Chapter 590: Extermination and News

A severed arm bounced on the ground, struggling like a fish out of water.

The Intermediate Martial Master's eyes were filled with shock; how could a single spear strike sever his arm? Wasn't it said that Zhou You was an Intermediate Martial Master?

His wound squirmed to stop the bleeding as he calculated in his heart: with Zhou You back now, there was no room for maneuver in this matter.

The only plan for now was to bite the bullet and continue challenging the hall.

If he succeeded, his reputation would soar infinitely, and he would replace Zhou You's original status; if he failed...

"Zhou You, what are you being arrogant about? You aren't qualified to wipe out my sect."

Although the Intermediate Martial Master had lost an arm, he only assumed it was because Zhou You had ambushed him; if they fought for real, his chances of winning were quite high.

"Bring me my Chaos-Cloak Mace."

His weapon was an iron-clad, ridged wooden staff, known as the Chaos-Cloak Mace.

Since Zhou You had come to fight with a spear, he would not be arrogant and would use his own weapon to trade blows with him.

The crowd was bustling, and a group of people pushed through the crowd to break in; Pei Li arrived at the front, escorted by his Disciples.

"Good, Hall Master Zhou, you've returned!"

Pei Li clearly hadn't received the news yet; he had brought a group of Disciples over to support the Daqian Martial Arts Hall.

He was agitated and spoke quickly, which inevitably aggravated his injuries, causing him to cough twice.

"Hall Master Pei, you are not lightly injured; I will have You Xing send you some Secret Medicine."

Zhou You said loudly, "Wait a moment, once I finish dealing with this matter, I will talk to you in detail."

Pei Li nodded; he no longer tried to persuade Zhou You to show mercy. After all, putting himself in Zhou You's shoes, returning home after a narrow escape from death only to find someone challenging his hall—who wouldn't be furious? He could foresee that several lives would surely be lost in front of the Daqian Martial Arts Hall today.

"Daqian Martial Arts Hall, Tiger-Crane Dual-Action Fist, Zhou You."

"Roving-Form Fist, Chi Buqu, here to learn."

With a *thud*, the Chaos-Cloak Mace and the Black Cloud Spear crossed in an 'X' shape, clashing against each other, sparks flying everywhere.

Chi Buqu's arms suddenly swelled; the Chaos-Cloak Mace had originally been thicker than his two arms put together, but after the transformation, the massive weapon actually appeared somewhat 'slender' in his hands.

The mace fell like a cloak, and one could see large, transparent curtains of wind hanging from the wooden staff like tassels; this was a strange sight caused by the bombardment of immense force.

Amidst his roar, he lifted the Chaos-Cloak Mace and leaped into the air to smash it down, with the momentum of a collapsing mountain.

"Well come."

Zhou You pulled the long spear back, retreating a few steps to avoid the point of his opponent's greatest momentum, then seized the opportunity to thrust the spear forward.

The spear rose like rolling clouds, obscuring the sunlight; dark clouds, black clouds, and ink-colored clouds were dyed and transformed in sequence.

A point of cold light burst forth from the sky full of black clouds, easily brushing past the killing move of the Chaos-Cloak Mace; all attacks and defenses were rendered useless.

Just as the spear tip was about to pierce his forehead, Chi Buqu's eyes bulged, and with a crisp *crack*, his cervical vertebrae shifted, his neck forming a sharp 'S' shape to move his head aside, dodging the fatal thrust of the Black Cloud Spear.

Blood splattered as the spear tip, mere inches away, sliced open his cheek.

Before his head could reset, Zhou You's killing move arrived again; the spearhead did not retract but instead swept horizontally on the spot, like a heavy iron hammer, smashing heavily onto Chi Buqu's head.

Chi Buqu's cervical vertebrae had already been stretched to the limit, and being struck by the spear again, they immediately emitted the sound of bone cracking and shattering.

His body was smashed directly to the ground, dust rising and obscuring everyone's vision like smoke.

Zhou You lifted the spear shaft, paced a few steps as if strolling in a courtyard, aimed at the position, and thrust the spear downward; blood suddenly appeared.

A moment later, Chi Buqu's corpse slowly slid off the Black Cloud Spear, blood still flowing.

"He killed Master, avenge Master!"

A Martial Master shouted in grief and indignation, but as soon as he opened his mouth, he was 'marked' by the Black Cloud Spear; the spear tip entered his chest and pierced his heart.

Zhou You spoke slowly, "I keep my word; none of the Disciples and followers he brought will be allowed to live." Qi Qingdi and the group of followers not only felt no pity but were instead incredibly excited.

If Zhou You hadn't returned, they would surely have had their hall gates broken, and the Daqian Martial Arts Hall would have become a stepping stone for the other party to make a name for themselves.

Not only would they have failed to defend the martial arts hall, but they wouldn't have been able to protect Zhou You's family business either, so the group felt not the slightest bit of sympathy.

With Qin Lie, Yang Kuoqiong, and the arrived Pei Li witnessing from the surroundings, Zhou You's wiping out of Chi Buqu's side was in accordance with the rules.

This cruel challenge to the hall concluded half a day later.

Qi Qingdi, Zuo Shier, and others led people to clean up the bloodstains, repair the ground and walls, and finish the cleanup.

Zhou You invited Pei Li inside to talk.

"I was originally in quite a sorry state, but later I encountered a powerful female martial artist; the dwarf was quite wary of her, and the two stood in a standoff."

Zhou You paused, "I took this opportunity to sacrifice a life-saving Secret Treasure to escape."

After finishing this explanation, he asked Pei Li, "Did you bring the items?"

"9 Heavy Talismans, not one less, already handed over to the Zang."

Pei Li glanced at the Black Cloud Spear to the side, "The Thousand-Face Hall is also generous, saying that this divine weapon is the reward for your trip; regardless of whether you are dead or alive, this item belongs to the Daqian Martial Arts Hall."

That is to say, after Zhou You 'died in battle,' if this divine weapon could be recovered, it could also be handed over to Qi Qingdi to inherit.

Zhou You stroked the long spear and nodded, "It was worth the risk I took."

The foundation of this Black Cloud Spear was a Calamity-Charm Treasure; although it had been shelved for many years and lacked the tempering of Qi and blood, its power was not yet equal to the Overlord Spear.

But as Zhou You continued through battle after battle, tempering and sharpening the blade with his own Qi and blood and the blood of his enemies, it would surely stimulate its potential and restore its former peak.

"By the way."

Pei Li's voice suddenly lowered, "Those who deliberately leaked the news to lure Chi Buqu to challenge the hall are suspected to be from the Yan Family."

The Yan Family, the clansmen of Yan Wanjun? "I say this not to make you act impulsively; nowadays, the Overlord Martial Arts Hall is not what it used to be, and Yan Wanjun cannot be offended. His clansmen have quite a few opinions about you because of the Yan Wanjun affair."

"Your situation is very awkward; they are plotting against you, yet you cannot find evidence, and once you fall out, it means becoming an enemy of Yan Wanjun."

Pei Li's meaning was very clear: before he could confront Yan Wanjun head-on, he had no way to deal with that disgusting group of Yan Family members.

"So that's how it is!"

Zhou You gently stroked the spear handle, "A good spear, capable of being hidden and used, waiting for the right moment to act—only then is it a supreme divine weapon."

Smart people don't need to have everything spelled out.

Pei Li breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this, "Pavilion Master Zhou is magnanimous."

"Before you returned, the Thousand-Face Hall had already begun to act; one heavy talisman carries 4 people, for a total of 11 high-level martial masters infiltrating the Ten Thousand Poisons Secret Workshop, with the goal of killing Wu Kui and rescuing Cao Xuan'er."

Hearing this, Zhou You nodded, "There is no time to lose; doing it this way is correct."

The Ten Thousand Poisons Secret Workshop is easy to enter but difficult to leave; of these 11 high-level martial masters, who knows how many will return alive?

"Hmm?"

Zhou You suddenly remembered what he had seen that day, that Demon-clothed youth who wore eyeshadow.

"That is Kongque Laoliu, one of the Seven Avian Sworn Siblings; several of his brothers and sisters died at the hands of Lu Zhigang."

"Coincidentally, Lu Zhigang is at the Ten Thousand Poisons Secret Workshop; if the two of them meet this time, it will certainly be very interesting."

What, he is Kongque Laoliu.

Zhou You remembered someone once mentioning that Kongque Laoliu's natural talent was the best among the Seven Avian, and he was also the strongest one.

It is said that his fist technique includes a secret method for avoiding poison, the 'Seven Fragrance Peacock Gall', which has a miraculous effect in suppressing poison techniques.

(End of this chapter)