Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: Lightning Massacre
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Chen Shi lowered his head and spread out a sheet of talisman paper. He retrieved a small knife from his book chest and walked toward Li Xiaoding.
The nearby Embroidered Uniform Guards spotted the knife in his hand and froze for a moment before snapping to attention. One shouted urgently, "What are you doing? He's got a knife!"
The other guards heard the cry and immediately circulated their true qi. Divine light surged behind their heads as Divine Shrines materialized, with Divine Embryos seated within. They prepared their spells and rushed over.
Li Xiaoding was so startled by the shout that he tumbled off his reclining chair, eyeing Chen Shi warily. Without a word, he pulled out a paper talisman.
The talisman hummed as it ignited. A mystical force erupted in an instant, enveloping him in brilliant golden light like an enormous inverted bell that shielded him completely.
Chen Shi's face paled in feigned terror. His body trembled as the knife slipped from his grasp. He cried out loudly, "I need dog blood to draw the talisman! Don't kill me! Big Brother Li Guang, save me!"
The seven Embroidered Uniform Guards had their spells at the ready but halted upon hearing this, holding their power in check.
Li Xiaoding scrambled to his feet and glanced at Li Guang. Li Guang had also prepared his spell to take out Chen Shi but suddenly understood. He laughed hastily. "Misunderstanding—it's all a misunderstanding, Young Master. Dog blood is indeed used as a primer for drawing talismans. Black dog blood is rich in yang energy, and when mixed with cinnabar, it makes the talisman's power even stronger."
Li Xiaoding kicked Blackie Pot beside him and cursed with a laugh, "I thought someone was trying to kill me again. Turns out it's this damn beast they're after. You scared the hell out of me!"
He kicked Blackie Pot again and chuckled. "Get over there and take your punishment!"
Blackie Pot took the two kicks and flicked his tail resentfully. Humans were so fickle—one moment they were petting his head and calling him a good boy, the next they were cursing him out.
Blackie Pot walked toward Chen Shi. Chen Shi let out a breath of relief and bent down to pick up the knife.
At the same time, Li Guang and the other seven Embroidered Uniform Guards relaxed as well, dispersing their prepared spells. Six of them dismissed their Divine Shrines, turning to resume their tasks. Only Li Guang kept his Divine Shrine floating behind his head, maintaining his vigilance.
As Chen Shi bent to retrieve the knife, his peripheral vision took in the positions of all seven men around him.
The angle of their raised feet and their postures as they prepared to turn were all etched clearly in his mind.
"Four of them are less than ten feet from me, two are farther away, and Li Guang is the closest. This is the perfect moment to strike!"
Chen Shi gripped the knife hilt, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. His first target was Li Guang!
Even though Li Guang still had his Divine Shrine and Divine Embryo active, Chen Shi was confident he could deliver a fatal blow before the man could release his spell!
"Is this the camp of Young Master Li Xiaoding?" A pleasant voice suddenly called out.
A young woman arrived at the edge of the camp. She wore wide red gauze trousers beneath a purple-pink skirt that trailed along the ground, carrying a large fruit basket. She smiled and said, "I'm Purple Petal from the Ding family. I came out hunting with Fourth Miss. She's still setting up camp, but when she heard Young Master Li was out hunting and enjoying the spring outing, she sent me to foster ties between our families—and to see if you brothers could help us pitch our tents."
Chen Shi's expression shifted slightly. He rose with the knife in hand, all killing intent gone from his eyes.
The arrival of this Ding family maid named Purple Petal had cost him his perfect opening.
He could still strike in that split second while everyone's attention was on her, but Purple Petal outside the camp would have time to prepare her spell!
Even if he killed the seven Embroidered Uniform Guards, he'd still die by Purple Petal's hand—and he might not even get to Li Xiaoding.
Worse, if Purple Petal fled without acting, killing Li Xiaoding would be exposed, bringing disaster upon Grandpa and even annihilation to Huangpo Village!
That was something he absolutely could not allow.
"I have to give up this chance."
Chen Shi called Blackie Pot over to the table. Purple Petal was just here to pay a social call, aiming to draw the Ding and Li families closer. She probably wouldn't stay long. He would have other opportunities.
On the other side, one of the Embroidered Uniform Guards quickly ushered Purple Petal in and laughed. "Our young master was just saying he'd visit you all. We didn't expect you to come first." With that, he reached out to take the fruit basket from her.
Purple Petal produced an invitation card and walked toward Li Xiaoding with a smile. "Young Master Li, you're quite the celebrity in Water Buffalo County! At the last rural exam, you made quite the splash. Even our Fourth Miss said she never imagined you were hiding your true strength, keeping it all under wraps... I am Purple Petal. Greetings, Young Master Li. This is an invitation from my young lady."
Her figure was graceful, her features lovely, enhanced by a touch of makeup that added extra allure. The guards who had been about to get back to work turned around and drifted back, hoping to chat with her a bit and get closer.
Spring outings were prime opportunities for men and women to mingle. Otherwise, who would trek into the mountains just to hunt?
Chen Shi sat on the stool, hunched over, preparing to bleed Blackie Pot. Suddenly, he froze.
"Everyone's close together again. The perfect chance has come back—except now there's Purple Petal in the middle... Damn that Purple Petal!"
Blackie Pot clenched his teeth, none too willing. The old master would give him a cut and toss him a piece of exotic beast meat to make up for it, but the young master offered no such compensation.
He squeezed his eyes shut, bracing for the knife. Suddenly, a gust of wind whooshed past—Chen Shi, knife in hand, had vanished from before him.
Blackie Pot blinked in stunned confusion. Before he could turn his head, Chen Shi's knife plunged into Li Guang's throat. With a yank, blood sprayed out!
Li Guang's eyes bulged. He opened his mouth to shout, but Chen Shi's blood-slicked knife was already at the next guard's back. The blade pierced straight into the man's heart, deftly avoiding the ribs.
He withdrew the knife and spun around to the guard's front, thrusting it into the chest and straight into the heart again—once more slipping between the ribs.
Chen Shi pulled the knife free, but his blood-smeared hand slipped, and the hilt flew from his grasp. He couldn't retrieve it. The blade was coated in gore, far too slick.
Without hesitation, Chen Shi lunged forward over ten feet in a single step. He jabbed two fingers into the eyes of the third guard, bursting the eyeballs and driving deep into the skull to churn the brain matter.
Chen Shi yanked his fingers out, twisted at the waist, and spun. As he turned, his left foot stepped forward. By the time it hit the ground eight feet away, his right foot whipped up, slamming into the fourth guard's neck.
The kick landed like a cleaver on flesh. The immense force twisted the man's neck with a sharp crack of shattering bone.
The guard's body toppled sideways. Before his face hit the dirt, Chen Shi vaulted over him, slamming both palms into the fifth guard's ears. Blood gushed instantly from the man's eyes, ears, nose, and mouth—his eyeballs nearly popping from their sockets!
At that moment, Li Guang's cry finally rang out—but it was a gurgling wheeze, blood bubbling with the sound.
Li Guang clutched his throat, realizing too late that Chen Shi's slash had nearly severed it, leaving only the muscles at the back of his neck intact.
"This kid's so fast!"
The thought flashed through his mind. "Why is he killing us?"
His vision darkened. All he saw was Chen Shi's slight figure lunging at the sixth man, whose face still bore a look of utter shock, clearly caught off guard.
Chen Shi curled his right hand's four fingers—not quite a fist—and drove it into the sixth guard's chest with explosive force. Ribs snapped with a series of cracks.
The guard spat blood, his Divine Shrine manifesting behind his head. But before he could channel a spell, Chen Shi's left palm clamped onto his face. A colossal force erupted, feeling like an elephant stomping his face backward!
Thud!
The back of the man's skull smashed into a boulder on the ground, shattering both stone and bone!
Chen Shi flowed into a crouched stance, his gaze locking onto the seventh guard.
The man circulated his true qi, activating his Divine Shrine. The Divine Embryo within awakened, flooding his limbs with divine might.
But as the power surged, Chen Shi's knee smashed into his groin, pulverizing his manhood and the dangling pair.
The impact lifted the guard's body into the air, head down, crashing backward. Before he hit the ground, the tip of Chen Shi's other foot struck his temple.
Crack.
His neck lolled to the side.
Just then, a thud sounded—Li Guang collapsing. The second and third guards staggered, about to crumple.
In a blur of motion, Chen Shi flashed back to the second guard and yanked the knife free.
No one in the clearing had anticipated this turn. By the time they reacted, it was too late. Purple Petal was dumbfounded, just starting to rouse her Divine Embryo for a spell when pain lanced through her chest. Looking down, she saw two bloody hands gripping her head and jaw.
Her vision whipped violently, flipping from facing forward to staring at her own back.
Chen Shi wrenched the woman's neck with both hands. Before her body fell, his palms were already at her chest, drawing the small knife from her heart.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
One by one, the corpses hit the ground.
Suddenly, a hum rang out. Chen Shi whipped his head around to see Li Xiaoding igniting his Golden Bell Talisman. It burned brightly, golden light forming the shape of a massive bell.
Li Xiaoding trembled all over, eyes wide with terror as he stared at Chen Shi standing there.
He was a Divine Embryo Realm cultivator. If he unleashed a spell, he could easily kill Chen Shi.
But fear paralyzed him. His mind went blank—he couldn't recall a single spell he'd ever learned.
He even forgot he was a cultivator. Forgot he had a Divine Embryo!