Chapter 119: Life and Death, A Narrow Escape

Facing Di Shitian's lethal strike, Li Chao chose not to meet force with force. Instead, utilizing his agile footwork, he darted toward a rockery nearby.

The sharp sword missed its mark, carving a long, thin groove into the ground. Seeing his attack fail, Di Shitian’s expression grew increasingly icy.

"Is running all you can do?" Di Shitian sneered. "Do you really think that will stop me from catching you? How naive!"

As he spoke, a crimson hue flickered in his eyes. With a snap of his wrist, several flashes of cold light flew toward Li Chao, sealing off every possible path of retreat. Usually, unleashing a single burst of energy was formidable enough, but this time he had released several in quick succession. Clearly, he was going all out, vowing to annihilate Li Chao completely.

The murderous intent was fierce, like a raging tide!

Those standing within a dozen paces felt an overwhelming pressure that was difficult to resist. Liang Meng’s heart trembled; he knew that Li Chao could never withstand this onslaught. A genius was about to perish here, and a sense of despair and regret welled up within him.

Li Chao was clearly struggling to cope. Although his footwork was nimble, Di Shitian’s attacks were as relentless as a storm, leaving him no room to catch his breath. Yet, even in this life-or-death moment, Li Chao did not give up. He took a deep breath, his bones popping again as if countless streams of power were surging within him. He kept his eyes locked on Di Shitian’s movements, his body suddenly shifting once more.

While dodging several sword beams, Li Chao was eventually grazed by one, causing him to stumble and fall behind the rockery.

Di Shitian laughed as he lunged forward with his sword, the blade flickering with light as he thrust toward the fallen Li Chao. This strike was as fast as lightning and as cold as ice; to be hit would mean certain death. Di Shitian’s lips curled upward; the outcome was decided, and he felt as though he could already see the dawn of victory.

Liu Zhenhua, Liang Meng, and the others looked on with strained, sorrowful expressions, knowing full well that Li Chao had been driven into a desperate situation. Meanwhile, Howard, standing on the top floor, laughed heartily. He could tell that this youth was the strongest card Liu Zhenhua had to play; once he was eliminated, taking control of Huaxi City would be as easy as reaching into his own pocket.

Everyone assumed Li Chao was doomed to fail. However, lying amidst the rocks, Li Chao narrowed his eyes, a sharp, frigid glint appearing on his face. He knew full well the extent of Di Shitian’s power—his sword skills were peerless, and this current attack was intended for total extermination.

But there was one thing no one knew.

After falling behind the rockery, Li Chao did not immediately scramble to fight. Instead, he used the cover to rapidly adjust his state. He took a deep breath, and his bones crackled once more. A power unlike anything he had ever felt surged within him, as if it were straining to break through its shackles and emerge.

Li Chao pondered in secret; he still had a trump card left—the divine weapon from the second floor of the ancient pagoda. However, a method that involved manifesting and vanishing objects at will was not suitable for display in front of so many people, which was why he had subconsciously retreated toward the rockery.

Now that Di Shitian had let his guard down, the time for a counter-kill had arrived!

Ahead, Di Shitian held his sword, lunging toward Li Chao like a streak of lightning. The sword energy churned, scattering gravel and sand nearby with astonishing momentum. Yet, at this critical juncture, Li Chao slammed his palm against the ground and, using the rebound force, stood up instantly.

Then, a sword shimmering with golden light appeared abruptly in his hand!

The weapon danced with cold, biting light, seemingly infused with infinite power. Di Shitian’s heart skipped a beat. He stared at Li Chao in disbelief, having no idea where the boy had produced the sword from. After all, during their previous exchange, Li Chao had been empty-handed.

Bewilderment aside, as a swordsman, Di Shitian believed no one was his equal in the art of the blade. He put force into his wrist, the cold edge of his sword continuing forward, intending to defeat Li Chao in one stroke.

However, just as his blade was about to pierce Li Chao, he saw the golden sword in Li Chao’s hand swing suddenly, carving a golden arc in the air that collided directly with Di Shitian’s edge.

With a thunderous "bang," the two swords met, and Di Shitian was actually forced back a step. Seizing the opportunity, Li Chao erupted into movement, launching a storm of attacks against Di Shitian.

Li Chao’s eyes were as calm as water, but a sense of unprecedented heroism surged in his heart. It felt as if, by holding this sword, he held the entire world, the mountains, the rivers, and the fate of all living things. It was a spirit of supreme arrogance; with this sword in hand, all things could be used for his purpose to destroy everything that stood in his way!

He swung lightly, the blade cutting through the air. The sharpness of this strike was incomparable, impossible to describe with words; it felt as if the very void before him were being torn asunder.

Di Shitian’s expression turned to one of terror and shock. In his vision, everything in the world vanished, leaving only this brilliant, dazzling streak of light!

His own sword shattered with a "crack" under this force, falling to the ground. His body froze on the spot; all his murderous intent vanished in an instant, replaced by a deep-seated fear. He stared blankly at Li Chao, his lips trembling as if he wanted to ask something, but before a sound could escape, he coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Immediately afterward, a thin red line appeared across his throat, and blood began to gush out like a spring, staining his clothes crimson in an instant.

This scene shocked everyone present. They could not believe that Li Chao had managed to defeat Di Shitian with a single strike, especially when the opponent had been caught off guard. The power of that strike was simply inconceivable, seemingly beyond the limits of their comprehension.

Li Chao put away the sword and walked slowly toward Di Shitian. Looking at this once-arrogant master of the Xuan Realm now lying on the ground like a dead dog, a surge of inexplicable emotion welled up in his heart. He knew that this battle was not just for himself, but for everyone in Huaxi City. With his own strength, he had proven that a practitioner of the Bone-Tempering Realm could defeat a master of the Xuan Realm, breaking the barriers between realms.

All of these achievements stemmed from the divine weapon in his hand. Li Chao felt a secret sense of relief; he was fortunate to have obtained this sword from the second floor of the ancient pagoda. Otherwise, the outcome today would likely have been entirely different. This sword felt like the key to his destiny, opening up a new world for him.

Di Shitian’s body swayed a few times before collapsing backward, his eyes wide open, staring fixedly into the void, devoid of any signs of life. With a single strike to the throat, Li Chao had used his astounding strength to cleanly execute this Xuan Realm master.

After the battle ended, Li Chao walked slowly out of the rubble, still bearing a few bloodstains on his body, but his hands were empty. After slaying Di Shitian, he had quickly returned the divine weapon to the white pagoda. He knew that while the sword was infinitely powerful, it could also invite trouble, so he chose to handle it discreetly, avoiding unnecessary exposure.

The scene fell into a deathly silence; everyone was too shocked by the sudden turn of events to speak. The battle, while long in the telling, had actually been decided in a matter of seconds. To the onlookers, it had seemed as if Di Shitian was pursuing Li Chao with unstoppable force, only to suddenly collapse backward and die. Even practitioners like Liang Meng had barely managed to catch a fleeting glimpse of light. They could not fathom how Li Chao had managed to defeat and slay Di Shitian in such a short time. It defied their understanding.

But regardless of how Li Chao had done it, the reality was undeniable. Di Shitian was dead, the victor was decided, and the slaughter had come to an undisputed end. Li Chao had proven with his own strength that a Bone-Tempering Realm practitioner could overcome a master of the Xuan Realm, earning dignity and honor for himself and Huaxi City. This battle would surely become a legendary tale in Huaxi City and the entire cultivation world.

Outside the villa, the bearded man and his two subordinates stood rooted to the spot, their faces masks of shock and confusion. They could not accept that Di Shitian, a Xuan Realm master, had been so easily defeated in the blink of an eye.

"How... how is this possible?" the bearded man muttered, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Meanwhile, inside the villa, shouts erupted. Inspired by Li Chao’s heroic performance, the men brought by Liu Zhenhua seemed infused with boundless energy; they roared with excitement and charged forward. They knew the battle was theirs to win, and Howard’s men no longer posed a threat. Having lost their will to fight, Howard’s subordinates threw down their weapons and knelt to beg for mercy. They understood that their master had been completely defeated, and continuing to resist would only lead to death.

Li Chao ignored them, feeling somewhat dizzy. He knew this was a side effect of wielding that divine sword. Ultimately, his own cultivation was not yet strong enough to fully master such a weapon. He staggered forward, and Liu Zhenhua hurried over to support him, asking with concern, "Little Divine Doctor, are you alright?"

Li Chao sat down to steady his breathing. He looked down at his abdomen, where Di Shitian’s sword light had grazed him. His clothes were torn, revealing a shallow scratch; it was just a superficial wound. He felt lucky—had his reflexes been slower, that strike would have cost him his life.

"I’m fine, just a bit tired," Li Chao replied, his voice rasping.

Liu Zhenhua breathed a sigh of relief. He knew Li Chao was the key to this battle; if anything happened to him, the consequences would be unthinkable. "Little Divine Doctor, rest for a moment; we’ll handle the rest," Liu Zhenhua said, turning to command his men to clean up the battlefield.

Reflecting on the fierce fight, Li Chao felt a sense of fortune. Di Shitian had been giving his all; anyone else would likely have been run through. It was thanks to the robust effects of the *Star Body-Tempering Technique* that he had survived the crisis.

Regaining a bit of strength, Li Chao went to Liang Meng and Zhou Laosan. He took out his silver needles and used his exquisite acupuncture skills to treat their wounds. A few needles later, the bleeding stopped instantly, making everyone around him look at his medical skills with renewed awe.

Just then, a gunshot rang out from the top floor of the villa. A figure fell from the floor-to-ceiling window; even though the body was clearly shattered, it was recognizable as Howard. It seemed he knew the game was up and, unwilling to be captured, had chosen to take his own life. Howard’s death signaled the total end of the conflict.

Li Chao continued his acupuncture to treat the wounded. Once stabilized, they were sent to a hospital under the Liu family’s investment for further care. Liang Meng and Zhou Laosan returned first due to their injuries, while the others handled the bodies and cleaned the grounds with a familiarity that suggested they were well-versed in such clean-up work.

"Little Divine Doctor, let them handle this; let’s head back as well!" After waiting a short while, Liu Zhenhua looked at Li Chao and said respectfully. If his previous attitude toward Li Chao had been one of recruitment and appreciation, it had now transformed into genuine reverence.

He realized that Li Chao was not only a master of medicine but also a formidable fighter. To be able to kill a Xuan Realm swordsman meant Li Chao’s own strength had undoubtedly reached the Xuan Realm. This realization left Liu Zhenhua shaken. He knew that a top-tier expert like Li Chao, so young and with such potential, was immeasurable. If given more time, Li Chao might even advance to the Earth Realm—the rank of a grandmaster, the stuff of legends!

With this thought, Liu Zhenhua silently vowed to bind himself to Li Chao at any cost. He believed that with Li Chao’s support, the Liu family would truly thrive.

Li Chao nodded, saying nothing of Liu Zhenhua’s thoughts. The two of them, escorted by several bodyguards, walked toward the gate. However, they hadn't gone far when a few figures emerged from the darkness. It was the bearded man and his two subordinates from earlier.

When they appeared, Liu Zhenhua and the others became instantly vigilant, and even Li Chao gathered his remaining strength, preparing for any sudden developments. Having just gone through a major battle, even with his strength, he felt exhausted. Dealing with another master right now would be difficult.

However, the three showed no obvious hostility, which allowed Li Chao and Liu Zhenhua to relax slightly. The bearded man took a palm-sized metal token from his pocket and showed it to them. The front bore the character for "Dragon," carved with such fierce strokes it looked as if it had been hewn by a blade. The back featured an intricately engraved golden dragon, lifelike and ready to soar. Though it was merely an object, it radiated an indescribable pressure, clearly crafted with special techniques.

Seeing the token, Liu Zhenhua’s expression changed drastically. "You are from the Dragon Group?" he exclaimed.

Li Chao raised an eyebrow, looking confused. He didn't know what the "Dragon Group" was, but judging by Liu Zhenhua’s reaction, it was clearly an organization not to be trifled with.

The bearded man nodded in acknowledgment. He glanced indifferently at Liu Zhenhua and said, "I don't need to hear about these mundane matters; they don't fall under the Dragon Group’s jurisdiction. We came here specifically for Li Chao."

Although Liu Zhenhua was the wealthiest man in Huaxi, he was clearly fearful of these people. He quickly explained, "Tonight's events were initiated by Howard attempting to kill me, and Li Chao only acted in self-defense."

"We are here for Di Shitian! He has taken thirty-two lives over the past while, violating our regulations. We tracked him all the way here," the bearded man said in a deep, authoritative voice. "We intended to wait for an opportunity to strike, but we unexpectedly encountered your battle!" He scanned Li Chao and Liu Zhenhua, as if assessing their strength. "Rest assured, now that Di Shitian is dead, you may handle the rest of the matters here yourselves!"

The bearded man’s tone softened slightly, as if to put Liu Zhenhua at ease. Hearing this, Liu Zhenhua let out a long breath. He had specifically warned the local law enforcement not to intervene in tonight's operation, thinking everything was covered. He hadn't expected to encounter the Dragon Group at the very end. He knew the Dragon Group held a transcendent status in the country; if he truly offended them, even a god couldn't save him.

Still, Liu Zhenhua was puzzled. He looked at them and asked, "Since you say you don't interfere in mundane affairs, is there something else now that you've blocked our path?"

The bearded man spoke calmly, "We don't interfere in mundane affairs, but cultivators fall under our jurisdiction." He then fixed his gaze on Li Chao. "Little brother, would you mind having a chat with us? Don't worry, we mean no harm!"

Li Chao looked at them, having already formed a guess. He pulled Liu Zhenhua aside and whispered, "What is this Dragon Group?"

Liu Zhenhua looked nervous. "It is the most mysterious organization in the country, tasked with managing all cultivators! Think of it this way: the law enforcement team maintains order for ordinary people in the light, while the Dragon Group maintains the order of the cultivation world in the shadows! They rarely appear unless they are on a mission. I only learned of their existence when dealing with Sha Polang last time!"

After hearing Liu Zhenhua’s explanation, Li Chao understood. The appearance of the Dragon Group meant his identity as a cultivator had caught their attention.