Chapter 22: Don’t

"The Flame Bloodline! Shi Yunhai possesses the Flame Bloodline!"

The Chen Family Master was shocked and couldn’t help but exclaim out loud.

To reach the Seventh Level of Spiritual Vein Realm at the age of twenty was an achievement very few in this region could boast. Possessing a special bloodline made him a genius among geniuses. This was an innate talent, meaning his future growth would be immeasurable. No wonder the Cloud Void Sect had recruited Shi Yunhai as a disciple. It turned out he possessed a special bloodline!

If Shi Yunhai were allowed to mature, the Chen Family would likely have no one capable of rivaling him in the future.

Except for Patriarch Shi, everyone in the Shi Family revealed looks of astonishment before their expressions shifted to pure joy. Special bloodlines contained incredibly powerful bloodline power and possessed elemental attributes. Just the aura of the Flame Bloodline alone exuded a scorching heat that people could feel. His combat prowess would undoubtedly be even more formidable!

Even the Wanling Pavilion Master had a look of surprise on his face.

Shi Muyao, however, experienced a drastic change in expression. Now that Shi Yunhai had activated the power of his Flame Bloodline, would Mo Qianqian still be able to withstand it?

"Mo Qianqian, die! Cloud Void Fist!"

Shi Yunhai took a massive stride forward. Surging with scorching energy, his fist smashed toward Mo Qianqian with unmatched ferocity.

Mo Qianqian was slightly surprised. However, as the number one genius on the Hidden Dragon List, he had seen his fair share of prodigious talents. While special bloodlines were indeed powerful, it wasn’t enough to make him fearful.

He immediately circulated the World-Destroying Heaven-Shattering Technique within his body. This technique was not only a Cultivation Technique but also an offensive combat skill. It could concentrate power into any part of the body and detonate it explosively.

His previous strike had merely been an instinctive attack relying on his physical strength, or rather, a casual blow. He hadn’t activated any combat skills at all. After becoming a Body Cultivator, his former combat skills had become useless. Now, this World-Destroying Heaven-Shattering Technique was his sole combat skill.

Mo Qianqian clenched his fist. Explosive power surged within him, gathering rapidly into his hand. Yet, the surface of his body remained incredibly calm, as if he weren’t channeling any power whatsoever. There was a stark, dramatic contrast between his internal turbulence and external tranquility.

"The Cloud Void Fist! That’s the core combat skill of the Cloud Void Sect!"

Hearing Shi Yunhai’s roar, the Wanling Pavilion Master and some of the older generation present felt a sudden jolt of shock. Shi Yunhai hadn’t been in the Cloud Void Sect for long, yet he had already mastered their core combat skill. This showed just how exceptional his talent was, and it also highlighted how highly valued he must be within the sect. Otherwise, they would never have imparted such a core combat skill to him.

Shi Muyao grew tense, having acutely sensed the immense might of Shi Yunhai’s impending strike. In contrast, Mo Qianqian’s stance seemed far too placid.

"Get lost!"

With a thunderous shout, Mo Qianqian swung his fist, meeting Shi Yunhai’s punch head-on.

BANG!!!

At the exact moment of their violent collision, a terrifying force exploded outward. To everyone’s horror, Shi Yunhai’s fist—and half of his arm—blew apart into a mist of blood and gore, splattering in every direction. Both Mo Qianqian and Shi Yunhai were drenched in blood, their clothes stained red.

"What???"

Everyone was completely stunned senseless. Under the extremely powerful attack fueled by his bloodline power, Shi Yunhai had actually gotten his fist and arm shattered by Mo Qianqian? How could this be possible?

"AHHH!!!"

Coming to his senses, Shi Yunhai let out a bloodcurdling scream of agony. This single strike had utterly crushed his self-perception as an invincible prodigy. Disbelief contorted his face as he screamed at Mo Qianqian, "How is this possible?! How could you defeat me!!!

"I possess the Flame Bloodline! I am at the Seventh Level of Spiritual Vein Realm! There is no way I could lose to you!!!"

Mo Qianqian himself was momentarily taken aback, a wild herd of expletives stampeding through his mind.

This World-Destroying Heaven-Shattering Technique was way too powerful, wasn’t it? It directly obliterated a person’s fist and arm? This was practically an asymmetrical battle! If anyone dared to clash fists with him in the future, wouldn’t he just effortlessly shatter their fists first? In an actual fight, even if the opponent was stronger, he could use this advantage to secure a victory!

WHOOSH!

Patriarch Shi suddenly snapped out of his daze. Moving like a blur, he lunged violently toward Mo Qianqian.

Mo Qianqian’s expression darkened. With a flicker of his Spirit, a Spirit Body instantly materialized in front of him.

On the other side, the Wanling Pavilion Master’s expression changed. He had been about to intervene, but upon seeing the Spirit Body appear, he halted his steps. That First-Grade Spirit Master had indeed come! And he was making his move.

A First-Grade Spirit Master wasn’t just capable of upgrading pills; their personal combat abilities were also phenomenally strong. Experts at the first or second layer of the Spirit Profound Realm absolutely could not best a First-Grade Spirit Master!

While manifesting the Spirit Body, Mo Qianqian didn’t remain idle. He spun around, right fist clenched, adopting a defensive posture to deceive Patriarch Shi and prevent him from sensing the invisible Spirit Body.

In that split second, Patriarch Shi had already closed the distance. Mo Qianqian’s Spirit Body surged forward right in front of the Patriarch, reaching out to grab and twist the man’s head.

"No!" Right at that pivotal moment, a figure suddenly dashed forward from Mo Qianqian’s side. The figure was none other than Shi Muyao. She threw herself firmly in front of Mo Qianqian.

Mo Qianqian paled and rushed forward. His Spirit Body’s hands hastily clamped onto Patriarch Shi’s head and gave a vicious twist.

BANG!

Simultaneously, Patriarch Shi launched his strike. The palm strike originally meant for Mo Qianqian slammed heavily into Shi Muyao’s body.

SPURT!

Spitting out a large mouthful of blood, Shi Muyao was sent flying far backward through the air.

SNAP!

Patriarch Shi’s head was abruptly twisted until his neck snapped completely, blood violently spraying from the fatal wound.

"What???"

In an instant, everyone froze, stunned as completely as wooden statues. What had they just witnessed?

Just a moment ago, Patriarch Shi had charged at Mo Qianqian, intent on killing him. Then, Shi Muyao had rushed forward, using her own body to shield Mo Qianqian from the attack. She had been swatted away by the palm strike. Yet, Patriarch Shi’s neck had inexplicably snapped? He had died on the spot?

Some people even rubbed their eyes in sheer disbelief, refusing to accept the reality playing out before them. How did Patriarch Shi’s neck just break out of nowhere? It looked as if someone had physically twisted his head off!

Among everyone present, other than Mo Qianqian, only the Wanling Pavilion Master knew the truth. Patriarch Shi’s neck had been broken by the Spirit Master’s Spirit Body.

Even the Wanling Pavilion Master couldn’t help but feel a profound sense of shock. The capabilities of a Spirit Master were truly terrifying. They could snap a person’s neck without them even realizing it, killing them instantly. Now, his resolve to win over that Spirit Master grew even firmer.

Nearby, Shi Yunhai was completely petrified by the scene. As Patriarch Shi’s head fell to the ground, his eyes remained wide open in a gruesome, contorted glare. Clearly, right up until the moment of his death, he had no idea what had killed him.

"Yaoyao!"

At this moment, Mo Qianqian couldn’t care less about Patriarch Shi or the overwhelming might of the Spirit Body. He shouted her name and hastily spun around, sprinting toward Shi Muyao, who had fallen slightly behind him. He never could have imagined that she would risk her own life to save him at a time like this.

He screamed in his heart, "I could have easily killed him! Why did you have to rush forward?!

"We aren’t even a real married couple, so why?!"

That was a fatal blow from a cultivator at the Spiritual Mysterious Realm First Layer! With his physical resilience as a Body Cultivator, he might have been able to withstand it. But with Shi Muyao’s frail body at the Spirit Vein Realm Fourth Level, there was absolutely no way she could survive it. The gap in strength was simply too massive!

In this moment, Mo Qianqian’s heart was overflowing with guilt. This wife of his, whose relationship with him was ambiguous at best, was actually about to throw her life away for his sake.

"Don’t die! Please don’t die!"

Mo Qianqian rushed up and gathered Shi Muyao into his arms. With a jolt of his Spirit, the previously vanished Spirit Body instantly reappeared before him. It placed its hands on her body and frantically poured spiritual essence into her.

"Mo Qianqian..." Shi Muyao hadn’t stopped breathing yet. Her mouth brimming with blood, she murmured weakly, "Everything you’ve done to help me... I’ve returned it all...

"If there is a next life...

"I hope... we can be a real married couple!"

With those parting words, her eyes slowly fluttered shut.

"NO!!!"

Mo Qianqian roared, looking entirely deranged. He pushed his Spiritual Power to its absolute limits, continuously channeling potent spiritual essence into Shi Muyao’s fading body. Beneath his efforts, her body steadily began to heal.

"DIE!!!"

At that exact moment, Shi Yunhai bellowed in rage, seizing the opportunity to launch a lethal sneak attack at Mo Qianqian’s back.