Fang Yu’s pupils contracted.
"You... you know my cultivation level." His voice dropped to a nacing whisper. "You’ve been watching ."
’There it is,’ Shi Jing thought with satisfaction.
Without warning, Fang Yu lunged forward, his rusted blade cutting through the air with surprising speed.
The crimson streaks along the tal left trails of bloody light as he aid directly for Shi Jing’s throat.
"Seven Blood Finger — First Finger!" Fang Yu roared, his desperate qi pouring into the attack.
Shi Jing sidestepped effortlessly, his movent technique flowing like mist in the wind.
To Fang Yu’s eyes, it appeared as though Shi Jing had simply... flickered out of existence for a split second.
’This movent technique again,’ Elder Wang observed from his hiding spot, his eyes gleaming with interest.
’No matter how many tis I see it, I still can’t fully grasp its principles.’
"Impressive," Shi Jing comnted as he reappeared three steps to the left, completely unruffled.
"That sword art... it’s not from the Sword Cloud Manor’s orthodox thods, is it?"
Fang Yu spun around, his face pale with exertion and shock. "Impossible... how did you—"
"Avoid your attack?" Shi Jing finished, his voice carrying a hint of amusent.
"Perhaps the real question is: why are you so eager to kill soone who hasn’t even drawn a weapon?"
Indeed, Shi Jing’s hands remained empty, his posture relaxed and non-threatening. Yet sothing about his calm deanor only served to make Fang Yu more agitated.
"You’re toying with !" Fang Yu snarled, raising his sword again.
"Fine! If you want to see my true power—"
"Your true power?" Shi Jing interrupted, his tone shifting slightly colder.
"I’ve already seen it. A demonic sword art. Tell , Fang Yu of the Sword Cloud Manor, where did you get this?"
Fang Yu froze, his sword trembling in his grip. "How... how do you know my na?"
Shi Jing’s smile widened, but there was no warmth in it.
"The sa way I know about the forbidden technique you stole, the elders you betrayed, and the blood debt you’ve accumulated over these past months."
’That’s a lie I made up on the spot, but seeing his state, I doubt he would be able to reason out the truth.’ He thought inwardly.
The forest around them seed to hold its breath, as if the very trees were waiting to witness what would unfold next.
Fang Yu’s face went through a spectrum of emotions—shock, fear, rage, and finally, a twisted sort of resignation.
"So you do know," he whispered, his voice carrying the weight of a man who had nothing left to lose. "Then you also know that I can’t let you leave this forest alive."
The crimson streaks on his sword began to pulse more violently, and a nauseating aura of decay began to emanate from the blade.
The surrounding vegetation actually began to wither where the aura touched it.
"Blood Corrosion Art!" Fang Yu scread, pouring every ounce of his qi into this art.
"If I’m going to die anyway, I’ll drag you down with !"
The rusted sword began to drip with actual blood—whether his own or from his previous victims, Shi Jing couldn’t tell.
But the technique was undeniably powerful, far beyond what a Middle-Stage Qi-Refinent cultivator should be capable of.
’Ah,’ Shi Jing realized with interest.
’So this is what he stole. A Blood Art. No wonder the Sword Cloud Manor wants him dead so badly.’
How could a righteous force such as the Sword Cloud Manor let its disciple escape knowing that they used a Blood Art?
One has to know that Blood Art is forbidden. Regardless of the Demonic Path, or Righteous Path forces, they all hunt Blood Art Cultivator with devout effort.
This is perhaps due to the innate nature of the Blood Art itself.
At this mont.
Elder Wang’s eyes widened from his concealnt.
’Blood cultivation? This Fang Yu is more dangerous than the reports indicated. But this works even better—let them exhaust themselves with these trifle conflicts.’
Shi Jing remained motionless as Fang Yu charged toward him, the corrupted blade leaving a trail of withering destruction in its wake.
At the last possible mont, when the sword was re inches from his chest, Shi Jing moved.
But this ti, instead of simply dodging, he reached out with two fingers and caught the blade between them.
The sound of tal grinding against what seed like indestructible stone echoed through the forest. Sparks flew as the corrupted qi t an immovable barrier.
"Impossible!" Fang Yu gasped, straining against Shi Jing’s effortless grip.
"No Qi-Refinent cultivator can stop the Blood Corrosion Art with bare hands!"
Shi Jing’s expression remained serene, though there was now a glint of sothing dangerous in his eyes.
"You’re absolutely right," he said quietly. "No Qi-Refinent cultivator could."
With a flick of his wrist, Shi Jing sent Fang Yu stumbling backward, the rusted sword spinning from his grasp to embed itself in a nearby tree.
The tree imdiately began to rot and crumble.
"W-what are you?" Fang Yu stamred, scrambling to retrieve his weapon.
"I told you already," Shi Jing replied, brushing imaginary dust from his fingers.
"Just a passerby. Though..." he paused, his gaze growing thoughtful.
"I must admit, your technique is quite fascinating. But to think soone would be desperate enough to cultivate with blood art. The Sword Cloud Manor’s intelligence clearly inadequate."
’He’s probing,’ Elder Wang realized from his hiding spot. ’But what is his true cultivation level? Those movents, that defense... could he be hiding his realm?’
Fang Yu yanked his sword from the dying tree, his breathing ragged. "You’re playing with ," he snarled. "Fine! If conventional attacks won’t work—"
He bit down hard on his tongue, spitting a mouthful of blood onto his blade.
The crimson streaks flared with renewed intensity, and his aura suddenly spiked beyond the Middle-Stage of Qi-Refinent.
"Blood Sacrifice Burst!" Fang Yu roared. "I’ll burn my life force if necessary!"
’Foolish,’ Shi Jing thought, watching as Fang Yu’s lifespan visibly shortened with each passing second.
’His ntal state is deteriorating at such extre rate that he’s willing to cripple himself for a single attack. Fortunately, this is better for ...’
Instead of preparing a defense, Shi Jing did sothing unexpected. He began to retreat, his movents seeming slightly more urgent than before.
"Backing away now?" Fang Yu laughed maniacally as he pursued. "Too late! The Blood Sacrifice Burst can’t be stopped once it’s begun!"
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