Chapter 95: Soft Overcoming Hard—A Great Concept, But You’re Awful at It

Words : 1397 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

With terrifying force, Lu Ding’s foot crushed Chen Xian’s technique in a single stomp, pinning him to the ground. CRACK! The stone tiles beneath shattered. "Push you?" Lu Ding scoffed. "Not letting you force a sale is pushing you now?" "You even dared to attack people—who the hell do you think you are? Some bandit fresh off Daheshan?!" As he spoke, he pressed down harder. CRACK. CRACK. The sound of bones fracturing echoed. Chen Xian’s twisted logic was honestly too ridiculous to argue against. Feeling his Spiritual Qi completely suppressed, unable to summon any strength, Chen Xian coughed up blood. Swallowing back the rising metallic taste, he forced out a desperate plea: "It’s not like that! Let me explain…" BANG! Before he could finish, Lu Ding switched legs and delivered a brutal soccer kick straight to Chen Xian’s stomach. The impact cut off his words instantly—all he could do was choke on his own blood. Pain wracked his body, leaving him unable to utter a single sentence. "Shut up." "If you really wanted to explain, you should’ve done it earlier. There are plenty of people who’ll listen to your excuses—" "But I’m not one of them." If he won the fight, it was ‘DON’T PUSH ME.’ If he lost, it was ‘WAIT, LET ME EXPLAIN, THIS IS A MISUNDERSTANDING.’ By that logic, the entire world would be full of ‘misunderstandings.’ Lu Ding wasn’t blind. And the surveillance cameras here weren’t just for decoration. Sihai Group had been operating in Bao Fan District for years. Would Xie Shunan really dare to pull tricks on Lu Ding? If she did, she wouldn’t be able to handle the consequences. —— At that moment, someone suddenly appeared in front of the crowd, shifting through space in an instant. "Investigator, not even letting someone speak—don’t you think that’s a bit too arrogant?" "Or is this just how Yunhai 749 treats its guests?" Lu Ding looked over. The newcomer was wearing the standard 749 combat uniform, long high ponytail tied neatly behind her head. A blade was strapped to her waist, and the insignia on her shoulder made it clear—she was an investigator from Yaodu 749. "The last person who butted in without knowing the situation—" "I ripped their mouth off. You wanna try?" Shangguan Qing’s face turned icy. Just now, she had been shopping for Heavenly Treasures elsewhere in Caojia Alley. Then she heard that a Yaodu 749 investigator was causing trouble here. Since she was traveling, she couldn’t let one bad apple ruin Yaodu 749’s reputation, so she rushed over to handle it. But the moment she arrived— She saw Lu Ding stepping on Chen Xian, not even letting him speak. She and Chen Xian were friends. And he was also a Yaodu 749 investigator. Both emotionally and professionally, she couldn’t just stand by and watch. So she had stepped forward and spoken up. But now, Lu Ding’s attitude pissed her off even more. She wasn’t just any investigator—she was a top talent from Yaodu 749. How could she not have some pride? "No matter what, Chen Xian is still a Yaodu 749 investigator." "If he’s in the wrong, Yaodu 749 will punish him—that’s not your job." "And the way you’re talking to me… Should I take that as a challenge?" Under Lu Ding’s foot, Chen Xian saw Shangguan Qing unleashing her aura. For the first time today, he felt like the humiliation was worth it. Because yes, he was trying to buy the Yimu Knot for Shangguan Qing. Now, the person he did it for was standing up for him. He felt deeply moved. But there was no time for sentimentality. Shangguan Qing was strong, but he could feel it— The one suppressing him was stronger. This had to be some veteran investigator from Yunhai 749. And Shangguan Qing wouldn’t be able to win. No wonder the cultivators in Caojia Alley were so fearless. Chen Xian tried desperately to shake his head, tried to warn her. But Lu Ding’s Spiritual Qi kept him completely immobilized—he couldn’t move, couldn’t speak. —— WHOOSH! A shadow streaked through the air, landing behind Shangguan Qing. A calm voice rang out. "Linghai Seventh Layer—and you have the nerve to talk to him like that?" The moment Bai Hemen spoke— Shangguan Qing felt a terrifying illusion— A mountain of corpses, a sea of blood. Even her own corpse energy stirred restlessly. She didn’t hesitate. She spun, twisting her body into a smooth counterstrike, sending a powerful palm attack toward Bai Hemen. BANG! Their palms clashed—Qi exploded outward. Bai Hemen’s face remained emotionless. Shangguan Qing? Her lips turned pale, blood dripped from the corner of her mouth. The Spiritual Qi laced with corpse energy invaded her body, disrupting her internal flow. It even triggered the dormant corpse energy inside her, making her aura instantly unstable. Seeing her weakened state, Bai Hemen frowned. His expression seemed to say: “I didn’t expect her Linghai Seventh Layer cultivation to be this weak.” “I barely did anything.” “She attacked me, I blocked—and she just coughed up blood?” Linghai Eighth Layer!! Shangguan Qing’s heart sank. She hadn’t expected to run into a Linghai Eighth Layer investigator just walking around. And not just any Linghai Eighth Layer cultivator. The moment their hands touched, she knew immediately— She was completely outmatched. Even without the strange corpse energy-infused Qi, Bai Hemen’s raw Spiritual Qi quality was far superior. So… In an instant, she turned her attention to Lu Ding instead. I can’t beat him. But I can beat YOU. With the agility of a panther, her body coiled and pounced toward Lu Ding. The crowd’s eyes lit up with amusement. Their gazes turned mocking. Most of the people here were cultivators from Yunhai or Caojia Alley. The weight of Lu Ding’s name? They’d heard it from the very beginning. How… does she even dare? She couldn’t beat Bai Hemen, so she turned to fight Lu Ding instead. Did she think losing to Bai Hemen wasn’t humiliating enough, and now she wanted to experience a clean, instant KO firsthand? —— Lu Ding watched as she rushed at him. Noting her unique power-exertion technique, he casually flicked his wrist, mimicking her movements. Seeing this, Shangguan Qing sneered internally. Does this guy have a screw loose? A secret transmission technique, something that took years of rigorous training, and he thought he could just copy it on the spot? Ridiculous. She twisted midair, her whip-like leg snapping forward like a cracking whip, the sheer force creating a sonic boom as it lashed toward Lu Ding. "Wanna learn? Then experience it firsthand!!" Several onlookers turned their heads, intrigued. Lu Ding’s arm swayed like it had no bones, mirroring her motion. Then— BANG! His strike cracked through the air, louder, stronger, faster, and with a level of precision far beyond hers. SMACK!!! A figure went flying. The fabric over her collarbone and back shredded instantly—but unlike the romanticized descriptions in novels, there was no snow-white skin beneath. Only deep crimson and purpling bruises. The impact was so agonizing that Shangguan Qing almost blacked out on the spot. Yet, even worse than the physical pain was the feeling of her pride being utterly obliterated. Her burning back screamed in agony, a painful reminder: The technique she had spent years struggling to master, this man had perfected in a single glance—and executed better than she ever could. Then, Lu Ding spoke, his words cutting deeper than any wound. "Soft overcoming hard— A top-tier concept. But your execution is absolute trash." Shangguan Qing's mind went blank. Her corpse energy, already disrupted by Bai Hemen, had left her unstable— Now, with Lu Ding’s words stabbing straight into her soul, rage overwhelmed her body. Her vision blurred. Her breath hitched. And then— She collapsed. Fell straight to the ground, unconscious. —— Chen Xian watched in horror. Seeing Shangguan Qing drop like a ragdoll, he forced every last ounce of Spiritual Qi through his body, pushing past his limits, unleashing 120% of his potential. Somehow, even under Lu Ding’s suppression, he managed to stretch out his hand, barely reaching toward her. Then— A voice rang out. "Oh, right. I forgot about you." BANG!!! A fresh wave of pain exploded through his body. Chen Xian’s vision went black. And his consciousness was severed—like a screen switching off into total darkness.

Chapter 95: Soft Overcoming Hard—A Great Concept, But You’re Awful at It

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