Chapter 105: Breaking Through the Mid‑Blood‑Replacement Stage! Consecutive Slashes!

"So you killed Duan Changhe? You're really bold, seeing us approach and not fleeing?"

The gaunt elder Qi Zhiquan stared at Lu Zhangsheng with a murderous glint all over his face.

A cruel smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

Torturing and killing the strong, especially the officials' prodigies, thrilled him the most.

All the blood in his body boiled, making him somewhat impatient.

"I shall twist your head off and take it to the main altar…"

Beside him, the sinister elder Qi Chaoyun also sneered continuously.

In contrast, the sturdy middle‑aged man remained silent, watching Lu Zhangsheng with a curious expression.

He wanted to know what confidence the other had to face the three of them without fleeing.

Everyone inside the city wall, seeing this, looked at Lu Zhangsheng with worried faces.

The three's fearsome reputation was at its peak; together they were terrifying, even causing some mid‑blood‑replacement strongmen to keep their distance.

Lu Zhangsheng's expression remained calm as he drew his long sword and walked slowly toward the edge of the wall, as if strolling in a garden.

Reaching the wall's edge, he leapt and landed on an open spot at the city gate.

"Kill."

Without a word, he raised his blade and surged forward with his footwork, slashing.

After a few flickers, he arrived before the three and then thrust a sudden slash forward.

"Hoo…"

Cold light streaked through the void, emitting a series of whistling sounds, its momentum ferocious beyond compare.

"Looking for death!"

Qi Zhiquan roared, his eyes flashing with murderous intent.

He hadn't expected the opponent to be so audacious, trying to take on three alone—truly overreaching.

"Quickly subdue and kill this person."

Having spoken, he immediately swung his sword forward with a fierce slash.

Rolling murderous aura surged skyward, as if countless ghostly shadows roared along the blade, chilling the heart.

Qi Chaoyun and the other also gave their all, each swinging their swords forward.

Under the three's simultaneous assault, the force was extremely ferocious.

Endless blade light roamed the battlefield unchecked, even cracking the ground in places.

"Boom—boom—boom…"

In an instant, the two sides collided violently.

The fierce impact roar echoed to the heavens, the scattered fierce wind stirring all around, dust swirling, a complete mess.

With a single strike.

Lu Zhangsheng landed steadily on the ground, as if taking root, with two large pits forming beneath his feet.

He transmitted all his force straight into the earth.

No flashy tricks, just a straight‑up clash with the three, and his blood boiled with excitement.

His fight with Duan Changhe was barely a warm‑up; now the three's combined assault finally sparked his fighting will.

After breaking through the blood‑replacement stage, this was his first time feeling such a surge; this time, he just wants a proper battle to see his own limits.

With several supreme techniques stacked, even he didn't know how strong he had become.

Conversely, Qi Zhiquan and his two companions also landed steadily, their gazes fixed on Lu Zhangsheng.

Their eyes were filled with solemnity.

The three's joint clash with him felt like hitting a mountain.

Endless force surged like waves, relentless, making the three quite uncomfortable.

"What a powerful force."

The middle‑aged man Xie Liufeng wore a surprised expression.

His long hand gripping the sword continued to tremble uncontrollably.

Both sides ended this duel in a tie.

This was hard for the three to accept, and they became angry and embarrassed.

"Directly activate the secret technique and blast this person."

Qi Zhiquan's murderous aura solidified around him, and he coldly shouted.

"Kill."

While speaking, he raised his blade again and rushed forward, speed as swift as a phantom.

The other two also refused to yield, attacking Lu Zhangsheng from left and right.

The three immediately surrounded Lu Zhangsheng.

Then they simultaneously activated their secret techniques, a massive surge of qi and blood shooting skyward, even the nearby city gate trembled.

"Slash."

Qi Zhiquan and the two again teamed up, slashing fiercely at Lu Zhangsheng.

Booming roars echoed in the void, blade light darting wildly.

"Kill."

Lu Zhangsheng's face turned icy; he fully activated his true protective qi.

"Sss…"

A pure white qi shield instantly circulated his body, emitting a shimmering light, exceedingly wondrous.

Dust and smoke all around were stirred up, wind rose and clouds surged.

He directly pushed his secret method and protective body technique to the limit.

Qi and blood surged within his body, causing his strength to climb step by step.

Then, he instantly drew his blade and slashed toward Qi Zhiquan.

With a full‑force strike, a cold flash appeared without a blade silhouette, swift as a thunderbolt.

"Boom—boom—boom…"

Both sides collided again, the fierce blade light roamed wildly across the battlefield, the ground as if plowed, intersecting in all directions.

Lu Zhangsheng's long blade struck hard against Qi Zhiquan's blade edge.

It directly knocked the opponent back several meters, leaving Qi Zhiquan standing on the ground with a shocked expression.

A single strike, he couldn't block the opponent! Immediately, the blade lights of Qi Chaoyun and his companion suddenly slashed at Lu Zhangsheng's protective yang qi.

"Bang—bang—bang…"

The intense collision sounds rang through the sky, making eardrums throb.

Under the swirling brilliance of the pure white yang qi shield, a ripple rippled, quickly restored, and the distance to being broken remained far away.

"What a hard protective technique."

Qi Chaoyun and his companion's gazes hardened, feeling a bit incredulous.

To cultivate protective yang qi to such a realm is simply shocking to hear.

Figures like this are hard to slay even with a massive army encirclement, unless a top‑tier master intervenes to subdue and kill.

If the opponent breaks through to the innate realm, the protective yang qi Metamorphosis into primordial divine yang, that would be the enemy's nightmare.

"Kill."

Lu Zhangsheng did not hesitate and surged forward again.

He kicked off his foot, swiftly reaching Qi Zhiquan, raised his blade and struck.

Qi Zhiquan and the two others had no time to think, and directly teamed up to meet the attack.

"Boom—boom—boom…"

Both sides fought fiercely by the city wall, the commotion growing larger.

Powerful vigor cut the city wall at will, leaving deep grooves that startled onlookers.

The ground stones cracked in waves, as if the earth were shaking.

Under the three's joint assault, Lu Zhangsheng's protective yang qi remained smooth and intact.

A sense of immovability as a mountain flowed in his heart.

Endless blade light cut the protective yang qi, emitting a piercing shriek, yet it could never shake his protective body technique.

Lu Zhangsheng ignored Qi Chaoyun and his companion, keeping his gaze on Qi Zhiquan's fierce assault.

Each strike hit the opponent's blade edge, suppressing it firmly.

"Bang—bang—bang…"

The four clashed head‑on without any fancy moves, each aiming to blast the opponent in the shortest time.

"His secret technique cannot last, hold on…"

Xie Liufeng shouted with a solemn expression.

The opponent's threat was too great; today they must subdue and kill him here, or endless trouble will follow.

"Damn!"

Qi Zhiquan heard it and cursed his mother inwardly.

Whether he can hold on, aside from that, if this continues, he'll be the first to be blasted by the opponent.

He ignored Qi Chaoyun and his companion, staring at his own brutal beating, feeling extremely suppressed.

The promised three‑person assault—why only focus on me?

Was I too arrogant earlier? At this moment he suddenly felt a hint of regret.

Time drifted slowly.

A little less than half an hour passed.

Qi Zhiquan still swung his long blade with effort, struggling to hold on.

Seeing the blade light before him grow more terrifying, he dared not be careless at all.

A slight slip would lead to death.

Conversely, the opponent's yang qi shield, under Qi Chaoyun and his companion's full‑force assault, remained as solid as a golden cauldron.

At this moment, he even began to doubt whether the two of them alone could break this turtle shell.

"Didn't we say you couldn't hold on long? It's already half an hour."

Qi Zhiquan's face was full of anxiety.

A fleeting thought of escape rose in his mind.

"Slash."

At this moment, Lu Zhangsheng unleashed a full‑force slash toward Qi Zhiquan.

The massive blade light swirled in the void, as if it could cut through anything, bearing an overwhelming pressure.

"Not good."

Qi Zhiquan's spiritual platform frantically warned, not expecting the opponent to still deliver such a terrifying strike after half an hour of full force.

He thrust a powerful slash forward.

Qi Chaoyun and his companion also immediately acted, surrounding to aid, slashing with full force at Lu Zhangsheng's protective yang qi.

"Boom—boom—boom…"

Several people collided again, and a huge roaring sound echoed throughout the arena.

Dust and smoke swirled all around, leaving a scene of utter chaos.

Under that single blow, Qi Zhiquan retreated straight back over ten meters, his face deathly pale.

That blow left him with a serious injury.

After half an hour of activating the secret technique, he had expended much essence and blood; coupled with the opponent's peak strike, he felt an overwhelming sense of being unable to resist.

Qi Zhiquan hesitated no more, immediately turned his head and ran toward the rear.

"Rats!"

Qi Chaoyun and the two others were all furious.

Even the three of them together couldn't defeat the opponent; now that Qi Zhiquan has fled, the two of them alone have almost no chance of winning.

The two quickly pushed off with their feet and rapidly retreated.

After a few flashes, they disappeared near the city gate. Lu Zhangsheng, however, had no intention of letting any of them go.

He activated the Trace-less Snow Treading Light Skill, pursuing Qi Zhiquan like a ghost.

"Whoosh..."

A single step flash covered over ten meters, his speed astonishingly fast.

After a few breaths, he saw Qi Zhiquan's back.

Sensing the presence behind him, Qi Zhiquan's face filled with despair.

"Why aren't you chasing the others?"

He roared furiously in his heart.

"Huff..."

Lu Zhangsheng's body flickered, and he immediately lunged to the front of Qi Zhiquan, intercepting him.

Then he suddenly slashed forward with a blade.

"Sizzle..."

The blade scraped the void, emitting a violent roaring sound.

Qi Zhiquan could only muster his strength to block with his blade.

"Boom boom boom..."

The two long blades violently collided, their force sweeping outward, and the surrounding leaves swirled in the air.

Lu Zhangsheng's blade knocked aside Qi Zhiquan's weapon, and without losing momentum, he slashed toward the opponent's head.

Before he could react, a flash of cold light instantly slit his throat.

"I am unwilling..."

Qi Zhiquan clutched his neck in terror, then collapsed forward onto the ground, his head rolling to the side.

A large amount of blood spurted out, dyeing the surrounding grassland red.

Then, Lu Zhangsheng did not pause, and once again pursued toward Qi Chaoyun.

……

By the city wall.

Everyone silently watched Lu Zhangsheng's retreating figure, their faces filled with shock.

No one expected that their own Lord Ye would be so terrifying, fighting three opponents alone and still driving them away.

Moreover, he now must hunt down those few people.

This made everyone feel as if they were dreaming, finding it hard to believe.

Before the clash, everyone had been extremely worried, never expecting this scene.

"Ten thousand victories, ten thousand victories."

At this moment, everyone shouted in unison, their voices soaring to the heavens, as if celebrating a festival.

After the cheers, a group of people stood on the wall, waiting anxiously.

Everyone felt some anticipation, wondering whether Lord Ye could slay those few people.

Time slowly passed.

Half an hour later.

A white-clad figure swiftly rushed toward the city wall, holding in his hand two bloody heads.

Everyone stared intently, their hearts utterly shaken.

Those two heads were exactly those of Qi Zhiquan and Qi Chaoyun.

Obviously, those two had been slain.

Lu Zhangsheng strode to the city gate, leapt up, and jumped onto the wall.

"We pay our respects to Lord Ye, congratulating you on slaying the formidable foe."

Han Bingwu led a group of city guards, kneeling on the ground with faces full of reverence.

Behind them, many common folk also knelt on the ground, faces filled with gratitude.

Had it not been for this Lord's intervention against the powerful enemy, everyone would have had no chance of survival.

"Everyone, no need for excessive courtesy; dispose of these two heads with lime powder."

Lu Zhangsheng gave a faint smile and tossed the two heads over.

"Subordinate obeys your command."

Han Bingwu respectfully received the heads, rose, and walked away.

……

Half a day later.

An outpost outside the city.

Xie Liufeng sat on a chair, face full of fear, his heart pounding, unable to calm.

At this moment, he was so close to death.

The two teammates did not return; presumably they were killed by the enemy.

Three joined forces to encircle and kill, leaving only himself to escape, which made him extremely terrified.

"Only by letting the sect's Blood Exchange Peak expert make a move can we kill the opponent."

He secretly thought in his heart.

"Someone come."

"After a soft call."

At this moment, a black-clad man appeared instantly, kneeling on one knee, respectful.

"My lord, what are your orders?"

Xie Liufeng raised his eyebrows: "Send this secret letter to the headquarters immediately."

After saying that, he took out a piece of paper and handed it over.

"Subordinate obeys your order."

The man received the secret letter, immediately stood up and walked toward outside the hall.

"Hope the headquarters quickly sends a strong expert..."

Xie Liufeng watched the man's receding back, his eyes deep.

He really didn't want to face that person again.

That battle just now directly shattered his psychological defense.

…………

Night, silent as water.

Lu Zhangsheng lay on the bed, separating a strand of thought and injecting it into the pangolin's body.

He must seize every moment to excavate spiritual creatures.

Heretical cult experts may descend at any moment, making him feel quite urgent.

It can be expected that the next time the opponent descends, at least they will be at Blood Exchange Peak.

With his current strength, at most he can barely hold off one person.

If time drags on, he can only choose to retreat.

A thought turned.

Still, it was that dim cave, the surroundings rather damp.

The air gave off a faint mossy smell.

Lu Zhangsheng quickly dug deep into the mountain.

Boom—boom—boom...

His claws dug swiftly, the progress astonishingly fast.

Soon, a purple light suddenly came from ahead.

"Any situation?"

Lu Zhangsheng's face lit with joy, he quickly rushed out.

After a few breaths, he arrived deep in a limestone cave.

Only see a thick purple light entwined around a large boulder ahead.

"High-grade spirit jade?"

Lu Zhangsheng couldn't quite believe it.

So much spirit jade, its color is much deeper than intermediate spirit jade.

Presumably the quality is higher.

With these spiritual creatures, he hopes to break through within two days.

This is truly an unexpected joy.

He no longer hesitated, immediately rushed to the stone wall and began digging quickly.

Boom—boom—boom...

Chunks of spirit jade were dug out, soon piling up into a small hill on the ground.

"Detected high-grade spirit jade, absorb?"

"Absorb."

"Source Energy Points +10."

"Source Energy Points +10."

……

Soon, all the spirit jade on the ground was absorbed.

This large piece of high-grade spirit jade directly increased its resources by eight hundred points.

After digging a bit more, it will be enough for its own needs.

Lu Zhangsheng was full of vigor, quickly digging deeper into the cave.

……

Two days later, morning.

The morning sun rose, golden light showering the earth.

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

A blue light curtain appeared in the void ahead.

Source Energy Points: 2800.

The plus sign after the Golden Body Technique lit up again.

Now is finally the time for a breakthrough.

He no longer hesitated and immediately added points.

As the Source Energy Points decreased by 2,500 points.

A vague fluctuation descended deep into his mind again, as if a powerful expert was tirelessly training day and night.

【After years of arduous cultivation, the Golden Body Technique has finally been cultivated to Minor Accomplishment.】

Realm: Blood Exchange Mid-stage.

Technique: Golden Body Technique【Minor Accomplishment】.

……

「Boom—Boom—Boom—…」

His qi and blood surged wildly within his body, as if rivers were flowing, quite astonishing.

Even his skin emitted strands of golden light, as if containing some indestructible truth, though it was extremely faint.

But he firmly believed that as long as he kept improving, sooner or later he could cultivate his fleshly body to immortality and indestructibility.

At this moment, he finally broke through his cultivation, and his strength surged again.

With his current strength, even if a Blood Exchange Peak expert attacked, he would not fear in the slightest.

(End of Chapter)