18: Chapter 18 Bloodbath at the Narrow Pass

Early the next morning.

Li Changhu's urgent voice came from outside the door.

"Brother Changsheng! The Zhao family sent someone with a message!"

Li Changsheng pushed the door open and saw Li Changhu holding a letter, his expression solemn.

The letter was written by Zhao Feng himself, and the content was concise.

"The Wang family has contacted the 'Blood Fang' squad of Loose Cultivators. All five are at the seventh level of the Acquired realm or above; the one-eyed Lone Wolf is suspected to be at the eighth level Peak."

"The target is you, and the ambush location is likely at the First Line of Heaven."

"Return to town immediately; delays will lead to trouble."

"The Zhao family really did 'leak' the news."

Li Changsheng sneered.

"Brother Changsheng, what do we do?"

Li Changhu asked anxiously.

"Five people at the seventh level of the Acquired realm or above, this..."

"According to the original plan, we return to town today."

Li Changsheng said calmly.

"But that First Line of Heaven..."

"If they want to ambush us at the First Line of Heaven, then we'll give them what they want."

A cold light flashed in Li Changsheng's eyes.

"However, it is yet to be known who is the hunter and who is the prey."

He turned back into the room and took out a wooden box.

Inside the box were medicines prepared over the past few days.

Several types of highly toxic herbs were mixed together, which could be made into toxic smoke and powders.

Medical skills can save people, but they can also kill.

"Li Changhu, go have everyone prepare. We set out in one hour."

"Yes!"

Li Changsheng looked out at the brightening sky and felt the black token in his robes.

Blood Fiend Sect...

Wang family...

Since you all want to find death, then I will send you on your way.

Dawn broke, and the morning mist permeated the mine.

In the distant dense forest, Lone Wolf put away his monocular telescope and grinned.

"The fish has left the cave."

"Brothers, prepare at the First Line of Heaven."

Five dark shadows disappeared into the forest like ghosts.

On another cliff, Zhao Feng withdrew his gaze and said to Zhao Lei beside him.

"Notify Father, the play has begun."

"Big brother, are we really going to help the Li family?"

"Help?"

Zhao Feng sneered.

"It's for both sides to suffer losses, and then my Zhao family will clean up the mess."

"Let's go, follow them."

"Remember, only observe from a distance, never take action."

Two teams, one in the open and one in the dark, advanced toward the First Line of Heaven.

Li Changsheng walked at the very front of the team, his expression as calm as water.

He felt the surging power within his body.

The eighth-level cultivation, the prototype of the Spirit Ape Iron Casting Power, and the continuous True Qi from the Spirit Ape Health-Preserving Technique...

This battle would be the first true whetstone on his path of martial arts.

The canyon wind, carrying the scent of blood, blew against his face.

The First Line of Heaven canyon lived up to its name.

The cliffs on both sides rose into the clouds, the passage in the middle was only two zhang wide, and the ground was covered with jagged rocks.

It was currently early morning; the mist in the valley had not dissipated, and the light was dim, making it an excellent place for an ambush.

Li Changsheng walked at the very front of the team, followed by Li Changhu and eight guards.

Horse hooves stepped on the gravel, making crisp sounds that echoed in the narrow valley path.

"Stop."

Li Changsheng suddenly raised his hand.

The team stopped immediately.

Li Changhu rode forward.

"Brother Changsheng, what's wrong?"

Li Changsheng did not answer, but simply took a deep breath.

The keen sense of smell granted by his medical proficiency caught an unusual scent in the mist.

A faint smell of blood, mixed with the scent of a certain herb.

Poison!

"Everyone, cover your nose and mouth."

He gave the order in a low voice, while taking a small bottle from his robes and pouring out several pills to distribute to everyone.

"Keep it under your tongue; it can prevent toxic smoke."

Although the guards didn't understand why, seeing Li Changsheng's solemn expression, they did so immediately.

Just then, a strange laugh came from the mist ahead.

"Good alertness, kid."

Five figures walked out of the mist, blocking the path in a fan shape.

The leading one-eyed man carried a large saber; it was indeed Lone Wolf.

To his left and right, Poison Scorpion's fingers were tinged with blue, the Fat Man carried a giant axe, the Scholar fanned himself with a folding fan, and the black-robed Blood Hand stood quietly.

"Blood Fang Squad."

Li Changsheng's expression was calm.

"How much did the Wang family pay for my life?"

Lone Wolf narrowed his one eye.

"Five thousand taels, alive."

"Kid, if you're smart, just come with us quietly to avoid suffering."

"Five thousand taels?"

Li Changsheng laughed.

"The Wang family is truly willing to spend."

"But have you ever considered whether the fact that I could cripple Wang Lie is worth five thousand taels?"

Before his voice finished, his figure suddenly moved!

Not forward, but sideways!

The target was directly at Poison Scorpion on the far left.

Poison users are often the weakest themselves!

"Seeking death!"

Poison Scorpion sneered, raising both hands as a cloud of blue-black poisonous sand sprayed across the sky!

However, Li Changsheng had anticipated this.

He shifted his steps, unfolding his Spirit Ape Fist Intent, his body twisting as if boneless, actually passing through the gaps in the poisonous sand!

At the same time, he waved his right hand, scattering a handful of white powder!

"Lime powder?!"

Poison Scorpion was caught off guard, and his eyes suddenly felt sharp pain!

"First move: strike the enemy when they are unprepared."

Li Changsheng's voice was cold, and a punch had already reached Poison Scorpion's chest!

The ferocity of the Iron Casting Body Refining Technique was fully displayed in this punch!

Poison Scorpion parried in haste, but felt an irresistible surge of giant force!

"Crack!"

His sternum was completely shattered, and he was sent flying three zhang, crashing into the rock wall, his life or death unknown.

In the blink of an eye, one person was already crippled!

"Poison Scorpion!"

The Fat Man roared, his giant axe sweeping across with the momentum to split a mountain!

Li Changsheng did not retreat but advanced instead. At the moment the axe blade reached his body, his body was like a spirit ape climbing a branch, sliding past the axe face into the inner circle, and he slammed his shoulder!

"Bang!"

The Fat Man's nearly three-hundred-jin body was actually knocked back staggering!

But Li Changsheng also let out a muffled groan.

This Fat Man's defense was surprisingly strong, and the counter-shock made his shoulder numb.

"Surround him!"

Lone Wolf shouted, and along with the Scholar and Blood Hand, they attacked simultaneously!

Saber light, fan shadows, and palm wind attacked from three directions!

Li Changsheng fell into an encirclement!

On the distant cliff, Zhao Feng sucked in a breath of cold air.

"Such fast speed!"

"Poison Scorpion was crippled in a single exchange?"

Zhao Lei's expression was solemn.

"Big brother, this boy's strength is probably..."

"More than just the eighth level of the Acquired realm."

"Keep watching."

A sharp light flashed in Zhao Feng's eyes.

"Blood Fang still has four people. Lone Wolf is at the eighth level Peak, and Blood Hand's Blood Fiend Palm is even more sinister."

"Li Changsheng might not necessarily win."

In the canyon, the battle had reached a white-hot stage.

Under the siege of the three, Li Changsheng was like a small boat in a stormy sea.

The Spirit Ape Fist Intent allowed him to avoid most fatal attacks, but Lone Wolf's saber was heavy and powerful, the Scholar's folding fan hid mechanisms, and Blood Hand's palm wind was insidious, making his situation precarious.

"Kid, let's see how much longer you can hold on!"

Lone Wolf grinned hideously, and his saber technique changed, turning into a sky full of saber shadows, sealing off all paths of retreat!

This was precisely his famous ultimate move, 'Wolf Fang Hundred Slashes'!

Li Changsheng's pupils shrank.

This strike could not be avoided!

In that case... don't avoid it!

He took a deep breath, and the Spirit Ape Health-Preserving Technique's True Qi within his body circulated frantically!

At the same time, a faint bronze luster appeared on the surface of his skin.

The Iron Casting Body Refining Technique was pushed to its limit!

The Spirit Ape Fist Intent and the Iron Casting Body Refining Technique perfectly fused at this moment!

"Spirit Ape Iron Casting Power—"

"Break!"

He threw a punch, neither dodging nor parrying, striking directly at the saber's edge!

When the fist and saber met, a loud sound like clashing metal erupted!

"What?!"

Lone Wolf was shocked.

His saber was actually knocked aside by a punch, his tiger's mouth burst open, and blood flowed freely!

On Li Changsheng's fist, only a white mark remained!

"Impossible! Withstanding a steel saber with his Physical Body?!"

The Scholar lost his voice.

Li Changsheng gave no chance to breathe and moved again!

This time the target—the Scholar!

"Stop him!"

Lone Wolf roared urgently.