Chapter 61: A Desperate Final Strike!

Bai Xiaochun's speed was astonishing. At this moment, he was circling around Chen Heng without giving him a chance to react. Punch after punch, kick after kick, formed a raging storm of attacks.

Chen Heng's expression darkened. Forming hand seals, he released a barrier of protective light, and thick mist spread around him. In the midst of the forest, under the thunderstorm, the two clashed fiercely—each collision resounding like thunder.

The longer they fought, the more shocked Chen Heng became. He had already given this outer sect disciple from the Spirit Stream Sect a high evaluation, but experiencing it personally, he realized he had **still underestimated him**.

To be able to slay over ten clan members and kill eighth-level Qi Condensation cultivators so easily—this was no ordinary talent. Even though disciples of a major sect like Spirit Stream received far better resources than those from cultivator clans, the difference still shouldn't be this vast.

> "His physical body is too tough. What kind of body-refinement technique is this? And his strength and speed are all from body cultivation too!"

Chen Heng swept his sleeve and released a surge of mist to drive Bai Xiaochun back, but Bai Xiaochun ignored his injuries and charged again. The thunderous clashes continued, and Chen Heng's face turned paler.

> "But what's most terrifying about him... is his **recovery speed**! If he were at the eighth level of Qi Condensation, I wouldn't be his match!"

Chen Heng couldn't understand how someone so grievously injured could still burst forth with such ferocity. Anyone else in his condition would have already passed out.

And yet, Bai Xiaochun—despite being nearly at his limit—kept going.

> "I need to end this quickly before something unexpected happens!"

A cold glint flashed in Chen Heng's eyes. But right at that moment, Bai Xiaochun's eyes lit up as he suddenly retreated, forming hand seals to summon his *Violet Qi Cauldron* again. With a thunderous roar, the massive cauldron rushed toward Chen Heng.

Chen Heng narrowed his eyes, and the mist around him condensed into a giant hand that struck the cauldron. The moment they touched, the cauldron shattered effortlessly—no resistance at all.

He realized it was a feint but didn't react emotionally. His eyes simply turned sharper.

> "Red Demon Grand Technique," he said calmly.

In that instant, blood-colored light erupted from his body, and he transformed into a **red-skinned demon**.

Just as he completed the transformation, Bai Xiaochun swept his left leg in a wide arc toward Chen Heng, the force behind it tremendous.

Chen Heng sneered. As the leg neared, he raised his right hand and swung it sideways, colliding with Bai Xiaochun's leg.

**BOOM!**

A deep explosion echoed, followed by the sound of bones cracking. Bai Xiaochun's eyes welled with tears from the pain as he staggered backward. He looked at Chen Heng in shock.

> "How did his strength suddenly become so overwhelming? This Red Demon technique... turning his whole body red actually made him this powerful!"

His left leg was now twisted and mangled. Though the skin hadn't broken, the flesh was crushed and the bone shattered. He panted heavily—exhausted, gravely wounded. But strangely, his body continued to recover rapidly, even from such injuries.

> "Could this be the power of the *Undying Longevity Technique*?" he wondered.

On Chen Heng's side, although his right hand looked normal, it was trembling. His skin turned even redder, and his bones had fine cracks running through them.

> "So you have a body-refinement technique? My Fallen Chen Clan has one too!" he shouted, then charged forward.

His speed had increased dramatically—now even faster than Bai Xiaochun's—as if he had become an entirely different person.

The two clashed again in the forest.

**Boom! Boom! Boom!**

Bai Xiaochun was at a disadvantage. With his right leg injured and his left leg destroyed, he couldn't maintain balance and was forced to retreat. The sense of death loomed stronger than ever. Chen Heng was clearly the most powerful enemy he'd ever faced.

With no options left, Bai Xiaochun's eyes filled with blood. He raised his right hand, shrouded in black, and unleashed his *Fragmented Lock* technique like a bolt of dark lightning toward Chen Heng's throat.

Chen Heng's eyes flashed. He had seen this technique before and was ready for it. His entire body flared with red light, and just as Bai Xiaochun's hand neared, he grabbed it and crushed it.

**Crack!**

Bai Xiaochun's right arm shattered completely.

Chen Heng frowned—it had been too easy. But then, he remembered how Bai Xiaochun often **traded injuries for kills**. His instincts flared, and he twisted his neck away and jumped back.

At that exact moment, Bai Xiaochun's **left hand**, also glowing black, swiped past Chen Heng's neck and latched onto his shoulder.

**Crack!**

The *Fragmented Lock* activated again.

Chen Heng's face went pale, sweat dripping down. The bones in his left shoulder were completely shattered, the pain forcing a deep growl from his throat.

He lashed out with red light, grabbing Bai Xiaochun's left hand. Bai Xiaochun tried to pull back, but Chen Heng's speed was too great. He caught Bai Xiaochun's wrist.

> "Die!" he snarled, forming a hand seal with his left hand to strike Bai Xiaochun's forehead.

But Bai Xiaochun's eyes turned savage. He **suddenly twisted**, deliberately breaking the bones in his left hand with a loud crack. A **sharp bone spike** pierced through his skin, three inches long.

Using his last bit of strength, Bai Xiaochun swung his right leg—already injured—into Chen Heng's body.

**BOOM!**

Chen Heng coughed up blood and stumbled backward, releasing Bai Xiaochun's hand. Bai Xiaochun retreated quickly.

Now there was over ten *zhang* of distance between them.

Bai Xiaochun's arms were ruined. His right arm was shattered. His left arm could move, but his fingers were twisted and useless. His legs were barely holding him up—the left completely deformed, the right soaked in blood. That last kick had worsened the injury.

He leaned against a tree, biting his tongue to stay conscious. Gasping for breath, he was completely spent. Only his left arm could move, and yet he still stood like he could fight.

Chen Heng's eyes were bloodshot. His left shoulder was utterly destroyed. His left arm hung uselessly. Several ribs had been broken, and blood dripped from his mouth.

> "I underestimated you," Chen Heng rasped.

He never imagined that, despite his own cultivation, it would be so difficult to kill this heavily wounded opponent. Bai Xiaochun's body-refinement seemed nearly immortal—anyone else would've died long ago.

And Chen Heng had already used nearly all his techniques, even the *Red Demon Grand Technique*.

> "But this ends now," he growled.

He took a deep breath, and the red light around him began to evaporate like mist, rising and condensing in the air into thick **blood fog**. His skin returned to normal, and he looked weaker, having spent nearly all his strength.

> "Red Demon Secret Art: **Bloodblade Slash!**"

He bit his tongue and spat out blood. The blood turned into mist and merged with the surrounding fog, which rolled violently and formed into a **giant blood-red blade**.

The blade was over a *zhang* long, illusory and eerie, filled with countless distorted faces screaming in agony. With a single point of Chen Heng's finger, the blood blade sliced toward Bai Xiaochun.

After casting the spell, Chen Heng leaned on a nearby tree, his face pale, hair now streaked with gray.

> "Die," he whispered cruelly.

A surge of unprecedented danger exploded from Bai Xiaochun's body. He knew—**no matter how he moved, he couldn't dodge**. It was as if this strike had locked onto his fate itself.

The ground in front of him split open. The tree behind him withered instantly. That terrifying blade descended.

Bai Xiaochun trembled. His pupils shrank. He didn't want to die. He was afraid of dying. But even the *Undying Longevity Technique* couldn't save him now.

Just as despair overtook him, a spark of clarity flashed in his mind.

Without hesitation, he raised his left arm and waved.

A streak of black light **shot from within his body**, instantly expanding into a **giant cauldron**—the **Turtle Marked Cauldron**!

In the next instant, the blood blade slammed into the cauldron.

**BOOM!!!**

The impact was deafening. The blood blade trembled, then **shattered** into pieces.

The **Turtle Marked Cauldron** didn't even show a single crack. It merely trembled, turned into a black flash, and returned into Bai Xiaochun's body.

> "Impossible!!" Chen Heng staggered and vomited blood.

He couldn't believe what he saw. The backlash from the failed technique drained his spiritual energy and blurred his vision.

> "What… what is that thing?!"

> "That's your Grandpa Turtle!" Bai Xiaochun, having survived death, bled from the mouth, unable to stand. He slumped down the tree and sat, laughing weakly—his laughter filled with tragic relief.

> "Shame… no more weapons left…"

He could feel the last of his life force fading. Everything in his vision blurred. He tried to summon his wooden sword—no energy left. Tried to call forth the cauldron—no spiritual power. He couldn't even open his storage pouch.

> "No matter your secrets… once you're dead, they'll all be mine."

> Chen Heng panted. He too was at his limit, but still fared better. Staring at Bai Xiaochun for a few seconds, he stood with effort, pulled a sword from his pouch, and walked forward.

Bai Xiaochun watched silently, eyes dazed. His mind wandered—back to his village, Fatty Zhang, Li Qinghou, the Spirit Stream Sect... and all the familiar faces—Du Lingfei, Hou Yunfei, Little Sister Hou...

Step by step, Chen Heng reached him and looked down at Bai Xiaochun, whose entire body was crippled—unable to even open his storage pouch. His spiritual energy was gone.

> "Remember my name. The one who killed you—Chen Heng of the Fallen Chen Clan."

> Chen Heng slowly raised his sword. The blade, once easy to wield, now felt incredibly heavy in his hands.

> "Killing a genius… it feels incredible," he sneered.

Just as he plunged the sword down—

Bai Xiaochun's only usable left arm **stabbed the ground beside him**. With a **crack**, the bones shattered. A sharp spike of bone pierced through his skin, extending over three inches.

His body surged up in one last burst of strength. As the sword pierced his chest, his bone spike **stabbed into Chen Heng's throat**.

Then Bai Xiaochun collapsed—unconscious and barely breathing.

Chen Heng staggered. It had happened too fast. He had no time to react. Blood gushed from his throat and mouth, soaking the ground.

He tried to clutch the wound, but the blood wouldn't stop. He stared dumbly at the bloody bone spike on Bai Xiaochun's arm, his mind filled with disbelief and rage.

His future. His ambition. Everything…

All turned into a bitter, twisted laugh.

> "A final death strike…"

He stumbled back several steps and then collapsed.

**Dead, eyes wide open.**