Chapter Forty-One: Victory Through Battle!

Given Sun Huankun’s strength, if he had encountered an ordinary sixth- or even seventh-stage outer disciple at the Qi Condensation level, his slight understanding of the earth would have sufficed to end the fight without even resorting to energy techniques. But fate had him cross paths with Luo Tian—a disciple whose meridians were fully opened and whose body refinement had reached a considerable level. Suddenly, Sun Huankun’s advantages seemed woefully inadequate.

His previous tactics, while clever, did little to affect the direct outcome of the fight, and he was thoroughly suppressed by Luo Tian. If he persisted in that approach, Sun Huankun doubted he could have subdued his opponent. Fortunately, he still had his energy technique. Forcing the boy into a head-on clash of raw energy allowed him to bypass the contest of physical strength; in that arena, how could the youth possibly compete?

Sun Huankun’s energy surged within him, violet light flickering around his form. His grip on his long saber tightened. The violet glow around him gradually dimmed, instead gathering with greater intensity and depth around his right hand. Because the saber’s quality was limited, it could not receive an infusion of energy, serving only as a channel for force rather than enhancing his attack.

Even so, energy techniques driven by Qi at the Violet Aura stage were not to be underestimated. The decisive moment had come.

Excitement blazed in Luo Tian’s eyes. He was not, by nature, a warlike person, but today’s confrontation had awakened a hidden ferocity in him. Besides, the so-called Clearwind Bandit Group sought his life—he had no reason for mercy.

The long sword in his hand, though not yet infused with his Qi, still emanated a faint azure glow, cold and deadly as a venomous serpent’s eyes in the dark, poised to strike at any moment. Though he hadn’t yet learned any energy techniques, the sword was a mid-grade treasure. Unlike sturdier, lower-grade weapons, this one could be infused with Qi to increase its power. In terms of attack, even without energy techniques, it was not far behind.

Luo Tian’s confidence was absolute.

“Boulder Strike!” Sun Huankun shouted, unleashing his energy technique. Despite its name, the move had little to do with the element of earth, but it did nothing to diminish Sun Huankun’s imposing presence. As a late-stage Qi Condensation cultivator, even using a low-grade human energy technique, he exuded an awe-inspiring might.

With the saber in hand, his strike was nothing like before. The whistling wind, combined with his roar, seemed to echo with the rumble of a boulder crashing down. Though his understanding of the earth element was limited by his training environment and he could not induce any mystical change in his Qi, sheer cultivation and the support of an energy technique were enough. Even if the technique was of low grade, it could still unleash considerable force.

Sun Huankun brimmed with confidence. This blow would surely end the youth’s life beneath his blade.

A golden light flashed in Luo Tian’s eyes. The flow of his opponent’s Qi was as clear to him as if laid bare. Suddenly, a faint blue glow appeared along Luo Tian’s sword, emerging from nowhere, without warning.

What was this?

Sun Huankun’s heart trembled. A mid-grade treasure! This boy had cultivated his body refinement technique to an impressive degree and possessed solid Qi cultivation. He was surely accustomed to high consumption. Yet he showed no sign of using an energy technique—otherwise, his aura would not be so balanced. But how? How could an outer disciple without even an energy technique have a mid-grade treasure sword?

Was he ignorant of the principle that one should pursue inner strength over external items?

These thoughts flashed through Sun Huankun’s mind in an instant. He had no time to ponder further. The surging energy within him made his meridians throb painfully. The arrow had been nocked—there was no turning back. If he didn’t unleash this power now, he might suffer self-inflicted harm before he could hurt his foe.

Now!

Luo Tian’s gaze sharpened, and in that instant, time seemed to freeze. His spiritual eyes tracked every movement of Sun Huankun’s Qi.

The sword, which had been angled downward, suddenly snapped up in Luo Tian’s hand, thrusting straight toward Sun Huankun’s wrist—a venomous strike, swift as lightning.

From his battles with magical beasts, Luo Tian had learned not just the mechanics of physical force but also their ways of attack, which he now consciously mimicked.

He had been waiting for this moment.

The attack came so unexpectedly that, though Sun Huankun saw everything, he had no time to react. Instinct screamed at him to withdraw, to avoid thrusting his wrist into the serpent’s fangs—yet he simply couldn’t. At the crucial moment, his Qi was like a drawn bow, unable to halt its release.

Sun Huankun wanted to stop, but he could not.

Elsewhere, Zhou Gang, after sacrificing two more of his men, finally subdued Zhao Lin’er without a scratch. She was a female cultivator at the third stage of Qi Condensation, apparently still a virgin. Though not a peerless beauty, she was rare and striking. With his long sword against her swan-like neck, Zhou Gang—though not a lecher—could not help but be stirred by the sight of her vulnerable beauty, her eyes shining with shame, anger, and hatred. If he offered her, unharmed, to the chief’s mysterious benefactor, the entire Clearwind Bandit Group might receive a rich reward.

It had been some time since an appropriate woman had been presented as a gift.

At this thought, Zhou Gang felt fortunate for his decisive action, which prevented this delicate beauty from dying prematurely. Such a fine prize would be wasted in death; it would be far better if she served where her value was higher—perhaps even lifting the entire bandit group’s fortunes.

“You bastard! Let me go!” Zhao Lin’er, having only just broken through and with little combat experience, quickly exhausted her Qi. Furious and anxious, she twisted like a snake, trying to break free.

Did Senior Brother Luo fail to defeat his opponent after all?

But that was to be expected. The difference in cultivation stage was too great, and their enemies were ruthless bandits. If only Qian Bo hadn’t been so pathetic and useless, perhaps there would have been a slim chance for survival.

“Why so impatient, little lady? I’m not going to eat you,” Zhou Gang said, twisting her arms behind her back, his iron grip making escape impossible. “As long as you behave, everything will be fine. Resist, and I won’t mind enjoying you right here and now!”

At his words, Zhao Lin’er’s body went rigid. A sheltered girl, a few threats were enough to frighten her.

Zhou Gang smiled, pleased with her reaction.

Little Wu, though his Qi cultivation was a stage below Qian Bo’s, relied on nimble, unpredictable tactics. By refusing direct confrontation, he wore down Qian Bo’s patience, then seized an opening to disarm him with ease.

Without his sword, Qian Bo was like a toothless dog, his strength never fully realized. Now, unarmed and relying only on flesh and Qi, he dared not resist directly. After suffering several wounds, he surrendered and was firmly bound with special ropes.

It was all Luo Tian’s fault for failing to keep the bandits occupied.

Qian Bo fumed inwardly. He had endured humiliation, hoping to return to the sect and bring back reinforcements to wipe out the Clearwind Bandit Group and avenge Luo Tian and Lin’er. Who could have guessed this useless fool would ruin such a “grand plan?”

One need not fear godlike opponents, only pig-like allies.

Carried along like a trussed chicken, Qian Bo seethed at his fate and the injustice of the heavens.

Little Wu, at the second stage of Qi Condensation, had more than enough strength. The hundred-pound Qian Bo curled up like a chick in his grasp, not daring to show any sign of resistance, which saved his captor much trouble.

Though he’d run a while, the fight had ended quickly and dully. Little Wu found these sect disciples sorely lacking—spending most of their time dealing with magical beasts, they were woefully inexperienced in real combat. In a true fight, their flaws were obvious, leaving them helpless.

Pleased to add another victory against stronger foes to his record, Little Wu lightened his step.

Big Brother and Second Brother had surely already subdued or killed their opponents. That girl, though, should be kept for now—she was not only lovely but also an outer disciple of the Divine Sun Sect, making her prize far superior to any common woman.

There was no suspense; Luo Tian’s azure sword pierced Sun Huankun’s wrist in a single stroke.

With the infusion of Qi, the mid-grade treasure weapon’s power surged—mere flesh could not withstand such force.

Clang—

Sun Huankun’s saber fell to the ground with a heavy thud, dust rising and falling helplessly, like ants whose fates were entirely out of their control.

Raging Qi, now unrestrained by Sun Huankun’s agony, rampaged through his meridians without purpose, like a bowstring snapping under too much strain. Sun Huankun felt as if his arm’s meridians had been torn to shreds.

The Qi he once prided himself on now became a dagger within, leaving countless wounds.

Escape!

Sun Huankun hesitated no longer. In his current state, he was unfit for battle. Retreat was wisdom; he could always regroup and return, and if he missed his chance with this youth, so be it.

A hero does not suffer pointless losses.

Determined, his Qi depleted, Sun Huankun turned and fled, wishing he’d been born with two more legs to speed his escape.

Hearing Zhao Lin’er’s cries, Luo Tian saw Sun Huankun attempt to escape. Though eager to finish him, he first bent to pick up Sun Huankun’s discarded low-grade treasure saber.

Azure light rippled like water as Luo Tian’s left arm flexed. With a mighty throw, he sent the blade hurtling toward Zhou Gang, who had just turned to observe the fight.

Tears streamed down—writing this far...