Chapter 241: Bloodlight Domain, The Power of a Single Fist

“Danger!”

Feeling the sudden, razor-sharp Sword Qi from Old Doctor, the Hook-nosed Elder’s heart lurched in alarm.

The Sword Qi struck too swiftly, too unexpectedly—before he could react, it was already slashing toward him.

Fortunately, at the last moment, a crimson glow burst forth from his body, rushing forward to meet the incoming Qi.

Puff!

A muffled impact. The bloodlight was shattered, but it had still managed to deflect the Sword Qi. The attack left only a shallow cut across his flesh—nothing more.

“Ah!”

But the Black Robe Figure beside him wasn’t so lucky.

Old Doctor’s Sword Qi was mercilessly sharp. Though he had prepared, he couldn’t fully evade.

The blade swept past—severing one of his arms clean off.

“Brother! Are you alright?”

The Hook-nosed Elder shot forward, his fingers rapidly pressing vital points along the severed limb to seal the wound and stop the bleeding.

“My arm!”

The Black Robe Figure stared at the bloody stump, eyes wide with fury. He couldn’t believe it—despite his utmost caution, he’d still been caught off guard by the old man’s Sword Qi.

Xian Tian Jing cultivation was formidable, but it couldn’t regrow severed limbs.

Now, he would spend the rest of his life as a cripple.

“It’s fine,” the Hook-nosed Elder said calmly. “Once we’ve dealt with them all, I’ll reattach your arm.”

“Hmm?”

Lu Qing’s expression flickered slightly as he saw the bloodlight repel Old Doctor’s Sword Qi.

At that moment, a string of text appeared in his vision:

【Wu Yuan: Supreme Elder of Liu Yun Zong—ruthless, selfish, cruel.】

【Cultivation: Xian Tian Jing Early Stage, nearly at the peak. Water-element Xian Tian Qi.】

【Once discovered an ancient heretical cultivator’s hidden tomb with his younger brother, obtaining forbidden heritage.】

【Possesses a fragmented ancient relic: Xue Hun Fan.】

Xue Hun Fan?

Lu Qing’s pulse quickened.

So the old man had a relic—and it was functional. No wonder he’d blocked Old Doctor’s attack.

But just how much power could he actually draw from it?

Still, this explained why Liu Yun Zong had set up the Xue Rou Lian Hun Zhen.

They’d inherited a fragment of an ancient evil’s legacy.

“Remarkable Sword Qi!”

After tending to his brother’s wound, the Hook-nosed Elder looked at Old Doctor with newfound respect—no longer a trace of mockery remained.

He’d known his brother had warned him about the old man’s exceptional sword mastery, but he’d dismissed it.

Now, he understood. That single strike had revealed the old man’s true depth.

Had it not been for the automatic defense of Xue Hun Fan, he’d have been cut down in an instant.

“Master,” Lu Qing murmured, “this man carries some kind of artifact. Be cautious.”

“Hmph.”

Old Doctor gave a faint nod.

He’d felt it too—the moment the crimson light flared, a chill had run through his soul.

It was as if some unspeakably evil force had stirred within it, sending shivers down his spine.

But since Old Doctor hadn’t used Xian Tian Ling Yu to conceal his presence, the Hook-nosed Elder had overheard.

His eyes narrowed sharply, locking onto Lu Qing.

“You know far too much, boy,” he sneered. “Wasn’t it you who used that bow to destroy my carefully laid Zhen Fa Jie Dian? Just who are you?”

Lu Qing ignored him. Instead, he turned to the Sword-Wielding Man.

“Master,” he said, “myself and the Master will hold them back. You go free the surviving Yun Zhou disciples.”

“Me?” The Sword-Wielding Man blinked in surprise. “Young Master, let me fight these two demons with your master. You go rescue the others.”

He wasn’t doubting Lu Qing’s skill—just that the boy was far too young.

Opponents like Mo Hu and his brother were Xian Tian Jing Early Stage masters, and they’d clearly absorbed some forbidden secret technique.

Even he wouldn’t claim victory against them outright.

“It’s fine,” Lu Qing said calmly. “A half-wrecked Xian Tian Jing cultivator? He can’t harm me. Don’t worry. I’m just a stranger. The Yun Zhou elders wouldn’t trust me. It would only cause trouble. You’re better suited.”

The Sword-Wielding Man paused, then nodded.

Lu Qing was right.

If he were in danger and a boy of such youth suddenly appeared offering help, he’d be suspicious too.

“But…”

Still, the thought of Lu Qing facing Mo Hu made him hesitate.

“Enough,” Lu Qing cut in. “It’s settled. Watch for the opening—when the time comes, break through.”

“Hah! Hah! Hah!”

On the rooftop, the Hook-nosed Elder laughed bitterly.

Lu Qing not only ignored him—he was openly discussing a breakout in front of them.

Beside him, the Black Robe Figure trembled with rage.

Half-wrecked?

That was an insult. A slap in the face.

He vowed then and there: once this was over, he’d cut off every limb of this insolent boy and show him what real disability meant.

“Prepared for breakout!”

Lu Qing sensed the shift in their emotions.

With a roar, he drew a long arrow from behind his back, firing seven bolts in rapid succession.

The arrows flew in a fluid, interlinked pattern—each one dancing along a path that seemed to connect the others.

Seven-Star Linked Pearl—

A technique born from Lu Qing’s mastery of the Yi principle.

One of his strongest arrow arts.

Having worked together to break the formation, the Sword-Wielding Man trusted Lu Qing completely.

He didn’t hesitate. With a burst of speed, he shot toward the tallest building in the town—the one where his disciples and sect master were imprisoned.

Xian Tian Jing’s spiritual senses had already guided him.

“Trivial tricks,” the Hook-nosed Elder sneered, though his eyes narrowed.

A crimson wave surged from his body, spiraling forward to intercept the arrows.

At the same time, he flicked a finger—the bloodlight shot toward the Sword-Wielding Man.

But Lu Qing only smiled.

“My arrows aren’t so easily broken.”

He focused his will.

The seven incoming arrows, on the verge of being consumed by the red aura, suddenly shifted.

Like living things, they collided tip-to-tip, altering their course mid-flight.

They weaved through the air in intricate arcs, avoiding the Hook-nosed Elder entirely—then spiraled toward the Black Robe Figure.

Lu Qing’s true target wasn’t the one with the relic.

It was the wounded, weakened Black Robe Figure.

“What?!”

The Black Robe Figure, standing just a few steps behind his brother, froze.

He hadn’t expected the arrows to bypass his master and strike him.

But he was still a Xian Tian Jing Early Stage cultivator.

Even injured, his reflexes were swift.

He swung his staff in a whirlwind of black light, defending himself.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Six arrows were deflected.

But with only one arm, his defense was flawed.

One arrow pierced through the flurry of light—striking his shoulder, spraying blood.

Puff!

At the same time, Old Doctor sliced through the bloodlight aimed at the Sword-Wielding Man with a single Sword Qi slash.

“Master’s archery is truly miraculous,” the Sword-Wielding Man muttered, still fleeing.

Seeing Lu Qing wound Mo Hu, he couldn’t help but marvel.

“But still… he specializes in long-range combat. He’s vulnerable in close quarters. If Mo Hu gets close, he’s in danger. I must rescue the others quickly—then aid him.”

With determination in his eyes, he pushed his body to its limits, streaking toward the tavern.

“Zhen Er, retreat!”

The Black Robe Figure screamed as he saw his brother’s bloodlight fail. His face paled.

“Boy, you’ve truly angered me!”

The Hook-nosed Elder’s face darkened.

He’d been mocked—by a boy he’d dismissed as a mere nuisance.

“Fine. I was going to play with you. But now… you all die!”

Suddenly, a blood-red banner rose from his body, expanding rapidly into a massive, sinister flag.

It landed in his hands.

Thud!

He planted the banner into the ground. A deep, echoing boom shook the earth.

Thick, suffocating bloodlight erupted from the banner, spreading outward in a wave.

It surged toward Lu Qing and Old Doctor like a tide.

The speed was terrifying—so fast that even Lu Qing was stunned.

“A Qing, retreat!”

Old Doctor barked. He seized Lu Qing’s shoulder and hurled him away.

Lu Qing tumbled through the air, flipping once to stabilize.

When he landed, he found the battlefield already swallowed by crimson light—its reach spanning over a hundred meters.

He stood at the edge.

Old Doctor was inside.

“Master!” Lu Qing cried out.

“Don’t worry. This bloodlight can’t harm me. But you stay back. It’s a corrupting aura—it can cloud the mind, rot the flesh. You haven’t reached Xian Tian Jing yet. Without Xian Tian Qi, you can’t resist. Wait until I’ve slain this demon, then I’ll come out.”

Old Doctor’s voice, calm and steady, echoed from within the crimson storm.

“Be careful, Master.”

Lu Qing nodded.

He knew this time, Old Doctor was truly enraged.

He wouldn’t stop until the Hook-nosed Elder lay dead.

But he wasn’t afraid.

Earlier, when the man had summoned the Xue Hun Fan, Lu Qing had used his Abilities to probe it.

The relic was incomplete—only half its power restored.

It posed little real threat to Old Doctor.

And Old Doctor carried the Merit Light—perfectly suited to counter such evil artifacts.

The bloodlight wouldn’t harm him.

And Lu Qing…

He wanted to see.

Just how powerful Old Doctor could become when truly enraged.

Normally, Old Doctor hardly ever fought.

When he sparred with Wei Shanhai, it was always a light match—barely two exchanges before he’d concede.

He never fought seriously.

Even Lu Qing, despite knowing his mastery and hidden strength, had never witnessed him unleash his full power.

If Master fails… I’ll step in.

Lu Qing’s thoughts drifted to the Qiankun Yiqi Dai at his waist.

After months of refining and absorbing Qi, the ancient Spirit Artifact had regained a sliver of its former might.

“You dare speak so boldly in my Bloodlight Domain?”

The Hook-nosed Elder’s voice rang out from within the crimson storm.

“Want to kill me? Let’s see if you’ve got the strength.”

A surge of overwhelming power pulsed from within—clear signs that the two masters had clashed.

“Master isn’t at a disadvantage,” Lu Qing sensed after a few breaths.

He relaxed.

And he knew—Old Doctor still had secrets.

Victory was certain.

This battle… is training for Master.

Lu Qing thought.

He’d seen too little combat in his life.

This was his chance to grow.

“Boy,” a cold voice echoed from behind.

“You’re not even Xian Tian Jing yet?”

“Now your master is trapped in my brother’s domain. Let’s see who’ll protect you now.”

Lu Qing turned, smiling.

“Almost forgot you were still here, you cripple.

But I’m… pleasantly surprised you didn’t attack in secret.”

“Fool! You’re dead!”

The Black Robe Figure roared, furious.

His staff became a blur of black light, lashing toward Lu Qing’s chest.

He hadn’t attacked earlier not out of honor—but because they were too close.

At one pace, Lu Qing’s bow was useless.

And now that he knew Lu Qing wasn’t even Xian Tian Jing, he felt utterly certain.

No need for trickery.

He’d destroy this insolent boy in the most brutal way possible.

“Come on!”

Lu Qing stepped forward, his body lowering slightly.

A faint golden glow shimmered across his frame.

He didn’t dodge.

Didn’t block.

With his empty right hand, he simply punched forward.

“What madness is this? He’s using his flesh to block my divine weapon?!”

The Black Robe Figure’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Then—

Boom!

The moment Lu Qing’s fist struck the staff’s tip, a shockwave erupted.

A ripple of white mist burst outward.

The Black Robe Figure felt an unyielding force surge through the staff—so strong he couldn’t hold on.

Even with his Xian Tian Jing cultivation, he staggered back, unable to steady himself.

The staff vibrated violently in his grip—his palms split open, blood leaking.

“Impossible?!”

After stumbling back ten paces, he finally steadied.

His eyes locked onto Lu Qing—filled with disbelief.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end