[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-after-the-sky-fell":3,"chapter-after-the-sky-fell-after-the-sky-fell-chapter-135":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","After the Sky Fell",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2280991,4462,"Chapter 135: 134. Heartblood","after-the-sky-fell-chapter-135",135,"\u003Cp>134. Chapter 134: Heartblood\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Zhihuan was truly no ordinary man; seeing Li Yi come to his door, he did not anger but instead offered to hand over his martial arts school, proposing Li Yi become the next head of the Jin Family School.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether true or not, the fact that he dared say it to his face revealed extraordinary boldness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Jin Zhihuan’s view, the Zhao Family School, already nearly destroyed, had no right to claim a warrior of such immense potential and strength. Li Yi seeking vengeance for the Zhao School would gain him nothing, only invite countless enemies—essentially standing against the entire Three Yang City. But if he switched allegiances, it would be different: he’d gain a school without lifting a finger and could even ally with him to destroy the Han Family, establishing a monopoly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Li Yi could have anything he wanted—money, great elixirs, treasures, women.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing Jin Zhihuan’s words, Rong Niang’s expression changed instantly; she never imagined the Jin Family, once sworn enemies of the Zhao School, would choose compromise and bribery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From Li Yi’s perspective, it seemed reasonable to accept—after all, where one served as senior brother mattered little; why take on the Zhao School’s ruined mess?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Brother,” Rong Niang whispered cautiously, trying to persuade him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before she could finish, Li Yi burst into laughter: “Hahaha!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A string of laughter, accompanied by a surge of qi, echoed over the Jin Family School, shaking eardrums painfully and sending birds soaring from the courtyard grove.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They didn’t understand why Li Yi was laughing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was he delighted by the headmaster’s proposal?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But why did his laughter carry disdain and mockery?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Such a fine offer, and you refuse it,” Jin Zhihuan said calmly, sounding slightly regretful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi’s smile vanished. “So, you’re afraid.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Afraid? Afraid of what?” Jin Zhihuan snapped coldly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi said, “Yes, you’re afraid. Afraid you can’t beat me, afraid you’ll lose your school and your life. So you’re trying to buy me off—just to save your own skin. I never thought a Qi-Channeling expert would be such a coward. Calling you an old scoundrel was spot on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His inner weakness laid bare, Jin Zhihuan’s face flushed with rage, a sliver of killing intent flashing from his eyes—he wanted to kill this sharp-tongued brat right then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Li Yi stood with hands behind his back, pointing at the ground. “You fear death and want to live? Simple. Kneel, kowtow to me, call me Father. Out of father-son sentiment, I might spare you. After all, even tigers don’t eat their cubs. With this bond, I won’t kill you outright.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, Rong Niang behind him couldn’t help but let out a snort of laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She never imagined her Senior Brother had this side—his mouth was honeyed, so eloquent. First “selling your head for a sign,” then “old scoundrel,” now “kowtow and call me Father”—he wouldn’t stop until he drove them mad. Any martial man with even a shred of pride would fight him to the death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the problem was, anyone who dared fight Senior Brother usually died horribly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good. Good. Good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Zhihuan laughed with fury—he was an old man, never before had anyone dared to order him to kneel and call them Father to their face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today he’d seen it: a man could be so arrogant, so reckless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You say good? Then what are you waiting for? Kneel and call me Father.” Li Yi said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wielding words means nothing. The one who survives today is the winner. Boy, don’t think defeating a few Blood-Refining warriors from my family makes you invincible. Today you’ll learn the true gap between Blood-Refining and Qi-Channeling.” As he spoke, Jin Zhihuan drew his treasure blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blade was plain, not ornate, yet razor-sharp, shimmering with bloodlight—its killing aura forged by countless deaths, capable of unsettling minds and slaying vengeful spirits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet as he drew it, Li Yi’s qi exploded instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bricks and stones around him shattered; he vanished from his spot and appeared before Jin Zhihuan in an instant, muscles, tendons, and skin moving as one, his fist crashing down—so fast no Blood-Refining warrior could react before being killed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Foolish.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Jin Zhihuan, a Qi-Channeling expert, reacted. Though he hadn’t drawn his blade in years, he hadn’t grown lax. Once he held it, he was no longer a headmaster—he was a Qi-Channeling swordsman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He slashed with blinding speed; blood surged from his blade, coalescing into a blade Gang .\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blade Gang  was razor-sharp—any warrior below Qi-Channeling level would be wounded by contact, killed by a graze. Only those of equal realm could stand against it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyone else would have suffered grievously for such reckless assault. But Li Yi was different. Before coming here, his master Zhao Ge had trained him, warned him of Qi-Channeling experts’ power, taught him tactics to counter them—especially the heads of the Han and Jin families. Zhao Ge had studied them thoroughly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Li Yi’s intuition screamed a warning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blood surge forming the blade Gang  posed a lethal threat—if it struck a vital point, he would die without doubt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with his speed, he couldn’t dodge—the blade moved faster than his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he had to block.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi had prepared. He anticipated Jin Zhihuan’s Wind-Listening Blade. His other arm rose, deliberately offering itself to the blade Gang .\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You think you can trade one arm for my punch? Dream on. If you want to trade, give me your life.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Zhihuan saw his intent and thought him naive—no martial man’s fist could match his blade. He drove the blade harder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He meant to split Li Yi in two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the next instant, he realized he was wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blade Gang  shattered. The blade, capable of cleaving a man in half, struck Li Yi’s arm—and couldn’t advance an inch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“His clothes… are armor?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Experienced as he was, Jin Zhihuan instantly understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who could imagine this brute-looking fool had donned a leather armor? So thin, it had been overlooked—now, his blade couldn’t even pierce it. He knew he’d been outmaneuvered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi’s fist had already struck his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The punch unleashed devastating force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, even air shattered. All felt a terrifying roar—was this a man’s punch, or the Thunder God swinging his divine hammer, unleashing a thunderclap that shook heaven?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ge had once named this killing technique: Thunder God’s Hammer Strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boom!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The roar exploded outward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Zhihuan took the full force. His frail body flew like an arrow, crashing through the crowd and slamming into a thick pillar at the hall’s entrance. The impact shook the pillar violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed the entire hall might collapse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Zhihuan was embedded in the wooden pillar, motionless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One punch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could the Qi-Channeling headmaster not even block one punch from Zhao Family’s Senior Brother?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some trembled. Some feared. Their faith in the headmaster shattered under that punch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did he win?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some worried. Some rejoiced. Rong Niang, watching, clenched her fists, silently praising: Perfect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was exactly what Li Yi intended: to strike a lethal blow while the enemy remained ignorant, deciding victory and death in one instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old scoundrel, I heard your blade is called Wind-Listening Blade—once drawn, the enemy’s head flies before they hear the wind. Too bad your blade is fast but can’t break my defense. But don’t pretend—you Qi-Channeling experts can turn blood into protective Gang qi. That punch didn’t kill you. Get up. Fight again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Old scoundrel, I heard your knife is called the Wind-Listening Blade—meaning when it’s drawn, the opponent’s head is already flying off, leaving only the sound of wind whistling past your ears. Too bad—your blade may be fast, but it can’t break my defense. And don’t pretend anymore: a Qi-Opening martial artist’s blood qi can form a protective Gang qi. That punch earlier didn’t take your life—get up and fight again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had become the apex predator—ready to hunt and kill this Qi-Channeling warrior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, he had become the ultimate predator, ready to hunt down and kill this Qi-Opening martial artist before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Zhihuan stirred, spewing a mouthful of old blood. His face turned deathly pale; the force had numbed his body. Even with his protective Gang qi, he was in agony—bones shattered beyond count.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Zhihuan’s body moved, spewing a mouthful of old blood; his face turned instantly pale, his body numbed by the terrifying force—even with his protective Gang qi, he still suffered terribly, his bones shattered in countless places.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His arm trembled; he could no longer grip the Wind-Listening Blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a swordsman, this was fatal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cruel brat—you planned this all along. Feigning weakness, pulling this trick to ruin my Wind-Listening Blade. Did Zhao Ge the old bastard teach you this? Only he enjoys such tricks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Zhihuan gritted his teeth, blood dripping from his mouth—not just his grip failing, but his bloodline collapsing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d expected to wound, to kill. Instead, his blade was stopped by a piece of clothing—he was grievously wounded, while Li Yi stood unharmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Know yourself, know your enemy, and win every battle. I know your weaknesses. You know nothing of me. Today’s defeat is no injustice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi halted, then spoke again: “If you still want to fight, use your heartblood. Otherwise, you have no chance left.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You want me to use heartblood? Fine. As you wish.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Zhihuan let out a long howl—he had no other choice. Better to die fighting with his last breath than be pounded to death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Zhihuan let out a long roar, knowing there was no other way—rather than being pounded to death by Li Yi, he would summon his last breath of blood qi and fight one final battle against his foe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the howl, the heartblood hidden in his heart-meridian surged through his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His pallor vanished, replaced by ruddy vigor. His trembling limbs steadied. He gripped the Wind-Listening Blade once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His pale face flushed instantly with color, his trembling body returned to peak condition, and he gripped the Wind-Listening Blade once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Zhihuan roared, charging forward. His blood boiled, forming a protective Gang qi like a heavy armor—unbreakable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that moment, he felt the same pride as when he first reached Qi-Channeling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I am a Qi-Channeling expert. Who in Xingzhou dares kill me? Who dares?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I am already a Qi Channeling expert—who in Xingzhou dares kill me? Who has the courage to kill me?\u003C\u002Fp>",1750,"2026-06-20T01:26:56.586Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","0ca57eda00ac1228cde332c1e8ab24a50c63c6261a0a0ab34a2abe7c42bd736e","after-the-sky-fell-chapter-136","after-the-sky-fell-chapter-134",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fafter-the-sky-fell-cover.jpg"]