C10 Chapter 10

"Saber-tooth Tiger, Golden Lion, Iron Dragon." The Deacon Elder's eyes lit up as he gazed at the bodies of the Demon Beasts, each at the third level of the Qi Refining Stage. His heart raced with excitement. Breeze City was a small place, and its local branch was modest in size. To see 10 Demon Beasts of this caliber presented at once was nothing short of astonishing.

"Did you take these down yourself?" After a long moment of shock, the Deacon Elder asked.

Hua Hsing did not answer directly. Instead, he asked, "What's the price?"

Realizing that Hua Hsing was unwilling to say more, the Deacon Elder replied at once, "Each Demon Beast at the third level of the Qi Refining Stage is worth 3,000 Low Grade Spirit Stones. Altogether, these 10 Demon Beasts are worth 30,000 Low Grade Spirit Stones."

Hua Hsing nodded and said, "However, I need to keep the Saber-tooth Tiger's hide." He still needed the hide to complete a task.

"All right, here are 30,000 Low Grade Spirit Stones. Please verify the amount." The Deacon Elder took out the stones from his Space Ring and handed them to Hua Hsing.

Hua Hsing counted them briefly and put them away.

"If you come across more of these in the future, make sure to bring them to our Breeze City branch," the Deacon Elder said eagerly.

Hua Hsing nodded and then asked, "Does the Breeze City branch have any Barrier Breaking Pills?"

"Yes. Do you want Barrier Breaking Pills?" the Deacon Elder asked.

"Give me two Barrier Breaking Pills," Hua Hsing said.

The Deacon Elder quickly handed the pills to Hua Hsing and said, "Barrier Breaking Pills are ordinary-grade pills. Although they are among the lowest grade of ordinary pills, they are still very valuable. Under normal circumstances, the price is 5,000 Low Grade Spirit Stones each. However, I can give you a discount."

Hua Hsing paid 8,000 Low Grade Spirit Stones for the two Barrier Breaking Pills and then left.

"With these two Barrier Breaking Pills, Hsu Feng and Jiang He might be able to break through," Hua Hsing thought. Hsu Feng and Jiang He were Hua Hsing's good friends. Although 8,000 Low Grade Spirit Stones was a very high price, Hua Hsing still bought the Barrier Breaking Pills without hesitation.

Not only had Hua Hsing spent 8,000 Low Grade Spirit Stones, he still had 22,200 left, a considerable fortune. When he returned to the Azure Edge Sword Sect, the first thing he did was head to Hsu Feng's residence.

"Hua Hsing, you're back," Jiang He and Hsu Feng said with smiles as soon as they saw him.

Hua Hsing noticed the bruises on Jiang He's face and the weakness in his aura. "Jiang He, what happened to you?"

"I'm fine." Jiang He hesitated, unwilling to say more.

"Who did this?" Hua Hsing asked coldly.

Jiang He exchanged a glance with Hsu Feng before speaking. "Hua Hsing, while you were away from the Azure Edge Sword Sect, Qii Yongqi kept coming here to cause trouble. I got into a conflict with him and was injured."

"Qii Yongqi?" Hua Hsing froze for a moment, then a cold light flashed in his eyes. Even without hearing the details, he could guess that all of this had happened because of him. Qii Yongqi had undoubtedly been sent by Re Yunzheng.

Hua Hsing lightly patted Jiang He's shoulder. "Focus on recovering. I will avenge you."

"Hua Hsing, don't act impulsively. Qii Yongqi is a disciple at the third level of the Qi Refining Stage. You are no match for him," Jiang He said anxiously.

"That's right. Hua Hsing, you must not provoke Qii Yongqi," Hsu Feng added.

"The third level of the Qi Refining Stage?" Hua Hsing said calmly, then shook his head. Not wanting to continue the topic, he took out the Black Spirit Herb. "This is the Black Spirit Herb. Give it to Hsu Feng."

Hsu Feng and Jiang He were stunned when they saw the Black Spirit Herb, and their faces filled with excitement.

"Hua Hsing, you really found the Black Spirit Herb," Hsu Feng said, unable to hold back his laughter.

"My internal injuries are healed. I owe it all to you, Hua Hsing." Unable to contain his gratitude, Hsu Feng hugged Hua Hsing.

"I'm not into guys," Hua Hsing replied.

"Get lost," Hsu Feng said with a laugh.

The three of them exchanged glances and burst into laughter. Friends understand each other.

But just as they were chatting, a cold voice suddenly interrupted them.

"Jiang He, you're here, and you didn't come out to greet me?"

The three, who had been laughing moments before, immediately fell silent and turned serious.

"Qii Yongqi?" Hua Hsing asked.

"Hua Hsing, don't be impulsive." Seeing Hua Hsing's expression, the other two knew he was angry.

"Hua Hsing, a little grievance on my part is nothing. You need to think about the bigger picture. Re Yunzheng has been trying to kill you. Don't fall into his trap," Jiang He said.

"Let's go meet him."

With a blank expression, Hua Hsing walked straight into the courtyard, followed by Jiang He and Hsu Feng.

"Hua Hsing, what are you doing here?" Qii Yongqi asked, clearly taken aback by Hua Hsing's appearance.

"If I shouldn't be here, then where should I be?" Hua Hsing replied.

"Weren't you supposed to be dead?" Qii Yongqi realized he had let something slip and immediately fell silent.

"Hua Hsing, I never expected you to have such a strong will to live. You actually survived the Demon Beasts," Qii Yongqi sneered.

Hua Hsing pointed at Hsu Feng behind him and asked, "Did you injure him?"

"That's right, I did. I told you, if I saw him, I'd take him down," Qii Yongqi said arrogantly. Despite Hua Hsing's unexpected return to the Azure Edge Sword Sect, Qii Yongqi did not believe Hua Hsing was a match for him.

"How do you plan to make it up to him?" Hua Hsing continued.

"Make it up to him? Have you lost your mind, Hua Hsing? You actually want me to compensate him?"

"You injured someone. Shouldn't you face the consequences?" Hua Hsing countered.

"Fine, since you insist on compensation, I'll give it to him." As soon as Qii Yongqi finished speaking, he swiftly drew his sword and attacked Hua Hsing, clearly intending to leave Hua Hsing and his companions badly injured.

Realizing he had let something slip, Qii Yongqi immediately fell silent. Then he sneered and said, "Hua Hsing, I really didn't expect your life to be this tough. You actually didn't die at the hands of a Demon Beast." Hua Hsing pointed at Jiang He behind him and asked, "He was injured by you?" Qii Yongqi replied arrogantly, "That's right. I was the one who injured him. I already said that if I saw him, I would beat him." Although Hua Hsing's unexpected return to the Azure Edge Sword Sect had caught him off guard, Qii Yongqi still did not believe Hua Hsing was qualified to stand against him. Hua Hsing continued, "How do you intend to compensate him?" Qii Yongqi laughed coldly. "Compensate him? Hua Hsing, are you out of your mind? You actually want me to compensate him?" Hua Hsing looked at him steadily. "You injured someone. Do you think you shouldn't have to pay the price?"

"Fine," Qii Yongqi said. "Since you want me to compensate him, then I'll compensate him." As soon as he finished speaking, his figure flashed, and a longsword appeared in his hand. He immediately unleashed a sword technique and charged straight at Hua Hsing. From the look of it, he seemed intent on crippling them. "Watch out, Hua Hsing!" Hsu Feng and Jiang He shouted.

Just as Qii Yongqi thought his sword would pierce Hua Hsing, he suddenly found himself immobilized, unable to move forward. In the next moment, Qii Yongqi felt a sharp pain. His sword clattered to the ground, and his arm, the one that had been holding the sword, fell cleanly from his shoulder. It was only then that Qii Yongqi realized his arm had been severed by Hua Hsing, and he let out a harrowing scream.

Hua Hsing calmly retracted his sword, while behind him, Hsu Feng and Jiang He stared in shock at the scene.

Hua Hsing severed the arm of a warrior at the third level of the Qi Refining Stage with a single strike. His strength was astonishing.

"Hua Hsing, how is this possible?" At that moment, Qii Yongqi was filled with terror. He could not understand how Hua Hsing had become so powerful.

"2,000 Low Grade Spirit Stones are the price you must pay," Hua Hsing said.

Qii Yongqi ignored the demand completely. As he backed out of the courtyard, he shouted, "Hua Hsing, just wait. Senior Brother Re will not let you off."

After Qii Yongqi left, Hsu Feng and Jiang He both stood there in a daze, as if they were dreaming.

"Why are you just standing there?" Hua Hsing asked.

Hsu Feng and Jiang He looked at him excitedly. "Hua Hsing, when did you become this strong?"

"I had a strange encounter," Hua Hsing said simply.

Jiang He grinned. "I told you that you were destined to achieve great things."

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