Chương 72: A Blade in the Blood Mist

Zhang Huaijin was performing with unnerving calmness. The strength he displayed simply didn't match that of a first level Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator. With effortless ease, he suppressed the second level Purple Lightning Rabbit, keeping it firmly under his control. Tian Jianwei had to admit, he couldn't have done that. There was no doubt about it, Zhang Huaijin possessed some kind of special constitution. Otherwise, there was no way he could cultivate so quickly and fight with such overwhelming power.

Huaijin had five spirit roots, perfectly balanced elements, all completely average. Unless he had a Spirit Body, there was simply no other explanation for his strength. Back when Zhang Lixian broke through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, the commotion had completely overshadowed Zhang Huaijin's achievements. By the time Zhang Huaijin started gaining any real recognition, he had already reached the Foundation Establishment Realm himself.

For most geniuses, reaching Foundation Establishment Realm meant they had finally matured into their power. Besides, the Zhang family's journey so far had been fairly smooth. Apart from some conflicts with the Tian family, they didn't have many enemies. So, no one had paid much attention to Zhang Huaijin. And Zhang Huaijin was perfectly content with that. With the Realm-Breaking Pearl in his possession, all he needed to do was cultivate steadily and let his progress speak for itself.

Just then, a third level Green Eyed Tiger locked its gaze onto Tian Jianwei. Zhang Huaijin's powerful spiritual sense easily detected that Tian Jianwei had been watching him for quite some time. He felt no warmth toward the Tian family whatsoever. Tian Jianjin, Tian Jianwei's brother had once tried to save his own life by using his grandmother as a human shield. In the end, that choice had cost him his life.

And yet Tian Jianwei had blamed the Zhang family for Tian Jianjin's death and had been suppressing them ever since. Now that the Zhang family had also become a Foundation Establishment Realm clan, the two families were competing for resources as well. Zhang Huaijin had ignored it until now, choosing to focus on the spirit beast tide. But once the crisis was over… it would be time to settle accounts. In his eyes, Tian Jianwei couldn't even withstand a single blow from him. The man was as good as dead.

The only question was when. Outwardly, Zhang Huaijin appeared ordinary, but the Purple Lightning Rabbit's body was already covered in wounds. Blood sprayed continuously. Flesh turned inside out. Lightning energy crackled across its body, filling the air with the stench of scorched fur. A flicker of terror appeared in the rabbit's blood red eyes. Wasn't this young human only at the first level of Foundation Establishment Realm? How could he be this strong?

A second level spirit beast, and he was completely overwhelming it. The rabbit's heart sank into an abyss of despair. It even felt the urge to turn tail and flee. The section of the defense line held by the Zhang family remained rock solid. Every Zhang clansman held their ground, blocking the charging spirit beasts without retreating. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. The Tian family's line, however, was not faring nearly as well.

The third level Green Eyed Tiger was overwhelmingly powerful, keeping Tian Jianwei pinned down. The Tian family had six late stage Qi Refining Realm cultivators on the line. As an established Foundation Establishment clan, they normally had at least a dozen late stage Qi Refining Realm members. But the stronger the cultivators, the more spirit beasts appeared. On the Tian family's stretch of the defence line, there were more than a dozen Tier 1, upper grade spirit beasts.

As time passed, the Tian family's defense began to waver. Tian Jianwei grew anxious. If the line broke on his watch, even if he survived, the consequences would be severe. He pulled out a Tier 2, mid grade spirit artifact. Wielding two Tier 2 artifacts at once, he fought the Green Eyed Tiger in a bloody struggle. The Tian family's Qi Refining Realm cultivators also began fighting for their lives. The Supervisory Unit behind the lines noticed the Tian family's predicament.

They began mobilizing reserve troops to provide support. Most of the cultivators in the Supervisory Unit came from the Fang and Zhou families. What else would you expect? Those families had Purple Mansion Realm ancestors, they could afford to supervise. By now, Tian Jianwei was already wounded. All across the Blood Lion Mountain, every cultivator was locked in brutal combat with the spirit beasts. Lives were being extinguished by the second.

Blood Lion Mountain was named for its red stone, but now it was literally soaked in blood. The mountainside was littered with stinking flesh and shattered bones. The energy of blood and slaughter swirled through the air. For miles in every direction, the very sky had turned crimson. A thin veil of blood mist drifted across the battlefield, like a red silk shroud laid over the carnage. As reinforcements arrived, the Tian family's line finally stabilized.

Tian Jianwei was still losing the fight against the Green Eyed Tiger, he was outmatched. But for the tiger to actually kill him? That wasn't happening. The Tier 1 spirit beasts were being cut down one by one, and the Tian family's position solidified. And then, whether by accident or on purpose, Tian Jianwei began drifting toward Zhang Huaijin's position. Zhang Huaijin's expression turned grim. A flash of killing intent gleamed in his eyes.

'Diverting the disaster towards me? You've picked the wrong person.'

"Fellow cultivator Zhang!" Tian Jianwei called out.

"This Green Eyed Tiger is too strong! I can't hold it off alone. Let's join forces, the two of us can handle both spirit beasts!" With the Supervisory Unit watching, Tian Jianwei couldn't simply flee. But he truly couldn't beat the tiger either. So he decided to lure the problem toward Zhang Huaijin and make him share the burden. Zhang Huaijin didn't say a word. The Blue Bamboo Serenity Sword in his palm suddenly blazed with blue sword light.

Threads of blue flame spiraled outward, the temperature around him skyrocketing, the sword aura leaping to over ten feet.

"Azure Flame Slash!" The edge of the sword erupted with blue fire, spreading like oil catching a spark. In seconds, the blue flames engulfed the Purple Lightning Rabbit. Fshhhh! The searing blue flame incinerated the rabbit's lightning energy. The sword light flashed, tore through flesh, and ripped straight across the rabbit's neck. One strike. Instant kill. The Azure Flame Slash was a Foundation Establishment level technique recorded in the Crimson Flame Spirit Ruin Scripture, it's a powerful sword technique.

The rabbit was already wounded and suppressed. When the Azure Flame Slash landed, the battle was over. Tian Jianwei stared, dumbfounded. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead. On the Blood Lion Mountain, every spirit beast killed was counted as Battle Merit. The carcasses were collected by the Supervisory Unit, which would calculate the merits for everyone. Zhang Huaijin's expression didn't change. He turned his gaze to the Green Eyed Tiger. Tian Jianwei's heart trembled.

Even though Zhang Huaijin wasn't looking at him, a chill settled over his heart. He shuddered involuntarily and edged backward, widening the distance between himself and Zhang Huaijin. The Green Eyed Tiger didn't care about any of that. The sudden death of the rabbit only enraged it further. It lunged straight at Zhang Huaijin. Meanwhile, the Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator commanding the Supervisory Unit had been watching.

"Not bad," the man said.

"First level of Foundation Establishment Realm, and he kills a second level spirit beast."

"That Tian family cultivator, though… shady. Don't associate with people like that. Record the merit for the Zhang family cultivator." The speaker was Fang Tao, a fourth level Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator from the Fang family. Though his face remained calm, ripples stirred in his heart.

'This Zhang Huaijin… his ability is no joke.'

"Understood," replied the team member behind him, nodding. His eyes, however, were filled with disgust, aimed at Tian Jianwei.