“But within ten breaths, I will surely kill you!”
Arrogance, heroism, and wildness surged with this proclamation. In the Flame Demon’s mind, Meng Qi’s image became that of a devil god—seemingly invincible and impossible to defeat.
He understood this was a loss of momentum and mental suppression. A single misstep would plant the seeds of defeat, making him unable to withstand his opponent’s full-force strike. Yet, though he understood, how difficult it was to regain momentum? Especially after witnessing the Soul-Draining Flute, who had kept their distance, perish in an instant, and the Qing Sanren, whose cultivation and strength surpassed his own, fall within a flash of lightning—how could his mind not be suppressed?
But he was also seasoned in the martial world, having just touched the realm of harmony between heaven and man. He wouldn’t panic or allow the seeds of defeat to sprout on their own. Even if his momentum was suppressed, as long as his mind remained unbroken, though his strength might be affected, he wouldn’t collapse easily. If he could endure ten breaths, victory would be his!
Meng Qi had calmly declared the ten-breath limit, imitating the previous strategy of the Great Prince’s ten-strike agreement. Two clear messages were delivered into the Flame Demon’s mind: first, that victory would come easily if he could last ten breaths, and second, that Meng Qi would hold nothing back. The Flame Demon must seize every second, throwing everything into the first few strikes without leaving any room for retreat. Otherwise, if he managed to strike at seven or eight breaths, Meng Qi would soon weaken, making escape from the approaching Red-Rank assassin nearly impossible.
Actually, even without Meng Qi’s declaration, the Flame Demon could have deduced a similar conclusion based on his opponent’s condition. However, Meng Qi’s loud proclamation had clearly imprinted these ideas into the Flame Demon’s mind, reinforcing this judgment.
In a duel between experts, spiritual confrontation and mental struggle are inevitable!
If he simply turned and fled into the woods, trailing from a distance without being shaken off, victory would be easy and safe… This was the first thought that came to the Flame Demon’s mind, and an urge to evade immediately arose.
But he was a seasoned warrior. He instantly realized the danger and forcibly suppressed the impulse. Yes, he should evade and trail from afar—but not now!
At this moment, their energies were entangled. If he turned and fled, his opponent would surely unleash a thunderous strike, perhaps even stronger than his peak. In his hasty escape into the woods, his back and vital points would be completely exposed, leaving him able to use only a fraction of his strength. He would likely be killed with a single blow.
He should indeed retreat into the woods and wait for the Mad Blade to exhaust himself… but only after exchanging a few direct strikes and seizing the perfect moment!
The Mad Blade had already exhausted much of his energy after burning his essence; he would soon be unable to unleash a killing move close to the Outer Scenery realm…
His left back and arm were severely wounded; his left-hand sword posed no further threat. Even if it struck, it would be like a mere scratch…
He would undoubtedly pour all his strength into the initial attacks, leaving no room for chance…
These thoughts flashed like lightning. As the echo of Meng Qi’s shout still lingered, the Flame Demon charged toward Meng Qi, his thin blade slashing at high speed.
He chose to attack!
The Flame Demon’s lightness skill was like spreading flames—rising and falling unpredictably, making it hard to grasp when the fire would suddenly leap.
His thin blade vibrated, igniting the air, trailing a crimson flame as it carved an arcane path toward Meng Qi’s left arm.
The surrounding area grew scorching hot, almost suffocating.
Meng Qi’s mind was as calm as a still pond, untouched by ripples. Ignoring the injuries to his left back and arm, he casually slashed his right-hand blade, “Heaven’s Wound,” in a circular motion. The blade contained emptiness within its force, like the boundless sky swallowing all changes. It was neither clearly offensive nor defensive, yet it exuded a pulling force that instantly drew in the flames. The two blades clashed midair.
Clang!
In the collision, “Heaven’s Wound” suddenly defied logic, leaping up strangely and unleashing a burst of silvery-white blade qi like lightning.
The electric serpent crackled, and nearby pine needles reacted to the blade force, drifting down gently before being charred and cleanly sliced. A terrifying aura surged toward the Flame Demon.
The Flame Demon’s pupils contracted. He had never anticipated that the Mad Blade would conceal such a transformation. His earlier assessment had been entirely mistaken!
Yet he did not panic. He had anticipated that Su Meng would unleash his blade force with full strength. He just hadn’t expected it to come in such a bizarre way, making it impossible to dodge or block with normal techniques. He had no choice but to use the Great Devil’s Body Dissolution Art!
His internal energy was ignited, and the Flame Demon’s thin blade flared with intense light as he leapt to strike the Heaven’s Wound blade!
He had calculated the timing perfectly. After ten breaths, his Great Devil’s Body Dissolution Art would still last another ten breaths. Moreover, he was unharmed, while Su Meng was severely wounded. The outcome was obvious!
Then, he could hide before the reinforcements arrived. Many martial artists would soon come over the mountains, but they wouldn’t stay long.
Suddenly, the surrounding dead leaves ignited without a flame, bathing the area in a red glow. The demonic blade seemed like an elf dancing in the fire, joyfully leaping forward and striking the Heaven’s Wound blade with precision.
Clang!
“Heaven’s Wound” rebounded upward, unleashing blade qi that slashed into the air, creating a writhing mass of electric serpents that felt like an approaching thunderstorm.
But the Flame Demon’s heart skipped a beat, his pupils nearly frozen. In the clash of blades, he suddenly realized that Meng Qi had not infused much internal energy into “Heaven’s Wound”—the blade’s force came entirely from the treasure weapon itself!
Then where was his internal energy?
Wasn’t he supposed to be holding nothing back?
In shock and fear, the Flame Demon could only watch helplessly as Meng Qi raised his left hand, as if awaiting judgment.
The Eight-Nine Divine Art had concealed itself twice. Under such an attack, even the Great Prince had been forced to retreat and defend. How much more so for the Flame Demon?
Thankfully, his left hand was nearly useless, unable to unleash an Outer Scenery killing move… This was the relief that naturally arose in the Flame Demon’s mind.
But then his gaze froze completely!
Because Zi Wu had suddenly fallen to the ground, and Meng Qi’s hand seemed empty. A puff of white smoke shot out directly, engulfing the Flame Demon’s head and face. Even with his protective aura, the previous move had drained all his internal energy, leaving him unable to fully block it.
The smoke entered his nose. His nasal passages hesitated half a beat before closing, allowing a small amount to be inhaled. Instantly, the Flame Demon felt dizzy, his body weakening.
Mist?
The kind used by lecherous villains?
Since when had the Mad Blade, renowned for his ferocity and straightforwardness, begun employing mist?
Spring Breeze Softening Mist—Black Butterfly had obtained it from a secret manual. Even experts on the Human List would find their bodies weakened upon inhaling a little.
Normally, with the Flame Demon’s strength and protective aura, he would have had time to hold his breath. But deceived by the Eight-Nine Divine Art, he had been too slow to react and ultimately fallen for it.
Meng Qi leveraged the image of boldness, arrogance, resilience, and a willingness to fight to the death that he had established in this battle, along with the severe injury to his left arm, to craft a convincing narrative for the Flame Demon. The idea of the Mad Blade utilizing mist was simply inconceivable.
As “Heaven’s Wound” was deflected upward, the hidden internal energy and mental focus were unleashed without restraint. The blade light was hazy, evoking memories that could not be forgotten. To the dazed Flame Demon, everything seemed like a dream—slow and hazy.
His demonic blade was a fraction slower in defense. Heaven’s Wound pierced through his protective aura and lightly grazed the Flame Demon’s throat.
The cut was like a lover’s kiss—lingering briefly before withdrawing. The Flame Demon’s eyes lost focus. Instinctively, he covered his throat, gasping for breath.
His pupils reflected the scene before him: Meng Qi sheathed his blade and coldly said,
“Three breaths!”
Only three breaths? The Flame Demon’s last hope shattered completely. His consciousness faded, and he fell backward.
One last question lingered in his mind: How could he use mist and poison?
On this point, he would surely find An Guo Xie in the underworld more than willing to discuss it…
Meng Qi had no time to say anything else. He hurriedly took out the antidote for Spring Breeze Softening Mist and the Great Replenishing Pill, swallowing them before his breath failed completely.
Next, Meng Qi pressed several major acupoints on his back and side to stop the bleeding and extinguish the flames. Then, with a loud tear, he ripped off his blue robe and threw it into the nearby burning grass. The bloodstains were too heavy to allow a clean escape. This would also create a false impression for any pursuers—that though injured, he was not yet weakened and had the leisure to change clothes.
He quickly donned a black robe, running as he changed, barely managing to retrieve Zi Wu and the Flame Demon’s thin blade. He had no time to consider the items on the Soul-Draining Flute or Qing Sanren.
If intercepted by the Red-Rank assassin in his current state, he would have no chance of survival!
Suddenly, a thought struck him: The monk behind the scenes hiring the Benevolent Destruction House might have only been a secondary plan.
This was just a minor trick to create a commotion. If he had thought of it, the enemy would have too. The real killing move likely lay in the Left Path experts like the Flame Demon, who had been contacted through the Myth Organization. Once the Benevolent Destruction House drew attention, they would strike opportunistically, just like before.
Of course, if the opportunity arose, even a Yellow-Rank assassin at the second or third Outer Scenery level would not be spared.
Thus, with his decisiveness and ruthlessness, he likely had also summoned a Left Path Outer Scenery expert. Besides the Red-Rank assassin, the Flame Demon might have been waiting for someone similar!
Outer Scenery experts were limited, and those who could be summoned even more so. There were several possible routes. Meng Qi honestly admitted to himself that, if uncertain, he would have stationed the Outer Scenery expert at a central location among the routes, ready to rush to one upon receiving the signal. The distance from that location to each route should be roughly equal, and it could be estimated… After confirming his movements in the evening, that expert would likely be approaching…
Earlier, the Soul-Draining Flute had indeed released a signal…
Meng Qi’s mind was tense as he ran a distance. By now, a few more breaths had passed.
Not far ahead, he spotted a mountain stream and leapt over it, landing on the opposite side without entering the water, diving into the woods. He ran swiftly, feet barely touching the ground…
…
Half a stick of incense later, a figure landed before a mountain shrine, cloaked in black, holding a strange, dim treasure bottle.
Smelling the blood, he first saw the three corpses and couldn’t help cursing, “Useless!”
He had never expected the Flame Demon and others, each wary of one another, to kill Su Meng. Just like the ambushes on the other routes, but with their strength, shouldn’t they have been able to hold him for a while?
He had planned to arrive later and finish the job easily!
He spread his senses, searching for traces. Soon, he found Meng Qi’s escape trail and pursued. At that moment, shadows stirred, and the Red-Rank assassin also arrived, chasing relentlessly.
Arriving at the stream, his eyes narrowed. He muttered to himself, “Escaped through water to erase traces? Damn! Don’t know how far he’s gone—whether he’s left the mountains…”
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage