Chapter 203: You Got Off Easy

After the second encounter, naturally, there came a third. Zhou Qing relentlessly drained the opponent’s spiritual energy using his own formidable power.

During the struggle, Feng Shui Zhenjun realized Zhou Qing’s intent and finally ceased his attack. His own mystical arts could not harm Zhou Qing, and with his spiritual energy rapidly depleting, he knew that if this continued, the moment his power was exhausted, he would surely perish at Zhou Qing’s hands.

Faced with this, Feng Shui Zhenjun was unwilling to continue the fight. Between their exchanges, he slipped to Zhou Qing’s side and then dashed down the mountain.

But scarcely had he taken a few steps when Zhou Qing’s figure appeared like a ghost, blocking his path once more.

This time, after stopping him, Zhou Qing willed the fiery creature on the slope to emit a piercing, eerie cry. Its flames surged with the wind, and within mere breaths, its body, once the size of a raccoon, grew into a fiery beast over ten feet tall.

The beast, towering above, opened its mouth wide enough to swallow a man whole.

As the fiery beast grew, it unleashed a deep blue fireball from its maw, hurling it at Feng Shui Zhenjun.

Feng Shui Zhenjun had no choice but to manifest a blue water curtain with his spiritual power to block the blazing sphere.

While he defended against the beast’s fire, Zhou Qing, opposite the creature, drew a fire talisman and unleashed a fiery spell.

Caught between man and beast, Feng Shui Zhenjun found a fleeting gap amid his defenses and dashed down the mountain again.

Yet, as before, only a few steps out, Zhou Qing intercepted him again.

Thus, under the relentless pincer attack of Zhou Qing and the fiery beast, Feng Shui Zhenjun’s spiritual energy steadily waned.

Finally, with only a single layer of spiritual power remaining, Feng Shui Zhenjun raised his head and let out a mighty shout. Rather than allowing this last vestige to be gradually consumed, he resolved to unleash a powerful spell, hoping to annihilate his foe in one final strike.

Having lost nine layers of his ten-layered spiritual energy to Zhou Qing’s relentless assault, only one remained. Whether his strongest spell could turn the tide was uncertain, but Feng Shui Zhenjun was determined to make a desperate bid.

After deflecting yet another coordinated attack from the beast and Zhou Qing, he shifted his position, no longer fleeing down the mountain but retreating upwards toward the summit, seeking a momentary reprieve.

At the same time, he struck his forehead with his palm, drawing several drops of blood into his hand. Raising his palm skyward, the blood transformed into flickering red sparks and ascended into the air.

“Rumble—”

Sacrificing his own spiritual blood, a piercing thunderclap soon echoed from the clouds above.

Hearing the thunder, Zhou Qing froze. The sound was not ordinary thunder but celestial lightning.

Having practiced celestial lightning techniques years before, he instantly recognized the shrill, otherworldly roars from the heavens.

Whether he could withstand such a divine strike was unknown—he had never attempted to block celestial lightning.

Yet his expression did not darken excessively upon hearing the ominous thunder.

“So, your strength is truly at its end. But I am brimming with spiritual energy. With my full might, I will face your fading power without fear.”

Knowing the opponent was making a final, desperate gambit, Zhou Qing called back the fiery beast and silently stood his ground, awaiting the divine lightning summoned from the sky.

Soon, amidst the silent vigil, a glimmer of golden light pierced the dark clouds, followed by a dazzling golden bolt crashing down directly upon Zhou Qing.

The brilliant protective shield surrounding Zhou Qing’s body immediately dimmed, becoming nearly transparent.

That was all—the golden lightning, having worn down his protective aura, dissipated.

“Ahhh!”

Feng Shui Zhenjun, who had summoned the celestial lightning, let out a cry of unwillingness and collapsed, exhausted, kneeling on the mountainside.

“If you had not slaughtered that innocent Beitan town back then, I would not have considered this massacre. Today, I shall at least mark the end of the sins I unknowingly wrought.”

As he spoke, Zhou Qing reached to his waist and withdrew his weapon, Ruthless.

“During our fight, my fiery beast did not unleash its full strength. Do you know why?”

Approaching the kneeling Feng Shui Zhenjun, Zhou Qing looked at the weary golden-haired fish demon with a smirk.

“I said I would feast on your flesh and boil your bones. If your body were burned by fire, how would I eat your meat? Ha ha!”

“You…”

Feng Shui Zhenjun, stung by Zhou Qing’s words, tried to retort but could only utter a single word before Zhou Qing’s hand, gripping Ruthless, ended his life with a swift stroke.

Having slain Feng Shui Zhenjun, Zhou Qing sat beside the fallen fish demon and let out a sigh to the heavens. Then he dragged the golden carp down the mountain.

At the foot of the mountain, beside a river clearing, he stopped.

He lit a bonfire and skewered the golden carp by its tail with a wooden stick, roasting it over the flames.

After a short while, the aroma of roasted fish wafted into his nostrils. Watching the blackened carp, Zhou Qing turned it over repeatedly to cook it evenly.

As the flames licked the fish dry, reducing it to a charred, carbon-like husk, Zhou Qing finally extended his hand into the fire.

With his gesture, the roaring flames vanished instantly without a trace.

Picking up the dried, blackened fish, Zhou Qing walked toward the forest edge. Soon, the calls of wild beasts echoed, and a spotted leopard emerged from the woods.

Earlier, when Zhou Qing had peered into this waterside area, he had spotted this leopard resting on a riverside tree, so he knew of its presence.

“Today, I’ll let you have this—this is the prized carp meat from the Water God’s domain in your wild forest. Come and eat.”

Holding out the roasted fish, Zhou Qing tossed it before the leopard.

Unexpectedly, the leopard did not catch the offering but instead darted aside, growling fiercely before lunging at Zhou Qing.

Seeing the beast’s aggressive stance, Zhou Qing sighed in resignation.

For such a small wild creature, he felt no threat. As the leopard charged, he stood unmoving, ready for whatever came next.