C29 The Death of Bao Lie!

Bao Lie's eyes sparkled with a fierce intensity.

They vowed not to return to the Black Panther Profound Warrior Group until they had slain Chu Yangxiang. If they failed to eliminate even a Three-star Profound Warrior, they would rather take their own lives.

Inside the Nine Horns Xuanwu Cauldron, Chu Yangxiang sneered coldly. "You wish to kill me, but I too seek your demise. Let's see who will fall to whom."

Nightfall brought increased humidity to the small valley.

The Black Panther Profound Warrior Group consumed some Pills and dry rations, taking shelter in a cave overnight.

Despite a full day's search, Chu Yangxiang remained elusive.

As dusk settled, their guard visibly dropped.

Chu Yangxiang observed them sitting down to meditate and knew they were at their most vulnerable.

The thought that Chu Yangxiang might strike when they were most at ease never crossed their minds, especially with two Profound Warriors on watch at the cave's mouth.

Out of the shadows, Chu Yangxiang leapt, his dagger gleaming with a chilling light as he charged at them.

The Profound Warriors, weary from the day's toils and just beginning to meditate, were caught off guard as Chu Yangxiang burst forth.

His assault targeted the injured and poisoned Profound Warriors.

Three Profound Warriors were swiftly dispatched by Chu Yangxiang without warning.

Without hesitation, he advanced toward the cave entrance.

The two Profound Warriors standing guard were momentarily stunned, allowing Chu Yangxiang to reach the mouth of the cave.

Evading their rushed attacks, he slashed his dagger at them, severing the necks of both Profound Warriors.

Lian Ji let out a furious roar, brandishing his Long Sword as he charged at Chu Yangxiang.

Chu Yangxiang had already exited the cave, finding himself amidst the vines.

Lian Ji emerged from the cave in pursuit.

With eyes brimming with icy resolve, Chu Yangxiang thrust his dagger toward Lian Ji.

Lian Ji met him with a cold smile, his sword radiating lethal intent as it advanced on Chu Yangxiang.

Chu Yangxiang sensed an overwhelming murderous force bearing down on him. The Sword Aura sliced through the air, the Sword Aura surged skyward, making evasion a formidable challenge.

He deftly pointed his dagger at the long sword's blade while his left hand pressed down on Lian Ji's shoulder.

The clash between Lian Ji's long sword and Chu Yangxiang's dagger sent sword aura slicing through Chu Yangxiang's garments.

A crimson line traced itself across Chu Yangxiang's body.

Had he not mastered the Martial God Heavenly Technique, he would have sustained injuries much earlier.

Lian Ji contracted his frame, narrowly evading Chu Yangxiang's aerial palm strike. His left hand met Chu Yangxiang's foot with a thud.

Lian Ji staggered from the impact. Chu Yangxiang tumbled into the pond, coughing up blood before submerging into the Nine Horns Xuanwu Cauldron beneath the water.

Chu Yangxiang dabbed away the blood at his mouth's corner. Martial Masters were formidable indeed. He stood no chance against one – even a One-star Martial Master could easily dispatch him.

Lian Ji's blow packed the force of two thousand kilograms, enough to damage his internal organs.

Another assailant, radiating immense sword qi, plunged into the spot where Chu Yangxiang had entered the water, sending waves several feet high crashing outward.

Lian Ji pursued Chu Yangxiang into the depths. With his speed, he was confident his sword would strike true. Yet, reality proved otherwise.

Bao Lie and the rest emerged and scoured the small pond, but Chu Yangxiang was nowhere to be found. With heavy hearts and faces clouded with frustration, they retreated.

"Where has Chu Yangxiang vanished to?"

"I have no idea. Chu Yangxiang's comings and goings are always enigmatic."

Bao Lie surveyed the five fallen Profound Warriors, his expression etched with boundless fury. Today, he had lost half of the twenty men he brought. None had caught a glimpse of Chu Yangxiang's technique – a baffling occurrence.

Such an event was unprecedented in the history of the Black Panther Profound Warrior Group.

"We'll split into three teams of four for shifts. Everyone needs to be on high alert. Chu Yangxiang undoubtedly harbors secrets unknown to us," Bao Lie commanded.

Meanwhile, Chu Yangxiang was secluded within the Nine Horns Xuanwu Cauldron, seated amidst the beast blood, immersing himself in cultivation.

The Beast Blood, medicinal energy, and the power of the inner core flowed into Chu Yangxiang's body through the Martial God Heavenly Technique, gently nourishing his internal organs as they slowly healed.

The recent encounter had been perilously close. Lian Ji's strike had severely damaged Chu Yangxiang's internal organs. Had he not swiftly taken refuge in the Nine Horns Xuanwu Cauldron, he would have stood no chance against Lian Ji's sword, as swift as a bolt of lightning.

He now truly grasped the might of a Martial Master.

Martial Masters possessed a profound insight into the ways of Martial Cultivators, vastly surpassing ordinary warriors. The chasm between Martial Masters and warriors was immense and seemingly insurmountable.

He had become somewhat conceited. His rapid progress in recent days had caused him to lose sight of his limitations.

He would need to be more cautious in his next attack, making sure to evade Lian Ji's strikes.

Four hours later, Chu Yangxiang's internal injuries had fully healed. He looked to Tianwu and inquired, "Tianwu, could you defeat this Martial Master?"

Tianwu responded with a scoff, "If I were to take action, even a thousand Martial Masters would pose no challenge. But I won't make a move. What would be the point of you if I handled everything? Remember, I'm here to assist you, not to take your place."

Chu Yangxiang gazed at the turtle-shaped Weapon Spirit, pondering for a moment before realization dawned on him. This was his trial. If Tianwu intervened in every situation, there would be no trials for him to face. He nodded in agreement, "Only through such life-and-death struggles can I truly advance."

With that, he slipped out of the Nine Horns Xuanwu Cauldron and stealthily emerged from the water.

Inside the cauldron, Tianwu smirked, "You're quite impressive. I'll only step in when you're truly in mortal danger."

Unaware of Tianwu's words, Chu Yangxiang focused on the task at hand. The night was moonless, the sky a tapestry of stars, casting the small valley into deeper shadows.

Chu Yangxiang crept to the edge of the cave, intimately familiar with the terrain after more than ten days of residence.

Inside the cave, Bao Lie and three Profound Warriors stood guard.

Bao Lie was filled with frustration. The task of hunting Chu Yangxiang had seemed straightforward to everyone else. He had not anticipated the devastating losses his Profound Warrior Group would endure.

Luo Yufei and ten Profound Warriors had perished, all of whom were the cream of the crop within the Profound Warrior Group. They were the devoted followers of Bao Lie and his father, sustained by Xuanwu Coins. Tragically, their immense dedication had been squandered in a small valley on Hyphosis Mountain.

After an earlier attack, they had returned to tidy the cave and strategize. Now, there had been silence for a full hour, and those not assigned to watch had succumbed to deep slumber after days of relentless toil.

It wasn't just them; even Bao Lie and the gatekeeping Profound Warriors were feeling the weight of exhaustion.

Upon entering Hyphosis Mountain, they had to remain constantly alert to fend off surprise attacks from Demonic Beasts lurking in the thick underbrush. They were also on the hunt for any traces left by Luo Yufei. Their vigilance never wavered, day or night.

How could they not feel fatigued at midnight?

Chu Yangxiang, however, was brimming with vitality. The combination of Demonic Beast blood, the essence of medicines, core energy, and Luo Yufei's impure Profound Crystal had infused him with an abundance of energy.

Chu Yangxiang clenched his jaw. The night was bound to be anything but peaceful.

He held his breath, creeping towards the cave with the stealth of a gecko.

A Profound Warrior emerged, standing at the mouth of the cave, yawning lengthily in a haze of weariness.

Chu Yangxiang, ghost-like, glided up behind him, clamping a hand over the warrior's mouth and swiftly drawing a blade across his throat.

"Still not finished peeing?" he murmured, mimicking the warrior's groggy tone with a simple grunt.

Chu Yangxiang then stowed the body in the Nine Horns Xuanwu Cauldron and moved to the cave entrance, taking a seat against the cave wall where he had previously been meditating.

Bao Lie addressed the three men sternly, "Snap to and muster your spirits. Otherwise, you'll die without a clue. Got it?"

"Yes," they responded in unison.

As Bao Lie approached the cave entrance, Chu Yangxiang rose to give him space. In that instant, Chu Yangxiang's dagger sparked to life, streaking towards Bao Lie with the speed of lightning.

Bao Lie could never have imagined that one of his own would attempt to assassinate him, nor could he have foreseen that the individual who had just stepped out would be silently slain by Chu Yangxiang.

True to his namesake, Bao Lie's reflexes were sharp; he swiftly moved to the side, evading danger.

The dagger grazed his neck, blood spraying in its wake.

Bao Lie threw a punch toward Chu Yangxiang's chest, but with a shudder, Chu Yangxiang sidestepped the blow. His dagger lunged for Bao Lie's neck once more.

Another slash, and Bao Lie's neck bore a fresh wound.

Chu Yangxiang, without a moment's delay, flicked his dagger, sending it streaking like a gleam of cold light straight for Black Panther's heart.

"See clearly who I am."

With immense force, Chu Yangxiang drove the dagger through Bao Lie's body.

Members of the Profound Warrior Group surged toward Chu Yangxiang.

Chu Yangxiang backed out of the cave and leaped into the water once more.

Lian Ji pursued, thrusting his long sword into the pond again, but came up empty.

From inside the cave, he heard desperate cries, "Young Commander, stay strong. We'll treat your wounds. You must endure."

Unable to locate Chu Yangxiang in the water, Lian Ji hurriedly rose and returned to the cave, only to be met with the sight of a blood-soaked Bao Lie, which caused his face to turn pale with shock.