21: Chapter 21 Capturing Zhao Lei and Rescuing Yu Qing! Li Siwen Breaks the Crisis in Three Breaths

Zhao Lei's long saber, infused with Internal Energy from the Early Stage of Aperture Opening, swept down, scattering fallen leaves in the forest.

Li Siwen (Li Shiwen) “hastily” raised his hand to block, seemingly in a panic, but in reality, he had already condensed the Internal Energy of Pulse Forging Perfection in his palm, waiting for Zhao Lei to reveal a flaw.

“Die!” Zhao Lei, seeing him “powerless to resist,” deepened his saber strike by three points, the tip aiming directly for his throat.

But just as the blade was less than three inches from Li Siwen’s neck, Li Siwen suddenly moved!

He suddenly exerted force with his feet, his movement technique instantly accelerating, several times faster than when he hunted the Molten Fire Lizard, leaving an afterimage in his original spot.

Zhao Lei’s saber strike missed, and before he could react, his wrist was seized by immense force.

Li Siwen’s fingers clamped onto his pulse gate like iron pliers, and Internal Energy surged in through his fingertips, instantly sealing his Meridians and Aperture Opening points.

“Ah! My hand!”

Zhao Lei felt a sharp pain in his wrist, his long saber clattered to the ground, and he was lifted by his collar by Li Siwen, his feet dangling in the air.

He stared with disbelief: “You… weren’t you at the Early Stage of Pulse Forging? How are you at Pulse Forging Perfection now? And you’re even stronger than me, an Outer Sect Disciple at the Aperture Opening Stage, how is that possible…”

“Pulse Forging… can’t beat a good-for-nothing like you at the Early Stage of Aperture Opening? Do you think everyone is as useless as you?”

Li Siwen’s gaze turned cold; the previous “panic” was gone, replaced by bone-chilling coldness.

He tightened his fingers slightly, and Zhao Lei’s collar choked him, his face turning purplish-red.

[Fear from Zhao Lei +65]

[Disbelief from Zhao Lei +48]

“Speak! Where exactly in Black Wind Ravine is Yu Qing? Do you have any accomplices?” Li Siwen pressed sternly, adding more Internal Energy to his fingertips.

Zhao Lei trembled in pain, all his previous arrogance gone, and he stammered: “In… in the stone cave of Black Wind Ravine! I… I only have one accomplice, named Sun Hao, he’s guarding over there… Yu Qing isn’t dead yet, just severely injured…”

Li Siwen’s eyes narrowed. He carried Zhao Lei towards a nearby large tree and casually tore off the animal skin wrap Chen Yaojia had given him.

He put the contents into his qiankun bag, nailed the animal skin to the tree trunk, and carved the five characters “Black Wind Ravine Stone Cave” with Internal Energy.

“Let’s go! Take me to the stone cave!” Li Siwen carried Zhao Lei like a small chicken, quickly heading deeper into the dense forest.

Zhao Lei wanted to struggle, but with his pulse gate sealed, his Internal Energy couldn't circulate, so he could only be dragged forward, filled with fear and regret.

He never expected that he would fall into the hands of a “Utility Disciple.”

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, faint sounds of fighting came from ahead.

Li Siwen slowed his pace, peering through the gaps in the leaves.

Outside a dark stone cave, a second-tier Yao Beast was surrounded, and a man in Outer Sect Disciple robes was wielding a saber, slashing at two Law Enforcement Team members.

At the entrance of the stone cave, Yu Qing leaned against the stone wall, his left arm twisted, his chest stained with blood, his aura weak, still clutching half a distress talisman.

The two Law Enforcement Team members were at their limit, their protective gear damaged, and several new wounds on their bodies. They could only barely raise their swords to block Sun Hao’s attacks, clearly on the verge of collapse.

“It’s there!” Zhao Lei, brought forward by Li Siwen, said with a trembling voice.

Li Siwen didn’t waste words, suddenly exerting force and throwing Zhao Lei towards the stone cave!

“Sun Hao! Save me!” Zhao Lei screamed in mid-air, his voice piercing through the forest.

Sun Hao and the Yao Beast were both startled by the sudden commotion and instinctively turned to look.

It was in this moment of distraction that Li Siwen moved!

His figure was like lightning, instantly covering several zhang, and a glowing white Internal Energy condensed at his fingertip, shooting precisely towards the Yao Beast’s head.

With a muffled “thud,” the Yao Beast collapsed to the ground, twitching, without even letting out a cry.

Sun Hao had just reacted and wanted to swing his saber at Li Siwen, but Li Siwen’s speed was too fast for him.

Li Siwen dodged the saber strike by turning sideways, then formed his right hand into a palm and struck Sun Hao’s back.

The opponent’s Internal Energy, also at the Early Stage of Aperture Opening, was like paper in front of him.

Sun Hao spat out a mouthful of blood, flew backward, crashed into the stone cave wall, and fell unconscious.

The entire process took no more than three breaths, so fast that Yu Qing and the two Law Enforcement Team members didn’t even see the movements clearly.

By the time they recovered, the Yao Beast and Sun Hao were on the ground, and Li Siwen was standing beside Zhao Lei, his foot on Zhao Lei's chest.

“Junior Sister Li…?” Yu Qing spoke weakly, his eyes full of shock.

In his impression, Junior Sister Li had always been gentle and weak, needing his protection.

But now, how could she suddenly be so strong?

She instantly killed a second-tier Yao Beast and severely wounded Sun Hao, who was at the Early Stage of Aperture Opening, with a single move.

This level of strength was more than a notch stronger than him at his Peak, and even more formidable than the two Law Enforcement Team members at the Middle Stage of Aperture Opening beside him.

And the aura “she” displayed seemed to be only Pulse Forging Perfection?

Wait… wasn’t Junior Sister Li only at the Early Stage of Pulse Forging two days ago? Now she's at Perfection?

The two Law Enforcement Team members were also stunned, their gazes at Li Siwen shifting from surprise to awe.

They had just fought with all their might and couldn't stop Sun Hao and the Yao Beast, but Li Siwen resolved all threats with one move. The difference was like heaven and earth.

[Shock from Yu Qing +52]

[Awe from Law Enforcement Team Member A +40]

[Amazement from Law Enforcement Team Member B +35]

“Senior Brother Yu Qing!” Li Siwen ignored everyone’s gazes, kicked Zhao Lei unconscious, and immediately went to Yu Qing’s side to check his injuries, asking, “How are you?”

“Junior Sister Li, how did you get here?” Yu Qing’s weak voice carried urgency. “Quickly leave, it’s very dangerous here!”

“Don’t speak yet, your injuries are very serious!” Li Siwen frowned after checking, and quickly pulled out the healing pill Chen Yaojia had given him, putting one into Yu Qing’s mouth.

[Moved from Yu Qing +45]

[Anxiety from Yu Qing +30]

Yu Qing gave a bitter smile, “Don’t mind me, I’ve injured my Meridians and Qi Sea, I’m already crippled. Even if I go back, I…”

Li Siwen’s heart sank; he was still too late.

Yu Qing had helped him a lot, and it was because of him that Chu Youcai had targeted him. He never expected such an outcome.

For cultivators, damage to Meridians and Qi Sea meant their Foundation was ruined, rendering them crippled.

From now on, let alone further advancement in cultivation, just maintaining it without regression would be a blessing.

“I’m… I’m sorry, we failed to protect him!”

The two Law Enforcement Team members had already taken the opportunity to recover, and seeing Yu Qing’s tragic state, they all showed guilt.

Yu Qing, however, accepted his fate with a light sigh, saying, “Don’t blame yourselves, it was my own carelessness. And you came to save me, which is a kindness, you don’t need to feel guilty.”

The more accepting he was, the more guilty the two Law Enforcement Team members felt.

Although Li Siwen was also in a bad mood, he believed that the Saintesses in the chat group should have a way to help Yu Qing recover.

Even if there was no way, he could draw related recovery medicines from the System later.

“Don’t say so much for now, this isn’t the place to talk. Have you contacted anyone else?” Li Siwen interrupted their emotional moment and changed the subject.

Before the Law Enforcement Team members could reply, movement was already heard nearby, with people rushing over from several directions.

“Don’t worry, it’s our own people!” One of the Law Enforcement members nodded slightly, indicating that he had called them over.

Soon, several Law Enforcement Team members arrived, signaling that the matter here was concluded.

They briefly understood the situation and then provided Li Siwen with a wave of emotion points.

Afterward, some escorted the unconscious Zhao Lei and Sun Hao, while others carried Yu Qing, all heading out of the forest.