Splitting the Heave

Seeing the change in the situation, Sang Youqi released his inner qi and rushed towards Jin Guanchao. 

The change happened too suddenly. Yuan Zhen and Yun Yifei couldn’t wait for Yuan Zilu’s order and they acted on instinct.

By the time they moved, Yuan Zilu’s voice rang in the air. “Sang Youqi is a traitor too!” 

When Yuan Zilu, Yuan Zhen, and Yun Yifei rushed over, Jia Yuntian had already destroyed the bridge connecting the Kaiyuan Peak to the Qiling Peak. It was then he took Sang Youqi hostage and threatened the three of them.

In order to save Sang Youqi’s life and regain control over the Kaiyuan Peak, the three of them forgot one small detail. Tang Yuan was at the peak of the Martial Intent Realm! Even if he was ambushed by Jia Yuntian, he would be able to fight back!

One had to know that Tang Yuan was no fool. He might be a little hot-headed, but he wasn’t stupid! He would have raised his guard to the maximum once he learned that there were traitors amongst them.

Unless both of his companions were spies of the Rose Party, he wouldn’t have lost!

Moreover, there should be close to thirty disciples other than the three Martial Intent Realm cultivators on the Kaiyuan Peak. Since the time they arrived, they haven't seen a single one! 

It was clear that everyone on the Kaiyuan Peak had been killed.

For so many people to die without any sign of struggle, there had to be another expert among the spies!

When Sang Youqi revealed his true intentions the moment Shang Xia appeared, Yuan Zilu came to a realization! They almost fell into the enemy’s trap!

The other party was clearly trying to buy time for themselves. At the same time, they could save another spy of the Rose Party.

Since Jia Yuntian learned that the Tongyou Peak caught wind of their plans to destroy the protection formation, they send countless hidden experts over to protect the bridges. He knew that the only way to wash away Sang Youqi’s suspicion was for him to take him hostage.

According to their plan, Sang Youqi would reveal his strength when he passed Jin Guanchao before bringing him back to the Kaiyuan Peak.

If he was fast enough and Yuan Zhen and the others reacted a little too slowly, the chips in Jia Yuntian’s hand would increase! Their chances of retreating unscathed would double, or maybe even triple!

Even if the other side reacted quickly enough and jumped on the bridge, Sang Youqi had already crossed half the bridge! They wouldn’t be able to catch up in time!

Moreover, Jia Yuntian was waiting on the other side to receive them!

No matter how many times they ran the scenario in their heads, the two of them didn’t expect Shang Xia to bash his way into their plan. Before Sang Youqi got to the middle of the bridge, Shang Xia ignored everyone and rushed over in an attempt to kill Jin Guanchao.

He didn’t expect Sang Youqi to be part of their group! Now that two of his comrades were on the bridge, Jia Yuntian couldn’t destroy it if he wanted to!

When Yun Yifei tried to grab Shang Xia earlier, they thought that it was a genuine mistake, causing Sang Youqi to continue acting.

By the time he realized that something was wrong, Shang Xia had already used the talisman given to him by Shang Xi. He approached Jin Guanchao with the speed of the Martial Intent Realm cultivator!

Sang Youqi could no longer be bothered with his identity and he tried to save Jin Guanchao. 

Unfortunately for him, he was too late.

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Shang Xia, who had taken the initiative, arrived beside Jin Guanchao.

A massive bolt of red lightning tore through the air and it slammed straight into Jin Guanchao.

“I said this before. Jin Guanchao has to die!” The bolt of lightning flew through the air as a charred body fell from the bridge. As they were suspended close to a thousand feet in the air, Jin Guanchao’s fate could be imagined.

“No! You… You deserve to die too!” Sang Youqi yelled as he lunged towards Shang Xia. 

He wanted nothing more than to tear the body of his comrade’s killer to shreds!

“Dodge!” Yuan Zhen exclaimed instinctively. 

However, the bridge was merely five wide! Even if he wanted to dodge, where was he supposed to go? 

Shang Xia knew that the only thing he could rely on was the talisman his aunt gave him. It not only allowed him to achieve the speed of a Martial Intent Realm cultivator, it allowed him to become more nimble than them!

Sang Youqi’s attack struck the air as the wooden planks below him blew up. A gaping hole was formed on the bridge.

That wasn’t the end. Leaping into the air, Sang Youqi reached his claw towards Shang Xia’s skull!

This time, he really sealed off all paths of retreat.

“Let’s see where you run to now!” Sang Youqi growled. He seemed to have already seen the outcome of the exchange where he smashed Shang Xia’s skull into a mess of blood and bone.

However, Jia Yuntian’s voice sounded out behind him. “Come back you dumbfuck! He’s already dead! We have to go!” 

“The kid is baiting you, you fool! Come back right now so I can cut the bridge!” 

Jia Yuntian’s voice rang out twice, but he realized that he was too late. Yuan Zhen and Yun Yiufei were charging right at him. 

Sang Youqi was at a loss for what to do, but he eventually decided to kill the kid who finished off his comrade.

“Hold it right there!” Yuan Zhen roared. Even though he knew that shouting wouldn’t solve the problem, he didn’t have a better idea.

In a fit of desperation, Shang Xia leaped into the air, away from the bridge.

“Huh?” Sang Youqi’s attack landed in the air again, but seeing as Shang Xia had jumped off the bridge, he knew that the kid’s fate was sealed. All he had to do was to think of a plan to escape.

All of a sudden, Shang Xia’s legs moved in a weird fashion and he seemed to pull him back a little.

“Irregular Step? So what?” Sang Youqi sneered in contempt. No matter how special it was, it couldn’t allow him to walk on air! Moving slightly was already the greatest help it provided.

“Clang!” When Sang Youqi couldn’t be bothered with Shang Xia any longer, the Delicate Jade River Sword flew towards the chain holding the bridge together.

The Yin Yang Diagram in his dantian spun around and a strand of soft qi caused the blade of his sword to wrap around the chain.

Shang Xia’s body trembled in mid air as he threw himself back onto the bridge. When he did, he appeared behind Sang Youqi.

The instant he stepped onto the bridge, the qi he utilized changed. The sword turned completely taut and it slashed towards Sang Youqi’s back.

Sang Youqi didn’t have the luxury of turning around to see what Shang Xia was doing when he felt the chilly killing intent coming from behind him.

“You little…” Sang Youqi yelled but he couldn’t do a thing. Learning from Shang Xia, he grabbed the chain before throwing himself off the bridge.

Shang Xia wasn’t surprised when he missed. He didn’t attack again. Instead, he retreated while tossing out a talisman at Sang Youqi.

“Lightning!” As he poured his inner qi into the talisman, the rumbling of lightning arrived.

Countless bolts of lightning emerged and caused Sang Youqi’s arm to go numb. He couldn’t use any more strength and he had to desperately pull himself back.

Shang Xia was no fool. He wasn’t going to fight head-on with a Martial Intent Realm cultivator no matter how injured or flustered the other party was. He retreated once again, but he stood between Sang Youqi and the Kaiyuan Peak.

After suffering so much at the hands of a mere Shang Xia, killing intent brewed in Sang Youqi’s heart.

He snarled at Shang Xia, planning to get rid of him once and for all when his expression changed. He reached behind him in a desperate attempt to block the sneaky fist.

“Ah!” Turning around, he discovered that his palm was stuck to the other party’s hand!

Another figure shot past him entirely. 

Even though it looked slow, the figure disappeared as soon as it landed.

“Bang!” 

That was the last thing he heard as his consciousness slowly faded.