Supreme Dragon Martial Soul-Chapter 328 - 4: No Escape from Doom on the Way Home!

Noticing the commotion, Luo Cheng turned around to look.

A thousand meters away, more than ten riders were chasing rapidly, each exuding a murderous aura.

"They’ve come after all..."

When leaving Linjiang City, Luo Cheng had a feeling he was being followed.

As expected, these people were here because of Sun Yingyang’s bounty order.

They wanted to take his head and earn the reward!

With Luo Cheng intentionally slowing his pace, the distance between them quickly closed.

There were thirteen in total, all third-layer Tongxuan Realm martial artists.

Two among them had intensely fluctuating Essence Energy, their gaze stern and imposing, evidently at the third-layer Tongxuan Realm peak.

"Haha! Kid, where do you think you’re going? Get off your horse and die obediently!"

When the distance between them narrowed to hardly a hundred meters, a middle-aged man with a hideous knife scar on his face roared with laughter, throwing a fist toward Luo Cheng in mid-air.

Boom!

This man was one of the two peak third-layer Tongxuan Realm martial artists. His fist power crushed the ground layer by layer as it surged directly toward Luo Cheng.

Luo Cheng sensed the attack, drew his Flame Trace Sword, and jabbed out with a single stroke.

Swish!

A flash of white light burst forth. The seemingly overpowering fist power deflated, scattering like a punctured balloon.

"Hmm! Not bad after all!"

The scar-faced man sneered with a faint chuckle.

In this brief gap, the group had closed in, surrounding Luo Cheng.

Luo Cheng swept his gaze over them, his eyes calm and indifferent:

"I don’t want to kill today. Leave your belongings here and scram!"

"..."

"Did you hear that? This brat says he’s going to kill us!"

"Haha!"

The group was stunned at first, but soon burst into raucous laughter as if they’d heard the funniest joke in the world.

"Kid, such big talk! Let’s see if you can handle another punch!"

The scar-faced man grinned devilishly, leaping forward, his punch descending like a mountain as it tore through the air toward Luo Cheng.

Luo Cheng shook his head and swung his Flame Trace Sword, unleashing the second form of the Heavenly Fall Sword Technique, which had the widest range.

Swish swish swish swish...

Sharp sword Qi howled forth, blanketing the skies.

The scar-faced man had no chance to react. His body was shattered mid-air, and several others behind him, horses and all, were swept up by the sword Qi, ripped apart on the spot!

The laughter around abruptly ceased.

The few survivors stared in horror at the scene before them.

"Run!"

One turned to flee instantly.

Swish!

Thunder crackled as a dazzling blade of sword Qi tore through the sky, its deadly edge crisscrossing the land!

The few who barely managed to turn around met the same fate as the scar-faced man—torn apart by sword Qi, their blood and entrails strewn across the ground!

"I gave you a chance..."

Luo Cheng shook his head, glancing at the corpses scattered about. For a moment, he was lost in thought.

The last time he came to Linjiang City, he was chased and fled in disgrace.

Now, thirteen third-layer Tongxuan Realm martial artists before him were as insignificant as chickens and dogs, proving no challenge at all.

Dismounting, Luo Cheng systematically scavenged all the wealth from the corpses. Approaching one body, he began to devour its Martial Soul.

Roar!

Illusory Dragon Energy surged forth, baring its fangs and claws as it lunged toward the corpse, swallowing a stream of Three-star Martial Soul Essence whole before returning to Luo Cheng’s body!

A torrential wave of Essence Qi instantly erupted within Luo Cheng!

"Haha, much more convenient now!"

Luo Cheng’s eyes lit up. Replicating the process, he devoured the Martial Souls of all thirteen men within moments!

After finishing up, Luo Cheng mounted his steed and continued toward Qishan City.

Over several days, Luo Cheng focused solely on his journey and refining the Martial Soul Essence he had absorbed.

On this day.

Hum!

Behind a partially weathered rocky outcrop, an overbearing aura shot skywards.

Crack!

The air rippled like waves, and the weathered rock began to crumble layer by layer under the force, dissipating in the wind!

Amidst the swirling dust, Luo Cheng’s seated figure appeared.

"Human Sword Integration Middle-stage! My cultivation is nearing the third-layer Tongxuan Realm peak!"

Luo Cheng’s excited voice rang out, his bright, sharp gaze piercing through the void like sword light.

After days of cultivation, he had finally refined all the Martial Soul Essence he had absorbed.

His entire body surged with Essence Energy, its quality soaring immeasurably!

The nine strands of glowing Essence Energy now sparkled like divine pillars reaching heaven, rising from his Earthly Dantian, passing through his Heart Life Gate, and ascending toward the Divine Power Heavenly Gate!

These were unmistakable signs of his imminent breakthrough to the third-layer Tongxuan Realm peak!

Even more surprising to Luo Cheng was that as he refined the Martial Soul Essence, his Sword Dao Realm also broke through to the Human Sword Integration Middle-stage!

Everything fell into place naturally, without a trace of resistance!

"It’s said that Sword Dao Realm is a strength rooted in the soul. By devouring Martial Souls to enhance my grade and strengthen my core Divine Soul, I can also influence my Sword Dao Realm."

Luo Cheng pondered over this possibility. It was the only explanation that made sense.

This realization filled Luo Cheng with delight.

It was undeniably a great benefit!

From now on, his cultivation in Sword Dao would surely be far easier than that of others!

"With my current strength, I should be able to confront a first-layer Awakening Vein Realm expert head-on..."

Luo Cheng softly hummed as he stroked his sword.

The simultaneous breakthroughs in his Sword Dao Realm and cultivation had made it hard for him to accurately gauge his own power.

Unless, of course, he truly faced a first-layer Awakening Vein Realm expert in battle.

Provided they didn’t flee, that is!

Shaking off the distracting thoughts, Luo Cheng spurred his Flame Jade Lion forward and resumed his journey.

Several more days passed. Luo Cheng rode across the Running Horse Plain.

Once past the Running Horse Plain, only a few thousand miles remained to Qishan City.

At the Flame Jade Lion’s speed, he would arrive within a day or two!

Night descended, the skies glittering with stars.

Luo Cheng continued his journey without stopping to rest, traveling through the night.

As he entered a mountain forest, Luo Cheng furrowed his brows and slowed his pace.

Hoofbeats echoed as figures emerged from the nearby forest, approaching him.

"Brother, we’re heading to the Black Cloud Mountain Range to hunt Demon Beasts. Want to join us?"

A woman with an alluring figure smiled at Luo Cheng.

The others subtly spread out, encircling him.

Luo Cheng remained silent, raising his hand and unleashing a palm strike at the nearby forest.

Boom!

The palm force, mountain-like in power, obliterated a large section of the forest.

"Essence Energy projection! A Tongxuan Realm expert!"

Gulping sounds echoed repeatedly. The group froze like statues, not daring to move an inch.

Luo Cheng asked, "Still want to team up?"

Thud! Thud!

"Young hero, we were blind not to recognize Mount Tai. Please spare our lives!"

"Spare us, don’t take this dog’s life..."

Figures dropped from horseback one after another, kowtowing fervently before Luo Cheng.

"Scram! If I see you again, I’ll kill you without mercy!"

Leaving behind these words, Luo Cheng rode off into the distance.

Only after Luo Cheng’s figure vanished for a long time did the group dare to crawl back to their feet, cold sweat streaming down their faces.

"Such a young Tongxuan Realm expert! Since when did Qishan City produce a genius like him?"

"Yesterday, we ran into someone named Lin; today, it’s another monster! What rotten luck!"

These people were from a Horse Thieves Gang in the Running Horse Plain.

Just yesterday, the gang had been attacked by a Xuanyuan Sect disciple named Lin, slaughtered to the brink of extinction! Their two leaders were smashed into pulp with a single punch, and they had only escaped by running fast enough.

Thinking that the end-of-year period meant small sect disciples returning home and that remote towns like Qishan City wouldn’t house experts, they planned to prey on some fat lambs here.

But the first person they targeted nearly cost them their lives!

"This business is no good! I’m better off settling down with a woman and living a quiet life."

"Big brother, you’re absolutely right!"

By noon the following day.

A familiar small city appeared within Luo Cheng’s view.

"I wonder if news of me winning first place in the Outer Sect Grand Competition has reached Qishan City. If Grandpa and Father find out..."

Looking at the city so close at hand, a gentle smile tugged at Luo Cheng’s lips as he spurred his horse toward the city gates.

"Huh, that’s Little Master Luo Cheng of the Luo Family—he’s still alive!"

"Heh, coming back now of all times..."

"He killed the Lin Family’s young master and caused them to lose the Hunting Festival. The Lin Family surely won’t let him off easily; his return spells doom..."

Near the city gate, some recognized Luo Cheng and cast peculiar glances his way.