Chapter 80: Qiu Yuanshan, the Unyielding Golden Spear

At that very moment, a hand suddenly reached out and snatched away the portrait.

The female warrior gasped in alarm and drew her curved blade, but when I glanced at her, she felt a chill run through her body and dared not advance.

Redleaf and Jasmine forced themselves to appear composed as they stepped in front of the middle-aged woman.

"This painting is ugly as hell. Who drew this? Am I really that hideous? Oh, 'Blood Fiend Demon Doctor,' what a name—I like it," I said, holding the painting and clicking my tongue in mock appraisal.

Just then, the middle-aged woman pushed Redleaf and Jasmine aside and said, "I think there must be some misunderstanding here. If you truly were a demon, you wouldn't have saved me, and our tribe would have suffered by now."

"Sis, you're the smart one here. Not like these two—flat-chested and empty-headed," I sneered, glancing at Redleaf and Jasmine.

"Then what's going on, in your words? The people from the Daoist Academy wouldn't just slander you without reason," Redleaf said.

"What is the Daoist Academy?" I asked.

"You don't know?" Redleaf stared at me in disbelief.

At this point, Jasmine explained, "The Xiliang Daoist Academy, Nansu Temple. The founder is Master Mo Wujin. There's a central academy and ten satellite academies. It's very hard to get in—only those with the most exceptional talent can attend for free. Ordinary students pay over a million a year."

Damn! That's a gold mine. One student, a million a year. Eleven academies—if each has a thousand students, that's... a billion a year!

Wait, why do I care if they're making money? The real issue is, when did I cross paths with the Xiliang Daoist Academy? And when did I become the bloodthirsty, heart-stealing Demon Doctor?

Thinking back, it could only be those three who attacked me out on the Gobi, when I was tracing the source of the Yin Veins.

Damn it. They must be from the academy and pinned all the blame on me.

"If I say I'm being framed, would you believe me?" I asked.

"I would," Jasmine replied.

"I wouldn't," said Redleaf.

But I knew, deep down, neither really believed me. Jasmine, ever the innocent, knew she couldn't say she didn't believe, while Redleaf was just blunt to the core.

Boom—

Suddenly, something exploded in the sky outside.

Everyone rushed out to see a blinding firework in the air forming the character for "Dao," lingering for ages without dispersing.

My teeth ached. Damn it, must be my unlucky year.

"How dare you! Who sent the signal?" the middle-aged woman with the face full of totems shouted sternly.

A female Yuezhi warrior stepped forward, trembling as she glanced at me. "It was me. I'm sure the person in the drawing is her."

"Since when do you get to make decisions on such major matters?" the middle-aged woman thundered.

Redleaf stepped up and slapped the Yuezhi warrior twice across the face.

"Let it go," I waved my hand. "It's not her fault. I should be going."

No sooner had I spoken than the roar of several off-road vehicles approached rapidly.

Nine people leapt from the vehicles, rushing into the Yuezhi tribe and surrounding me on all sides.

"Small fry," I thought, sizing them up. All nine were only beginner-level Yin-Yang Masters; only three had reached the third level, the rest were first or second.

"Form the array! Trap the demon first—when backup arrives, he's dead," the leader, a young man in Daoist robes, commanded.

In a flash, the nine of them took up positions in the nine palaces, their spiritual energy surging to form a spell array.

I sneered, raised my foot, and suddenly launched the Nether Ghost Step, darting like a wraith toward the southeast.

Immediately, several of them channeled their power in that direction.

But at that instant, my body twisted in a strange arc, and the Blood Fiend Blade in my hand flashed like a streak of scarlet lightning toward the other side.

Boom—

The aura around two of them shattered, and my blade was at a young man's throat.

He went pale, lips quivering.

Smack—I struck his forehead with the flat of my blade. He collapsed limply.

With my other hand, I grabbed another by the throat and flung him aside.

The array broke instantly!

The remaining seven staggered back in terror. They’d heard the Blood Fiend Demon Doctor was formidable, but not like this—nine against one and not even a contest.

I ignored them and made to escape.

But just then, a spear shot down from the sky, trailing golden flames.

It struck the ground and a blast of energy erupted.

I retreated swiftly, summoning a Greenwood Shield talisman to deflect the shockwave.

But nearby, two Yuezhi female warriors were hurled away screaming, blood streaming down their faces.

At the gate, a tall, imposing figure appeared, striding in.

"That's Qu Yuanshan, Qu Xiangtian's elder brother. They say he's half a step into the seventh level—this demon's finished."

"Qu Yuanshan, the one whose spear stands undefeated even as the sun sets behind distant hills!"

"That's right. Master Mo once wanted to take him as a disciple, but the mad Daoist from the Three Pure Ones sect snatched him away. Later, Qu Yuanshan sent his brother Qu Xiangtian to the academy instead."

Hearing these murmurs, my heart sank, though I felt no fear.

Back at the Ninth Bureau, I'd fought with Shangguan Qinghong, a peak sixth-level master. Of course, if Old Li hadn't shown up, I'd have been done for.

At that moment, Qu Yuanshan raised his hand, and the golden spear embedded in the earth shuddered, flying to his grip.

"Blood Fiend Demon Doctor? State your name. Under my spear, only the worthy survive," Qu Yuanshan said coldly.

"Didn't you just announce my name? I'm the Blood Fiend Demon Doctor," I replied with a laugh, every muscle tensed, my blade vibrating in my hand.

Qu Yuanshan frowned and suddenly advanced, his presence overwhelming. The spear in his hand became a searing point of gold, thrusting straight for my brow.

The golden tip expanded in my eyes, and in less than a heartbeat, pain like a knife split my forehead.

I twisted my head at the last moment—the golden light grazed my skin, drawing a string of blood beads across my brow.

"Impressive, you dodged my strike. No wonder you could cripple my fourth-level brother. So it wasn't just luck," Qu Yuanshan remarked in surprise.

Ignoring the blood trickling down my forehead, I chuckled darkly. "I'm not just good—I'm better than that."

"Show me, then." Before he finished speaking, his spear shot out, dozens of golden sparks enveloping me.

My gaze sharpened. With a flick of my fingers, I unleashed a wooden sword, no longer than a finger at first, which instantly transformed into a massive blade over ten meters long.

It swept toward Qu Yuanshan.

His spear lights vanished in an instant, his face turning ashen.

He barely had time to react before the giant sword came crashing down.

A gale tore through the ground, the sword's aura grinding the surrounding stone slabs to rubble.

Boom—

The blade struck, and Qu Yuanshan was driven deep into the earth, bleeding from every orifice, his internal organs wrecked.

A golden aura shrouded him, the life-saving talisman given by his master reduced to dust.

As the sword fell, I was already bolting for the gate.

If I didn't escape now, when would I?

What, stand and fight to the death? Do I look like a fool?

"You little bastard! I'll skin you alive!" Qu Yuanshan roared, leaping from the ground. That was his last talisman, reserved for survival in the Nether Rift, now destroyed by a mere third-level Yin-Yang Master—no wonder he was furious.

He took two strides and soared after me, his spear a streak of golden flame.

I dashed forward, rolling to evade as the spear’s magic exploded, shattering the entire gate.

Though I dodged, the shockwave sent me flying.

Qu Yuanshan arrived in a flash, seized his spear, and lunged at me again with a furious cry.

Every hair on my body stood on end. I squeezed every drop of power from my dantian.

In that instant, a vortex ripped through my core, and a strange new sensation flooded my body and mind.

Energy surged like a great river in flood.

A breakthrough!

Clang—

My Blood Fiend Blade found the spear’s tip, blocking the fatal attack!

Agony wracked my body, and I was thrown back again, spitting blood.

But I’d borrowed the force, flying dozens of meters away.

The moment my feet touched the ground, I shot forward like a bolt of lightning.

Qu Yuanshan nearly coughed up blood. That guy—he’d broken through at the crucial moment, turning him into nothing but a whetstone.

"Using me to hone your blade? Outrageous!" Qu Yuanshan gave chase.

But to his dismay, my post-breakthrough speed was incredible—he couldn't keep up.

Just then, a group appeared ahead. The leader, a young man with half-black, half-white hair, looked on with a cold gaze.

"Nangong Haoran, stop him for me!" Qu Yuanshan shouted in delight.

Nangong Haoran, with his two-toned hair, frowned. He didn't like Qu Yuanshan, but still prepared to act.

"Hey, I'm one of yours! I'm from the Ninth Bureau!" I yelled. I remembered Nangong Haoran from the Ninth Bureau's app—his striking hair was unforgettable.

He hesitated and did not attack.

I darted behind him, panting hard. My speed had drained me to my limits—it couldn't last.

Qu Yuanshan soon caught up, thrusting his spear at me.

Nangong Haoran raised his hand and caught the spear bare-handed. "He says he's with the Ninth Bureau. Let me confirm his identity first," he said coldly.

"I don't care if he's with the Ninth Bureau—he crippled my brother!" Qu Yuanshan spat.

"That's your problem. If he's Ninth Bureau, I have to intervene," Nangong Haoran said, knocking the spear aside and turning to me.