Chapter 68: Killed with 1 Shot
"In your dreams. Hand over the Purple Lightning Golden Eagle, or you’re not leaving here alive!" the aquiline-nosed man, Zhao Tianxuan, said grimly.
"Hmph. Don’t push me, Zhao Tianxuan." A cold sneer crept across the gray-robed man’s pale face. "You’ve been poisoned with my Intestine-Breaking Poison. It’s not yet certain who will live and who will die!"
"Then I’ll just kill you first and expel the poison later!" the aquiline-nosed man roared. His long sword stirred gusts of wind, transforming into a streak of cyan light that whistled toward the gray-robed man.
The gray-robed man’s expression fell. His gaze was incredibly tense and solemn as he hurriedly met the attack with his Black Iron Claw.
"CLANG!"
The Black Iron Claw collided with the Cyan Blade Sword. Metal rang against metal, sending sparks flying.
"CLANG!" "PING! PING! PONG! PONG!"
"CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!"
The two began another round of fierce clashes. The gray-robed man’s Claw Technique was sharp and cunning, not to be underestimated, but its power was greatly diminished due to his severed arm. Meanwhile, although Zhao Tianxuan was afflicted by the Intestine-Breaking Poison, his Gale Sword Skill was immensely powerful. It subtly stirred the air currents around them, completely overwhelming the man in gray.
The aquiline-nosed Zhao Tianxuan was clearly stronger than the gray-robed Miao Wuxie. However, Miao Wuxie’s Black Iron Claw was coated in a deadly poison, which made Zhao Tianxuan extremely wary. He didn’t dare to be careless and fought with utmost caution, though his strikes remained ruthless.
The aquiline-nosed Zhao Tianxuan wanted to kill the gray-robed Miao Wuxie and seize the Purple Lightning Golden Eagle—an item that might not even exist. Miao Wuxie knew this as well; if he couldn’t kill Zhao Tianxuan, he would never make it out alive. He was aware that his raw power was inferior, but since Zhao Tianxuan was also afflicted with his Intestine-Breaking Poison, he still had a chance to turn the tables. This was a fight to the death, and both men were battling desperately.
It was kill or be killed.
After thirty exchanges, the battle escalated dramatically. The fight reached a fever pitch, becoming a true life-or-death struggle.
Blood dripped steadily from the gray-robed man’s severed arm as he struggled to defend himself. Meanwhile, the spot between Zhao Tianxuan’s eyebrows grew darker, a clear sign the poison was worsening. Both men wanted to kill their opponent quickly so they could tend to their wounds.
"CLANG!" "PING! PING! PONG! PONG!"
"CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!"
Fierce winds whipped through the air, sending fallen leaves scattering wildly. They fought their way from the treetops to the ground, then leaped back onto the branches to continue their brutal clash.
Twenty more exchanges passed. Suddenly, a blood-curdling scream pierced the night sky, only to be cut short.
In the distance, two figures stood frozen. The night fell deathly still.
The aquiline-nosed Zhao Tianxuan’s Cyan Blade Sword had pierced the chest of the gray-robed Miao Wuxie. With a vicious twist, he shredded Miao Wuxie’s heart, killing him instantly. Crimson blood dripped from the sword’s tip, drop by agonizing drop, staining the fallen leaves below.
But despite having killed Miao Wuxie, Zhao Tianxuan looked far from victorious. The spot between his eyebrows was black and his lips had turned purple as beads of cold sweat trickled down his forehead. Worse, he had been struck in the stomach by Miao Wuxie’s desperate, last-ditch counterattack. Five deep claw marks were carved into his abdomen, a mangled mess of flesh. The blood that oozed from the wound was a toxic black.
’The Purple Lightning Golden Eagle... I hope the rumors were true. Otherwise, I’ve wasted days tracking this Miao Wuxie for nothing.’ Zhao Tianxuan impatiently rushed to the corpse’s side, untied the Qiankun Bag from its waist, and began to carefully search its contents.
"Haha! It’s real! The rumors about Miao Wuxie finding a Purple Lightning Golden Eagle Demon Beast Egg in the Demon Beast Mountain Range were true! Hahaha, this Purple Lightning Golden Eagle belongs to me, Zhao Tianxuan, now!" The aquiline-nosed Zhao Tianxuan was rummaging through Miao Wuxie’s Qiankun Bag, his expression one of pure ecstasy. "Huh? He even has the Five Poison Sect’s secret manual, the Five Poison Scripture! This is a wonderful surprise... GACK!"
As he excitedly rummaged through the Qiankun Bag, Zhao Tianxuan’s expression suddenly changed. He vomited a mouthful of poisoned blood, its blackish contents instantly corroding a large patch of fallen leaves on the ground.
"Damn it! If I hadn’t been careless, how could someone of my strength have been poisoned and injured? Damn that treacherous Five Poison Sect cultist! Later, I’ll chop your corpse into a pulp to vent my hatred!" A murderous glint flashed in Zhao Tianxuan’s eyes. He quickly pressed several acupoints on his abdomen, sealing them to stop the poison from spreading. Then, he hurriedly sat cross-legged and began to circulate his energy to expel the toxin.
Meanwhile, deep within the woods, the foliage was incredibly dense.
Peeking through the leaves and branches, Ye Xing had witnessed the entire, brutal fight.
’A Ninth Realm Martial Artist is terrifyingly strong. He could probably kill me in a single move. Even severely injured, Zhao Tianxuan’s Martial Arts are far beyond what I can handle. The Second Realm and the Ninth Realm... that’s a full seven realms of difference. This should be a perfect ’let them wound each other, then swoop in for the kill’ scenario, but it doesn’t work when you’re this weak. No, it’s too dangerous here. While that bastard is busy expelling the poison, I need to get out of here.’ Ye Xing’s eyes shifted, and he prepared to flee the woods.
However, after just a few steps, Ye Xing abruptly froze.
’Right, I almost forgot. My Martial Arts might be useless right now, but I have this!’ Ye Xing’s hand went to his lower back, and he drew a handgun from his waistband.
It was, of course, the same gun he had taken off the thugs when he’d saved his cousin, Little Hai.
’What do I do? Should I do it or not?’ Ye Xing’s gun hand trembled slightly with nerves as he hesitated. Killing Zhao Tianxuan meant an enormous fortune would fall into his lap, enough to make him rich overnight without having to wait months. The two Qiankun Bags alone were worth tens of thousands of Gold Coins, and they might even contain a Martial Arts Manual. The thought was incredibly tempting. However, with great reward came great risk. A Ninth Realm Martial Artist was no easy target. If he failed to kill Zhao Tianxuan, Ye Xing’s own life would be in extreme danger.
It was a difficult decision, and Ye Xing found himself lost in thought, weighing the pros and cons.
’Zhao Tianxuan is poisoned and injured. If I take aim from the cover of the woods, my chances of success have to be over eighty percent. Goddammit, it’d be a crime to waste an opportunity this good. I’m going for it!’ Gritting his teeth, Ye Xing crept forward, found the best vantage point, and raised the handgun, aiming at Zhao Tianxuan in the clearing.
’The heavens are on my side. This posture is perfect. Expelling poison, completely still... he’s a living target, hehe.’
In the clearing ahead, bathed in moonlight, Zhao Tianxuan sat cross-legged, perfectly still, concentrating all his effort on expelling the poison.
’Okay, I’ve got his head in my sights. One shot, and I’ll send this bastard to see King Yama!’ A vicious glint appeared in Ye Xing’s eyes as he pulled the trigger.
"BANG!"
The gunshot rang out. The bullet left the barrel like a flash of lightning, streaking toward Zhao Tianxuan’s head with unparalleled speed.