C10 Claimation

"Saber-tooth Tiger, Golden Lion, Iron Dragon."

The Deacon Elder's eyes lit up as he gazed at the bodies of these 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 guild was modest in size. To see ten 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 didn't answer directly. Instead, he countered, "What's the price?"

Realizing Hua Hsing wasn't keen on sharing more details, the Deacon Elder replied promptly, "Each beast at the third level of the Qi Refining Stage is worth three thousand low-grade spirit stones. Altogether, these ten beasts are valued at thirty thousand."

Hua Hsing nodded and added, "However, I need to keep the Saber-tooth Tiger's hide."

He still needed the hide to complete a task.

"Alright, here's thirty thousand low-grade spirit stones. Please verify the amount." The Deacon Elder retrieved the stones from his space ring and handed them to Hua Hsing.

Hua Hsing counted them quickly and put them away.

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

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

"We do. Are you interested in acquiring some?" the Deacon Elder asked.

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

The Deacon Elder quickly handed the pills to Hua Hsing. "These pills are considered the lowest quality among common-grade pills, but they're still quite valuable. Normally, they cost five thousand low-grade spirit stones each. However, I can offer you a discount."

Hua Hsing paid eight thousand low-grade spirit stones for the two pills and then left.

"With these two Barrier Breaking Pills, Hsu Feng and Jiang He might be able to make a breakthrough," Hua Hsing thought.

Hsu Feng and Jiang He were Hua Hsing's good friends. Even though the price of eight thousand low-grade spirit stones was steep, Hua Hsing didn't hesitate to buy the pills.

Typically, having a few hundred low-grade spirit stones would make an outer sect disciple quite wealthy. Even Re Yunzheng couldn't come up with that many spirit stones at once. Yet, Hua Hsing easily spent eight thousand.

Not only did he spend eight thousand, but Hua Hsing still had twenty-two thousand two hundred low-grade spirit stones left, which was a considerable fortune.

When Hua Hsing returned to the Azure Edge Sword Sect, the first thing he did was head to where Hsu Feng was.

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

"Hua Hsing, what happened to you?"

Hsu Feng noticed the bruises on Hua Hsing's face and his slightly weak demeanor.

"I'm fine."

Hua Hsing mumbled, reluctant to share more with Hsu Feng.

"Who did this?" Hsu Feng asked coldly.

Hua Hsing exchanged a glance with another friend, then said, "Hua Hsing, while you were away from the Azure Edge Sword Sect, Qii Yongqi kept causing trouble. I had a run-in with him and got hurt."

"Qii Yongqi?"

Hua Hsing paused, his eyes turning icy. Even without details, he guessed it was all because of him. Qii Yongqi must have been sent by Re Yunzheng.

"Take care of yourself. I'll make sure you get justice," Hua Hsing assured, gently patting Hua Hsing's shoulder.

"Hua Hsing, don't be reckless. Qii Yongqi is at the third level of the Qi Refining Stage. You're no match for him," Hua Hsing warned with concern.

"Yeah, Hua Hsing, stay away from Qii Yongqi," Hsu Feng added.

"The third level of the Qi Refining Stage, huh?"

Hua Hsing said calmly, then shook his head, not wanting to dwell on the topic. He took out a rare herb.

"This is a special herb. Give it to Hsu Feng."

Seeing the herb, Hsu Feng and Hua Hsing were stunned and excited.

"Hua Hsing, you really found the Black Spirit Herb," Hsu Feng couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Go ahead and take it," Hua Hsing urged.

"Alright, I'll take it now." Hsu Feng grabbed the Black Spirit Herb and swallowed it whole.

Half an hour later, Hsu Feng suddenly opened his eyes.

"How do you feel?" Jiang He asked eagerly.

Hsu Feng carefully sensed his internal organs, and a broad smile spread across his face.

"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 laughed and cursed.

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 wildly, immediately stopped and became serious.

"Qii Yongqi?" Hua Hsing asked.

"Hua Hsing, don't be impulsive." Seeing Hua Hsing's expression, the others 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 advised.

"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 was clearly taken aback by Hua Hsing's appearance and quickly asked.

"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.

"Did you injure him?" Hua Hsing pointed to the person behind him, Hsu Feng, and asked.

"That's right, I did. I told you, if I saw him, I'd take him down," Qii Yongqi boasted arrogantly. Despite Hua Hsing's unexpected return to the Azure Edge Sword Sect, Qii Yongqi didn't 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 Qii Yongqi finished speaking, he swiftly drew his sword and launched an attack on Hua Hsing. His stance suggested he intended to leave Hua Hsing and his companions severely injured.

"Watch out, Hua Hsing!" Hsu Feng and another companion 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 had just cut off the arm of a warrior at the third level of the Qi Refining Stage with a single stroke. Was Hua Hsing really that powerful?

"Hua Hsing, how could you?" Qii Yongqi was terrified, unable to comprehend Hua Hsing's immense strength.

"Two thousand low-grade spirit stones is the price you have to pay," Hua Hsing stated.

"Hua Hsing, just you wait. Senior Brother Re won't let you get away with this," Qii Yongqi shouted angrily as he backed out of the courtyard, ignoring Hua Hsing's demand.

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

"What are you standing there for?" Hua Hsing asked.

"Hua Hsing, when did you become so incredible?" Hsu Feng and Jiang He asked excitedly.

"I had a remarkable encounter," Hua Hsing replied simply.

"I always knew you'd achieve something great!" Jiang He grinned.

"You two need to train well," Hua Hsing said, handing them the Barrier Breaking Pills.

"Hua Hsing, what are these?" they asked, having never seen them before.

"Barrier Breaking Pills."

Hearing those words, Hsu Feng and Jiang He were stunned. After a long pause, their eyes welled up, and they said solemnly, "Hua Hsing, thank you."

Although they didn't know what kind of adventure Hua Hsing had experienced, his willingness to give them the Barrier Breaking Pills showed he considered them brothers.

After chatting for a while, the three went their separate ways to focus on their training. With five days left, Hsu Feng and Jiang He aimed to use the pills to reach the third level of the Qi Refining Stage.

In another part of the Outer Sect, Re Yunzheng was listening to a report from Qii Yongqi, who looked disheveled and had his broken arm roughly bandaged. His face was pale.

"You say Hua Hsing has returned to the Azure Edge Sword Sect?" Re Yunzheng asked, narrowing his eyes.

"Senior Brother Re, not only has Hua Hsing returned, but his strength is incredible. He cut off my arm with a single strike," Qii Yongqi said angrily.

"He cut off your arm with one move? It seems Hua Hsing has reached the third level of the Qi Refining Stage." With this realization, Re Yunzheng understood that Ma Shan and Douzhi hadn't returned because they likely perished in the Black Wind Mountain Range.

"He really is an extraordinary person. Once dismissed as worthless, his progress now is astonishing. What secret lies within him?" Re Yunzheng mused to himself.

"Senior Brother Re."

"Alright, go get some rest. Your broken arm won't be in vain," Re Yunzheng said, a flicker of menace in his eyes.

In the blink of an eye, five days had passed, and the Outer Sect competition had arrived, filling the entire Azure Edge Sword Sect with excitement.

Today, Hua Hsing emerged from his seclusion. In five days, he had mastered the third move of the Golden Light Sword Arts and reached the eighth level of the Body Refining Fist. His strength had grown significantly.

Now, Hua Hsing felt confident enough to face Re Yunzheng in a match.

"Re Yunzheng, the humiliation you gave me, I will return it to you tenfold."