I loaded the innate divine power.

Dawn is breaking.

Sacred Flame Peak.

Halfway up the mountain, Shen Yi cultivated for an entire night.

I have fully mastered the nine sword techniques.

"Killing—!"

The Tiger Soul Blade in his hand was suddenly swung out, the first move of the Killing Demon Blade Slash, Kill!

This strike, infused with internal energy, was swung with such force that in the next instant, a ten-foot-long crimson blade of energy roared forth.

"Pfft—!"

Three zhang away, the protruding rock was cut off as easily as tofu with a single stroke.

The cut surface is as smooth as a mirror!

"call……"

Sheathing his sword, Shen Yi exhaled a breath of stale air and looked at the smooth cut on the rock, quite satisfied.

After a night of practice, I've made considerable progress.

The power of this strike is already beginning to show its sharpness.

With his gaze fixed on the rising sun, Shen Yi checked his interface again.

Golden Crow Body Tempering Technique (Level 8): [2569/19200]

Mysterious Yin Condensation Meridian Technique (Level 7): [3088/12800]

Crimson Flame Palm (Level 4): [519/3600]

Ghostly Shadow Step (Level 4): [103/4800]

Killing Demon Blade Slash (Level 1): [438/1000]

"Over four hundred..."

Shen Yi glanced at the panel and made a rough estimate of the progress of the Killing Demon Blade Slash.

It will take him at least a day to reach the second level of the Killing Demon Blade Slash.

"It's alright, in ten days to half a month, there should be hope for some initial success."

Shen Yi made a rough estimate in his mind.

The current focus is on the three martial arts.

Killing Demon Blade Slash, Crimson Flame Palm, and Netherworld Ghost Shadow Step!

Crimson Flame Palm and Netherworld Shadow Step have already reached the minor completion stage.

But that's far from enough.

The level of mastery in martial arts is also a reflection of the vast difference in strength.

The difference in strength between beginner and master is overwhelming, even at the same level.

"Young master, Lei Bo has arrived."

Just then, a voice came from not far away.

Shen Yi turned around and saw Xiao Qing walking quickly toward him.

"So eager...?"

He arrived so early in the morning; it seems he's already eager to get his position as the chief disciple.

"Um."

Shen Yi nodded slightly, his face expressionless, and walked towards the Mountain and Water Villa. Xiao Qing followed behind him, and they soon left the cliff.

A short while later, Shen Yi returned to the Mountain and Water Villa.

In the courtyard, a figure sat at a table. Shen Yi glanced at him and saw that Lei Bo was sitting there.

Upon seeing Shen Yi appear, Lei Bo immediately stood up and said, "Shen Yi, Sacred Flame Peak can only have one disciple. I'm here today for only one purpose: this chief position can only be mine. If you are willing to voluntarily withdraw, I can recommend you to join another peak within the sect."

"I don't want to make things difficult for you. If you know what's good for you, there might be opportunities to work together in the future. Otherwise..."

"Enough with the nonsense. You want to fight? Go ahead and do it. I still need to eat afterward."

Before Lei Bo could finish speaking, Shen Yi interrupted him.

"you……"

"Great, very good!"

Lei Bo clenched his fists, his face instantly darkening as he stared coldly at Shen Yi: "Then let's go to the Holy Flame Hall and settle this once and for all, whether it's victory or defeat, life or death!"

"..."

Where did this guy get such silly lines?

Looking at Lei Bo, Shen Yi felt a pang in his heart.

"No need, I'm in a hurry to eat. Xiaoqing, go prepare the meal."

Shen Yi spoke calmly, and Xiao Qing behind him paused slightly, but did not say anything more. She nodded and walked towards the kitchen of the villa.

"This is outrageous!"

Lei Bo's eyes were bloodshot, and his internal energy suddenly erupted. His punch, as fast as lightning, tore through the air and, carrying its force, struck like a mountain.

A punch as fast as the wind!

Carrying a powerful punch, it arrived in front of him in an instant.

"Bang!"

But in that instant, a hand firmly grasped his fist.

It gripped tightly, like an iron clamp.

The punch felt like it had struck incredibly hard steel, sending sharp pain through his knuckles.

Shen Yi stood motionless, his fist clenched in one hand, his face expressionless.

"What!?"

His bloodshot eyes froze, and he stared at Shen Yi in disbelief.

"Buzz—!"

However, before he could react, Shen Yi gently pushed with his clenched fist, and a terrifying force like an overwhelming tidal wave swept over him instantly.

"Bang!"

A dull thud rang out as Lei Bo's figure crashed heavily to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

"puff-!"

The force that penetrated his body nearly shattered his internal organs, and he struggled to his feet.

"Would you like to continue?"

Shen Yi's face remained expressionless as he calmly gazed at Lei Bo.

"I said, today, we will not only determine victory or defeat, but also life or death!"

Lei Bo wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and stood up from the ground.

The next moment, a layer of crimson light ignited around him.

His blood and qi burned fiercely, and a terrifying aura suddenly erupted.

He went from the early stage of the Marrow Cleansing Realm to the middle stage in one go, and even approached the late stage of the Marrow Cleansing Realm.

"Um?"

"This is a forced breakthrough achieved by burning one's life force!"

Seeing this, a hint of surprise flashed in Shen Yi's eyes.

Such secret techniques do exist within the demonic sect.

However, this thing comes at a high price.

When vital energy and blood are burned, vital essence is depleted, and lifespan is directly reduced.

Martial artists do not live long.

The lifespan of the four martial arts realms, even the lifespan of the Marrow Cleansing Realm, is only a little over a hundred years.

Even those who reach the Dan Jin level of martial arts only have a lifespan of 150 years.

This looks like a "blood-burning technique" that he once saw in the library!

Using life force and vital energy as fuel, one forcibly enhances their cultivation level.

"Shen Yi, today, only I can survive!"

Lei Bo's face contorted with rage, and in the next instant, he let out a furious roar as his inner strength coalesced.

The fist came crashing down again.

Blood Explosion Fist!

At the cost of burning one's vital energy, an ultimate strike is unleashed.

A crimson glow covered the fist.

This punch was more than ten times more powerful than the previous one.

The air is compressed, and before the fist arrives, the fierce wind of the punch has already struck.

In the blink of an eye, he was already in front of Shen Yi.

However, at that very moment, Shen Yi moved.

A burst of fiery palm force erupted as fist and palm collided, unleashing a terrifying power like a flood.

"Snap—!"

The sound of bones breaking rang out.

"ah-!"

A painful scream rang out in the mountain and water villa.

Shen Yi remained motionless, while Lei Bo's figure was smashed away and landed heavily, blood mixed with fragments of internal organs gushing out.

One arm was rendered useless.

Absolute power crushing!

"How...how could this be!?"

Lei Bo's eyes were filled with terror. This was his most powerful attack, a burning secret technique, but it was still no match for Shen Yi.

Why?!

Even a palm strike from someone at the late stage of the Marrow Cleansing Realm could severely injure them.

How could he block it so easily?

"Whoosh—!"

With one step, Shen Yi's figure disappeared from the spot, and the next moment, a large hand descended.

It was like a mountain pressing down, carrying a suffocating force.

"No!"

A desperate roar welled up from his heart.

"Bang!"

A terrifying palm strike landed on Lei Bo's head, accompanied by a dull thud.

It didn't burst open like a watermelon, but instead, a powerful force penetrated into the body.

The force penetrates the body, reaching the internal organs, brain, bones, and every inch of the body.

Blood flowed from the seven orifices, staining the ground red.

It appears intact on the outside, but the inside has been completely shattered.

His control over force has reached a perfect level.

Shen Yi slowly withdrew his hand, calmly looking at Lei Bo lying in a pool of blood, his face showing no emotion.

Giving him a chance to survive is already an act of great kindness from his conscience.

If someone takes advantage of you, you won't get a second chance.

Kill them outright!

"Dead...dead!?"

Not far away, Xiaoqing stood there blankly, holding her meal, staring at the corpse in the pool of blood on the ground, her mind frozen.

It was over in just a short while.

It was completely different from what I had imagined.

"Pack up."

Shen Yi's voice rang out, and soon another maid stepped forward and dragged away the already dead Lei Bo from the ground.

Shen Yi walked straight to the backyard without turning his head. Seeing this, the stunned Xiao Qing immediately carried the food to the backyard as well.