Chapter 217: Using a Knife to Kill Someone
Chapter 217: Using a Knife to Kill Someone
Cheng Lingyu kept exerting force, gradually unrolling the scroll that released a dazzling divine light, bathing his entire body in golden radiance.
The twenty-seven surrounding cultivators showed expressions of surprise, astonishment, excitement, and fervor at this sight.
Just as everyone believed Cheng Lingyu was about to fully open the scroll, he suddenly shuddered and released his right hand.
The scroll rolled back up on its own, returning to its original form.
“Failed? Pitiful.”
Some sighed regretfully, others stomped their feet, while most hurled curses.
Cheng Lingyu tore his gaze from the scroll and scanned the crowd with mockery.
“So after all your fighting, none of you ever managed to open this scroll.”
Luo Binghe snorted, “Enough talk. Hand it over.”
Lan Mingjie snapped, “You didn’t open it either. Stop blustering and surrender it.”
Cheng Lingyu smirked. “Who can guarantee I didn’t let go on purpose just now?”
Ji Yaozu scoffed, “With your feeble skills? You couldn’t have opened it anyway.”
“Less talk! Give it here!”
One cultivator lunged first, closing in on Cheng Lingyu.
Cheng Lingyu sprang upward, dodging with unfathomably mystical movements.
Once the first move was made, others followed.
Over a dozen cultivators immediately swarmed Cheng Lingyu, attacking mercilessly while fixated solely on seizing the scroll.
Luo Binghe joined the fray, though Ji Yaozu remained aloof, seemingly too prideful to participate in the chaos.
“Halt! Back off or I’ll destroy the scroll!” Cheng Lingyu roared, but none heeded him.
“You? Destroying the scroll? Ridiculous!”
Cheng Lingyu flicked a finger. A razor-sharp gleam pierced the void, radiating spirit artifact energy.
“Do you think a spirit artifact could destroy this scroll?”
The attackers instantly retreated, glowering furiously.
“Try it and you die today!”
“State your terms. Hand over the scroll and we’ll spare you.”
Curses and negotiations erupted from the crowd.
Cheng Lingyu landed lightly, brushing dust from his robes. “Only one scroll exists. Since you all want it, let’s play a game.”
Ji Yaozu sneered, “You’re unworthy to threaten us with that scroll.”
Cheng Lingyu countered, “Worth is earned. Kill Ji Yaozu for me, and I’ll gift you the scroll – and open it publicly for you.”
Someone immediately shouted, “You swear this?”
“Do you think I’d joke about this with my cultivation at the Soul Martial Fourth Realm?”
Cheng Lingyu feigned weakness and kept a low profile.
“You wouldn’t dare.”
Some believed him and turned to Ji Yaozu, ready to attack.
Ji Yaozu flew into a rage. “Cheng Lingyu, I’ll tear you apart!”
Cheng Lingyu sneered. “Kill me, and no one opens the scroll.”
“He’s right. Kill Ji Yaozu first!”
Lan Mingjie struck first, caring only for gain, not allies. Others stirred, and three more quickly joined the assault.
Ji Yaozu roared, outmatched against four foes. With cultivation capped at peak Soul Martial, he couldn’t use his true combat power. Four opponents were hopeless.
“Block the exit! Don’t let him flee, or the fun ends.”
Cheng Lingyu stood by, casually giving orders, infuriating Ji Yaozu. A Blood Martial Third Level cultivator, Ji Yaozu had always looked down on Cheng Lingyu. Yet the scroll in Cheng’s hands now gave him control.
“The Ji Family’s ‘divine dragon’ is so mighty, fighting alone! Marvelous! Clap for him, don’t just stare!” Cheng Lingyu’s mockery nearly choked Ji Yaozu with fury.
“Cheng Lingyu, you’ll pay for this!”
“No hard feelings. We’re old friends—of course I’d help you.” Cheng Lingyu’s icy smile mocked a Blood Martial expert—a bold move, but he didn’t care.
Ji Yaozu seethed but focused on survival.
Cheng Lingyu prodded further. “What a show! Let’s make it livelier! Who else wants to humble the Ji Family’s ‘dragon’? Such chances don’t come often!”
Some gritted teeth, others chuckled—all saw Cheng’s game.
“Can’t miss this!” Another joined the fray.
In the palace, Ji Yaozu had bullied many with his Blood Martial Third Level power. None could oppose him then. Now outdoors, all were capped at peak Soul Martial. The wronged sought payback.
Four foes had strained Ji Yaozu; five broke him. In ten moves, he was injured, spitting blood, his face purple with rage.
“Fight on! The ‘divine dragon’ becomes a worm—crush him!” Cheng Lingyu crowed, relishing the chaos.
“This amuses me—I’ll help.” Another joined, piling onto Ji Yaozu.
Six against one, Ji Yaozu felt utterly helpless and began fighting his way out with desperate force. He absolutely refused to die here.
Cheng Lingyu saw through Ji Yaozu’s plan and sneered, “If the Ji Family’s divine dragon escapes, our efforts will be wasted!”
“Relax, he won’t get away.”
The six attackers doubled their assault, pushing Ji Yaozu to his limits.
“Mark my words—you’ll all pay for this!”
Cornered and frenzied, Ji Yaozu paid a brutal price but eventually broke free and fled.
He staggered out of the castle, grievously wounded.
Some of the six cultivators sustained injuries too, but they failed to stop his escape.
Cheng Lingyu had expected this outcome. Despite being suppressed to peak Soul Martial cultivation, Ji Yaozu’s Blood Martial Third Level Physical Body—tempered through Blood Martial Second Level refinement—was iron-hard. Peak Soul Martial combat power couldn’t significantly harm him without spirit artifacts.
“What a waste. He escaped after all that work.”
Cheng Lingyu frowned deeply, disappointment plain on his face.
Lan Mingjie snapped, “Quit the act. We drove Ji Yaozu off—hand over the scroll now, or we’ll kill you and take it.”
Cheng Lingyu waved hurriedly. “Wait! Ji Yaozu’s gone, but there’s still another target. Whoever takes him down first gets the scroll.”
Luo Binghe’s heart lurched. Was this bastard targeting him?
Before he could react, Cheng Lingyu’s gaze locked onto him.
“This one here. Much easier to handle than the Ji Family’s dragon.”
Cheng Lingyu’s smile dripped tenderness, his voice icy.
Luo Binghe exploded. “Cheng Lingyu, you scheming son of a—!”
Cultivators nearby immediately attacked, aiming to trade Luo Binghe’s head for the scroll.
Luo Binghe had entered the castle with a Blood Martial Realm elder brother from Zhan Wumen, who now stood beside him.
“Don’t fall for this! He’s trying to turn us against each other!”
“Shut it! You think we’re fools?”
Luo Binghe snarled, “If you’re not fools, why play along? Braindead morons!”
“The scroll’s the only prize. We’ll clash eventually—why not thin the herd now?”
This blunt truth resonated. Everyone knew Cheng Lingyu’s ploy, but eliminating competitors first suited them all.
“Damn idiots! You’re all insane!”
Luo Binghe’s rage changed nothing. Eight experts surged forward, surrounding him and his elder brother.
Cheng Lingyu cheered gleefully from the sidelines, stoking the flames.
Outnumbered eight to two, the Zhan Wumen pair quickly faltered, battered into retreating while howling curses.
“Don’t let them escape this time, or it’s all pointless!”
Cheng Lingyu’s “helpful” warning grated on Luo Binghe’s ears.
“Bastard! I’ll carve you to mincemeat elsewhere!”
Luo Binghe’s fury bordered on madness.
Cheng Lingyu taunted, “I’m right here. Try it.”
“You… you… vile worm!”
The battle raged with curses and bellows. Gradually, it neared its end—Luo Binghe, battered and bleeding, finally unleashed a spirit artifact to carve an escape.
His elder brother fared worse. Trapped despite desperate efforts, he died roaring alongside an opponent in mutual annihilation.
This clash proved bloodier than the last: three dead, two escaped. Twenty-two cultivators still surrounded Cheng Lingyu.
“Another escape. Now what?”
Cheng Lingyu glanced between the scroll and the crowd, feigning helplessness.
His low cultivation level made everyone dismiss him as harmless—the least threatening presence.
Earlier in the palace, their prolonged fighting over the scroll had achieved nothing.