Supreme Emperor of Mist

"Oh? You're still able to resist?" Qin Lan's attack throws Jiao Heng flying about ten meters away from where he stands. It seems that the Robe of Everlasting Spirit on him is not a (half) but (full) Defensive Treasure.

But without sufficient Spiritual Energy to protect his body, Qin Lan's fourth-level attack would still heavily injured him.

All the experts focused their attention on Qin Lan. Not a single fifth-level cultivator averted their sight away from Qin Lan as they studied the reason behind Qin Lan's ridiculous abundance of Spiritual Energy.

"Did the youth practiced some secret cultivation technique that doubled the storage capacity of Spiritual Energy in his core?" Lang Xue asked the question in his mind.

As a fellow cultivator himself, he's lucky to found a secret manual of a cultivation art called "Flame Tempering Body" inside the Flame Demon Mountain. It was by relying on this incomplete manual that he's capable of achieving what he had today.

"I don't believe that I'll lose to someone like you!" Jiao Heng swallowed a few Flesh Mending Pills and made a hand sign to call both fifth-level assassins back to his side. Huo Zunjie and the expert from the Qin Family also moved back to Qin Lan's side.

"Pa - Pa = Pa!" Lang Xue also clapped his hands three times to call the bandits back where he's at. Right now, all three sides have lost their interest to continue this fight due to Qin Lan and Jiao Heng's duel.

Furthermore, looking at the differences in number, it is normal for those from the Fu-Rong Town to lost the intention to continue fighting rashly without considering the bigger picture.

With twenty cultivators are either dead or injured, only 130 of them are still capable of fighting. The fifty hidden cultivators that operate earlier alongside eight Yellowtail Fox Demon had exposed themselves the moment the fight intensified.

As for the bandit's side, the 300 robbers are now left with 180 people. Added with 70 people remained from the Jiao Family's Night Dragon Corps, they're at 250 people in total.

Although some are itching to continue the fight, they'll have to hold themselves back as the main lead in this battle weren't them, but the "two young masters" from both Qin and Jiao Families.

The rivalry that's been there should be settled by themselves.

"Hushan Leader, what do you mean by this?" Jiao Heng asked.

"The agreement between us is the Hushan Bandits will lure the people from Qin, Hu, and the Chu out here and thin their numbers. Anything else will be left to the Night Dragon Corps."

"Out of 300 brothers of mine, 120 of them are dead, injured, or captured by the punitive forces. I believe we've done enough based on the payment we received." Lang Xue smirked and ordered his men to leave.

A few fifth-level experts from the Hushan Bandits then led the weaker ones away. Within an incense stick of time, only Lang Xue, Xiong Jie, and Gou Ye remained.

"Young Patriarch, please leave this to us." Uncle Chen came to Qin Lan's side while being supported by the experts named Kang and Xiao.

"Qing Yun," Qin Lan called Lu Qing Yun's name without answering Uncle Chen. The maiden who had her name called moved around them like a fluttering butterfly and appeared right in front of Qin Lan.

Without saying anything, she used a gentle palm art towards the injured Uncle Chen.

"Kuangshan Healing Palm!" Lu Qing Yun's gentle Spiritual Energy motivates the recovery of Uncle Chen. His complexion returned to normal after receiving her treatment. Her skill immediately attracted the interest of three leaders of Hushan Bandits.

"Thank you, Young Patriarch. Thank you, little lady healer..." Uncle Chen lowered his head shamefully as he shows his gratitude. Such a skill is not rare, but to be treated on the spot still made him feel somewhat prioritized.

"Young master, let me..." Lu Qing Yun came closer to Qin Lan's side. But Qin Lan politely rejects her approach.

"Jiao Heng. Let's end this." Qin Lan steps forward and stops at the five meters mark as he speaks. The Spiritual Energy injected into his Eight Transformation Treasured Brush also changed slightly, motivating it to transform into a golden sword once more.

"How flexible..." the three bandit leaders would have drooled to obtain such an Offensive Treasure. But unfortunately, it came in the form of a brush, something the trio hates the most.

"Good!" Jiao Heng struggles as he tried to stand up.

"Let's settle everything between us." Jiao Heng took a crimson pill as he made his way to where Qin Lan is waiting.

The pill he took quickly takes effect as Jiao Heng's skin started to turn darker. The pupil of his eyes became bloody-red like it was bleeding from within as his Spiritual Energy grows intense.

"That brat... To think that he has a Demonic Transformation Pill made by Evil Infant Sect!" Lang Xue's expression is horrified.

"Young Patriarch of the Qin Family. If you're lucky to stay alive after today, remember that the Hushan Bandits will wait for you at Flame Demon Mountain! Goodbye! he turned around and left immediately, with Xiong Jie and Gou Ye following behind.

"Young Patriarch! Be careful with Jiao Heng! What he had eaten earlier is something called Demonic Transformation Pill." Uncle Chen quickly warned Qin Lan before it was too late.

"Demonic Transformation Pill? What can that pill do... Urgh!" Qin Lan averted his attention to Uncle Chen for more information. But as he made the foolish move, Jiao Heng already moved forward and delivered a blow at Qin Lan using the back of his Black Steel Dragon Blade.

"What? Fifth-Level Flesh Refining strength?" the sudden spike of strength by a full level in Jiao Heng's cultivation surprises Qin Lan. Furthermore, his Spiritual Energy seems to be replenished completely, leaving no more disadvantages like before.

"To think that Demonic Alchemy is still present after so long... They're indeed a pain." Qin Lan calmly deducted what is wrong with the Demonic Transformation Pill based on Jiao Heng's condition.

"No wonder the bandits left without regret. If this Jiao Heng eventually won against me, he's likely going to attack the bandits as well." Qin Lan land on the ground once more and swallowed a few Flesh Mending Pill and Flesh Refining Pill.

"Uncle Chen, I'll leave the Night Dragon Corps to you. Please make sure that you'll capture everyone. Lu Yi, Qing Yun, Zunjie, the three of you will stay with me." Qin Lan said.

"Young Patriarch!" Uncle Chen wanted to retort, but knowing his own condition and the number of enemies still remained on the battlefield, he gave up. Qin Lan's decision is indeed the wisest one at this moment, based on the importance of their interest.

"I'll follow Young Patriarch's order faithfully. Everyone, follow me and capture the remnants of the Night Dragon Corps!" Uncle Chen led the others to finish what they're here for.

"The three of you, I'll leave the Young Patriarch to your care," Uncle Chen followed the others and attacked the Night Dragon Corps.

"As for you... It's time I get serious as well," Qin Lan chuckled. His hand waved over the Purple-Dragon Storage Jade hung on his waistbelt and took three pieces of Offense Metal out.

"Sword of Heaven and Earth, make your appearance again and smite my enemies!" Qin Lan sacrifices the three pieces of precious Offense Metal to form the Qiankun Golden Sword once more.

Once again, the golden body of the blade aligned onto the Eight Transformation Treasured Brush perfectly. Perhaps because Qin Lan's cultivation is higher than before, the sword looks more striking this time.

(Wei)=====(Qian)

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(Lan)=====(Kun)

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(Zi)=====(Jin)

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(Yong)=====(Jian)

The two columns of ancient texts release a hint of primordial aura as the sword glows in Qin Lan's hand. And right before a weapon of this level, all kinds of Offensive Treasure are required to pay sufficient respect.

The Black Steel Dragon Blade and Amber Scale Glove on Jiao Heng lost a hint of brilliance before the Qiankun Golden Sword. Even the Dragon Jade Fingers on Lu Yi and Huo Zunjie's hand faced the same pressure.

"ROAR!!!" Jiao Heng no longer retains a speck of sanity in his mind. Roaring and moving around like a dog infected with rabies, he charged forward and attacked Qin Lan a couple times using the Black Steel Dragon Blade.

Although he had begun to lose the sense of reasoning, it did not affect any of his Martial Prowess. Having his attack blocked made Jiao Heng retreated a few steps back as he channels some Spiritual Energy for a big move.

This time, the "Violent Torrent in Four Directions" martial art no longer looks exquisite like before. There's only a single energy blade moving towards Qin Lan at a daunting speed.

Qin Lan dare not underestimate the force behind this attack. With both hands on the Qiankun Golden Sword, Qin Lan retaliated.

The attack canceled out each other, but with a hefty cost. Qin Lan's right arm is still shaking from the exchange.

"D*mn! My physique is still not as strong as Lu Yi and Huo Zunjie." Qin Lan complained. He immediately executed the Mistral Mirage Steps without further ado and dodged Jiao Heng's second attack without a problem.

Then, in a split second of opportunity, Qin Lan delivered a sword strike on Jiao Heng's back. A deep wound opened but devoid of blood.

"Why is there no blood flowing out from his back?" Lu Qing Yun asked.

"That's because the pill he took earlier converted his blood energy into Spiritual Energy." Qin Lan answered as he continues to fight against Jiao Heng. Using the Mistral Mirage Steps to dodged Jiao Heng's attack, he slowly wears this rival of his down until it was time to deliver the killing blow.

The opportunity finally came after close to an incense stick of time later.

As Jiao Heng's lifeforce has started to dry up, his attack is no longer as fierce and powerful as before.

Furthermore, it was also time for Qin Lan to made his move.

"Goodbye." Qin Lan delivered his last respect onto this wild beast that looked like a human. The ancient text from the word "Wei" flashed brilliantly as Qin Lan repeated the same move he used to eliminate the Violet Legged Broodmother.

**To Act as Heaven and Earth!**

The killing blow stabs through Jiao Heng's left chest. Just like before, the Qiankun Golden Sword shattered into dust particles the moment it ends.