"Where do you think you're escaping to?"
Just as the fleeing Martial King was about to take off further into the night, Bai Li Changqing's figure suddenly appeared right in front of him!
"You…"
The Martial King's eyes widened in shock. How could his opponent have caught up so quickly? He hadn't even felt anything, yet Bai Li Changqing was already blocking his path.
As the Martial King glanced at Bai Li Changqing's sword, he noticed a faint trace of blood being absorbed into the blade.
Wait a minute...
That sword—it seems to absorb blood!
"A blood-drinking sword? Could it be... the Demon Sword?"
The Martial King's mind raced as he recalled a certain legend he had recently heard. His gaze filled with disbelief.
"Looks like you've figured it out," Bai Li Changqing remarked indifferently.
He raised Jiemie, the blade gleaming ominously in the moonlight.
"Rotary Slash!!!"
Filled with fear, the Martial King summoned all his strength. His right hand surged with energy, forming a spinning, circular force that shot forward like a vortex.
"Go!!!"
He hurled the energy at Bai Li Changqing with all his might, hoping to overpower him.
But Bai Li Changqing remained still, unmoved by the incoming attack.
"Die already!!!" the Martial King roared, furious that Bai Li Changqing wasn't even trying to dodge.
The spinning vortex of energy reached Bai Li Changqing in an instant.
However, just as it was about to strike, Bai Li Changqing swung his sword downward.
Boom—
The terrifying energy split in half as Bai Li Changqing cleaved through it with ease, the violent force dissipating into nothing.
"Impossible! That's not possible!" the Martial King cried out, his face paling.
That attack had been his strongest move, yet it was effortlessly neutralized with a single strike. He had never seen anyone cut through a technique like that before.
"Goodbye," Bai Li Changqing said calmly.
With another swift swing of Jiemie, a terrifying wave of white flames erupted from the sword, racing towards the Martial King.
The Martial King's eyes widened in horror. The flames were too fast—he couldn't dodge in time.
Desperate, he summoned all his source energy, forming a protective barrier around himself.
Boom—
The searing white flames slammed into his energy shield.
"Ahhh!!!"
Even through the barrier, the Martial King could feel the intense heat. He let out a scream of agony as the flames seared his flesh.
Whoosh—
In the next instant, a cold light flashed through the white flames.
Before the Martial King could react, both his body and his energy barrier were sliced clean in half.
[Killed Martial King-level cultivator, gained 1,000,000 evolution points]
[Absorbed Martial King's blood essence, gained 100 energy points]
[Absorbed Martial King's blood essence, gained 100 energy points]
…
As Jiemie absorbed the scattered blood from the air, Bai Li Changqing glanced down at the bisected corpse, which began to plummet toward the ground.
Not wanting to leave any traces behind, he used Nether Flame Soul Slash to incinerate the body completely.
While Bai Li Changqing didn't know exactly who these people were, it was always safer to eliminate all evidence.
"That Ye Yaar… she's definitely not an ordinary person," Bai Li Changqing murmured to himself as he hovered in midair.
...
"Are you alright?" Ye Yaar asked anxiously when Bai Li Changqing returned to her room.
The bodies had already been cleared out, but the faint smell of blood still lingered in the air.
Bai Li Changqing shook his head.
"Thanks for tonight," Ye Yaar said, visibly relieved. If Bai Li Changqing hadn't arrived in time, she likely would have been killed.
"It's fine."
"If anything happens again, just call me."
Without waiting for a reply, Bai Li Changqing moved towards the window, preparing to leave.
Just as Ye Yaar was about to speak, Bai Li Changqing said, "I won't let you die before I help you finish off your target."
With that, his figure vanished into the night.
Ye Yaar stood frozen by the window, her heart stirred. After a moment, she whispered, "Thank you."
…
Sitting cross-legged on the roof of his room, Bai Li Changqing entered a meditative state to continue his cultivation. Bathed in moonlight, he could feel the surrounding energy growing denser.
"Since I was spotted tonight, the Marquis's estate will likely increase their security over the next few days," he muttered to himself as he focused on his breathing. "I'll have to wait before attempting the assassination."
As he absorbed the ambient energy, a quiet voice spoke in his mind.
"This cultivation pace still isn't fast enough," Ye Fan commented. "I just want to reach SSS-rank already!"
"I thought once I became an SS-rank sword, people could hear me, but apparently, that's not enough."
He sighed in frustration. "Oh well. Once Bai Li Changqing reaches the Martial Saint level, the rate at which we gain evolution points should increase."
…
The next morning, Bai Li Changqing and Ye Yaar sat in a small restaurant, eating bowls of noodles.
"When you wear ordinary clothes, it's hard to tell your true identity," Ye Yaar remarked with a smile as she glanced at Bai Li Changqing, who was dressed in plain clothes.
Although her appearance was plain—some might even say unattractive—there was something about Ye Yaar's presence that made Bai Li Changqing feel different around her.
"I feel like your attire doesn't quite match you," Bai Li Changqing said after taking a sip of tea. He scrutinized Ye Yaar closely.
He wasn't lying. There was something off about the way her simple clothes contrasted with her refined demeanor.
"What do you mean?" Ye Yaar asked curiously.
"Hmm, it's like your aura should be accompanied by more elegant, luxurious clothing," Bai Li Changqing said thoughtfully. Despite her plain appearance, Ye Yaar moved with the grace of someone used to wealth and power.
Her demeanor was far too polished for someone living in such humble surroundings.
Hearing this, Ye Yaar froze slightly.