C14 It Was a Matter of Running away

Lee Qi's gaze was icy, causing the temperature around him to plummet. Young Master Tian Peng felt a chill creep from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.

Had Young Master Tian Peng merely desired his Body Tempering Technique, Lee Qi wouldn't have been so incensed. But the audacity to covet Wang Ling'er was something Lee Qi could never abide. A dragon has its vulnerable scale, touch it and face certain death. Wang Ling'er was Lee Qi's vulnerable scale, and he would show no mercy to anyone who dared target her.

His eyebrows arched in barely contained fury, signaling the zenith of his rage. A wave of lethal intent burst forth, enveloping Young Master Tian Peng.

Young Master Tian Peng felt an icy sting all over, as if sliced by invisible blades, a dull ache spreading through him. Lee Qi's murderous aura was relentless, each wave more formidable than the last.

Standing in the vortex of this deadly energy, Young Master Tian Peng shivered uncontrollably.

With a fierce roar, Young Master Tian Peng unleashed his full might, clashing with the onslaught of Lee Qi's lethal intent. An Essence Energy Shield wrapped around him, spinning rapidly, kicking up clouds of dust.

His cultivation at the Second Level of the Earth Essence Stage burst forth, his Essence Energy roaring out like a rampaging flood dragon.

With a thunderous howl, the dragon-like Essence Energy burst from his body, the roar echoing across the sky, leaving the onlookers with ringing ears.

"Young Master Tian Peng is formidable indeed!"

"With cultivation at the Earth Essence Stage, he's leagues beyond Lee Qi. There's no way Lee Qi can withstand him."

"Young Master Tian Peng hails from the Wind Moon Empire, where the resources they command are unimaginable to us in smaller territories. Even if Lee Qi were at the same cultivation level, he couldn't hope to rival him."

"Lee Qi has just endured three major battles without a moment's rest. Facing a formidable adversary like Young Master Tian Peng now, he stands no chance."

...

Lee Yafang watched Young Master Tian Peng with eager, flirtatious eyes.

"Young Master Tian Peng, once you've taken Wang Ling'er, I'll show her how to attend to your needs."

Lee Longfei's eyes sparked with hope as he witnessed Young Master Tian Peng spring into action. If he could just take down Lee Qi, even if his own cultivation was ruined, having Lee Yafang in his corner meant the family would certainly weigh their options carefully.

He was beside himself with excitement. "Young Master Tian Peng, you have to eliminate Lee Qi. You must..."

His excitement, however, aggravated his dantian injury, causing him to wince and clench his teeth in agony.

Young Master Tian Peng had no time to attend to him; the murderous aura he faced was chilling to the bone.

He would have preferred to avoid a confrontation with someone like Lee Qi at all costs. Yet, the thought of Lee Qi's Body Tempering technique filled him with avarice, and the image of Wang Ling'er, as delicate as a porcelain doll, set his heart ablaze with desire.

With these thoughts fueling him, he summoned his Essence Energy. At the pinnacle of Profound Qi cultivation, it would solidify into Essence Energy, stored within the dantian and ready to surge through the body when called upon, vastly enhancing strength, speed, and defense.

As a practitioner at the second level of the Earth Essence Stage, Young Master Tian Peng's activation of Essence Energy sent it coursing through his body, reaching every limb and bone.

A subtle glow emanated from his form, his body slightly swelling wherever the Essence Energy traveled. Eventually, it converged to forge an Essence Energy Shield, a defense far surpassing that of the Profound Qi Shield, impenetrable to blade and impervious to the elements. His body now seemed enveloped in a thick layer of this shield.

Simultaneously, Young Master Tian Peng unsheathed a treasured sword, its blade casting a piercing gleam. The Essence Energy flowed from his arm into the sword, generating a radiant sword light.

The sword light pulsed with life, its presence as majestic as a rainbow, while the sword qi exuded a bone-chilling coldness.

"Wind Moon Sword Arts!"

With a flourish of his treasured sword, Young Master Tian Peng executed the Wind Moon Sword Arts. Though the same technique, his rendition was several times more potent than that of Lee Yafang's.

Lee Qi felt the sky grow dim, and the air around him was thick with the shadows of swords, the sword qi scraping against his skin, causing a faint pain. The treasured sword in Young Master Tian Peng's grip whirled rapidly, humming as it sliced through the air. The sound grew louder, and with a swift thrust, the sword aimed straight for Lee Qi.

The blade moved with incredible speed, reaching Lee Qi's chest in the blink of an eye. The flickering sword light sent a deep chill through him; the sword itself hadn't yet arrived, but its menacing glow had. Lee Qi, taking no chances, stepped back to widen the gap between them.

His right fist clenched, unleashing a force of 20,000 kilograms that erupted forth. The punch was ferociously explosive, warping the space around him. Striking the sword light, his fist shattered it like brittle ice, the fragments vanishing into nothingness. Lee Qi's momentum carried his fist onward, slamming into Young Master Tian Peng's treasured sword with a resounding "Boom!" as metal clashed.

Both Young Master Tian Peng and Lee Qi staggered back several steps before regaining their footing. Young Master Tian Peng's sword hand throbbed with pain, his grip on the blade unsteady. Lee Qi, too, was not unscathed. Despite his impressive Fist Strength and the protection of Profound Qi, the head-on clash with Young Master Tian Peng had taken its toll.

Young Master Tian Peng, armed with a sharp weapon and bolstered by Essence Energy, would have surely overwhelmed Lee Qi if not for his extraordinary might. Wang Ling'er watched anxiously, biting her red lips, her bright eyes dimmed with concern. She remained silent, not wanting to distract him, but her worry was palpable. Lee Qi had never before encountered such a formidable opponent, and she feared he might not prevail. The thought of his defeat was too much for her to bear.

Young Master Tian Peng brandished his sword with grace and power, the blade dancing like a startled swan, its light surging and gleaming with lethal intent. He launched another attack, his voice booming, "Let's see how many of my strikes your fist can withstand!"

As the sword light closed in once more, Lee Qi didn't retreat but advanced, his fingers curling into a fist. With a forward lunge, he threw his punch with unyielding force.

The force of his fury pulsed subtly within his clenched fist.

With one strike of his fist, the sword's radiance shattered, scattering in an instant.

Lee Qi didn't pause. He launched another punch, its speed so swift it shattered the void around him, warping the fabric of space itself.

The power of his punch erupted, the blast of air from his fist tousling Young Master Tian Peng's long hair, leaving it to float wildly behind him, giving him the appearance of a madman.

Lee Qi's relentless assault continued, his fists pounding against Young Master Tian Peng's cherished sword.

The glow of the sword faded, the sword's energy vanished, and finally, the treasured blade itself could no longer endure the onslaught and began to fracture.

Young Master Tian Peng was utterly astounded, retreating repeatedly in terror.

"So powerful!"

Now, his treasured sword was nothing but shards, with only the hilt remaining in his grasp.

Yet, Lee Qi's assault was far from over. His massive fist bore down, growing larger in Young Master Tian Peng's wide-eyed stare.

A chill crept into Young Master Tian Peng's heart as his face registered pure horror.

He knew better than to clash directly with Lee Qi's fist. His treasured sword had been obliterated; his own arm stood no chance.

He retreated rapidly, step by urgent step, until he reached Lee Yafang's side. Glancing at her, his expression twisted into one of cruelty.

In a swift motion, he seized Lee Yafang, thrusting her towards the oncoming fist of Lee Qi.

Simultaneously, he whistled sharply, and the Great Roc swooped in.

Young Master Tian Peng leapt onto the back of the Great Roc, which took to the skies with a powerful surge.

He was indifferent to Lee Yafang's fate. To him, she was merely a plaything—something to enjoy when convenient and discard when not.

For him, it was nothing out of the ordinary.

But Lee Yafang never imagined her lover could be so ruthless. Moments before, she was embraced in his arms, and now, she was nothing more than a human shield.

Her eyes widened in terror, and in her frantic state, she couldn't even muster her Profound Qi for protection.

Lee Qi's fist struck her squarely in the chest, sending her entire body hurtling through the air as if his single punch had shattered her.

"Crack..." The chilling sound of bones snapping filled the air.

"Yafang..." Lee Longfei's pained cry rang out.

"Lee Qi! If you dare, come to the Wind Moon Empire. I'll make sure you regret it!" Young Master Tian Peng's voice reverberated through the skies.