Fortunately, Chu Ming observed the situation in the arena. For the moment, the battle between the two still couldn't determine a winner.
Boom!
After a series of explosions, the two figures separated. Huai Kui's expression was as usual, while Yang Feng's face was a bit pale and his body was somewhat unsteady.
"It seems that the inner sect disciples of the Martial Extreme Sect are merely so-so!" Huai Kui's lips curled with a hint of mockery, his face full of ridicule.
Upon hearing this, Yang Feng's face immediately turned ugly. He had greatly underestimated the toughness of the pirate Huai Kui. After hesitating for a moment, he took out a red elixir from his bosom, wrapped in a considerable amount of blood qi.
"That's... a Blood Burst Pill?!"
The martial artists around him exclaimed in surprise, their eyes flashing with a hint of greed as they looked at the Blood Burst Pill in Yang Feng's hand.
The Blood Burst Pill is an elixir that can stimulate the potential within the human body. Upon consumption, the martial artist's qi and blood will explode, thus gaining formidable power. However, this elixir has significant side effects—the exploded qi and blood cannot be replenished, causing a temporary reduction in power.
Even so, for martial artists in the Transcendence Realm, the Blood Burst Pill is priceless. Sometimes, a single pill can save a life; compared to survival, what does a little qi and blood matter?
Gulp!
Yang Feng swallowed the Blood Burst Pill. Instantly, red, frenzied qi and blood wound around his body, emanating endless evil.
The Blood Burst Pill is made from demon beast essence blood, containing the demon beast's resentment, naturally extremely evil.
Swoosh swoosh swoosh!
Several white sword auras bloomed in Yang Feng's hands, resembling lotus flowers of swords. Under the effect of the Blood Burst Pill, Yang Feng's power reached the second layer of the Transcendence Realm, with sword auras flickering and leaving sonic booms in the air.
Huai Kui restrained his disdain, several red palm seals whizzed from his hands, colliding with the white sword auras.
Puff puff puff!
Palm seals and sword auras collided, extinguishing in bursts, with spiritual power overflowing.
Boom!
A figure flew back suddenly, crashing into a residence, appearing quite embarrassed.
It was the pirate Huai Kui!
"Trying to stall for time? No way!"
Yang Feng's lips curled with a cold smile as his body suddenly soared, pouncing toward Huai Kui with a white sword light forming into a ribbon.
The pirate Huai Kui showed no intention to dodge. His legs slightly spread, his face indifferent as his right palm struck out, staining the surrounding air completely red.
Boom!
Ah!
After a loud noise, a scream followed. Yang Feng retreated at an even faster speed, crashing through the tavern.
His eyes looked as though he had seen a ghost, his breath faltering, "You're despicable! You actually hid your strength!"
"Hahaha, I broke through to the second layer of the Transcendence Realm half a month ago, but I feared stronger pursuers, so I kept my power hidden. This way, I not only protect myself but also enjoy slaughtering sect disciples like you on the side. After killing you, I'll escape to another country. Catching me in another country? Dream on!"
The pirate Huai Kui laughed heartily, though his power wasn't extremely high, he had played with quite a few beautiful women, including wealthy young ladies. And he had killed countless people; if he collected their heads, it would fill the entire tavern.
He was very fortunate to still be alive and had amassed over a million silver coins, enough to live luxuriously anywhere.
Yang Feng's eyes widened in bitterness as he swallowed his last breath, his heart filled with regret at the moment of closing his eyes.
Regret for not fleeing initially. If he had escaped right away, he wouldn't have been killed. Regret for accepting the mission, regret for not seeking more senior brothers.
However, there's no medicine for regret in this world, and the price he paid was his life.
Fearful that Yang Feng was pretending to be dead, the pirate Huai Kui walked over slowly and unleashed a palm strike, piercing his chest—killed beyond salvation.
He glared at the surrounding crowd. The spectators' eyes avoided his gaze, fearing that he might suddenly erupt and bring them death!
Gathering all the items from Yang Feng's bosom into his own, the pirate Huai Kui intended to leave.
"What a pirate Huai Kui, not only ruthless but deeply scheming!" A clear voice rang from the crowd, reaching Huai Kui's ears.
Immediately, the pirate's eyes glared towards the crowd fiercely.
"Who? Show yourself!" The pirate Huai Kui roared, scattering the crowd, leaving only Chu Ming standing there quietly.
"I am the one who will take your head!"
Chu Ming said calmly. Even knowing Huai Kui had broken through to the second layer of the Transcendence Realm, he did not abandon the task. Using Starfire Swordsmanship, even against a second layer Transcendence Realm, he could potentially kill him with care!
The pirate Huai Kui looked at Chu Ming's white attire, a longsword at his waist, aged only about fifteen, with a handsome face and pure aura. He coldly laughed, "Just killed a Martial Extreme Sect inner sect disciple, now here comes a Cyan Yang Sect inner sect disciple. Quite a few taking on this task. Soon, inner disciples from Cyan Nether Mountain, Burning Fire Valley, and Celestial Star Sect might come too. But you're foolish. Knowing I'm a second layer Transcendence Realm martial artist, you still dare to talk big about taking my head. Don't know the meaning of death, eh."
If Chu Ming were at the second layer of Transcendence, he wouldn't talk and would leave immediately. Sect disciples' cultivation techniques and martial techniques are far superior to those of common martial artists. It's not hard for sect disciples to kill common martial artists across levels. Yang Feng got caught off guard, thus easily killed. But from Chu Ming's spiritual power fluctuation, Huai Kui could tell he wasn't a Transcendence martial artist, not concerning himself with which layer he was in the Postnatal stage. Below Transcendence, does it make any difference?
"You're indeed a second layer Transcendence martial artist, hiding your power from others, possibly through special cultivation techniques. I'm very interested in such techniques." Chu Ming stared at Huai Kui, speaking softly. A technique for hiding one's cultivation can save lives in danger. Without it, Huai Kui couldn't have handled Yang Feng so easily.
Huai Kui felt a sudden unease upon hearing Chu Ming's calm words. But considering Chu Ming's strength, he quickly suppressed his unease.
"Playing tricks, Bloodthirsty Palm!"
Huai Kui roared, his hand conjuring a red cloud, full of blood and reeking, attacking Chu Ming. Air exploded, waves of qi scattered, countless qi force flying around, smashing half the road, sand piercing the tavern, killing guests instantly.
Chu Ming's refined iron sword unsheathed, a fire-red star point emanating from its tip, exploding in the air like a raging fire.
"Starfire Extinction!"
This was the full explosion of Starfire Swordsmanship, countless star points erupting like a volcano.
Puff!
Red palm seals were pierced instantly, red cloud sword qi continued, blood bursting three meters away, too fast to catch with the naked eye.
"You…"
Huai Kui wanted to say something but collapsed before he could speak. He lost because of his carelessness; if he had used his strongest attack first, the outcome might have differed.
Chu Ming's spiritual power wasn't as abundant as a second layer Transcendence martial artist's.
Witnesses were stunned, not expecting the notorious pirate Huai Kui to fall to a Postnatal martial artist.
Sharp-eyed ones recognized Chu Ming's martial technique; their eyes were filled with awe. To cross several levels and kill a martial artist, it must be a Profound Level technique. To master it, his comprehension was extraordinary in Great Yan Kingdom, making Huai Kui's death not in vain.
"What an extraordinary talent!" A spectator whispered.
"I see traces of Fast Sword Liu Lin in him. Similarly, every strike injures, every draw kills!" Another murmured.
"But to reach Liu Lin's level, there's one formidable opponent!"
"Who?"
"Who else? Tianxing Zi of Celestial Star Sect. Though not very strong now, his talents are praised by the sect leader. He once sliced a waterfall and killed a seventh layer Transcendence martial artist in ten moves. Another extraordinary talent!"
Spectators debated, expressing their views.
Chu Ming didn't care about their words. His goal, with the white light fragment, was the peak of martial arts.
He gazed at Huai Kui's corpse. As a wanted criminal, he carried much wealth, ranging from thousands to tens of thousands of silver coins.
After searching Huai Kui, Chu Ming only found a few hundred broken silver coins, which were useless to him.
"Is my luck that bad? No, Yang Feng spoke of Huai Kui's plan to flee Great Yan Kingdom, surely carrying his savings. There must be more."