Chapter 67: The Real Reason

The most elite move in the Thunder Sword Art… Heavenly Tribulation Thunder Punishment!

Under Qin Feng’s normal condition, there was no way he could execute this move. Unexpectedly, in such a critical moment, it appeared by surprise!

Indeed, the title of “genius” was not given for nothing!

At this life-or-death moment, Qin Feng’s strength actually improved further!

Qin Li’s eyes widened. He clearly felt the powerful energy contained in Qin Feng’s sword, along with a massive pressure, crashing toward him!

Qin Li abruptly raised the Innate Purple Qi within his body, channeling it through his Meridians and concentrating it all into his right arm. The immense Yuanli instantly caused the sword in Qin Li’s hand to emit a dragon-like roar!

Boom!

Two astonishing energies clashed fiercely together! The world momentarily turned dark!

Qin Feng’s sword strike was like a bolt of lightning flashing across the night sky, or like a rainbow descending from the heavens! Dazzling… and terrifying! Instantly, a huge shockwave twisted and compressed the surrounding air!

Then it exploded with a bang!

Ahu and Qin Hu were both sent flying by the tremendous force. Their faces turned pale in an instant, and they suffered serious internal injuries.

Bu Yunyan and Leng Yao had already leaped away and retreated far when the danger approached. A skilled hunter possessed an amazing instinct when crisis struck.

The entire forest looked as if a storm had ravaged it. Within a thirty-meter radius around the two, everything was in chaos! Many trees as thick as bowls were shattered into splinters! Countless green leaves rained down like a downpour.

Looking at Qin Feng, his body was flung back dozens of meters. A trace of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, and a flicker of inexplicable fear appeared in his eyes. His mind was in turmoil as he repeatedly pondered one question: Why had this little bastard suddenly become so strong? Just now, along with Qin Li’s sword strike, a very strange energy had surged into his body, wreaking havoc and running rampant. Qin Feng forcibly suppressed it. If he didn’t quickly find a place to meditate and heal, expelling this bizarre Yuanli, he would likely suffer greatly!

At the same time, a huge sense of loss struck him. He never imagined that as a legitimate Young Master of the Qin Family and a genius Martial Artist renowned throughout the Azure Dragon Kingdom, he couldn’t even kill a waste who was only at Yellow Rank First Tier just half a year ago, even when fighting with all his might!

How could Qin Feng bear this?!

And there was an even worse matter: Mo Feifei had escaped! That damn girl was convinced that he had stood by without helping, and she had witnessed him and Second Brother charging in to kill the Mo Family’s Protectors… Thinking of this, Qin Feng shot a hateful glance at Qin Li, who stood unmoving in the center. Though unwilling to admit it, he knew he was no longer Qin Li’s match!

He couldn’t return to Huangsha City anymore!

“Big Brother, let’s go!” Since they couldn’t win, a gentleman could seek revenge even ten years later. Qin Li, the day we meet again will be the day you die!

Qin Feng made a quick decision and called out to Qin Hu. The two swiftly plunged deep into the forest in one direction. This time, however, they fled like scared, homeless dogs, leaving only a field of corpses behind.

The forest fell into silence, giving off an unreal feeling as if the previous fight hadn’t really happened.

Ahu, Bu Yunyan, and Leng Yao noticed that Qin Li had been standing still for a long time, neither speaking nor moving. They felt something was wrong and hurried over, only to see Qin Li’s face looking somewhat strange.

Ahu asked in a deep voice, “Brother, are you alright?”

Qin Li shook his head, then suddenly opened his mouth and spat out a mouthful of somewhat blackened blood. His face then turned as pale as gold paper. He let out a long breath and slowly shook his head, saying, “I also underestimated Qin Feng a little. His progress is very fast! Half a year ago, he was only at the Sixth Tier of Profound Grade, but now he’s probably not weaker than me! He really is a genius!”

Bu Yunyan and Leng Yao looked at Qin Li with pain in their eyes. Bu Yunyan asked softly, “Are you hurt?”

Qin Li took a deep breath and shook his head. “I’m fine, just some internal injuries. His Combat Technique is very powerful, but he didn’t get off lightly either, hehe.”

Qin Li grinned, but it tugged at his internal injuries, making him frown slightly. Ahu and the others felt heavy-hearted, but their gratitude toward Qin Li was beyond measure. If not for this young man risking his life to save them, they would surely have died here today!

“Alright, let’s bury these people. They’re dead now, but we shouldn’t leave their bodies exposed in the wilderness.”

Ahu sighed lightly, then took out a bottle of pills from his pocket and tossed it to Bu Yunyan. “Give this to our brother. The Fang Family’s Healing Pills are quite effective.”

Qin Li rinsed his mouth with water and, after taking the pill, sat down on the spot to recover. His injuries weren’t severe, but the most refined move of the Thunder Sword Art was incredibly overpowering, as if it truly carried a lightning force that could scorch a person’s Meridians.

Fortunately, Qin Li’s body had an excellent foundation and he cultivated the Innate Purple Qi Art. The Innate Purple Qi was also one of the most refined energies from heaven and earth. Over the past half year, it had continuously tempered Qin Li’s Meridians, making them much tougher than those of ordinary Martial Artists. That was why Qin Feng’s Heavenly Tribulation Thunder Punishment move in the Thunder Sword Art lost its intended effect.

So, it wasn’t that Qin Li didn’t want to kill them to eliminate future trouble; he simply wasn’t able to. When two Martial Artists of similar strength faced off, if one intended to escape, it was entirely possible.

Moreover, given how the conflict had unfolded, Qin Li had no further complaints about the current outcome. The whole process had even contained a dramatic turn of events. If not for that Qin Family guard, this scenario would never have occurred. If he were still alive, Qin Li would have sincerely thanked him!

Passion and recklessness were two entirely different concepts and should never be confused. Without that Qin Family guard’s recklessness—a single trigger that set off the whole chain—this chaotic battle would never have happened. And so… for the few of them to retreat unscathed was the best possible outcome!

So now… Qin Li truly felt like laughing heartily up at the sky. Casting aside all his thoughts, he calmed his mind and began to circulate his energy to heal his injuries.

By the time Qin Li completed one full cycle of the Innate Purple Qi and opened his eyes again, it was already dark. Ahu had long buried the bodies and lit a campfire not far away. The flickering firelight cast shifting shadows on their three faces, all etched with sorrow. Companions they had spent years with were gone forever. Though death was a normal part of the adventurer’s profession, it was still hard to avoid the pain and sadness in their hearts.

Seeing Qin Li awake, they immediately turned their concerned gazes toward him. Qin Li smiled slightly and waved his hand. “It’s nothing serious now.” He walked over and sat on a log, feeling the warmth from the campfire. Qin Li said, “If not for me, you wouldn’t have been ambushed by the Qin Family. Leave Li Jian and Third Brother’s revenge to me. Don’t worry, I will never let Qin Feng and Qin Hu get away with this!”

Ahu said gravely, “Brother, this matter has nothing to do with you. Even without what happened before, they wouldn’t have let us go today. Do you know how the conflict started?”

Qin Li was slightly taken aback and looked at Ahu with confusion.

Ahu continued, “Sister Leng Yao, take that thing out and show it to Brother Qin.”