"So it's you, you wretched, conniving scoundrel!" The woman's voice, shrill with rage, sliced through the air like a whip as she drove her hefty, gleaming big knife into the ground with a resounding "clang".
Her hands, quivering uncontrollably, were a testament to the seething fury coursing through her veins. Pointing an accusatory finger at Qin Yu, she unleashed a torrent of angry words.
"All because of your despicable trickery! I was berated by the teacher and even brought the military into this mess! You're a detestable, damned demon!"
Listening intently to the woman's outburst, Qin Yu furrowed his brows and cast a scrutinizing gaze over her. Suddenly, a light of recognition flashed in his eyes, and his face lit up with a look of sudden realization.
Oh, of course! Wasn't she that hapless girl who, in a fit of panic induced by him, had stomped on the brakes, triggering a disastrous chain - reaction car accident? At the time, he hadn't given it much thought.
He'd mistaken the appendages on her head for some cute, outlandish hat. Now, looking at them up - close, it was crystal - clear that they were not hats at all, but two large, floppy ears!
Wait a minute, those ears... Rubbing his chin thoughtfully, Qin Yu hesitated for a moment before blurting out, "Such elongated, droopy ears, hanging down so limply. You folks wouldn't happen to be dachshunds, would you?"
"You're the dachshund, you horn - less, fiendish brute!" she retorted venomously. "You deceived me, and now you have the audacity to bully my sister! I'll hack off every last one of your horns right this instant!"
Evidently, the girl standing before him had a temper that was as volatile as a powder keg. Perhaps she was ordinarily a paragon of patience and kindness, but when it came to Qin Yu, all bets were off.
With a thunderous, guttural roar, she summoned qi energy, which coiled around her weapon like a living, writhing serpent. The eldest sister of the Dog Clan girls, her eyes blazing with fury, suddenly yanked the knife handle with all her might.
With a sharp, metallic "click", the knife handle telescoped outwards, elongating in a fluid motion.
In the blink of an eye, the once - short - handled big knife had transformed into a magnificent Green Dragon Crescent Blade, its curved edge glinting ominously in the sunlight.
She launched into a flurry of attacks, swinging the massive blade with wild abandon. Each swing was accompanied by a fierce gust of wind, and the air seemed to shriek in protest as the blade sliced through it.
Her relentless assault forced Qin Yu to take hasty, stumbling steps backwards, his eyes wide with a mix of surprise and caution.
Although Qin Yu's physical prowess was truly extraordinary at this moment, with a strength and resilience that far surpassed that of an ordinary person, and his skin was tough as leather, capable of withstanding a great deal of punishment, he was no fool.
He knew full well that no matter how resilient his body might be, it was still made of flesh and blood. Even if he could conceivably endure a direct strike from a blade, the very thought of deliberately using his body as a shield against a sharp, deadly weapon was ludicrous.
What if he were to encounter a truly formidable, otherworldly weapon? The consequences didn't bear thinking about.
Step by step, Qin Yu retreated, his feet scuffing the ground as he struggled to maintain his balance. He'd already retreated a good ten - odd meters, but still, he couldn't seem to shake off the enraged girl's pursuit.
Finally, in a desperate bid to create some distance between them, he unceremoniously hurled the Dog Clan girl he was holding towards her attacker.
The eldest sister, her reflexes honed by years of training, reacted instinctively. With a fluid, practiced motion, she reached out and caught her little sister in mid - air, her eyes filled with concern.
Taking advantage of this momentary distraction, Qin Yu managed to put some much - needed space between himself and his pursuers.
Glaring at the tall, imposing figure of Qin Yu in front of her, the eldest sister leaned her weapon against the ground, using it as a support. Her chest heaving with exertion and anger, she let out a deafening, commanding shout. "Set up the formation!"
"Yes!" Four voices, high - pitched and filled with determination, rang out in perfect unison. The four sisters, their eyes ablaze with a mix of anger and resolve, swiftly drew their weapons.
In a coordinated, practiced move, they fanned out, trapping Qin Yu in the middle of a semi - circular formation, their weapons held at the ready.
"Eldest sister! Quan Xiaoxiao!"
"Second sister! Quan Youyou!"
"Third sister! Quan Qiqi!"
"Fourth sister! Quan Lanlan!"
"Fifth sister! No, no, no! Fifth sister! Quan Keke!"
"The Five - Dog God - Slaying Formation!!!" they chorused, their voices merging into a single, menacing growl.
Once they had taken their positions, they fixed their gazes on Qin Yu, their eyes filled with a cold, unwavering hatred. The air around them seemed to crackle with tension, and the very atmosphere felt charged with a sense of impending battle.
Seeing the gleaming, deadly weapons in their hands, Qin Yu's eyes darted around frantically, searching for a suitable means of defense. His heart pounding in his chest, he scanned the area, his eyes landing on a sturdy tree trunk. Without hesitation, he lunged towards it, his fists clenched.
With a series of powerful, earth - shattering punches, each one accompanied by a grunt of effort, he assaulted the tree trunk.
The force of his blows was so great that the tree shuddered with each impact, its branches swaying wildly. In a matter of seconds, the tree trunk, unable to withstand the onslaught, cracked and splintered.
With a final, guttural roar, Qin Yu inserted his hands into the broken tree trunk, his muscles bulging with the effort. He strained, his face contorted with determination, and with a supreme display of strength, he lifted the three - meter - long broken tree into the air.
"Come on! Let's see who can dish out more pain!" he bellowed, his voice echoing through the clearing.
Such a bold, audacious display startled the group of girls who were on the verge of charging forward.
The four younger sisters, who had already witnessed firsthand the terrifying extent of Qin Yu's brute strength, were visibly shaken. Their eyes wide with fear, their hands trembled slightly as they clutched their weapons, and they took an involuntary step backwards.
Only the eldest sister, Quan Xiaoxiao, remained undaunted. Her courage undimmed by the display of strength, she brandished her big knife with a fierce, determined look on her face. With a wild, battle - cry, she charged towards Qin Yu, her feet pounding the ground as she closed the distance between them.
The tree trunk that Qin Yu held was incredibly heavy, a massive, unwieldy weapon. But for all its bulk, it was still just a tree trunk, not a refined, crafted weapon. It was like comparing a boulder to a finely - honed sword.
No matter how large and imposing the boulder might be, in a direct confrontation with a sharp, well - balanced weapon, it was at a distinct disadvantage.
Quan Xiaoxiao, her weapon infused with the power of qi energy, was like a force of nature. With each swing of her blade, the air seemed to part before it, and the energy crackled around her like an electric current.
After several fierce, bone - jarring clashes, the tree trunk, unable to withstand the onslaught of the qi - enhanced blade, began to splinter. Large chunks of wood flew off in all directions, and deep gashes appeared in the surface of the trunk, a testament to the power of her attacks.
Qin Yu, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the situation, quickly realized the futility of continuing to use the tree trunk as a weapon in this manner. He wasn't about to stand idly by and let Quan Xiaoxiao reduce the tree trunk to splinters. With a sudden, decisive movement, he changed his strategy.
Grabbing the tree trunk horizontally, he adopted a stance similar to that of a charging knight. His eyes fixed on Quan Xiaoxiao, he lifted the tree trunk and thrust it forward with all his might, aiming to drive her back.
The force behind the strike was immense, and the air seemed to rush in its wake.
This powerful, forceful strike was a veritable juggernaut. Any prudent fighter would have recognized the wisdom of dodging such a powerful attack. But Quan Xiaoxiao, her confidence in her own abilities bordering on overconfidence, was not one to back down from a challenge. Without a moment's hesitation, she met the attack head - on, her eyes blazing with a fierce determination.
The moment their weapons collided, a deafening sound rang out, like the clash of thunder. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the air, and both combatants were jolted by the force of the collision. Quan Xiaoxiao's face, which had been set in a mask of determination, suddenly changed. Her eyes widened in surprise, and a look of shock and disbelief crossed her features.
With a sharp, cracking sound, the blade of her big knife plunged half a meter into the tree trunk, but then, as if hitting a wall of solid iron, it lost all its momentum. Not only had she failed to split the entire tree trunk in two, but now her blade was firmly lodged in the wood, stuck fast and impossible to withdraw.
To make matters worse, as the two forces collided, Quan Xiaoxiao finally grasped the true extent of the monstrous strength that Qin Yu possessed. What kind of otherworldly power was this? she thought, her mind reeling from the impact.
Boom! A powerful shockwave radiated outwards from the point of impact. A strong wind surged, whipping the surrounding plants and trees into a frenzy. The leaves rustled wildly, and the branches swayed dangerously. Quan Xiaoxiao, caught off - guard by the overwhelming force of the strike, was lifted off her feet.
She flew through the air like a rag - doll, still clutching her stuck - fast weapon. Hanging precariously on the broken tree, she crashed through six large trees in quick succession, each impact sending a shower of splinters and debris flying.
Finally, she came to a shuddering stop, sandwiched between two massive tree trunks. Her mouth hanging open in shock, a thick, crimson stream of blood spurted from her lips. Her legs, which had been bent at odd angles during the impact, now lay straight, a sign of the great force she had endured.
"You little upstart! Dare to challenge me in a test of strength? I could uproot not just a weeping willow, but even a sturdy utility pole!" Qin Yu roared triumphantly, his voice filled with a mix of pride and arrogance.
Having scored a decisive hit, Qin Yu wasn't about to let up. He knew the age - old adage "when you have your enemy on the ropes, keep punching", and he intended to follow it to the letter.
With a wild, feral look in his eyes, he swung the tree trunk in his hand, transforming it into a lethal warhammer. He aimed it at Quan Xiaoxiao, who was sliding down the tree, her body limp and her strength waning. If this strike landed, it would surely spell the end of her participation in the battle.
Boom!
Another deafening explosion of sound filled the air as the tree trunk hurtled towards its target.
But just as it was about to connect, a cloud of dust billowed up, obscuring the view. Qin Yu, his eyes wide with surprise, quickly retreated, his feet moving in a blur. In his haste, he even abandoned the tree trunk, which fell to the ground with a heavy thud.
In front of him, a massive dirt wall had materialized out of nowhere. It stood tall and imposing, a solid barrier between him and his opponent. The wall had intercepted the tree trunk's deadly trajectory, taking the full brunt of the impact.
The audience, who had been watching the live - streamed battle with bated breath, erupted into a chorus of gasps and exclamations. "It's an external martial art! This is definitely an external martial art!" one voice cried out, filled with a mix of shock and excitement.
"Didn't they say that external martial arts can't be easily unleashed like internal martial arts? Only those who have reached the third - level of martial arts can master them!" another voice chimed in, its tone laced with disbelief.
"Right! External martial arts are the exclusive domain of third - level martial artists. That's precisely why those below the third - level are all considered mere apprentices. The gulf in strength between those who can wield external martial arts and those who can't is as vast as the ocean!" a third voice added, its words punctuated by a sense of awe.
"Then she... Holy smokes! A third - level martial artist! She's a third - level martial artist!" a final voice exclaimed, its tone a mixture of shock and admiration.
As soon as these words were spoken, a wave of astonishment swept through the viewing audience. The news that a relatively unknown student had reached the exalted rank of a third - level martial artist and, even more incredibly, had mastered an external martial art was nothing short of astonishing. Such a feat was the mark of a true prodigy, a once - in - a - generation talent.
Qin Yu, who had retreated more than ten meters, his chest heaving with exertion, also frowned deeply. His fists, clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white, were a testament to his growing concern. His eyes, sharp as a hawk's, were fixed intently on the dirt wall in front of him.
For martial artists, the divide between the first and second levels and the third level was a chasm. Those at the first and second levels were still in the nascent stages of their martial arts journey, mere apprentices in the grand scheme of things. When first - and second - level martial artists engaged in combat, the outcome often hinged on brute strength, physical endurance, and basic combat skills.
But once a martial artist ascended to the third - level, a whole new world of power and capabilities opened up. At this level, they gained the ability to manipulate the qi of heaven and earth, a power that was both ancient and mysterious.
This new - found power multiplied their destructive capabilities exponentially. If a first - level martial artist might, under certain circumstances, have a slim chance of overcoming a second - level opponent through a combination of luck, skill, and determination, the odds of a hundred second - level martial artists defeating a single third - level martial artist were infinitesimal.
The only exception was if the third - level martial artist had yet to fully master the power of their external martial art.
The thick, billowing smoke in front of Qin Yu gradually dissipated, revealing the dirt wall that still stood, resolute and unyielding. Despite the ferocious impact it had endured, the wall remained intact, a silent testament to the power of the external martial art that had created it.
Before the last vestiges of dust had even settled, a furious, thunderous roar echoed from behind the dirt wall. "External martial art! Earth Flow!"
Boom! The ground trembled as the owner of the voice charged forward, her shoulder lowered like a battering ram. The force of her charge was so great that the dirt around the wall was sent flying in all directions.
The entire dirt wall, which had withstood the earlier impact, now began to crumble. Large chunks of earth broke off, and the wall disintegrated into countless pieces.
But the transformation didn't end there. In a display of truly extraordinary power, the pieces of the broken wall began to change shape in mid - air. They twisted and contorted, and within seconds, they had transformed into a hail of cone - shaped mud and stone projectiles.
With a speed and force that was almost supernatural, these projectiles shot towards Qin Yu, filling the air with a deadly rain of flying debris.
The overwhelming barrage of mud cones was astonishingly fast. They hurtled through the air like bullets, their trajectory straight and true. The power behind them was comparable to that of a shotgun blast, and the air seemed to whistle in protest as they sliced through it.
With no time to dodge and no place to hide, Qin Yu, his heart pounding in his chest, reacted instinctively. He quickly raised his arms, crossing them in front of his face in a desperate attempt to shield himself from the onslaught.
The sound of the impact was deafening. A continuous "crackling" filled the air, like the sound of a thousand twigs snapping simultaneously. The surrounding tree trunks, caught in the crossfire, were riddled with holes.
The mud cones, made of compacted earth and stone, either embedded themselves deep in the tree trunks or, in some cases, punched straight through them, emerging on the other side.
The power of these mud cones! It was clear that they were no ordinary projectiles. Their force was comparable, if not superior, to that of bullets. Each impact left a deep, ragged hole in the tree trunks, a testament to the destructive power of the external martial art that had created them.