"Young Master, that kid looks like he's leaving the city."
A lackey beside Cao Meng spoke up.
"Leaving the city? Perfect. There aren't as many rules outside the city. We'll kill that kid out there. I am determined to get that Treasure Sword!" A vicious look crossed Cao Meng's face.
"But that kid is a Third-level Martial Artist, too. He's no pushover."
"What's there to be afraid of? The brothers Cao Jin and Cao Yin are also Third-level Martial Artists. Two against one, plus the two of us. You think we can't take care of some lucky bastard? Let's go. Follow him."
Cao Meng clearly had no such worries. He took his ever-present lackey and two Third-level Martial Artists and followed Chu Qingyun from behind, all the way out of the city.
After leaving the city, Chu Qingyun walked for a while longer and soon arrived at the edge of the Mist Forest.
It was a coincidence. Of Flame City's four main gates, the West Gate that Chu Qingyun had used was very close to the Mist Forest; it was just a short walk away.
"You four, how much longer are you going to follow me? I think the scenery here is quite nice. A fitting place for you to die." After stopping, Chu Qingyun turned around and said with a faint smile.
Knowing they had been discovered, Cao Meng and his three companions stopped hiding and stepped out.
"Kid, I didn't expect you to notice us. If you know what's good for you, hand over that Extraterrestrial Meteorite Iron Treasure Sword and all the valuables you have on you. Otherwise, this place will be your grave!"
Once outside the city, Cao Meng felt no constraints and immediately showed his thuggish side.
"Tch. Two Third-level Martial Artists, one First-level Martial Artist, and one Eighth-level Martial Artist. Young Master Cao, frankly, I'm not impressed by your combined strength."
With Chu Qingyun's power, he could kill a Fifth-level Martial Artist in a single blow, let alone a Third-level one.
"Arrogance! Cao Jin, Cao Yin, get him! Don't hold back, just kill him!"
At Cao Meng's command, the two Third-level Martial Artists attacked immediately.
Shadow Snake Binding!
The two immediately used their Soul Techniques. From the left and right, two giant black snakes formed from Primordial Power opened their savage maws, lunging to bite and bind Chu Qingyun.
'Soul Techniques from a Tier Two Martial Soul…'
Chu Qingyun thought with some disdain.
'Oh well. I might as well test the power of this new sword on you!'
With a soft SHING, a flash of black, cold light glinted as the longsword left its sheath.
With two muffled THWACKS, the Soul Techniques of the brothers Cao Jin and Cao Yin were cleanly and decisively sliced apart.
Relying on the sheer sharpness of the Treasure Sword forged from Extraterrestrial Meteorite Iron, Chu Qingyun didn't even have to use his Primordial Power. He shattered the Soul Techniques of his fellow Third-level Martial Artists using only his own Physical Strength!
Unlike his previous weapons, this sword had truly given his power a massive boost!
"How is that possible!"
"No way!?"
Cao Jin and Cao Yin's eyes were wide with shock.
Their brotherly Soul Technique was a combination of offense and defense, capable of both attacking and restraining an enemy. And since they were brothers, their coordination was exceptionally smooth.
Even against a Fourth-level Martial Artist, or even a weaker Fifth-level Martial Artist, the two of them together could put up a fight.
But they never expected that the coordinated Soul Technique they were so proud of would be utterly useless against Chu Qingyun!
"Die!"
When it came to his enemies, Chu Qingyun had never been one for mercy. Seizing the opportunity while the two were still in shock, he charged at Cao Yin and slashed with his sword.
"No!"
Cao Yin roared, whipping out his long saber to block while surging a massive amount of Primordial Power before him as a defense.
But before a Treasure Sword that could cut through iron like mud, all resistance was futile.
SPLAT!
A muffled sound rang out.
The longsword shattered the saber and dispersed the Primordial Power as if they were rotten wood, and with one strike, it cleaved Cao Yin in two!
Fresh blood sprayed everywhere, and the terrified scream was cut short.
He hadn't even used Primordial Power.
A single sword strike. An instant kill!
"Aaargh, you dare kill my brother! Die!"
Nearby, Cao Jin roared, leaping up with his saber in both hands and slashing down at Chu Qingyun.
A sharp Sword Momentum faintly converged into a blade of light, whistling as it tore through the air.
'Sword Momentum?'
'Profound Celestial Divine Pattern!'
Chu Qingyun snorted contemptuously. The red Divine Pattern on his right arm flashed, and he swept his sword horizontally.
The terrifying power of the Double Profound Celestial Divine Pattern, combined with the unparalleled sharpness of the Treasure Sword, directly scattered the Sword Momentum and shattered the blade of light.
Blood erupted, and an arm was sent flying high into the air.
SMACK.
Only when his arm hit the ground did Cao Jin realize that it had been severed by a single sword strike.
Cao Jin tried to scream, but as he opened his mouth, he felt a sudden coldness on his neck. He reached up to touch it, only to realize that his throat had been slit as well.
THUMP.
Clutching his neck with one hand, Cao Jin knelt unwillingly, then slowly collapsed.
Two strikes to break two Soul Techniques, two strikes to kill two Martial Artists of the same level.
Although not a single drop of blood remained on the sword after killing two men, the frigid killing intent it radiated sent a chill of terror through the remaining two, Cao Meng and his lackey.
They had thought that bringing the brothers Cao Jin and Cao Yin would be more than enough to deal with Chu Qingyun, who was also a Third-level Martial Artist.
They never imagined the sword would be so ferocious it could practically be called a Divine Weapon!
But at this moment, Cao Meng felt not a shred of possessiveness, only overwhelming fear.
"Young Master Cao, which of you two is next? Or will you come at me together?" Chu Qingyun said with a cold laugh, gripping his sword.
Cao Meng's legs went weak, and he collapsed to the ground in terror. "Chu Qingyun, you… you can't kill me! I'm the young master of the Cao Family! If you kill me, the Cao Family will never let you go!"
As for his lackey, a mere Eighth-level Martial Artist, he was in even worse shape than his master—he had fainted from fright.
"Threatening me? If I kill all of you, how will the Cao Family know it was me?"
As Chu Qingyun spoke, he flicked a finger against the longsword's blade.
The ringing of the sword was crisp and clear, but to Cao Meng's ears, it was the chilling sound of death's summons.
"Friend, little brother, this was my fault. But you've killed my men, so your anger should be spent. Let's just call it even. From now on, we'll mind our own business. How about it?" Cao Meng had given in.
"Mind our own business? What a joke. You pick a fight when you want, and call it off when you want? On whose authority? There's no such easy way out in this world."
Cao Meng's expression turned ugly. He gritted his teeth and said, "What do you want?"
At this point, he had already made up his mind: no matter what, he had to save his own life first.
As for negotiating terms with Chu Qingyun, that was irrelevant. He could deal with that later. In the world of Martial Artists, strength was ultimately what mattered most.
"The young master of the Cao Family must be worth a lot, right? How about this: compensate me with ten thousand Top-Grade Primordial Stones, and I'll let you go. What do you say?" Chu Qingyun said with a smile.
Although it seemed like he wasn't short on Primordial Stones right now, the truth was, he hadn't even started cultivating since his breakthrough to Third-level Martial Artist.
Once he did begin to cultivate, with a Qi Sea ten thousand meters in radius, the amount of Primordial Stones and Primordial Spirit Liquid he would consume would be a terrifying figure.
Therefore, it was better to be prepared.
When it came to Primordial Stones, Chu Qingyun could never have too many.