Chapter 105: Breakthrough to Blood Exchange Mid-Stage! Consecutive Kills!

"Did you kill Duan Zhanghe? How bold of you—not even running when you saw us coming?"

The gaunt old man Qi Zhiquan stared at Lu Zhangsheng with murderous intent.

A cruel smile curled at his lips.

Torturing strong persons, especially government talents, thrilled him the most.

Every drop of blood in his body boiled, making him impatient.

"This Seat will twist off your head and take it to the Headquarters…"

The sinister old man Qi Chaoyun beside him sneered relentlessly.

In contrast, the burly middle-aged man remained silent, watching Lu Zhangsheng with curiosity.

He wanted to know what confidence the other had to face all three of them without fleeing.

Those within the city wall watched with worried expressions.

The three had formidable reputations; together, they were terrifying—even some Blood Exchange Late Stage strong persons avoided them.

Lu Zhangsheng's expression remained calm; he drew his Long Blade and walked slowly toward the city wall, as if strolling through a courtyard.

Reaching the wall's edge, he leapt and landed on an open patch of ground at the City Gate.

"Kill."

Without a word, he raised his blade and charged forward using his Step Technique.

In a few flashes, he reached the three, then slashed forward with all his might.

"Whoo…"

A cold blade light pierced the void, howling fiercely, its momentum unstoppable.

"Die!"

Qi Zhiquan roared, murderous intent blazing in his eyes.

He never expected the other to be so arrogant—thinking he could fight three at once, utterly overestimating himself.

"Quickly crush this man."

He immediately swung his blade forward with full force.

Rolling dark energy surged skyward, as if countless ghostly shadows roared along the blade's edge, chilling the soul.

Qi Chaoyun and the other two also unleashed their full strength, each slashing forward with their blades.

Under the triple assault, the power was terrifyingly fierce.

Endless blade lights raged across the Battlefield, cracking the ground in waves.

"Boom—boom—boom…"

In an instant, both sides crashed together.

The violent collision echoed through the heavens; stray aura winds churned the surroundings, stirring up dust and chaos.

With one strike.

Lu Zhangsheng landed firmly on the ground, rooted like a tree, leaving two deep craters beneath his feet.

He channeled all the force directly into the earth.

No flashy tricks—he met the three head-on in raw, direct impact; his blood surged with passion.

Fighting Duan Zhanghe hadn't even been a warm-up; now, with all three together, his fighting spirit was truly ignited.

Since breaking through Blood Exchange, this was his first time feeling this way—he wanted nothing more than to fight properly, to test his limits.

With layers of supreme Cultivation Techniques stacked together, even he didn't know how strong he truly was.

In contrast, Qi Zhiquan and the other two landed firmly on the ground, their eyes locked on Lu Zhangsheng.

Their gazes were heavy with gravity.

Their combined strike against the other felt like colliding with a mountain.

Endless force surged like endless waves, relentless and overwhelming, leaving the three deeply strained.

"Such immense power."

The middle-aged man Xie Liufeng stared in astonishment.

His long, blade-holding arm trembled uncontrollably.

This clash had ended in a draw.

The three found it unbearable—they grew furious with shame.

"Activate the Secret Technique immediately—obliterate this man."

Qi Zhiquan's dark energy solidified around him as he coldly barked.

"Kill."

As he spoke, he charged forward again, moving faster than a ghost.

The other two refused to fall behind, attacking from left and right toward Lu Zhangsheng.

They immediately surrounded Lu Zhangsheng.

Then, simultaneously activating their Secret Technique, a powerful surge of Qi and Blood shot skyward, shaking the nearby City Gate.

"Slash."

Qi Zhiquan and the other two struck together again, slashing fiercely at Lu Zhangsheng.

Roaring echoes rang through the void as blade lights darted wildly.

"Kill."

Lu Zhangsheng's face turned icy as he fully activated his protective True Qi Barrier.

"Sssss…"

A True Qi Barrier of pure white flared instantly around his body, glowing with a luminous radiance, eerily divine.

The dust and smoke around him were churned up, winds rising and clouds surging.

He pushed the Secret Technique and Body Protection Art to their absolute limits.

His Qi and Blood surged violently, causing his strength to climb steadily.

Then, he slashed instantly toward Qi Zhiquan.

With full force, a single slash—only cold blade light visible, no trace of the blade, swift as thunder.

"Boom—boom—boom…"

The two sides collided again; sharp blade light raged across the Battlefield, the ground scarred as if plowed, crisscrossed with deep grooves.

Lu Zhangsheng's Long Blade struck hard against Qi Zhiquan's blade.

He knocked the opponent back several meters; Qi Zhiquan stood frozen on the ground, stunned.

One man, one blade—he couldn't hold back the assault! Immediately, Qi Chaoyun's two blade lights slashed violently against Lu Zhangsheng's Aura Shield.

"Bang—bang—bang…"

The violent clashes echoed through the heavens, making ears ache.

Beneath the shimmering True Qi Barrier, ripples formed and quickly faded, far from being shattered.

"What an unbreakable Body Protection Art."

Qi Chaoyun's two eyes sharpened, disbelief rising in their hearts.

To cultivate the Aura Shield to such a Realm was simply horrifying.

Someone like this could hardly be killed even by an entire army's encirclement—only an ultimate expert could crush him.

If he broke through to the Innate Realm, his Aura Shield would transform into Innate Divine Qi—his enemies' nightmare.

"Kill."

Lu Zhangsheng charged forward without hesitation.

He stomped the ground, closing the distance to Qi Zhiquan in an instant, raising his blade to strike.

Qi Zhiquan and the other two had no time to think—they joined forces to meet the assault.

"Boom—boom—boom…"

The two sides clashed fiercely beside the city wall, the commotion growing louder.

Powerful qi currents sliced indiscriminately through the wall, leaving deep gashes that chilled the heart.

The ground's bricks and stones cracked in waves, as if the earth trembled and mountains shook.

Under the combined assault of the three, Lu Zhangsheng's Aura Shield remained perfectly smooth and unbroken.

A sense of immovable stillness flowed through his heart.

Endless blade light cut against his Aura Shield, emitting piercing shrieks, yet never shook his Body Protection Art.

Lu Zhangsheng ignored Qi Chaoyun's two entirely, focusing all his attacks on Qi Zhiquan.

Every slash struck the opponent's blade, pinning him firmly in the disadvantage.

"Bang—bang—bang…"

The four clashed head-on, no flashy tricks—each sought to shatter the other in the shortest time.

"This Secret Technique can't last long—hold on…"

Xie Liufeng shouted, face grim.

His threat is too great—we must crush him here today, or the consequences will be endless.

"Damn!"

Hearing this, Qi Zhiquan cursed inwardly.

Whether he can hold on or not is secondary—if this keeps up, he'll be shattered first.

This man ignores Qi Chaoyun's two entirely, relentlessly pounding only him—it fills him with unbearable frustration.

We agreed on a three-on-one assault—why is he only targeting me?

Did I act too arrogant just now? For the first time, he felt a flicker of regret.

Time passed slowly.

Half an hour passed.

Qi Zhiquan still swung his Long Blade fiercely, struggling to hold on.

Seeing the blade light before him grow ever more terrifying, he dared not slacken for a moment.

One misstep meant death.

In contrast, Lu Zhangsheng's Aura Shield, under Qi Chaoyun's two full-force assaults, remained as solid as a fortress.

At this point, he even doubted whether the two of them could break through this turtle shell.

"Wasn't it said he couldn't last long? It's already half an hour!"

Qi Zhiquan's face was filled with anxiety.

A thought of fleeing suddenly rose in his heart.

"Slash."

At this moment, Lu Zhangsheng unleashed a full-power slash toward Qi Zhiquan.

A massive blade light surged and receded in the void, as if capable of cleaving through all things, radiating overwhelming pressure.

"No good."

Qi Zhiquan's mind screamed a warning—he never expected that after half an hour of full-force attacks, the opponent could still unleash such a terrifying strike.

He swung his blade with all his strength to meet it head-on.

Qi Chaoyun's two immediately acted, launching a full-force strike at Lu Zhangsheng's Aura Shield to force him to retreat.

"Boom—boom—boom…"

The few figures collided once more, a tremendous boom echoing across the entire field.

Dust and smoke rolled in all directions, a scene of utter devastation.

With a single slash, Qi Zhiquan was forced back over ten meters, his face deathly pale.

That one slash had left him with no light wound.

An hour of channeling the Secret Technique had drained a great deal of Essence Blood, and combined with the opponent's peak strike, it left him feeling utterly unable to resist.

Qi Zhiquan no longer hesitated; he immediately turned and fled toward the rear.

"Cowardly wretch!"

Qi Chaoyun and the other wore faces full of fury.

The three of them joining forces still couldn't slay the opponent, and now with Qi Zhiquan fleeing, the two of them alone had almost no chance of victory.

The two hastily kicked off the ground and quickly retreated backward.

After a few flashes they vanished near the City Gate. Lu Zhangsheng, however, had not the slightest intention of letting them go.

Circulating the Treading-Snow-Without-Trace lightness art, he pursued Qi Zhiquan like a ghostly shadow.

"Whoosh…"

A single flicker of his steps covered over ten meters—his speed was terrifyingly swift.

After just a few breaths, Qi Zhiquan's back came into view.

Sensing the presence behind him, Qi Zhiquan's face filled with utter despair.

"Why not chase the others?"

He howled furiously in his heart.

"Whoosh…"

Lu Zhangsheng's body flashed and he instantly darted ahead of Qi Zhiquan, cutting off his escape.

Then a blade came slashing forward with sudden force.

"Screeeech…"

The blade edge ground against the void, sending out a violent rumbling.

Qi Zhiquan could only desperately raise his blade to block.

"BOOM BOOM BOOM…"

The two Long Blades crashed together violently, the shockwave sweeping in all directions, dead leaves swirling around them.

Lu Zhangsheng's slash knocked Qi Zhiquan's weapon aside, his momentum undiminished as he cleaved toward the man's head.

Before Qi Zhiquan could react, a flash of cold light slit across his throat in an instant.

"I can't accept this…"

Qi Zhiquan, face twisted in terror and dread, clutched his neck, then toppled forward onto the ground, his head rolling off to the side.

A great spray of fresh blood gushed out, dyeing a stretch of grass red all around.

Without pausing, Lu Zhangsheng once again set off in pursuit toward Qi Chaoyun's direction.

……

By the city wall.

The crowd watched in silence as Lu Zhangsheng's figure receded into the distance, faces full of shock and awe.

They never imagined that their Lord Ye was this terrifying—to take on three alone and still drive the enemy back.

Not only that, but now he was going to chase them down and kill them.

It all felt like a dream to the crowd, hard to believe in their hearts.

Before the fight began, everyone had been deeply worried; who could have expected such a scene.

"Victory! Victory!"

At this, the crowd broke into cheers, their voices soaring to the skies, as if it were a festival.

After the cheering, a group stood atop the wall, waiting at ease.

Everyone was somewhat expectant—could this Lord Ye actually slay them all?

Time slowly passed.

An hour later.

A white-clad figure sprinted swiftly toward the city wall, two blood-dripping heads clutched in his hand.

The crowd looked closely, utterly shaken to the core.

Those two heads belonged to none other than Qi Zhiquan and Qi Chaoyun.

Clearly the two had already been slain within the Town.

Lu Zhangsheng strode up to the City Gate, leaped into the air, and landed atop the wall.

"We pay our respects to Lord Ye, and congratulate you, my lord, on slaying a powerful foe."

Han Bingwu led a group of City Guard Army soldiers, faces full of reverence, and knelt to the ground.

The many Commoners behind them also knelt to the ground, faces full of gratitude.

Had this lord not stepped forward to hold off the powerful enemies, none of them would have survived.

"There's no need for such ceremony—have these two heads treated with lime powder."

Lu Zhangsheng smiled faintly and tossed the two heads over.

"Your subordinate obeys the order."

Han Bingwu accepted the heads with utmost respect, then rose and walked toward the rear.

……

Half a day later.

A stronghold outside the city.

Xie Liufeng sat in a chair, his face full of terror, his heart pounding, unable to calm down.

At this moment, he had been so close to death.

His two teammates had not returned — they must have been suppressed and killed by the other side.

Three of them had joined forces to encircle and kill, yet only he alone had escaped, leaving him utterly trembling with fear.

"We can only have a Blood Exchange Peak expert from the cult step in to slay the other party."

He thought secretly in his heart.

"Someone come."

After a soft call.

At this moment, a man in black appeared in an instant, dropped to one knee, his face full of reverence.

"What are your orders, my lord?"

Xie Liufeng raised an eyebrow: "Deliver this secret letter to the Headquarters immediately."

Saying so, he took out a letter and handed it over.

"I obey your command."

The man took the secret letter, immediately rose, and walked out of the hall.

"I hope the Headquarters dispatches a Strong Person quickly…"

Xie Liufeng watched the man's receding figure, his gaze deep and distant.

He truly did not want to face that person again.

That battle just now had directly shattered his mental defenses.

…………

Night, silent as still water.

Lu Zhangsheng lay on the bed, split off a wisp of his consciousness, and channeled it into the Pangolin's body.

He had to race against time to dig up Spiritual Objects.

The Evil Cult's Strong Person could descend at any moment, filling his heart with a sense of urgency.

It was foreseeable that next time the other side descended, it would at least be a Blood Exchange Peak.

With his current strength, he could at most barely hold off one person.

If it dragged on, he could only choose to retreat.

His consciousness shifted.

It was still that dim, damp Cave.

A faint scent of moss drifted through the air.

Lu Zhangsheng burrowed rapidly toward the depths of the mountain.

"Boom boom boom…"

His two claws dug swiftly, his tunneling speed astonishingly fast.

Before long, a flash of purple light suddenly appeared ahead.

"Something here?"

Lu Zhangsheng's face lit up with joy, and he rushed forward quickly.

After a few breaths, he arrived at the depths of a karst cave.

He saw a rich purple glow swirling around a massive boulder ahead.

"High-Grade Spirit Jade?"

Lu Zhangsheng could hardly believe it.

So many Spirit Jades, their color far deeper than that of Mid-Grade Spirit Jade.

Their quality must surely be higher.

With these Spiritual Objects, he had hope of breaking through within two days.

This was truly a pleasant surprise.

He no longer hesitated, immediately rushed to the stone wall, and began digging rapidly.

"Boom boom boom…"

Piece after piece of Spirit Jade was dug out, and soon a Small Mountain piled up on the ground.

"High-Grade Spirit Jade detected. Absorb?"

"Absorb."

"Source Energy Points +10."

"Source Energy Points +10."

……

Before long, all the Spirit Jade on the ground had been absorbed.

This large chunk of High-Grade Spirit Jade alone directly increased his resources by eight hundred points.

Dig a little more, and he would have enough for his needs.

Lu Zhangsheng was full of vigor, burrowing swiftly toward the depths of the mountain cave.

……

Two days later, early morning.

The morning sun had just risen, golden light spilling across the land.

Lu Zhangsheng sat in the Courtyard and opened his Panel.

A blue light screen appeared in the empty space ahead.

Source Energy Points: 2800.

The plus sign behind the Golden Body Art lit up again.

At last, the moment for breakthrough had arrived.

He no longer hesitated and immediately spent the points.

As 2500 Source Energy Points decreased.

A mysterious vibration descended once more into the depths of his mind, as if a Strong Person were practicing ceaselessly day and night.

【After years of arduous cultivation, you have finally brought the Golden Body Art to Small Achievement.】

Realm: Blood Exchange Mid Stage.

Cultivation Technique: Golden Body Art 【Small Achievement】.

……

"Boom—boom—boom…"

His Qi and Blood surged wildly, like rivers flowing—a truly astonishing sight.

Even his skin emitted faint golden radiance, as if imbued with some indomitable True Intent, though it was extremely weak.

Yet he firmly believed that as long as he continued to advance, he would one day cultivate his body to immortality.

At this moment, he finally broke through his Cultivation Realm, his strength surging once more.

With his current strength, even a Blood Exchange Peak Strong Person could not frighten him.

(End of Chapter)