Chapter 32: Qi Cultivation

"Second Young Master! Now is not the time to be throwing a tantrum!"

Hearing Tong Yi's shout, a flash of anger crossed Deng Zhongzhi's face. In his heart, he wished he could slap Tong Yi's mouth to shreds so that he would never be able to speak another word for the rest of his life.

"What tantrum? When have I, Tong Yi, ever been throwing a tantrum!"

Tong Yi barely managed to turn his head to look at Chen Hang and said, "If you let me go, I won't hold you accountable for severing my arm! If Daoist Yangshan is dead, then he's dead; he was just a running dog of my Tong family. Why should I sacrifice my own life for him?!"

"I see you have also attained Embryonic Breathing; like me, you are a seed for cultivation. If you are willing to spare me, once I enter the Five Lights Sect, I will report it to my sect elders and let you in to study the Dao as well. How about that?"

Forcibly suppressing the killing intent in his heart, Tong Yi began to coax him:

"The Five Lights Sect has Primordial Spirit True Persons residing there. Once inside, you might just soar to the heavens, cultivate to the Purple Palace or Cave-Mystic realms, and become a renowned Great Alchemist in the future. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

"Hmph!"

Tu Shan Ge, standing behind Chen Hang, sneered.

"So you actually know the Five Lights Sect has Primordial Spirit True Lords residing there? The Southern Domain is a notoriously impoverished land in the Dongmi Continent. You are merely a citizen of a small, poor country in that land; how dare you boast that you will definitely be able to enter the Five Lights Sect? Do you really think your aptitude is so extraordinary that you can compare to Jun Yao of the Yuchen Sect?"

"You..." Tong Yi was furious.

Chen Hang had been standing by with his hands in his sleeves, but once Tong Yi was left speechless by the question, he smiled faintly.

"The Five Lights Sect is fine, but I only care about immediate benefits. A talisman artifact is more useful to me right now."

"Damn you!"

Provoked by Chen Hang's mocking gaze, Tong Yi felt a surge of blood rush to his crown. Having been pampered by thousands since childhood, he had never been treated with such contempt, and he instantly lost his composure.

"You damn pretty boy, do you think just because you're good-looking, you can look down on me like a child?! If you dare to touch a hair on my head, I'll have my father sell you to a brothel, make you a gigolo, and have you serving guests day and night!"

Tong Yi's eyes were bloodshot with rage as he cursed:

"With your looks, I'm sure those noble ladies in the capital would love you. The children you bear would surely be good-looking too. I'll make your whole family male concubines for generations to come, you—"

Before he could finish, the long sword carved a deep bloody mark into his neck. With just a little more force, it would have embedded itself inside.

"I..."

Tong Yi shuddered, his intense rage extinguished as if by a basin of cold water.

Tu Shan Ge shrank his neck, feeling that this man was truly finished.

"Sigh, in truth, I do not wish to be an enemy of the Pillar-State Grand General. After all, I am merely a commoner; how could I possibly resist the strength of an entire nation?"

Looking at the wary Deng Zhongzhi, Chen Hang sighed leisurely and said:

"But I really cannot bear to part with the talisman artifact. Tell me, what should be done?"

"... What is your intention, sir?"

"I am also proficient in martial arts. How about we have a contest of strength? Whoever wins takes the talisman artifact. How about that?"

Tu Shan Ge knew there was a trap in the words the moment he heard them, but to play along with Chen Hang's act, he feigned an expression of disbelief.

"This..."

Deng Zhongzhi hesitated.

But before he could think further, Chen Hang pulled the sword, causing Tong Yi to howl in pain.

"A contest of martial arts only—this is a gentleman's agreement! I hope you will keep your promise!"

Seeing Tong Yi's miserable state, Deng Zhongzhi's heart softened. He gave up the thought of turning and running and agreed.

"Rest assured, I am a person who values his word above all else; a gentleman whose actions match his words."

Chen Hang said indifferently:

"Please."

Tu Shan Ge hurriedly took the long sword Chen Hang handed him to continue restraining Tong Yi. On the other side, Deng Zhongzhi braced himself, arched his back, and approached Chen Hang like a great beast.

When the two were less than three zhang apart, Chen Hang didn't waste words. He flicked his sleeve, and a bolt of thunder crashed down upon Deng Zhongzhi's head!

"... Despicable villain!"

It was too late to dodge at this distance. Deng Zhongzhi was shocked and terrified; he exhaled all his Embryonic Breathing from his mouth and nose, forcibly condensing it in front of him.

But it couldn't withstand three bolts of thunder before the Embryonic Breathing was shattered. Deng Zhongzhi collapsed to the ground, his whole body charred and flesh mangled. He was breathing his last, clearly not long for this world.

"You lied to me... not the act of a gentleman..."

Deng Zhongzhi gasped, spitting out the words.

"To be honest, I don't have much Embryonic Breathing left either... If you were determined to run, it would not have been easy for me to keep you here. I had to resort to this underhanded tactic. My apologies."

Chen Hang leaned his hand against a great pillar in the hall and bowed slightly. Having used so much Embryonic Breathing in one go, even he felt dizzy and lightheaded:

"However, if you are willing to tell me about the Pillar-State Grand General Tong Gaolu, perhaps I can spare your life."

"Spare my life?"

Deng Zhongzhi laughed miserably. He looked down; his abdomen had been split open by the lightning, revealing his writhing internal organs.

With such injuries, unless a god descended, no one could save him.

"I am about to die, and you are still trying to lie to me?"

He struggled to shout coldly.

Chen Hang smiled without a word.

"Second Young Master..."

Deng Zhongzhi mustered his last bit of energy to look at Tong Yi. Seeing his dull, lost, and pitiful appearance, he sighed in his heart.

The person who killed him acted decisively and without any regard for face; he was clearly a ruthless and heartless character.

Such a person would certainly not let the Pillar-State Grand General go after killing him. And Tong Yi, weak-willed and unable to withstand torture, might just spill the secrets of the Pillar-State Grand General.

Since that was the case.

Then there was only...

Deng Zhongzhi roared, grabbed several pebbles, and with his last ounce of strength, threw them at Tong Yi's head.

But he was already at death's door; Chen Hang reached out and caught the stones, stopping them.

"Old Deng... you want to kill me?"

Tong Yi muttered to himself.

Deng Zhongzhi did not answer. He just gave Chen Hang one last deep look, his head tilted to the side, and he breathed no more.

"You bastard—"

Before Tong Yi's curse could leave his mouth, Chen Hang struck him unconscious with a palm.

"Keep a close eye on him for the time being. Don't let the Pillar-State Grand General's side notice anything unusual."

"Wait, Master."

Hearing this, Tu Shan Ge said anxiously: "We killed the Pillar-State Grand General's people; shouldn't we run now? Why stay at Yangshan?"

"Whether to fight or flee, we shall see in a few days."

Chen Hang stood with his hands behind his back, silent for a moment, then said: "Let me break through to Qi Cultivation first, then I will make a decision."

"What?!"

Five days later, outside the mountain cave dwelling where Chen Hang was in seclusion.

Tu Shan Ge paced anxiously in place, stepping on the withered yellow grass after the snow had melted over and over again, crushing it countless times.

Suddenly, a burst of light shone from within the cave. After only a moment, the light rose and floated, as if thousands of star-dust fireflies had converged and were shining together.

"He succeeded!"

Tu Shan Ge clapped his hands, joy appearing on his face. ===== CHAPTER 33 =====