Chapter 417: County Lieutenant Li of the Inspection Division

The County Lieutenant laughed out of extreme anger, his voice filled with determination: "Good, good, good! Truly, you are treacherous rebels! Today, I shall let you witness the backbone of the citizens of our Great Zhou!"

The two people before him possessed extraordinary strength; the County Lieutenant knew well that even though he had entered the Bone Refining Stage, he might not be able to steadily defeat one of them, let alone both of them joining forces.

The opponents clearly intended to intercept him, even at the cost of killing him; they had already figured out the situation in Qingxi County perfectly.

Facing this desperate situation, the County Lieutenant had already prepared for the worst in his heart. He straightened his expression, his eyes like torches, the Blood Qi within his body circulating rapidly; his sleeves fluttered without wind, and Blood Qi boiled around his entire body, swirling outward as if he were wearing a burning suit of blood-colored battle armor.

"Since your mission is to stop me, then come!" The County Lieutenant shouted angrily, his figure like a fierce tiger descending a mountain, the wind of his spear whistling as he struck directly at one of their faces.

Seeing this, the man in black sneered, waving the long claws in his hands, swift as lightning, to meet the County Lieutenant's spear wind. Claw and spear collided, the sound of metal clashing rang out, and sparks flew in all directions. The County Lieutenant felt a massive force transmit through, his figure involuntarily retreating several steps.

The other man in black seized the opportunity to advance, his palm wind fierce, pressing directly toward the County Lieutenant's back. The County Lieutenant felt a jolt in his heart, yet he was not the least bit flustered; his footsteps shifted slightly, skillfully dodging this fatal blow.

"Hmph, wanting to bully the few with the many? How could I, the County Lieutenant, be so easily taken by the likes of you rats!" The County Lieutenant roared repeatedly, charging forward once more to engage in a fierce battle with the two.

The three figures intertwined, fists and feet colliding, spear light flickering; the battle was exceptionally intense. Although the County Lieutenant's strength was not weak, facing the joint attack of the two, he gradually felt unable to keep up. However, he had not the slightest intention of retreating in his heart, thinking only that even if he died, he would drag these two down with him.

The battle continued for a long time; the County Lieutenant had already sustained several wounds, fresh blood staining his battle armor red, but he still gritted his teeth and persisted, swearing never to surrender. Seeing this, the two men could not help but secretly admire the County Lieutenant's unyielding tenacity.

Just at this moment, the County Lieutenant's physical strength was about to be exhausted; he suddenly let out an angry roar, and the Blood Qi around his body surged violently, like a volcanic eruption, sweeping toward the two. The two were caught off guard, blown back repeatedly by the Blood Qi, their expressions changing drastically.

"Die!" The County Lieutenant seized the opportunity, advancing while he could, a flash of determination in his eyes.

He exhausted his last bit of strength, activating the Blood Explosion Secret Technique; the Blood Qi around his body instantly boiled to the extreme, as if it were going to burn everything.

He launched a fatal blow at the one closest to him, the spear light like a dragon, striking directly at the man's vitals.

Seeing this, the man was terrified, wanting to dodge but it was already too late.

Only a scream was heard; the man was pierced through the chest by the County Lieutenant's spear light, the spearhead protruding from his back, and he fell to the ground, unable to rise.

Around the point of penetration, there was still the County Lieutenant's Blood Qi lingering.

The other man saw this, his heart greatly alarmed, and he hurriedly jumped back a zhang to take a defensive stance.

After killing one person.

The County Lieutenant stood tall on the spot; although the Blood Qi around his body had gradually dissipated, that unyielding fighting spirit remained as it was at the start.

He looked at the man in black waiting for an opportunity not far away; although a sense of powerlessness welled up in his heart, there was no fear in his eyes.

One knows one's own affairs best; the County Lieutenant knew clearly that he was now exhausted, and his Blood Qi was also nearly depleted.

If he could not scare off the opponent, today would be the day of his death. However, he did not regret his choice; even if he died, he wanted to win a glimmer of survival for the people of Qingxi County.

For every Red Lotus Sect rebel he could kill, that was one less.

Thinking of this, the County Lieutenant slowly closed his eyes, as if making a final farewell.

At the same time, the Blood Qi circling his body also gradually dissipated, and that explosive, terrifying aura slowly calmed down.

Looking at the County Lieutenant before him, who was like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered, the remaining man in black was filled with suspicion and uncertainty.

He muttered to himself in his heart: "By logic, the County Lieutenant, having used a military secret technique, should be at the end of his rope, but even a dead tiger retains its might; how is his aura still so terrifying?"

"Could it be that he still has something in reserve?"

The man in black, who had just lost a companion, was filled with caution; he dared not approach easily.

Yet he did not want to easily let go of this excellent opportunity.

After all, failing a mission in the sect carried punishment, while success brought quite tempting rewards.

After thinking it over repeatedly, he decided to test him.

The man in black slowly raised his hand, took a dagger from his body, and with Blood Qi lingering around it, flicked it heavily toward the County Lieutenant.

The dagger, under the reinforcement of Blood Qi, was like an arrow, shooting rapidly toward the County Lieutenant's chest.

Just at this moment, the County Lieutenant suddenly opened his eyes, looking at the incoming dagger.

He endured the exhaustion of his body, took a sudden breath, and the Blood Qi around his body seemed to be activated once again, surging with a weak force.

He tilted his body slightly, avoiding the man in black's flying dagger attack.

Seeing this, the man in black was greatly alarmed. He had not expected that the County Lieutenant, in such an exhausted state, could still avoid his attack. He became even more cautious in his heart, not daring to strike easily again.

The County Lieutenant looked at the man in black, the corner of his mouth curling into a cold sneer: "Hmph, wanting to test me? Even if I die, I will not let you succeed easily!"

Hearing this, the man in black felt a jolt in his heart; he knew deeply that although the County Lieutenant before him was exhausted, that unyielding will was like a rock, firmer than anyone else's.

He pondered to himself that the situation before him was extremely tricky and wondered how to deal with it.

Meanwhile, the County Lieutenant stood in place, quietly waiting for the man in black's next move. His eyes were filled with determination and fearlessness, as if telling the man in black that even if he were exhausted, he would never easily yield.

Deep within those eyes, there also contained a trace of steady wisdom; that was the composure and sagacity honed only after experiencing the battlefield and weathering many storms.

After a standoff lasting the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the man in black finally could not suppress the restlessness in his heart; he knew that if this dragged on, it would be extremely disadvantageous for him.

Thus, he took a deep breath and decided to take action.

However, just as the man in black was preparing to move, the County Lieutenant suddenly spoke: "Hmph, do you think I would be unprepared? How could I be someone who has earned his reputation for nothing!"

As soon as his voice fell, the County Lieutenant's figure moved suddenly, like a tiger poised to strike, instantly erupting with astonishing power.

He exhausted his last bit of strength and launched a fierce attack on the man in black.

The man in black was caught off guard and was forced back repeatedly by the County Lieutenant's sudden counterattack. He was greatly alarmed, not expecting that the County Lieutenant could still erupt with such astonishing power in such an exhausted state.

But after three moves, the man in black gradually felt the opponent's force weakening.

His breathing suddenly became even heavier.

He rejoiced and said: "Just a spent force, die!"

And the County Lieutenant already had a sense of calm about facing death on his face.

Until a blade pierced through his chest, still an inch away from the County Lieutenant's heart.

The man in black felt pain in his heart, his face full of astonishment, and he slowly turned his head.

He saw a cold-faced man slowly withdrawing his blade.

After his body fell, he still heard a voice from behind the man holding the blade: "Good skill, County Lieutenant; I am Li Xun of the Inspection Division."