Chapter 494: Kill Him

Chapter 494: Chapter 20: Kill Him

The reason why Transcendence Level Martial Artists are so formidable lies in their so-called Qi Explosion technique.

It is a Qi Manipulation Skill far more advanced than externalizing Qi Flame. It allows one to compress and retract their Qi Flame, concentrating it before unleashing an explosive burst. The resulting shockwave has no blind spots and can easily repel close-range enemies. If a Limit-Breaking Level martial artist were to take such a hit, they would easily suffer severe injuries.

“You think you can kill me?” Lu Weilong sneered. The Qi Flame on his body surged once more, morphing into the shape of silver armor.

Rumbling sounds echoed throughout the Mountain City, accompanied by the crossfire of bullets and machine guns. In the brief flashes of artillery fire tearing through the night sky, the disdain on his face was clear.

“The Transcendence Level transcends mortality.

“You will never understand this feeling.”

His sneering, mocking voice rang out again.

Chen Junhao, who had been smashed into the body of a pickup truck, staggered to his feet. He forcefully yanked his fractured arm out of the jagged metal tear that had sliced into his flesh. The flames on his body appeared somewhat dim. Blood spilled from the wound on his arm and the corner of his mouth, only to be instantly evaporated by the flames.

Looking at the completely unscathed Lu Weilong in the distance, an indescribably complex emotion welled up in his heart. He wondered if it was reluctance, anger, or frustration, and whether he could truly kill him with his own hands.

As these thoughts flashed through his mind, the other man merely glanced at him before looking away, fixing his gaze on Lu Chao, who was slowly standing up in the distance while leaning on his Ink Blade.

“No matter how an Exploration Level erupts in combat prowess or amplifies their strength, they can never compare to me.

“This is a gap in the very level of life.”

Lu Weilong’s voice was arrogant as he stepped forward, walking toward Lu Chao step by step.

“So…”

BOOM!!

He stomped the ground and flashed forward, appearing right in front of Lu Chao. His broad hand reached out, wrapped in silver Qi Flame, intending to crush Lu Chao’s head in a single grip.

“Die!”

THUD!

The air exploded, but the Ink Blade remained planted in the ground. However, Lu Weilong’s pupils contracted, and Yan Zhengfeng and the others froze in place. Lu Chao, clad in a black trench coat, had vanished in a flash and reappeared behind Lu Weilong.

“Qi Explosion?” he asked. He sounded perplexed, yet there was a trace of disdain in his voice.

Lu Weilong sensed something was wrong and hastily changed his move. But it was too late. A far more powerful hand reached out, grabbed his head, and slammed him toward the ground.

SMASH!!

The earth quaked as Lu Weilong’s head was embedded into the shattered rock slabs.

“Qi Explosion?” Lu Chao said coldly. He had fully activated [Titan’s Power], forcibly relying on [Resilient Body] to control his physical size without leaving any trace. With the explosive strength of his mighty arm, he pinned the man’s head down tightly, looking down at him as he demanded, “Keep going!

“Keep going!!”

BOOM!!

The Qi Explosion appeared once more, sending shockwaves in all directions. The intense, ring-shaped impact acted like a raging storm, blasting a shallow, five-meter crater in the surrounding ground, with fissures spreading outward. The billowing smoke and dust lasted only a brief moment before being blown away by the aftermath.

“This…”

Seeing the scene clearly, Yan Zhengfeng and the others widened their eyes, while Chen Junhao, who was clutching his injured arm, also felt his pupils shrink. The silver mist that had looked like flowing clouds was actually dissipating gradually.

Yet, Lu Chao still stood firmly in place, pressing down on Lu Weilong’s head with a single palm, completely immobilizing him.

“Keep going,” he said coldly, his expression growing even more indifferent.

Lu Weilong’s eyes shook violently; this scene was completely beyond his comprehension. “You…”

THUD!!

Lu Chao’s mighty arm erupted again, lifting Lu Weilong’s head and slamming it back into the ground. The rocky ground simply couldn’t withstand the heavy blow of a Transcendence Level expert, even with the protection of the silver Qi Flame. However, it was this exact humiliating treatment that filled Lu Weilong’s eyes with shock and rage, prompting him to release the Qi Explosion technique once again.

BOOM!!

The earth shook, and the cracks in the shallow crater beneath their feet widened further. It was visibly apparent that the silver Qi Flame on Lu Weilong’s body had grown a fraction fainter. Clearly, employing such a move took a certain toll on him.

Despite that, Lu Chao was still pressing down on his head.

“How is this possible?” Lu Weilong found it hard to believe, and the other warlord commanders were equally horrified.

One time could be written off as a fluke. But twice in a row… And seeing Lu Chao completely unharmed, looking down with such indifference… Could it be that he had already…

“Kill him!” Lu Chao spoke suddenly, looking toward Brother Hao in the distance. “This is part of our deal.”

The Red Flame Army had cooperated with the Alliance Country, helping to cover their grand army’s approach to the Mountain City, opening the city gates, and even yielding future governance to join the Alliance Country. And for all of this, there were only two conditions. One of them was to let Brother Hao kill Lu Weilong with his own hands.

After a brief moment of shock, Chen Junhao quickly snapped back to reality. Flames danced in his eyes as he suppressed his injuries and stepped up to Lu Weilong. The black Ink Blade was planted in the ground just a foot in front of Lu Weilong’s head. The head pinned to the ground no longer retained its former arrogance and domineering aura; all that remained were shock, indignation, and a trace of fear born from sensing mortal danger.

“Get off!!”

BOOM!!

Before the Qi Explosion could even be executed, Lu Chao interrupted it with a single palm strike. [Barbarian] had been activated long ago, allowing him to seamlessly capture his opponent’s weakness and forcibly scatter the Qi Flame.

With a heavy THUD, Lu Weilong’s chest caved in, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. Half his body was plastered against the ground. Before he could mount any further resistance, Lu Chao shifted his stance.

CRACK!

Lu Chao violently locked and snapped both of his opponent’s arms, stepping on his upper back and shoulder as he looked at Brother Hao. Their eyes met, and in Lu Chao’s gaze, Chen Junhao found tacit approval.

Chen Junhao took a deep breath.

RUSTLE!

He picked up the black Ink Blade, gripping the hilt tightly with both hands.

“Old Third?” A flash of panic crossed Lu Weilong’s eyes. Unable to comprehend, he asked, “What good is there in cooperating with the Alliance Country? Do you really think they’ll allow you to grow powerful in the Mountain City?” He wanted to drive a wedge between the two of them, and at the same time, he genuinely wanted to know the answer.

The atmosphere fell silent for a moment. Some warlord commanders, seeing that the tide had turned, prepared to flee.

“Half a year ago,” Chen Junhao said softly, as if offering an explanation. He raised the Ink Blade higher and higher with both hands. “Your men launched a night raid on the mine and killed a lot of my people.”

Lu Weilong watched this from the corner of his eye, struggling but unable to move an inch.

“Just because of that?

“At worst, I’ll compensate you with a new mine and give you a batch of men…” He spoke rapidly. How could his own life be compared to those underlings? “As long as you’re willing to stay your hand, I’ll…”

“There was one person among them,” Chen Junhao spoke again, interrupting him. His voice was very light, yet it fell clearly upon everyone’s ears. “His name was Zhou Qiang.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Weilong stared blankly, failing to process it for a moment. Who was Zhou Qiang?

Lu Chao lowered his eyes slightly, a wave of inexplicable emotion welling up in his heart. Countless scenes from the past flooded his mind. He finally understood why he hadn’t seen the figure who always followed Brother Hao, the person who had once helped him as well.

“Old Third, he’s just a flunky.

“Could it be…”

“He was my brother.”

SLASH!!

The blade fell, and the head rolled to the ground.

Chen Junhao stood right where he was, with only Lu Weilong’s headless corpse lying at his feet. Blood sprayed like a fountain, dyeing the ground red as it seeped into the dirt and sand. Drops of blood slid down the flat of the Ink Blade and dripped onto the ground.

The atmosphere was momentarily silent. The greatest warlord of Fortress Mountain City and the upper reaches of the Red River—a magnificent Transcendence Level expert, Lu Weilong—had died just like that. All the warlord commanders stood frozen in place. In their eyes, there was unspeakable shock and suspicion, as well as a bewildered sense of grief over the loss of one of their own.

In contrast to them, Chen Junhao reversed his grip on the blade, pointing the tip toward himself, and handed the Ink Blade to Lu Chao. “Thanks.”

In that fleeting moment, their eyes met. It seemed as though a certain emotion was completely released from his face. Nostalgia and memories all seemed to dissipate into the depths of his heart at this very moment.

Lu Chao fell silent briefly before finally taking the Ink Blade. “My condolences.”

“Yeah.” Chen Junhao nodded, then turned and walked into the night.

Artillery fire, trailing tails of flame, continued to bombard the various warlord camps. His retreating figure looked somewhat lonely.

“Actually…” Lu Chao spoke up suddenly.

Chen Junhao paused slightly and looked back. Lu Chao opened his mouth, seeming as if he wanted to say something.

Right at that moment—

BOOM!!!

A violent commotion came from the distant streets of the Mountain City. A beastly roar resounded once more, holding a hint of urgency compared to before. A figure could be seen breaking through the black mist, leaping and flashing between the buildings, seemingly trying to escape.

Lu Chao’s gaze hardened. He had no choice but to suppress his lingering thoughts. Stomping the ground, he darted away, heading straight for the Ghost Element.

Witnessing this scene, watching his back disappear into the night, a trace of familiarity surfaced once again. Chen Junhao’s brow twitched slightly, but ultimately, he shook his head gently. He wondered where that guy, Ah Chao, was right now.