Chapter 813: Unconcerned with Others (This Chapter is Core Content)

Shan Chengjun was torn from head to navel. Where the tear was, flesh grew and extended, and tendons and bones intertwined and knotted. His body was rapidly regenerating.

Li Banfeng once more employed "East-West Scramble," forcing Shan Chengjun's flesh and blood to disperse rather than focus in one direction. As soon as the technique was unleashed, Shan Chengjun's body began to retreat rapidly.

Li Banfeng had witnessed this sight previously.

When under the influence of "Absolute Despair," Shan Chengjun would swiftly depart the battlefield upon sustaining severe injuries.

Last time, Li Banfeng, unfamiliar with Shan Chengjun's condition, hesitated briefly, allowing Shan Chengjun to escape.

This time, Li Banfeng was determined not to let him get away. He mustered all his strength and gave chase.

The two ran out of the willow garden and onto the main street.

On the street, a roasted sweet potato vendor, unaware of the unfolding chaos, saw Shan Chengjun walking backward. Shan Chengjun casually picked up the sweet potato stove, complete with charcoal and fire, and hurled it at Li Banfeng.

The stove was easy to dodge, and Li Banfeng evaded it.

With charcoal embers flying everywhere, Li Banfeng stopped dodging, continuing his pursuit covered in smoke and soot.

Some of the burning charcoal landed by the roadside, igniting several houses on the street. A crowd of people rushed to extinguish the flames, oblivious to the cause of the fire.

Two figures, covered in blood, dashed wildly through the street; one moved backward, the other trailed smoke. Their origins remained unknown.

Passersby, stall owners, and shopkeepers alike paused their activities, lining the street to watch the spectacle.

Those whose cultivation was not yet sufficiently high could not discern the figures of the two, only a sudden plume of dust and extensive bloodstains on the ground.

One man, intrigued, doubted the crimson stains on the ground were actual blood and decided to step forward and touch them.

His wife stopped him. "Don't touch it indiscriminately," she warned. "What if it's poisonous?"

"Even if it's poisonous, what do I fear?" The man, a second-tier Martial Cultivator, was immune to common toxins. He pushed his wife aside, touched the bloodstains, and exclaimed excitedly, "It's blood! It's genuinely blood!"

That single touch, however, proved disastrous; Shan Chengjun's blood was not to be touched.

The fingertip that made contact with the blood rapidly lost its flesh, exposing the bone underneath.

The man was in tears, howling in agony, but his flesh continued to slough off his finger bone, visibly spreading across his entire palm.

His wife, seizing a meat cleaver from a pork stall, severed his hand with a single stroke, thereby saving his life.

"If even their blood is this potent, who were those two individuals?"

"Who knows? Let's just keep our distance. People like that could likely end our lives with a mere flick of a finger."

Despite their fear, some onlookers couldn't resist craning their necks to watch.

Shan Chengjun rounded the corner, encountered a bookstall, and picked up a book from the ground, hurling it at Li Banfeng.

The book's pages scattered, becoming extraordinarily sharp, assaulting Li Banfeng from all directions.

Li Banfeng dodged the pages with his footwork, but a large number of bystanders on the street were cut by them.

Passing a tea stall, Shan Chengjun picked up a large bronze kettle filled with scalding water.

Just as he was about to throw the kettle, Li Banfeng acted first, employing "East-West Scramble" against Shan Chengjun.

Shan Chengjun fell to the ground, still clutching the large bronze kettle. Li Banfeng seized the opportunity to employ "Five Horses Tearing the Body Apart" once more.

In the brief moment the two stopped in the street, some onlookers finally managed to get a clear view of their forms.

Shan Chengjun's skull was split open, his brain clearly visible.

People on the street trembled with fear, yet despite their terror, they couldn't resist stealing another glance.

Li Banfeng sometimes pondered what a Daoist sect dedicated solely to spectators might be called, if one were ever established.

Such a sect would surely boast numerous cultivators, at least as many as the Food Cultivators.

Shan Chengjun, despite his split skull, continued to move rapidly. Li Banfeng resumed the chase, and the two darted back and forth, traversing the entire city of Moxian.

Shan Chengjun darted into a library. It wasn't open, and no one was inside, but Li Banfeng pursued him. After a brief struggle, the library collapsed.

From the rubble, Shan Chengjun emerged first, then turned and entered a poetry society.

Li Banfeng did not pursue him into the poetry society. It was a five-story building, and the sounds of poetry recitation filled the air. If the society were to collapse, the death toll would be catastrophic.

He waited outside the poetry society for a moment. Soon, Shan Chengjun emerged from the society and rushed towards the market.

This was largely due to Li Banfeng's deep familiarity with Shan Chengjun; he knew Shan Chengjun was fleeing unconsciously. Otherwise, Shan Chengjun would not have left the poetry society so readily.

Upon reaching the market, Shan Chengjun stopped fleeing.

The technique had worn off, and Shan Chengjun regained consciousness. This was the escape point he had designated beforehand.

"Absolute Despair" was a technique Shan Chengjun employed only in critical moments. If he sustained excessive injuries while in this state, it signaled a life-or-death situation.

Consequently, he incorporated an escape mechanism into the technique: once injured to a certain degree, Shan Chengjun, while in "Absolute Despair," would swiftly withdraw from the battlefield, following a fixed route to a designated escape location.

In unfamiliar territories, Shan Chengjun would opt for a secluded escape point. However, within a city, he would choose to vanish into crowded areas.

Few cultivators could push Shan Chengjun to such desperation. Such individuals typically maintained a low profile and rarely appeared in public. By rushing into crowded areas and blending in with the masses, Shan Chengjun could usually make an easy escape.

However, today, he hadn't anticipated Li Banfeng pursuing him relentlessly.

This put Shan Chengjun in a difficult position.

While he wasn't afraid to fight, he also preferred not to make a public spectacle of himself.

"Li Qi, shouldn't we find a different place to fight? It's not appropriate with so many people watching, is it?"

*Boom!*

Li Banfeng stomped his foot, sending sand and dust swirling through the market, with fragments of stone flying everywhere.

This was a clear warning to both buyers and sellers to evacuate immediately. If they chose to remain and watch, they would bear the consequences themselves.

Most people in the market had cleared out, but a few who couldn't bear to abandon their goods were still frantically packing up their stalls.

Li Banfeng released his wine gourd, which promptly sprayed fire at the remaining vendors. Without further hesitation, they clutched their valuables and fled.

Shan Chengjun examined his wounds, then looked up at Li Qi. "I genuinely didn't expect you could wound me so severely," he said. "What techniques did you employ? Could you enlighten me?"

Li Banfeng shook his head. "Even if I told you, you might not comprehend it," he replied. "Your brain is practically exposed and drying out. Perhaps I should just demonstrate it for you again."

Shan Chengjun reassembled his skull, then casually found a hemp rope from a stall and tied it around his head.

"Li Qi, it seems we must fight to the death today, isn't that right?"

Li Banfeng shook his head. "There's no need to contend," he said. "You must die."

Shan Chengjun scrutinized Li Qi from head to toe, then glanced behind him. "You're already so wounded, and the Little Train's legs are also affected. What do you intend to fight me with?"

Li Banfeng chuckled. "You couldn't defeat me even when using 'Absolute Despair,' and you're still boasting?"

Shan Chengjun picked up a wine jar from the ground and rinsed his wounds with its contents. "Li Qi," he began, "it's not that I couldn't beat you. When I use 'Absolute Despair,' I automatically withdraw from the battlefield once my injuries reach a certain threshold. If I had been fully conscious just now, you would have already died by my hand.

"However, on second thought, both you and Yu Buzhuo understand 'Foolish Cultivation Techniques.' If I didn't employ 'Absolute Despair,' I'd still fall prey to both your schemes. So, this battle is indeed difficult for me."

Li Banfeng nodded. "If you know it's a difficult fight, then don't bother," he said. "Just end yourself now."

"No, I can't bear to die!" Shan Chengjun took a gulp of wine, then placed the jar on the ground. "Yu Buzhuo isn't here now, so your 'Foolish Cultivation Technique' likely isn't as perfected. I quite admire you, young man. So, I'll allow you to die with a bit more dignity.

"I'll kill you within three moves, then finish off Yu Buzhuo. You two can be a pair even in death. How does that sound?"

"Three moves?" Li Banfeng tilted his hat brim. "I'll give you thirty moves. Let's see who falls first."

As he spoke, Li Banfeng observed Shan Chengjun's wounds. Once the bloodstains were washed away, they became remarkably clear.

Shan Chengjun's wounds healed with remarkable speed.

Li Banfeng activated "Invisible Boundary" and "Carefree Slumber." Even then, his healing rate couldn't keep pace with Shan Chengjun's.

What kind of technique was this?

Shan Chengjun grabbed a few pastries, stuffed them into his mouth, and mumbled indistinctly, "Li Qi, I'll give you one final piece of advice."

"I merely wanted to retrieve a deed. If I can't get it, I'll simply leave. I don't believe it's worth fighting to the death over this matter."

Li Banfeng considered this, then asked, "Was everything you just said the truth?"

Shan Chengjun nodded. "Indeed," he confirmed, "the unvarnished truth."

"You can't lie on Bloodfang Mountain, can you?"

Shan Chengjun nodded. "That's right!" he affirmed. "Every word spoken on Bloodfang Mountain is the truth."

Li Banfeng continued, "Then tell me, is your incredibly fast wound healing connected to the Bloodfang Monster? Is it related to Food Cultivation? You absolutely must not lie!"

"Of course there's a connection. The Bloodfang Monster is exceptionally adept at consuming, and after she eats, she can produce remarkable things. She's given me quite a few good items, so this matter, well—" Shan Chengjun swallowed, then looked at Li Banfeng.

"Li Qi, you just used that 'Foolish Cultivation Technique' on me again."

"Not at all! You're imagining things!" Li Banfeng replied with an innocent expression.

"This isn't Bloodfang Mountain, and you didn't use a technique, so why did I tell you so many truths?" Shan Chengjun stretched his limbs.

"Perhaps it's because you're simply too honest," Li Banfeng replied.

Shan Chengjun nodded. "You're right," he conceded. "I am a straightforward person, and all your convoluted tricks truly sicken me. Let's fight now, and let it be clear: I'll end your life in three moves! If I use even one more, consider it me bullying you!"

As he spoke, Shan Chengjun plunged his hand into his own wound, snapped two ribs, and held one in each hand.

Li Banfeng looked on in horror. "If you need a weapon," he said, "there's a butcher knife nearby. You don't have to mutilate yourself like this."

Shan Chengjun brandished the ribs, pointing at Li Banfeng. "Three moves," he declared, "just three moves. You count them yourself."

Li Banfeng observed bright red bone marrow at the fractured end of the bone. Unlike ordinary human ribs, Shan Chengjun's ribs contained an unusually large amount of marrow.

His blood could invade the Portable Residence, and the potency of his bone marrow would surely surpass that of his blood. This was something Li Banfeng absolutely had to guard against.

Should he preemptively strike, or wait for his opponent's first move?

Li Banfeng intended to strike first, but Shan Chengjun's figure abruptly vanished.

He might possess illusionary magical artifacts or other abilities. Li Banfeng immediately activated "Golden Eyes of Autumn Bristle," "Insightful Spiritual Sound," "Hundred Flavors Exquisite," and "Seeking Fortune Avoiding Calamity" to their absolute maximum.

Danger loomed. Li Banfeng first detected the scent of blood, then heard footsteps. By the time he could discern a figure, Shan Chengjun had already reached the chive stall.

The chive stall was only five paces from Li Banfeng, but those five paces were sufficient.

Li Banfeng rushed ahead, using "Broken Path Opening" to arrange the chives into a line, effectively blocking Shan Chengjun.

Shan Chengjun didn't grasp Li Banfeng's intention either. How could chives possibly impede him?

He tore through a large patch of chives, then lunged at Li Banfeng's head with the two ribs. Li Banfeng didn't dodge, yet the strike inexplicably missed.

He couldn't land a hit on Li Banfeng, but Li Banfeng, in turn, delivered a solid kick to his face.

Shan Chengjun's cheek deformed. He got up to retaliate, only to discover two chives standing upright in the ground.

The purpose of "Broken Path Opening" was to make those two chives stand firm. With "Hundred Steps Across" now completed, Li Banfeng could strike Shan Chengjun, but Shan Chengjun couldn't touch Li Banfeng.

Shan Chengjun lowered his head to pluck the chives.

Li Banfeng hooked his sickle into Shan Chengjun's spine. His gauntlet seized the opportunity to snatch the two ribs from Shan Chengjun's hands. Weaponless, Shan Chengjun desperately pulled out the chives. Li Banfeng then used "Blood-Sucking Pendulum" to cleave open Shan Chengjun's skull.

He cut along the previous fissure, as it had only just healed and wasn't yet firm.

The "Blood-Sucking Pendulum" was employed because it would drain Shan Chengjun's brain marrow. With no brain, how could Shan Chengjun possibly continue to fight?

It's hard to say; perhaps without a brain, he might fight even better.

Regardless, the priority was to drain it.

The pendulum was about to make contact with Shan Chengjun's brain matter when Li Banfeng's hand suddenly lifted, aiming the pendulum at his own brow and swinging it down.

Just as it was about to strike, the pendulum frantically halted. "Master," it cried, "what are you doing?"

Li Banfeng seized his right hand with his left. He didn't want to strike himself, but his right hand was beyond his control and possessed greater strength than his left.

The gauntlet sensed something was amiss. It moved behind Li Banfeng and discovered a bone, Shan Chengjun's rib, embedded in his right shoulder.

It quickly extracted the rib.

However, it was too late. Shan Chengjun's bone marrow had already permeated Li Banfeng's flesh.

The gauntlet was flustered. There were only two ribs in total, and it had already stolen them both. How had another one appeared?

Shan Chengjun pointed to his side. "Li Qi," he said, "can you guess how many ribs I truly have? You're allowed to deceive me, but I'm not allowed to deceive you?"

Shan Chengjun was the earliest and most formidable Martial Cultivator in the world.

He could transform anything into a top-tier weapon. If he wished to fight using his own ribs, he didn't need to prepare them in advance before Li Banfeng; he could retrieve them whenever he desired.

However, the act of extracting two ribs in front of Li Banfeng led Li Banfeng to adopt a fixed mindset: he assumed Shan Chengjun's only weapons were those two ribs, and once collected, Shan Chengjun would have none left.

Consequently, he was less prepared and was ambushed by a third rib.

Shan Chengjun slowly advanced towards Li Banfeng. "I said I'd kill you within three moves," he declared. "Plucking the chives counts as one, inserting the rib counts as another.

"Only one move remains. How do you predict I'll make you die?"

Li Banfeng adjusted his stance, still intending to fight Shan Chengjun, but how could he possibly fight in this condition?

His right hand had rebelled; not only was it disobedient, but it constantly sought to ambush Li Banfeng.

The bone marrow that had infiltrated his right shoulder continued to spread. If it reached his spine, Li Banfeng's control would extend beyond just his right hand.

Shan Chengjun picked up a meat cleaver from a butcher stall and tested its edge. "You were right just now," he stated, "there are plenty of weapons available.

"This cleaver is quite good. I'll use it to cut you down.

"Why are you so obstinate? I told you to stop, yet you persist in pestering me. What makes you think you're worthy of confronting me? Do you realize what immense fortune it is to have your life spared by my hand?"

Shan Chengjun swung the meat cleaver at Li Banfeng's neck.

Li Banfeng dodged with his footwork, but his right hand yanked, interrupting his movement, and Shan Chengjun's blade still grazed his neck.

Shan Chengjun opened a gash on Li Banfeng's neck and asked with a smile, "Does it hurt?"

The blade approached again. Li Banfeng attempted to evade with "Free and Easy," but his right hand abruptly propelled forward, unbalancing him. "Free and Easy" failed to fully manifest, and the blade remained at his throat.

"I asked you, does it hurt?" Shan Chengjun made another gash on Li Banfeng's neck.

Li Banfeng attempted to use "Glancing Horse" to create distance from Shan Chengjun, but his right foot tripped his left, sending him sprawling to the ground.

Shan Chengjun's bone marrow expanded its control range, and Li Banfeng's right foot