Chapter 61 - 60: Stop Talking, Just Die! (Please Follow)

Chapter 61: Chapter 60: Stop Talking, Just Die! (Please Follow)He pulled out the lime powder from his chest and drew the dagger from his waist. It was all done in one smooth motion. Jiang Shu had practiced this sequence of actions countless times in the small courtyard; he was exceptionally proficient. A sharp sound erupted as he moved, his grip on the dagger tightening. He didn’t know the Martial Arts Realm of the Martial Artist who had come to rob him. Ox Skin? Stone Skin? Or Iron Skin? But that didn’t hinder his current attempt to turn the tables. After all, the cooldown for the time-traveling ability on his panel had long since ended! His escape route was secured. So, he could treat life and death with indifference! His fights with Zhao Tai and Zheng Kun hadn’t been true life-or-death battles. This one, perhaps, was. "What nerve!" A Martial Artist who had reached the Skin Grinding Realm was hardly comparable to the likes of Zhao Tai and Zheng Kun. The moment Jiang Shu moved, the masked Martial Artist sensed something was wrong and explosively retreated, not even sparing a thought for whether the unnamed gem might fall and shatter. No matter how precious an item, how could it compare to one’s own life? The iron rod gripped firmly in his hand, the masked Martial Artist sidestepped, raised the rod with one hand—exhibiting a force that seemed mighty enough to uproot mountains and overwhelm the world—and fiercely smashed it toward Jiang Shu’s head! This isn’t one of the Martial Arts from Pingling County’s martial arts halls! Jiang Shu’s eyes narrowed as he dodged to the side. Over the past period, he had thoroughly familiarized himself with the Martial Arts taught in the county’s martial arts halls. These Martial Arts all had their intricacies, but without exception, none involved weapons! To be precise, it seemed there was some rule they all adhered to. Teaching the use of weapons was forbidden in the martial arts halls. Jiang Shu continuously dodged. The iron rod in the masked Martial Artist’s hands swung with practiced form. As vital energy circulated through his body, the muscles in his arms bulged, looking as if they contained boundless power ready to erupt. "You little bastard, how dare you drop my Treasure!" The masked Martial Artist couldn’t help but glance down at the strange Treasure. His eyes filled with surprise; he had initially thought such a Treasure would surely be fragile. Unexpectedly, it was completely unscathed after hitting the ground! His eye for valuables was indeed sharp! Without the slightest pause, the iron rod in his hand smashed directly down on Jiang Shu’s head! Such a Treasure should belong to the worthy! "CRASH!" The iron rod and dagger collided, sending sparks flying. The webbing between Jiang Shu’s thumb and forefinger went numb. This man is at least in the Stone Skin Realm! "Kid, if you don’t know how to use a dagger, don’t mess around with it. Kneel obediently, and if you tell me where you got this Treasure, I, your grandpa, might spare your worthless life." He was pressing his advantage, unforgiving. The masked Martial Artist’s rod struck relentlessly, his footwork equally exquisite. Each step he took effectively cut off Jiang Shu’s attempts to attack. To survive, I have to drain his vitality! Then, in a moment of distraction, I must snatch the iron rod from his hands! Jiang Shu moved evasively, the thought flashing through his mind. The masked Martial Artist is indeed strong, but his strength lies primarily in that iron rod. If we were to fight bare-handed, I might not necessarily lose! According to the Martial Arts Realms of this world, I’m still only at the Ox Skin Realm. My Jin Force has only tempered my skin and membranes once. However, in the Martial Arts of Xia Country, ever since I stepped into the Bright Jin Realm, the qi and blood in my body have been constantly increasing! Blood Flower Pig meat, Red Armored Tiger meat... all this exotic beast flesh has transformed into qi and blood, stored within me. When it comes to a battle of attrition, I’m not inferior to a Stone Skin Realm Martial Artist at all! In fact, I might even surpass one. Recalling his many sparring sessions with Qi Yuan, Jiang Shu’s mind grew increasingly calm as he dodged repeatedly. Although the Famished Tiger Martial Arts Hall’s Three Forms of the Tiger emphasized offense, the ’Shear’ technique at the Perfect Level could just as easily transform an attack into an evasive maneuver. His figure flashed, and he occasionally slashed with his dagger toward the masked Martial Artist’s flank. In the midst of his swings, his attacks began to resemble the Famished Tiger Neutering Claw! Jiang Shu found his rhythm, fighting with increasing smoothness. The masked Martial Artist, however, grew increasingly alarmed as the fight wore on. By now, he could clearly see that this kid was merely a Martial Artist at the Ox Skin Realm; his skin and membranes had only been tempered once. His iron rod had grazed the boy’s skin several times, causing it to swell instantly on each occasion. If he were at the Stone Skin Realm, this wouldn’t happen. But what’s strange is that for an Ox Skin Realm cultivator, such a fierce battle should have depleted their qi and blood long ago. So why does this kid seem to get steadier the more he fights? Is he faking it, or is he waiting for reinforcements? The masked Martial Artist’s eyes narrowed involuntarily, a sense of urgency creeping into his heart. After all, I only followed him out here. I can’t guarantee this kid doesn’t have backup. He took a deep breath. The force behind his iron rod increased severalfold as his qi and blood surged, and his Jin Force erupted with explosive power. I have to take this kid down as quickly as possible! He’s getting anxious! He’s flustered! Here comes my chance, Jiang Shu thought. He deliberately feigned a decline in his qi and blood, intentionally turning sideways to block the iron rod with his dagger. Each time, he was knocked back, and even his dagger sustained several small nicks. "Still not ready to surrender?!" the masked Martial Artist roared. Seeing Jiang Shu cornered, his legs seemingly giving out as if he had no strength left, the masked Martial Artist brought his iron rod smashing down violently. This time, he’s definitely got no strength left to fight back, the masked Martial Artist thought, certain of his assessment. He angled the iron rod slightly, aiming for Jiang Shu’s shoulder instead of his head. A single Treasure can win favor, but only once. However, if I can find out where this kid hides more Treasures, I can not only win more favor but also make a fortune for myself! This is the moment! Jiang Shu’s eyes gleamed. Jiang Shu’s eyes hardened. As he twisted his body, the Famished Tiger Roar Mountain Strength erupted violently. All the qi and blood in his body converted into Jin Force, his grip on the dagger tightening. This is my all-or-nothing strike. If it fails, my only way out is to escape by traveling via the panel! Jiang Shu leaped up abruptly. Twisting his body, he advanced towards the masked Martial Artist instead of retreating. The force of his back slammed directly into the masked Martial Artist’s right arm. "BANG!" His back collided with the right arm holding the iron rod. Intense pain shot through him instantly. Trading injury for a decisive advantage! This is the only way I can break this deadlock! "BANG!" The impact from his back carried immense force. A sharp pain shot through the masked Martial Artist’s wrist, causing him to finally drop the iron rod he had been gripping tightly. At this moment, Jiang Shu, though enduring excruciating pain, didn’t let the strength in his hand diminish in the slightest. "PUCHI!" He twisted the dagger and thrust it forward with all his might! An endlessly sharp, cold glint plunged directly into the masked Martial Artist’s heart. Stone Skin! In the end, it’s only Stone Skin! Not Iron Skin! Besides, the masked Martial Artist had already consumed a significant amount of his qi and blood during our fight! "You!" Regret flickered in the masked Martial Artist’s eyes, but it was too late. He wanted to retrieve his iron rod, but Jiang Shu had already kicked it far away. Jiang Shu’s Jin Force surged wildly as he rained down a barrage of blows! I can’t stop! I know that for a Stone Skin Realm Martial Artist, an injury like this, which would be instantly fatal to an ordinary person, won’t kill them immediately. They can hold on for much longer! What I need to do now is keep attacking relentlessly! Pound him until he’s terrified! Pound him until he has no escape! Pound him until he’s sent to the Netherworld! Three Forms of the Tiger—Pounce! No matter how much one tempers their skin and membranes for Stone Skin, it’s impossible to temper the eyeballs! Jiang Shu viciously punched towards the man’s eye sockets and brow. He landed several punches in quick succession! "Kid... you’re courting death... I am..." The masked Martial Artist was still trying to utter threats, but Jiang Shu wasn’t listening. Like a frenzied tiger, completely in the zone, he threw another punch. The man’s eye sockets cracked, and his eyeballs burst out. The metallic stench of blood assaulted Jiang Shu’s nostrils! "BANG!" The masked Martial Artist finally lost his footing and collapsed to the ground. Jiang Shu leaped forward, grabbed the dagger embedded in the masked Martial Artist’s chest, and yanked it out fiercely. Then he stabbed again! "PUCHI!" "Still talking so much!" Jiang Shu snarled. "Just die!"