Chapter Ninety-One: Tempering the Self Through Life and Death

“Good!” Yao Ye sheathed the Blood-Crying Blade, drew out the Sky Mark, and swung it toward Song Qi.

Seeing Yao Ye change weapons in the heat of battle, Song Qi grew wary at once. He changed his technique on the spot, turning a thrust into a sweeping strike. The moment the two weapons met, Song Qi glanced at Yao Ye in astonishment, then borrowed the force of the greatsword to retreat.

Yao Ye did not press the advantage. Instead, he held the massive blade in one hand and crooked a finger lightly, the gesture filled with brazen mockery.

Song Qi’s hand trembled faintly around his weapon. He rubbed the tiger’s mouth of his palm, then attacked again. This time, however, he no longer met force with force, but fought in a shifting, probing style.

Because of the greatsword, Yao Ye became somewhat awkward in the face of Song Qi’s swift attacks. Song Qi gave a cold snort at the sight and quickened his movements even further.

After a hard exchange, Song Qi’s offensive also slowed. Yao Ye pressed a hand to the faintly aching wound in his chest, though his face betrayed nothing at all.

Song Qi lifted his weapon slightly. “Yao Ye, are you ready to die?”

“Hmph. If you have the skill, come on.”

Yao Ye straightened his back. “Do you really think I have no way to deal with you? Hah.”

Song Qi rushed in swiftly. Yao Ye raised Sky Mark and, with the drifting steps and the shadow-body technique in concert, managed to hold his own.

Song Qi frowned. Every attack was being dissolved by Yao Ye without finding a foothold. Just as the two were exchanging blows at high speed, Yao Ye suddenly paused for a split second. In a fight between experts, every instant mattered.

Song Qi thought to himself, “My chance!”

The moment Yao Ye faltered, Song Qi drove a sword straight for his chest. Yao Ye could see the incoming blade, yet had already lost the initiative. He could only force his body to twist and avoid a fatal strike.

The sword pierced Yao Ye’s shoulder, blood pouring endlessly from it. Taking advantage of the opening, Yao Ye withdrew from the attack range and glanced at the wound on his shoulder before lightly pressing a hand to his chest.

“Hmph! Yao Ye! Today I will surely kill you!”

Song Qi raised his weapon again. “Yao Ye, though I don’t know what happened to you, today I must kill you. If you hand over the Creation Cauldron, I can spare your life.”

“If I obtain the Creation Cauldron today and kill Yao Ye, then when I return, it will surely be a great merit. Heh heh. I can even disappear for a while and study it in peace. When I emerge again, there will be nowhere under heaven I cannot go. Hahaha!”

At that thought, the look Song Qi gave Yao Ye grew even hotter. His naked gaze was utterly unrestrained.

“There are plenty who want to kill me. Just you? Hmph. Now it’s my turn to attack, isn’t it?”

After briefly staunching the bleeding, Yao Ye took the initiative and charged at Song Qi.

“Then taste my martial skill too! Wave Devourer!”

Facing Yao Ye’s attack, Song Qi did not dare be the least bit careless. He grabbed his weapon and swiftly retreated to the side, but under the assault of the greatsword and the Wave Devourer technique, he had nowhere to evade. He could only steel himself and charge forward.

Faced with Yao Ye’s wave-like assault, Song Qi’s brows were tightly furrowed, and blood seeped from the tiger’s mouth of his palm. After forcing through one exchange, his whole body was sent flying into the distance.

Lying on the ground, Song Qi relied on his weapon to stand and lightly wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

“To have driven me to this extent, you are worthy of pride. Then let us end this now.”

Song Qi straightened his body. “Blade-Tearing Void Severance!”

With Song Qi’s roar, the longsword swiftly burst into light. The radiance gradually separated from the blade, and a sphere of light rose into the sky. After flying high above, it descended faster and faster, growing larger and larger, until it enveloped Yao Ye completely.

Yao Ye examined the ring of light surrounding him, watching with cautious vigilance.

Song Qi gave a cold snort. “Yao Ye, it’s over! Slowly savor the pleasure of death!”

Then Song Qi also leaped into the ring of light, only for his figure to vanish entirely. Yao Ye pushed his spiritual power to the limit, and there Song Qi appeared, shifting left and right, elusive and uncertain.

The sound of a sword leaving its scabbard rang out, and a streak of light struck in. Yao Ye raised his sword to meet it, only to see the phantom gradually disappear. A wound appeared across his abdomen.

Instead of alarm, Yao Ye was overjoyed. “Only attacks of this level are enough to force out my full potential!”

At that thought, Yao Ye slowly closed his eyes. He knew his sight could no longer be relied upon. From here on, he could only depend on instinct to defend himself.

Under Song Qi’s repeated assaults, the wounds on Yao Ye’s body gradually multiplied. His brows were tightly knitted. “Always just a little off. What exactly is it?”

Yao Ye used his spiritual power to cling to his own body. At that moment, another streak of light came attacking. With the faintest sense of it, Yao Ye sidestepped lightly and avoided it.

Song Qi, hidden within the ring of light, stared in surprise at Yao Ye and launched an even sharper attack. Yet it was still evaded by Yao Ye.

“How is this possible!”

Song Qi’s attacks grew faster and faster. Each strike was resolved by Yao Ye’s slight movements. Then Yao Ye opened his eyes.

“I understand now! Hahaha!”

“Hmph! Big words. Let me see how you deal with the attacks that follow!”

Yao Ye, careless for just an instant, took a deep wound across his arm. He glanced at it, then burst out laughing.

“Then next, let me show you how I break your attack!”

The corners of Yao Ye’s mouth lifted. Sky Mark also began to emit a faint glow, yet within that glow lurked a soul-shaking force, and an overwhelming pressure spread outward.