The night was heavy with darkness, as if dark clouds veiled the sky.
Agula, startled awake by a nightmare, could not fall back asleep. He rose from his bed, donned his robe, and began pacing back and forth.
“Starting with Dari Achi, he’s killed four Half-Steps in a row. The Wolf King’s momentum grows stronger by the day. His breakthrough might come any time soon…” The more Agula thought about it, the more terrified he became.
This was an extremely rare occurrence on the grasslands and even in the Central Plains!
Although even top ten experts on the Human List could fight ordinary Half-Steps, very few actually had such achievements. Much less could anyone match the Wolf King’s frenzied slaughter—it was practically insane!
In the past hundred years, even during the eras of the “Twin Stars” and Su Wuming’s dominance over the Human List, nothing like this had ever happened throughout the martial world!
Agula seemed to smell the thick scent of blood and carnage. He became increasingly convinced that the Wolf King was using murder to break through barriers, which explained his recent terrifying achievements.
“I wonder who he’ll kill before his breakthrough. Are these four Half-Step kills meant to accumulate momentum for his final target?” Agula dared not lift the tent flap to breathe fresh air, fearing the Wolf King might be standing in the darkness. “Does he want to follow in the footsteps of He Jiu from the East Sea and Wang Siyuan from Southern Jin, ascending directly to the External Scene in one step?”
“If he becomes an External Scene practitioner while retaining his previous bloodthirsty assassination style, aside from the Longevity Cult and the direct lineage of the Golden Tent, everyone on the grasslands would live in terror. Even Grandmasters and supreme experts might not be able to protect those they hold dear!”
“He could kill me right under the noses of several External Scene practitioners like Ge Gengao…”
His throat and lips felt dry, and he experienced a sense of impending doom. Whether it was a hallucination or not, he noticed the outside had become abnormally quiet. The cries of cattle, sheep, and horses were nearly non-existent, and even the nearby howling of wolves had almost disappeared.
The silence was terrifying. He couldn’t help but tighten his robe.
Inside Bayan Valley.
The Wolf King “floated in” like a ghost. His tall, thin figure stood quietly in front of the earthen house, as if saying goodbye to the past, or perhaps severing attachments. Then, with mind and body united, he set forth on his journey to hunt down that important target and touch the truth of slaughter.
A month ago, Meng Qi had already merged completely with his surroundings. Hidden in a rock crevice, he became indistinguishable from a stone or a piece of dead wood. Combined with his Eight-Ninths Mimicry Ability, even an ordinary External Scene practitioner would likely fail to discover him unless conducting an extremely thorough search.
Months of patient waiting, months of willpower forging, and months of internal world adjustment had brought him to the brink of Unity with Heaven and Earth, with only a thin veil remaining.
Suddenly, the dead wood sprouted new life, magma erupted, and a blade of light shattered through long dormancy. It cut toward the Wolf King in the brightest, most dazzling manner.
Meng Qi “came alive.” His withering faded, his spirit intent became complete, his energy vigorous, and his aura full of vitality. Like a gem polished for many days finally radiating its brilliance, power surged forth with the momentum of his blade.
No flight, then flight pierces the sky; no cry, then a cry astonishes the world!
The first strike in these past months evoked precisely such thoughts!
The blade of light carved across the sky, possessing both gentleness and firmness, displaying both brightness and darkness. It seemed to explain some fundamental principle of heaven and earth, breaking through past constraints. This was Meng Qi’s ultimate achievement after perfecting his “Heavenly Saber” cultivation, reaching the peak of simplicity after mastery, existing between technique and non-technique.
Flawless… Feeling this strike, the Wolf King’s mind suddenly produced a similar thought.
He was surprised that Meng Qi was still waiting here, but he felt no fear or apprehension. Months of slaughter had accumulated his momentum to its peak, even surpassing his previous state. Even facing a perfect Half-Step or an External Scene practitioner, his mind remained unshaken.
With cold, bloodthirsty eyes, the Wolf King formed his right hand into a claw, slashing diagonally and tearing through the dimness, bringing forth pitch-black darkness.
The initial blade energy vanished like a clay ox sinking into the sea, soundlessly disappearing. The surroundings became pitch dark, so dark that one couldn’t see their own hand. The long blade’s lock on the Wolf King suddenly vanished!
Therefore, using emptiness to meet perfection, using nothingness to counter flawlessness!
Meng Qi was already thoroughly familiar with the Wolf King’s supernatural abilities. His mind remained completely calm. Suddenly, red flames erupted from his hand, illuminating the eight directions and dispelling the darkness.
A longsword seemingly forged from flames appeared in Meng Qi’s left hand. The rising flames shattered the Wolf King’s eerie black domain!
If comparing supernatural abilities, how could the Wolf King rival Flowing Fire?
His eyes remained cold and merciless. Nothing seemed able to disturb his mind except for slaughter. He slightly crouched his body, lowering his center of gravity, then suddenly accelerated, unleashing his full speed. He moved so fast that Meng Qi could only catch glimpses of his afterimage!
This was one of the most powerful aspects of his cultivation technique, the very foundation of his reputation!
Of course, this was only short-distance variation. If it came to a long-distance chase, he would struggle with endurance, unable to maintain such high speed. That’s why last time Meng Qi gradually caught up, forcing him to pay a certain price to sever his senses.
All around Meng Qi, the Wolf King’s figures seemed everywhere—appearing in front one moment, behind the next. Without the guidance and entanglement of energy, Meng Qi might not have been able to stop the Wolf King from escaping.
In actual combat, this was the second-fastest enemy Meng Qi had ever encountered. The fastest was the “Northern Dipper Star Lord,” whose figure Meng Qi couldn’t even see at that time!
The leaden clouds, the shabby earthen house, the rough stone bench, the vigorous weeds, the damp earth—all of it was outlined in Meng Qi’s mind lake, breathing in unison as if they were one. He struck with his blade, following that faint sensation, unleashing “Heaven’s Wound” from below in a mysterious trajectory, cutting toward an empty space.
As the blade reached its destination, a hand suddenly appeared. The Wolf King’s right claw seemed to deliberately collide with the treasure weapon. If it didn’t change direction, it would test the sharpness of the blade with its bare flesh—a foolish act of striking stones with eggs!
This time, Meng Qi didn’t rely on the treasure weapon. Purely through his own strength, he had entered a state approaching Unity with Heaven and Earth, sensing the Wolf King’s attack!
The Wolf King didn’t alter his claw’s momentum. His index and middle fingers moved forward, secretly gripping both sides of the blade. This way, he could lock the long blade while avoiding injury from its edge.
At this moment, however, Meng Qi’s long blade flipped over without the slightest trace of artificiality. The blade sliced flatly, aiming to sever the Wolf King’s fingers.
The Wolf King’s fingers suddenly vanished. Changing from a claw to a fist, he dodged the blade, then transformed into afterimages, shifting elsewhere.
In just one breath’s time, the two engaged in extreme variations. Though seemingly without collision, their moves were filled with the flavor of direct opposition. Both exuded peak momentum, neither appearing weaker.
Figures multiplied, like wolf packs and evil ghosts. The Wolf King’s attacks combined truth and deception, but every move targeted Meng Qi’s vital points—his throat and forehead.
Learning from the previous lesson, would he commit the same mistake again?
Even with the Illusory Demon Body Technique, the Void Stepping, and the Jade Void Steps, Meng Qi’s footwork changes still lagged half a step behind the Wolf King’s. Nothing could be done—it was simply a matter of specialized expertise!
He simply slowed his pace, standing firm in place, maintaining the posture of immovable as a mountain. Occasionally, his blade and sword flashes appeared, perfectly blocking the Wolf King’s attacks.
The Wolf King dared not flee. In direct combat, their energies entangled, and his opponent wasn’t at a disadvantage. If he fled now, it would be akin to giving his opponent an opportunity to unleash a chain of deadly techniques—an act tantamount to suicide. Thus, he patiently endured, continuously seeking opportunities, just like any seasoned assassin.
His claw techniques weren’t flashy—precise, sharp, and ruthless, as if manifesting the very embodiment of heavenly and earthly slaughter.
Peng peng peng—the sound of hand claws colliding with the sides of blades and sword bodies occasionally echoed. The scene was basically the Wolf King attacking while Meng Qi defended.
During the stalemate, Meng Qi suddenly thrust out a sword strike without apparent reason. It seemed ordinary, like sleepwalking.
But the Wolf King didn’t see it that way. After changing his footwork, this sword strike came straight for his face!
As if the opponent had foreseen everything, waiting for him!
He lowered his body and slumped his shoulders. The Wolf King barely managed to knock the sword aside with his left hand, dodging the follow-up attack.
From this sword strike onward, Meng Qi’s offensive attacks began increasing. It seemed he had finally adapted to the Wolf King’s fighting style, discerning its patterns and weaknesses. He started displaying his sword and saber techniques—sometimes ordinary, sometimes profound, sometimes straightforward, directly targeting weaknesses, or displaying versatile variations. His sword formed a heavenly net, while his saber resembled an earthly web.
Twice, Meng Qi used his saber and sword techniques to tell a story the Wolf King couldn’t resist, gradually forcing him into a position where he had no choice but to withstand direct attacks. If not for his exceptional footwork, the Wolf King would have already created an opportunity to unleash his killing move!
As the battle intensified, Bayan Valley grew darker. Yet within this darkness, it seemed as if a great sun and stars emerged, as if countless threads of killing qi wove through the air—both magnificent and chaotic, like a gathering of demons.
If not for the distance from Ge Gengao, the External Scene practitioners inside would have already sensed the anomaly. However, Meng Qi made no attempt to provoke large-scale commotion or summon help. At this moment, his mind focused solely on slaying the Wolf King.
The Wolf King also appeared completely unimpatient, showing no concern about ambushes. He continued his undulating movements, ceaselessly creating opportunities.
To escape, one must first attack!
The long saber flashed like thunder, heavy and dull, crushing toward the Wolf King’s flank. The Wolf King’s right claw, aimed straight at Meng Qi’s throat, swept right through this space.
With limited vital points to defend, Meng Qi increasingly grasped the Wolf King’s attacks, always acting one step ahead, forcing him into hasty responses.
This time was no different. The Wolf King had to change tactics. Stepping with precise footwork, his arm half-bent, he dodged the saber’s edge, then struck the blade’s surface in a counterattack. His fingers extended like swords, his energy whistling through the air as he readied himself for the next offensive move.
At this moment, Meng Qi suddenly flicked his long saber upward with a free and unrestrained posture, like a caged bird finally spreading its wings to soar high, radiating boundless ease and exhilaration!
This saber strike harmonized with the momentum of heaven and earth, seemingly possessing technique yet transcending it. Though learned from the Sword Emperor, Meng Qi’s execution was entirely different!
The Wolf King’s right hand struck empty space, feeling dull and uncomfortable. His gaze finally showed some rigidity.
He saw the rising long saber’s momentum curve downward, saw Meng Qi seemingly grow taller, transforming into a giant gripping the long saber, striking downward with eight illusory slashes.
“Kill!” Meng Qi roared.
Boom!
Purple lightning soared into the sky, transforming into a ferocious dragon. The airflow collapsed, the heavens and earth shrank, and all the Wolf King could see was this blade of purple thunder!
Boom!
Nine thunderous purple dragons guided a fierce and unyielding saber momentum downward.
The Wolf King’s eyes remained cold. A sinister, eerie glow erupted from his acupoints, connecting with each other and spreading toward his left hand.
This time, his left hand withered completely, the skin clinging tightly, exposing bones as dark as ink. No, this was no longer a hand—it had become a sword!
A blade brimming with murderous intent, featuring five tips resembling a chicken’s claw, thrust forward, its needle-like points aimed at the raging purple dragon.
The thunder silently lost its vigor. The purple electric dragon turned into a shower of stars and scattered. The long saber swung weakly to the side. Even Meng Qi himself felt hollow and powerless, his forehead stinging as his primordial spirit trembled.
Meng Qi’s strike was a feint, a feigned move crafted through the illusory techniques of the Eight-Ninths Art. Initially intended to divert the Wolf King’s counterattack and set up a series of follow-up lethal strikes, he never anticipated that the Wolf King’s killing move would be so bizarre—silently piercing through the feint and targeting his primordial spirit!
With no choice, his left hand long sword pierced out in advance, dazzling and radiant—the Flying Immortal from Beyond the Heavens.
Clang! The sword tips clashed. The Wolf King’s obsidian bones resonated like a divine weapon, ringing with a metallic chime.
Both bodies violently shook, each retreating a step, their energies temporarily separating. Seizing the opportunity, the Wolf King feigned advancing but actually retreated, rushing toward the valley’s exit.
For him, though hunting such a powerful expert was essential for his breakthrough, this wasn’t his chosen timing or battlefield. Naturally, he needed to escape first!
After all, there were still External Scene practitioners nearby. If his opponent trapped him and summoned help, how would he respond?
He couldn’t afford to act on impulse just to show momentary bravery!
Regarding the Wolf King’s choice, Meng Qi wasn’t surprised but pleased. Missing a strike and immediately fleeing was the Wolf King’s style. How could Meng Qi not have prepared for this?
Moreover, with this development, the momentum battle between pursuer and pursued would no longer be a stalemate!
Flames ignited around his body, transforming into a streak of light that scorched across the sky. In a short distance, he surpassed the Wolf King’s escape speed, rushing toward his back!
I’ve been waiting for you to run!
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