C22 The Arrogant Huang Loong

Lee Qi unleashed a barrage of powerful punches, swiftly eliminating the last four Blood Devils. Dusting off his hands, he approached the Blood Devil Leader. Gazing down with eyes filled with lethal intent, he exuded an aura of undeniable menace.

The Blood Devil Leader, sensing the end was near, closed his eyes, refusing to plead for his life.

"You've got some guts, but your time is up," Lee Qi declared, his voice devoid of emotion, chilling like a whisper from the abyss.

The leader shivered, fully aware that begging would not spare him. With a devastating punch from Lee Qi, his meridians and organs were shattered in an instant. His head lolled to the side, life extinguished.

Lee Qi methodically dispatched the remaining Twelve Blood Devils, ending their lifetimes of wickedness in a manner they likely never envisioned.

Having vanquished the Twelve Blood Devils, Lee Qi also stripped them of their ill-gotten gains. Not a trace was left behind, a testament to the ruthless efficiency he'd honed in his past life.

In this life, without any foundation or resources, he was even more determined to follow this path, knowing it was the quickest way to amass power.

The Twelve Blood Devils had amassed considerable wealth, having acquired over two million taels of silver from the Zhao family alone. Combined with their previous fortunes, the total neared five million taels.

Lee Qi gathered this fortune and entrusted it to Wang Ling'er. The silver of the mortal realm held no value for him.

"Ling'er, take good care of this. It may come in handy later," Lee Qi said, his eyes softening with affection, the stern warrior momentarily replaced by a gentle soul.

Wang Ling'er, concerned, suggested, "Shouldn't we rest a bit before we attempt to rescue father and our kin?"

Without hesitation, she began securing the silver as Lee Qi shook his head, his face breaking into a reassuring smile. "I'm fine. Let's focus on a swift rescue of your father."

During the recent skirmish, he had relied mostly on his physical prowess, sparing him from significant exhaustion. And any fatigue he did feel was quickly replenished as he breathed in the life-giving Profound Qi, leaving him nearly restored.

Hand in hand with Wang Ling'er, her delicate hand in his, Lee Qi strolled confidently toward the main house, ready for the next challenge.

Dappled sunlight sprinkled across the courtyard.

Lee Qi walked through the flecks of light, his mood light and at ease.

Regardless of whatever ace up their sleeves Zhao Xiangfei and his son Zhao Lingtian had, he was undaunted.

In contrast, Wang Ling'er was somewhat anxious, her palms slick with sweat.

Lee Qi took her hand, infusing it with a comforting warmth that eased her nerves.

A few steps further, they encountered a Zhao family servant, paralyzed with fear and having wet himself at the sight of Lee Qi.

Lee Qi barely gave the man a glance, deeming him too insignificant to bother with.

It wasn't until Lee Qi headed for the main house that the servant scrambled away in panic, grateful to escape with his life, vowing never to serve the Zhao family again.

Outside the main house, Zhao Lingtian and Huang Loong were leisurely sipping tea.

The fate of the Twelve Blood Devils was of no concern to them; their deaths were inconsequential.

"Master Huang! After you!"

"Patriarch Zhao! Please, after you!"

Their actions were the epitome of grace, exuding the air of high society with every gesture.

By contrast, Zhao Xiangfei was a picture of distress and restlessness.

"Lee Qi has arrived!"

To Zhao Xiangfei's horror, Lee Qi was unscathed, despite having slain the Twelve Blood Devils. His clothes were stained with blood, but it was theirs, not his.

What stoked Zhao Xiangfei's envy even more was Lee Qi's arm around Wang Ling'er.

Lee Qi spared Zhao Xiangfei no attention, knowing that the man had been struck by the Nine Transverse Meridian Severing Hand and wouldn't live much longer.

Upon Lee Qi's arrival, Huang Loong remained seated, asking with a haughty air, "So you're Lee Qi?"

His tone was dripping with disdain, his arrogance surpassing even that of Lin Ao, as he looked down upon Lee Qi.

But Lee Qi, with five thousand years of martial arts mastery and having reached the pinnacle of power in his past life, was no stranger to reverence.

He had never been one to be belittled. With a cold snort, he dismissed the arrogance before him.

You may be proud, but I carry an even greater pride within me.

You may have pride, but mine surpasses yours.

Huang Loong rose to his feet with deliberate slowness, his voice dripping with scorn. "Don't fool yourself into thinking that defeating a rabble like the Twelve Blood Devils is an impressive feat. I was a prodigy of the Black Tortoise Kingdom, mastering the Qi Gathering Stage at fourteen and advancing to the Earth Essence Stage by twenty-five. Now in my thirties, I've attained the fourth level of the Earth Essence Stage."

"Among the ranks of the Black Tortoise Sect, I'm recognized as a top-tier genius!"

"What makes you think you have the right to be so proud?"

With that, Huang Loong drew his treasured sword, leveling it at Lee Qi. The sword qi he released was elusive and traceless, like an antelope's horns.

The sword moved with a fluid grace, as if dancing to its own rhythm.

"I've noticed something—the so-called experts of the Black Tortoise Sect are all insufferably arrogant."

Lee Qi didn't even spare Huang Loong a glance as he spoke to Wang Ling'er.

She couldn't help but giggle, her tension dissolving into laughter. A blush spread across her delicate features, her smile utterly captivating. Zhao Xiangfei was spellbound.

Huang Loong, unaccustomed to such mockery, barked out, "Lee Qi, I had intended to let you live. But your arrogance begs to be tested. Let's see the true extent of your strength."

"The disciples of the Black Tortoise Sect are just as I said—arrogant to the core. Do I look like I need your mercy? I think not."

Lee Qi shook his head, his mouth twisting into a wry smile.

"Well then! Good! Good! Good! Excellent!" Huang Loong repeated, his energy surging forth.

His power at the fourth level of the Earth Essence Stage unleashed, his aura swept through the room, sending dust, leaves, and even the tea table into the air before pulverizing them.

His aura bore down on Lee Qi.

But Lee Qi was unshakable, the kind of man who never cowered before the force of another's presence. In the Black Tortoise Kingdom, no one had been born who could suppress him with mere aura.

His expression remained stoic, his eyes tranquil.

"As I've said before, apart from their arrogance, the disciples of the Black Tortoise Sect have nothing else to show for themselves."

His words appeared to be for Wang Ling'er's ears, yet they were truly meant for Huang Loong.

Huang Loong's face soured to an extreme, eventually taking on a liverish hue.

He unleashed a roar, "Roar! Roar!"

His demeanor was that of a madman, his aura climbing relentlessly.

Wang Ling'er faltered under Huang Loong's imposing presence, prompting Lee Qi to swiftly shield her behind him.

Meanwhile, Zhao Xiangfei and Zhao Lingtian discreetly backed away toward the main house.

"Such a formidable aura! No wonder Huang Zhenren is hailed as the most gifted individual in the Black Tortoise Kingdom!" Zhao Lingtian exclaimed with fervor.

Zhao Xiangfei, less certain, murmured, "Can our Martial Uncle really overcome Lee Qi?"

"He has to. I've spent my entire fortune to secure Master Huang's intervention," Zhao Lingtian declared gravely.

"I certainly hope so! But Martial Uncle's intimidating presence seems to have no effect on Lee Qi." Zhao Xiangfei was visibly more nervous than if he were the one facing the challenge.

Despite the onslaught of Huang Loong's aura, Lee Qi remained unmoved, his clothes the only thing stirring in the invisible current. Not a single furrow crossed his brow.

The epitome of serenity – that description was by no means an exaggeration.

Witnessing Lee Qi's composure, Zhao Lingtian's confidence wavered, his heart hanging by a thread.

He had a contingency plan should Huang Loong fall, retreating a few more steps toward the main house.

If Huang Loong were to lose, he was ready to seize Wang Tianlong and coerce Lee Qi, all to ensure his own survival.

After a bout of roaring, Huang Loong was taken aback to see Lee Qi still exuding an effortless grace. It was beyond belief.

"How has Lee Qi managed this? Could he have mastered some technique that renders him impervious to such pressure?" Unable to pinpoint the reason, he clung to any excuse to maintain his belief.

​