Chapter 104: Beaten to Death! Shocking the Entire Crowd!

Kill.

Lu Zhangsheng flashed his step, raised his blade and rushed forward again.

In the blink of an eye he reached the opponent and slashed forward with a blade.

Whoosh...

Cold light flickered; the blade scraped the air, producing whistling sounds.

This strike was still an all-out effort; the Three Fold Wave secret technique continued to run at full power.

His hand held ample Source Energy Points, enough to sustain him for days of bloody battle.

Seeing this, Duan Changhe's eyes filled with solemnity.

His long blade likewise slashed forward; his qi and blood surged wildly, already driven to the limit by him.

Facing such a formidable foe, he dared not relax in the slightest.

Before making a move, he had imagined defeating the opponent in a few blows; he never expected this person's strength to be so terrifying.

If he were even slightly careless, he would likely capsize in the gutter.

Boom—boom—boom...

The tremendous roar echoed to the heavens; the vigorous energy generated by their clash swept in all directions, the whole battlefield choked with dust and smoke, a scene of utter chaos.

The two fought bloody battle beside the city wall, growing ever more fierce.

As time passed, the commotion of their fight grew ever larger.

Their speed was like lightning, weaving across the battlefield, making them increasingly hard to see.

Only flashes of blade light could be seen flickering beside the city wall, containing an extremely fierce killing intent.

On the city wall, a group of Evil Cult followers stared fixedly at the two's battlefield, their eyes full of fear.

Who would have thought someone could fight their own chief to this extent.

A group of remaining city guards, seeing this, had faces full of excitement, their morale greatly boosted.

Wielding their long blades, they cut down a group of Evil Cult followers, forcing them to retreat repeatedly.

With the support of a top-tier expert, their hope of survival greatly increased; naturally they chose to fight to the death.

Time slowly passed.

After a little less than an hour.

Who exactly are you?

Duan Changhe's face showed shock, his heart seeming to surge with towering waves.

The opponent had long been using the secret technique, yet showed not a trace of decline, making him somewhat incredulous.

Moreover, he felt that wielding his long blade was becoming increasingly strenuous, as if he could hardly withstand the opponent's onslaught.

Gradually, Duan Changhe found himself at an absolute disadvantage, struggling to block the blade lights coming from all sides.

Uh-oh, the chief can barely hold up.

A group of Evil Cult followers' faces were full of fear, eyes wide open, as if they had seen a ghost.

Nobody expected the mysterious expert to be so terrifying, actually driving Duan Changhe to such a desperate situation.

Ten thousand victories! Ten thousand victories!

A group of city guards shouted wildly, their cries echoing to the heavens.

Their vigor was like a rainbow, they cut down the Evil Cult followers ahead, forcing them to retreat repeatedly.

Everyone also saw the battlefield outside the city; if the mysterious expert could slay the opposing chief, they would surely win this battle.

This small town finally had hope of holding out.

Many civilians also saw the scene of combat outside the city, tears welling up in their eyes.

Mother... we are saved, the officials have come to save us...

A group clenched their fists, silently praying for the expert outside the city.

It seemed the people's prayers had taken effect.

The battlefield outside the city.

Kill.

Lu Zhangsheng fully activated his footwork, moving like a ghostly shadow around Duan Changhe; the blade light in his hand wove into a great net, firmly holding the opponent at its center.

Endless blade light flickered in the void, like snowflakes drifting across the whole battlefield.

A trace of fear appeared in Duan Changhe's eyes.

He wanted to flee, but could not.

The opponent's speed was several times greater than his, and moreover there were no Holy Sect experts nearby; today he likely faced danger.

After prolonged activation of the secret technique, he too had reached his limit.

His long blade paused, and his vigor instantly weakened considerably.

Die.

Lu Zhangsheng seized the opportunity and swiftly slashed with his blade.

Like a thunderclap.

Before the opponent could react, a dazzling blade light instantly slit his throat.

You...

Duan Changhe clutched his neck with one hand, his eyes full of fear and unwillingness.

He had slain countless, roamed the world unchallenged, never expecting to fall at the hands of a stranger expert.

After a breath, Duan Changhe collapsed straight to the ground, his head rolling to the side, copious blood gushing out, staining a small patch of the surrounding bluestone red.

One strike, the Evil Cult chief died.

From Duan Changhe exposing a flaw to his death, it all took only a moment.

The many warriors on the city wall finally reacted, their faces filled with shock.

"Oh no, the helm master is dead—run!"

The cultists scattered like startled birds, fleeing in all directions as fast as they could, wishing they had more legs.

Even they hadn't expected their own helm master to fail at self-preservation, being cut down outright.

This filled the cultists with immense dread, as if they had plunged into an ice cellar.

"Slay them all, myriad victories!"

The remaining city guards' morale surged; gripping their spears, they thrust at the cultists.

Shouts, slaughter, and clashing weapons intertwined, as if even the heavenly clouds were shaken apart.

In an instant, the battlefield descended into utter chaos, reeking of brutal carnage.

Just then, Lu Zhangsheng moved.

"Hah..."

He pushed off lightly with his legs, shooting forward swiftly.

He then became countless afterimages, weaving through the battlefield.

The afterimages flitted among the cultists.

A lift of his hand, a blade swing severed a head—like a hellish grim reaper, he indiscriminately reaped lives on the field.

"Ah..."

Wave after wave of cries rang out across the battlefield as blood gushed forth, staining the ground crimson.

Lu Zhangsheng strolled across the battlefield as if taking a leisurely garden walk, not a speck of blood touching him.

This formed a stark contrast with the battlefield's chaos.

His aura glowed round and smooth like jade, keeping all impurity at bay.

After a moment.

Lu Zhangsheng sheathed his blade and stood, surrounded by a multitude of corpses strewn about.

Crimson blood flowed across the ground, the air thick with the stench of blood.

In a short time he had slain over a hundred cultists—truly horrifying.

With his strength, beheading ordinary martial artists was as easy as stepping on an ant.

At this moment, a group of city guards strode over.

They knelt, faces filled with awe.

"Thank you, sir, for your aid!"

The military reveres strength, and Lu Zhangsheng's performance utterly subdued everyone present.

Seeing so many cultist demons cut down like ants left everyone terrified.

A large crowd of civilians also gathered, grateful faces pressed to the ground, forming a dark mass.

Among them were many women and children, holding local produce.

"Thank you, sir, for saving our lives."

They had been quietly awaiting death, never expecting a sudden turn that brought a strong savior.

This filled everyone with immense gratitude.

"No need for formalities; the county will soon send strong defenders to garrison here, and I will stay a few days."

Lu Zhangsheng, voice hoarse, waved his hand.

The cultists have temporarily retreated, but we cannot rule out their returning to attack.

By then it will likely be cultivators at the late stage of Blood Exchange.

As for relocating the many civilians, that is also unlikely.

Besides the long distance, they'd be easy to ambush en route; it's better to stand firm and await aid.

With Yue Shulan and a few others' speed, fleeing back to the county and then the Demon Subduing Office sending reinforcements would take at most about three days.

Even if ambushed en route, it would only add a day's delay.

Lu Zhangsheng decided to hold here for several days; even if ultimately defeated, his speed would allow an easy retreat.

If he simply left, this group would likely not survive.

Facing the living lives before him, many children clung tightly to their mothers, gazing with hopeful expectation.

Lu Zhangsheng still prepared to try, at least to have a clear conscience—this was also his original motive for martial training.

"Sir, your righteousness is lofty."

The deputy commander of the city guards, Han Bingwu, looked full of admiration. Everyone also knew they would likely face a violent backlash from the cultist strong ones next.

Even if the enemy chose to leave, they couldn't forcibly detain them; they could only lead the city's populace to relocate, at which point life and death would be uncertain.

Unexpectedly, the enemy chose to hold out and await aid.

This filled everyone with delight for a moment.

Having a strong defender guard the city greatly increased their chances of survival.

"Thank you, sir."

The many civilians kneeling on the ground repeatedly kowtowed, faces excited.

Leaving their homeland is hard; they also did not want to leave their hometown.

Afterwards, Lu Zhangsheng turned and walked toward the rear.

…………

Night, tranquil as water.

The high moon was obscured by gloom, all around pitch black.

Lu Zhangsheng sat upright in the courtyard, opening the panel.

A blue light curtain appeared in the void ahead.

Source Energy Points: 640.

Looking at the resource points in his hand, he feared it wouldn't be long before he could break through again.

This was also his greatest confidence in choosing to guard this place.

As long as he could break through to the Blood Exchange mid-stage, even if a peak Blood Exchange expert of the cult came to attack, he could still resist.

Furthermore, at this collection speed, at most five days would be needed to reach over two thousand Source Energy Points.

By then, it would be the time when his strength greatly increases again.

He had a premonition that breaking through after Blood Exchange would require Source Energy Points of over two thousand.

Lu Zhangsheng's thoughts moved, and he sent a thread of his will into the strange beast's body.

Looking around, it was still the familiar cave.

Around, large numbers of ants constantly entered and exited, their mouths still hanging with some light purple Spirit Jade.

Before Lu Zhangsheng, a small hill had piled up, the light purple radiance flowing, quite miraculous.

He immediately placed his claw on the Spirit Jade.

"Low-grade Spirit Jade detected. Absorb?"

"Absorb."

He silently chanted in his heart.

"Source Energy Points +1."

"Source Energy Points +1."

……

Moments later, the pile of Spirit Jade on the ground was completely absorbed, and the resource points in his hand rose again by over two hundred.

Lu Zhangsheng immediately stood up and rushed swiftly out of the cave.

He had to personally dig.

Now the situation is increasingly tense; he must break through to the Blood Exchange mid-stage within five days, or else he can only abandon the city and retreat.

A sense of crisis weighed on his heart, unrelenting; unless absolutely necessary, he also did not want to abandon so many living lives.

It was foreseeable that the cult's experts would surely come for revenge.

Lu Zhangsheng led a large swarm of ants, mighty and mighty, out of the cave, charging straight into the depths of the mountain.

All the way, he explored and advanced.

Not long after, a hint of purple radiance suddenly came from ahead.

"There's a situation."

Lu Zhangsheng's face lit up with joy, and he quickly rushed toward the light source.

Soon he arrived before a large boulder.

He saw a large mass of purple Spirit Jade embedded in the rock wall, emitting a faint spiritual qi that refreshed the mind.

Lu Zhangsheng hesitated no longer, immediately extending his sharp claws to fiercely pierce into the rock wall.

"Boom—"

Chunks of Spirit Jade were dug out; soon a large opening appeared in the rock wall.

"Medium-grade Spirit Jade detected. Absorb?"

"Absorb."

"Source Energy Points +5."

"Source Energy Points +5."

……

Moments later, the Spirit Jade on the ground was completely absorbed, and the resource points in his hand rose again by over three hundred.

Lu Zhangsheng's spirit instantly surged, and he once again led the ant swarm charging deeper into the mountain.

At this moment, he was racing against time with the cult's experts.

………………

The next day, dawn.

The morning sun rose, golden rays showering the whole small town, as if dispelling the gloom in everyone's hearts.

On the city wall, a group of city guards were repairing the damaged walls, and many civilians voluntarily lent a hand.

Everyone shouldered some large stones and timber, heading toward the opening in the city wall.

Everything was so orderly.

However, when everyone looked at the white-clad figure on the city wall, their faces were full of respect.

Lu Zhangsheng sat cross-legged on the city wall, his gaze always fixed on the distant forest.

He guessed that the cult's experts would surely attack on the first day, so he had been crouching here since early morning.

Time slowly passed.

Soon it was noon.

At this moment, the Deputy Commander of the City Guard, Han Bingwu, strode over to Lu Zhangsheng, still holding some food.

"Lord Ye, it's noon; have something to eat."

Han Bingwu, with a respectful expression, passed the food over.

He also knew the rumors of the mysterious expert of the county city, and naturally guessed the other's identity.

Hmm, put it on the ground.

Lu Zhangsheng gave a light smile.

He rarely eats food from outside, except what he makes himself.

As a Blood Exchange martial artist, his qi and blood are full to the extreme; even if he goes several days without eating or drinking, it won't affect his condition.

It is said that an Innate Martial Artist can even go a month without eating or drinking, which is even more terrifying.

Such experts have already begun evolving toward 'non-human'.

Just as the two were talking, an abrupt change occurred.

Huu...

A fierce howl came from afar, instantly spreading throughout the city.

Immediately after, three figures rushed toward the city wall like lightning.

In the blink of an eye they arrived near the city gate, revealing two elders and a middle-aged man.

Murderous aura billowed around them, shooting straight up to the clouds.

Of the two elders, one was slender, the other had a sinister visage with hooked brows and eyes.

The middle-aged man was stalwart, standing on the open ground like a mountain range, his breath steady.

All three are Blood Exchange experts of the Wenxiang Sect.

Not good, they are top-tier experts on the government's wanted list; all three are late-stage Blood Exchange...

Han Bingwu's face grew solemn upon seeing this.

These three are infamous, long known to many government martial artists.

It is said they most enjoy slaughtering girls and children to satisfy their extreme evil desires.

Beside the city wall, many city guards also wore faces of despair.

I never expected the evil cult's retaliation to come so swiftly.

Three late-stage Blood Exchange experts—that is a force that despairs people.

A group of civilians also began to wail, filling the whole city with an atmosphere of extreme pessimism.

Lord Ye, please withdraw from this place at once; you are young and even have hope of attaining the Innate Martial Way—it would truly not be worth dying here with us...

Han Bingwu's eyes flashed with a resolve to die, and he spoke to advise Lu Zhangsheng.

In his view, facing three opponents, there was hardly any hope of victory.

The fall of a talented martial artist would be a huge blow to the county government.

He must urge the other side to withdraw immediately.

Lu Zhangsheng's face remained calm as water, and he did not reply.

Instead, he lightly patted his robe, rose, and silently watched the three late-stage Blood Exchange experts outside the city.

Lord Ye, you...

Seeing that he had no intention of leaving, Han Bingwu immediately knelt on the ground, pleading.

The many city guards behind him also knelt down.

Please, sir, preserve your useful body...

The loud shout echoed to the clouds, yet it conveyed a sense of tragic desperation.

(End of chapter)