Chapter 358: Dragging to Death

In a life-and-death battle, combat effectiveness is influenced not only by cultivation, divine arts, and techniques, but also by one's psychological state and wisdom. Qin Mu had a profound understanding of this.

Many masters in the Dao Sect, when facing a life-and-death duel, would often meditate before the battle, burn incense, and bathe. Some would even enter a deep meditative state for three days to eliminate all distracting thoughts from their minds, preventing any interference with their combat wisdom, thus allowing their intelligence to become fully adaptable.

Although Xu Shenghua claimed to have fought across the High Heavens with no equal in his cultivation realm, duels there were often not life-and-death struggles. His experience in this regard was too limited, virtually making him a blank slate. While the lower realm was "turbid" to him, constant life-and-death struggles abounded there. Whether it was eminent figures like Dao Master Lin Xuan and Ban Gongcuo, or young masters like Ling Yuxiu, Si Yunxiang, and Shen Wanyun, or renowned individuals like Imperial Preceptor Yankang and Emperor Yanfeng, all had distinguished themselves through tempering in life-and-death situations. Their combat wisdom far surpassed Xu Shenghua's.

If it had been Qin Mu, he wouldn't have examined the structure of the components and parts, or the array patterns of the Sun-Shooting Divine Cannon before a life-and-death battle, as it would consume too much mental energy. When Qin Mu designed and forged the Sun-Shooting Divine Cannon, he invited hundreds of arithmetic masters, as well as various artifact forging experts and talents. He virtually redesigned the armory, pooling their collective wisdom to create the divine cannon. For Xu Shenghua to attempt to explore the secrets of the Sun-Shooting Divine Cannon meant he needed to memorize the wisdom of all these individuals in a short amount of time, the immense mental strain of which was easily imaginable.

The consumption of mental energy would inevitably lead to a decrease in combat prowess, slowing down one's reaction speed in battle. For a master like Qin Mu, even if Xu Shenghua's reaction speed slowed by the slightest fraction, it would be enough to determine the outcome of the battle!

Xu Shenghua meticulously examined the structural patterns on each component and part in the armory, calculating the form and power of the Sun-Shooting Divine Cannon. There were tens of thousands of these components. The array patterns and runes on each part were unique, and the array designs used varied. Without a specific order, he had to rely on his powerful mental faculties to deduce and combine them, further depleting his mental energy.

Suddenly, he felt dizzy and abruptly realized what was happening. He quickly closed his eyes. After a moment, he opened them and looked at Qin Mu.

Qin Mu smiled and nodded in acknowledgment. Qin Mu's smile was bright and sunny, like a guileless young man. But to Xu Shenghua, that radiant, sunny smile appeared utterly sinister.

"Thank you, Brother Qin," Xu Shenghua said. "I've learned a move." He composed himself and walked over. As he walked, he desperately tried to forget the array patterns and runes he had just memorized. Although this was merely locking the stable door after the horse had bolted, it was still better than doing nothing.

Qin Mu smiled faintly and walked out of the armory, saying leisurely, "Does Brother Xu still think staying in the High Heavens is so great?"

Xu Shenghua shook his head. "Indeed, staying in the High Heavens and never experiencing real combat, it's hard for me to grow. This turbid world is where one truly grows. Brother Qin, having grown up in this turbid world, you are truly the strongest and most formidable opponent I have ever encountered."

The two walked side by side onto the Tu River. Behind them, the four girls—Hu Ling'er, Ling Yuxiu, Yu Liu, and Jing Yan—followed, stepping onto the surface of the Tu River.

At this moment, many Daoists emerged from the armory, led by Dao Master Lin Xuan, following closely behind them onto the river surface. Dao Master Lin Xuan's gaze was peculiar; he ignored the four girls and focused on Qin Mu and Xu Shenghua as they walked on the river.

"Dao Master," an old Daoist whispered, "both of these young men are very strong!"

"Cult Master Qin is one thing; his methods are profound. But who is that other young man?"

"Xu Shenghua from the High Heavens," Dao Master Lin Xuan replied. "I met him when I was a guest with my master in Lesser Jade Capital." Dao Master Lin Xuan's eyes flickered. "He defeated me in five moves."

The many Daoists from various Dao sects were greatly shocked. Even Qin Mu wouldn't dare claim to defeat Dao Master Lin Xuan in five moves. Over the years, Dao Master Lin Xuan had cultivated under the old Dao Master, his attainments in arithmetic becoming increasingly profound, and his comprehension of Dao Sword becoming ever more advanced. His strength was by no means inferior to the old Dao Master's back then, and might even surpass it!

Dao Master Lin Xuan continued walking, leading the Daoists forward, and whispered softly, "His techniques and divine arts become stronger against stronger opponents; they are truly terrifying. The stronger the opponent, the more powerful his divine arts and techniques become. In Lesser Jade Capital, he defeated many people. I'm eager to know if anyone can withstand his divine arts, if anyone can force him to break through the limits of his techniques and divine arts, pushing him beyond any further breakthroughs!"

"The Human Emperor might be such a person." His fighting spirit suddenly surged, but he controlled it so as not to disturb the two. The river water flowed mightily, ceaselessly, like time itself.

Qin Mu and Xu Shenghua did not stop and continued walking forward. They soon reached the opposite bank of the river, their steps still unceasing.

"He's giving me a chance to rest." Xu Shenghua learned another move, his heart slightly shaken. "He brought me to the armory, letting me exhaust my mental energy, thereby gaining an advantage. Now, by giving me a chance to rest, he's showing that he doesn't care if my mental energy is depleted or not because he consistently holds the upper hand! Before, it was about depleting my mental energy, but now, he's applying psychological pressure, making me inwardly admit that I'm a step weaker than him!"

Although he understood Qin Mu's intentions, he had already fallen into Qin Mu's trap and couldn't break free. From the moment Qin Mu met him again, drinking in the Listening Rain Pavilion in Flower Alley, the battle had already begun! From then on, he had entered Qin Mu's rhythm. By now, Qin Mu's momentum was fully established. If the two were to engage, it was imaginable how overbearing and unrestrained Qin Mu's attacks would be!

"The Tyrant Body is indeed extraordinary." Xu Shenghua steadied his mind, his eyes flickering. "But I am also a Tyrant Body! As fellow Tyrant Bodies, I will not be weaker than him!"

The two gradually began to take steps alternately. Qin Mu took a step, and Xu Shenghua followed, like his shadow, giving off a peculiar sensation. The four girls following them saw this scene: one of the young men walked ahead, exposing his back to the person behind him, while the young man behind followed closely, not seizing the opportunity to strike a fatal blow. Instead, as if tethered by a rope, he involuntarily trailed the one in front.

"Young Master is at a disadvantage!" Yu Liu and Jing Yan were slightly shaken. This was the first time they had seen Xu Shenghua at a disadvantage before a single move was even made.

In the High Heavens, Xu Shenghua was incredibly brilliant and talented, astonishing the various deities there and hailed as the most gifted person in five hundred years. And when Xu Shenghua descended to the lower realm, he indeed lived up to his reputation. Ban Gongcuo of the Golden Palace avoided battle, the Great Thunderclap Monastery chose not to fight, and in Lesser Jade Capital, he challenged Dao Son Lin Xuan, defeated the masters there, challenged the Three Yuan Hall and Five Qi Hall, and passed through successfully. Now, Xu Shenghua had finally met his most formidable opponent!

Qin Mu led Xu Shenghua for over a hundred *li*, and was also somewhat shocked. Even now, Xu Shenghua's steps remained perfectly steady, without revealing the slightest flaw! This was almost impossible to achieve. Even Ban Gongcuo, that old monster who had lived for ten thousand years, could not have remained so steady!

Ban Gongcuo was proficient in the techniques and divine arts of the Great Thunderclap Monastery, Dao Sect, Lesser Jade Capital, and Heavenly Devil Cult. If he were suppressed and led along by Qin Mu, then by the time he had walked ten *li*, he would be swaying unsteadily, struggling to adjust his posture to avoid revealing any flaws. By twenty *li*, Ban Gongcuo would reveal a flaw and find it difficult to make further adjustments. By twenty-one *li*, Ban Gongcuo would have to strike first at Qin Mu, trying to seize the initiative; otherwise, he would surely die! If Ban Gongcuo continued to follow Qin Mu's pace without striking, then by twenty-four *li*, it would be his death. He would certainly be killed by a single blow from Qin Mu!

Yet Xu Shenghua consistently kept pace with Qin Mu. Even though he was being led, his footwork and movement techniques remained perfectly orderly, flawless! From Tu River to here, over a hundred *li*, he hadn't revealed any flaws!

"Wang Muran said his techniques and divine arts are very peculiar: they become stronger against stronger opponents, and the stronger the opponent, the faster they are defeated by him! His divine arts are all improvised and created during combat. Such a technique must be extremely advanced, transcending mere 'arts' and entering the realm of 'laws' from the very beginning!"

Qin Mu grew increasingly excited; he didn't look back and continued walking forward, his speed increasing rapidly! Xu Shenghua's technique was truly miraculous. This miraculous technique allowed him to directly bypass 'arts' and enter the 'law' level of creating divine arts. This was the first time he had encountered such a miraculous technique. He wanted to test the limits of this technique, to see how it compared to the Tyrant Body Three Elixirs Technique!

His steps grew faster and faster, and his aura became stronger and stronger, almost as if he were flying forward with lightning speed. Yet his steps still appeared composed, without any sense of haste. Xu Shenghua was led by him, keeping pace, his footwork still steady and perfectly orderly.

The two's speed rapidly increased. Suddenly, Xu Shenghua's face turned pale, then grew even paler. He had been running for over a hundred *li* led by Qin Mu and could no longer endure it. With a "wah," he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. Qin Mu's steps did not stop. Xu Shenghua continued to run after him, and again, he spat out a mouthful of blood. He ran while spitting blood, but still didn't reveal any flaws. However, constantly spitting blood like this would eventually exhaust all the blood in his body, leading to his death!

From beginning to end, Qin Mu had not made a single move against him. What injured him was himself. Qin Mu walking forward was actually a duel of momentum, movement techniques, and divine arts between the two. Although it appeared harmless, the decisive battle had already begun, allowing no room for error. His techniques and divine arts relied on on-the-spot adaptation and creation. They demanded extremely high mental energy. He had expended a large amount of mental energy in the armory. Although Qin Mu had given him a chance to rest and recover, mental energy depletion was not so easily replenished.

He was now so exhausted he was spitting blood. If this continued, his mental energy depletion would be too great; Qin Mu wouldn't even need to make a move, he would simply drag him to his death! If he continued walking, his mental energy would surely be depleted.

Xu Shenghua's hair began to turn gray, black strands turning into streaks of white. He coughed up blood while keeping pace with Qin Mu. His mental energy depletion had already affected his physical body, and before long, he would exhaust himself to death!

Suddenly, Qin Mu abruptly stopped. He smiled and said, "Killing you like this, you surely wouldn't be convinced, and I wouldn't feel satisfied. Brother Xu, take care of your injuries and restore your vital energy. We'll have our life-and-death battle another time."

Xu Shenghua stopped, opened his mouth as if to speak, then suddenly collapsed with a thud, falling unconscious.

"A respectable and formidable opponent," Qin Mu praised him, then left the unconscious Xu Shenghua there and turned to leave. Blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. He quickly swallowed the blood rising to his throat. He had almost exhausted Xu Shenghua to death, but he himself had also almost collapsed. However, the villagers had always said, "One may lose a battle, but never one's spirit," and that one must never show weakness.