Chapter 14

Chapter Fourteen: A Cut Above, Liu Tong’s Downfall

“Didn’t expect you to figure it out!”

Liu Tong spoke calmly, unshaken by Su Chen’s sudden appearance.

The words soured Su Chen’s expression.

“You planned this?” Su Chen asked.

Liu Tong remained silent, his sharp gaze scanning Su Chen, assessing his strength.

“Are you a descendant of the Zhu Clan?”

Suddenly, Liu Tong asked, noting Su Chen’s youth.

“Zhu Clan?”

At the mention, Su Chen’s expression shifted. Memories surfaced—Liu Tong’s crimes included slaughtering the Zhu Clan’s thirteen members. Yet now, Liu Tong’s tone hinted at survivors?

“Doesn’t matter if you’re a remnant or not. If you want my life, leave yours here instead!”

Liu Tong shook his head, dismissing the thought. What was the point of debating with a corpse?

Before his words faded, Liu Tong struck. Steel Saber in hand, his aura shifted violently.

Gone was the amiable demeanor from earlier. Now, Liu Tong radiated icy coldness, his blade’s edge mirrored in his expression.

As Liu Tong lunged, Su Chen retreated, activating Shatterglass Escape to vanish into the Courtyard of Shadows.

Liu Tong’s eyes narrowed. A flash of cold light, and his blade cleaved through the wooden door, splintering it open as he pursued.

“Trying to run?”

Seeing Su Chen retreat, Liu Tong’s lips curled into a cruel smirk. He’d waited too long for this—no way he’d let his prey escape.

He kicked a pile of firewood toward Su Chen, then surged forward, closing the gap as Su Chen deflected the debris.

“Running already? Face me barehanded if you’ve got the guts!”

The saber’s edge slashed, cutting off Su Chen’s escape. Forced to parry, Su Chen staggered backward under the relentless assault.

Liu Tong snorted, his strikes growing fiercer. But soon, he sensed something amiss—Su Chen’s evasions seemed effortless, almost mocking.

“Using me to hone your skills? Let’s see if you can keep up!”

Liu Tong’s fury ignited. No one had dared underestimate him like this.

His perfected Crescent Blade Art erupted—a storm of blurs, a tempest of slashes. Dozens of strikes in moments, the saber whistling through the air.

Yet not one landed. Su Chen’s form was a phantom, his bare hands clashing against steel with metallic rings.

Liu Tong’s eyes widened. Could he be a body-hardened Martial Cultivator?

The thought sharpened his assault, but time betrayed him. Su Chen’s movements grew smoother, more confident.

Where Su Chen had initially seemed a Martial Cultivator hoarding hidden depths, Liu Tong’s pressure now forced him to unleash his full potential.

Su Chen himself was surprised—delighted, even. Against Qian Huan, he’d crushed opponents outright. But Liu Tong’s challenge pushed him, refining his skills.

The Progress Panel’s martial knowledge, once limited to three techniques, now expanded to nine, adapting under pressure.

Liu Tong’s advantage crumbled. Su Chen danced just out of reach, his lack of a weapon his only constraint.

“Let’s see how long you dodge!”

Liu Tong’s frustration simmered, but his focus held—until their eyes met.

In Su Chen’s gaze, Liu Tong glimpsed mockery.

Su Chen leapt back, creating distance. Liu Tong stiffened, then a numbness surged through his limbs.

“You… poisoned me again?!”

His voice cracked, disbelief flooding his face. Su Chen merely shrugged, watching like a predator sizing up its prey.

“Damn you!”

Liu Tong’s body faltered, the numbness spreading to his head. His eyelids drooped like lead, his strength ebbing. With a thud, he collapsed to one knee before Su Chen.

Shaking his head, Liu Tong clawed at the ground, desperate to flee.

Too late.

Su Chen closed in, striking Liu Tong’s back with a palm. The man flew, crashing into the dirt, skidding a meter, dust swirling.

Yet Liu Tong clung to life, his will unbroken.

Su Chen hesitated, then retrieved the fallen Steel Saber, approaching slowly.

“Wait—don’t kill me! I’ll give you anything you want—”

Su Chen’s shadow loomed in Liu Tong’s fading vision.

“Please, listen—”

A single slash silenced him. Blood sprayed. Liu Tong’s head rolled, his death as unceremonious as his final plea.

Su Chen’s face remained still, the carnage leaving him unmoved.

“Sorry. I’m not interested.”

He exhaled, standing over the corpse, his thoughts tangled.

“Close call. Almost died in a puddle tonight.”

“Good thing I laced the Dreamdust with Softbone Powder. Without it, the outcome might’ve flipped.”

“Our strengths are both at Lianli Perfection, but his blade gave him the edge. Even with my martial arts refined, a single hit would’ve crippled me.”

“Arrogance nearly did me in. Got too comfortable relying on the Progress Panel’s power.”

“Next time, I’ll need more than tricks.”

“Still… ultimate power would’ve made this fight irrelevant.”

“Guess I’ll have to get stronger.”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end