Chapter 41: A Brutal and Bloody Battle! Li Zhe-Xian in Peril (Bonus Chapter, Requesting Monthly Votes)

Zhao Wuji stood still in the torrential rain.

Icy water pierced through his straw raincoat, flowing wantonly across his rugged, expressionless face. The small courtyard before him trembled in the rainy night like a trapped beast—like the labored breathing of prey facing its end.

"I was the one who brought Ma Hongjun to Heaven Dou City."

"That he is now crippled and dying is the failure of this teacher."

"Tonight..."

"Your teacher has come to avenge you."

Without a shred of hesitation or mercy, the murmur ended. He lunged forward, shooting toward the cottage window like a cannonball. His already thick arms swelled instantly, muscles knotting like coiled pythons, and a scorching heat billowed forth, turning the surrounding rain into white steam.

The pressure of a seventy-sixth-level Spirit Saint erupted. Behind him, the phantom of a three-meter-tall golden giant bear roared at the sky. Zhao Wuji swung his arm in a full arc, unleashing an irresistible force as he slammed his fist into the house.

Before the blow even landed, the violent wind of his punch had already torn through the curtain of rain, leaving the entire structure swaying precariously.

Boom—!!!

The blow landed.

The house shattered like fragile paper. The lingering momentum of the strike smashed the flat ground beneath the foundation into a deep crater several meters wide. Had anyone been inside, there would have been no possibility of survival.

"Hoo..."

Zhao Wuji exhaled a long breath. Though he appeared brutal, he was meticulous. His gaze swept over the ruins before him, and a flicker of doubt crossed his eyes. Even if Li Zhexian had been crushed into pulp, there should have been scattered traces of blood washed out by the heavy rain. Yet, as far as the eye could see, there was not a hint of crimson.

He furrowed his brows. He took a step forward, intending to search the wreckage thoroughly.

At that very moment!

A cold, star-dusted edge slashed silently from behind him!

Every hair on Zhao Wuji's back stood on end! In his haste, he could only cross his arms to block!

"Three Swords of Fragrance: Yaoguang!"

Li Zhexian, who should have been buried in the ruins, had appeared behind Zhao Wuji. The Azure Lotus Sword in his hand flickered with starlight, carrying an extreme edge that seemed to tear through everything, and struck Zhao Wuji's hastily raised arm.

Clang—!

The spirit power held for only a few seconds before being sliced open. In an instant, flesh parted to the bone, and searing blood splattered, mixing with the rain.

"Ugh..."

Zhao Wuji let out a muffled grunt, stumbling back two steps. Once he stood firm, his tiger-like eyes widened, staring fixedly at the blurred white shadow a few meters away. The midnight downpour severely reduced visibility; only the long sword, spitting forth a cold glint, remained clearly piercing in the rain.

"You..."

A sharp pain shot from his arm, and Zhao Wuji's expression shifted slightly. He raised his wounded limb, only to discover a faint cyan radiance clinging to the gash—like a bone-deep poison, obstructing the healing of his flesh.

"Li Zhexian..."

Zhao Wuji chewed on the name, his voice low, his killing intent so thick it was nearly overflowing.

Terrifying! He, a seventy-sixth-level Spirit Saint, had actually been wounded by a junior!

Even with the advantage of a surprise attack, it was like a fantasy!

"Today..."

"Li Zhexian must die."

"If he doesn't die, it will be my turn to die in the future."

"It might even bring disaster upon Shrek."

The cold rain soaked through Li Zhexian's white robes. His hair clung to his forehead, and water droplets rolled down his cheeks. He gripped the Azure Lotus Sword tightly, his icy gaze piercing through the rain, locking onto Zhao Wuji a few meters away.

"Old thing..."

Fortunately, he had been too full of wine and food to fall asleep that night, which was why he had been drinking alone under the canopy by the courtyard wall. In truth, the moment Zhao Wuji stepped into the courtyard, he had quietly gone into hiding.

That’s right. Li Zhexian had intended to hide. A swordsman should have the resolve to press ever forward, but that was when the gap in strength wasn't an unbridgeable chasm. To have a thirteen-year-old boy go head-to-head with the "Immovable Bright King" Zhao Wuji? That wasn't fearlessness; it was stupidity.

But he hadn't expected Zhao Wuji to linger after destroying the house. The old man was meticulous despite his rough exterior and had insisted on confirming his death. With his retreat cut off, he had no choice but to strike first.

A thousand thoughts flashed through his mind. Li Zhexian grabbed the clear spring wine flask at his waist and took a deep gulp. The cyan-red spirit wine mixed with rainwater and flowed down his chin. The Azure Lotus Sword seemed to sense its master's determination and let out a sharp, resonant hum.

Amidst the vast curtain of rain, two figures and two manifestations of palpable killing intent collided across the void.

Suddenly, Li Zhexian moved.

The twelve azure lotuses carved into the sword's body bloomed instantly, spewing out crimson flames as viscous as magma. The flowing fire instantly engulfed the blade, extending into a trail of blazing flames several meters long. The high temperature clashed violently with the cold rain, emitting a piercing "hissing" sound and billowing even thicker white mist.

Whoosh—!

The white shadow tore through the rain, as fast as a startled swan! In the blink of an eye, he had reached a position only a few meters from Zhao Wuji!

Li Zhexian bent his knees slightly, then tensed them, his body springing several meters into the air like an arrow released from a bow! He gripped the flaming sword with both hands, holding it high above his head!

"Second Spirit Skill—Three Swords of Fragrance!"

"Second Style of the Azure Lotus Sword Song—Two Modes: Sword of Incineration!"

Amidst his shout, a thick purple spirit ring suddenly coiled around the blade. The already peerless crimson sword surged with even greater power. The surrounding torrential rain seemed to be repelled by an invisible force field, turning into rolling, escaping white mist. Li Zhexian brought the blade down toward Zhao Wuji's head with the savage force of a mountain-splitting strike.

"Li Zhexian, your talent is monstrous, but you are still too green."

Zhao Wuji stomped his right foot. The ground trembled three times. Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black! Seven spirit rings rose from beneath his feet, and his majestic spirit power erupted like a volcanic explosion!

The second spirit ring glowed yellow, while the fifth flashed with a suffocating black light. His palms swelled to the size of millstones, and thick, golden-yellow fur burst through his skin to cover them.

"Second Spirit Skill—Vajra Palm!"

"Fifth Spirit Skill—Furious Bear's Wrath!"

Facing the heaven-splitting sword of fire, Zhao Wuji’s hand, now transformed into a giant bear's paw, swept out with the force of a mountain-collapsing wave. Where the palm wind passed, the air compressed and collapsed, emitting deafening, overburdened explosions.

Boom boom boom boom—!!!

Sword and palm collided head-on. Terrifying ripples of energy radiated from the two as their center. The crimson flames were smashed apart by the sheer force, slamming into the wall of rain and turning into rolling steam that surged for hundreds of meters.

Li Zhexian had chosen this remote location because he was short on funds. Thus, despite the immense commotion and the cover of the rain, no one had yet discovered this fierce battle.

A mountain-like force traveled through the blade. The webbing between Li Zhexian's thumb and forefinger tore, and the sword nearly slipped from his grasp.

"Kid, go practice in your next life!"

A vicious light gleamed in Zhao Wuji's eyes. His spirit power surged, and the power of his bear paw increased by another third.

Hum—!

The Azure Lotus Sword was sent flying back by the overwhelming force, slamming into Li Zhexian’s chest.

"Pfft—!"

A mouthful of blood sprayed into the vast white mist. Li Zhexian flew backward like a kite with a broken string, moving even faster than when he had approached. He slammed into the courtyard wall, causing it to collapse instantly. His figure was buried beneath bricks and rubble.

A savage grin appeared on Zhao Wuji's face. He waved his hand to clear the mist obstructing his vision and strode toward the ruins that had swallowed Li Zhexian.

"Why do I feel so uneasy..."

In the Crown Prince's bedchamber, Xue Qinghe, draped in a pale yellow robe, frowned as she walked to the window.

Whoosh—

She opened the window. The sudden rush of wind and rain blew her outer robe away. As she bent down to retrieve it, her fingertip touched the corner of a protruding stone brick, and a bead of blood immediately welled up.

At the Dugu estate, Dugu Yan was reading by lamplight. She wasn't researching cultivation or delving into the art of poison; instead, she was earnestly studying the techniques of making soup.

"The soup I made for Brother Zhexian yesterday seemed to lack a bit of heat."

"Next time I invite him, I will definitely be able to make even better soup."

At the Ye estate, Ye Lingling lay on her side on her bed. She looked through the window frame at the wind and rain outside. Her heart was filled with thoughts of what Li Zhexian had said to her during the day.

"You don't need to cater to anyone, including your mother..."

A faint smile tugged at the corners of Ye Lingling's lips. She drifted into a dream.

In the desolate, ruined courtyard, Zhao Wuji kicked aside the broken bricks and tiles...