Yamazaki Ichiro’s body exploded, fragments of bone and blood splattering across Yamazaki Jiro’s face.
“Brother—”
Yamazaki Jiro was stunned.
At the same time.
In the August First Building, the bigwigs in the meeting room were equally dumbfounded.
“Ye Qiu took out that little devil with one punch?”
“How is that possible!”
“God of War, did you misjudge? Maybe that little devil wasn’t a cultivator?”
“I don’t make mistakes. Those two devils are definitely cultivators!” The God of War’s eyes gleamed as he laughed, “I never expected Ye Qiu’s strength to improve so quickly in such a short time.”
Elder Tang, shocked, said, “Could Ye Qiu have become a cultivator too?”
The God of War replied, “We don’t know yet, but Ye Qiu’s combat ability has always been extraordinary.”
Elder Ye let out a soft breath, his anxious heart finally easing.
Earlier, when the God of War said the two Daito samurai were cultivators, he was deeply worried for Ye Qiu. He never imagined Ye Qiu would deliver such a surprise right at the start.
“As expected of my grandson, haha…”
Elder Ye was secretly proud.
On the warship, Wei Donghai also saw Ye Qiu’s move, his face full of shock.
“No wonder Elder Tang sent Ye Qiu for this mission. He looks scrawny, but his combat power is terrifying!”
…
In the dense forest.
Ye Qiu looked at Yamazaki Jiro and said coldly, “I killed your brother. Aren’t you going to avenge him?”
“Come on, I’m standing right here.”
“Take your sword and strike me.”
“Remember, aim here.”
Ye Qiu pointed to his head.
Yamazaki Jiro snapped out of his daze, glaring at Ye Qiu with burning rage, roaring, “Baka, I’ll kill you!”
*Swish!*
Yamazaki Jiro drew his samurai sword.
He stomped hard on the rock, shattering it instantly. Gripping the sword with both hands, he lunged forward, slashing at Ye Qiu from mid-air.
*Clang!*
A piercing sound rang out, and with Ye Qiu and Yamazaki Jiro at the centre, a powerful gust of air radiated outward.
The next second, Yamazaki Jiro’s eyes nearly popped out.
“This…”
Yamazaki Jiro’s face was full of horror, almost in disbelief.
Ye Qiu had extended his right index and middle fingers, catching the blade, his expression calm as if it took no effort at all.
The scene was strikingly similar to Lu Xiaofeng’s legendary “Lingxi Finger” from Gu Long’s novels.
“Haven’t you eaten?” Ye Qiu looked at Yamazaki Jiro and said coldly, “Can’t you put in a bit more effort?”
Hearing Ye Qiu’s words, Yamazaki Jiro snapped out of his shock, his face flushing purple as if he’d been gravely insulted.
“Baka!”
Yamazaki Jiro shouted, yanking with both hands to free his sword from Ye Qiu’s grip.
But Ye Qiu’s two fingers held the blade like a vice, unyielding.
“I’ll kill you!”
Yamazaki Jiro, furious, let go with his left hand and swung a punch at Ye Qiu’s chest.
*Bang!*
His punch carried immense force, the air exploding as it surged forward.
Just as the fist was about to hit Ye Qiu’s chest, Ye Qiu moved.
*Whoosh!*
Ye Qiu swiftly released the blade and dodged to the side.
Yamazaki Jiro had put all his strength into the punch, aiming to kill Ye Qiu. But with Ye Qiu suddenly letting go of the blade and dodging, Yamazaki Jiro’s punch missed, throwing him off balance and lurching forward.
Seizing the moment, Ye Qiu delivered a lightning-fast kick to Yamazaki Jiro’s backside.
*Thud!*
Yamazaki Jiro face-planted into the dirt.
“Coward!”
Ye Qiu’s face dripped with mockery.
It was indeed humiliating for a cultivator to fall like that.
Yamazaki Jiro scrambled to his feet, swinging his sword at Ye Qiu.
*Clang!*
Ye Qiu caught the blade again with two fingers, twisting lightly. With a *snap*, the samurai sword broke in two.
Yamazaki Jiro was forced back a dozen steps.
Ye Qiu, looking bored, said, “I barely used any strength, and you can’t handle it. What a disappointment.”
Yamazaki Jiro, enraged by Ye Qiu’s dismissive tone, roared in fury.
“Aaah—”
After shouting, Yamazaki Jiro tossed aside the broken sword and threw a flurry of punches at Ye Qiu like a storm.
Ye Qiu met him head-on, their fists colliding fiercely.
*Bang! Bang! Bang!*
The sound of impacts echoed endlessly.
Their movements were so fast, only afterimages were visible.
*Crack!*
Suddenly, Yamazaki Jiro shuddered, the bones in his fists shattering, blood streaming out.
Ye Qiu mocked again, “I said coward, can’t you put in some effort? With that strength, you’re not even fit to give me a massage.”
Yamazaki Jiro roared, “Go to hell!”
*Boom—*
A surge of dragon qi wrapped around his fist as he smashed it toward Ye Qiu with all his might.
Ye Qiu’s face remained cold as he channelled the Nine-Turn Dragon Art, striking at Yamazaki Jiro’s fist.
*Boom!*
As their fists collided, Yamazaki Jiro flew backward like a kite with a cut string.
His meridians shattered.
Blood poured from his seven orifices.
Yamazaki Jiro struggled a few times but couldn’t stand, collapsing on the ground, barely alive.
He didn’t know that Ye Qiu had deliberately spared him.
If Ye Qiu hadn’t held back, one punch could have obliterated him.
When Ye Qiu cultivated eight strands of innate true qi, he could already kill early Foundation Establishment cultivators with a single punch, let alone now, with the embryonic ninth strand forming in his body.
Ye Qiu didn’t kill Yamazaki Jiro outright because he had questions.
“This uninhabited island is our country’s territory. You brothers trespassed and killed so many of our soldiers. I want to know why.”
Yamazaki Jiro stayed silent, glaring at Ye Qiu with venom, as if he wanted to swallow him whole.
Ye Qiu said, “At this point, staying silent is meaningless. Tell me, and I might spare you.”
“Really?” Yamazaki Jiro’s eyes lit up.
Ye Qiu replied, “I never lie.”
“I hope you keep your word. We killed because… Save me!”
Suddenly, Yamazaki Jiro shouted toward the depths of the forest.
Ye Qiu’s heart jolted. Were there more experts in the forest?
*Boom!*
A towering wave of killing intent surged forth.
In the forest, trees shook violently, leaves swirling wildly, and then two figures slowly emerged.
Two more Daito samurai.
One old, one young.
The old man was over eighty, with white hair, while the younger one was in his thirties.
They approached, each step causing the ground to tremble as if an earthquake had struck, chilling the heart.
“These two are at least Venerable Realm super experts,” Ye Qiu thought.
But then, another twist unfolded.
