Chapter Forty: Poisoned Life

Poison Sage struck out with a palm, and even before the force reached Tie Qi, he could already smell a foul stench. Tie Qi had never expected Poison Sage to act so decisively; his mind reeled as he tapped his feet rapidly on the ground, retreating backwards.

Poison Sage’s mastery of poison arts was famous throughout Xiangyun Street. This skill was even more intimidating than his martial prowess, and Tie Qi dared not take it head-on. He could only withdraw, retreating from danger.

Seeing Tie Qi evade his palm, Poison Sage leapt forward, pursuing relentlessly. Today, he had no intention of letting Tie Qi escape.

Tie Qi kept retreating. Suddenly, from behind, a whistling iron hammer was thrown toward him. Tie Qi caught it, his arm surging with power as he swung the hammer in a violent arc.

Poison Sage, intending to unleash another palm strike, saw the hammer coming straight at him. With a twist of his body, he dodged the blow.

The hammer failed to hit its mark, and Tie Qi, refraining from further attacks, retreated a few more steps. After just this exchange, Tie Qi realized how formidable Poison Sage was; he knew he was no match.

“Poison Sage, you killed my men, I killed a few of your disciples. We’re even now. Let’s end this here—we’re leaving.” Tie Qi snarled, preparing to lead his crowd away.

“Now you want to leave? Don’t you think it’s too late?” Poison Sage’s tone was sinister. “If word spreads that anyone can come and go as they please at the Poison Sect, how will I ever hold my place on Xiangyun Street?”

“What do you want, then?”

“I told you already—none of you are leaving today!” As he uttered the last word, Poison Sage gave the command. Waves of disciples from the Poison Sect surged forth, surrounding everyone. Those caught in the encirclement were all from the Iron Hammer Gang.

Tie Qi’s expression grew gloomy. He realized he’d been careless. He had thought that bringing so many members of the Iron Hammer Gang would force Poison Sect to give him an explanation.

The Iron Hammer Gang was no small faction. If Poison Sect wanted to eradicate them, it would come at a heavy price. Poison Sage, if he had any sense, would have chosen to negotiate rather than fight at this moment—giving Tie Qi an explanation would have been the better choice.

But Tie Qi hadn’t foreseen Poison Sage’s change of heart, which began when he tossed those corpses. Among those killed on his way here was Poison Sage’s nephew—the only one left, whom Poison Sage treated like his own child. Now, seeing his nephew slain by Tie Qi, how could he not be enraged?

“Attack! Exterminate the Iron Hammer Gang!” Poison Sage shouted, launching the first strike himself, targeting Tie Qi directly.

Poison Sage practiced poison arts—few in Yuyang City did. The Poison Sect was the chief faction of poison cultivators in the city, so Poison Sage’s reputation as the top poison master was well deserved.

As his palm struck, the foul stench spread, sweeping toward the Iron Hammer Gang members.

Tie Qi inhaled just a little and immediately felt his internal energy stagnate. If even he was affected, he dared not let his men face Poison Sage.

Swinging the massive hammer, Tie Qi fought while retreating, drawing Poison Sage away to shift the battlefield.

Poison Sage followed with a cold snort, his internal energy circulating as his palm force grew stronger, sending a chill to Tie Qi’s heart.

Tie Qi’s internal arts favored strength; his speed and defense were lacking, and his martial skill was a hammer technique, relying on his weapon to unleash his power.

But Poison Sage was entirely different. Though Tie Qi didn’t know exactly what poison skill he practiced, he knew it surpassed his own.

As for martial arts, Poison Sage cultivated a palm technique designed to complement his poison art, greatly boosting his combat prowess.

Facing Poison Sage’s attacks, Tie Qi dared not be careless. He swung his hammer with all his might, smashing down fiercely.

“No matter how close you are to the peak of Qi Channeling, you’re still only at the middle stage. Today, you will die!” As Tie Qi’s hammer came at him, Poison Sage ducked low, dodging the blow.

He rebounded swiftly, striking out with a palm toward Tie Qi’s chest before the hammer could return. Tie Qi had no choice but to meet it with a punch. Their fist and palm collided, Tie Qi’s body shuddered but he held his ground.

Seizing the moment, he exploded with strength from his right arm, swinging the hammer horizontally at Poison Sage.

Poison Sage glanced at the attack, channeled his internal energy into his left hand, and struck the hammer’s shaft, diverting its path.

“I told you, today you must die!”

He withdrew both palms, took a breath, and his energy surged. With a fierce burst, he charged at Tie Qi.

Tie Qi was shocked; he hadn’t expected Poison Sage to be so strong, overwhelming him in every aspect, even suppressing his prized strength.

He was only a step away from advancing to the next stage of Qi Channeling—how could there be such a vast gap?

Facing Poison Sage’s relentless assault, Tie Qi fought desperately, swinging his hammer wildly and throwing punches. The longer the fight dragged on, the more exhausted he felt, barely holding on.

Poison Sage’s palm, imbued with poison, was far stranger than ordinary martial arts. Those lacking sufficient power would be poisoned over time.

Tie Qi felt it now—his internal energy was running slower and draining fast. He was nearing his limit, unable to withstand Poison Sage’s attacks.

But before he faltered, an elder of the Iron Hammer Gang let out a scream—a Poison Sect elder had slashed him open, and though he struck back in his dying moments, he fell.

There were three mid-stage Qi Channeling elders in the Poison Sect, but only two in the Iron Hammer Gang. Two against three, and after so many exchanges, one finally fell.

Seeing this, Tie Qi roared in fury, but his panic left a flaw in his technique, instantly seized by Poison Sage.

“How dare you get distracted in a fight with me? Die!”

With a whistling motion, Poison Sage’s left hand struck like a blade. Tie Qi couldn’t evade and was hit, his hammer falling from his grip.

Before he could catch his breath, Poison Sage brought his right index and middle finger together, striking at Tie Qi’s heart.

Tie Qi barely managed to block with his hand.

The moment his hand touched Poison Sage’s finger, he felt a surge of force burst through his palm, piercing and striking his body.

Agonizing pain swept through him, his organs trembling from the force. In horror, he cried, “You had a hidden technique! When did you learn finger arts?”

“Once you’re dead, you’ll know.” Poison Sage replied coldly, retracting his finger before striking twice more at lightning speed, leaving several new wounds on Tie Qi’s body.

Tie Qi’s face turned pale, the shadow of death looming over him. He couldn’t even count his wounds, only knowing he couldn’t last much longer.

He never imagined Poison Sage had a hidden skill. No one in the martial world knew Poison Sage practiced a finger technique—this was a shock to all.

When Poison Sage revealed his finger art, Tie Qi knew he’d lost, utterly and completely. He was never Poison Sage’s equal.

He dared not stay any longer. The urge for vengeance for his men vanished—he only wanted to escape.

He had no choice. In desperation, Tie Qi unleashed all his remaining strength in one last punch and withdrew swiftly.

Poison Sage followed closely, easily neutralizing the punch, then struck Tie Qi’s shoulder with a finger, piercing a hole. Tie Qi screamed as blood sprayed from the wound.

“Spare me!” Tie Qi cried as Poison Sage prepared to attack again.

“Now you beg for mercy? Isn’t it too late?” Poison Sage’s gaze was icy. He gave Tie Qi no chance, his finger piercing Tie Qi’s throat.

Tie Qi, trying to flee, felt a sharp pain at his throat. His strength faded rapidly, and he collapsed, his life ebbing away.

Seeing this, Poison Sage struck once more, his palm shattering Tie Qi’s final breath.

Tie Qi’s eyes widened in death, unable to find peace.

To his last moment, he never thought he would die here, nor that the man he killed so casually would ultimately be the cause of his own demise.

Tie Qi was dead—the leader of the Iron Hammer Gang had fallen. The remaining members, seeing this, were terrified out of their wits.

He had been the backbone of their gang; now that he was gone, how could they hope to survive?

Witnessing this, the gang members surrendered instantly, no longer daring to fight.

The last surviving elder, Song Hai, saw the situation and, face pale, dared not even think—he turned and fled.

Poison Sage, having killed Tie Qi, watched the battlefield. He would not let Song Hai escape. He chased after him, struck with a palm to Song Hai’s back, the force penetrating his organs. Song Hai coughed blood and died on the spot.

Looking at the surrendered gang members, Poison Sage ordered them imprisoned.

An hour later, all of Xiangyun Street was shaken by what had transpired.