Accompanied by the rumble of dull thunder, bright flames burst forth outside the dilapidated temple. Along with the neighing of a steed, a wild and unrestrained laughter reverberated over the modest peak.
"Hahaha, Zhao Ge, don’t be naive. Today, not a single remnant of Zhao’s Martial Arts Hall will escape; all of you shall die right here."
Following that, a figure strode forward against the night sky, his movements agile. Within a few steps, he had charged to the peak and stood before the temple’s wide-open gate.
The man wore a gray robe. Although not particularly tall, his figure was robust, muscles bulging all over. The heat emanating from him hit one’s face even before he drew close.
"A Martial Artist of the Blood Refining Realm, Han Meng."
A sharp gleam flashed in Zhao Ge’s eyes as he smoothly rose from the ground and advanced unhurriedly, his aura gradually climbing, seemingly eager to rip apart the oncoming wave of heat, his body showing no trace of defeat.
Shou Hou and Rong Niang beside him were visibly moved.
Despite their master being seriously injured, why did he suddenly seem so full of life?
Suddenly, they realized that their master was either posturing... or perhaps, he was mustering his last breath of Qi-Blood, determined to fight to the death.
Han Meng’s expression changed when he saw Zhao Ge, an old man, coming directly toward him. After all, Zhao Ge was a true expert whose Qi-Blood had entered his acupoints. Even wounded, a dying camel was still larger than a horse. If he still had strength left, it was not impossible for him to fight once more.
"Han Meng, he is merely bluffing to intimidate you. Look closely, there’s still blood on the corner of Zhao Ge’s mouth. What does this tell you? His Qi-Blood is no longer under his control, he’s at the end of his rope, barely clinging to a breath."
At this moment, another figure appeared at the door.
This was a swordsman with a bamboo hat and a Treasure Saber hanging at his waist. He now leisurely removed the hat to reveal the face of a middle-aged man. Dusting off his sleeves to shake away the dirt, he then stood with his hand on the saber and ordered, "Surround this broken temple; make sure they don’t get away this time."
Following this, more than twenty subordinates holding torches and dressed in tight clothing sprang into action. Each of them had reached the Bone-Training Realm, and among them were two leaders whose strength was estimated to be at the Marrow Training level. Additionally, these men were all equipped with swift horses, steel blades, and a good number of strong bows and crossbows.
Such preparations were only for the sake of ambushing Zhao Ge, a Qi Cultivation Expert on the brink of death, which indicated how seriously these men took Zhao Ge.
"So it’s Jin Bufen from Jin Family, the swordsman?" Zhao Ge stopped in his tracks and laughed infuriatingly, "Good, good, all familiar faces."
"Zhao Ge, I’ve heard that a Martial Artist in the Refining Realm, before they die, stores a breath of spirit in the Heart Acupoint, also known as Heart Blood. This breath of Heart Blood can cause a Martial Artist to regain their peak Cultivation momentarily," Jin Bufen said with a smile, "Unfortunately for you, your Divine Soul is damaged, and this final breath of spirit is lacking in soul. I reckon you won’t be able to release your last Heart Blood. Otherwise, I wouldn’t dare to hunt you so brazenly."
"But this is also a good thing. After killing you and extracting your heart, using the final blood of a Qi Cultivation Expert like you to refine medicine will surely yield a big medicine. Maybe then, I too will be able to break through to the Refining Realm."
As he spoke, a glint of fervor and greed flashed in his eyes.
The human body has big medicine, and a Martial Artist in the Refining Realm is even more so a treasure medicine.
It’s just that there are not many in the Four Seas and Eight Continents who dare to harvest Martial Artists of the Refining Realm as medicine. Today, however, Jin Bufen stumbled upon such a rare opportunity.
"It’s truly like a tiger that has fallen flat on the plains and is bullied by dogs," Zhao Ge glared furiously, "Men of your despicable nature, if it were normal times, I could send you all to your deaths with a single punch."
"Zhao Ge, it’s your own fault for being old with declining Qi-Blood and a damaged Divine Soul. You exposed your weakness, you can’t blame us," Jin Bufen said, laughing while slowly drawing the Treasure Saber from his waist.
The Treasure Saber glinted with a cold light, exceedingly sharp.
"Want to fight? Come if you’re not afraid of dying," Zhao Ge barked, slightly squatting down as he assumed the Boxing Stance.
"If you want to strike at my master, get past me first," the chief disciple Rong Niang coldly glared, clenching her fists to face the challenge, not showing the slightest fear.
On the side, Shou Hou was also engulfed in anger, prepared to engage the enemy.
"Good, having two loyal disciples by your side as you die. Since you refused to abandon Zhao Ge and leave, then today you’ll all stay together for the burial," said Han Sui in a deep voice, and then he charged towards the two like a Fierce Beast in a flash.
He wanted to use the lives of Zhao Ge’s two disciples to once again confirm just how much foundation Zhao Ge, the Qi Cultivation Expert, still had, to see if he could still fight.
Before he even arrived, a hot air mixed with murderous intent already struck them.
Rong Niang and Shou Hou’s expressions changed drastically, but they both roared angrily and struck out with their fists, with no thought of retreating.
However, their strength was only at the Marrow Training level. Their bodies’ blood had not been exchanged, and they were not a match for a Martial Artist who had achieved great success in Blood Refining. In just a brief encounter, both of them were hit by a palm strike and spat out blood, their bodies flying backward.
They landed heavily on the ground, their breaths immediately weakening.
"Again." Rong Niang struggled defiantly to stand, clenching her fists to face the challenge once more.