Above Qinghe City, the two Grandmaster figures floated hundreds of meters in the sky, facing each other like gods. Both unleashed their cultivation to the fullest, intending to go all out.
The air trembled.
"Old fool Lin Mu, don't think because your previous strike caught me off guard that I am afraid of you," he said to Lin Mu.
Lin Mu stood calmly, not replying, his grey robes fluttering despite the absence of wind. His eyes were sharp, cold, and filled with killing intent.
"Wow, are they really going to battle? What a rare sight!"
"Yes, what an honor to witness such a scene."
"Let us pay attention. We may never get such an opportunity again," the bystanders said while looking up in anticipation.
Without another word, Lin Mu attacked. Urging his aura, he disappeared from everyone's sight, including Zhao Lee, and reappeared just a few meters in front of him with a sword made entirely of wind-attributed Qi, nearly catching him off guard. But as a Grandmaster-level powerhouse, Zhao Lee quickly reacted and urged his cultivation technique.
"Flame Ring Defensive Art!"
He said frighteningly. A ring of intensely hot flames burst to life, forming a ring around him just as Lin Mu's wind blade was about to stab him. Unfortunately, the difference in level was more than three small realms, from 3rd layer to 4th layer peak Grandmaster, so it could only absorb a bit of the damage while the remainder hit him in the chest, sending him flying a few meters away.
Across from him, Zhao Lee wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. His previously arrogant expression had darkened into something far more sinister.
"You've grown stronger, Lin Mu," Zhao Lee said slowly. "It seems I underestimated you."
'How could he be so strong? Even after I took all those resources from them, I thought I could overwhelm everyone in the Lin family. If I had known, I would have asked Second to come along. Damn it!' he thought.
Lin Mu did not reply.
"What the hell was that?"
"I didn't even see how he moved. What just happened?"
Everybody was shocked. Some asked confusedly.
"Well, that is the mysterious Wind Walking Art, a low-level Xuan technique that Lin Mu bought at a Martial Pavilion auction last year. I've heard about it."
"Yes, yes, I've heard that when practiced to perfection, you can become one with the wind."
"Hiss! Xuan-level technique? There are only a handful of those in the city, right?"
"After all, although the Lin family is currently in decline, it is not something we can imagine."
"Ahh, just one year to raise a Xuan-level technique to perfection. This... is this Lin Mu going against the sky?"
Although most people didn't know what was going on, some others, like the Alchemist Association people who were also at that auction, did and filled everyone in, leaving everyone stunned and awed.
Looking back at Lin Mu, he didn't give Zhao Lee a chance to recover. He pinched hand seals, then raised his hand and burst out his aura again. A faint humming sound echoed.
The aura filled the space with wind-attributed Qi. It was quite clear he was going for a big move.
At first, it was only a gentle breeze. Then it became a violent current. Then a storm.
The sky itself seemed to respond to his will.
Below, everyone in Qinghe City felt it.
The spectators trembled.
"Is… is this the true power of a peak fourth-layer Grandmaster…?"
"Too terrifying…"
"This pressure alone could kill a Martial Master…"
Even Zhao Lee's subordinates felt their legs weaken.
Zhao Lee's eyes narrowed, feeling the danger of this move.
"Hmph. Do you think you're the only one?"
He then took out a purple, sinister-looking pill.
"What is that thing?"
"Yeah, it looks so creepy."
The spectators murmured. Some shivered in fright at the sinister aura the pill gave off, making the air almost turn freezing cold.
Lin Mu narrowed his eyes at it. He had a premonition that the pill was very dangerous.
Even Lin Feng's eyes turned solemn looking at it.
'System, can you tell me what kind of pill that is?'
[DING!....ANALYZING]
[ANALYSIS COMPLETE]
[THAT PILL IS BLOOD COMBUSTION PILL]
[A FIFTH-GRADE MEDICINAL PILL THAT FORCEFULLY DRAWS OUT THE USER'S POTENTIAL FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME]
[BUT AFTER IT WEARS OFF, IT WILL DAMAGE THE MERIDIANS SEVERELY AND TAKES YEARS TO HEAL]
[EVEN WHEN IT RECOVERS, IT WILL LEAVE A PERMANENT SEQUELA, MAKING BREAKTHROUGH TO MARTIAL MONARCH IMPOSSIBLE IN THIS LIFETIME]
Seeing the system's explanation, Lin Feng was shocked.
'HISS! Grade five? How is that possible?!'
'Although it's not a bad life-saving method, seeing the consequences, only a stupid person or someone extremely desperate will use it. But people like Zhao don't have to worry, since with his talent, Grandmaster is already the limit, so it doesn't matter.'
'Still, a Grade Five pill, and one this unique, should be very expensive and hard to acquire. Not something a tiny Grandmaster-level clan like Zhao can get their hands on,' he pondered.
'It seems our previous guesses are all correct, and the Zhao family has a backer outside,' he frowned.
"That's... that is Blood Combustion Pill!" Sure enough, the Alchemist Guild people present exclaimed, confirming the system's words.
People turned to the one among the alchemists for explanation, but their leader shook his head.
"I don't know the use, but the chairman once told us about it while giving a lecture at the guild. Although he never mentioned the use, he did mention the characteristics."
"He said it is smaller than an average pill, purple in color, with veins inscribed all over it, giving off a vile odor and sinister aura," he continued, and others looked. Sure enough, it was just as described.
"Grade five? Hiss! How can that be? Such a pill isn't something only a Martial King can afford?"
"Yes, how can a small Zhao clan afford it?"
The alchemist search party leader shook his head.
"It seems this Zhao family is far from simple."
No one said anything, but they all acknowledged it in their hearts, with most even making a mental note never to offend the Zhao family again.
Hearing the words, Ye Feifei, standing by Lin Feng's left, couldn't help but squeeze his hand.
"Young master, is the third elder going to be okay?" she asked, her tone dripping with worry.
"Don't worry, Feifei. Third uncle will definitely be fine," he said while forcing a reassuring smile.
Back to the battle, Zhao Lee, who had just brought out the pill, smiled proudly.
"Lin Mu, since you court death, don't blame me for being ruthless."
He then swallowed the pill.
BOOM!