Chapter Eleven: The Path of Blood

Bang!

Chu Jie suddenly turned his head, his long hair flying. He caught an arrow with his hand.

“You brought this upon yourself!”

Before the underling could draw a second arrow, Chu Jie had already hurled the one in his hand; it pierced the man's ear. The shot was masterful—though it entered through the head, it avoided all vital nerves and blood vessels. The man did not die at once; he collapsed to the ground, unable to move, screaming in agony, sending chills through all who heard.

Another underling saw this and nearly dropped his sword in fright, but the thought of twenty Spirit-Gathering Herbs hardened his resolve, and he charged forward!

With a wild roar, the man rushed at Chu Jie, his momentum fierce and unyielding. Chu Jie opened his tightly clenched fist, his aura surging. As the sword point neared him, Chu Jie’s palm turned a blazing crimson!

Clang! Chu Jie struck the sword, sending it flying.

“Die!”

A single, cold phrase sent icy terror through the underling. The steel blade suddenly shattered, fragments raining down like a constellation orbiting Chu Jie’s hand, shooting outward in all directions.

In an instant, the underling’s body and face were riddled with wounds, blood pouring from a thousand cuts.

Just then, Granny Yu let out a blood-curdling scream behind him. Chu Jie turned his head to see her cane exploded in the middle, splintering into shards that flew everywhere. Granny Yu collapsed, her fate uncertain.

“A pack of villains—I, Chu Jie, will never share the same sky with you!” Chu Jie howled at the heavens.

Rage flooded his eyes with blood. Yet his most pressing task now was to get Qi Wei out. With his own strength, he could barely fend off the masters, let alone protect Qi Wei.

Seeing Chu Jie escape with Qi Wei, Qi Tianba’s fists collided, desperate to pulverize the boy into a bloody pulp. His plans and dreams had been shattered.

He gathered all his resentment in his fist, preparing to deliver a crushing blow to the unconscious Granny Yu, but Lord Lin brushed his arm aside. A blast of palm force struck the corner of the house, breaking three pillars.

Lord Lin’s eyes glinted with icy disdain as he strode to the side.

Qi Tianba’s heart raced with fear; he hurried after and knelt, saying, “Lord Lin, it was my incompetence.”

“Useless!”

Lord Lin’s words carried frustration, though his tone was calm, leaving Qi Tianba unable to fathom his true thoughts.

“Come to think of it, it’s because that boy is too strong. He’s just broken through to the sixth level, yet already has such power. What if, in the future—”

“Lord, for such a person, if we cannot use him, we must kill him at once, lest he become a threat!”

“No need for your nonsense! Look at the situation—they clearly can't be used by us. As for killing him quickly? You bunch of fools, why don’t you? How many died at his hands today?”

Qi Tianba swallowed hard, unable to argue, his hatred of Chu Jie only deepening.

Chu Jie carried Qi Wei far away, crossing into other bosses’ territory, certain no one would pursue him further. Just as he caught his breath, he felt murderous intent suddenly coalesce around him.

Chu Jie scanned the surroundings, his eyes full of shock.

Over a hundred experts of the fourth and fifth level surged toward him like blood-soaked demons.

He bit his lip, adjusted Qi Wei on his back, drew a deep breath, and bolted forward!

For half an hour, he sped onward, the scenery changing, growing desolate. Ruins and debris were everywhere, the sun setting, crows returning, the western wind biting—grim and terrifying.

The sunset illuminated Chu Jie’s face, his murderous eyes red with exhaustion.

He must reach safety before nightfall!

Chu Jie knew well: If darkness fell and he hadn’t found shelter in this heartless place, his fate was surely grim.

Ruined walls and pillars, jagged and towering, rose like a forsaken palace—now a labyrinth impossible to navigate. Recalling his explorations beneath the Yang Family’s artificial lake, Chu Jie should have been confident with such terrain, but the sounds of pursuit made him feel helpless.

“Chu Jie, you have nowhere to go. Put Qi Wei down and surrender!”

Underlings surged in from all directions, trapping Chu Jie at a crossroads.

Bang! Chu Jie moved; before anyone could see his footwork, a stone slab flew out, crushing the speaker into pulp, blood spilling under the sunset.

“Anyone who blocks me dies!” Chu Jie’s voice was icy as the wind of the ninth heaven.

Carrying Qi Wei, he strode forward with steel resolve. His bravery and aura stunned everyone.

A small leader shouted suddenly, “What are you afraid of? Catch Chu Jie and twenty Spirit-Gathering Herbs will be ours to share!”

Spurred by greed, the crowd exchanged glances, all eyes shining with avarice.

“Go!”

Damn it! Chu Jie cursed through clenched teeth, tightened his grip on Qi Wei, and rushed forward like a shooting star. He snatched up a steel blade, whirled it in a circular sweep.

In the waning sunlight, countless glints of blade flashed like a thousand carp scales scattering toward him. Chu Jie twisted his body, dodging the barrage, his blade flickering—he cleaved a leader in two with a single stroke!

Those who cultivate deeply move with intent first. Chu Jie’s blade was razor-sharp. Stepping back, he swung his long blade—another underling’s skull exploded, red and white matter spraying, a bloody stench filling the air.

Like a blood-soaked demon, he dispatched lives effortlessly.

Chu Jie was forging a path of blood!

On the other side, three broadswords swept toward him. Chu Jie gathered fiery red light in his palm, channeling nearly all his spiritual energy, ready to strike.

Suddenly, Qi Wei coughed heavily on his back, squirming and nearly slipping off.

Chu Jie hurriedly adjusted her position, securing her more tightly. Swish! Three blades flashed—Chu Jie’s thigh was struck, blood streaming down.

Luo Huang swept his long blade, unleashing a storm of blade energy. Amidst the chaos, Luo Huang seized the chance to escape forward.

After several miles, Luo Huang turned and asked, “You’re awake?”

“Where are we?” Qi Wei felt dizzy and disoriented, unsure where she was.

“Don’t be afraid, we’ve escaped.”

The last crimson sliver of the crescent sun slipped behind the mountain. The world was unified once more.

Suddenly, a lightning bolt like a golden sword split the sky, flooding the world with light. Thunder rolled; in the blink of an eye, clouds covered the sky, and torrential rain poured down.

Cold rain struck Chu Jie’s face. Blood ran down his body.

Seeing Chu Jie struggling, Qi Wei asked in shock, “You’re hurt?” She tried to check his wounds, but was bound too tightly.

“I’m fine. Stay still!”

Around them, underlings watched like wolves, blades raised, advancing step by step.

“Don’t be afraid—he’s wounded!”

“Let’s all attack, capture them, and split the Spirit-Gathering Herbs!”

The crowd surged forward. Chu Jie roared, leaping like a wild wolf into an underling’s chest. The man, terrified, closed his eyes, feeling Chu Jie’s hand pierce through his body.

Chu Jie seized the man’s blade as a weapon, his long sword sweeping forward—a blast of blade energy swept the night sky!

Swish! An arrow suddenly pierced Chu Jie’s thigh.

Chu Jie twisted his head, blood-red eyes flashing with ferocity. His blade, roaring with rage, slashed out like lightning—an underling’s head flew through the air!

Clang!

A throwing knife shot toward Chu Jie’s face—he dodged, ducking low.

Then came a barrage of hidden darts, buzzing like mosquitoes. Chu Jie grunted, pulling the arrow from his thigh to use as a weapon. But the arrow was too light and unwieldy. Countless projectiles rained down, striking him again and again, yet he let none harm Qi Wei.

Qi Wei, seeing Chu Jie’s sacrifice for her, burst into tears. With a resolute face, she said, “Chu Jie, put me down!”

“Shut up!” Chu Jie, blood-soaked and fighting on, barked furiously.

“Hmph! Let’s see how long you can last like this!”

With multiple arrows in him, Chu Jie moved noticeably slower—an excellent opportunity for the underlings.