Chapter 14: Dog Eat Dog!

A flash of sword light, and thunder rumbled.

In an instant, the sword light claimed Zhao Xuhe’s head. However, before the head could hit the ground, his body abruptly exploded, turning into a pile of bones scattered across the ground.

“I wonder which fellow disciple has been waiting for me here?”

After the skeleton shattered, a stream of Yin Qi flew out, finally reforming into Zhao Xuhe’s appearance a hundred meters away, his face still holding a trace of panic.

But before his voice could fall, the sword light followed him like a shadow.

Shhhink—!

In the next second, Zhao Xuhe’s head flew into the sky again, only to turn into bones filling the air once more. The Yin Qi retreated another hundred meters, manifesting his figure again.

“I…”

BOOM.

“You…”

Crack!

“Enough!”

Dozens of sword lights densely covered the space, successively slaying Zhao Xuhe more than ten times. Only then did Zhao Xuhe finally regroup, seizing an opportunity to dodge the sword lights.

Although it was only a brief instant, Zhao Xuhe grasped it precisely. With a wave of his wide sleeves, a cloud of blood-colored smoke instantly rolled out, protecting his entire body within the center. He then swallowed several pills in succession to recover his injuries and True Qi before diverting his attention to look in all directions.

“Lu Yang, it’s you!”

Zhao Xuhe’s gaze was like a torch. He recognized at a glance that the sword light which had killed him over ten times was the [True Art of Divine Lightning Sword Control]. He immediately called out Lu Yang’s identity.

Even so, the shock in his heart was unspeakable.

Because he had personally experienced the power of that sword light. It was not something achievable at the Initial Stage of Qi Refining. In just a few short days, Lu Yang had actually reached the Middle Stage of Qi Refining.

“This person must have an opportunity on him!”

Thinking of this, Zhao Xuhe restrained his anger, his heart filled with inexplicable surprise and joy. “Good, good, good. Today is truly a double blessing. I will accept this opportunity!”

Outside the [Maze Formation], Lu Yang wore a solemn expression.

“Truly troublesome…”

He felt his attack had been ruthless enough, yet Zhao Xuhe still managed to seize a sliver of life. He hadn’t been able to kill him directly with a single combo.

He had even been identified.

However, at this moment, with the [Maze Formation] confusing all directions, his true body hid in the dark, attacking remotely with the flying sword. If a real fight broke out, his chances of winning were still slightly higher.

At the same time, Zhao Xuhe also discovered the existence of the surrounding [Maze Formation]. Although it was just a crude trapping formation that he could easily break given a little time to deduce, with Lu Yang interfering nearby and his True Qi currently at less than fifty percent of its peak, he was momentarily helpless against it.

Thinking of this, Zhao Xuhe rolled his eyes and suddenly spoke:

“Brother Lu, speaking of which, there is actually no enmity between you and me…”

“Go!”

Strike while you are down, take your life. Lu Yang certainly wouldn’t catch up on old times with Zhao Xuhe or give him a chance to heal and recover. He immediately formed sword seals and continued to attack.

“Tsk! Refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit!”

Seeing this, Zhao Xuhe’s gaze turned cold. He abandoned the idea of stalling for time and instead formed hand seals to sacrifice a gold-iron seal into mid-air.

This object was called the “[Metamagnetic Golden Seal].” It could attract and capture all metal objects under heaven and was specifically designed to counter flying swords. It was Zhao Xuhe’s bottom-of-the-box secret treasure, originally prepared for use against the disciples of the [Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion] on the future battlefield of the Righteous-Demonic war. Now, however, he brought it out early, intending to counter Lu Yang’s sword light.

“Halt!”

Zhao Xuhe activated the treasure seal, accurately catching a slashing streak of sword light. With one stamp of the seal, the sword light was instantly subdued, unable to move or turn.

Seeing this, Lu Yang’s expression remained normal.

He was still in peak condition, while Zhao Xuhe was at a low point. This kind of tug-of-war that consumed True Qi was actually advantageous to him, so he didn’t panic at all.

“My biggest advantage right now is hiding in the dark. With the formation concealing me, Zhao Xuhe can’t find my location. Even if he has some method to turn defeat into victory, as long as I don’t show myself, it will have no place to be used. As long as I continue to wear him down, the winner will definitely be me.”

So Lu Yang made up his mind: I will not show myself.

Flying sword? Don’t want it anymore!

Anyway, you can’t refine my flying sword in a short time. You still have to consume True Qi to suppress it. That suits me perfectly. Let’s see how long you can last!

Rumble!

Standing outside the formation, Lu Yang circulated his True Qi. A wisp of [Primordial One Qi] floated from the top of his head, transforming into a handprint several dozen feet wide that slapped into the formation from the air.

This method wasn’t particularly skillful; it was purely crushing people with brute force.

Seeing this, Zhao Xuhe’s face instantly darkened. He knew his scheme had been seen through by Lu Yang.

“Dogshit!”

Zhao Xuhe couldn’t help cursing angrily in his heart. Lu Yang was clearly at the Middle Stage of Qi Refining just like him, yet he was so cautious. How could he turn defeat into victory like this?

Although he still had the strength to fight for his life, even if he killed Lu Yang, he himself would find it hard to survive. Having finally obtained a great opportunity, how could Zhao Xuhe be willing to accept that?

Seeing his True Qi being consumed more and more, Zhao Xuhe finally couldn’t hold back and shouted loudly: “…Brother Lu, do you know what opportunity I obtained in this [Coiled Dragon Island]? A Third Grade True Art pointing directly to the Golden Core Grand Dao! If Brother Lu stops now, Zhao is willing to share the technique with you!”

“Third Grade True Art?”

Outside the [Maze Formation], Lu Yang stood up abruptly upon hearing this. True Qi had Nine Grades and Thirty-Six Stages. Below the Seventh Grade, there was no road to Foundation Establishment; below the Third Grade, there was no door to the Golden Core.

And now, Zhao Xuhe actually threw out a technique that could allow one to refine Third Grade True Qi, offering hope for the Golden Core in the future!

What a massive opportunity!

“No, wait…”

Lu Yang took a deep breath, suppressed his greed, and sat back down. “This person promises heavy profits—he still wants to lure me out. If I go out, I’ll fall into his trap.”

“How about it? Brother Lu, can we reconcile?”

Inside the [Maze Formation], Zhao Xuhe was still trying to persuade him, but he heard a voice suddenly coming from all directions: “Confused fool. If I kill you, the technique is mine too!”

“Brother Lu, these words are incorrect.” Zhao Xuhe shook his head and laughed. “Opportunities are determined by Heaven. This Third Grade True Art is an opportunity I obtained by cultivating bitterly for three lifetimes and exchanging it for merit. It has no destiny with you, Brother Lu. Even if you kill me, the technique will only fly away and will not be obtained by you.”

“What?”

Lu Yang was stunned for a moment, then his expression became uncertain. Opportunities determined by Heaven? No destiny with the technique? Even if obtained, it would automatically fly away?

But soon Lu Yang reacted and sneered, “Since that’s the case, why should I reconcile with you for this technique?”

Zhao Xuhe hurriedly explained, “Brother Lu, you originally had no destiny with the technique, but if I actively share it with you, then having no destiny will becomes having destiny.”

“…Fine.”

After a moment of silence, Lu Yang said, “You copy a version of the technique for me, and I’ll let you out.”

“Let’s do it that way.” Zhao Xuhe agreed decisively. Then he took out the jade box and opened it proactively, revealing the two volumes of Daoist scripture inside.

“The first volume, [Nine Transformations Dragon Art], is a Qi Refining Realm technique. It can refine a [True Dragon Evil Qi]. In terms of combat power, it can be called outstanding within the same realm. The second volume, [Dragon Sovereign Ascension Scripture], is a Foundation Establishment Realm technique. It can establish the [Dragon Sovereign Ascension] Dao Foundation, offering hope for the Golden Core Grand Dao in the future.”

After introducing the techniques, Zhao Xuhe suddenly changed the subject:

“However, Brother Lu, I am currently injured and my True Qi is weak. If I just give the technique to you like this, what if you turn hostile and deny me, breaking your promise?”

“…That’s simple.”

Lu Yang rolled his eyes and proactively suggested, “You can give me the [Dragon Sovereign Ascension Sripture] first, and keep the [Nine Transformations Dragon Art] for yourself.”

“I am currently only in the Qi Refining Realm. Even if I have the Foundation Establishment technique, I can’t cultivate it. You don’t need to worry about me turning hostile and harming your life.” Speaking of this, Lu Yang’s face was written with sincerity. “After I let you out, you can give me the [Nine Transformations Dragon Art]. How about that?”

Zhao Xuhe thought for a moment and felt that what Lu Yang said made a lot of sense.

“It’s a deal!”

Zhao Xuhe took out the scripture. Lu Yuan did not take it himself but condensed a large hand of True Qi to grab it from a distance.

Seeing this, Zhao Xuhe could only sigh secretly, suppressing his last bit of scheming mind, and obediently handed the technique to Lu Yang.

Lu Yang took the technique, memorizing every word and sentence in his heart, then grinned.

“Goodbye!”

In the next second, Lu Yang sank his Qi into his Dantian, directly activated the [Mantra of Killing Life], and brazenly self-destructed!

BOOM!

A moment later, the sky full of smoke and dust dissipated, revealing Zhao Xuhe’s face written with blank confusion.

“My technique… is gone?”

Why did he self-destruct?

Self-destructing is one thing, but why not earlier, why not later? Why wait until after getting the technique to self-destruct… I haven’t even had time to read that technique myself!

“Lu Yang…”

Zhao Xuhe stood in the wind, looking at the [Dragon Sovereign Ascension Scipture] that had already turned into flying ash. Muttering Lu Yang’s name, his expression gradually twisted.

“FUCKKK!”

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