Chapter Thirteen: Battle

Double kill with a single strike.

Those who practice the Path of Heavenly Martial Slaughter find it hard to control their strength when they truly unleash themselves, their murderous intent influencing every move. Liu Tian, still at the peak of this uncontrollable stage, was no exception.

After calming his blood and breath, he quickly searched the bodies, wary of possible reinforcements or other witnesses. Without lingering, he slung his sack over his shoulder and left the scene.

Thanks to his many laps around the city, Liu Tian easily found a dilapidated old building to stash his sack.

You really ought to thank me for my kindness; in these times, such good-hearted souls are rare.

Muttering to himself as he untied the sack, Liu Tian prepared to release the captive, but the moment he loosened the bindings, a familiar yet unfamiliar sense of impending danger surged in his heart.

Before he could even glance at the person he'd rescued, Liu Tian decisively hugged the sack and rolled forward, then used deft strength to roll the sack beside him, not sparing a look for the person trapped inside.

"Your reaction is quick, but you lack ruthlessness," the newcomer remarked. Though he had launched a sneak attack, strangely, he didn't press the advantage but merely commented, blood dripping from his palm, forming round droplets that splashed on the dusty floor. "Is this the indecisive disciple of the once world-renowned Heavenly Path?"

Liu Tian reached back and sure enough, his hand came away stained red. A cool sensation spread from the back of his head, as if his hair, along with a layer of scalp, had been sliced away.

"Who are you?" Liu Tian asked, adopting a combat stance as he searched for weaknesses in his opponent. "Are you after this woman?"

"If so, I could give her to you. She means nothing to me."

"A mere woman could never prompt me to act," the stranger replied, as if Liu Tian were beneath his notice. He stepped out of the optimal attack position and into the light, exposing himself without fear.

He was a middle-aged man with golden hair and pale skin. A simple vest barely covered his muscular frame. His eyes were hidden behind thick glasses, and his downturned mouth seemed incapable of joy.

What seized Liu Tian's attention even more were the man's hands—not human, but thinly muscled and tightly drawn over distinct bones. In the moonlight, his sharp palms gleamed coldly, more like blades than flesh.

With just a slight touch, he had sliced Liu Tian's hair and scalp, despite Liu Tian's timely reaction.

Powerful!

Among all the people I've met, only my master, Heavenly Path, and my senior brother Bai Ci Nan surpass him.

Liu Tian narrowed his eyes, shifting his position in tandem with the man's movements. Though he didn't know why the stranger had relinquished the prime spot for attack, Liu Tian, trained by the Heavenly Path, would never let such an advantage slip.

"Praying Mantis? An unfamiliar name. Was he once my master's rival?" Liu Tian probed for information. "Bullying the younger generation isn't the mark of a true master."

"Heavenly Path?" The man—Praying Mantis—snorted, unmistakably disdainful. "A stubborn old fool, unwilling to embrace evolution, trapped in his own little pond. How could he ever be a match for me, for someone who has already evolved?"

"Evolved? Are you referring to your hands? They do look terrifying." Not eager to fight someone so much stronger, Liu Tian suppressed his murderous intent and made a final attempt, "If we're not enemies, then why not part ways here?"

"Do you think that's possible?" Praying Mantis replied. "Stop your pointless probing. I came here for one reason—to kill you, or to be killed by you."

"The true heir of the Path of Heavenly Martial Slaughter—let me see if you deserve to be prey."

Damn it, I just want to grow in peace!

"Why must you push me!"

Come on, give me strength!

With a thought, as two source points were consumed, not only did his wounds improve thanks to his advancing level in the Martial Slaughter Path, but Liu Tian instantly mastered the first form—Heart Severing Path—which previously would have taken months to grasp.

Beyond that, Liu Tian's body expanded, his power and speed surged, and even his aura doubled—damned Martial Slaughter Path: Heart Severing Path!

Before the words even left his mouth, Liu Tian, knowing there was no way out, unleashed his strongest force, no longer restraining his murderous intent.

Greater strength, faster speed, more intense killing intent.

All his days of effort erupted in an instant, pushing his power to one hundred and fifty percent under the influence of murderous intent.

Without a doubt, Liu Tian could now easily defeat his previous self.

Could this mysterious Praying Mantis withstand his sudden burst of power?

The answer: easily.

Faster speed, greater strength, richer experience.

His right hand struck with even greater speed than the earlier ambush, intercepting Liu Tian's attack.

Though his martial arts weren't as advanced as the Martial Slaughter Path, Praying Mantis had the strength to effortlessly suppress Liu Tian, whose power had just soared.

More than that, his left hand, long poised to strike, swept silently toward Liu Tian's chest.

Given the sharpness he'd already displayed, if this blow landed, it would surely tear open Liu Tian's chest, exposing the heart that fueled his strength.

Not so easily! Martial Giant Shark Fist!

Anticipating that Praying Mantis's earlier attack wasn't his full strength, Liu Tian, holding nothing back, slammed his right fist into Praying Mantis's left arm.

A powerful recoil jolted him. Despite their gaunt appearance, Praying Mantis's arms had formidable defense. Liu Tian felt as if he’d hit a steel plate, not human bone. Not only did he fail to break through, but the counterforce injured his own fist.

Still, he managed to knock Praying Mantis's left arm aside, buying himself a chance to retreat.

"You still have hidden strength?" Praying Mantis laughed wildly, pursuing relentlessly, even having time to comment, "But unfortunately, you're too weak!"

"In martial combat, the advantage of striking first is minor; in the end, it's a contest of strength, speed, skill, and tactics."

"When facing someone far stronger and faster, that slight advantage is meaningless."

"Martial arts are about the strong dominating the weak, looking down from above. How can you avoid defeat and death against a superior foe?"

"But you've practiced for so many more years." Unwilling to lose even verbally, Liu Tian led Praying Mantis away from their starting point, using the broken building's complex layout to his advantage, counterattacking as he taunted, "You've trained so many more years, yet still can't utterly crush me physically. No wonder you don't dare challenge my master."

"You should give up martial arts—your hands are sharp enough to slice pork at a butcher's shop, saving the cost of a cleaver."

"Martial arts are dangerous, and you're getting on in years. Why not retire at home?"

"You brat, courting death!" Though Liu Tian hadn't uttered a single curse, something in his words stung Praying Mantis's nerve. No longer holding back, his already formidable strength and speed surged again. As their battle escalated, the commotion grew, and their battlefield expanded ever wider...