I forge eternal life with the Dao seed

"The Yin Wind Claw?"

Upon witnessing Liu Hong's claw technique, Hua Gu Xiong's face grew astonished.

The Yin Wind Claw was one of the basic martial arts of the demonic sects. While not rare, seeing a so-called righteous martial artist use it was truly bizarre.

What's more, Liu Hong's Yin Wind Claw had reached minor mastery, and its power was formidable.

"Enough talk! Prepare to die!"

With a dark expression, Liu Hong lunged forward, his claws slashing like blades, every move venomous and precise.

Hua Gu Xiong didn't dare slack off. He hastily unleashed a foundational demonic martial art, the Black Fiend Fist, to counter Liu Hong head-on.

However, they had barely exchanged blows before the gap in their skill became evident.

Bloody claw marks appeared on Hua Gu Xiong's body in an instant, painting a grim picture of the disparity between the two.

Seeing his advantage, Liu Hong pressed forward to deliver the finishing blow. But just as he was about to strike, a fierce gust of wind rushed toward him from the side—a fist shadow barreling straight at him.

Without hesitating, Liu Hong swiped his claw horizontally to meet the incoming attack.

"Bang!"

Fist and claw collided. Though Liu Hong managed to repel the attacker, he felt his hand go numb, his fingers tingling slightly.

"Split Stone Fist? How can you use righteous martial arts?"

Liu Hong stared in shock at the black-masked figure, "Ren Woxing", whose Split Stone Fist had also reached minor mastery.

"If you can learn demonic martial arts, why can't I master righteous techniques?"

Zhao Heng, disguised as the demonic "Ren Woxing," didn't waste time talking. He launched a relentless barrage of Split Stone Fist strikes, hammering toward Liu Hong with all his might.

Hua Gu Xiong, unwilling to be outdone, also threw caution to the wind and joined Zhao Heng in a frenzied assault.

Having underestimated the resilience of these two, Liu Hong quickly found himself in a troublesome situation. After several fierce exchanges, he decided it was time to retreat.

Shifting his footwork, Liu Hong prepared to escape.

But his opponents weren't about to let him go so easily. Both Zhao Heng and Hua Gu Xiong activated their own movement techniques, closely pursuing him.

Hua Gu Xiong's footwork, known as Bone Dissolution Steps, was agile and swift, allowing him to keep up with Liu Hong.

Meanwhile, Zhao Heng used an enhanced version of the Bone Dissolution Steps, which was even more refined and elusive. Hua Gu Xiong noticed its similarities to his own technique but, caught up in the heat of battle, didn't dwell on it.

Unfortunately for Liu Hong, his prolonged battles with Hua Gu Sect over the past few days had already drained much of his energy. On top of that, Zhao Heng's Soft Tendon Powder poison was beginning to take effect, severely compromising his mobility.

Finding himself cornered, Liu Hong finally abandoned all pretense and reached for the blade at his waist.

With a sweeping slash, he forced both Zhao Heng and Hua Gu Xiong back a step.

Then, without hesitation, Liu Hong bit his fingertip and pressed his bloodied finger onto a groove at the base of his blade's hilt. His grip shifted into an unusual stance.

Before Zhao Heng's eyes, Liu Hong's face paled visibly at an alarming rate.

"Buzz…"

The silver blade in Liu Hong's hand began to tremble, emitting an eerie hum as a sinister blood-red glow enveloped it.

A thin line of blood extended from the hilt along the blade, forming a blood ring that spiraled upward, with more blood lines appearing and growing.

Witnessing this bizarre sight, Zhao Heng felt a deep sense of unease. Meanwhile, Hua Gu Xiong's face turned pale with fear.

"The Blood-Burning Blade Technique… How do you know the Blood Refinement Sect's secret art?"

"What?"

Zhao Heng was equally shocked.

The Blood Refinement Sect was one of the Four Great Demon Sects, a legendary and terrifying demonic faction. What kind of secrets was Liu Hong hiding?

"Brother Ren, act now and interrupt him! The Blood-Burning Blade Technique burns the practitioner's own blood and vital energy to unleash immense power. It's a secret technique of the Blood Refinement Sect, capable of dealing devastating damage to the enemy… but at great cost to the user as well!" Hua Gu Xiong shouted urgently.

Zhao Heng didn't need further encouragement. He drew his Black Iron Panther-Head Blade, charged forward, and swung with all his might.

Liu Hong's eyes flashed coldly as he raised his now blood-enshrouded blade to meet Zhao Heng's strike.

"Clang!"

The two blades collided, unleashing a deafening sound. The terrifying force of Liu Hong's strike traveled down Zhao Heng's blade, making his arm go numb.

The webbing between his thumb and index finger tore open, and his blade nearly flew out of his hand.

Zhao Heng was sent flying, crashing into a thick tree trunk with a heavy thud. Blood oozed from the corner of his mouth.

"So strong!"

The power of Liu Hong's strikes had nearly doubled in an instant.

As Zhao Heng struggled to recover, Hua Gu Xiong charged in, only to be struck by a horizontal slash that sent both him and his weapon flying.

With a low growl, Liu Hong advanced on the two, his murderous intent surging.

"Brother Ren, don't face him head-on! The Blood-Burning Blade Technique is powerful but drains his life force. Stall him, and he'll burn himself out!" Hua Gu Xiong shouted as he dodged.

Realizing the wisdom of this strategy, Zhao Heng and Hua Gu Xiong switched tactics. Instead of engaging Liu Hong directly, they used their movement techniques to evade and harass him.

Hua Gu Xiong's Bone Dissolution Steps made his bulky frame surprisingly nimble, while Zhao Heng's enhanced version allowed him to move with ghost-like agility.

Despite his overwhelming power, Liu Hong struggled to land a decisive blow, his frustration mounting.

As the battle dragged on, Liu Hong roared angrily, his blood boiling.

"Enough! If you want to fight me, you'll both die!"

Fresh blood dripped from Liu Hong's fingertips onto his blade, forming a third blood ring.

With his power, speed, and ferocity skyrocketing once more, Liu Hong unleashed a devastating slash.

"Boom! Boom!"

Zhao Heng and Hua Gu Xiong both flew backward, blood spraying from their mouths.

Hua Gu Xiong scrambled to his feet, turned tail, and bolted. "Brother Ren, this guy is too strong. I'll repay your kindness another day!"

Zhao Heng wasn't surprised by his retreat—demonic sect members were rarely loyal.

But as Liu Hong charged toward him with his blood-drenched blade, Zhao Heng's instincts told him to run as well.

However, a thought struck him like lightning:

Liu Hong's identity and strength are too dangerous to leave unchecked. If I don't kill him now, he'll bring endless trouble in the future.

Though cautious by nature, Zhao Heng was no coward. When necessary, he could be recklessly bold.

Facing Liu Hong's ferocious charge, Zhao Heng retreated while scattering quicklime, creating a dense fog of white powder. Despite his boosted senses, Liu Hong was momentarily disoriented.

Taking advantage, Zhao Heng attacked with a flurry of slashes, though Liu Hong deflected them with ease.

As the quicklime fog thinned, Zhao Heng launched one final, desperate strike at Liu Hong's exposed back.

But Liu Hong suddenly spun around, his blade cutting through the air with terrifying precision.

"Clang!"

Zhao Heng's blade was sent flying, and Liu Hong's blood-drenched blade slashed toward Zhao Heng's chest.

"Die!" Liu Hong roared, his blade cutting into Zhao Heng's shoulder.

But just as it pierced deeper, a faint red glow emanated from Zhao Heng's body, halting the blade's advance.

Though the blade didn't kill him outright, the impact sent Zhao Heng flying like a cannonball, crashing to the ground with a sickening thud. Blood spilled from his lips, and his vision darkened.

As Liu Hong advanced to finish him, Zhao Heng coughed weakly and smiled faintly.

"Liu Hong… it seems your death will come before mine."

"What?"

Liu Hong froze, his gaze dropping to his waist, where a small, dark object protruded from his belt.

Pulling it out, he realized it was a small, black orb radiating a terrifying energy.

"No!"

Before Liu Hong could throw it away, the orb detonated with a deafening roar.

A blinding white light engulfed the forest, turning night into day…

[--------------------------------------------]

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