Chapter 24: Combat Breakthrough! One Kill Every Ten Steps!

Fast.

A sword strike of extreme speed.

In this instant, Chu Fengmian's speed was more than twice what it had been just a moment ago.

The strength in his body seemed to have grown significantly, and the spiritual energy within him was expanding as if it were about to explode.

A breakthrough!

Having experienced countless battles within the Desolate Mountain Range, Chu Fengmian had been accumulating strength. Now, under this siege, he actually achieved a breakthrough.

His body, limbs, and internal organs—almost every part of him—were now filled with massive amounts of spiritual energy, making him feel as though he were brimming with power.

Breaking through in the midst of battle.

This was something only the most famous geniuses in history had ever accomplished.

Upon Chu Fengmian's arm, a fourth spiritual vein flowed with endless spiritual energy.

With this breakthrough, Chu Fengmian had opened a fourth spiritual vein in one fell swoop, forcibly pushing his realm to the eighth level of the Bone Tempering Realm.

To break through three realms at once—if this news were to spread, it would likely cause a sensation throughout the entire Wusheng Continent. For an average martial artist, breaking through a single realm would take at least two to three years; for those with mediocre talent, it might take ten or even twenty years to break through a single level.

Even the renowned geniuses broke through one realm at a time. No one was like Chu Fengmian, capable of leaping through three realms in a single stroke.

This was precisely the magic of the Bone Rebirth Art. The spiritual energy Chu Fengmian had accumulated was not used for immediate breakthroughs, but was instead preserved to force open the spiritual veins. The moment a vein was forced open, the accumulated energy would erupt simultaneously, causing his realm to skyrocket.

Because of this, Chu Fengmian found it difficult to break through normally, but every time he did, it was a massive release of power through the breaking of spiritual veins.

"This time, you all die!"

With a furious roar, Chu Fengmian's figure flashed, and he lunged toward another middle-aged man once more.

The man had reacted in time, bringing his heavy sword down, but as the tip of Chu Fengmian's Azure Profound Sword met it, the heavy sword was actually sent flying.

At the fifth level of the Bone Tempering Realm, Chu Fengmian already possessed the strength to fight an eighth-level martial artist. Now that he had broken through, these middle-aged men appeared to him as nothing more than walking corpses.

*Ssh!*

Another sword fell, marking the death of yet another middle-aged man.

In an instant, two middle-aged men had perished under Chu Fengmian's blade. At the moment of his strike, Chu Fengmian also spotted a green pouch hanging from the man's waist.

A storage bag.

A single storage bag could hold one cubic meter of items, making it a rare commodity even in Linwu City.

Within the Lin Estate, only the elders possessed them. These middle-aged men were clearly worthy of their origin from the Wusheng Academy; they were quite wealthy.

Chu Fengmian showed no hesitation. After killing the man, he seized the storage bag and charged toward the next target.

Within ten breaths.

All eight middle-aged men had fallen to Chu Fengmian's sword. Simultaneously, nine storage bags were added to Chu Fengmian's waist.

"You... you are the last one."

Chu Fengmian raised his head and looked at the Young Hall Master.

All of this had been triggered by the Young Hall Master's greed. He had just intended to kill Chu Fengmian and refine his soul, but this time, Chu Fengmian would never let him go.

"Run!"

The Young Hall Master also sensed the killing intent in Chu Fengmian's eyes. He moved his feet, activating his movement technique to flee into the jungle.

However, the Young Hall Master was only at the seventh level of the Bone Tempering Realm, and his movement technique was no match for Chu Fengmian's Phantom Movement.

Almost instantly, Chu Fengmian had closed the distance. He reached out a hand, grabbed the Young Hall Master's clothing, and threw him to the ground.

"Pfft!"

A mouthful of blood sprayed from the Young Hall Master's mouth.

"I am from Wusheng Academy! I am a disciple of Wusheng Academy! You cannot kill me!"

Lying on the ground, the Young Hall Master looked up at Chu Fengmian and shouted loudly.

"Those useless wretches were merely servants; their deaths mean nothing! I am an inner disciple of Wusheng Academy! If I die, you can expect the retaliation of Wusheng Academy!"

Wusheng Academy.

In the Wusheng Kingdom, this name was absolutely supreme.

Particularly for the inner disciples, who were the elite of the academy. If anyone killed an inner disciple, they would undoubtedly be hunted down by the academy.

The Young Hall Master spoke urgently, certain that Chu Fengmian would not dare to kill him once his identity was revealed.

"Oh?"

Chu Fengmian looked at the Young Hall Master with interest, but said nothing.

He was thinking to himself that such a foolish person actually existed.

By killing these nine men today, Chu Fengmian had already incurred a blood feud with the Young Hall Master. Furthermore, he had no intention of exposing the secrets of his swordsmanship and movement technique.

The people from the Lin Estate were ignorant; even if they saw them, they wouldn't understand their value. But this Young Hall Master was from Wusheng Academy; he would naturally recognize their profound nature.

If Chu Fengmian did not kill him today and let him escape, it would be no different than waiting for the Young Hall Master to return and bring others to deal with him.

Seeing that Chu Fengmian remained silent, the Young Hall Master felt a sudden sense of relief.

He assumed that Chu Fengmian had been intimidated by the name of Wusheng Academy. The greed that had just receded from his heart began to surge once more.

"Kid, let me tell you, I am not just an inner disciple. My father is the Hall Master of the Wuyan Hall in Wusheng Academy, and he holds a high position!"

The Young Hall Master continued, his voice laced with a hint of threat.

"I can choose not to hold today's matters against you. I can even let you enter Wusheng Academy to become a disciple. As long as you hand over your swordsmanship and movement technique, I can guarantee that today's incident will be forgotten. How about that?"

"With your talent, once I return to the academy, I can report your case and have you admitted. What do you say?"

The Young Hall Master spoke while thinking coldly to himself.

He had come to the Desolate Mountain Range thinking there would be no danger, bringing only a few servants, never expecting to encounter Chu Fengmian.

Once he returned to the academy, where experts gathered like clouds, he could crush Chu Fengmian however he pleased.

He could take revenge for the humiliation he suffered today.

Before he could finish his thought, he saw that Chu Fengmian's expression had changed.

Chu Fengmian shook his head and looked at the Young Hall Master.

"I didn't expect Wusheng Academy to produce such a fool."

Almost simultaneously, Chu Fengmian's sword descended, thrusting toward the Young Hall Master's chest.

*Clang!*

The thrust did not pierce the Young Hall Master's chest as Chu Fengmian had expected.

Instead, a barrier suddenly appeared around the Young Hall Master's body.