Translator: CinderTL
When Xu Sanyan returned to the Ma family's compound, the situation had already changed. Five figures were in a standoff in the courtyard, two of whom were Wu Jue and Geng the Cripple.
Among the other three, a child was being shielded by two burly men, who were warily eyeing Wu Jue and his companion.
At some point, Ma Tianqing had been found by them.
"As expected, he was hiding in the Ma family!"
Xu Sanyan muttered to himself. That child must be Ma Tianqing.
At that moment, Geng the Cripple pulled out a bamboo tube from his robe, aimed it at the sky, and yanked the fuse at the bottom. The tube exploded with a loud bang, and a burst of crimson mist erupted amidst the swirling sand.
Everyone immediately understood what had happened—Geng the Cripple was calling for reinforcements!
Wu Jue's expression changed drastically, and he exclaimed in disbelief, "You're actually going to share the cultivation method?"
"Hahaha..."
Geng the Cripple laughed triumphantly, "Old Wu, you lose because you're too narrow-minded. You always want to hog all the benefits for yourself. That's why you'll never beat me."
Geng the Cripple had already discussed with his brothers beforehand that they would cultivate together once they obtained the cultivation method. Only by securing the method could they even begin to discuss other matters.
Wu Jue, on the other hand, was the complete opposite. He was always afraid of losing control over his subordinates, so he constantly restricted them. This time, he had gone to great lengths to send Xu Sanyan and the others away, which led to this awkward situation.
The balance of power shifted in an instant, and now Wu Jue found himself in the weakest position.
Xu Sanyan, lying on the rooftop observing the scene, soon saw three figures emerge from the surroundings, rushing toward the crimson mist. Judging by their speed, they were all skilled in Qi Refinement, not far behind him in ability.
Xu Sanyan frowned. The situation was spiraling out of control. After a moment's thought, he pulled out a wooden box from his robe and opened it. A refreshing aroma wafted into his nostrils.
With a battle imminent, even a slight boost in strength would be helpful.
Without hesitation, he took a large bite, chewing and swallowing. Instantly, a warm current surged from within his body, spreading throughout his limbs.
His internal organs were nourished by the warm flow, as if they had been taken out and bathed in the warmth of a summer day.
"Ah..." Xu Sanyan let out a moan.
This was good stuff!
After swallowing the last bite of the precious medicine, he opened his status panel to check. His realm was still at the Peak Stage of Qi Refinement, but the bottom row had changed.
[Vitality——1]
A hint of excitement flickered in Xu Sanyan's eyes. He had found a way to actively replenish "Vitality"!
It turned out that precious medicine was needed. Perhaps not just precious medicine—he remembered Liu Hong mentioning that such medicines contained spiritual energy. Maybe all natural treasures imbued with spiritual energy could replenish "Vitality."
Once the sensation in his body subsided, Xu Sanyan looked back at the scene below. The three factions had already clashed. Surprisingly, Wu Jue had joined forces with the Ma family trio to fight against Geng the Cripple and his four men.
The battle had become a four-on-four.
It seemed that Geng the Cripple's overwhelming force had forced them to unite. Yet, even so, they were still at a disadvantage.
Although Ma Tianqing had reached the Peak Stage of Qi Refinement, he was still too young, and his martial skills were not yet mature. Facing a Qi Refinement warrior alone was difficult.
Fortunately, the warrior wasn't going for the kill but was instead trying to capture him alive, giving Ma Tianqing a slim chance to turn the tide.
The situation was tense. Xu Sanyan silently waited, biding his time to strike when the others had exhausted themselves.
In an instant, one of the Ma family's burly men was defeated by Geng the Cripple's subordinate, worsening the situation for Wu Jue's side.
Ma Tianqing couldn't help but shout in distraction, "Fourth Uncle!"
"Don't worry about us, run!"
With his dying breath, the burly man desperately charged toward Ma Tianqing's opponent, hoping to buy him time with his life.
But he failed. Geng the Cripple's subordinate flung his longsword, piercing the man's heart in an instant. The burly man collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
"Fourth Uncle!" Ma Tianqing's eyes filled with tears as he let out a loud cry.
"Hahaha, hand over the cultivation method, and I'll spare your lives. How about it?" Geng the Cripple laughed.
"Dream on!"
Though young, Ma Tianqing wasn't a fool. He knew that if he wanted to survive, he had to fight for it himself. The enemy would never let him go.
The four-on-four battle had turned into a four-on-three. Wu Jue's eyes flickered, already considering retreat. As the saying goes, "As long as the green hills remain, there will be no shortage of firewood." Surviving was the priority.
"Geng the Cripple, you win this time. We'll meet again!" Wu Jue gritted his teeth and prepared to withdraw.
Geng the Cripple grinned, "Hahaha, when have I ever lost? Today, we'll settle our feud once and for all!"
With that, his longsword became even more ferocious, clearly not intending to let Wu Jue leave.
On the other side, Geng the Cripple's subordinates quickly defeated another of the Ma family's burly men in a two-on-one fight. The situation was completely out of control.
Xu Sanyan frowned. He hadn't expected the Ma family's men to be so weak. He had to reveal himself now. If Geng the Cripple finished off Wu Jue, his chance would be gone.
Just as he was about to rise, Xu Sanyan quickly ducked back down. Ma Tianqing had closed his eyes, and a dark mist began to form behind him, undeterred by the swirling sand.
The thick mist was filled with an ominous aura, as if something terrifying was brewing within. A single glance sent a chill down one's spine.
Geng the Cripple's eyes swept over the scene, and he immediately tensed up. He had no idea what tricks a cultivator might have, but it certainly wasn't anything good. "Quick, stop him!"
The others didn't need to be told. They all rushed forward with urgency, three longswords slashing toward Ma Tianqing's limbs.
"Clang!"
The swords struck Ma Tianqing as if they had hit cast iron, producing a metallic clang.
Xu Sanyan squinted, noticing a thin layer of black smoke enveloping Ma Tianqing's body.
"Roar!"
A beastly roar emanated from the dark mist. Ma Tianqing slowly opened his eyes, his once-clear pupils now completely black.
"What kind of technique is this?!"
Geng the Cripple exclaimed in shock, no longer caring about Wu Jue. His figure flickered, and he appeared above Ma Tianqing, bringing his longsword down with tremendous force.
Ma Tianqing didn't dodge or even seem to notice. Just as the sword was about to strike his head, a black arm emerged from the mist. Three slender fingers, sharp as daggers, easily parried the blade.
"Clang!"
Geng the Cripple was pushed back by the recoil, staggering several steps before regaining his balance.
Xu Sanyan stared in stunned silence as a humanoid figure emerged from the dark mist. It was nearly three meters tall, its slender body entirely black, slightly hunched over.
A single large eye sat on its forehead, below which was a gaping mouth filled with rows of sharp teeth.
Its arms hung down to its knees, and its feet were webbed like a frog's, with a membrane connecting its toes.
"What the hell is that..."
The thought flashed through everyone's mind.
"Run!"
Geng the Cripple turned and fled, abandoning all thoughts of seizing the cultivation method. This monstrous creature was far beyond his ability to handle.
"Roar!"
The monster let out a roar and charged forward. In Xu Sanyan's line of sight, a black shadow flashed, and Geng the Cripple's arms were already in the monster's hands, being chewed and swallowed.
"Ah!"
Geng the Cripple screamed in agony. The monster moved again, and the screams abruptly ceased. The monster's mouth, now stretched almost to its ears, bit off Geng the Cripple's entire head.
"Holy shit!"
Xu Sanyan quickly ducked his head back, leaving only his eyes exposed to watch.
Faced with such a monster, even if they all joined forces, they wouldn't stand a chance.
(End of the Chapter)
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