Chapter 70: Comprehensive Strike, Wearing Down to Death

The more Shao Yi chased, the angrier he became. He was now absolutely certain this guy was Xu Xiaoshou! In his current pathetic state, he didn't even dare to initiate a fight. How cautious was this guy?

He regretted his initial inaction! He should have blasted this trickster down the moment he arrived, instead of wasting time. If he had tried attacking even once earlier, this guy would have been exposed!

He was also curious how this fellow had managed to transform his courtyard into this state in such a short time. An ordinary person couldn't possibly do that! Moreover, to achieve all this, he must have detected them as soon as they arrived. How was that possible? He was only at the eighth or ninth level of Spirit Refinement!

Shao Yi's heart trembled. The ninth level… Even his cultivation base was coincidentally at a breakthrough? He truly couldn't understand how all of this was accomplished in an instant. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became!

Shao Yi watched the rapidly fleeing figure and finally roared, "If you have the guts, don't run!"

Xu Xiaoshou chuckled. "You're trying to kill me, but I'm not allowed to run? Should I just obediently offer my neck to your sword?"

"If you have the guts, catch me!"

Shao Yi was speechless.

Shao Yi took a deep breath and stopped. He couldn't endure it any longer. If it weren't for the "ghost fire" on him, he could chase this kid until he cried for mercy. But that thing was too troublesome; if he kept pursuing, his spiritual energy would eventually run dry, and he might truly perish here. He had to leave!

"Want to run? Not a chance!"

Before he could even turn to leave, Xu Xiaoshou, who had been running frantically ahead, suddenly turned back and charged forward with clenched fists.

Shao Yi was going crazy. Was this guy insane? Did he truly have eyes in the back of his head, or could he read minds? Why did Xu Xiaoshou seem to understand his every move so clearly!

"If it's a fight, then let's fight!" Seeing him charge, Shao Yi casually summoned a short sword from the wall and prepared for battle.

"Hmm? You don't want to leave?" Xu Xiaoshou paused, then turned and ran away.

Shao Yi was utterly bewildered.

"What the hell!" This guy was truly infuriating! At that moment, he felt not only his worldview collapsing but also his entire being splitting apart.

Just then, Xu Xiaoshou, who was still ahead, suddenly stopped, slowly turned around, revealed a demonic smile, and ambled back.

"I guess... you're out of spiritual energy?"

Shao Yi's heart sank. He checked his Qi Sea and found his spiritual energy was indeed almost depleted. This guy... He was stalling for time!

Shao Yi finally understood. Xu Xiaoshou might seem reckless, but he had been systematically draining him with the "ghost fire." With his own energy depleting while Xu Xiaoshou's was not, he was definitely going to die!

Calm down! He absolutely couldn't be provoked again!

Shao Yi knew he had committed a cardinal sin for an assassin. He quickly composed himself but retorted mockingly, "Do you think this is enough to take me down?"

"Otherwise?" Xu Xiaoshou continued to approach.

Shao Yi scoffed. "This guy must be insane! Even if I'm out of spiritual energy, can't I just replenish it?" He flipped his palm, and a pill appeared in his hand. He made to pop it into his mouth.

To his surprise, Xu Xiaoshou, who was already quite close, seemed to have anticipated it. With a sharp inhale, the pill instantly vanished, transforming into pure mist that drifted towards Xu Xiaoshou's body. He only absorbed a tenth of its medicinal power; with a single breath, the rest dissipated into the air.

Shao Yi was dumbfounded. "What kind of demonic art is this?!" He defiantly pulled out another pill, but even when he clenched his hand tightly, Xu Xiaoshou's subtle movement caused the spiritual energy to slip through his fingers.

Shao Yi staggered, and suddenly felt the world around him dim. At the peak of the Yuan Court Realm, for the first time, he smelled the scent of death while facing an "ant" who was only at the ninth level of Spirit Refinement.

"Thanks for the pills. Any other tricks up your sleeve?" Xu Xiaoshou only shivered slightly, showing no other unusual reactions. The normal and reversed application of the "Breathing Method" allowed him to selectively control the amount of spiritual energy he absorbed. After all, it wasn't his own pill; absorbing a little was polite enough. If he absorbed too much, the pleasure would become uncontrollable, and he wouldn't give someone trying to kill him even the slightest advantage.

With his spiritual energy depleted, Shao Yi clearly couldn't withstand the terrifying power of the "Ember Heaven Flame," and his face instantly contorted. He knew he couldn't escape. With a weak physical body and depleted spiritual energy, how could he possibly get away?

"I just want to know, are you truly only at the ninth level of Spirit Refinement?" Shao Yi asked, seemingly in despair. He absolutely refused to believe this guy only had that much cultivation. He suspected everyone in the outer court had been fooled!

"Cultivation isn't my strong suit," Xu Xiaoshou said, seemingly relaxing his guard.

Shao Yi silently lowered his head, gritting his teeth and desperately holding on, his body already scorched black.

"May I ask you a question?" Xu Xiaoshou said.

Shao Yi looked up at him.

"What is your cultivation level?"

Shao Yi had prepared to remain silent or to deceive him, never expecting this guy to ask such a question. What did that have to do with assassinating him?

"Yuan Court Realm, peak!" Shao Yi didn't conceal it.

"Peak Yuan Court Realm?" Xu Xiaoshou repeated, pondered for a moment, and then sighed. "So weak..."

Shao Yi was bewildered.

Blood vessels burst in the corners of Shao Yi's eyes, and blood oozed from his lips with a faint sound. He suddenly clenched his fists tightly, then released them.

Oh, really? Couldn't hold it in any longer, could he?

Xu Xiaoshou had sensed everything, but casually chatted, "So your friend is Ju Wujing?"

"Hmm."

"What's your name?"

"Feng Jia."

"And your friend?"

"Shao Kong."

"Heh, I'd be damned if I believed you!"

Shao Yi was speechless. "What's the point of your questions?!"

Shao Yi was too furious to speak, his whole body contorting. By now, the "Ember Heaven Flame" had enveloped him completely, as if he would turn to ashes at any moment.

"Any last words before you die? Speak them!"

Xu Xiaoshou didn't relax at all; his mind was stretched to its limit, but on the surface, he maintained a condescending demeanor, appearing indifferent to life and death. A final burst of energy? Self-detonation? Or teleportation to escape? Xu Xiaoshou didn't know which it would be, but he had already mentally listed all possible last resorts the opponent might employ, intending not to give him even a shred of a chance.

As he pondered, a cloud of blood mist erupted from Shao Yi's body. His essence, qi, and spirit instantly surged, and wielding his sword, he transformed into a bloody light, piercing forward.

"Die!"

As expected...

Xu Xiaoshou's face showed panic as his body stumbled backward. But just as the two were about to collide, a black light suddenly shot out from his chest, instantly piercing through the bloody light. *Swoosh!* Even though Xu Xiaoshou used his hand to block at the crucial moment, Shao Yi's short sword still pierced his chest!

An inexplicable, powerful force sent both of them flying apart. Shao Yi's sword thrust missed, fiercely stabbing only air. That spot should have been Xu Xiaoshou's heart!

"How is that possible?" Shao Yi's face filled with horror.

"Reverse Sword Style!"

Before his body, flying backward through the air, could even react, a screeching sword hummed from behind him. The counter-attacking "Hidden Bitterness" directly severed his head. Blood splattered. The cut was clean.

***

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