Chapter Sixty-Five: Who Is the Real Winner?

The Ocean Heart Technique was an ordinary cultivation method. The true energy it produced was not the fierce or powerful kind, but rather gentle and mild. Its distinguishing feature lay in its endless continuity; in terms of sustaining true energy, it far surpassed other common techniques. When that energy reached its limit, it could explode with far greater power than usual.

This was the hallmark of the Ocean Heart Technique. Yang Ze cultivated this method, but what he practiced was the perfected version, granting him greater endurance and strength of true energy than any other practitioner at the same level. Because of this, though Yang Ze’s cultivation was only at the advanced stage of Qi Attraction, his actual combat prowess matched the peak of that realm.

At this moment, Yang Ze was sprinting through the eastern city, his speed equal to that of a peak Qi Attraction martial artist. Racing forward, he was following a trail of blood on the ground.

He had quickly deduced where the man in black would flee, which allowed him to track the escape route. The bloodstains grew clearer, leading him down a narrow alley. Yang Ze leapt forward and plunged directly into the alley.

Inside, the winding path twisted and turned. A gravely wounded man in black was suppressing the agony in his body, running as fast as he could. He knew well that his injuries had worsened and he had coughed up much blood, leaving marks behind. If he did not leave quickly, he would soon be discovered.

Thinking of Ouyang Xin’s strength, fear gripped him. He had believed there was no one in the city who could match him, only for Ouyang Xin to appear out of nowhere.

He kept running, finally exiting the alley and reaching the edge of the eastern city. Ahead lay a small forest; if he passed through it, he could reach the southern city.

His injuries worsened with every step, blurring his vision, but he did not hesitate—he plunged into the woods.

He had barely gone far when a figure blocked his path, barring his way forward. The haze in his eyes prevented him from seeing who it was, but instinctively he raised his broken blade, sensing murderous intent from the person ahead.

The only one who could be here was Yang Ze. After a relentless pursuit, Yang Ze finally cornered the man in black inside the woods.

Bathed in moonlight, Yang Ze gazed at his foe’s disheveled appearance; he hadn’t expected a dignified martial artist to be so reduced.

The man in black clearly feared for his life, disregarding the severity of his wounds in his desperate flight. He must have reached his limits.

“Even if I hadn’t come, with your reckless escape, you wouldn’t last much longer. But I must witness my enemy’s death with my own eyes for peace of mind.”

“It’s you!” The man in black recognized Yang Ze as soon as he spoke. He had never imagined Yang Ze would be the one to block his path.

“You couldn’t even withstand a single strike from me, yet you dare stand before me?”

“If you weren’t wounded, I wouldn’t even be here. Knowing you’d appear, I would’ve avoided this place entirely. But look at your condition—how much strength do you have left?” As he spoke, Yang Ze stepped forward.

Each step on the ground echoed, exerting invisible pressure on his adversary.

The man in black’s hand trembled as he gripped his blade. Vision blurred, he could only sense their distance closing.

With only three steps between them, the man in black struck first. He dared not wait any longer. In the past, he would never have taken Yang Ze seriously, but now he could not afford to underestimate him.

The man in black slashed, but in his weakened state, Yang Ze could clearly sense the difference in strength. The attack was sluggish, riddled with flaws.

Nevertheless, the man in black was still a martial artist of the acquired realm; even a lion must use its full strength to catch a rabbit. Yang Ze faced him with his strongest power.

His blade flashed from its sheath; Yang Ze executed the Fierce Tiger Descending the Mountain. Blade energy surged forth, striking the man in black.

A hole opened in the man’s chest, blood streaming out. Shock filled his eyes as he stammered, “Blade... blade energy... how did you...”

Before he could finish, his breath failed and he collapsed.

Yang Ze had overestimated him. Even though he was of the acquired realm, his injuries were so grave that any mid-level Qi Attraction practitioner could have killed him.

Having dispatched him with a single stroke, Yang Ze stepped forward to search the body.

He had two reasons for killing this man: first, the man had tried to kill him before; he could not let slip such a prime opportunity to eliminate his foe. Second, the man in black had mastered the Wind-Cutting Blade, a technique Yang Ze had witnessed first-hand for its formidable power—none of his own martial arts could compare.

He was determined to obtain the manual for Wind-Cutting Blade. He was already versed in blade techniques, and acquiring this method would greatly enhance his strength.

After a brief search, Yang Ze found a bundle on the man, took it, and kept searching—he found another bundle.

Yang Ze was momentarily surprised; he hadn’t expected the man to carry so much. He took the second bundle as well.

He had barely picked them up and hadn’t yet examined their contents when a voice called out from ahead.

“You are indeed remarkable—this man in black died by your hand.”

Upon hearing the voice, Yang Ze stowed the bundles, looked up, and saw Xu Wenwu approaching step by step.

Yang Ze’s eyes flickered, inwardly astonished. He had only dared venture out because he saw the four peak Qi Attraction practitioners were wounded; how then did Xu Wenwu appear before him?

“Don’t bother hiding—I saw you retrieve something from his body. You look surprised, didn’t expect me here, did you?”

“Well, it doesn’t matter. You’re going to die anyway, so I’ll tell you: I have one foot in the acquired realm. I’ve been concealing it, so my injuries aren’t nearly as bad as you think. Everything at Mu Family Manor was just a ploy to mislead you. Seems I hid it well; you were all fooled! Hahaha.”

Xu Wenwu’s face brimmed with satisfaction—clearly pleased with his day’s work.

“I saw you disappear and knew you must be chasing the man in black. I didn’t expect you to be so quick, killing him before I arrived. I had intended to kill you both together.

But I can give you a chance now. Hand over what you took from him, and I’ll let you go. What do you say?”

“No need for such words, Master Xu. Do you think I would believe you?” Yang Ze replied directly.

“So, you’re confident in your strength. The other day, Fan Yongnian’s corpse was found—you killed him, didn’t you? To slay a peak Qi Attraction practitioner, you must have some skill, but it’s far from enough.

I am very curious about your secret—how you advanced so rapidly in such a short time. If I can obtain your secret and the man in black’s martial arts, in time I’ll surely surpass Ouyang Xin!”

At Ouyang Xin’s name, Xu Wenwu’s expression contorted. Ouyang Xin’s emergence had given him a deep sense of crisis; his own progress had stalled, and he feared Ouyang Xin might someday come for him.

“It seems your injuries are worse than I thought. That puts my mind at ease.” As soon as he finished speaking, Yang Ze struck. His blade flashed, slashing at Xu Wenwu.

From the moment Xu Wenwu appeared, he hadn’t stopped talking—clearly stalling to recover his strength. If his injury were not severe, he wouldn’t behave so.

Yang Ze’s blade was swift. Xu Wenwu, who had initially dismissed him, was instantly grave.

Tiger Kill, Tiger Roar, Fierce Tiger Descending the Mountain—Yang Ze unleashed the entire Black Tiger Blade technique in one fluid motion. With his mastery of the technique, flaws were hard to find, and his fierce assault forced Xu Wenwu to meet him head-on with a palm strike.

Palm force and blade clashed; Xu Wenwu was forced back, angered. As he prepared to retaliate with martial arts, Yang Ze attacked again with Fierce Tiger Descending the Mountain.

Xu Wenwu was shocked—rarely could a Qi Attraction martial artist unleash consecutive deadly moves so quickly.

Yet it was truly happening. Xu Wenwu gathered true energy in his hand, reaching to grab the incoming blade. Just as the two attacks were about to collide, Yang Ze suddenly shouted, and blade energy erupted from the blade, blasting forth.

At the instant the blade energy exploded, Xu Wenwu’s face changed dramatically. He never imagined Yang Ze could wield blade energy. At such close range, he had no time to react—his right hand was struck by the blade energy and severed!