Chapter 436: Because This Is Our Home

Chu Huaiyuan fought Chu Shaoqiang with all her might, successfully pinning him down.

Martial Cultivator Tian Dasong was held back by He Yuxiu.

Literary Cultivator Guo Jinshi was in a dire situation. His throat had been bitten through by Li Banfeng, rendering his "Words Worth Gold" technique useless.

Seeing Guo Jinshi motionless, and as Tang Dao was about to decapitate him, an invisible force suddenly pulled Li Banfeng and Guo Jinshi apart.

Guo Jinshi moved towards Chu Shaoqiang, while Li Banfeng was forced back dozens of meters.

What kind of technique was this?

Had Guo Jinshi used "Separation of Ten Thousand Miles"?

Simultaneously, He Yuxiu and her allies were also separated from Tian Dasong. The chaotic melee transformed into two distinct groups standing opposite each other.

This time, Li Banfeng knew what technique it was.

The technique wasn't used by Guo Jinshi; it was Chu Shaoqiang.

His wife had told Li Banfeng that Craft Cultivators possessed a Cloud-level technique called "Cease-Battle Division," which could swiftly separate allies from enemies in a chaotic fight, provided the enemy's cultivation was significantly lower than theirs.

What was the purpose of this move?

It held little utility for average cultivators, but for Craft Cultivators, its benefits were substantial.

Craft Cultivators were vulnerable to sneak attacks. Without adequate preparation, they could easily employ the wrong tactics or even be defeated by lower-level cultivators.

The "Cease-Battle Division" technique granted Craft Cultivators crucial time to prepare.

Furthermore, some of a Craft Cultivator's magical artifacts and spiritual items might inflict damage indiscriminately on the battlefield, harming both allies and enemies. "Cease-Battle Division" also served to protect their own side from such collateral damage.

His wife had mentioned that the activation of this technique indicated an opponent with at least Cloud-level Three cultivation. However, unless one had surpassed the Cloud-level, the technique could only be used once within a short timeframe.

Li Banfeng, his mouth full of blood, looked at Guo Jinshi, who lay sprawled on the ground, seemingly on the verge of death and unlikely to recover soon.

He was mistaken.

Guo Jinshi wrote four characters on his body: "Withered Wood Meets Spring."

His body began to slowly regenerate. Though the pace was gradual, the progress was evident.

Both his eyes had been gouged out by Li Banfeng. Guo Jinshi then wrote the character for "eye" above his left eye socket, and a fissure opened from his eyebrow, revealing an eyeball within the crack.

Any further delay, and Guo Jinshi would quickly regain his fighting strength, potentially rendering all their previous efforts futile.

Li Banfeng still wanted to charge forward, but the "Cease-Battle Division" technique remained active. Given his cultivation, he couldn't break through it yet.

Chu Shaoqiang scanned the group. "Why are you doing this?" he asked. "I'm here to find the local deity Qiu Luoye. How does this concern any of you?"

Li Banfeng replied, "Today you target Qiu Luoye, and it has nothing to do with me. Tomorrow you'll come for me, and it'll have nothing to do with anyone else. Eventually, you'll hunt down everyone, and nobody will be concerned, yet we will all die by your hand. I heard you're from Neizhou. Did Neizhou teach you such despicable tactics?"

Chu Shaoqiang remained silent. Chu Huaiyuan then asked, "Dad, did you go to Neizhou?"

He Yuxiu looked at Chu Huaiyuan, then shifted her gaze to Chu Shaoqiang. "It's you, Chu Shaoqiang! You're actually alive?"

Chu Shaoqiang smiled, adjusting his coat. "Yuxiu," he said, "you're still as beautiful as ever after all these years."

"Don't get familiar with me. Do you think you can call me 'Yuxiu'?" He Yuxiu scoffed. "This doesn't make sense. Even though I never thought much of you, you at least had some guts back then. Why did you run off to Neizhou to become a lackey? And you even snuck away without telling anyone."

Chu Shaoqiang sighed. "What's wrong with going to Neizhou? Does that make you despise me? I even saw He Haiqin in Neizhou. Do you think he became a lackey too?"

"You really saw Haiqin?" He Yuxiu continued, aiming to divert Chu Shaoqiang's attention.

Li Banfeng meticulously monitored Guo Jinshi's recovery progress, intending to quickly dispatch him the moment the "Cease-Battle Division" was lifted.

Chu Shaoqiang saw through Li Banfeng's intent. "You must be Li Qi," he said. "Wipe the blood from your mouth; it's quite unsettling to look at. You're a cunning one, fighting outside the usual conventions. You actually startled me. But do you truly expect to defeat an old master with reckless blows? That's pure fantasy. I can lift the technique now and let you try again. I'm curious to see if you can even get close."

As he spoke, Guo Jinshi had already risen to his feet, swaying slightly, and fixed his single eye on Li Banfeng.

"Madman! Thug!" Guo Jinshi, now able to speak, pointed at Li Banfeng and bellowed, "If you dare, come fight me again!"

Li Banfeng, his face streaked with blood, smiled chillingly. "You scoundrel," he sneered, "you know I can't cross over right now, so you're just enjoying your moment of bravado."

Chu Shaoqiang surveyed the group, then addressed Li Banfeng. "These are your friends and your subordinates. Let me be clear: if this fight continues, not a single one of them will survive."

Li Banfeng retorted, "Do you truly believe your two subordinates will survive?"

Chu Shaoqiang glanced at Guo Jinshi and Tian Dasong. "Them? They don't have clear identities in Neizhou yet. To attain Cloud-level cultivation, they must accumulate more merits. For this, they are entirely willing to die here. Ask the people around you if they wish to die."

These two weren't Cloud-level cultivators?

Were they the so-called Tenth-Level Cultivators?

Indeed, they were Tenth-Level Cultivators – Tenth-Level Cultivators of flesh and blood, and the closest to reaching the Cloud-level.

While calling them "willing to die" might be an exaggeration, this battle was undeniably crucial for their advancement to the Cloud-level.

Li Banfeng stepped forward, only to be repelled by an invisible force.

The technique had not yet dissipated, preventing Li Banfeng from breaking through.

Chu Shaoqiang frowned. "Are you even listening to me?" he asked.

"No," Li Banfeng replied honestly.

He truly hadn't been listening. From the moment he decided to fight this battle, nothing anyone said to him mattered.

Chu Shaoqiang sighed. "Take your people and leave," he said. "There are many old acquaintances of mine here, and I don't wish to harm them. My own daughter is here, fighting desperately against me for your sake. You're fortunate enough. Even if you fight to the death here today, you won't be able to save Qiu Luoye. Only I can save him; he'll live only if he agrees to my terms. He has no other choice."

Li Banfeng still intended to force his way through, but then heard someone shout from behind, "Old Seven, get out of here!"

Qiu Luoye rushed over. "Old Seven," he said, "didn't we agree that I'd handle the fighting? You need to leave now!"

He shielded Li Banfeng behind him and charged at Chu Shaoqiang.

Chu Shaoqiang wasn't wrong; as long as the contract remained in Neizhou's possession, no one could save Qiu Luoye.

Rather than implicating others, Qiu Luoye preferred to face Chu Shaoqiang alone.

Despite his severe injuries, Qiu Luoye still managed to break through Chu Shaoqiang's technique.

Chu Shaoqiang, not daring to be negligent, quickly prepared for battle. Suddenly, a thunderous sound echoed from the distance.

A drumbeat.

Everyone, including Li Banfeng, felt a jolt in their chests.

What kind of drum could produce such an immense sound?

In Puluo Prefecture, only one place had drumbeats that deafening.

Three individuals present had heard this particular drumbeat before: Qiu Luoye, He Yuxiu, and Chu Shaoqiang.

They all knew what the drumbeats signified.

With another drumbeat, towering figures could faintly be seen emerging from the depths of the jungle.

They were not only tall but also uniquely built, with broad shoulders from which three human heads protruded.

This was the unique drumbeat of Sinner City. He Yuxiu's face broke into a smile, Qiu Luoye halted, and Chu Shaoqiang's nerves tensed.

Juanzi approached. Behind her, four three-headed individuals carried a newly constructed grand drum, while another three-headed person held a drumstick, striking the drum once every ten steps.

The grand drum was crudely made, but its sound was exceptionally loud.

In Sinner City, such grand drums were only sounded under two circumstances.

First, at New Year, symbolizing Sinner City's hopes for life.

Second, when survival was impossible, signifying Sinner City's fight for its existence.

Juanzi said to Li Banfeng, "Master Seven, we just finished preparing our weapons; we're late."

Li Banfeng had prepared about a hundred weapons for them, but he hadn't anticipated that over three thousand three-headed individuals, every adult among them, would arrive.

There weren't enough weapons. Some carried kitchen knives, others held hoes, and some had sharpened large tree branches into makeshift spears.

Juanzi turned and looked at Chu Shaoqiang, saying nothing further.

When it was time for battle, it was usually Mengzi who spoke.

Mengzi asked, "Master Seven, is it just the three of them?"

Li Banfeng nodded.

Chu Shaoqiang clearly showed some apprehension towards the three-headed people. "I know you've endured much hardship," he said, "and I know you still wish to reside here. I promise you, I will continue to allow you to live in this place. There should be no conflict between us."

Mengzi looked at Chu Shaoqiang. "You don't need to say so much," he stated. "We are here to kill you."

Chu Shaoqiang still tried to persuade them, knowing that the best way was to sow discord. "I am from Neizhou," he said. "Do you wish to make an enemy of the entire Neizhou?"

Mengzi shook his head. "We've never been to Neizhou, and we don't know anyone from there," he replied. "We only came to kill you."

Chu Shaoqiang chuckled. "Kill me? I doubt it will be that easy. At least half of you will die. Is it truly worth it?"

"Half?" Mengzi glanced at the people behind him. "You underestimate us. We came here, and not a single one of us plans to return alive."

"Why is this?" Chu Shaoqiang asked, perplexed.

Mengzi simply replied, "Because this is our home."

*Boom! Boom! Boom!*

The drumbeats suddenly intensified.

Tian Dasong felt a pang of fear.

Guo Jinshi mumbled, "My injuries... they haven't healed yet..."

When the drumbeats became too numerous to count, the three-headed people began their charge.

Over three thousand three-headed individuals charged collectively at the three targets.

Guo Jinshi tried his best to stay close to Tian Dasong.

Tian Dasong awaited Chu Shaoqiang's tactical instructions.

Chu Shaoqiang roared, "Retreat!"

And then he was the first to flee.

Tian Dasong immediately followed, with He Yuxiu in pursuit.

"Of the Thirty-Six Stratagems, fleeing is the best!" Guo Jinshi also wanted to run, but with greater cunning, he used a technique to make his escape.

Although severely injured and unable to employ higher-level techniques, he could still successfully unleash his "Words Come True" skill.

Guo Jinshi traversed hundreds of meters at an incredible speed, then activated another technique.

"A single leaf can obscure the eye!" he declared, disappearing into the forest and temporarily escaping everyone's vision.

Just as he let out a breath of relief, a clear, unaccompanied vocalizing drifted to his ears.

"Hoo-ya-ya-ya..."

That sound was Guo Jinshi's nightmare.

Li Banfeng, his mouth full of fresh blood and a predatory smile, appeared beside Guo Jinshi.

Guo Jinshi had recovered about twenty percent of his combat strength. He also possessed a life-saving magical artifact: the folding fan in his hand. With it, he believed he could still contend with Li Banfeng for some time.

Guo Jinshi interlaced his fingers, reaching to open his folding fan, only to find it was gone.

Where was his fan?

Guo Jinshi wanted to cry out.

Li Banfeng clamped his hand over Guo Jinshi's mouth and pulled him into the Portable Dwelling.

Tian Dasong ran frantically after Chu Shaoqiang, but he hadn't realized Chu Shaoqiang had prepared a travel artifact in advance, allowing him to run much faster than Tian Dasong.

Tian Dasong stumbled as He Yuxiu delivered a kick from behind.

Mengzi picked up a cleaver and swung it down towards Tian Dasong's head.

Observing the trajectory of that single chop, Tian Dasong lost his fear.

This three-headed individual clearly lacked martial arts skill; the chop was entirely amateurish.

Tian Dasong countered, easily snatching the cleaver and striking Mengzi squarely in the chest.

The three-headed people were known for their thick hides, but a Martial Cultivator possessed the means to penetrate such flesh. In Tian Dasong's hands, that cleaver became a top-tier weapon.

But Tian Dasong hadn't anticipated that Mengzi would completely disregard the wound in his chest and seize Tian Dasong's right arm directly.

Tian Dasong attempted to break free, but discovered the three-headed individual's strength was terrifying. His arm felt as if it were welded in place, utterly impossible to pull away.

Another three-headed individual then grabbed Tian Dasong's left arm.

They pulled left and right, attempting to rip Tian Dasong apart.

The fighting style of the three-headed people was remarkably primitive.

Could this tactic succeed? Could a Tenth-Level Martial Cultivator be torn apart so easily?

Two individuals alone certainly couldn't achieve it; Tian Dasong could break free with his footwork.

However, with a whole group of three-headed individuals tearing at Tian Dasong simultaneously, escape became incredibly difficult.

Tian Dasong spun rapidly in place, flinging off a group of three-headed individuals.

He shook off one group, but another immediately took its place. No matter how viciously Tian Dasong fought, the three-headed individuals, leveraging their raw physique and strength, collectively gripped him tightly and refused to let go.

As Tian Dasong desperately resisted, He Yuxiu, a smile on her face, stepped forward and delivered a kick to his chest.

That single kick knocked the wind out of Tian Dasong.

It was his final breath.

As his breath caught, his strength faltered, and he was torn into a dozen pieces by the three-headed individuals, scattering across the ground.

"Where's Chu Shaoqiang?" Li Banfeng asked He Yuxiu.

He Yuxiu glanced into the distance. "That kid is unparalleled at escaping through the earth," she replied. "He must have dug a tunnel and fled."

Xiu'er's guess was accurate.

The battered and bruised Chu Shaoqiang dug a tunnel and escaped down the mountain.

He swiftly departed Qiqiu City, vowing not to return unless absolutely necessary.

His immediate task was to report to Neizhou as soon as possible, allowing them to handle Qiu Luoye.

Since Qiu Luoye refused to submit to Neizhou, he would most likely be executed.

But how to explain the outcome of this battle...

With both Guo Jinshi and Tian Dasong gone, and himself injured and forced to flee, Chu Shaoqiang would find it difficult to justify the outcome.

He decided to stall for a few days.

Li Banfeng found Qiu Luoye. "Big Brother," he said, "don't chase anymore. Go home and rest."

"You brat, you just never listen to me!" Qiu Luoye chuckled, as blood began to seep from his clothes.

Dear readers, such a compelling novel...