Chapter 27: Qin Xingchen vs. Li Hongda

Hearing this, Qin Xingchen sneered, "I'm sorry, but I have always been the type to yield to persuasion rather than coercion. The more you threaten me, the more determined I am to finish off Luo Shan! Therefore, today, Luo Shan must die!"

With those words, he raised his right foot and stomped down toward Luo Shan's head.

"How insolent!"

Li Hongda roared in fury. A terrifying aura erupted from his body, and he vanished from his spot, charging toward Qin Xingchen like a bolt of lightning.

Just as Qin Xingchen's foot was about to land, Li Hongda arrived before him and lashed out with a kick.

"So fast!" Qin Xingchen was inwardly shocked by Li Hongda’s speed. He had no choice but to stop his foot from crushing Luo Shan's skull.

At the same time, Li Hongda swept his leg horizontally, aiming straight for Qin Xingchen's neck. Qin Xingchen crossed his arms to block the blow instantly.

*Bang!*

Despite the block, the force of Li Hongda’s kick sent him sliding back several steps.

"Hmph, not bad. To think a mere fifth-level Blood Tempering Realm cultivator could take a kick from me head-on and remain standing!" Li Hongda was slightly surprised that Qin Xingchen hadn't collapsed.

Qin Xingchen could sense that the cultivation aura radiating from Li Hongda was... a Half-Step Mortal Martial Realm!

At this moment, everyone present could also perceive Qin Xingchen’s cultivation: the fifth level of the Blood Tempering Realm! Expressions of shock appeared on everyone's faces once again.

"I never imagined that Qin Xingchen, only at the fifth level of the Blood Tempering Realm, would be this strong!"

"Indeed, crushing Luo Shan, who is at the eighth level of the Blood Tempering Realm—it's terrifying. I’ve never seen anything like this before!"

"But what I find most terrifying is that when he defeated Luo Shan earlier, he didn't even reveal his cultivation aura. Just how strong is he?"

"No matter how strong he is, he can only go so far against Li Hongda!"

"That’s right. Li Hongda’s cultivation has reached the Half-Step Mortal Martial Realm, just a single step away from the true Mortal Martial Realm. He truly lives up to his reputation as an inner disciple of the Heavenly Cang Sect! Qin Xingchen is in for it now!"

...

At this moment, Shi Kun appeared on the life-and-death arena and looked at Li Hongda. "Young Master Li, this is a life-and-death duel between disciples of our Moon Gazing Sect. Shouldn't you refrain from interfering halfway?"

Li Hongda looked at Shi Kun and replied, "Elder Shi, if this were anyone else, I wouldn't care, nor would I bother to intervene. But as I said, Luo Shan’s sister, Luo Xiuxiu, is a core disciple of our Heavenly Cang Sect and my senior sister. I have received favors from her, and saving Luo Shan today is simply repaying that debt. As long as I am here, Luo Shan will not die today! If you dare to lay a hand on me, Elder Shi, you had better weigh the consequences of the status I represent!"

"You..." Shi Kun gritted his teeth. As the overseer of this duel, he had the authority to stop any outside interference. But if that interference came from the Heavenly Cang Sect, he truly had no power to stop it. After all, compared to the Heavenly Cang Sect, a second-rate minor sect like the Moon Gazing Sect was far too insignificant. The Moon Gazing Sect could not afford to offend the Heavenly Cang Sect. Thus, Shi Kun did not dare to easily provoke Li Hongda.

Just then, Yu Tianba, who was watching from below the stage, spoke up: "Young Master Li, Qin Xingchen’s actions have nothing to do with our Moon Gazing Sect. I hereby announce that as of today, Qin Xingchen’s status as a disciple of the Moon Gazing Sect is revoked, and he is expelled from the sect. From this moment on, he is no longer one of our own, and his actions are entirely independent of this sect!"

Everyone was stunned. They hadn't expected Yu Tianba to revoke Qin Xingchen’s status at such a critical moment; this was clearly a case of settling a private grudge under the guise of public duty.

Yu Xiong was outraged. He turned to Yu Tianba and demanded, "Father, how could you so rashly strip Xingchen of his status?"

Yu Tianba retorted angrily, "Qin Xingchen has already offended the Heavenly Cang Sect and even dared to try to drag our Moon Gazing Sect down with him! Such a vicious heart—I have done nothing wrong. The Moon Gazing Sect must sever all ties with such a person!"

"Father, you..." Yu Xiong looked completely distraught.

Li Hongda looked at Qin Xingchen and sneered, "Kid, it seems not even your own sect stands with you now. How pathetic! If I kill you today, it won't offend the Moon Gazing Sect at all, ha-ha... However, let me say this one more time: if you end this duel with Luo Shan right now, I can pretend nothing happened. But if you insist on killing him, then you..."

Before he could finish, his expression changed abruptly, for Qin Xingchen was charging toward him like a ferocious beast.

With a loud shout, Qin Xingchen threw a punch.

"Wind-Breaking Fist!"

This was a mid-grade Earth-tier martial skill that Qin Xingchen had cultivated in his previous life while at the Blood Tempering Realm; it was capable of shattering metal and splitting stone. Sensing the undeniable power of this strike, Li Hongda also threw a punch.

*Bang!*

The two fists collided, and both men retreated several steps.

When he steadied himself, Li Hongda realized that after clashing with Qin Xingchen, his fist was aching and trembling. He looked at Qin Xingchen in disbelief and shouted, "Kid, you are only at the fifth level of the Blood Tempering Realm—how are you this strong?"

He was a Half-Step Mortal Martial Realm cultivator, yet Qin Xingchen had managed to injure him. How was this possible?

Qin Xingchen said, "Since you enjoy being a busybody with an arrogant attitude, I don't mind taking your life along with his." His voice was calm, but it carried an undisguised intent to kill.

"Kill me? Hmph!" Li Hongda scoffed with disdain. "A mere fifth-level Blood Tempering Realm ant like you dares to threaten my life? You are courting death!"

With that, he pulled a sharp broadsword from his spatial ring and pointed it at Qin Xingchen. "Today, I will sever one of your arms and let you know exactly who you can afford to provoke and who you cannot!"

He charged toward Qin Xingchen with his blade. Qin Xingchen grinned, gripped his own sword, and rushed forward to meet him. As Li Hongda swung his blade down, Qin Xingchen vanished.

"An afterimage..." Li Hongda stopped, whispering in astonishment. He realized that Qin Xingchen’s figure had completely disappeared.

"Where are you looking?" Qin Xingchen’s voice suddenly came from behind him.

Li Hongda turned immediately, but before he could even see Qin Xingchen, a sword strike flashed past.

*Swish!*

"Ah..."

Under the shocked gazes of the crowd, Li Hongda’s right hand, still gripping the sword, flew through the air as blood sprayed wildly. His scream echoed across the arena, sending chills down everyone's spines.

This scene... stunned everyone once again. No one had expected Qin Xingchen to actually sever Li Hongda’s arm.

Qin Xingchen pointed his sword at Li Hongda. "If you continue to meddle, I don't mind crippling you entirely!"

Li Hongda’s eyes were bloodshot as he glared at Qin Xingchen with a twisted expression. "You brat, I will kill you!" He charged at Qin Xingchen once more.

Qin Xingchen swung his sword again.

*Swish!*

Li Hongda’s other arm flew off.

"Ah!" The scream of Li Hongda rang out once more across the arena.

The spectators were horrified. Qin Xingchen had actually dared to cut off the arms of a Heavenly Cang Sect disciple! He had completely offended the Heavenly Cang Sect now. He was a dead man!

"Kid, I didn't expect you would truly dare to harm a disciple of our Heavenly Cang Sect!"

Just then, a mysterious old man in black descended from the sky, appearing on the arena. A terrifying aura emanated from him, causing many present to tremble with fear.

"Second-level Earth Martial Realm!"

Qin Xingchen had not expected this old man to be at the second level of the Earth Martial Realm.

The old man in black looked at Qin Xingchen and said, "Boy, I am Zhang Yu, an outer sect elder of the Heavenly Cang Sect. Because you dared to sever the arms of our disciple, you will certainly die today!"

He began to walk toward Qin Xingchen in a leisurely manner, his face filled with cold, murderous intent.

At that moment, a figure suddenly appeared behind him, blocking his path and shielding Qin Xingchen. It was Yu Xiong.

Yu Xiong cupped his hands toward Zhang Yu and said, "Elder Zhang, it was indeed Qin Xingchen’s fault for injuring a disciple of your sect. Our Moon Gazing Sect will punish him severely. Furthermore, this is a matter between juniors; I ask that you temper your anger and spare his life!"

Qin Xingchen was slightly taken aback. He hadn't expected Yu Xiong to plead for him.

Zhang Yu scoffed, "Yu Xiong, although you are the sect master of the Moon Gazing Sect, you are nothing but a speck of dust to me. Moreover, you are only at the tenth level of the Mortal Martial Realm; you cannot block me. If you know what's good for you, get out of my way!"

With that, he moved like a ghost, appearing before Yu Xiong and unleashing a palm strike!

Yu Xiong’s expression changed drastically, and he immediately struck back with his own palm. But... the moment his palm touched Zhang Yu’s, he was sent flying off the arena. He slammed hard into the ground, vomited a mouthful of blood, and lost consciousness.