"You what, there are still three moves?"
Duan Liufeng asked.
"Shouldn't there be three moves?"
Being asked this by Duan Liufeng, Chu Feng himself grew uncertain.
Although Chu Feng had entered the Martial Arts Library of the Wolong Martial Sect, he had never had the chance to cultivate any martial techniques there.
His Three Wolong Strikes had been obtained before he ever joined the sect, when he was undergoing the entrance trials.
Those trials consisted of six gates: Benevolence, Infiltration, Enlightenment, Wisdom, Martial Arts, and Domain.
During the third gate — the test of comprehension — Chu Feng had comprehended the Three Wolong Strikes.
"The Three Wolong Strikes?"
"Heh..."
"You really do know how to make things up. Since when did Wolong ever have a third strike?"
Yet at that very moment, a third voice rang out.
Hearing that voice, both Chu Feng and Duan Liufeng's hearts tightened.
It was Zuoqiu Youyu.
Looking over, Zuoqiu Youyu had indeed risen to his feet once more.
He… had revived from death yet again.
"How is this possible?"
Chu Feng was equally astonished.
That last strike should have undeniably killed Zuoqiu Youyu. He should not have been alive.
But not only was Zuoqiu Youyu alive, his aura was perfectly stable. Even the injuries he had sustained before were fully healed.
"Trying to kill me won't be so easy."
After standing up, Zuoqiu Youyu regarded Chu Feng with frigid eyes.
"I see now."
"The two Life-protecting Pills obtained from that ruin within the Nine Soul Heavenly River."
"So… Zhao Qie wasn't killed by a demon beast. You killed him."
"You stole his Life-protecting Pill, which is why you were able to preserve your life twice in succession."
Duan Liufeng confronted Zuoqiu Youyu.
"That's right. I did kill Brother Zhao."
Zuoqiu Youyu admitted.
"You animal! Wasn't Zhao Qie your sworn brother?"
"You killed him for the sake of a single pill?"
Duan Liufeng was seething with rage.
The reason for his fury was that he knew the full story.
This Zhao Qie was only a few decades older than Zuoqiu Youyu.
In their youth, Zhao Qie had been the foremost disciple of the Wolong Martial Sect, possessing extraordinary talent.
Back when Zuoqiu Youyu had not yet grown into his power, he had always followed at Zhao Qie's side. The two had been close enough to become sworn brothers despite being from different clans.
Duan Liufeng had also heard of the Life-protecting Pills.
It had been during an exploratory expedition away from the Wolong Martial Sect.
Though Duan Liufeng himself had not participated, he had heard about what happened on that expedition.
Within an ancient ruin situated in the Nine Soul Heavenly River, two pills capable of preserving one's life had been discovered.
Zuoqiu Youyu and Zhao Qie each received one. In truth, it was Zhao Qie who had obtained both, and he gifted one to Zuoqiu Youyu.
But later, due to certain circumstances, the group of disciples had split up.
When people next found Zhao Qie and Zuoqiu Youyu, Zhao Qie was already dead, and Zuoqiu Youyu was gravely wounded.
According to Zuoqiu Youyu's explanation, they had encountered a terrifying monster and been attacked by it.
At the time, there had been those who suspected Zuoqiu Youyu.
After all, Zhao Qie's cultivation had been superior to Zuoqiu Youyu's.
If they had truly been ambacked, then with Zhao Qie dead, how could Zuoqiu Youyu possibly have survived?
But because Zuoqiu Youyu and Zhao Qie had been so close, and because there was no evidence, and because of Zuoqiu Youyu's status, no one pursued the matter.
Earlier, when Zuoqiu Youyu had preserved his life the first time, it had likely been because only a single pill was used, so there had been no trace of pill aura on his person.
Duan Liufeng had no idea what method Zuoqiu Youyu had employed to survive, and had completely overlooked the possibility of a Life-protecting Pill.
But this time, a faint wisp of pill aura clung to him. Though subtle, it gave Duan Liufeng the clue he needed.
It was because of this that Duan Liufeng deduced Zuoqiu Youyu had preserved his life twice using the Life-protecting Pills obtained from that ruin.
"Zhao Qie was indeed generous to me, but this Life-protecting Pill can save one's life."
"Trading his life for mine is naturally worth it."
Zuoqiu Youyu said.
"This Life-protecting Pill only has descriptions — no one could confirm whether it truly works. And you killed Zhao Qie based on nothing more than a possibility? You truly are less than a beast."
Duan Liufeng cursed in fury.
"In life, which choice isn't a gamble?"
"Clearly, the gamble over Zhao Qie and the Life-protecting Pill was one I won."
"The pill really does have miraculous effects. It's just a pity… there were only two."
"And because of my carelessness, both of these precious Life-protecting Pills were wasted on this piece of trash."
"Chu Feng, today I will make you wish you were dead."
As he spoke, Zuoqiu Youyu turned his gaze toward Chu Feng, and that look was utterly terrifying.
Sssss—!
But before his words had even faded, a purple hurricane carrying the roar of a dragon hurtled straight toward Zuoqiu Youyu.
Chu Feng had launched an attack.
Realizing the situation was dire, Chu Feng had no intention of engaging in a drawn-out exchange. His first strike was the sixth-stage Forbidden Technique — the Forbidden Technique Wind Dragon's Roar.
"Hmph~"
But facing such a powerful offensive from Chu Feng, Zuoqiu Youyu merely swept his longsword forward, and a bolt of thunderous light blade slashed through the air.
The two collided, and ripples of violent energy erupted in every direction.
Yet Chu Feng's formidable sixth-stage Forbidden Technique Wind Dragon's Roar could not push through. It was neutralized completely.
And what Zuoqiu Youyu had executed was not a sixth-stage Forbidden Technique — it was a first-stage Forbidden Technique.
Even if his combat power exceeded Chu Feng's, it should have been impossible to suppress Chu Feng's sixth-stage Forbidden Technique with only a first-stage one.
"Not good."
Taking a closer look, Chu Feng inwardly cursed.
He discovered with astonishment that Zuoqiu Youyu's aura had risen.
He was already a Martial Emperor — and had now ascended to the sixth rank of Martial Emperor.