Chapter Ninety-Two: A Narrow Victory

"Friend Zhang, are we simply to let this matter go?"

Blue radiance swirled around Li Lanfeng as indignation darkened his face.

Zhang Henshui gave a cold snort. "That old wretch betrayed our trust. We had agreed long ago to take the Mysterious Transmuting True Void Flame to Windfall City and auction it off, then divide the spirit stones among the three of us. And what happened? Shen Qingkong, that bastard, actually took it and ran! Still, it is well enough. After you broke his elemental defense, my Thousand Waters Severing Strike was no idle threat. He is surely dead!"

"Friend Zhang, whether he lives or dies means nothing to me. I only want to know if we are just going to swallow this matter of the Mysterious Transmuting True Void Flame?"

Li Lanfeng said unwillingly.

"Friend Li, what else can we do? Should we go and force our way into his door? If our sects learn that we concealed the news of the Mysterious Transmuting True Void Flame and failed to report it, none of us will end well!"

Zhang Henshui was in a foul mood, and his tone was equally sharp.

"Beast!"

Li Lanfeng spat fiercely. "From this day on, every son of the Shen family I see, I will kill without fail, to vent the hatred in my heart!"

Feeling the little true energy he had left within him, and the blood secretly seeping from wounds all over his body, Fang Zheng could not help cursing Shen Qingkong for being black-hearted and ruthless. Before, when Shen Qingkong snatched the Mysterious Transmuting True Void Flame, Fang Zheng had fought to the death to hold back the subordinates of the other two First Core experts, and most of his energy had already been depleted.

And just now, Shen Qingkong had detonated his core. Though the power was far lower than Fang Zheng had expected, apparently because he had insufficient energy, the core fragments were like a malignant thorn rooted in flesh and bone. Even with little energy remaining, they made Fang Zheng feel unbearably tormented.

Shen Qingkong cultivated wind energy, while Fang Zheng himself cultivated fire energy, so the core fragments carrying wind energy remained lodged within Fang Zheng's body and naturally required a great deal of his energy to expel and suppress.

Damn it!

Fang Zheng stared at Luo Tian's back, grinding his teeth with hatred. If not for the fact that the boy was actually spying nearby, he would already have been fully focused on driving out the core fragments first. That would have been far better than now, when he had to endure the ravaging force of the fragments while also using his energy to kill this brat first!

Fortunately, the boy was only at the Energy Gathering stage. Even if Fang Zheng currently possessed only the strength of the first or second transformation of the Vein Flow stage, killing him would still be as easy and pleasant as crushing an ant.

Otherwise, if he had first tried to expel the foreign matter from his body, that boy would already have vanished without a trace. By the time he returned to his sect, where would Fang Zheng have a place to stand?

The allure of the Mysterious Transmuting True Void Flame was enough to draw out every Vein Flow and First Core cultivator in the entire Divine Sun Sect!

In just a little while longer, that little wretch would be finished.

As Fang Zheng weighed his options, he suddenly saw that the wound he had just carved into Luo Tian was healing at a speed visible to the eye.

What is going on?

Fang Zheng froze at once, even blinking several times, as though he could scarcely believe it.

Luo Tian kept moving, secretly thankful that he always drew a portion of ownerless power from the boundless life-creating wood into the flesh mound. Since he did not cultivate wood energy, the efficiency was poor, but healing this sort of external injury was still no problem.

Refusing to believe it, Fang Zheng sent out another streak of sword energy. Luo Tian again dodged with remarkable agility, but the distance was too close and the sword energy too fast; as expected, a wound opened from Luo Tian's shoulder all the way down to his arm.

Could it really recover?

Fang Zheng held his breath, staring unblinkingly at the change on Luo Tian's body.

Blood welled from the wound, but only a few seconds later, new flesh had already sealed it completely.

What in the world?

Fang Zheng was startled. "Is that the True Intent of Immortality?"

The True Intent of Immortality?

Luo Tian knew this was one of the most formidable true intents among fire techniques. Though it and the wood technique's "Vitality" true intent both concerned life force, they differed in nature.

The Vitality true intent lay chiefly in powerful restorative strength and the sustaining of life at the brink of death.

The fire technique's True Intent of Immortality, however, made life force grow stronger the more it was lost. In simple terms, the closer one came to death, the harder one became to kill.

"This is the wood technique's Vitality true intent," Luo Tian said, stopping at last. He was not faster than his opponent, and though the wound had already healed, within it still lingered an indescribable scorching force, as though flames were searing his body from within.

It was actually the True Intent of Fierce Burning as well!

If this became a chase in which he was wounded while fleeing, then should Fang Zheng seize an opportunity to strike a vital point, recovery would take far too long. Besides, he had no spare time to take out the boundless life-creating wood and absorb more vitality.

Better to take a gamble now, while he still had plenty within him.

Moreover, when the True Intent of Fierce Burning accumulated, it could also produce unparalleled killing power. Luo Tian knew his own comprehension of true intent was not as profound as Fang Zheng's; if he dragged things out any longer, it would only be worse for him.

Vitality!

A greedy look flashed across Fang Zheng's face. This boy must be carrying a supreme treasure! Without matching attribute energy, a cultivator simply could not bring out the power of true intent. But if it were a certain treasure, that would be another matter entirely.

And as for himself, even if he could not become a First Core expert, with the Mysterious Transmuting True Void Flame as an offensive means and a wood-type treasure containing vitality as well, then even against the lowest grade of Spirit Core experts, he would still have a chance to fight, and might even be able to defeat them.

Fang Zheng had originally pursued Luo Tian with the thought of silencing him forever. Now, however, he truly wanted to kill him from the bottom of his heart.

Luo Tian drew out the newly acquired Autumn Water Longsword. There was a trace of coldness in his gaze as he looked at Fang Zheng with a blank expression.

This was indeed a pitiful man, and everything he did seemed to have enough justification to support it. But one could not simply decide matters by asking whether they were proper or normal.

From Shen Qingkong's point of view, committing all manner of evil in order to preserve the Shen clan's standing was still, in the end, for the greater good of the family.

In this world, where was there right or wrong?

If reason could not be used, then only positions remained.

"Heh. What now? Still want to kill me?"

A mocking light flickered across Fang Zheng's face as he shook his head slightly. "That will only make you die faster!"

A little thing at the Energy Gathering stage trying to meet a Vein Flow cultivator head-on— even if he was injured, he was not someone just anyone could bully!

Luo Tian said nothing. His greatest strength had always been close-quarters combat. Trying to flee by relying on his not-so-fast speed might seem the better choice at a glance, but it was undoubtedly the lower one.

With the Nine-Beast Fist of Form and Intent in his possession, all nine beast forms were already close to being fully integrated and united as one. Against Fang Zheng, he might even be able to win while sustaining only light injuries!

With that thought, Luo Tian no longer hesitated. He did not take a defensive stance, but instead shot forward like lightning and launched a direct attack!

Fang Zheng had little energy left, and his injuries were growing worse by the moment. Seeing Luo Tian take the initiative to rush his death, he was more than willing. He sent out a streak of sword energy at once.

Luo Tian's body was in good condition at the moment, and his will was firm. There was not the slightest trace of retreat in him. Mind and body alike were in an excited, perfect state. The instant he saw the sword energy arrive, his body moved with his mind, and with a violent twist he avoided the attack at the last possible moment.

Not bad!

Fang Zheng knew that although energy projected outward was sharp and fierce, it lacked variation. Seeing Luo Tian's movement, he understood that this was the sort of cultivator who had not neglected body refinement techniques, and that forcing his way through several sword strikes would not be difficult.

However, realizing that Luo Tian had considerable accomplishment in body refinement only stirred a faint, nebulous trace of envy in Fang Zheng's heart.

All descendants of the Four Great Clans deserved to die!

Fang Zheng only felt that much of his anger had already been vented, yet it suddenly surged again. After learning what Shen Qingkong had done to him, his hatred for the Divine Sun Sect and for the Four Great Clans had both reached an extreme.

The Breaking Energy Jade certainly had the property of piercing energy defenses, but that property depended on the opponent being a Vein Flow cultivator who had mastered the technique of projecting energy outward, or a First Core cultivator.

However, Fang Zheng's Breaking Jade Sword, judged purely by sharpness and toughness, absolutely lived up to the name of a top-grade magical weapon. Even in close combat, Fang Zheng had nothing to fear.

Luo Tian thrust his sword straight toward Fang Zheng's heart. Since matters had already become a life-or-death struggle, there could be no mercy!

Luo Tian had not killed many people before, but by now his sword movements had already acquired a measure of ruthlessness.

Fang Zheng had wanted to slay this ignorant fool who carried a great treasure with overwhelming force at once, but recalling his nearly exhausted energy and the fact that he could no longer project it outward to form an armor of force, he could only meet each move with a counter.

With a sweep of his hand he deflected Autumn Water, then used the opening to slash toward Luo Tian's arm.

Luo Tian was naturally wearing his inner armor, but it was more like a vest, capable only of protecting the shoulders, back, chest, and abdomen. Seeing that Fang Zheng's target was his arm, he instantly moved to evade without hesitation.

In an instant, only the swishing sounds of sword energy tearing through the air could be heard. Fang Zheng did not have much energy left, but he was still a Vein Flow cultivator; his body, refined and tempered through years of energy, was in no way weaker than Luo Tian's, and might even have been slightly stronger.

Yet although Luo Tian's absolute strength was far below Fang Zheng's, he possessed deep knowledge of body refinement techniques, and integrating them into close combat made him remarkably complete. He could, in fact, fight Fang Zheng to a standstill.

But because Fang Zheng's attacks were stronger than Luo Tian's, a careful look still showed that Fang Zheng held the clear advantage.

After several dozen breaths, both Luo Tian and Fang Zheng had gained several new wounds, blood flowing in bright, shocking red streams.

This will not do!

Fang Zheng gnashed his teeth in fury. This boy was relying on his superior recovery ability and constantly trading wounds for wounds. It was the act of a petty coward, utterly shameless. If this dragged on, the situation would turn bad!

He knew his own injuries very well. If this continued like ants gnawing at a tree, in a few minutes he would probably have no strength left.

One had to know that Luo Tian was willing to take three sword strikes on himself just to seize a chance to wound Fang Zheng, and he even chose the places already injured by the core fragments as his primary targets. Every time he landed a hit, it undoubtedly shook Fang Zheng's energy, making it even harder to suppress his injuries.

Truly despicable!

Even though Fang Zheng usually disguised himself well and prided himself on being skilled at concealing his emotions, now he could not help but feel an urge to curse aloud. They were all cultivators—why not fight like gentlemen, openly and honorably? Would that not be far more satisfying?

Just as Fang Zheng's attention wavered, Luo Tian seized the moment when his own sword was knocked aside. Suddenly striking, he formed his fingers into a claw like an eagle's talons and seized toward Fang Zheng's eyes.

Whenever a cultivator held a weapon, his opponent's attention would naturally be drawn to it, while the unarmed parts were subconsciously overlooked to some degree.

Seeing that his eyes were about to be grievously injured, Fang Zheng no longer dared to spare his energy. As his power surged forth, a white barrier of force immediately formed before his eyes.

At this moment, Luo Tian already had more than a dozen wounds on his body, all caused by the True Intent of Fierce Burning and not yet expelled or suppressed. Yet the blood had already poured from the wounds the moment they appeared.

On the surface, Luo Tian's injuries were no better than Fang Zheng's.

Energy projected outward could both attack and defend.

Luo Tian knew this very well, so he had not expected this grab to succeed.

But while Fang Zheng's eyes were momentarily blinded, Luo Tian turned his longsword and swept it directly toward Fang Zheng's throat.

If this move succeeded, it could take Fang Zheng's life in a single blow!

The instant Fang Zheng used his energy to shield his eyes, he knew something was wrong. But what drove him nearly mad was that his already pitifully little energy was finally exhausted after several sword exchanges and this prolonged struggle with Luo Tian.

Whether he was circulating energy through his meridians to strengthen his body as a whole, or deliberately forcing strength into his blows after Luo Tian's attacks landed, all of it was placing an immense burden on the little power he had left.

He had wanted to condense his energy into a gauze-like robe within his body for protection, but he lacked the strength to do so. With a vicious snarl, Fang Zheng did not hesitate any longer and drove the Breaking Jade Sword straight toward Luo Tian's heart!

Die!

Seeing that Fang Zheng actually intended to trade wounds for wounds, Luo Tian was startled and felt a moment's hesitation. On sheer bodily condition, he was somewhat better than Fang Zheng; by rights, there was no need to gamble so desperately.

But when he thought of how hard-won this chance was— from the parried first strike, to Fang Zheng using his own energy to shield his eyes, to this counterthrust— the battle had already reached a near-perfect grasp of timing and human hearts. Luo Tian trusted the force of vitality within him. Rather than retreat, he struck even faster.

A path of no return!

If Fang Zheng were allowed to catch his breath, the consequences would be grave.

"Pu!"

"Swish!"

Almost at the same instant, Fang Zheng's Breaking Jade Sword pierced Luo Tian's chest with ruthless precision, driving straight through him and leaving him icy-cold inside. The pain was so sudden that Luo Tian nearly fainted.

And Autumn Water, true to Luo Tian's hopes, slit Fang Zheng's throat clean open. Blood sprayed forth, splattering Luo Tian's face and hair.

The scarlet liquid dripped down from Luo Tian's face, making him appear all the more ferocious and horrific.

"You—"

At that very moment, the wind energy released by the core fragments within Fang Zheng's body could no longer be suppressed. Coupled with such a fatal wound, it erupted all at once, and in an instant he lost consciousness. Fang Zheng's whole body went limp; he could no longer even hold the Breaking Jade Sword in his hand, and he collapsed directly to the ground.

Dead.

Luo Tian dared not hesitate. Though his own injuries were not light, the wound caused by the Breaking Jade Sword was already healing at a frightening speed. He did not have the courage to waste even a moment. With his free hand, he seized the hilt of the Breaking Jade Sword and yanked it out with all his strength.