Chapter 113: The Vendetta of Extermination

"Blood Mage, do you still remember the Hu family from Heijiang Province?" Hu Lichun’s eyes were bloodshot, her expression filled with profound grief.

"The Heijiang Province Hu family?" The figure in the black robe was taken aback upon hearing the name. He then let out a faint, mocking laugh. "Ten years ago, there was a martial arts family in Heijiang Province that stood against the Molo Society, costing us many capable men. To reorganize the Molo Society in that province, I wiped that family out. What, are you related to them?"

"That’s right! I am the only survivor of the Hu family! For ten years, I have traveled across the land, hunting for clues about you, all for the sake of killing my enemy with my own hands today!" Hu Lichun roared, "Blood Mage, die!"

She erupted with all her internal energy. A powerful aura, belonging to the pinnacle of the Transformation Realm, surged through her body, whipping up a cloud of dust and causing the entire arena to tremble.

"Heh, I didn’t think I’d missed one. How careless of me. But that’s fine; let me rectify that mistake today!" The black-robed man flicked his fingers in a sword gesture. Standing on the ground, the swaying Tols suddenly spread his arms and lunged at Hu Lichun.

Facing the mountain-like bulk of Tols, Hu Lichun showed no fear. For years, she had been gathering information on the Blood Mage, ensuring she knew her enemy well to exact her revenge. The technique used to bring the dead Tols back to life was the Blood Mage’s specialty: Corpse Control. Originating from the dark arts of the Xiangxi corpse-drivers—originally meant to transport bodies home before they decayed—it involved piercing a copper needle into the cerebellum of a corpse to manipulate its movements. Over time, sorcerers of the dark arts had refined this into a combat technique, with some even combining it with corpse-refining to create invulnerable iron-skinned thralls.

Fortunately, since the Blood Mage had only used a fresh corpse, breaking the spell was simple: either pull out the copper needle or destroy the body entirely.

"Hu family secret art: Iron Arm Kunlun Technique!"

Hu Lichun stood firm like a towering pine. Her internal energy surged into her arms, wrapping them in a protective layer of power. She stepped in a seven-star pattern, her figure moving across the arena like a comet. With a swift shift of her body, she dodged Tols’ charge and slipped gracefully behind him. Charging her right arm with long-accumulated power, she unleashed a strike. It flew out like a dragon soaring to the heavens, accompanied by a violent, howling gale, slamming directly into the back of Tols’ head.

*Boom!*

The force was immense, shattering Tols’ skull into fragments. As a spray of red and white gore erupted, the body lost all animation and collapsed, limp and lifeless.

Having dealt with Tols, Hu Lichun rubbed her right wrist, turned, and glared at the black-robed figure. Her voice was hoarse as she said, "Your puppet is finished. Now, it’s your turn."

"Heh, heh, heh. Not bad. You destroyed my puppet and broke my control in one move. However, you seem to have forgotten one thing. Corpse control is just a little game of mine; what I’m truly capable of is far beyond such child’s play!"

The black-robed man threw back his cloak, finally revealing his true face. A young man with a pale complexion, white hair, and a cyan robe stood on the arena. He looked incredibly young, appearing to be in his late teens. A wave of astonishment rippled through the audience.

"I never imagined he’d be so young and handsome!"

"Don't be foolish! Have you forgotten that he just tore Niu Kun limb from limb? A person like that is a cold-blooded killer!"

"That doesn't make sense. The woman said he wiped out her family ten years ago. Does that mean he started killing when he was a child?"

On the high platform, the leaders of the various factions were equally confused by the murmurings of the crowd.

"Elder Li, what is going on with this man? Why does he look so young?" the young Master Huang asked, bewildered.

"Young Master, it is said that highly cultivated sorcerers possess techniques to preserve their youth and manipulate their appearance. One must never judge the strength or age of a sorcerer by their looks alone," the elder replied.

"I see." The explanation satisfied the leaders, who nodded in agreement. Only a nondescript young man in the corner sneered, whispering with disdain, "Idiots."

On the arena, Hu Lichun ignored the man’s appearance. She focused her energy, viewing him only as an enemy who must die.

"Iron Arm Kunlun Technique: Power to Split the Heavens and Cleave Mount Hua!"

She gathered all her energy into her arms, turning them as hard as steel. This was the pinnacle of the Hu family’s secret arts—arms like iron, capable of splitting mountains. "Die!"

The hatred of ten years, forged into the strongest, most ferocious strike of her life, was unleashed. Hu Lichun moved with fluid agility, her feet barely touching the ground as she left two or three afterimages behind, pushing her speed to the limit. In the blink of an eye, she was at the man’s side. She threw both fists out, the energy roaring like twin dragons rising from the sea.

"Yes! Finish the bastard!" Master Huang shouted in excitement.

However, Lin Feng watched the explosive display with a faint shake of his head, whispering, "Still not enough."

Just as Hu Lichun thought her afterimage maneuver, combined with the Hu family’s ultimate technique, would surely kill her enemy, she realized her mistake. She had severely underestimated the power of a high-level sorcerer.

As her right fist neared the man, he turned his head sharply. His blood-red eyes locked onto hers, and he let out a strange cackle. "Iron Arm Kunlun Technique? Compared to your father, your skill is lacking!"

"Blood Demon Shadow!"

The man’s right claw suddenly unfurled and swiped at her face. While the world believed sorcerers were weak in close combat, the Blood Mage was different—he was a predator who loved to toy with his prey. Most of those who died by his hand were killed in close quarters, including Hu Lichun’s father.

As he swiped, he instantly drained the remaining blood from Tols' body, leaving only a withered husk. The blood coalesced in the air, forming a massive, viscous hand that blocked Hu Lichun's path.

"This is..." Hu Lichun’s eyes widened in shock.

It all happened in a split second. Seeing the massive blood hand shielding her enemy, she chose to gamble everything, pouring every ounce of her strength into one final blow.

*Puff.*

Her fist struck the blood hand with a muffled thud. She felt as if she had punched into cotton; her force was swallowed up like a stone cast into the sea. Her face turned ashen as she tried to pull her arm back, but it was already too late.