Chapter 78: Azure Demon Hand
The grievances between Yunwu Commandery and the Four Directions Commandery ran deep, and naturally, the martial artists of the two states viewed each other with hostility and enmity.
While Zhang Ruochen and Zi Qian were hunting down martial artists from the Four Directions Commandery, martial artists from that state were also hunting those from Yunwu Commandery.
Even other commanderies had joined in the fray.
At dawn the next day, Zhang Ruochen and Zi Qian discovered a woman's corpse in a small stream. The woman was completely naked, covered in bruises, with bloodstains between her legs. Clearly, she had suffered inhuman humiliation while still alive.
The fatal wound was on her neck—a small cut in the carotid artery, blood continuously flowing from her body, dyeing the stream water red.
The air was thick with the smell of blood.
"Such brutal killing methods." Zhang Ruochen frowned deeply, an inexplicable rage rising in his heart.
He waded into the stream and carried the woman's corpse to the shore.
He had some recollection of this woman—she was a noble lady from Yunwu Commandery, her cultivation having reached the mid-stage of the Mysterious Extreme Realm. She possessed excellent talent and had a good chance of entering the Martial Market Academy.
Zi Qian, long accustomed to slaughter, said, "Judging by the killing method, it should be the work of that genius from the Qing Clan of the Four Directions Commandery. Moreover, his residual aura is indeed present here."
Zhang Ruochen was not familiar with the young martial artists of the Four Directions Commandery, so he asked, "Who are you referring to?"
"Qing You. He can be considered the most outstanding prodigy of the Qing Clan in a hundred years. He reached the Great Perfection of the Yellow Extreme Realm at fifteen, became a Yellow List martial artist at sixteen, and broke through to the Mysterious Extreme Realm at seventeen. Now, at just twenty-one, he has already reached the Minor Extreme Position of the Mysterious Extreme Realm."
Zi Qian added, "It is said that he cultivates a sinister technique that allows him to absorb the true qi from women, which is why his cultivation speed is so fast."
Zhang Ruochen closed the woman's eyes and buried her body by the stream. "Among the young martial artists of the Four Directions Commandery, there are only three who have reached the Minor Extreme Position of the Mysterious Extreme Realm. I didn't expect to encounter another one so soon."
Zi Qian said, "You want to kill him?"
Zhang Ruochen asked, "Don't you?"
"You need to understand that Qing You is not like Feng Zhiyi. He is a formidable and ruthless opponent."
Zi Qian continued, "Although Feng Zhiyi is a genius, he is far inferior to Qing You. Qing You's cultivation has reached the peak of the Minor Extreme Position of the Mysterious Extreme Realm, and even martial artists at the Middle Extreme Position of the Mysterious Extreme Realm are no match for him."
Feng Zhiyi had only just broken through to the Minor Extreme Position of the Mysterious Extreme Realm, while Qing You was at the peak of that stage. The gap between them was not insignificant.
Zhang Ruochen's expression turned serious as he looked around. "Danger is approaching."
Zi Qian's ears twitched, and her expression changed as well. She immediately drew her war sword, adopting a defensive stance, and stared into the dense forest. "We've walked into an ambush."
"Haha! You're quite alert. I didn't expect you to notice so quickly!" A hearty laugh rang out.
"Whoosh!"
Prince Huoxing rode a second-rank lower-grade savage beast, a Green Scale Eagle, out of the forest, circling above Zhang Ruochen and Zi Qian.
Standing on the eagle's back, he looked down at the two with an arrogant gaze. "You two are truly formidable. At least fifteen martial artists from the Four Directions Commandery died at your hands last night, didn't they?"
Zhang Ruochen looked up slightly. "How did you track us down?"
"Clatter, clatter!"
Footsteps sounded.
A cold-faced man in a crimson robe emerged from the forest, holding a one-foot-long curved blade in his hand. He sneered, "Once we found the first person you killed, tracking you down wasn't difficult, was it? Haha!"
Zi Qian stared at the man in the crimson robe, her eyes darkening. "Qing You."
Qing You's lips curled slightly. His gaze swept over Zi Qian's rounded chest and hips before settling on her beautiful face. A sinister smile spread across his lips. "What a rare gem, and with such high cultivation. If I could absorb the true qi from your body, I might just break through to the Middle Extreme Position."
Zi Qian's eyes turned icy. "Since you've set up an ambush, then all of you, come out!"
"Swish, swish!"
A series of sounds of breaking wind came from the forest.
In an instant, seven more figures emerged. Among them, three were at the mid-stage of the Mysterious Extreme Realm, and four were at the early stage.
The seven young martial artists took up seven different positions, completely sealing off Zhang Ruochen and Zi Qian's escape routes.
Prince Huoxing stood on the back of the Green Scale Eagle and laughed. "Why haven't you crushed your Kirin Balls yet? Do you still think you have a chance?"
Zhang Ruochen immediately released his Space Domain, scanning the nine people present. His heart sank slightly.
Just Qing You's combat strength alone surpassed that of Zhang Ruochen and Zi Qian combined. Defeating him would already be an incredibly difficult task.
Moreover, there was Prince Huoxing, whose combat strength was not much weaker than Qing You's, circling in the sky, ready to strike at any moment and catch them off guard.
In addition, the seven Mysterious Extreme Realm martial artists had sealed off all escape routes, leaving no chance for them to flee.
Prince Huoxing laughed. "Even if you crush your Kirin Balls and release the Kirin Smoke, it won't help. No one will come to save you. The outer sect disciple guarding this area is a young prodigy from our Four Directions Commandery. I've already spoken with him. Even if he sees the Kirin Smoke, he won't come to your rescue."
Zhang Ruochen said, "Prince Huoxing, you truly leave no stone unturned. Are we doomed to die here today?"
Qing You's gaze was sinister as he shook his head and smiled. "No! Ninth Prince, you are the one who will die without a doubt. As for that beauty in purple, she's far too lovely to be killed so easily. Haha!"
A martial artist at the mid-stage of the Mysterious Extreme Realm beside him also let out a lecherous laugh. "Young Master Qing, after you absorb her true qi, you should let us brothers have some fun too."
"You're asking for death!"
Zi Qian transformed into a purple afterimage, moving at a speed of forty meters per second, and thrust her sword toward the mid-stage Mysterious Extreme Realm martial artist.
Typically, a martial artist at the Minor Extreme Position of the Mysterious Extreme Realm could only reach a speed of thirty-six meters per second.
Only those at the Middle Extreme Position could achieve a speed of forty meters per second.
Clearly, Zi Qian was truly enraged, unleashing her maximum speed to kill that man in a single strike.
Qing You snorted coldly, moving even faster, reaching a speed of forty-four meters per second—comparable to a martial artist at the Major Extreme Position of the Mysterious Extreme Realm.
Like a ghost, he appeared before Zi Qian.
He extended an azure hand, covered in green scales, resembling the claw of a monstrous beast.
"Crack, crack!"
Qing You's hand claw was as hard as iron, clashing with Zi Qian's war sword and sending sparks flying.
"Bang!"
Qing You's five fingers closed together, actually catching Zi Qian's sword with his bare hand.
Zi Qian's face changed, and she immediately tried to withdraw her sword and retreat. But Qing You's fingers were like iron pincers, tightly gripping the blade. No matter how hard Zi Qian struggled, she couldn't free her sword.
"Azure Demon Hand!" Zi Qian exclaimed.
Qing You laughed. "That's right! It's the Spirit-level lower-grade martial technique, Azure Demon Hand. I've already cultivated it to minor completion. It's impervious to blades and fire, and cannot be melted."
Zi Qian immediately released her sword and retreated.
Qing You was faster, reaching out with his hand to grab her neck. Five azure hand shadows appeared in the air, all attacking Zi Qian's throat.
A poisonous wind emanated from Qing You's claw, carrying a faint smell of blood.
Zi Qian twisted her body, dodging Qing You's claw. She supported herself with her hands on the ground and kicked out with her long, slender legs, striking Qing You in the chest.
Bang!
Qing You took the kick, stepping back three paces, but he was not injured. Instead, he let out a wild laugh, licked his lips, and said, "Interesting!"
Zi Qian immediately grabbed her war sword from the ground, channeling her true qi to activate the eight inscriptions within the blade.
A layer of azure light appeared on the sword's surface, radiating a bone-chilling coldness.
"Swift Wind and Flying Snow!"
Zi Qian's arm spun continuously, the war sword tracing circles in the air, creating a howling gale. As the cold energy within the sword dispersed, white frost particles appeared in the air.
The frost particles grew larger, turning into white snowflakes.
"Spirit-level sword technique!"
Qing You's expression turned ferocious as he let out a long roar. "Azure Demon Hand!"
He transformed into an azure shadow, charging straight into Zi Qian's sword circle.
With a thunderous crash, the azure demon hand struck the tip of the war sword, unleashing a wave of azure energy.
Zi Qian let out a muffled groan. The tiger's mouth of her hand split open, and the war sword was knocked from her grasp, falling into the stream.
"Bang!"
Qing You struck Zi Qian's right shoulder with his palm, sending her flying more than ten meters.
As she flew through the air, she spat out a mouthful of blood, her face turning deathly pale. She had suffered severe internal injuries.
"Haha!"
Qing You laughed loudly and charged again, grabbing Zi Qian's ankle to capture her.
Just then, Zhang Ruochen emerged from behind Zi Qian, holding the Flash Soul Sword, and thrust it toward Qing You's brow.
"Heart-Piercing Plum Blossom!"
Sensing the danger, Qing You immediately released Zi Qian's ankle, a contemptuous smile curling on his lips as he reached out to block Zhang Ruochen's sword.
Suddenly, Zhang Ruochen changed his sword technique, shifting from a thrust to a slash, and roared, "Heart-Piercing Path!"
A ten-meter-long sword aura shot out from the blade, instantly slashing toward Qing You.
Qing You's eyes narrowed. He immediately extended both hands, channeling all his true qi to his palms.
A ball of azure true qi condensed between his hands.
"Azure Demon Weeps."
He launched the ball of true qi, forming a patch of azure ghostly mist in front of him, which collided with the sword aura.
Zhang Ruochen felt the powerful force rushing toward him and immediately raised his sword to block, but he was still sent flying by the immense power, landing seven meters away.