Swish
Using Wind and Dew Steps, Ye Yuan swiftly retreated, putting several meters between himself and Ji Yao.
Boom!
Ji Yao's kick struck the ground instead, shaking the dirt and sending up a small cloud of dust.
"How long are you planning to keep running?" Ji Yao's voice carried mockery, but also a faint hint of irritation.
Ye Yuan took a deep breath. He knew Ji Yao was right.
If this continued, he'd only exhaust himself. Compared to the Skin Refining stage, each level of the Flesh Training Realm focused on tempering the flesh itself – greatly enhancing both strength and endurance.
In pure physical power and durability, Ye Yuan was far behind Ji Yao.
'But…' Ye Yuan steadied his breathing, his eyes sharpening as he formed his hands into claws once more.
He still had few things left.
"It's useless," Ji Yao said flatly, darting forward. His hands lashed out like twin whips – one from the left, one from the right – cutting through the air with deadly force.
"Die!!!"
"Hooh…" Ye Yuan exhaled deeply. "Iron Claw – Flesh Bending Claws!"
In an instant, his hands transformed. His nails lengthened, gleaming coldly as sharp veins bulged along his palms, giving his claws a gloomy and hideous appearance.
Clang! Clang! Swish!
The sharp sounds of impact rang out as Ye Yuan met both of Ji Yao's strikes head-on. Each collision sent shockwaves through his arms, and after a final clash, Ye Yuan staggered back several steps, a faint trickle of blood running from the corner of his mouth.
"Really futile," Ji Yao said mockingly as he raised his arms again to strike.
But his expression froze.
His arms wouldn't move.
"Huh?" His gaze dropped – and his eyes widened in disbelief. Deep claw marks ran across both his forearms, cutting down to the bone. Several tendons and veins had been severed, leaving his arms limp and trembling.
"What…?"
Shock spread across Ji Yao's face as he looked up again – only to meet Ye Yuan's calm, blood-streaked face. His claws, still dripping red, glinted faintly in the light.
Behind Ye Yuan, Ji Yao thought he saw something – a faint, illusionary figure overlapping with him. A lean man with sharp eyes and hideous claws, staring straight into his soul.
"A–ahahaha!" Ji Yao suddenly laughed, his voice trembling. "I understand now… you've reached the limit of this skill. The peak only the creator – or few true genius – could ever reach!"
"Hahahahaha! Excellent, excellent, wonderful – I accept this defeat!" Ji Yao burst into loud laughter, tears faintly forming in his eyes.
Ye Yuan said nothing. His face remained calm as his hands shifted again, his claws glowing faintly with a bloody light.
"Iron Claws – Flesh Severing Claws."
Slash!
The sound of tearing flesh echoed through the forest.
A head flew high into the air, trailing a burst of blood behind it before landing with a dull thud.
The face still wore a faint smile, its lips twitching slightly – as if trying to say something.
And from what Ye Yuan could read, the final words were:
'We will meet again.'
A chill ran through him, but he said nothing. He only looked down at the headless corpse, blood pooling around its body.
[Killed a High Flesh Training Criminal(Fake): 144 Evil Slaying Points]
[Ding!!
Mission Triggered: Hunt down the Real Ji Yao.
Reward: High Human-level Martial Art (choice).]
Listening to the mission details - especially the word fake - Ye Yuan's eyes narrowed.
'So it really wasn't the real one,' he thought, staring at the smiling head of Ji Yao lying on the ground. His expression hardened as questions filled his mind. Where is the real body? What kind of power does he truly hold?, etc.
But after a moment, he sighed softly.
"Let's leave that for the future me to deal with," he muttered.
Stepping forward, Ye Yuan approached the fallen body of the Third Leader, who was still barely clinging to life. Blood soaked the ground beneath him, his chest rising and falling weakly.
"It's time for you to contribute something to me," Ye Yuan said quietly.
In one swift motion, his claw pierced the back of the man's neck. The Third Leader's body twitched once, then went completely still.
[Killed an Early Flesh Training Criminal: 111 Evil Slaying Points]
With that, Ye Yuan's total reached 333 Evil Slaying Points - enough for three Yellow Grade lotteries.
"System, conduct three Yellow Grade lotteries," he said, sitting down cross-legged on a cleaner patch of ground nearby.
[Conducting 3 Yellow Grade Lotteries…]
[Drawing...]
[Drawing...]
[Drawing...]
[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining: 'Willow Leaf Finger Skill (Low Yellow Grade, Maximum Level)']
[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining: 'Metal Bear Body Refining Art (High Yellow Grade, Maximum Level)']
[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining: 'Black Energy Palm (Mid Yellow Grade, Maximum Level)']
As the rewards appeared, Ye Yuan's eyes almost widened.
"A High Yellow Grade skill? And a body refining one at that?" he muttered in disbelief.
You have to understand - body refining martial artists were incredibly rare. In all of Blackwood City, not even a single one was known to have broken past the Flesh Refining Realm.
The reason was simple: body refining techniques demanded unbearable pain, immense endurance, and countless precious herbs and medicines.
Even someone like the Third Leader had remained stuck at the peak of Skin Refining until he received help from the Dragon Slaying Cult.
And adding the High Yellow Grade takes it up one more level, as the highest martial art in Blackwood City is clearly Mid Yellow Grade, which is treated like a treasure by those overlords of the city.
But those who succeeded gained unmatched defense and recovery - nearly unkillable at the same cultivation level.
And unlike ordinary martial arts, body refinement wasn't that much restricted by talent. If one had the will, wealth, and pain tolerance, he/she could master it eventually.
"System, use them all," Ye Yuan said loudly, his voice filled with excitement and determination. He waved his hand lightly.
[Using 'Willow Leaf Finger Skill (Low Yellow Grade, Maximum Level)', 'Metal Bear Body Refining Art (High Yellow Grade, Maximum Level)', and 'Black Energy Palm (Mid Yellow Grade, Maximum Level)']