C8 Thunderbolt Swordsmanship

The young girl exuded an air of arrogance, seemingly looking down upon the world. Behind her, three young men eyed Chu Haoyun and Qin Bing with ill intent. Without them noticing, the trio stealthily moved to block their escape route.

"The Gale Jackal was slain by my brother. What gives you the right to claim it?" Qin Bing was seething with rage, his expression dark and ominous.

With a frosty glint in her eyes, the girl sneered, "Hmph, had we not cornered the Gale Jackal here, would you even have had the chance? Enough talk. Hand over the Demon Core."

"Let those who want it come and get it," Chu Haoyun replied with a composed tone, recognizing the woman's opportunistic ploy.

"So be it, San," the girl said with a cold smile, appearing supremely confident in their defeat.

The man to the left advanced, his grin menacing. "You've got some nerve offending Sister Xiaoqiong, kid. I'm not just after the Demon Core this time; I'm going to give you a lesson you won't forget and cripple your ability to cultivate."

"Nonsense, you scoundrel," Qin Bing exploded in anger. Chu Haoyun's gaze turned icy. To be crippled in the Forbidden Woods meant certain death. This man clearly intended for them to die.

San, at the ninth level of Body Forging, believed dealing with a seventh and eighth level was a piece of cake. Eager to impress the girl, he attacked with full force, aiming for a swift and overwhelming victory.

"Seventh level trash, oblivious to your impending doom," taunted one of San's companions as San lunged at Chu Haoyun like a shooting star, his fist cutting through the air with a hidden dark strength, and a dagger slicing through the sky.

A gleam of sharpness flashed in Chu Haoyun's eyes as he sensed the concealed dark strength in the air currents. He countered with a right hook, unleashing triple the power, and in a swift motion, his left hand seized San's dagger, sidestepping the assault. His fist then thundered into San's chest.

In that moment, San felt as though a rampant bull had charged into him, his body nearly bursting from the impact. Pain surged through him, the world spun in reverse, and then darkness claimed his consciousness.

The onlookers who had been eager for a spectacle were suddenly taken aback. They exclaimed in anger, "You dare to kill him?"

"If he seeks my death, then I must kill him. The same goes for all of you!" Chu Haoyun said icily as he stepped forward and tossed his dagger to the ground. Then, with a burst of speed from his Flash technique, he moved like a specter, closing in on the man beside the girl who, in Chu Haoyun's estimation, posed the greatest threat.

"You're asking for it!" The man's eyes turned icy as he drew his longsword. It flashed like lightning, with sword shadows multiplying and the sound of the blade cutting through the air mingling with the distant rumble of thunder. A wild aura spread out, shielding an area of three meters around him.

Sparks flew as Chu Haoyun engaged in a rapid exchange of blows before swiftly retreating.

"Buzz—" The edge of his sword vibrated, revealing a fracture. Chu Haoyun's brow furrowed; his instincts had been right. The man's swordplay was incredibly fast, with a surprisingly wide reach and an explosive force that almost overwhelmed his azure blade.

"Watch out, brother. That's the Thunderbolt Swordsmanship, a top-tier Yellow Level martial skill," Qin Bing advised, recognizing the technique as he approached Chu Haoyun. The Thunderbolt Swordsmanship was known for its devastating instantaneous power, striking like a bolt from the blue.

"Why don't the two of you come at me together!" the man challenged, brandishing his sword with a commanding presence akin to a war deity.

"Instantaneous burst of power?" Chu Haoyun mused, squinting his eyes. His own Flash skill was similar, though its attack was focused to a single point and lacked the raw, domineering force of the Thunderbolt Swordsmanship.

"Chen Yiming, finish them off quickly," the girl urged, growing impatient. Chu Haoyun's near approach moments earlier, with his ghost-like speed, had unsettled her.

Chen Yiming nodded in acknowledgment. His Thunderbolt Swordsmanship roared like thunder, the sound echoing through the woods and leaving one disoriented. His sword shadows surged like a flood, engulfing both Chu Haoyun and Qin Bing.

Upon hearing the name, Qin Bing's pupils constricted. Yet, with death looming, he had no time for further thought. He let out a bellow and his graceful Clear Wind Sword met the oncoming attack. Chu Haoyun, in secret, gathered triple his usual explosive power, closely shadowing Qin Bing's swordplay with a Flash technique.

Tripling his power and honing the lethality of his Flash, Chu Haoyun's speed soared to its zenith. His sword's edge gleamed with a chilling brilliance, tracing a frigid streak through the air.

Chen Yiming, far surpassing San in strength, overwhelmed Qin Bing with just one clash, using the explosive force of his Thunderbolt Swordsmanship. His formidable power, like a cascade from the celestial Milky Way, enveloped Chu Haoyun. In that critical moment, Chu Haoyun's form quivered, then seemed to dissolve, leaving only the piercing cold gleam amidst the frenzied sword shadows.

The sound of metal on metal rang out as Chu Haoyun's Clear Wind Longsword snapped. Yet, this very clash halted Chen Yiming's Thunderbolt Swordsmanship. As the aura stalled Chen Yiming's movements, Chu Haoyun seized the moment, his broken sword flashing forward, leaving a trail of icy light.

In the ensuing hush, blood dripped down, staining the hilt of Chu Haoyun's broken sword, while a crescent-like wound marred his arm. The two stood back to back in a heavy silence.

The onlookers held their breath, awaiting the outcome. Suddenly, Chu Haoyun whirled around, having traded injury for victory. Chen Yiming's body shook, his face etched with frustration as a crimson slash bloomed at his throat, quickly followed by a mist of blood.

"Chen Yiming!" Xiaoqiong exclaimed in horror as she watched Chen Yiming crumble to the dust. She had not anticipated that the tenth-ranked member of the Outer Sect would meet his end so abruptly.

Chu Haoyun's hands shook faintly. In that fleeting moment, the residual energy from the Thunderbolt Swordsmanship had nearly severed his arm. Casting a cold look at the two girls, he declared, "If you're intent on murder, be prepared for the tables to turn. Hand over your Demon Cores, and your lives will be spared."

"You dare to kill Chen Yiming!" Xiaoqiong was still reeling from shock, her delicate fingers quivering. Chu Haoyun stepped forward, his lethal presence sweeping through the air with the wind. He spoke with icy resolve, "So what if I killed him? Keep spouting nonsense, and I'll kill you too. Hand over the Demon Core!"

"You!" Xiaoqiong's face stiffened, her cold pupils sending a shiver down her spine. The sole remaining youth beside her was visibly shaken, yet he summoned his courage and spat out defiantly, "Kid, Chen Yiming is Chen Yisheng's brother. You're a dead man. If you have any sense, beg for forgiveness now. Maybe Chen Yisheng will be merciful enough to leave your body intact."

"Kill!" Chu Haoyun's eyes flashed with a chilling glint as he executed Flash once more, beheading the youth in an instant. The young girl was splattered with hot blood, leaving her too stunned to speak.

Chu Haoyun silently extended his hand for the Demon Core. Xiaoqiong, shaking, placed the collected Demon Core in his palm. After assessing its weight, Chu Haoyun dismissed her with a detached command, "Get lost!"

The girl, as if pardoned from death, stumbled away. As her figure vanished, a spiteful curse echoed, "Once you're out, I'll have my revenge a hundredfold!"

Long after the girl had left, Qin Bing managed to stifle his wounds. He noticed Chu Haoyun had remained motionless. Approaching with concern, Qin Bing inquired, "Brother Chu, are you okay?"

"I'm fine, just drained," Chu Haoyun replied, collapsing to the ground, his body soaked in sweat. He had exhausted all his strength against Chen Yisheng, and the final use of Flash had depleted him completely. Had Xiaoqiong struck him then, he would have been finished.

Glancing at Chen Yisheng's body, Qin Bing offered a wry smile, "Brother Chu, we've really stirred up trouble now."

"What's the deal with that Chen Yisheng?" Chu Haoyun asked, dodging the question.

Qin Bing, looking visibly concerned, urged him, "Let's get out of here before we talk."

"We should take their belongings."

"Uh—" Qin Bing's face tensed, followed by a wry smile. He hadn't anticipated that Chu Haoyun would seriously consider looting the deceased.