51: Chapter 51 Cao Ben Retreats in the Face of Difficulty

Cao Ben's few punches were as fast as lightning, but to his surprise, Xia Shaoxin dodged left and right, not getting hit even once.

The onlookers in the distance could only see two afterimages.

Xia Shaoxin's former roommates were extremely shocked and whispered, "This kid's reflexes are so sharp; it's no wonder Senior Brother Nangong and the other couldn't defeat him."

They had seen Xia Shaoxin make his move with their own eyes, but they refused to believe this was the strength of the Qi Refining Realm, assuming instead that he was just a powerful Mortal.

Cao Ben's Face looked very unpleasant.

While fighting, he said to Deacon Wu, "This fellow is a Bug Catcher, not an ordinary Mortal. He catches Poisonous Insects all year round, so his movements are agile. He truly has some skills."

Deacon Wu did not respond, thinking to himself, 'You old thing, you are so useless...'

Up until now, Xia Shaoxin had been dodging the whole time.

He didn't know the extent of Cao Ben's abilities, and since he had only just entered the Qi Refining Realm, he assumed his opponent, who had likely been refining Qi for many years, must have higher strength, so he had to be extremely cautious.

It was only after dodging these few punches with extreme ease that he realized his speed was at least on par with his opponent's, putting his mind slightly at ease.

As Cao Ben threw another punch, Xia Shaoxin stopped dodging. He gathered all his strength into his palm and struck out fiercely, palm meeting Cao Ben's fist directly.

Hum—

A dull sound spread through the surroundings.

Xia Shaoxin remained motionless, the dust beneath his feet flying up.

'So, our strength is about the same,' he thought.

'In that case, this old Qi Refiner from the imperial court is only at the first level of the Qi Refining Realm.'

'Hmph, trying to scare me for so long.'

'Dressed so luxuriously and acting so majestically, I thought he was an Elder!'

Cao Ben's eyes were unfocused, and a sharp pain shot through his wrist.

'How dare he go head-to-head with me!'

"You, you should have had your internal organs shattered by that shock, right?" Cao Ben said with a stammer.

"Oh, is that what you were hoping for?"

Seeing Xia Shaoxin staring fixedly at him, eyes filled with killing intent, Cao Ben felt a chill run down his spine.

'Only wild beasts look at people like that!'

Deacon Wu, who was standing not far away watching with folded arms, was also startled by Xia Shaoxin's Aura.

No one could understand that every corner of Dawu Mountain was a battlefield of life and death. Every time a Bug Catcher went into the mountains, they would be bitten by Poisonous Insects and survive by relying on various antidotes.

Whenever they sensed any danger, Bug Catchers would scan their surroundings with the gaze of the Grim Reaper.

Cao Ben's punches hadn't killed Xia Shaoxin; instead, they had drawn out his spirit and energy.

Xia Shaoxin would no longer treat the person in front of him as a "Fellow Daoist," but as a Mortal enemy.

He clenched his fist and smashed it forward.

Having just exchanged a palm strike and finding they were evenly matched, Cao Ben was indignant and used his full strength to counterattack!

The two fists collided head-on.

Hum—

A dull sound rang out again in the surroundings, and the nearby Utility Disciples felt some discomfort in their chests.

This time, Cao Ben not only felt sharp pain in his wrist but also in his arm and shoulder.

Xia Shaoxin was also secretly shocked. If this punch had landed on a Utility Disciple's head, it would have killed four or five of them on the spot, yet it hadn't knocked Cao Ben down.

They were indeed evenly matched.

The two simultaneously withdrew their hands, giving each other a chance to recover.

After resting for a few seconds, they tangled together again.

"This fellow is really strong; he truly is a barbarian."

"Don't worry, his strength is only temporary. No matter how strong he is, can he be stronger than the Qi Refining Disciples of the Yue Kingdom?"

Xia Shaoxin's former roommates couldn't believe their eyes and discussed it among themselves.

Senior Brother Liang Ruoran and Senior Brother Shao Junwei had long been alerted and watched this shocking scene from afar.

"How can a Utility Disciple have the strength of the Qi Refining Realm?" Senior Brother Shao Junwei asked in confusion.

"Did he take some kind of medicine?" Senior Brother Liang Ruoran also looked bewildered.

Deacon Wu had already sensed the clues, but he dared not believe it.

Cao Ben's cultivation was at the first level of the Qi Refining Realm, and he hadn't made any progress for many years.

This time, he had come to the Chiyan Sect to make an arrest under the orders of the Punitive Division, mainly to show respect for the Chiyan Sect's Face.

They couldn't very well send a Mortal, could they?

In reality, Xia Shaoxin had just broken through to the Qi Refining Realm and his strength was not greater than Cao Ben's; it was just so unexpected that Cao Ben had panicked and was fighting in a flurry.

Hearing Senior Brother Liang Ruoran's words, Xia Shaoxin realized something. He seized an opportunity and stuffed a strength pill into his mouth.

"What did you eat?" Cao Ben asked angrily.

Xia Shaoxin sneered.

"Deacon Wu, this fellow just secretly consumed some kind of drug. It's normal for Bug Catchers to be able to make poison pills," Cao Ben said, feigning composure.

"But don't panic. Once the drug's effect wears off, I will be able to kill him!"

The two continued to grapple.

After fighting for a while, Xia Shaoxin didn't feel his strength increase significantly.

He finally understood that different drugs were suitable for different levels of strength.

When a Mortal consumed a strength pill, their strength could approach the first level of the Qi Refining Realm in a short time, but since he was already in the Qi Refining Realm, the strength pill couldn't be said to have zero effect, but the effect was almost equal to zero.

The two fought desperately for a long time, and Cao Ben couldn't hold on, retreating steadily.

Disregarding his Face, he shouted, "Deacon Wu, help me!"

Deacon Wu had no choice but to intervene. He threw a punch out of the blue. Xia Shaoxin was caught off guard and hurriedly dodged, allowing Cao Ben to escape.

Xia Shaoxin was also beaten until his bones felt soft and his muscles sore. He took a few steps back and stopped.

Deacon Wu did not press the attack and said indifferently to Xia Shaoxin, "Your fighting spirit is very strong. It is hard to find anyone among my Chiyan Sect Disciples who can be like you."

The vast majority of the Chiyan Sect's Qi Refining Disciples went up the mountain when they were just children and were protected by the Sect. Only those who had traveled outside and experienced life-and-death trials would possess the determined and ruthless temperament Xia Shaoxin displayed.

"Many thanks for the compliment," Xia Shaoxin said coldly.

"What kind of Medicinal Pill did you just take?"

Xia Shaoxin took out a strength pill and threw it to Deacon Wu.

"Eh, this is not a Medicinal Pill!" Deacon Wu caught it and squeezed it gently, and the strength pill crumbled into dust.

After a strength pill was made, it was very hard and extremely difficult to crush.

In the hands of a Qi Refiner, it was vulnerable.

Cao Ben took it and looked at it, saying in surprise, "This is a strength pill. Our Yue Kingdom imperial court prohibits civilians from privately making or using them."

Senior Brother Liang Ruoran laughed, "No wonder this kid was able to kill his way here from Dawu Mountain. The strength pill is a miracle drug among the common people."

The Utility Disciples of the Nanxiang Courtyard suddenly realized; Nangong Yi and Cai Ke had truly died unjustly!

Senior Brother Shao Junwei was very confused: 'Does the effect of a strength pill last this long?'

"Indeed, for Mortal drugs, in such an intense fight, the duration should be shorter," Senior Brother Liang Ruoran was also very confused.

Deacon Wu shook his head and said, "That's not right. I once fought with a Mortal Martial Artist. That person ate a strength pill, but only managed to take two more of my punches. It couldn't allow them to confront the Qi Refining Realm for a long time, let alone gain the upper hand."

"Right, and this strength pill is a Mortal drug. When a Qi Refining Disciple eats it, it has almost no effect," Senior Brother Liang Ruoran realized.

Could it be...

Everyone thought of an answer, but no one dared to believe it. Unanimously, they turned their gaze toward Xia Shaoxin.

Cao Ben had long seen that it wasn't because Xia Shaoxin had taken drugs, but because he possessed the strength of the Qi Refining Realm himself.

Due to Face, he refused to say it out loud.

At this moment, Fellow Daoist Cao's Face was flushed red.

Xia Shaoxin sighed, "I thought you all had already realized that I was in the Qi Refining Realm..."