Chapter 182: Heaven-Burning Saber (I)

"Where do you think you're going?" Yan Jun shouted loudly. The wooden planks beneath him exploded as he lunged forward in pursuit.

As a seasoned Marrow Refining Realm martial artist, his strength was terrifying, and he had mastered several powerful martial skills. Among them was a leg technique used for fleeing and pursuit. The leg technique was similar to the Mountain Shattering Palm in that it used a unique blood qi burst technique to unleash speed far beyond ordinary limits in a short instant. It was called the Wind Chasing Step.

Once the Wind Chasing Step was executed, Yan Jun's speed surged, and he actually closed the distance instantly, catching up with Lin Zheyu's pace.

So fast.

A hint of alarm rose in Lin Zheyu's heart.

A veteran Marrow Refining Realm martial artist was indeed not someone to underestimate. After realizing Yan Jun might be an enemy, he had secretly gathered information about him. He had not learned much, but it was enough to grasp several crucial points.

Yan Jun was a long-established Marrow Refining Realm martial artist skilled in saber techniques, and his signature move was the Heaven-Burning Saber. Lin Zheyu had not expected Yan Jun to also command such a formidable leg technique.

"Put me down. Let me speak with him."

Seeing Yan Jun catch up, Liang Song looked uneasy and could not help voicing the suggestion.

From their earlier clash, he could tell Lin Zheyu was strong, but not strong enough to completely suppress Yan Jun. Otherwise, he would not have immediately fled after killing the people from Forest Net Temple.

"No need. His level of strength poses no threat to me. Shall I take the chance to kill him as well?" A faint smile surfaced on Lin Zheyu's face as he spoke in a disdainful tone.

Yan Jun's speed after using Wind Chasing Step was astonishing, but not enough for Lin Zheyu to feel threatened. If not for his carrying Liang Song in his hand and his desire to avoid revealing his Golden Goose Technique, thus opting to use only Ten Thousand Troop Steps, his speed would not have been affected. In truth, it was impossible for Yan Jun to catch up to him.

A sharp whoosh cut through the air. The moment Lin Zheyu finished speaking, a fierce saber force swept toward him, carrying astonishing momentum qi as it cleaved toward his back.

"What terrifying power. To use momentum in this way, he's worthy of being called the Heaven-Burning Saber Yan Jun. Truly remarkable."

Sensing the terrifying momentum qi within the blade force, Lin Zheyu felt a faint surge of scorching heat pressing on his spirit. For an instant, he seemed to see endless flames. As Yan Jun's saber came down, a terrifying wave of heat swept toward him, scorching his spirit.

This strike was Yan Jun's signature technique, the Heaven-Burning Saber. When the saber was unleashed, flames seemed to burn the heavens, capable of scorching a person's spirit and soul. It was a saber art similar to Raging Wind Slash, one that used a unique form of momentum to unleash tremendous power. It matched perfectly with the fiery nature contained within Yan Jun's momentum.

Lin Zheyu held no saber and could not unleash his strongest attacks. With Liang Song in his grasp, slowing him down, he did not dare to take Yan Jun's strike head-on. The blood qi within his body erupted. The muscle of his left leg bulged as he kicked off a roadside tree trunk, sharply changing direction and darting rightward without losing speed.

The saber light swept dangerously close, shaving off a small tuft of Liang Song's white hair from the arm Lin Zheyu was gripping. Liang Song's brow twitched as cold sweat broke out over him.

Too close.

Seeing that Liang Song was unharmed, Lin Zheyu let out a quiet sigh of relief.

One truly could not underestimate a veteran Marrow Refining Realm expert. That strike had at least eight times the power of a Raging Wind Slash. Although Lin Zheyu had trained the Hundred Refinements Treasure Manual to the perfection of the second stage, his defenses still fell far short compared to those of a Marrow Refining Realm martial artist.

His offense was high, but his defense was low. If that strike had landed, he would have lost most of his combat strength instantly. He might even have died on the spot.

Another sharp whoosh sliced through the air. Lin Zheyu dodged with ease, yet the powerful blade momentum still stirred a restless heat within his chest.

"

Hu...

His momentum truly is profound. My understanding of momentum is far too shallow. Compared to Yan Jun, I have only just stepped through the door," Lin Zheyu said to himself.

Momentum was his shortcoming. Having trained for barely a year, he simply could not compare to someone like Yan Jun, a Marrow Refining Realm martial artist who had immersed himself in martial arts for decades.

Yan Jun's momentum had already reached an advanced level, only a single step away from transforming into intent. If Lin Zheyu could elevate his momentum to the same level, the power of his Raging Wind Slash would increase even further.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.

Lin Zheyu sped away, strong gusts howling past his ears. He kept turning and shifting directions, using the agility of his movement techniques to widen the gap quickly.

Lin Zheyu noticed that although Yan Jun was fast, his agility was much poorer. He could keep up only in straight-line speed. But in dodging, weaving, turning, and changing speeds, the difference was vast.

Lin Zheyu did not linger. He was currently in his 40% of a real man state. Though powerful, it consumed far more energy. Once his blood qi was exhausted, he would be helpless. Aiming for the densest part of the crowd, he rushed in that direction. Using the terrain and the crowd for cover, he quickly left Yan Jun far behind.

What a pity. In Bafang City, fighting freely is inconvenient, and I have no proper saber at hand. Otherwise, I would really like to face Yan Jun head-on and see how it turns out,

Lin Zheyu thought quietly.

𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

The clash had happened quickly. From his sudden outburst to fleeing with Liang Song in hand, the entire sequence had taken less than two minutes. He had not been able to unleash his full strength at any point. Not being able to fight Yan Jun head-on left him somewhat regretful.

***

"Damn it. He got away."

Yan Jun halted and stared in the direction Lin Zheyu had disappeared, his expression extremely dark. A dignified Marrow Refining Realm expert like him had failed to capture a martial artist only at the third transformation of the blood qi.

So Liang Song actually managed to enlist someone this powerful. I did not expect him to know another expert on this level besides me.

A hint of surprise rose in Yan Jun's heart. He knew Liang Song extremely well and had a general grasp of what acquaintances Liang Song had. By reason, Liang Song should not have the ability to enlist someone of such strength. Yet reality had surprised him. With that powerful martial artist helping, even if he did catch up, he would not gain any advantage.

"With Ge Wuning and the others dead, resolving this matter will be troublesome. Forget it. For the sake of past friendship, I will no longer interfere. I will pass Liang Song's information to Forest Net Temple and let them handle it themselves."

Yan Jun looked in the direction Lin Zheyu had vanished, his expression shifting. It was not that he did not wish to intervene, but that fear had already taken root in his heart. He no longer dared to continue meddling.

That unknown martial artist possessed terrifying strength. Even while carrying the burden of Liang Song, he was still so fast and so agile in his movement techniques. If not for Liang Song being a burden, even with Wind Chasing Step just now, he still would not have been able to catch up.

And not only that. That person's ability to conceal his aura was also astonishing. Before Lin Zheyu erupted with strength, Yan Jun had not realized at all that he was facing such a powerful martial artist. He had mistaken him for an ordinary man with no martial skill.

A Marrow Refining Realm expert adept in leg techniques and highly skilled at concealing his aura would be terrifying if he chose to strike from the shadows. Even Yan Jun would need to face such an assassin with utmost caution.

"Brother Yan, was that you fighting just now? What kind of expert was it, to actually escape from your hands?"

Before long, a sturdy middle-aged man in fitted clothes approached with a broad smile. This was the Abyss Sect's territory, and the earlier clash had naturally drawn the attention of the disciples stationed here.

"No need for your concern. As for the disturbance just now, I will compensate for all damages. I will have the payment delivered to the Abyss Sect shortly," said Yan Jun flatly.

With that, he turned and left, unwilling to entertain the middle-aged man further. The man did not mind, watching Yan Jun's departure with narrowed, amused eyes.

"How interesting. Quite a number of experts have come to Bafang City lately..." the middle-aged man said with a light smile.

He turned to a companion and ordered, "Go find out who exchanged blows with Yan Jun just now."

"Yes."