Chapter 95

In the coming month, Lu Zhangsheng stayed secluded, rarely going out, diligently practicing martial arts at home, occasionally leaving the city to patrol the surroundings.

Almost every night when lying in bed, he could feel his Source Energy Points rising rapidly, which made him very satisfied.

The outside turmoil had no effect on him; besides a few former teammates, he had no contact with anyone, and he became increasingly low-key in the Demon Subduing Office.

The clashes between the two forces outside the city grew even fiercer, with some martial artists getting injured or falling each day.

The whole Changping County was like a powder keg, and even the surrounding counties of Qingning Prefecture were much the same.

That day, deep night.

Lu Zhangsheng stood in the middle of the courtyard; the whole yard was quiet, pitch black, without a trace of moonlight.

He opened the panel.

Source Energy Points: 1100.

These days, because the ant colony dug nonstop, the resources in his hand kept rising quickly, soon reaching what was needed for a skill upgrade.

He no longer hesitated and immediately began to upgrade.

At this moment he planned to first upgrade his defensive skill; his sword technique and speed already met the requirements, and after tasting the benefit of the previous siege, he wanted to see how far his Gang Qi would go if increased again.

With a thought.

He tapped the plus sign behind the 【Giant Cauldron Skill】.

"Hum——"

As the Source Energy Points instantly decreased by eight hundred.

A surge of vague fluctuation again descended into the depths of his mind, as if a powerful expert were constantly practicing.

"After years of painstaking cultivation, the Giant Cauldron Skill has finally reached the realm of divine mastery."

Note: This skill has already been raised to its limit and cannot be upgraded further.

At the same time, Lu Zhangsheng's qi and blood surged wildly within him, like rivers rushing inside his body, astonishingly so.

A vast amount of qi and blood spontaneously rose around his body, forming a circular qi shield that tightly enveloped his entire form.

Lu Zhangsheng gently activated the Giant Cauldron Skill.

"Sizzle——"

The Gang Qi instantly began to spin, covering his whole body; even the withered leaves on the ground followed the spin, creating a wondrous sight.

He looked at his own protective Gang Qi; compared to before the breakthrough, it was more than twice as thick.

The defensive power of this qi‑blood‑formed protective Gang Qi also surged again.

He estimated that even a mid‑stage Blood Exchange expert would find it hard to break through his defense.

As his defensive power surged, his patrols outside became increasingly safe.

Afterward, Lu Zhangsheng withdrew the skill, returned to his bedroom, and fell into a deep sleep.

The night passed without incident.

In the following days, Lu Zhangsheng no longer remained hidden; he launched successive attacks on the cult's strongholds.

He not only rescued many children but also slew numerous cult experts.

Thanks to his astonishing speed and defense, he often withdrew before the cult experts could react.

For a time, many cult members became jumpy and suspicious, fearing that the mysterious expert might appear suddenly.

The martial artists of Changping County, upon hearing the news, became ever more exhilarated.

Outside the city, at a certain Wenxiang Sect stronghold.

"This person appears and disappears without trace, his attacks have no pattern; we've been watching for days and still got nothing……"

"I have no way either; his identity is unknown, and even our internal government intelligence can't trace his movements, so we can only keep watching the old way……"

Zuo Jiliang and Qi Guangcheng were whispering to each other in the main hall.

Ever since they escaped last time, they have been thinking about how to take revenge.

After receiving the treasure bestowed by their sect master, they felt absolute confidence.

Only by breaking that turtle‑shell defense could the two of them slay their opponent.

This is the confidence they have as Blood Exchange Yuhunshi.

……

Three days later, at dawn, the morning sun rose.

Early in the morning, after washing up, Lu Zhangsheng prepared to go out on patrol.

At this moment he changed into a cyan‑colored martial outfit, looking rather dashing.

To prevent others from recognizing him by his clothes and weapons, whenever he went out on a mission he would switch to ordinary attire.

Even his Pig Slaughter Knife would transform into an ordinary longsword, and during battle his wine gourd would be stored into the panel space.

This was merely his cautiousness; if he were careless and exposed himself, the Wenxiang Sect's assassins would likely come endlessly, which would be quite troublesome.

Lu Zhangsheng left the courtyard, hands behind his back, and walked familiarly toward the city gate.

The surrounding crowd made way, faces full of reverence.

Inside the city, however, it was quite peaceful, with bustling crowds coming and going on the streets.

There were also many children running around the street corners.

Over the past six months, large numbers of people from the surrounding towns have poured into the county seat, making Changping County ever more crowded.

Anyone who had some means in the towns tried every way to move to the county seat and settle down.

In this chaotic situation, the inner city could barely be considered a place of refuge.

Lu Zhangsheng made his way through the noisy crowd and soon exited the city.

He arrived at a small thicket and activated the Bone Shrinking Skill.

"Crack crack crack——"

The entire body's bones and muscles began to violently reorganize, and before long it transformed into a young man with a resolute face.

He then activated his body technique, sprinting forward at high speed.

Gradually, his speed increased, and under the great sun he moved like a ghostly shadow, freely darting across the vast heavens and earth.

……

The next day, at dusk.

The setting sun was as red as blood.

In a dense forest outside Yan Family Village.

Lu Zhangsheng leaned his back against a large tree and carefully surveyed the village ahead.

The shadows of people inside the village were sparse; occasionally one or two people walked in the clearing, and nothing unusual could be seen.

This place was about three hundred li away from the county seat.

According to information provided by the DemonSubduingOffice, this village had a serious problem.

A large number of missing children were linked to this village, their connections countless.

After reviewing the information, Lu Zhangsheng immediately began an investigation.

He was not in a hurry and planned to explore again at night.

Time passed slowly.

The night fell quickly.

The surroundings were pitch black, countless tree branches twisted like ghostly shadows, stretching wildly.

Swish swish……

Lu Zhangsheng vaulted forward, charging rapidly toward the front.

His speed was extreme, like lightning.

After a few flashes, he stepped into the interior of the village.

Just as he was about to investigate the main hall ahead, an anomaly suddenly erupted.

Hoo……

A large group of men in black burst out, brandishing bright steel knives, their faces full of murderous aura, surrounding Lu Zhangsheng.

These people were the cultists.

Lu Zhangsheng held the Pig Slaughter Knife, his expression very calm.

The strongest among them was only Bone-forging, just some small fry, posing no real threat to him.

His suspicion was correct; this place was indeed a cult stronghold.

Clearing it would also earn some merit.

"Come out."

At that moment, Lu Zhangsheng seemed to sense something, his gaze icy as he stared ahead, his tone solemn.

Clap clap clap……

As the clapping sounds rang out, two young men slowly emerged from behind.

The surrounding figures retreated, their faces full of awe.

The newcomers were Zuo Jiliang and Qi Guangcheng.

They were also the First and Second Yuhunshi.

"Your Excellency really made us wait well; we have been lurking for you for over a month, and today we finally met."

Excitement filled Zuo Jiliang's eyes, and boundless murderous intent surged in his heart.

Although Lu Zhangsheng changed his appearance again, the two continued to keep an eye on the village.

Seeing this ghostly movement, they reacted instantly.

At this moment they hoped to subdue the opponent, which made them rather excited.

"How do you wish to die today?"

Beside them, Qi Guangcheng also wore a confident expression.

With that item, the opponent had only a dead end.

The surrounding cultists also stared as if watching someone die, quietly watching Lu Zhangsheng.

Everyone guessed that the two Yuhunshi possessed a great backing, making it impossible for the opponent to escape this disaster.

Hearing that, Lu Zhangsheng felt a bit puzzled.

He didn't know what confidence the opponent truly had.

He also sensed no threat from them.

Moreover, meeting them again this time, his strength had long surpassed before; even his protective aura was more than twice as strong.

He stopped pondering and struck immediately.

"Kill."

Lu Zhangsheng fully activated his defensive technique and the Three Fold Wave secret method, a transparent aura instantly circulating his entire body.

His internal Qi and blood surged wildly.

Then, his footwork turned several times, and in an instant he arrived before the two, slashing forward with a blade.

The snow‑white blade flash glittered in the night, bearing a powerful murderous aura.

Even the air emitted bursts of sonic explosions.

"Die."

Zuo Jiliang's complexion was extremely cold.

He raised his sleeve, quickly deploying the hidden weapon in his hand.

Whoosh—

Countless blood-red long needles appeared in the void, densely packed into a sheet, extremely chilling.

Immediately thereafter, under the surge of qi and blood, they suddenly shot toward Lu Zhangsheng. All of this happened extremely suddenly.

Ha!

Lu Zhangsheng's expression was extremely calm, and he pushed his protective aura to the limit.

A milky-white glow flickered around his body, extremely astonishing.

The top-tier martial art upgraded from the Tiger Roar Golden Bell Shield, after reaching perfection, once again displayed its might.

This martial art already had a rudimentary form of being impervious to blades and spears, immune to water and fire.

Bang bang bang—

Countless blood-red needle shadows struck the protective aura.

Waves of booming sound echoed through the night sky.

Lu Zhangsheng planted his feet firmly, like a thousand-pound weight, his aura rippling slightly around him, yet he remained as steady as Mount Tai.

After a breath.

The needle shadows fell one after another to the ground, and the protective aura remained unbroken.

If it weren't for the breakthrough, Lu Zhangsheng's protective aura would have been quite dangerous.

At this moment, not only had his cultivation broken through, but his defensive art had also reached perfection; this hidden weapon was clearly no match.

Impossible!

Zuo Jiliang and Qi Guangcheng stared wide-eyed, their faces full of disbelief.

Last time, the two had also fought Lu Zhangsheng, and his protective aura could not possibly block their treasures.

Unexpectedly this time, his aura had undergone a qualitative metamorphosis.

What the hell are you?

Qi Guangcheng's tone trembled slightly; after the two had painstakingly lain in wait for over a month, this was the result.

This made it somewhat hard for them to accept.

Around them, a group of cultists also wore looks of shock.

Such a protective aura, there is no second person to be found within Changping County.

It's hard to imagine how they could have cultivated both speed and defense to such a level.

Kill!

Lu Zhangsheng paid no heed to them, activated his movement technique, and swiftly rushed toward Qi Guangcheng to kill him.

After a few flashes, he reached the opponent and suddenly swung his blade.

He intended to first slay Qi Guangcheng, then kill Zuo Jiliang; this time neither would escape.

Retreat!

Zuo Jiliang, face full of fear, issued the order and quickly retreated backward.

The surrounding cultists scattered like birds and beasts.

Qi Guangcheng also wanted to flee, but he was firmly locked in place by a strong will.

If he turned around, he would likely immediately face a thunderous strike.

He gritted his teeth and thrust his sword forward.

A cold gleam swallowed and spat in the void, its momentum fierce.

This strike, he directly aroused his essence blood within, already exerting his full strength.

Boom boom boom—

A wave of qi swept in all directions, the ground cracked repeatedly, and the surroundings were engulfed in rolling dust and smoke.

Lu Zhangsheng's Pig Slaughter Knife directly knocked aside the opponent's long sword, then he fiercely slashed toward Qi Guangcheng's head.

Not good!

Qi Guangcheng turned deathly pale from fright, a sense of death enveloped his heart.

From that collision just now, he only felt his long sword unsteady in his hand, the opponent's power too terrifying.

Before he could react.

A cold gleam sliced through Qi Guangcheng's neck.

You…

Qi Guangcheng clutched his neck, eyes full of unwillingness, and collapsed to the ground.

Lu Zhangsheng's two moves to slay this person were also within his expectations; the opponent's strength was somewhat inferior to Zuo Jiliang's.

With his own strength, slaying the opponent presented no difficulty.

Next, Lu Zhangsheng strode to the corpse, quickly looted it, and immediately pursued in the direction Zuo Jiliang had fled.

From Lu Zhangsheng's slaying of Qi Guangcheng, only a few breaths of time had passed.

Zuo Jiliang had not gone far.

Lu Zhangsheng had just left the manor when he saw the opponent's back.

He was rushing forward through the dense forest, like a bereaved dog.

Lu Zhangsheng immediately activated his movement technique and gave chase.

Whoosh—

His whole body darted like lightning, weaving through the dense forest.

His body brushed past the surrounding branches and leaves, producing a rustling sound.

Soon after, Lu Zhangsheng arrived not far behind Zuo Jiliang.

Zuo Jiliang sensed what was behind him, his face full of terror.

He did not expect Qi Guangcheng to not even last a few breaths, the opponent killing so quickly.

Before he could react, Lu Zhangsheng flashed several times and intercepted the opponent on a mountain path.

"Kill."

Lu Zhangsheng brandished his long sword and rushed forward to strike.

With a single horizontal slash, the blade's light darted through the forest, stirring a flurry of fallen leaves.

In this strike he gave his all, the secret Three Fold Wave technique pushed to its limit.

Coupled with the Perfect‑Level swordsmanship, his attack power reached its peak.

"Slash."

Zuo Jiliang dared not delay, fully igniting his internal essence blood, his aura wildly expanding.

He likewise slashed forward with a single blade.

At this moment he held back nothing, only thinking of sustaining the fight a little longer.

As soon as he burst out of the village, he had already sent a distress signal; surely a strong Saint Sect practitioner was already on the way.

Boom— Boom— Boom—…

The two sides collided violently, fierce qi burst apart, sweeping up countless leaves around them.

With one blow.

Lu Zhangsheng stood steadily on level ground, his expression calm.

In contrast, Zuo Jiliang retreated more than ten meters backward, his right hand still trembling on the sword.

Clearly he was at a complete disadvantage.

Zuo Jiliang's face was utterly shocked; he felt a massive force surge from his long sword, like a wave of the sea.

Had his internal essence blood not ignited so quickly, he probably couldn't have withstood even a single slash.

"Kill."

Lu Zhangsheng gave the opponent no chance to breathe, charging forward again.

Bang— Bang— Bang—…

The two sides fought fiercely amid the jungle.

After only a few moves, Zuo Jiliang fell into a life‑or‑death crisis.

Like a sailing ship in a storm, ready to capsize at any moment.

Yet the opponent's strength far surpassed Qi Guangcheng's, allowing only a few more moves.

After several breaths of combat.

Lu Zhangsheng seized a sliver of fatal opening and swiftly slashed forward.

The fierce qi roamed wildly through the jungle.

At that moment, a powerful aura rushed toward the battlefield of the two.

"Stop!"

The voice arrived before the person.

A thunderous shout rang through the entire jungle.

A black‑clad elder charged forward, his aura bristling with killing intent, his presence awe‑inspiring.

"Han Guardian, save me."

Seeing this, Zuo Jiliang's face filled with excitement; in this desperate rescue his body erupted with astonishing potential.

He thrust a powerful slash forward.

Boom— Boom— Boom—…

The two sides collided violently.

Surrounding qi interlaced, lifting layers of leaves.

Lu Zhangsheng swung his blade to knock away the opponent's weapon, then, under Zuo Jiliang's desperate gaze, cut toward the opponent's head.

Whoosh—…

A light sound rang out as a massive head rolled to the ground, a gush of fresh blood spurted out, staining the surrounding grass red.

First Yuhunshi Zuo Jiliang died.

At this moment the black‑cloaked elder also arrived on the battlefield, his face exceedingly grim.

"I command you to stop, didn't you hear?"

His tone was cold; he hadn't expected anyone to disregard him.

"What are you, some nobody?"

Lu Zhangsheng's expression remained calm as he uttered a line.

"How daring, I will skin you and pull your tendons."

The elder erupted in fury, lunging at Lu Zhangsheng.

Lu Zhangsheng ignored him, swiftly activating Cloud‑Mist Steps; after a few flashes he became a after‑image and vanished into the jungle.

The black‑cloaked elder chased Lu Zhangsheng at full speed, but the distance between them kept widening.

Soon even Lu Zhangsheng's after‑image disappeared from sight.

Han Yong stopped on a level patch of ground, his face clouded with gloom.

He hadn't expected the opponent's speed to be so astonishing.

Several times faster than himself; perhaps even a cultivated warrior could not catch up to this person.

Lu Zhangsheng darted swiftly through the endless jungle, utterly carefree.

The elder who hurried over possessed notable strength, likely at the late blood‑transformation stage; he did not choose to engage the opponent, but instead withdrew outright.

Since he cannot kill the opponent, it is better to depart; revealing his true power would not be worthwhile.

(End of Chapter)