Death

Ji Xue struggled forward two steps and called out a warning:

“Patrol Envoy Shen, watch out!”

“An attack like that requires cultivating a High-grade technique to the Peak stage to comprehend the source of martial arts!”

“But this method requires ‘Spirit Tempering’ to execute, and it can normally only be unleashed by Huajin or Gangjin experts.”

“He is only at the mid stage of the Mingjin Rank, so he must be using that jade bead to cheat! Such a heaven-defying act is extremely taxing on one's blood qi. He absolutely cannot sustain it for long!”

“Do not try to block it head-on! Just use your movement technique to dodge and stall. He can only unleash two or three more palms at most!”

“Sharp-tongued little bitch! Once I slap this little beast to death, I will make you beg for life and crave death!”

Having his trump card exposed in a single word, Qu Bushi's face contorted, a flash of violent rage crossing his eyes.

He roared, his madness intensifying as he poured his blood qi into the jade bead with reckless abandon.

Shen Xiuhan grit his teeth. Forcing down the churning blood qi in his chest, he did everything he could to execute 『Swift Swan, Swimming Dragon』 to dodge once more.

But this time, locked down by the inescapable dragnet of the “Palm Force,” his movements were ultimately delayed by half a fraction of a second.

Although he evaded a direct hit from the center of the palm, the incredibly violent shockwave of the wind still swept into his left shoulder like a heavy sledgehammer.

Shen Xiuhan flew backward like a kite with its string cut.

In midair, a sweet metallic taste rose in his throat, and he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.

Even with the protection of the 『Iron Bone Technique』, he still could not withstand the raw power of the “Palm Force”!

“Dammit!”

Shen Xiuhan twisted his torso and landed on his feet, plowing two deep ruts into the dirt before barely stabilizing his stance.

A sharp pain radiated from his left shoulder, and his entire arm trembled slightly.

Shen Xiuhan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, feeling a trace of regret.

Wait!

Suddenly, his eyes narrowed as he stared at the jade bead in Qu Bushi's palm.

The bead was like a whale swallowing water, frantically sucking in the surrounding mist.

A continuous stream of surging water vapor poured into Qu Bushi's body, sustaining that terrifying palm force that transcended his cultivation realm.

Shen Xiuhan's eyes suddenly lit up. Without a shred of hesitation, he ripped a black thread from the hem of his robe with a sharp rip.

His blood qi surged as the profound intent of 『Thousand Lakes Fishing』 quietly activated. An invisible, strange ripple spread out in all directions along the black thread.

It rippled like water, completely silent.

In the next instant!

The translucent jade bead in Qu Bushi's palm seemed to receive an irresistible summons.

It suddenly erupted with a violent hum, the body of the bead trembling wildly as its light flickered erratically!

“What is going on?!”

Qu Bushi, who was gritting his teeth to drain his blood qi and condense his final giant palm, went pale with horror.

This extraordinary treasure, which was linked to his mind, actually showed signs of slipping out of his control!

Before he could think further—

The jade bead broke free from his grasp, transforming into a streak of deep blue light as it flew out of his hand.

It behaved like a playful child hearing the call of a parent, leaving its playmate behind without a single regret to throw itself eagerly into its father's embrace.

Shen Xiuhan lightly raised his hand and firmly caught the jade bead in his palm. He did not look closely at it, his gaze remaining fixed on Qu Bushi above.

Qu Bushi was utterly dumbfounded.

Ever since he had comprehended the mysteries of this treasure, he had been constantly on edge, day and night. He knew this item possessed heaven-defying properties and miraculous effects; if word got out, it would surely attract countless pursuers.

But never in his wildest dreams did he expect the treasure to leave him in such an absurd manner...

It had fucking grown legs and flown into the enemy's hands on its own!

However, there was no time for him to make sense of this bizarre turn of events.

Without the jade bead to control it, the water mist instantly became like a wild, runaway horse, turning into an uncontrollable powder keg!

“Not good!”

Panic-stricken, Qu Bushi poured all of his remaining blood qi into the mist and hurled it away with all his might, wanting nothing more than to throw it as far as possible.

But the moment he tried to pull back, the unformed deep blue mist suddenly erupted with a deafening boom, exploding in midair!

A majestic and peerless wave of force violently rippled outward in all directions.

Wild winds howled as stray force danced chaotically.

The bluestone slabs of the pier were ripped up, and ancient trees were uprooted.

Everything disintegrated in this mountain-toppling, ocean-churning tearing force, reduced to a sky full of fine powder.

And Qu Bushi, who was at the very epicenter of the explosion, undoubtedly bore the brunt of it!

His face was as pale as paper. He spat out a mist of blood toward the sky, his meridians snapping inch by inch under the backlash of his blood qi. In an instant, he was severely injured!

“A golden opportunity!”

Shen Xiuhan, who had been keeping a close eye on Qu Bushi, saw his falling figure. His eyes lit up, and he immediately lunged forward.

Stamping his foot hard, he soared into the air like a great roc spreading its wings. He contorted his body like a drawn bow in midair, hoisting his right leg high like a battle-axe!

He brought it down in a devastating axe-kick!

『Thirty-Six Paths Sky-Collapsing Kick: Sky-Collapsing Kick』!

“No!”

Qu Bushi roared in despair. Gritting his teeth, he crossed his arms in front of his chest, attempting to channel his blood qi to protect his heart.

But his meridians were already completely empty. Where could he squeeze out even a drop of blood qi?

“My life ends—”

Before he could finish his sentence—

The long leg, carrying a tempestuous and violent force, crashed down without a shred of mercy, striking Qu Bushi's crossed arms dead-on!

The sound of shattering bones echoed loudly.

Qu Bushi had tempered his bones for many years, having finally succeeded in tempering his arm bones. Yet at this moment, they were snapped as easily as rotten wood.

Flesh and blood splattered everywhere, and bone fragments flew.

The shadow of the leg did not lose any momentum, continuing to crush downward!

Sternum, ribs, internal organs, spine...

Almost all of them were shattered to pieces at the exact same instant!

A bloody, mangled trench was torn across Qu Bushi's chest from left to right!

His body crashed heavily into the dust, kicking up a cloud of soot.

Qu Bushi's mouth hung slightly open, but the light in his eyes quickly faded, like a snuffed-out candle.

A deathly silence fell over the surroundings.

By the carriage, disbelief was written on everyone's faces.

“He's... dead?”

Ji Xue's gaze trembled, her voice carrying a trace of surreal daze.

“Qu Bushi... died just like that?”

Her younger sister, Ji Yao, also widened her eyes, speechless for a long moment.

The tenth chief of Chenjian Dock, who had just seemed like a descending god with terrifying power, was now nothing but a heap of mangled flesh, completely devoid of life.

The expressions on Ma and Wen's faces were a complex mixture of shock and awe.

The two maidservants covered their mouths, not daring to breathe loudly.

Geng Weizhi's hand gripping the hilt of his saber trembled slightly with excitement.

As a Yunyi Island patrol guard, he knew exactly what the name Qu Bushi represented.

It was a name that struck terror into the hearts of the merchant ships along the coast, a fierce bandit that even the Five Great Families feared!

And now... he had been slain at the pier by their own Patrol Envoy, his corpse left lying right here!