I can increase my power through breathing.

Chapter 26 Claiming the Bounty, First-Class Internal Skill Acquired

puff!
Zhou Qing swung his sword again.

Before Li Baichuan's body fell to the ground, he severed his head, then quickly reached out with his left hand and grabbed the severed head in his hand.

Tick-tock tick-tock—

Warm blood, mixed with brain matter, flowed down and dripped onto the ground with a crisp sound, while Li Bai's body, which had been split in two, fell to the ground with a thud.

Zhou Qing's expression remained calm, as if killing the Blood-Handed Butcher Li Baichuan was a trivial matter to him. He slowly withdrew the Xuan Tie sword from his hand, the blade unstained by any blood.

silence.

There was complete silence at the foot of the mountain.

At that moment, the surrounding air seemed to freeze.

Everyone held their breath, staring in horror at the scene.

This is a scene they will likely never forget.

This is Li Baichuan, the Blood-Handed Butcher, a notorious figure in the martial arts world, known for his ruthless killings and cruel methods, making him a figure that strikes fear into the hearts of all.

However, at this moment, he was like an ant, killed by Zhou Qing with a single strike.

Yes, in the eyes of these people, they could not see how many times Zhou Qing made a single strike. In their eyes, Zhou Qing only made one strike, which killed the infamous Blood-Handed Butcher Li Baichuan.

Moreover, it was cleaved in two with a single stroke, inspiring fear in all who beheld it.

Zhou Qing's strike not only killed Li Baichuan, but also left a deep mark on everyone's hearts, as if an invisible shackle had been placed on them, binding them firmly to the spot, unable to move.

It wasn't until Zhou Qing carried Li Baichuan's severed head up the mountain and disappeared from their sight that they felt the invisible shackles on their bodies disappear.

"Who is this person? He actually killed Li Baichuan with a single strike!"

Someone said in a low voice, with a slight tremor in it.

"Li Baichuan was a top-tier martial artist, yet he was killed with a single strike. The difference in skill level is simply too great."

"Who knows this person's identity? With such terrifying strength, it's impossible for him to be unknown in the martial arts world. If he challenges the masters on the Human Ranking, he can definitely climb onto the Human Ranking."

"I don't know, this person was wearing a straw hat, so I didn't see his face."

"Using a knife, wearing a bamboo hat, and practicing body-refining techniques, this seems a bit like Zhou Qing, the 'Quick Knife Madman' ranked eightieth on the imperial court's wanted list."

"That's unlikely. Li Baichuan is a top-tier martial artist. The reason why Zhou Qing, the 'Quick Blade Madman,' is ranked higher than Li Baichuan on the wanted list is because Zhou Qing killed the Eagle Wolf Guard and the county magistrate, and murdered an official of the imperial court. Such crimes are treasonous."

"Don't forget, Zhou Qing made three moves, each time stronger than the last. People in the martial arts world speculate that Zhou Qing has a great opportunity. If it really is Zhou Qing, then it is not impossible for him to kill Li Baichuan this time."

"Regardless of whether it is Zhou Qing or not, as long as there is even the slightest doubt, the top ghostwriters in the martial arts world will rush over upon hearing the news."

"That's right. As long as one wants to advance their cultivation and break through to become a first-class martial artist who is a Grandmaster, no one would be unmoved by the opportunity of the Innate Realm."

The surrounding crowd began to whisper and speculate about Zhou Qing's true identity.

After all, in the martial arts world, improving one's cultivation level is what all martial artists dream of. With strength, power, money, and beautiful women are all within easy reach.

The opportunity to reach the Innate Realm is even more rare, occurring only once in a thousand years.

Once one reaches the Innate Realm, it's like a carp leaping over the Dragon Gate; whether in the imperial court or the martial world, one holds a pivotal position.

In the imperial court, that would be a regional official, a local lord. In the martial arts world, a master of innate cultivation would be qualified to establish a sect and become a respected ancestor.

More importantly, the lifespan of a Grandmaster in the Innate Realm can be doubled compared to a martial artist in the Acquired Realm, which is an irresistible temptation for most martial artists.

Everyone wants to live longer.

The ultimate pursuit of martial arts is immortality.

Meanwhile, Zhou Qing had already arrived in front of the villa.

The villa is built against the mountain, with a magnificent presence. Its red walls and green tiles are even more spectacular when surrounded by lush trees.

However, since the entire Cold Moon Manor was slaughtered by the Blood-Handed Butcher Li Baichuan, even though Shen Qingyue held an auction, there weren't many people in the manor, making it seem rather deserted.

There were servants waiting to greet them in front of the villa.

They were dressed in uniform; these were people Shen Qingyue had hired from an auction house to greet guests attending the auction.

However, due to the threat from Bloodhand Butcher Li Baichuan, no one dared to come up the mountain to participate in the auction. These servants had nothing to do and were almost asleep.

At this moment, Zhou Qing's arrival naturally attracted the attention of these servants.

In particular, the fact that Zhou Qing was holding a head that had been split in two, with blood still dripping onto the ground, filled the servants with curiosity and fear.

This was the first time someone had brought their head to an auction.

However, these servants were all professionally trained and quickly regained their composure. One of them stepped forward and respectfully asked, "Excuse me, distinguished guest, are you here to attend the auction?"

“That was true before, but there’s no need to attend the auction now!” Zhou Qing pointed to the two halves of the head he was holding in his left hand and said calmly, “Take me directly to Miss Shen, the owner of Lengyue Manor. I have already killed Bloodhand Butcher Li Baichuan. This is his head. I’m here to collect the bounty.”

"What? This is the head of Li Baichuan, the Blood Hand Butcher."

Upon hearing this, the servants all showed expressions of shock, and their bodies involuntarily took a few steps back.

Some of them couldn't believe it.

After all, just a quarter of an hour ago, Blood Hand Butcher Li Baichuan had declared that anyone who dared to participate in the Cold Moon Manor auction would be exterminated along with their entire family. To this day, not a single VIP has dared to attend the auction, intimidated by Li Baichuan's ferocious power.

Shen Qingyue issued a bounty for Li Baichuan's head. More than a month has passed, and Li Baichuan is still alive and well. But unexpectedly, he was killed during the auction and came to collect the bounty with his head in hand.

A servant asked in a trembling voice, "Hero, are you sure this is the head of Bloodhand Butcher Li Baichuan? We dare not confirm it so easily."

The servant's title had unknowingly changed from "distinguished guest" to "hero."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qing smiled and said, "If you don't believe me, you can ask Miss Shen to come and identify her."

"Yes, hero, please wait a moment, I will go and report right away."

Upon seeing this, the servant dared not delay and immediately turned and ran back into the manor.

Soon.

Zhou Qing sensed the two powerful auras rapidly approaching.

These two individuals possessed far greater auras than the servants around them; they must be Shen Qingyue and her master.

Zhou Qing remained calm and waited quietly.

Soon, a young woman dressed in plain clothes stepped out first. She was stunningly beautiful and had a cool and aloof demeanor. This woman was Shen Qingyue, the current owner of Lengyue Manor.

Behind Shen Qingyue stood an old man in a gray robe. The old man had an ancient face, deep eyes, and exuded a faint aura of power. He was a first-rate peak martial artist who had reached the ninth level of the Acquired Realm.

Shen Qingyue's gaze fell on the head in Zhou Qing's hand, and she immediately said, "Hero, you killed the Blood-Handed Butcher Li Baichuan?"

Zhou Qing said, "Miss Shen can send someone to the foot of the mountain to confirm that I killed Bloodhand Butcher Li Baichuan. Many people witnessed this."

“No need for such trouble. Li Baichuan’s portrait is on the imperial wanted list.” Shen Qingyue stepped forward, carefully examined the head in Zhou Qing’s hand, nodded after a moment, and said softly, “That’s right, this is indeed Li Baichuan’s head.”

Zhou Qing handed the head to Shen Qingyue and then said, "Miss Shen, when will the reward be paid?"

Shen Qingyue said, "Hero, rest assured, the reward has been prepared and is just waiting for you to come and collect it."

As she spoke, Shen Qingyue took out a secret manual from her bosom and handed it to Zhou Qing.

(End of this chapter)