"Two full patterns, the king's force!" Wen Zonghao observed the rich blood essence and the surging white dragon aura enveloping Qin Huai. 

His pupils contracted in surprise. He hadn't anticipated that Qin Huai would be a primary practitioner of these two cultivation techniques, and even less so that they had already been honed to the fifth-level bone pattern realm.

"You concealed it well," Wen Zonghao remarked with a sardonic smile.

"Leader! Don't let him live!" Zhou Cunzhong's roar pierced through the cloud of dust.

Before his words had a chance to fade, a long spear cleaved the air, shooting toward Qin Huai. However, Qin Huai responded with a disdainful grunt, and a powerful surge of qi and blood energy flowed into his right fist, which he swung with might. 

On impact, the spear whined, scattering sparks and debris, visibly damaged at the tip. This display of sheer physical power, smashing a treasured weapon with a single fist, left Zhou Cunzhong dumbstruck.

With his free hand, Qin Huai unsheathed Silver Fox, his arm expanding and veins bulging, as an intense force surged into it. 

Whoosh! 

Silver Fox soared through the air, the sound of the air being torn apart shocking Zhou Cunzhong. Without a second's hesitation, he attempted to evade, but it was too late. He had barely turned when Silver Fox penetrated his body, pinning him to the deck. 

Wen Zonghao, who had been observing the spectacle dispassionately, made no attempt to rescue Zhou Cunzhong. He was, after all, merely a pawn.

"How did you figure out he was mine?" Wen Zonghao queried with interest.

"He progressed too quickly," replied Qin Huai in an icy voice, his eyes scanning their surroundings as he formulated an escape plan. "I was aware of all his embezzlement and extortion, but even abundant resources can't explain such rapid advancement."

Images of past events and minor details darted across Qin Huai's mind, the most prominent being Wen Zonghao's clandestine little pharmacy. Refining medicine from corpses? Now, witnessing Zhou Cunzhong's swift ascension to the next realm, Qin Huai had a chilling realization about the true purpose of that pharmacy.

Having had previous dealings with the Sacred Heart sect in Pingnan City, he was all too familiar with their methods. 

"If I'm not mistaken, Leader, you must have aligned yourself with the Sacred Heart sect," Qin Huai conjectured, spotting a small boat tied to the side of the flower boat.

"You are indeed perceptive," Wen Zonghao answered, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

In the next instant, they both moved. Qin Huai darted forward, shattering the thick vines binding the boat with his white dragon qi. With one arm, he hurled the boat into the distance, his foot slamming onto the hull of the ship, causing it to splinter. 

Bang! 

Like a human cannonball, Qin Huai launched himself after the boat, landing effortlessly on it. The entire sequence of movements was fluid, like water flowing downstream.

But just as Qin Huai prepared to steer the boat into the water, a dreadful pressure bore down on him from behind, and a massive python apparition descended from the sky. 

Raising his arms overhead, Qin Huai's formidable dragon king form matched the python's power, resulting in an immediate stalemate. 

Boom! 

The skin on Qin Huai's hands began to blister, reddening gradually as if severely scorched. The fierce force left deep imprints on his body, like cuts from a knife and burns from a fire. 

"Break!" Qin Huai bellowed, and with a sudden burst of strength, he tore the giant python's phantom image apart with his bare, bloodied hands. 

The impact caused a whirlwind to form over the river. The martial artists of the Blood Poison Gang who observed the spectacle were struck with horror. Some even contemplated rowing over to assist.

However, in the following moment, Wen Zonghao's voice rolled out like thunder. "Qin Huai has colluded with the Thunderbolt Gang and the Mountain City Gang, betraying his brothers and murdering Mou Jinfu and Yin Rongen! He has also conspired with the evil Sacred Heart sect and cultivated the cannibalistic technique! His crimes are unforgivable!"

His words exploded across the riverbanks. "As the leader of the Blood Poison Gang, I will execute Qin Huai!"

Qin Huai neither had the time nor the inclination to contest these accusations. Instead, he placed his hands behind him and discharged the white dragon qi to propel the boat away, hoping to put distance between himself and Wen Zonghao.

Boom! 

But Wen Zonghao merely sneered, stomping his foot on the deck of his boat, summoning the phantom python once again. As a result, the boat began to sink, causing ripples to spread across the surface of the river. 

Caught off guard, Qin Huai's boat capsized, and he was propelled uncontrollably toward the depths — right in Wen Zonghao's direction.

Turning around in shock, he saw Wen Zonghao bounding across the river, stepping on floating debris, fast as a bolt of lightning. In an instant, Wen Zonghao was in front of Qin Huai, his eyes radiating murderous intent as he threw a punch with overwhelming force. It was as if Mount Tai was pressing down, its astonishing force forcing him down.

Qin Huai's hair stood on end as he retaliated, his fist glowing like a long blade, and golden flames flickering on his fingertips — the flame longevity technique.

On catching sight of the flames, Wen Zonghao's expression shifted drastically. The fiery glow sliced through the fearsome snake's head on Wen Zonghao's fist, cutting open his flesh, revealing white bone beneath. Joy flashed in Qin Huai's eyes, thinking he might stand a chance. 

Whoosh! 

But before he could capitalize on the moment, Wen Zonghao's blood and qi surged forth. The exposed white bones began emitting dazzling light, extinguishing the flame longevity technique, which had always proven potent. 

As the flames were smothered, Qin Huai's heart sank.

Tap the screen to use advanced tools Tip: You can use left and right keyboard keys to browse between chapters.

You'll Also Like