Volume I: The Young Demon Lord, Chapter 40: Battle!

"Qi Yu! It is you!"

When Zhen Huai saw Qi Yu, he was instantly overcome with fury. He glared at him, wishing he could rush forward and tear him to shreds on the spot!

Two Zhen family elders leaped into the deep crater to lift Zhen Feng, but after pressing their fingers against his carotid artery, they shook their heads. A single sword strike had pierced his heart, and his internal organs had been shredded by the violent sword intent; there was no saving him.

"Zhen Huai, have you not been looking for me all this time? I am here now!" Qi Yu’s tone was devoid of any emotion.

"Audacious brat! How dare you kill my disciple!"

Suddenly, the old man beside Zhen Huai roared in rage, his body trembling with fury, especially upon seeing the shattered green-scaled armor scattered on the ground. It was a gift he had just bestowed upon Zhen Feng as a master-disciple token, and he had boasted with full confidence that this armor could withstand a full-force strike from a profound-martial stage expert.

Yet, the humiliation came swiftly; the youth before him was clearly only at the profound-entry stage.

"I am the elder of the Lingyun Sect, Yun Youzi! You killed my disciple; if I do not avenge this, how can I show my face in this world?"

As he spoke, terrifying and immense waves of spiritual energy surged around Yun Youzi.

"Elder Yun!" Zhen Huai interjected in a deep, grief-stricken voice, "My other grandson, Zhen Xingfan, also died at his hands. I implore you, Elder, allow me to kill this brat myself to avenge both of my grandsons!"

At these words, every member of the Zhen family looked at Qi Yu with eyes filled with bloodlust.

"Come then!"

Qi Yu suddenly mobilized the surging battle intent hidden deep within his body. In an instant, a heart-stopping wave of combat spirit surged forth like a tide, saturating the surroundings.

"Die!"

Zhen Huai lunged forward in a rage, his momentum as overwhelming as a collapsing mountain, his palm striking down toward Qi Yu.

"Sword of the Startled Goose!"

Qi Yu’s battle intent soared, fearless. Instantly, countless rays of sword light bloomed—gorgeous yet wickedly crimson sword energy crashed into Zhen Huai’s earth-shattering palm!

Boom!

The deafening explosion shook the heavens, and both men were sent flying backward. Qi Yu propped himself up with his sword, a mouthful of blood spilling from his lips.

Zhen Huai’s face was filled with annoyance and anger. A dignified profound-sovereign stage expert had been looked down upon by a mere profound-entry stage whelp and even pushed back by his sword energy. Looking at his palm, he saw several clear lacerations where wisps of lingering sword intent still remained.

"This... this is sword intent!" Zhen Huai’s voice trembled, his disbelief palpable. "This brat, so young, has actually mastered sword intent!"

He muttered to himself, his tone laced with deep apprehension, but a moment later, a ruthless glint flashed in his eyes. "This boy must not be left alive; otherwise, he will surely become a disaster for the Zhen family!"

Clang!

Suddenly, a massive, pitch-black sword appeared in Zhen Huai’s hand. It was a spiritual weapon—a low-grade earth-tier artifact. Zhen Huai spoke with a chilling tone, "Qi Yu, this time, you will surely die!"

As he finished, Zhen Huai’s figure vanished from where he stood. Qi Yu’s heart skipped a beat as a sudden chill appeared before him; he did not hesitate to raise his sword to block. However, the strike carried such overwhelming power that Qi Yu was instantly sent flying!

In mid-air, he saw Zhen Huai pursuing him with the greatsword and immediately utilized his movement technique to dodge. The spot where he had been standing a moment before was now marred by a sword mark several yards long!

The mark was ten inches deep, and within it, roaring flames were still burning. The power of a profound-sovereign expert was truly terrifying!

Qi Yu did not hesitate; he turned and fled toward the outskirts of the Purple Gold Pavilion.

"You brat, you cannot escape!" Zhen Huai immediately flew in pursuit, riding his sword!

Qi Yu used his movement techniques to weave and dodge, constantly evading Zhen Huai’s attacks while speeding toward the barren mountains outside the Royal City. Flying through the air, Zhen Huai sneered, "Qi Yu, if you have the ability, call the Su family ancestor to help you again! Let's see if he dares to make a move against me in the Royal City!"

Qi Yu did not reply, focusing only on his frantic dash.

"Hmph, an ant is an ant after all. Killing you is no different from crushing a bug!"

After more than an hour of running, he finally reached a desolate region.

"Qi Yu, let’s see where you can hide now!" Zhen Huai blocked his path, waving his hand to send a slash of sword energy toward him.

Qi Yu immediately used his movement technique to flip and dodge, scanning his surroundings—there was no one else but Zhen Huai.

"Zhen Huai, this place shall be your grave!"

Qi Yu finally stopped running. When the next wave of sword energy arrived, he raised his arm to block it directly!

Crack!

With a crisp snap, the very space seemed to shudder. Qi Yu’s hand gripped the razor-sharp sword energy, and with a sudden jolt, it vanished into nothingness.

Zhen Huai was horrified. "This... how is this possible!"

Suddenly, a terrifying and violent aura erupted from Qi Yu! His right arm crackled with purple-black flames, his long hair whipped in the wind, and a dark red brand glowed upon his forehead. Sharp, blade-like fangs slowly grew from his mouth, shimmering with a cold light. His eyes were now blood-red, and his face was hideously distorted!

Zhen Huai felt a sudden surge of dread. "This is... the aura of the Demon Race! Qi Yu, you are actually a demon!"

"Hehehe, hahaha!" Qi Yu covered his eyes with his right hand, emitting chilling, heart-stopping laughter.

Zhen Huai quickly steadied his mind. Even if Qi Yu were a demon, he was only at the profound-entry stage; he could do nothing to him.

Swish!

Suddenly, Qi Yu charged at him, unleashing the God-Slaying Sword Art. Countless rays of sword energy erupted!

What a fast sword!

In this moment, by activating his bloodline power, Qi Yu’s strength had increased at least fivefold. More importantly, he had not fallen into madness; his reason was perfectly clear. He could now fully suppress the awakened portion of his bloodline.

Bang!

Zhen Huai was pushed back several steps by the sword energy, looking up at Qi Yu in astonishment. "How could his strength increase so suddenly!"

"God-Slaying Sword Art, First Sword!"

In an instant, countless sword shadows descended upon Zhen Huai. Qi Yu held his sword in his left hand, and within the golden light, countless blood-red sword intents were intertwined!

Boom!

Zhen Huai immediately summoned his protective energy, but it was shredded in an instant. He raised his own sword to shield his chest, yet he was still blasted backward!

Qi Yu did not give him a moment to breathe. He flashed forward and roared, "God-Slaying Sword Art, Fourth Sword!"

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The fourth sword was Qi Yu’s strongest move. Combined with his battle intent, sword momentum, and the boost from his bloodline, this strike was at least ten times more powerful than his normal state!

"Old dog! Die!"

Whoosh!

A massive, rainbow-like sword energy swung out, engulfing Zhen Huai completely!

Zhen Huai’s eyes widened in panic. He hurriedly raised his sword and bellowed, "Heavenly Flame Sword!"

A searing, scorching sword energy burst forth from his blade! In an instant, the ground was scorched black and hardened by the heat waves radiating from the clash!

Boom!

The two sword energies collided, erupting with the sound of thunder! Both figures were sent flying back, but it was clear that Zhen Huai was more severely injured. He spat out a mouthful of blood and fell to one knee, using his sword to support himself so he wouldn't collapse.

Qi Yu’s clothes were shredded to rags, and his skin was scorched and torn—a gruesome sight to behold! But he gritted his teeth, utilized his movement technique, and appeared before Zhen Huai in an instant, his sword tip pointed at the center of his forehead.

"Qi Yu!"

At that moment, a vast and powerful pressure descended from the sky, pinning Qi Yu in place.

"So, you are a demonic abomination!" The newcomer was none other than Zhen Feng’s master, Yun Youzi! "Hmph, killing you today will not only avenge my disciple but also rid the world of a scourge!"

Behind Yun Youzi, a group of Zhen family elders also arrived.

"Hehe!" Zhen Huai chuckled, "Qi Yu, so what if you killed me? With all these elders of the Zhen family here, you are still headed for a dead end!"

Qi Yu’s distorted expression remained emotionless, but suddenly, he began to laugh.

"Hehehehe!"

Everyone was stunned by his laughter!

"Brat, what are you laughing at?"

"Has he gone mad from the fear of death?"

"Return the lives of our Zhen family disciples!"

Qi Yu’s spiritual energy in his dantian was nearly exhausted, and his body swayed. "Hehehe, you want to kill me? You aren't qualified!"

Qi Yu’s lips parted, and he called out in a low, deep voice, "Yaoyao!"

He took a sudden, fierce step forward.

"Come!"