Chapter 122 - 117: Hundred Poison Needle

The weapon in the Drilling Mountain Leopard’s hand was quite strange. It was shaped like a heavy sword but had no point; its sides were lined with sharp serrations. It looked less like a weapon and more like a saw.

"I worked at a lumber yard from a young age, using a saw for over a decade. After I began practicing martial arts, I tried many weapons, but none of them felt right. In the end, I had a blacksmith forge this iron-toothed sword for me."

A nostalgic look appeared in the Drilling Mountain Leopard’s eyes as he looked at Zhao Lin. "What do you think of it?"

"You’re dead no matter what you use!"

Zhao Lin had no patience for his nonsense. In a single leap, he was upon the Drilling Mountain Leopard. He swung his iron ruler in a ’Thousand-Man Sweep,’ putting ninety percent of his strength into a strike aimed at the man’s ribs.

He had already analyzed the situation. The Drilling Mountain Leopard’s advantages were his vast combat experience and a Cultivation Realm two layers higher than his own.

His own advantages, however, lay in the four Essence Souls within the Spirit Beast Scroll.

He had the upper hand in strength and speed. Since it was daytime, echolocation was of little use, but the twenty-four acupoints transformed by the Lark’s Essence Soul could still supplement his Body Technique.

The essence of a life-or-death battle lies in playing to one’s strengths while exploiting the enemy’s weaknesses. Thus, Zhao Lin went all out from the start, leveraging his own advantages.

Seeing the ferocity of Zhao Lin’s attack, the Drilling Mountain Leopard’s gaze hardened. He held his iron-toothed sword vertically and shoved it outward with both hands.

CLANG! The Drilling Mountain Leopard felt a massive shock run through his arms as a powerful force surged toward him, forcing him to stumble back several steps.

Zhao Lin instantly closed the distance, unleashing the same ’Thousand-Man Sweep’ in a horizontal strike aimed at his chest.

The Drilling Mountain Leopard let out a savage laugh. His body remained planted as he swung the iron-toothed sword in a backhanded slash at Zhao Lin’s shoulder.

The wind from the blade arrived before the sword itself, impossibly fast and fierce.

It was a do-or-die tactic.

Zhao Lin was taken aback. He knew that if he didn’t alter his attack, the Drilling Mountain Leopard would die, but he himself wouldn’t escape unscathed.

His opponent had reached the Third Layer of the Qi Realm, and his projected energy coated the blade. Even if Zhao Lin struck first, the man’s dying counterattack would have enough force to rip off his arm.

At this thought, he pulled back his strength, flicking the iron ruler up to meet the iron-toothed sword. A jolt ran through his hand, making the webbing between his thumb and forefinger ache. In a direct contest of strength, he was actually at a disadvantage.

The Drilling Mountain Leopard grinned, baring a set of stark white teeth. "Looks like your life is more precious than mine."

"Of course. Your life is worthless. I’d feel shortchanged trading even a single one of my hairs for it."

Zhao Lin shot back, but inwardly, he was already reassessing the situation.

’I’ve fought bandits several times and found that most of them fight with an unorthodox style. Their moves are vicious and pragmatic, and they’re even willing to gamble with their own lives, which makes them incredibly difficult to deal with.’

’But this unorthodox style has obvious flaws. It lacks form and flow; they just wing it.’

’In contrast, every strike of my Six Harmonies Staff technique is planned with the next move in mind, designed to build my advantage step by step.’

’I don’t need to rush this.’

With that realization, Zhao Lin’s mind cleared.

The Drilling Mountain Leopard’s face turned ashen at being told his life was worthless. With a hiss of air, he thrust his sword toward Zhao Lin’s left shoulder, the Sword Qi chilling and impossibly fast.

At the same time, he took a diagonal step, forming his fingers into a claw aimed at Zhao Lin’s heart, holding the attack in reserve.

Zhao Lin raised his iron ruler to parry, using the momentum to sidestep and retreat, causing his opponent’s follow-up to miss. He then spun and brought the ruler down on his opponent’s head in a backhanded strike.

Ruler and sword clashed with a series of ringing blows. In the blink of an eye, they had exchanged forty or fifty moves.

The Drilling Mountain Leopard’s iron-toothed sword, complemented by his claw attacks, was ferocious. He constantly sought openings to get in close and strike at Zhao Lin’s vital points.

Zhao Lin used his iron ruler for horizontal and lateral strikes. As he executed his Six Harmonies Staff technique, his hand, eye, body, form, footwork, and spirit merged into one. He not only neutralized every one of his opponent’s attacks but also had the strength to spare for counterattacks.

After a long and bitter struggle, the Drilling Mountain Leopard grew increasingly anxious.

He had just consumed a Ginseng King, bringing his power to its absolute peak. He had expected to take down Zhao Lin with ease, but to his surprise, they were locked in a stalemate, and he couldn’t find a single opening.

Moreover, Zhao Lin’s strength was overwhelming—a perfect example of brute force overwhelming skill. Even when he wasn’t using his full power, the force transmitted through the iron ruler was staggering.

With every clash of their weapons, he felt his Qi and Blood roil, leaving him dizzy and disoriented.

’If this goes on, not only will I fail to take this kid down, I might even die here.’

The Drilling Mountain Leopard schemed, his thoughts turning to the Hundred Poison Needle he carried.

Just then, as Zhao Lin’s iron ruler came striking, he deliberately raised his sword to meet it. Feigning that he was no match in strength, he staggered backward.

Zhao Lin lunged forward, his iron ruler thrusting out like a sword.

The Drilling Mountain Leopard was secretly overjoyed. He took another step back, then suddenly reached into his robes, pulling out a "bottle" forged from refined steel and aiming the opening at Zhao Lin.

Staring at the dark, gaping mouth of the bottle, Zhao Lin’s heart pounded. He kicked off the ground, leaping backward in a hasty retreat.

In that same instant, twelve acupoints on his chest erupted with a powerful burst of energy, while all the acupoints on the right side of his back opened as well, propelling him away from the Drilling Mountain Leopard.

TWANG! A silver light flashed as countless steel needles shot out from the bottle’s opening, spraying outward like a goddess scattering blossoms.

Zhao Lin felt a slight numbness in his right chest, followed by what felt like a few pinpricks.

"Hahahaha... You dare fight me!"

The Drilling Mountain Leopard threw his head back and laughed, his face a mask of triumph. "To be so powerful at such a young age... your future achievements would have been limitless."

He then shook his head and sighed. "A shame. But what’s the use of being strong? In the end, you were still too green."

"What was that hidden weapon?"

Zhao Lin leaned on his iron ruler for support. His face was pale, but his mind was as calm as still water.

As the poisoned needles pierced his chest, a numb, itching, and stabbing pain spread instantly, as if venomous insects were chewing on his flesh.

At the same time, however, the Spirit Beast Scroll in his mind suddenly flared with a brilliant light. The venom from the needles transformed into several wisps of black smoke, which were sucked directly into its four compartments.

The Essence Souls of the bear, Golden Leopard, Horseshoe Bat, and Lark began to flicker, releasing a white mist that relentlessly devoured the black smoke.

The white mist released by the Essence Souls of the bear and Golden Leopard was particularly thick, devouring every last wisp of the black smoke in just a few breaths!

Zhao Lin knew the Spirit Beast Scroll was using Primordial Qi to neutralize the venom, just as it had when he had consumed the flesh of strange beasts in the past.

The Drilling Mountain Leopard, waiting for the poison to take effect, didn’t rush forward. He smiled faintly, waggled the "bottle" in his hand, and said, "This is called the Hundred Poison Needle. It’s the signature hidden weapon of the Seven Flowers Sect."

He sized up Zhao Lin, his voice growing colder. "I know you’re using your internal energy to suppress the poison, but I’d advise you not to waste your effort."

"It’s not called the Hundred Poison Needle for nothing. The venom on the needles is vicious, and each needle is coated with a different type. Even someone at the Third Layer of the Qi Realm couldn’t hope to recover in under four hours."

Zhao Lin swayed, his expression turning ugly. "Using poison just because you can’t win... You’re despicable!" he said angrily.

In reality, the poison in his body had already been completely neutralized. He was simply trying to lull the Drilling Mountain Leopard into a false sense of security before delivering a fatal blow.

The Drilling Mountain Leopard sneered. "Winners are kings and losers are villains. It all comes down to who’s stronger. What’s the use in complaining?"

"Before I kill you, I have a question. If you answer it, I’ll grant you a quick death with my sword. How about it?"

Zhao Lin, now seemingly on the verge of collapse, took a deep breath and said in a hoarse voice, "Ask your question!"