Chapter 35: Slaying the Spirit Master

The level-two spirit-wielder bandit, seeing that with a casual wave of his hand—using but half his strength—he had gravely injured Gu Feng, regarded him with even more disdain. He shifted his entire focus to the Liang family’s spirit-wielder. As long as he could slay this opponent, everything would be decided.

With a vicious glare, he shouted, “Great Shattering Slash.”

A yellow aura of spirit energy burst from his blade, dazzling in an instant, transforming into an enormous, ethereal sword that shot toward the Liang family spirit-wielder.

“Damn it!”

Startled, the Liang family spirit-wielder cast a glance at the wounded Gu Feng, then made his decision.

“Flame Sword Slash!”

With that, he spat a mouthful of vital blood onto his blade, causing the once-dim flames along its edge to flare violently, its momentum and oppressive force now matching the bandit’s “Great Shattering Slash” in no way inferior.

Having charged up this attack, the Liang family spirit-wielder was left swaying on his feet, barely standing by willpower alone, and swung his sword straight at the level-two bandit.

Afterwards, he collapsed onto the ground, unable to hold himself up any longer, yet his eyes never left his foe.

He was gambling, staking his very life on this moment—he had no choice.

Victory or defeat, all would be decided by this clash.

“Damn you!”

The bandit was furious, but also shaken by his opponent’s resolve.

“Heavy Qi Slash!”

Gu Feng had finished gathering his strength and unleashed the Heavy Qi Slash.

This was a spirit-wielder-level technique, and even with Gu Feng’s current rank—having strengthened his power by a hundredfold—the move only barely reached the level of a true spirit-wielder’s skill, and with severe side effects.

Thanks to the system, Gu Feng could instantly learn any skill, but if he charged up his power, the attack’s force would be increased by twenty percent.

To deal with this level-two bandit, Gu Feng risked everything, dangerously charging up his move.

“What?!”

Seeing Gu Feng perform the Heavy Qi Slash, everyone was stunned, unable to believe their eyes.

“How could a warrior at his level unleash a spirit-wielder attack? Even true spirit-wielders only use such techniques as a last resort, for they consume far too much spirit energy.”

Spirit energy was the very foundation of a spirit-wielder’s strength.

Boom!

Flame Sword Slash versus Great Shattering Slash.

The Liang family spirit-wielder, having spent his vital blood and all his spirit energy, managed to block the Great Shattering Slash.

Both attacks collided with such terrifying force that the cave itself shook. Even the other spirit-wielders were forced to retreat before such ferocity.

Those below the level of spirit-wielder, like Liang Zi and the others, were left sprawled helplessly on the ground.

Fortunately, Gu Yan was cared for by Liang Zi; pale as she was from the shockwaves, her life was not in danger.

The level-two bandit, however, had no time to concern himself with the outcome of his own attack.

At that moment, he found himself in grave danger.

A blast of air, equal in force to a level-two spirit-wielder’s strike, was speeding straight for him.

He was caught at a moment when his previous strength was spent and new energy had yet to arise—he could neither dodge nor escape, and had no choice but to take it head-on.

“Damn it!”

The bandit glared at Gu Feng with eyes that seemed to burn with hate, wishing he could cut him down on the spot. How could a mere warrior pose a threat to his life again and again? This time, he had to die.

The bandit hurriedly summoned the last of his spirit energy, slashing with all his might to block the Heavy Qi Slash, pouring every ounce of his strength into defense, even as he considered how to kill Gu Feng once he survived.

Gu Feng, too, suffered greatly from unleashing the Heavy Qi Slash; the side effects of using such a high-level attack were more severe than before, especially since he had charged it up.

Just as everyone believed the outcome would be decided here, Gu Feng gripped his short sword and charged at the level-two bandit.

Everyone was shocked. “Is that boy crazy? Even if he were at his peak, such a reckless charge at a level-two spirit-wielder would be suicide, let alone now, when he’s barely standing.”

“Sigh, still too young,” lamented the Liang family spirit-wielder, now helpless after exhausting himself.

The members of the four great families thought the same, some even regretting getting involved in this bloody affair.

Gu Feng, armed with the Undying System, saw in his mind three flaws in the level-two bandit’s defenses—but none were fatal. He was searching for the one lethal opening.

Heavy Qi Slash versus the bandit.

Boom!

The bandit shattered the Heavy Qi Slash with a single blow. To everyone’s astonishment, the fragments of the attack did not scatter and injure bystanders. Instead, before the bandit’s terrified eyes, they struck his chest.

Crash!

The bandit’s body was sent flying.

“A perfect chance,” Gu Feng thought, accelerating once more as he shot toward his enemy.

The impact of the Heavy Qi Slash struck the bandit’s iron breastplate; though it did not shatter, the force transmitted through it shattered his internal organs, leaving him gravely injured.

He forcibly restrained himself, but still could not help spewing a mouthful of blood.

He had no time to worry about his wounds, for he saw Gu Feng coming for him.

“Damn it! How could it come to this?”

“You little brat, you dare?”

The spirit-wielder bandit nearest the level-two bandit charged at Gu Feng.

“Is your opponent me?” the Dong family spirit-wielder shouted, immediately launching his own attack.

Gu Feng’s determination to kill the level-two bandit all but guaranteed he would be slain by the other bandits. Yet if they did not retreat, they would surely fall to the Dong family’s fighter. It was a contest of nerve and fearlessness.

No one else could intervene in time.

“Ding! You have gained your fourth death opportunity. Self-detonation mode: kill three spirit-wielders within one minute. Reward: level up by two. Accept?”

“Damn it...”

The system’s sudden offer left Gu Feng frustrated. The reward was tempting, but after being burned twice before, he knew not every death opportunity was worth taking. He declined at once.

“Die!”

Everyone watching Gu Feng’s desperate assault was stunned by his fearlessness. Such a man was truly to be feared.

“Brother!” Seeing Gu Feng risk his life so, Gu Yan wept uncontrollably, her resolve to grow stronger and protect her brother only deepened.

Liang Zi and the other youths felt differently.

Gu Feng’s disregard for his own safety made them realize that strength came at a bloody price—sometimes, even one’s life. They knew they could never do what he did, and so could never match him.

“No!”

At last, the level-two bandit felt true panic. He was not unafraid of death; it was simply that the moment of life and death had not truly arrived until now.

“Ah! Brat, I don’t believe you’re not afraid to die!”

The bandit attacking Gu Feng hesitated as danger loomed from behind, convinced Gu Feng would falter as well.

But Gu Feng defied all expectations.

The bandit simply couldn’t believe anyone could truly be fearless—so he too threw caution to the wind.

The Dong family spirit-wielder, seeing the situation, was overjoyed and smiled openly. Let them fight to the death—he would be the true victor.

Swish!

Gu Feng severed the level-two bandit’s neck with a single strike.

The body hit the ground, the head rolling, a plume of blood spraying forth.

Those who had not joined the fight were stunned by the sight.

A level-two spirit-wielder, slain just like that—by a mere youth at the eighth rank of warrior.