Chapter 39: So Why Don't I Make the First Kill?

Just with this one move!

In this Four Peaks Grand Competition.

Except for Longtan Peak, no one else even helped Li Mu; not kicking him while he's down would be called kindness.

Humph!

Li Mu really thinks that we of Xuan Yue Feng are that easy to bully?

Right!

Li Mu, you dealt this poisonous strike to Senior Brother Zhao on the arena, causing Senior Brother Zhao to die instantly!

We will avenge Senior Brother Zhao Jianfei!

Humph!

As long as I encounter Li Mu in the secret realm, I will definitely kill him!

Humph!

Just a trash of Longtan Peak, really think you can ride onto our Longtan Peak's summit?

He must be killed!

Let him atone for Senior Brother Zhao's death!

…

Seeing this scene, not only the disciples of the other peaks were shocked, but even the five inner‑peak elders in the sky showed a startled expression!

They never imagined!

Qin Zhixiang actually set such a huge scheme behind the scenes!

To target Li Mu in the secret realm, he directly rallied hundreds of Outer Peak disciples from Xuan Yue Feng to jointly hunt Li Mu!

Even though Li Mu possesses the strength to defeat cultivators at the Ninth-Grade Qi Refining Realm Peak, facing such a disparity in numbers and power!

Certain death!

Outside the training hall.

Qin Siwu, upon seeing this scene, wore an unmistakably smug smile.

Inside the training hall.

Qin Zhixiang's gaze toward Li Mu was like a cat to a mouse, as if he could already envision Li Mu's half‑dead, half‑alive fate.

But just as the Qin patriarch and his grandson thought they had schemed Li Mu to death, they found themselves unable to turn the situation.

Suddenly, a mocking laugh rang in their ears.

Since you want to take revenge on me.

Then why wait for the secret realm to open?

I'll give you this chance right now!

Wouldn't that be even better?

As the words fell, a terrifying pressure suddenly descended upon Qin Zhixiang's mind!

Boom—

Immediately, thunder rolled, and purple lightning flashed!

A black afterimage, like a flash of lightning and thunder, pierced the air and appeared before Qin Zhixiang like a phantom!

Li Mu was enveloped by violet arcs of electricity, his aura imposing, brows furrowed, eyes blazing, like a thunder god descending!

For those listed on the Heavenly Dao Treasure Scroll!

Every one of them is a person who harbors a murderous heart toward themselves!

They all deserve to die!

Since you want to kill me?

Then I'll just kill you first!

Li Mu, you dare!

Seeing that Li Mu still dared to strike first, Lin Zehong instantly flew into a rage, about to act!

Thunderbolt across ten thousand miles!

Li Mu grasped the hilt, his surrounding true Qi surged like tides, sweeping outward and instantly blasting the charging Lin Zehong and others aside.

That long sword, flashing with dazzling electric light, immediately Slash toward Qin Zhixiang!

Clack—

In an instant.

A warning alarm rang loudly in Qin Zhixiang's mind as the fierce thunder blade advanced inch by inch, an unprecedented sense of danger making the hairs on his back stand up!

In a hurry, he could only raise his arms to block before his chest, his internal true Qi circulating rapidly, using all his skill to try to deflect the strike!

Bang!

Ah!

Accompanied by Qin Zhixiang's wail, his body tipped backward, blasted a hundred meters by the terrifying slash glowing with thunder, crashing heavily into a corner at the edge of the training hall!

Puff!

Qin Zhixiang's face turned pale, and with a "Wow!" he spat out a huge mouthful of fresh blood.

Then he looked up at Li Mu again, but the space before him was empty, no one's silhouette remained.

Where are they?

Qin Zhixiang staggered to his feet, and just as he tried to stand, he felt his shoulder heavy, a cold‑glinting long sword pressed onto his shoulder.

The blade's edge pressed tightly against his throat!

Thud…

Qin Zhixiang's brain emitted a "Buzz!" and went blank; he was so shocked that he froze on the ground, daring not to move.

Li Mu stood behind him, leaned forward, close to his ear, and smiled softly: "Since you want to kill me so much, how about I kill you first!"

Qin Siwu never even dreamed that Li Mu would be so audacious!

He actually dared to attempt to kill Qin Zhixiang in front of the five Inner Peak elders and the Four Peak disciples, and he leapt up with a "Whoosh!", shocked and angry, shouting at Li Mu.

"Li Mu!"

"If you dare move a single hair of mine, I will make sure you die without a place to be buried!"

"Is that so?"

"Pfft!"

Before his words finished, the long sword in his hand immediately came down!

A "Clack!" sounded from the ear.

Looking at Qin Zhixiang, his round, bulging head fell straight off his neck, hit the ground, and rolled away a long distance with a gurgling sound.

A torrent of scorching blood spurted from his severed neck!

"Qin Siwu!"

"I truly look forward to seeing how you will make me die without a place to be buried!"

Li Mu said calmly.

He slowly sheathed the long sword.

Almost simultaneously, a massive teleportation array rose up from the arena below!

In an instant, it enveloped the figures of thousands of disciples from the Ziyang Four Peaks.

"Buzz!"

Under the shocked, horrified gazes of everyone inside and outside the arena, a hysterical, insane roar suddenly erupted!

"Li Mu, brat!"

"I will kill you!"

"If I don't kill you!"

"Swear never to be human!"

He watched helplessly as his great‑grandson was decapitated by Li Mu, dying miserably before his eyes.

Qin Siwu immediately tore off his disguise and rushed toward the arena recklessly.

At that moment, the violet light on the arena completely enveloped Li Mu, and his gaze fixed on Qin Siwu as he charged at him.

Immediately after, the scene shifted rapidly, and he soon found himself in a dense forest.

Only, Li Mu had just landed on the ground.

From a thicket, a beast's roar suddenly echoed.

A majestic, ferocious, blood‑thirsty demon wolf with entirely crimson fur burst out, sprinting at breakneck speed, opening its massive maw to bite Li Mu's neck.

Seventh‑rank Demon Soldier, Red Flame Demon Wolf!

"Seeking death!"

"One strike!"

A cold glint flashed in Li Mu's eyes as he instantly drew the revenge blade at his waist.

Slash!

A fierce red‑black blade aura burst forth instantly.

The Red Flame Demon Wolf's golden eyes suddenly narrowed, its massive body frozen mid‑air with nowhere to dodge.

It was then split at the waist by Li Mu's fierce, brutal slash, turning into a downpour of blood that rained down.

However, this was only the beginning!

The strong scent of blood did not frighten the nearby beasts; instead, several ferocious roars answered Li Mu, echoing through the forest again.

Six beasts, from all directions, surged to tear at Li Mu.

"So many beasts in this Yunshan Secret Realm?"

"I was just teleported here and already faced seven Seventh‑rank Demon Soldiers, the Red Flame Demon Wolf's ambush?"

"If I weren't strong enough, I'd probably have fallen dead on the spot!"

Li Mu thought to himself.

But his expression unchanged, he stamped his foot hard on the ground, and purple electric sparks flared again!

Blade Intent First Layer: Might!

An extremely terrifying pressure, centered on Li Mu, surged outward instantly, freezing the six Red Flame Demon Wolves lunging at him.

"Purple Thunder Sword Technique, Form Eight: Electric Meteor Scatter!"

In an instant, countless purple electric sparks appeared, enveloping all six raging Red Flame Demon Wolves.

In less than ten breaths, all six Seventh‑rank Demon Soldiers, the Red Flame Demon Wolves, were slain by Li Mu.

The surrounding forest finally fell silent, with no beasts attacking again.

Li Mu sheathed his sword, pulled his finger down, and opened the system interface, looking at the unread messages displayed.

【Ding!】

【System detected: Host successfully killed a Third‑rank Refining Qi Realm cultivator, triggering Hundredfold Heavenly Dao Blessing!】

【Congratulations, Host! Gained Hundredfold Gain!】

【Ding!】

【System detected: Host killed seven Seventh‑rank Demon Soldiers, triggering Tenfold Heavenly Dao Blessing!】

【Congratulations, Host! Gained Tenfold Harvest!】

"Hoo‑chi…"

Li Mu let out a long sigh, yet his spirit remained in a state of high tension, thinking to himself.

"Now, I have killed Qin Zhixiang right in front of Qin Siwu and Xuan Yue Feng."

"That means that now both sides have completely no room for maneuver."

"Meeting means it's time to fight!"

"So, before that I still need to quickly improve my strength!"

"For example, first raise the Eight Nine Profound Skill to lv: 10, and awaken the first Divine Ability!"

"I believe that with the first Divine Ability's boost, even if I face the encirclement by Lin Zehong and others, I have the confidence to kill them all."

"Hmph…"

"Is killing people basically prohibited?"

"Then my accidental killing in self‑defense should be within the rules, right!"

Li Mu's mouth corner lifted, drawing a faintly serene curve.

Resolute, Li Mu began to push forward toward the deeper core of the Yunshan Secret Realm.

All the way here.

The further Li Mu walked, the higher the mountains and longer the waters, and the trees grew ever more luxuriant, with towering peaks and dense forests.

After turning a mountain pass, Li Mu looked ahead and saw, a kilometer away, a valley.

He tilted his ear to listen.

Faintly, the tinkling of a stream could be heard.

Li Mu rubbed his chin and whispered softly.

"How strange and bizarre!"

"When I first landed, I was consecutively attacked by seven Demon Soldiers of the seventh rank and the Crimson Flame Demon Wolf."

"But now, having advanced this far, not to mention any battles, I haven't even seen a single demon beast hair."

"Forget it!"

"First rest a bit, then explore another area."

Li Mu casually took out jerky and a water flask from his pack, ate a couple of bites, and his sword‑shaped eyebrows involuntarily knit as he instantly sensed an unusual aura.

Li Mu felt a 'Thud!' in his heart and instinctively gazed toward the depths of the valley.

There, a hundred meters ahead, in the thicket, vague shadows revealed many demon beast skeletal remains.

Bloodstained, with an unbearable stench.

Seeing this, Li Mu's face instantly showed realization!

"I told you."

"We've been pushing forward for so long, yet still haven't found any demon beast traces."

"Turns out we've already entered the territory of a powerful demon beast."