"Is that true?" Linghu Mingye asked.
"It's true," Chu Feng said.
"Fine. If you truly defeat me, Linghu Mingye, with your own strength, then I, Linghu Mingye, won't need you to punish me. I will kneel before you and admit my wrongs," Linghu Mingye said.
"Very well," Chu Feng nodded.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh— Without warning, Linghu Mingye moved. He thrust the immortal armament in his hand toward Chu Feng, and sword qi surged forth instantly, hurtling toward Chu Feng to take his life.
Chu Feng had long been prepared for Linghu Mingye's attack. The heavenly thundermark on his forehead, along with the two great secret arts—the ancient war sword and the ancient war axe—manifested simultaneously.
Boom— Boom— Boom— In the blink of an eye, the two clashed. Explosive booms rang out one after another, and powerful energy ripples rampaged through heaven and earth.
However, this situation did not last long.
Moments later, the piercing booms ceased, and the turbulent ripples began to dissipate.
Linghu Mingye was on one knee upon the ground.
Though his physical body remained intact, his robes were drenched in blood and his complexion was pale as paper.
Even his breathing had grown ragged. One hand clutched at his chest, his face contorted in agony.
If one looked closely, his body was actually trembling.
Across from him, a figure descended slowly from midair—it was Chu Feng.
Chu Feng's expression was unchanged, and his robes were immaculate, not a speck of dust on them. He was the very picture of contrast against the wretched Linghu Mingye before him.
"Linghu Mingye, you've lost," Chu Feng said, looking down at him.
"I was careless. That doesn't count. I want another match," Linghu Mingye said.
Though he was thoroughly weakened, his tone was resolute. He simply refused to acknowledge his defeat.
"Sure. Then stand up, and we'll fight again," Chu Feng said.
"My injuries are too severe to fight right now. Once I've recovered, I'll come find you," Linghu Mingye said.
"Heh…"
Chu Feng laughed at those words. He understood now—Linghu Mingye was simply someone who never kept his word.
Beating him once wouldn't be enough. Beating him ten times, a hundred times, he still wouldn't admit it.
"In that case, I'll just have to take matters into my own hands."
As he spoke, Chu Feng clenched his palm. Bolts of lightning wove together, coalescing into a long whip of thunder.
Then, with a flick of his arm, the lightning whip cracked down upon Linghu Mingye.
Crack— sizzle— The lightning whip struck Linghu Mingye's body, and not only did lightning arcs flash brilliantly, but it also carved a ghastly wound across his flesh.
His body was left a mess of blood and mangled tissue—his very bones had been cleaved in half. Nearly half his body had been all but torn apart by that single lash.
Most critically, the moment that whip landed, Linghu Mingye's mouth flew open and a scream of unbearable pain tore from his throat.
The whip had not only injured his physical body but also his soul. That pain was even more excruciating than the searing flames inside his immortal armament pill furnace.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh— And in the very next instant, Chu Feng's arm began to swing in rapid succession. The thunder whip fell upon Linghu Mingye's body again and again without cease.