I've been offline until now... Please send some comfort.
***** These two disciples of the Wind and Rain Tower had no prior grudge against Yang Kai, but as they chased after him, several of their junior brothers had died. Unable to take revenge on Wen Feichen, they could only pin the blame on Yang Kai.
Now that the enemy stood before them, their eyes naturally reddened with hatred.
Brother Xiong looked Yang Kai over with a mocking smile and said coldly, "Quite bold, to walk right into the trap. Where is the woman you rescued?"
"Beat me, and I'll tell you!" Yang Kai's fists cracked as he clenched them, then he cracked his neck and slowly advanced toward the two.
Brother Xiong scoffed, "You're courting death! Junior Brother, cover me while I teach him a lesson!"
With that, the long sword at his waist hissed from its sheath. He flourished it in a sparkling arc and lunged at Yang Kai.
Brother Xiong had the strength of the sixth level of the Kaiyuan Realm, while Yang Kai was only at the fourth level. Not only was there a two-level gap in their cultivation, but Brother Xiong was also armed with a sharp blade, making him feel completely advantaged.
This initial thrust was merely a probe; Brother Xiong didn't expect to finish Yang Kai with one move.
In the darkness, the sword flashed. Yang Kai sidestepped the attack and raised both palms to engage the Wind and Rain Tower disciple. With his bare palms against the sword, Yang Kai was at a disadvantage, fighting while retreating. By the time Brother Xiong thrust his ninth strike, Yang Kai had already backed away more than ten paces.
Broitht, Brother Xiong laughed loudly. "A pearl the size of a grain of rice dares to shine! Yang Kai, give me your life!"
His initial probing had revealed Yang Kai's limits. Now it was time to strike decisively. His Yuan Qi surged, and a sound like wind and thunder emanated from his sword.
"Thunderwind Chant!" Brother Xiong bellowed the name of his technique with imposing authority. Suddenly, arcs of electricity crackled along the blade, its incomparable sharpness accelerating toward Yang Kai's chest at a speed he couldn't evade.
Yang Kai indeed couldn't dodge, but his face held no trace of fear. Instead, he raised a palm and slapped it hard against the flat of the blade.
Brother Xiong sneered inwardly, thinking: *This sword is now coursing with lightning. If a mere fourth-level Kaiyuan warrior like you touches it, you'll be paralyzed. Then you'll be at my mercy.* With this thought, Brother Xiong didn't withdraw his attack; instead, he thrust even faster.
Yang Kai gave a low shout. His palm suddenly glowed a deep, fiery red, as if flames danced upon it. A wave of scorching heat surged toward Brother Xiong, not only dispelling the chilling yin energy around him but also giving him the sensation of being plunged into a sea of fire.
*Clang!* Yang Kai's palm struck the blade's surface. The electric arcs vanished instantly. The impact knocked the sword off course, and it grazed past Yang Kai's shoulder without inflicting a single wound.
Brother Xiong was horrified. In this clash, his Yuan Qi had been overpowered! *How can his be more vigorous than mine? He's only at the fourth level of Kaiyuan!* Moreover, the scorching Yuan Qi in that palm strike was incredibly pure—anything less would have failed to neutralize his lightning force.
Panic setting in, Brother Xiong hastily pulled back his sword to retreat and regain his breath, planning a more deliberate strategy. But how would Yang Kai give him that chance? As he retracted his sword, Yang Kai shifted his footing and closed the distance. Under Brother Xiong's stunned and terrified gaze, Yang Kai's finger jabbed squarely at his solar plexus.
Knowing he faced multiple enemies, Yang Kai struck with brutal efficiency. He didn't hesitate to expend a drop of Yang Liquid to ensure a one-hit kill.
Brother Xiong's body froze mid-motion. Only the howling, moaning yin winds of the gorge remained, as if weeping and lamenting.