Chapter 246: Annihilation of the Sect, The Hunt for Treasures

Boom!

A single punch struck Mo Zhen square in the chest, unleashing a surge of overwhelming force that completely collapsed his torso. His body lost all stability and was sent flying backward through the air.

Spurt!

Mid-flight, Mo Zhen coughed up a massive gout of blood.

Yet, thanks to his formidable Blood Demon Body, he did not die. The crimson energy within him surged violently, racing through his veins. His chest began to regenerate at a visible pace, knitting itself back together.

But this was far from over.

As Mo Zhen tried to escape the range of Lu Qing’s attack, the latter extended his hand in a loose grip. A strange, invisible force materialized out of thin air, wrapping around Mo Zhen’s body and dragging him back.

"Again? What in the world is this cursed power?!"

Mo Zhen roared inwardly, panic flaring.

He had felt this before—this invisible restraint had slowed his movements, robbed him of his reaction time, and left him utterly defenseless against Lu Qing’s devastating punch. He knew full well that if he were pulled back into the rhythm of the fight, this time he wouldn’t survive.

No longer willing to take risks, Mo Zhen let out a thunderous roar. His aura exploded outward, a wave of blood-charged energy erupting from his body. In an instant, he shattered the invisible binding, reclaiming full control of his limbs and stabilizing mid-air.

"Young man," Mo Zhen stood firm, blood mist swirling around him like a malevolent aura. His crimson eyes burned with fury, his entire presence now resembling a demon from the underworld—terrifying, monstrous. "Your power may be strange, but if you think mere tricks like this can defeat me, then you’re utterly delusional."

The strange binding force still clung to him, but it no longer posed a threat. His chest had fully healed, as if the injury had never happened.

Such astonishing regenerative power caused both the Old Doctor and the Sword-Wielding Man, watching from the mountain gate, to exchange glances, their expressions darkening.

Especially the Sword-Wielding Man—Mo Zhen’s current aura sent a chill through his bones.

"Is that so?" Lu Qing smiled faintly, showing no urgency to pull Mo Zhen back.

He hadn’t been using this new power for long—only a few days. And even now, the strength he could wield was still limited. He hadn’t expected to subdue a Xian Tian Jing minor peak cultivator with just this technique. It was within reason that it wouldn’t be enough.

In truth, Lu Qing had only wanted to test the limits of this newly acquired ability. He never believed it could single-handedly force a peak-level warrior into a corner.

Now that he’d confirmed its boundaries, there was no need to push further.

With a subtle thought, he retracted the strange force, drawing it back into his body. The golden glow surrounding him vanished as well.

Without the invisible restraints, Mo Zhen felt an immediate lightness—yet his heart sank.

A sharp, icy thread of death hovered over his soul.

Though the Blood Demon Body clouded his mind, it also sharpened his instincts—those of a beast. And right now, his instincts screamed: This boy is far more dangerous than before.

He raised his guard instantly, no longer daring to attack.

His respect for Lu Qing had vanished. There was only dread now—utter, unrelenting fear.

This boy was too unnatural. Too unpredictable. He had to be cautious.

"You know," Lu Qing said calmly, assuming a relaxed fist stance. A golden orb glowed faintly within his Brow Qi Cavity. The Soil Spirit Pearl, like a tiny star, rotated slowly.

"Given that, I can finally let loose—no need to hold back, not even a little."

Before the words even finished, a thunderous explosion erupted beneath Lu Qing’s feet. White mist burst outward, and in the next instant, he was already before Mo Zhen—his fist slamming into the man’s abdomen.

"What?!"

Mo Zhen’s eyes widened in shock. His body bent forward in agony, his mind reeling. He couldn’t believe it—he had been fully focused on defense, yet still caught off guard.

Lu Qing’s speed was beyond comprehension. Even without the invisible force dragging him, Mo Zhen hadn’t had time to react.

"Such speed!"

Even the Old Doctor and the Sword-Wielding Man on the mountain gate were stunned.

No mercy.

One punch landed—Lu Qing unleashed everything.

He pivoted on his heel, twisting his fist like a drill, and unleashed another devastating strike—this time crashing into Mo Zhen’s skull.

The blow warped his head beyond recognition. His eyes glazed over, his mind shattered. Defense? Impossible.

The next ten seconds became a one-sided massacre.

Lu Qing’s fists, heavy as battering rams, rained down in relentless waves—each impact twisting Mo Zhen’s body, each strike shattering the air around him. The force was so intense it tore apart the very atmosphere, creating violent gusts that whipped around the two.

The Sword-Wielding Man on the gate stared in disbelief.

He had just moments ago trembled at Mo Zhen’s aura—now, the man was being pulverized like clay.

This wasn’t combat. It was pure, merciless beating.

Mo Zhen couldn’t even raise a hand to block. He was reduced to a broken puppet, utterly helpless.

Ten breaths passed.

Then silence.

The storm died down. The air settled.

Before Lu Qing stood a formless mass of mangled flesh—only the head remained vaguely recognizable.

Mo Zhen still breathed, barely.

His body twitched, tendrils of red flesh writhing across the ruined form, attempting to reknit itself.

Lu Qing watched impassively.

"Don’t waste your effort. Even if your Blood Demon Body were fully mastered, you couldn’t regenerate before me."

The mess trembled—then stilled.

Only the head lifted slightly, as if trying to ask something.

But he was broken beyond speech. His voice was gone. Even his soul’s resonance had been silenced.

Lu Qing, as if reading his mind, spoke.

"Your cultivation level is too low. You have Xian Tian-tier power, but no understanding of how to wield it. Your body control is terrible. How could you possibly resist my Punching Technique?"

He paused, then added, "Still, you’re stronger than your grandfather. He lasted only three breaths under my technique before collapsing completely."

The ruined mass shuddered again.

Lu Qing didn’t wait.

With a flick of his foot, he delivered a precise kick to the center of Mo Zhen’s forehead.

Erasing the last flicker of consciousness.

With the final spark of spirit extinguished, the corpse spasmed violently—then went utterly still.

"Little Master!"

A voice called out.

The Old Doctor and the Sword-Wielding Man had descended from the gate and now stood beside Lu Qing.

"Little Master, I never imagined your Punching Technique could be so devastating. This Mo Zhen—his strength was nearly on par with a Xian Tian Jing minor peak cultivator. Yet you dominated him from start to finish… not a single hair on your body was harmed."

The Sword-Wielding Man looked at Lu Qing with awe.

"Yan Elder flatters me," Lu Qing smiled. "Mo Zhen’s power came from a shortcut—Evil Cultivation Method. He has strength, but no refinement. His technique is crude, his control poor. He’s not truly a peak-level cultivator. Even you, Master, could have slain him easily with your sword."

"Perhaps," the Sword-Wielding Man shook his head. "But I felt his power firsthand. That aura—it sent chills down my spine. If I had fought him, I might not have survived."

Lu Qing chuckled. He didn’t argue further, then turned to the Old Doctor.

"Master, I believe all of Liu Yun Zong’s disciples were corrupted and destroyed by Mo Zhen’s evil array. Now that he’s dead, the sect is truly gone."

"Yes… I never expected this ending," the Old Doctor sighed.

Through his soul’s sense, the entire sect was empty—no life remained.

"Justice. Those who do evil will eventually reap what they sow. Liu Yun Zong has been a scourge in Yun Zhou for years. Their disciples were arrogant and ruthless. I doubt any of them imagined they’d die at the hands of their own master."

The Sword-Wielding Man shook his head, a touch of sorrow in his voice.

He despised the sect, but never thought such a powerful force—once the pride of Yun Zhou—would fall so utterly.

"Evil Cultivation Methods defy Heaven and Earth. They are destined to be punished. From the moment Mo Zhen and his Tai Shang Elder began practicing it, this fate was sealed."

Lu Qing spoke with quiet certainty.

He carried the heritage of cultivation, and understood this truth deeper than most.

The Lihuo Sect’s inheritance contained warnings about demonic and heretical paths. It stated plainly: though such methods grant power swiftly, they are cruel, unnatural, and invite the wrath of Heaven’s justice.

At low levels, the consequences may go unnoticed. But as cultivation advances, the backlash grows stronger—especially during the Heaven’s Trials.

Ordinary cultivators may fail the thunder trials, but they still have a chance.

Those who walk the evil path? Their odds are ten times worse.

A true demonic cultivator faces a near-certain death. Out of a hundred, only one might survive.

And Mo Zhen and Mo Hu—half-baked, half-understood practitioners—had no chance at all.

They’d practiced evil cultivation, then dared to act with such arrogance? It was suicide.

Now Lu Qing finally understood why the Master had felt such a premonition upon seeing the Round Fat Middle-aged Man and his disciples.

It was the unseen hand of Heaven—guiding the Master to use Lu Qing’s hand to purge this cancer from the land.

In that light, the Master truly was blessed—chosen by fate itself.

Lu Qing’s gaze lingered on his Master—strange, unreadable.

"A Qing? What is it?" the Old Doctor noticed the shift in his disciple’s expression.

"Nothing," Lu Qing replied, turning away. "Master, now that Liu Yun Zong is destroyed, I wish to search the inner compound. There may be treasures we can use. Yan Elder, I assume you have no objections?"

He addressed the Sword-Wielding Man.

"None at all!" the latter said quickly. "This sect’s destruction—our salvation—was all thanks to you and the Master. The treasures within belong to you. We won’t interfere."

"Still, we won’t take everything," Lu Qing smiled. "I’ll just look for anything useful. Master, I’ll go in first."

With a light leap, he dashed toward the grand complex at the heart of Liu Yun Zong.

"Forgive my student’s boldness," the Old Doctor apologized to the Sword-Wielding Man.

"Not at all!" the latter replied. "I never thought the young master could be so… lively. I always thought he was so solemn."

He wasn’t being polite—this was genuine surprise.

Lu Qing had always carried an aura of mystery—calm, composed, like a mountain that never moved. No trace of youthful recklessness.

Now, suddenly, he was energetic, eager—unexpected.

"He’s always been fascinated by treasures," the Old Doctor laughed.

Lu Qing moved swiftly through the ruins of Liu Yun Zong, his abilities already activated. His mind brimmed with anticipation.

After all, most wealth in the world is hoarded by great families and sects.

And within them—rare, unique artifacts.

Centuries of accumulation meant there might be something extraordinary.

Just as the Wei Family possessed the Lihuo Ding, and the Zheng Family kept the Soil Spirit Pearl—two legendary treasures—Liu Yun Zong, with its thousand-year legacy, must have hidden something valuable.

If he found even one worth his time, this journey would be well worth it.

As he ran through the halls, he noticed numerous human-shaped bloodstains—some still bearing scraps of clothing.

The scene matched exactly what he’d seen in Liu Yun Town.

Likely victims of Mo Zhen’s Xue Rou Lian Hun Zhen—his blood-soul fusion ritual.

The clothes suggested they were servants or maids.

No wonder he hadn’t sensed any life force earlier. They’d all been consumed.

Lu Qing frowned.

This Mo Zhen was merciless—killing even the innocent. He should’ve tortured him longer.

Shaking off the thought, he ignored the gruesome remains and pressed on.

Then, at last, he stopped before a towering structure.

"Treasure Vault?"

A smile curled on his lips.

"Found you."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end