Chapter Twenty-Four: Lord of the City, Ling Feng

With no experience in countering martial techniques, Ye Wuyá could only hastily sidestep, swinging his sword at the blade's radiance. The gleaming arc flashed past the sword and struck the ground behind him, leaving a half-meter-long fissure in the earth.

With a metallic clatter, the blade snapped, the broken shard hitting the ground with a sharp sound. Staring at the cleanly severed sword, Ye Wuyá was startled—so this was a martial technique? Remarkable!

He tossed away the half sword and leapt back, widening the distance between himself and Mu Qing.

His cultivation method surged wildly, drawing in that immense suction once more, absorbing all sorts of blood and spiritual energy into his body.

What now? Getting close would be difficult!

Mu Qing, a seasoned veteran of countless battlefields, knew that as soon as either side settled the duel, the outcome of this conflict would be decided.

The boy before him was only a body cultivator—aside from his great strength and quick reflexes, he possessed no exceptional traits. Mu Qing analyzed his adversary carefully.

Ye Wuyá relied on his speed, continuously dodging Mu Qing’s attacks, meticulously tracking the paths of Mu Qing’s blade. Through this back-and-forth, Ye Wuyá gradually mastered the rhythm!

From frantic beginnings, he became as calm as a drifting cloud.

This kid is a freak. In such a short time, he’s figured out the Blade King’s technique and his stamina is extraordinary! Mu Qing thought.

He knew nothing of Ye Wuyá’s unique cultivation method. Even in the midst of battle, Ye Wuyá could endlessly absorb the power of the heavens and earth to replenish himself, growing fiercer the longer he fought.

“Boy, are you part rat? Darting here and there! Are you even a man?” Mu Qing mocked.

“Hahaha! If you want to know whether your Lord Ye is a man, let your wife and daughter try and see,” Ye Wuyá laughed.

“You damned brat, courting death! I’ll grant your wish!”

“Blade King’s Triple Slash!” Mu Qing unleashed three consecutive strikes, sealing Ye Wuyá’s escape routes to the left, right, and above.

What’s he trying to do? Block my movement?

Green light enveloped Mu Qing’s palm as his technique locked Ye Wuyá’s options.

Watching Mu Qing’s moves, a flash of understanding sparked in Ye Wuyá’s mind. He frantically absorbed various spiritual energies, and before the absorbed energy entered his body, he used his will to control it—channeling a surge of fiery red energy to his palm. Unrefined by his cultivation art, the energy radiated a wild, scorching aura, threatening to explode at any moment.

“Yellow-rank Intermediate Martial Technique—Flash Step!” Mu Qing growled.

In a blink, he crossed the five-meter gap, arriving right before Ye Wuyá.

“Yellow-rank Advanced Martial Technique—Heart-Shattering Palm!” He thrust his palm straight at Ye Wuyá’s chest.

Ye Wuyá could not evade; he pressed the fiery energy he had just gathered directly against Mu Qing’s incoming palm.

Palm met palm.

Boom!

The fire energy erupted instantly.

A violent explosion shook both fighters, sending them flying.

Mu Qing felt it most acutely—the rampaging fire energy surged through his palm into his body, wreaking havoc. He spat blood, shocked. “What palm technique is this? Such power! Is it a Profound-rank martial technique?”

Ye Wuyá was suffering too. This was a spur-of-the-moment move; he condensed the fire energy in his palm and, without taming it, let Mu Qing’s attack trigger its explosive force.

Mu Qing’s Heart-Shattering Palm’s force poured into Ye Wuyá’s body, but most of its power was absorbed by the Corpse Frenzy Forbidden Art, leaving only a fraction for Ye Wuyá to endure.

He hadn’t expected that the Corpse Frenzy Forbidden Art could not only absorb all kinds of spiritual energy from the world and others’ cultivation, but even the power of their martial techniques. What a stroke of luck!

The Ye family, seeing Ye Wuyá’s display of power—wounding the Mu family’s patriarch with a single palm strike—launched an even fiercer assault.

Ye Wuyá’s hand was numb and felt as if it might explode. He furiously absorbed energy to repair his arm. With more impurities entering his body, he sensed his reason slipping—if this continued, he’d soon lose control.

He had to finish Mu Qing quickly!

Ye Wuyá’s eyes, once crimson, now showed traces of black.

Strike while he’s weak!

Seeing Ye Wuyá rush forward, Mu Qing suppressed his internal injuries and swung his palm at Ye Wuyá with all his strength.

Ye Wuyá noticed that Mu Qing’s attack was much weaker than before—a cause for joy.

Corpse Frenzy Forbidden Art, absorb!

Ye Wuyá growled.

Their palms met, but no sound followed.

Mu Qing stared in terror at Ye Wuyá, realizing his own cultivation was being drained by the white-haired youth before him. He tried to break free, but his hand seemed glued to Ye Wuyá’s, impossible to pull away.

Terror turned to horror—Ye Wuyá appeared as a demon.

“Lord of Gale City, save me!” Mu Qing shouted, punching Ye Wuyá with his other hand.

“What?” The Ye family were stunned. The Lord of Gale City—wasn’t he the master of Ling City, a powerhouse of the Ninth Realm of Spirit Gathering? When did he get entangled with the Lu and Mu families?

Help? Ye Wuyá was startled. He blocked Mu Qing’s punch with his other hand.

Both hands locked, he absorbed with abandon.

“Ah!” Mu Qing screamed in agony, his cultivation drained dry, even his blood sucked away by Ye Wuyá. If this continued, he’d die.

“Boy, stop! Release Mu Qing!” A booming voice echoed across the training ground.

With that shout, the despairing Mu Qing rekindled hope.

A green figure swiftly appeared in the Ye family’s martial yard.

Ye Yunlong forced Lu Wushuang back with a spear thrust.

Mu Qing cried, “Lord of Gale City, save me! He’s a devil, he’s draining my blood! Help me! Help me…”

Before he could finish, Mu Qing was completely drained, reduced to a withered corpse, just like Ye Wuyá when he first emerged from the ancient tomb.

Ye Yunlong faced the Lord of Gale City in the center, calling loudly, “Are you planning to interfere in our family’s battle, Lord of Gale City?”

Victory was within reach—the Mu elder was dead, and the Lu and Mu families were no longer a threat. Yet now the Lord of Gale City appeared.

Looking at the lifeless Mu Qing, he shook his head and sighed, “The state does not prevent bloodshed among clans. The law of the jungle is the rule of this world! Without conflict, how can the strong emerge? I will not interfere in your war—but Mu Qing owed me a favor. I only came to ensure his safety. Unfortunately, I’m still a step too late.”