Chapter 109: A Wonderful Misunderstanding, Xiao Li Strikes

The Leather Armor Youth was finally decapitated by Lu Qing in a single slash.

When the severed head flew into the air, Ma Gu’s emotions were a mix of shock and unease.

Shocked, he had never expected Lu Qing’s strength to have grown so formidable—so much so that he could effortlessly slay a warrior of the Leather Armor Youth’s caliber.

Uneasy, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of sorrow watching the once-terrifying enemy, who had nearly driven him to despair, now lifeless on the ground.

But before Ma Gu could dwell further on his thoughts,

“Little Brother!”

A mournful cry shattered the silence above the valley, echoing through the mountains like thunder.

In an instant, a figure leapt from the cliff’s edge, using the rock face to bounce down with expert precision before landing in the valley floor. The impact was devastating—two massive craters formed beneath his feet, and the surge of his qi sent a wave of dread through Ma Gu.

Before him stood a towering, broad-shouldered middle-aged man, wild-haired and with thick, brutal features.

“Nei Fu Jing?” Lu Qing’s expression hardened instantly. He activated his abilities, eyes locked onto the newcomer.

Moments later, a faint red glow emanated from the man’s body.

【Wang Qing Shan: Disciple of the Northern Frontier Tian Cang Sect, adopted son of the Xian Tian-level cultivator Wang Cangyi. Temperament: domineering, fiercely protective, cruel and bloodthirsty.】

【Cultivation Level: Early Post-Natal Internal Organs Stage. Possesses a burst-type secret technique capable of doubling combat power temporarily.】

【Due to Tong Cang Lang’s constant flattery, Wang Qing Shan holds him in high regard—treating him like a brother.】

Nei Fu Jing, at the early stage.

As Lu Qing confirmed the man’s cultivation, his heart sank.

This was no longer a foe he could handle.

Even with his mastery of swordsmanship, his cultivation level was too far behind.

One force could overcome ten skills—when the gap in power was too great, technique meant nothing.

But…

Lu Qing’s eyes flickered toward another detail.

So this Northern Frontier Tian Cang Sect wasn’t a true righteous sect at all. Their disciples were all cruel and bloodthirsty.

If they could produce such disciples, then Wang Cangyi, the Xian Tian-level master, must be far from virtuous.

“Little Brother!”

The middle-aged man stared at the head on the ground, his eyes filled with grief. After confirming it was indeed his beloved little brother, a wave of murderous fury surged from within him.

“You dare kill my little brother?” His eyes turned crimson, radiating pure malice as he locked onto Lu Qing.

“You’re dead, boy. No one in this world—on earth or under heaven—can save you. I’ll break every limb of your body, peel your skin off, and torment you for seven days at your brother’s grave. You’ll beg for death, but you’ll never get it. That’s the only way to honor his spirit!”

The chilling words sent shivers down Ma Gu’s spine.

It’s over…

Ma Gu’s heart sank once more.

He never thought that killing one Leather Armor Youth would summon a far stronger brother.

Feeling the man’s terrifying qi, Ma Gu had no doubt—this man was an absolute peak warrior, a Nei Fu Jing master.

How could they possibly survive against such a foe?

“The one who kills is killed in return.” Lu Qing remained calm, his voice steady. “Your brother attacked me. He should have expected death. Didn’t your master teach you that?”

“Indeed,” the man sneered, his eyes glowing with murderous intent. “Then are you ready to suffer the same fate?”

With a wicked grin, he exploded forward, his entire body radiating violent qi. The air trembled as he lunged like a caged tiger.

His massive palm, like a fan, tore through the air, aiming straight for Lu Qing’s throat.

The ferocity of the attack was overwhelming—Ma Gu, standing nearby, was forced to stagger backward, overwhelmed by the sheer pressure.

“Come on!”

Lu Qing didn’t flinch. Instead, his eyes lit up with fierce anticipation.

The power he’d been gathering since the man’s arrival now surged forth.

His qi roared through his body, stimulating every major acupoint.

Burst Qi Technique—Open!

His strength multiplied several times over.

He crouched slightly, dropped his shoulders, assumed the stance of the Four Directions Sword.

Every muscle, every bone, snapped into alignment—crackling and roaring with power.

In the next instant, a blinding flash of white light split the air—cutting through the atmosphere itself—slicing toward the middle-aged man!

Huh?

The man’s eyes widened in surprise.

He felt something—Lu Qing’s blade had completely sealed off all his escape routes. No matter which way he turned, he’d collide with the sword.

This boy’s swordsmanship… is that refined?

He was genuinely startled.

But sword art, no matter how exquisite, meant nothing against raw strength.

Shaking off the surprise, the man’s eyes flared with red fury.

He didn’t stop. Instead, his hand curved mid-air, shifting from a grab to a crushing slap aimed at Lu Qing’s warblade.

With his strength, that blow would shatter even a steel blade forged through a hundred hammerings.

But Lu Qing, whose swordsmanship had reached the Balanced Strength and Gentleness, Exquisite Precision stage, wasn’t so easily outmaneuvered.

At the last moment, he twisted his wrist—flipping the blade—meeting the incoming strike head-on.

What?!

The man’s eyes widened again.

Lu Qing’s counter-move had completely caught him off guard.

He hadn’t expected such flawless control over his own strength—such precision in such a tight space.

Realizing he’d be cut if he didn’t dodge, he had no choice but to flick his fingers, striking the blade’s back to deflect it—retreating sharply.

The clash ended with the man stepping back—forced to retreat.

Ma Gu, watching from the side, nearly burst his eyes out.

What… just happened?!

Lu Qing had just forced back a Nei Fu Jing master with a single slash?!

He couldn’t even follow the movements—his own Jin Gu Jing level wasn’t enough to catch the nuances.

But he was utterly stunned.

He couldn’t believe that Lu Qing, a mere Jin Gu Jing cultivator, had managed to force a Nei Fu Jing peak warrior to retreat.

“I didn’t expect it… you, so young, have already mastered swordsmanship to this level.”

Wang Qing Shan steadied himself, staring at Lu Qing with genuine shock.

Though Lu Qing’s cultivation was beneath him—nothing but a child in his eyes—the mastery of his sword art had earned his respect.

More than that—his mind was reeling.

This is Sword Art Zong Shi!

The boy had reached the Zong Shi level of sword mastery—Balanced Strength and Gentleness, Exquisite Precision!

Even he, despite having reached the early Nei Fu Jing stage, had not yet achieved such a level.

How… how did this boy train?!

Now he finally understood why his little brother had fallen—felled not by strength, but by a genius who had mastered the sword to such a degree.

No wonder he died so easily.

“Just who are you?”

Wang Qing Shan’s tone turned serious.

To achieve Zong Shi-level sword mastery at such a young age?

He’d never heard of such a talent.

Not even the major martial sects had produced such a prodigy.

Only the legendary, hidden sects—those shrouded in mystery—might have nurtured such a genius.

Could this boy truly be a disciple from one of those secret realms, sent out to test himself?

The thought chilled him.

Legends said those hidden sects produced cultivators who defied logic.

And they were often protected by mysterious, powerful guardians.

If Lu Qing was from such a sect, then there might be a master hidden nearby.

Wang Qing Shan immediately scanned the surroundings, searching for any sign of the hidden protector.

Lu Qing had no idea that his sword mastery had sparked a series of wild, mistaken assumptions in the other man’s mind.

He was quietly circulating his qi, trying to ease the numbness in his arm.

No wonder Nei Fu Jing masters are so powerful.

Just a single finger tap had sent shockwaves through his arm.

If not for the Burst Qi Technique, that single strike would’ve torn his warblade from his hand.

He realized now—trying to fight a Nei Fu Jing master with only sword art was pure fantasy.

Without cultivation strength to back it up, even the highest level of mastery was just an empty dream.

After a few breaths, his arm felt stable again.

He finally answered Wang Qing Shan’s question.

“I’m just a simple country boy. Nothing special.”

“Hmph!” Wang Qing Shan sneered. “So the legendary sect’s heir is hiding like a coward? You won’t even admit your lineage?”

He didn’t believe a word.

“Even if you’re from one of those hidden sects, you killed my little brother without cause. You’ll pay for it. I’ll bring you back to our sect and make your master answer for this!”

Wang Qing Shan had made up his mind.

His little brother was dead. He’d already attacked Lu Qing.

The blood feud was sealed—no reconciliation possible.

Better to strike first, capture Lu Qing, and settle it at the sect.

And he could also test whether Lu Qing truly had a guardian.

With that thought, he reached behind his back, pulling out a pair of steel fingerless gloves.

He slipped them on.

Lu Qing’s swordsmanship was too dangerous. Even bare-handed, taking him down would be risky.

He needed every advantage.

As a core disciple of the Tian Cang Sect, he knew the rules of the hidden sects—those disciples had guardians, but they could only intervene if the disciple’s life was in immediate danger.

As long as he didn’t kill Lu Qing, the guardian wouldn’t act.

And even if they did…

He wasn’t afraid.

The law forbidding Xian Tian cultivators from attacking below Xian Tian was established by Sheng Shan.

Even the greatest hidden sects obeyed it.

If the guardian was Xian Tian—no problem.

If they were Hou Tian—even if at the peak—Wang Qing Shan still had a chance to escape.

With that confidence, he tensed his arms and charged again.

He didn’t understand why Lu Qing’s attitude had shifted—from killing intent to capture.

But seeing the man draw weapons, Lu Qing knew there was no point in fighting.

He stepped back lightly, then called out—

“Xiao Li.”

The strange words made Wang Qing Shan pause for a split second.

Then—

A sudden, icy chill erupted from his chest.

His blood froze.

He didn’t hesitate—he crossed his arms in front of his chest, blocking.

Clang!

A flash of white—

A slender, pale claw suddenly emerged from thin air, reaching for his heart!

What the hell is that?!

The sudden, unnatural attack caught him completely off guard.

But he was Nei Fu Jing, a seasoned warrior.

Instinct took over—without thinking, he turned his palm into a claw and lunged at the phantom limb!

Shing!

He expected to block it.

But then—

His steel gloves, forged from refined steel, split open like paper.

His hand—half of it—was sliced clean off.

“Hnngh!”

Wang Qing Shan roared in agony.

Even a Nei Fu Jing master couldn’t endure the pain of losing a hand.

But worse than the pain was the horror—

The white claw vanished—disappearing into the air.

He watched in frozen terror as it vanished into nothingness.

Yet… the coldness in his heart remained.

It meant the claw’s master was still nearby.

But no matter how hard he searched, he couldn’t sense a trace.

“Wait!”

He shouted—

But before he could finish—

Another icy wave surged through him.

The white claw reappeared—

This time, it shot straight for his heart!

Faster than a Nei Fu Jing warrior could dodge, it struck.

He had no choice—he raised his remaining hand to block.

Shing!

Another flash.

This time, the claw didn’t just slice—he lost his entire hand.

The Nei Fu Jing-level tendons and bones offered no resistance.

In an instant, Wang Qing Shan was left with no hands.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end