Chapter 12: Killing You I Can Level Up

Actually, this chapter was originally called "There's an impulse called leveling up by killing you, but what you don't know is that the other person feels the same…"

The title of the bravest warrior of the Xiliang Army had been lost by Hua Xiong, yet his dignity compelled him to challenge, even if the opponent was Lyu Bu—he still dared to raise his sword.

"What a pity, indulged in the title of the bravest warrior of the Xiliang and unable to extricate myself. By the time I witnessed Lyu Bu's martial valor, it was already too late, past the prime time to improve. Now let me gamble with my life!" Hua Xiong's eyes snapped into focus, already sensing that barrier. Just one more step, just one more, and he would qualify for another challenge!

No matter how fierce the opponent's momentum, Hua Xiong still laughed wildly, "Another one comes to die!"

"Bandit, surrender your head!" Pan Feng shouted loudly.

The aura that was almost stronger than his own did not intimidate Hua Xiong. Only by skirting the line between life and death could he break through; having missed the optimal time to advance, he could only seek further progress on the battlefield in the face of life and death!

"Die!" Hua Xiong bellowed, a surge of red light suddenly erupting from his body and slamming heavily onto Pan Feng's Great Axe.

"Boom!" A thunderous noise as where the two horses crossed, a great pit was blasted into the ground. Hua Xiong felt a burning in his palms, his eyes radiating a ferocious light, firmly fixed on Pan Feng. He had the feeling that killing the opponent would surely lead to a level up!

Similarly, Pan Feng received much less of a blowback, but after this strike and circling his horse back, he too felt an impulse to kill the opponent for a level up.

Both of their hearts blazed with passion. The implications of advancing another step were clear to both of them. The way they looked at each other turned into something like a hunter eyeing their prey. But who was the prey and who was the hunter, heaven only knew.

"Boom!" Another rumble followed by a sonic explosion. In those few seconds, they had already clashed dozens of times, and Hua Xiong had been sliced by Pan Feng's axe wind from his left shoulder to his right waist, opening a bloody wound. In these brief seconds, he distinctly felt his own progress. He could assure himself, if he slaughtered his opponent, he would definitely level up!

"One strike to determine the victor!" Pan Feng said coldly. For some reason, the treasure horse between his legs that always seemed in sync with him felt a bit dull this time, but he didn't plan to dwell on it. One strike, just one and he would kill Hua Xiong, and with just one he could ascend to a realm akin to that of a Celestial God!

Hua Xiong didn't respond, instead gripping his sword tightly, his body aflame with red light, even showing signs of boiling.

"Kill!" With a fierce war cry, Hua Xiong charged at Pan Feng, prepared to die, while Pan Feng was ready with a cold smile to decapitate Hua Xiong.

In the moment of their clash, the Blue-Maned Horse, which always matched Pan Feng so well, stumbled—just like that, its legs grew weak. Taking advantage of the moment, Hua Xiong easily decapitated Pan Feng with the swing of his sword.

Turning his horse around, Hua Xiong looked indifferently at Pan Feng. The Qi around him began to boil, to burn. Killing the opponent did indeed result in a level up, and the huge gash across his chest and abdomen rapidly scabbed over, new flesh growing beneath.

Gradually, the sensation subsided. Hua Xiong, originally fierce, became almost ordinary looking. But when meeting his gaze, one felt as if facing a ferocious tiger.

"Is this the power of a higher level?" A clear layer of blade light emerged on Hua Xiong's Great Sword. With a swing, a massive Fire Blade, accompanied by a sonic boom, flew towards the Coalition Army's main tent, "No wonder Lyu Bu once said that even with tens of thousands of men, their coming and going are but a word's matter. He wasn't joking."

"Boom." With a loud crash, the gate of the military camp flew off.

"Hear me, Coalition Army, I am Hua Xiong, the vanguard under Minister Dong! Surrender swiftly or I shall leave none alive once I breach your camp!" Hua Xiong took a deep breath and then bellowed towards the Coalition Army, ensuring this time his voice carried for dozens of miles!

"Report!" When the messenger entered, everyone in the main tent knew the outcome of the battle—for with Hua Xiong's powerful voice, all knew he had triumphed.

"General Pan has been slain by Hua Xiong after a few exchanges, and then from a hundred meters away, Hua Xiong split our camp gates asunder with a single blow!" the messenger said with a face stricken with fear.

"What!" This time Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, the Xiahou brothers, and Yuan Shao all stood up; they knew full well what kind of strength was needed to shatter camp gates from a hundred meters away—it was the power of a martial artist nearing the ultimate phase.

However, precisely because of this, Yuan Shao felt incredibly foolish. If only he had known how formidable Hua Xiong was, he wouldn't have drugged General Pan's horse. Perhaps Pan could have held out for a few more moves, inflicting some damage on Hua Xiong; now with Pan dead, who could contend with such an expert!

What Yuan Shao did not know was that if he hadn't drugged General Pan's horse, he would have faced Pan Feng unleashing his Inner Qi Projection.

After a bout of hushed conversations, everyone discerned the level of Hua Xiong's prowess; he was arguably the most peerless martial artist of the age, a being who could single-handedly annihilate thousands with a foul temper.

"Who dares to face Hua Xiong in battle!" Yuan Shao asked loudly, only to have everyone bowing their heads in silence—no one dared face a top-tier expert with Inner Qi Projection. It would be a deathwish!

"If only my top generals Yann Liang and Wen Chou were here, what would there be to fear from Hua Xiong!" Yuan Shao bellowed. But these words were just for show—at this point in time, Yann Liang and Wen Chou were merely at the same level as Pan Feng and Hua Xiong had been; a match against the current Hua Xiong was like walking into the maw of death, a destined demise fit for a minor character.

"Big brother!" the Xiahou brothers called out softly, only to be held back by Cao Cao. This was not the time for reckless action; with Hua Xiong's fearsome might, any misstep could be incredibly costly.

"Second Brother! Damn it!" Chen Xi was about to restrain Guan Yu and keep him from volunteering when Guan Yu stood up.

"I am willing to go!" Guan Yu declared proudly.

Yuan Shao looked at Liu Bei, and seeing Liu Bei nod, he knew he had no quarrel with Liu Bei. If Guan Yu were to be sent to his death and the blame fell on him, it would not be a good outcome. Nonetheless, since Liu Bei was willing, Yuan Shao was happy to let someone else take the bullet.

Cao Mengde watched Guan Yu's big beard with envy, not knowing how well Guan Yu could fight. However, given Guan Yu's beard, Cao Cao stepped forward to offer a toast—it could well turn out to be a farewell drink.

"Please, have a drink from this cup before you depart," Cao Cao said with a smile.

"Pour it and let it wait. I shall return in a moment!" Guan Yu said haughtily.

Alright, having spent so much time with Guan Yu, Chen Xi had understood that Guan Yu wasn't very good at mincing words, often offending people. But this tone, this demeanor—in the eyes of others seemed utterly arrogant. If Guan Yu were to defeat Hua Xiong afterward, it would be justified; he would have earned that pride. But should he be felled by Hua Xiong, all his current bravado would become a laughingstock.

"Alliance Hierarch, would you care to watch the fight? My second brother will surely defeat Hua Xiong!" After speaking, Liu Bei bowed and headed out of the tent. Now commanding a modicum of respect as a minor Feudal Lord, naturally, the others followed, with Cao Cao notably carrying a cup of wine.

As for Guan Yu, he rode atop a Xiliang Large Horse. He sauntered gently towards the camp gates, not like others who would spur their horses to breakneck speeds as soon as they left.