Violence

Surprisingly, Ye Lang found himself in a situation where Qin Wentian's strength had skyrocketed to terrifying heights in the blink of an eye. If he had known this beforehand, he wouldn't have even considered going head-to-head with Qin Wentian. But alas, once you've made a blunder in a battle, regret is as useless as a one-legged man in a butt-kicking contest. Qin Wentian charged at him once more, determination burning in his eyes.

A strange buzzing sound filled the air as Ye Lang unleashed his Astral Soul, his eyes gleaming with madness. It was as though he had transformed into a colossal demonic wolf, crouching like a wild beast on all fours. Despite his grievous injuries, his speed remained nothing short of astonishing, leaving the onlookers' hearts pounding in disbelief.

"Ye Lang!" In the distance, the elite members of the Ye Clan were watching in horror. Ye Lang's guardian was sprinting frantically, desperately trying to reach him.

"Stop them!" Qin Chuan roared with all the fury of a tempest, his body moving like a hunting leopard. He sent a man flying off his warhorse, while arrows from the defenders found their mark, taking down another.

The ground trembled beneath the thundering hooves of warhorses as Qin Wentian relentlessly pursued Ye Lang, moving like a hurricane. The spectators were in awe, realizing that the quiet youth who had lived among them for over a decade had been putting in relentless effort, running every morning, come rain or shine.

While chasing Ye Lang, Qin Wentian retrieved his spear from a fallen warhorse. His gaze was locked onto the elusive figure ahead. Ye Lang was now galloping on all fours, bellowing in rage. Raising his spear, Qin Wentian channeled all his anger into it, transforming it into a weapon sharper, faster, and more ferocious than any arrow. It sliced through the air effortlessly, hurtling toward Ye Lang with deadly intent.

"Watch out!" Ye Mo, standing ahead, yelled, while Ye Lang felt an impending sense of doom. He hunkered down and pushed his speed to its limits.

"Swoosh!"

A guttural cry of agony echoed through the air, accompanied by the unmistakable sound of flesh being pierced. The spear, originally aimed at Ye Lang's brain, veered off course and instead impaled his legs, bringing him crashing to the ground.

A chilling gust of wind swept by, and in the blink of an eye, Qin Wentian closed the gap between them. With an audacious flourish, he raised his foot and mercilessly stomped down on Ye Lang's back, eliciting a violent spray of blood.

Time itself seemed to hold its breath, even amidst the chaos of battle. All eyes turned to the gripping spectacle of Qin Wentian and Ye Lang.

In that moment, an icy fire blazed in Qin Wentian's eyes as he yanked the spear free, flipping Ye Lang's body over. The unmistakable terror of death flickered in Ye Lang's gaze. Never had he imagined that his final resting place would be here today.

The members of the Ye Clan held their collective breath. If Ye Lang were to meet his demise, the retribution upon his protectors would be swift and brutal.

"Qin Wentian, should you dare drive that spear down, you shall know the horrors of an earthly hell," Ye Mo warned, his voice dripping with icy disdain.

Raising his head, Qin Wentian shot Ye Mo a sinister smile, tinged with a dash of wickedness. He curled his lips, his eyes brimming with contempt.

But then, his gaze returned to Ye Lang, sprawled on the ground. "I told you I'd make you pay."

"Touch me, and you'll meet a gruesome end," Ye Lang snarled defiantly, his eyes retaining a primal, beastly glint.

"Qin Wentian, if Ye Lang breathes his last, your Qin Clan shall feel the unrelenting fury of my Ye Clan," Ye Mo threatened from the sidelines, audacious even in the face of impending doom.

"Remember this, Ye Lang won't be the first," Qin Wentian's voice dripped with icy determination. Time seemed to stand still as the spear in his hand mercilessly descended, plunging into Ye Lang's skull. The lifeblood and brain matter oozed out, even in death, Ye Lang's eyes remained wide open, as if he could not believe Qin Wentian had the audacity to pierce him with the spear.

The spectators, their chests heaving with excitement, were left utterly flabbergasted. The truth had finally dawned on them: Qin Wentian hadn't been fleeing; he had been craftily luring Ye Lang into a battleground where he could turn the tables.

"Bravo!" cheered Qin Ye, his voice booming with approval. Qin Wentian's swift and decisive spear strike had won him Qin Ye's admiration.

"Come and try to take my life. If I survive today, I'll haunt the Ye Clan's nightmares for eternity," Qin Wentian taunted, jabbing the tip of his spear in Ye Mo's direction. He then spun on his heel and sprinted like a madman toward a distant alley.

Ye Mo blurred into action, but a Yuanfu Realm defender intercepted him mid-flight. Qin Wentian's plan was clear; he aimed to draw the Ye Clan members away from his own clan, allowing them a chance to escape. The defender grasped the strategy but couldn't let Ye Mo, a fearsome cultivator of the Yuanfu Realm, pursue Qin Wentian unchecked.

"I want Qin Wentian's head!" Ye Mo bellowed, inciting a frenzied chase by the rest of the Ye Clan. Failure to capture Ye Lang's killer would only invite the clan's wrath upon themselves.

The shock within Bai Qingsong lingered, refusing to dissipate. The once mild-mannered youth had unleashed astonishing combat prowess, and even his gaze sent shivers down Bai Qingsong's spine. Deep within, Bai Qingsong wrestled with regret, but his cunning nature pushed those feelings aside. Today's mission was clear: annihilate the Qin Clan and end Qin Wentian, leaving no room for revival.

As members of the Ye Clan and Bai Clan pursued Qin Wentian, the pressure on the remaining Qin members eased. Seizing the opportunity, Qin He issued orders, "Everyone, retreat to the Star River Association."

"But what about Wentian?" Qin Yao fretted, concern etched on her face.

"Don't squander the chance he's given us. I'll find him. Qin Ye, hold the line here," Qin He commanded as he dashed in the direction Qin Wentian had taken.

Tears welled in Qin Ye's eyes as he roared, "Go!"

Upon reaching the spot where Qin Wentian had last been seen, the Ye Clan members found no trace of him. Qin Wentian knew the Sky Harmony City's streets like the back of his hand; he wouldn't make it so easy for his pursuers.

"When you reach a fork in the path, split into two groups and continue the chase. If he's breathing, I want him; if he's lifeless, I want his corpse," ordered Ye Mo. The pursuers divided, hoping to increase their chances of finding Qin Wentian, who was expertly concealing himself.

This particular street was among the most opulent in Sky Harmony City, with numerous narrow alleyways unfit for horseback riding. Riders dismounted, continuing the hunt on foot.

In the present moment, Qin Wentian had taken refuge in a desolate alley at the far end of the street. He produced a Yuan Meteor Stone and greedily absorbed its Astral Energy. There was no room in his mind for the thought of using the Tempered Thousand Hammers Refinement Technique to refine the energy and aid in his breakthrough. His singular focus was on swiftly replenishing the energy he'd expended in his battle with Ye Lang.

"Over here." The hushed voice reached Qin Wentian's ears, causing his body to stiffen. Moments later, two shadowy figures passed by him, but abruptly, they halted in their tracks as if they had sensed his presence.

"Bzz!" In an instant, Qin Wentian burst forth like an arrow loosed from a drawn bow. His approach was predatory, spear leading the charge like a ferocious dragon. His spear techniques bore the essence of the Dragon Subduing Fist, imbuing them with unrivaled dominance.

One of the figures managed to pivot just in time to witness Qin Wentian's long spear hurtling toward him at lightning speed, aimed directly at his throat.

The other figure froze in shock, but his seasoned instincts quickly kicked in, and he retreated swiftly, seeking to increase the distance between himself and Qin Wentian.

"Collapsing Tiger Fist!" he roared with fury. A wave of terrifying power, akin to a savage tiger tearing through its prey, surged as his fist, charged with a wild, animalistic aura, raced ferociously toward Qin Wentian.

"Innate strength. He's an opponent of the Arterial Circulation Realm." Yet, Qin Wentian remained eerily composed. In his vision, there was only his adversary.

While not a Stellar Martial Cultivator, this individual possessed the formidable might of the Arterial Circulation Realm, a force not to be underestimated. Those at this level could unleash innate strength, allowing them to project energy blasts from a distance. It was an indomitable advantage that Body Refinement Realm cultivators couldn't hope to match.

"Howl!" Qin Wentian's spear unleashed a power akin to a dragon as it swept outward, clashing with the oncoming fist. The impact left lacerations on the clenched hand of Qin Wentian's opponent. Qin Wentian's strength, combined with the divine weapon's augmentation, reached the level of a typical Arterial Circulation Realm cultivator. After all, he was a Stellar Martial Cultivator. Moreover, first-level Arterial Circulation Realm cultivators had limited energy reserves.

In this fleeting exchange, Qin Wentian's determination surged. He had to eliminate his opponent using a blitzkrieg strategy, ending the battle as swiftly as possible.

"Such overwhelming strength," muttered the opponent, his heart quaking as he witnessed how Qin Wentian defied his innate power. No wonder Qin Wentian had dispatched Ye Lang. He quickly retreated, avoiding close combat. His arms surged with explosive energy, unleashing waves of brutality that threatened to engulf Qin Wentian.

Brilliant streams of Astral Light burst forth as a Heavenly Hammer took shape in Qin Wentian's left hand. With furious chops, he exuded a menacing aura, a clear intent to end his adversary.

"Boom!" The fist's energy blast dissipated, weakened by the Heavenly Hammer's relentless power to a level Qin Wentian could endure. His eyes gleamed with razor-sharp determination as he lunged forward.

"Meet your end!" In an instant, Qin Wentian gathered his strength, launching his spear like a bolt of lightning. His opponent defended valiantly, but the sheer force behind Qin Wentian's strike was overwhelming. The long spear sliced through the air like a hot knife through butter, piercing his opponent's forehead. And just like that, a formidable Arterial Circulation Realm expert met his demise.

"Hu…" Qin Wentian took a deep breath as he withdrew his spear from the lifeless body. Without a moment's delay, he vanished into the alley, sprinting in the opposite direction. He feared that the noise from their battle would draw more attention from the Ye Clan members.

Fatigue weighed heavily on Qin Wentian's steps. After all, he was only at the 7th level of the Body Refinement Realm. Consistently battling Ye Lang and two others, coupled with the injuries he'd sustained earlier, had depleted his strength significantly. Furthermore, once the effects of the potential-igniting needle techniques wore off, he'd be even weaker than he was now. He needed to reach a safer location before that happened.