Chapter 67

When Mao Yingxia finally finished reciting that obscure mantra, Li Miao had already closed to within ten zhang behind her.

Li Miao pointed a finger.

Sharp Qi, like an arrow released from a bowstring, shot toward Mao Yingxia's chest.

It was precisely the Ming Cult's peerless skill, the "Profound Heaven Finger," the same martial art Lan Lechuan had used to test Li Miao that day.

Mao Yingxia was, after all, a peerless expert of the Ming Cult. Hearing the sharp hiss behind her, she was shocked that Li Miao knew a Ming Cult peerless skill, but she reacted instinctively.

Qi surged beneath her feet, and she exerted force to dodge sideways, raising her left hand to counter-attack with a "Profound Heaven Finger"!

Bang!

A muffled sound echoed in mid-air, blood sprayed, and Mao Yingxia clutched her left shoulder, her arm hanging limp.

The difference between Above the Pinnacle and the Pinnacle was like clouds and mud. Mao Yingxia's "Profound Heaven Finger" was shattered in mid-air, and the remaining sharp Qi, its momentum barely spent, was only slightly deflected, opening a thumb-sized hole in her shoulder.

This wound snapped her collarbone in two, making it difficult to move her left side. Mao Yingxia let out a muffled groan, raised her right hand to press several points on her left shoulder, barely stopping the bleeding.

When she looked up again, Li Miao was already within reach.

Li Miao's "Profound Heaven Finger" was the same principle as the roof tile he had fired when pursuing You Zi'ang.

With this strike, whether you block or receive it, as long as your Qi flow pauses for an instant, I can close in on you.

Li Miao clenched his fist, his gloves woven from heavenly silkworm silk emitting a sound as if they were about to tear, held at his waist, the rampant Qi blowing away the surrounding dust and smoke.

Bang!

Li Miao's left foot slammed into the ground, gravel flying, a thunderous roar exploding outward!

He raised the fist at his waist.

He threw a punch!

In appearance, aside from the massive momentum, it was exactly the same as the "Forward Step Punch" taught to children during their foundation training.

This boxing technique looked plain and unremarkable, yet Mao Yingxia's face revealed a look of terror.

She recognized this boxing technique—the "Horizontal-Vertical Fist"!

That's right, this boxing technique was called by that name, both rustic and simple. Just like its name, this technique had only two moves, one horizontal and one vertical, completely unremarkable.

Yet it was a world-renowned, peerless divine skill in the Jianghu!

Legend has it that over a hundred years ago, there was a young man with exceptionally good bones but a simple and honest nature. His comprehension was terrible, and he found it difficult to master most martial arts, only learning this foundation boxing technique well.

After years of careful training by his sect, the young man still couldn't master the sect's martial arts, and gradually, the sect stopped paying attention to him.

It wasn't until the young man was thirty that he still practiced this foundation boxing technique day after day, through winter and summer, without the slightest slack. And the foundation boxing technique, which originally had dozens of moves, had been reduced to only two after twenty years—one horizontal, one vertical.

The disciples in the sect often mocked him, but he just giggled foolishly, not caring, and continued to practice this two-move boxing technique with utmost seriousness, move by move.

Until one day, the sect suffered a catastrophic disaster, and all the experts in the sect were killed in a single battle. The enemies came to the door, intending to wipe out the sect's heritage and kill all the disciples.

There was no one left in the sect to resist, and the disciples fell into despair, closing their eyes to await death.

Just at this moment, the young man who had practiced foundation boxing for twenty years stood out.

One vertical, smashing the enemy's head into their chest.

One horizontal, and a dozen people flew backward, never to make a sound again upon landing.

Only then did his fellow disciples realize that the two moves they saw every day, which looked like country-style brawling, were so restrained and so profound.

From then on, the young man took over the sect's heritage, becoming the most prominent figure in the Jianghu for a time, and at the age of fifty, he suppressed the contemporary Wudang Sect Leader, becoming the leader of the Central Plains Wu Lin.

Unfortunately, after his death, no one in the sect could ever use this boxing technique with the same divine charm. Over time, the sect withered, and this once-famous "Horizontal-Vertical Fist" was lost, its whereabouts unknown.

Now it had appeared again, striking toward Mao Yingxia!

Its charm was restrained, its weight as if the sky were collapsing, capturing the essence of this boxing technique.

Mao Yingxia raised her palm, a Qi handprint leaving her body to strike toward Li Miao's fist.

It shattered upon impact!

"Profound Heaven Finger!" "Great Nine Heavens Hand!" "Cold Ice Cotton Palm!"

"Bone-Piercing Needle!" "Yin Wind Blade!"

Countless Ming Cult peerless skills were used by Mao Yingxia, poured toward this punch as if they cost nothing, yet they were like bubbles, shattering in mid-air, unable to shake it in the slightest!

This "Horizontal-Vertical Fist" was just like that; it wasn't fast, and even when used by Li Miao, Mao Yingxia could see it clearly; one could almost say it was slow.

Yet it could not be blocked.

Suddenly, Mao Yingxia's expression relaxed.

It had arrived; the mantra she had recited finally played its role, albeit belatedly.

The sound of wind rose, and several beast-like roars sounded from the side.

Several human-shaped figures rushed over, blocking the space between Mao Yingxia and Li Miao, their sharp claws raking toward Li Miao's body.

Bang!

Clatter—

Limbs shattered, those human-shaped figures were suddenly sent flying, and blood as black and viscous as petroleum splashed everywhere.

Li Miao's punch still landed on Mao Yingxia's shoulder.

"Pfft—"

Mao Yingxia spat blood and flew backward, her right shoulder already reduced to a pile of minced meat.

But she had survived after all, only slumping to the ground, unable to move again.

However, at this distance, Li Miao killing her would be a matter of an instant.

Li Miao did not act, but stopped his steps, scanning left and right.

Around him, hundreds of figures stood, emitting dull roars and gasps, ready to move.

Li Miao finally spoke his first sentence: "You Ming Cultists really have turned Gu insects into quite the spectacle."

"You haven't been hiding in the Miao territory all these years, have you?"

"Cough, cough... cough..." Mao Yingxia coughed several times, spitting out a mouthful of stagnant blood.

"It was my cult's lack of preparation; we didn't discover that such a character was hidden in the imperial court."

"But how did you manage to cultivate two paths... and still survive..."

Li Miao spoke indifferently: "You don't need to worry about that. I cultivated it myself; it has nothing to do with the imperial court."

"I was bored in Shuntian Prefecture, so I came out for a stroll and happened to run into you animals, so I just came to kill a few."

Hearing Li Miao's understated words, Mao Yingxia's face turned red, anger surging into her heart, and she immediately spat out another mouthful of blood.

"Heh... hehe..."

"You, just keep being arrogant."

"You cannot kill me."

Mao Yingxia said, bracing herself: "These around us are the five hundred 'Gu soldiers' my Sacred Cult has accumulated..."

"The mother Gu is on me. Once I die, these Gu soldiers will have no restrictions and will naturally go in all directions to find flesh to eat."

"Don't think about killing me and taking the Gu from me... The Qi connection and blood-Qi nourishment, if broken for even an instant, the mother Gu will die with me immediately..."

"No matter how high your martial arts are, you cannot kill them all before they reach the surrounding villages and towns..."

"Right now, you have only one choice..."

Mao Yingxia said coldly: "These Gu soldiers are immensely strong, and swords and blades can hardly hurt them..."

"You can kill fifty, kill a hundred, but you are ultimately not 'Sumeru,' your Qi is limited..."

"Come! Kill them... let's see if you finish killing these Gu soldiers first, or if your Qi runs dry..."

"Heh... heh hahahahaha... cough cough..."

Li Miao turned to look at Mao Yingxia: "Has anyone ever told you that you talk too much?"

"I was going to slaughter all you animals anyway. Then I'll leave you to die last."

Having said that, he raised his hand and struck with a "Profound Heaven Finger," shattering Mao Yingxia's hip bone and destroying her ability to escape.

Then, amidst Mao Yingxia's suddenly rising, miserable wails, he walked slowly toward the Gu soldiers rushing at him.