing You grinned, rushing forward again, grabbing Zixi's ankle, trying to capture her.

At that moment, Zhang Ruochen appeared behind Zixi, holding the Flash Soul Sword, and thrust it at Qing You's brow.

"Heavenly Heart Breaking Plum!"

Qing You sensed the danger and immediately released Zixi's ankle, a smirk of contempt on his lips, reaching out to block Zhang Ruochen's sword.

Suddenly, Zhang Ruochen changed his sword technique from a thrust to a slash, shouting, "Heavenly Heart Guiding the Way!"

A ten-meter-long sword qi shot out from the tip of the sword, instantly reaching Qing You.

Qing You's eyes narrowed, and he immediately channeled his true qi to his palms.

A ball of green true qi condensed between his palms.

"Green Devil's Cry."

He launched the true qi ball from his palms, forming a green ghostly mist in front of him, colliding with the sword qi.

Zhang Ruochen felt the powerful energy rushing towards him and immediately raised his sword to block it. However, he was still thrown back by the force, landing seven meters away.