Chapter 111: Ace Showdown in the Abyss

"Pfft!"

The tip of the Raikiri pierced through the black fabric and drove into Cheng Feng's chest. A trickle of blood seeped from the wound, staining the black garment crimson.

Not enough...

A glint of ruthlessness flashed in Cheng Feng’s eyes as he pressed down on the hilt, forcing the blade deeper. It tore through flesh, ribcage, and lung, until it had run through his entire torso, the tip protruding from his back.

The condition to awaken the power of his bloodline was to inflict severe trauma upon his own body; this was how Cheng Feng activated this hidden strength.

"Cheng Feng, what are you doing, Cheng Feng?!"

Xue Ju’s voice rang out in his mind, filled with astonishment. She had never anticipated that Cheng Feng would suddenly show signs of suicidal tendencies.

"I’m fine... don't make a fuss."

No sooner had he spoken than he felt a surge of powerful, sanguine energy rushing through his limbs and bones. Indeed, the bodily trauma had successfully triggered the bloodline power within him. His skin began to flush with heat, emitting wisps of milky-white steam, much like the activation of a second gear.

The side effects began: his heart suddenly started to hammer violently, his blood circulation accelerated, and his mouth went dry, craving the taste of fresh blood. Deep within Cheng Feng’s silver eyes, a blood-red hue began to emerge, his pale complexion twisted into a ferocious grimace, and his striking black hair showed signs of turning white.

A raw, intense desire for slaughter rapidly climbed within his mind, filling him with an overwhelming urge to kill and drink blood. This impulse clung to him like a festering sore, impossible to cast aside.

Struggling to keep his consciousness from being consumed, Cheng Feng felt the violent surge of power within him and slowly pulled the Raikiri from his chest, the gleaming blade stained with dripping blood. The wound healed rapidly. As the bloodline power fully ignited, a blood-saturated aura erupted from his body, the intense shockwave kicking up dust from the ground.

Opposite him, He Molli wore an expression of bewilderment. She couldn't understand why this masked man in black had suddenly chosen to "commit suicide." Even if the suicide attempt had failed, how could he suddenly explode with such terrifying power?

Still, curiosity aside, it wasn't her concern. The anger this masked man had incited in her had not dissipated in the slightest.

"Go to hell!"

He Molli roared, lifting her spirit blade high. It bloomed with cerulean light as the wind element gathered. With a swing, the long-accumulated energy of the Spirit Blade: Gale was released in a single burst.

"Whoosh!"

The energy of the 'Whirlwind Sonata' seemed to find an outlet; a massive cerulean tornado surged forward, striking directly at Cheng Feng.

"Come on!"

Cheng Feng suppressed his killing intent. The energy erupting from his body coalesced into a blood-like protective barrier, shielding him. Simultaneously, he sheathed the Raikiri at his waist, crouching slightly in a stance reminiscent of Iaijutsu, then lunged forward, launching [Thunderbolt Flash]!

Bolstered by his bloodline power, blood-red lightning crackled around him, red electric serpents dancing in the air and granting him even greater strength. Facing the oncoming cerulean tornado, Cheng Feng transformed into a streak of blood-red lightning, charging head-on to meet it.

"Boom!"

With a lightning-fast draw, he executed a thunderous slash. The impact sent a powerful shockwave rippling through the tornado, and the overflowing energy devastated the surrounding buildings.

"How is this possible?"

Seeing her ultimate technique shattered, He Molli’s eyes widened in disbelief. Her strength was clearly far superior to his; how could this masked man's combat power have suddenly reached such a level?

Driven by violent bloodlust, Cheng Feng’s figure followed in the wake of the strike, growing rapidly in the field of view of He Molli’s brilliant green eyes.

...

The sky was still drizzling, the rain falling upon the grim battlefield and bringing with it a somber atmosphere.

Beside the commercial street, in the midst of the wreckage left by the hunters, a human and a monster stood facing each other.

"Black Yaksha... I am more than enough to deal with you alone."

Chu Xinghe flicked his wrist, and a searing flame erupted from his hand. As the fire faded, a long, fiery-red katana remained—the Spirit Blade: [Solar Flare]. His superpower was fire, and his mastery over the flame element had reached an absolute pinnacle.

Hearing Chu Xinghe’s arrogant words, Black Yaksha did not mock him for his hubris, for this man truly possessed such formidable strength.

Chu Xinghe idly spun his blade, saying calmly, "All of you, fall back. Do not get caught in the crossfire."

Hearing his command, the surrounding demon hunters exchanged glances, immediately realizing that a battle of this caliber was beyond their intervention. Obeying Chu Xinghe, they retreated quickly.

Liu Shiyu hesitated for a moment before withdrawing from the combat zone; Xu Ye and the other two elite captains retreated without a second thought.

Ace-level members were the highest combat force of the Disaster Association, and their strength had always been invincible and triumphant. Just like Chu Xinghe, who had never known defeat since joining the Association as a hunter, his rise to the position of Chief Ace proved that his strength was of the highest tier.

The duel between an Ace member and an Abyss-level monster—it would soon be revealed which side, human or monster, was truly superior.

Black Yaksha looked on with a grave expression. Back when he worked at the coffee shop, he had often seen news about Chu Xinghe on the TV screen hanging in the center of the room. The strongest hunter, humanity's hope, monster slayer—the many titles bestowed upon him by the officials all testified to how powerful Chu Xinghe was as the Chief Ace.

At that moment, Chu Xinghe’s eyes erupted with flame-like radiance, which then condensed into intense, fire-red pupils.

Having entered the 'Spiritual Power Liberation' combat mode, Chu Xinghe’s combat aura surged instantly, a flame-like presence enveloping him, as if it could burn everything to ashes.

Black Yaksha’s black-and-red greatsword lit up, and in the blink of an eye, he surged forward at a speed that broke the sound barrier.

"Swish!"

He unleashed a powerful strike, the force so great that it carved a visible fan-shaped arc in the air, whistling toward the man as if to cleave him in two.

Chu Xinghe’s fire-red eyes remained cold and calm as he raised his spirit blade to parry.

"Clang!"

The violent collision between the two erupted with the crisp sound of clashing metal. The terrifying force transmitted from the greatsword caused the ground beneath Chu Xinghe’s feet to crack into a dense web of fissures.

Yet, Chu Xinghe’s expression remained unchanged. The blade of his Solar Flare turned scorching red, blood-red flames suddenly blooming forth and erupting in a powerful explosion of fire.

...

"Brother Shen!"

"Hmm!"

Shen Changqing walked along the path, nodding or exchanging greetings with the people he passed.

But regardless of who they were, no one had any extra expression on their faces, as if they were indifferent to everything.

To this, Shen Changqing had grown accustomed.

For this was the Demon Suppression Division, an institution established to maintain the stability of the Great Qin. Its primary duty was to slaughter demons and ghosts, though it also handled other miscellaneous tasks.

It could be said that every person in the Demon Suppression Division had blood on their hands. When a person becomes accustomed to life and death, they naturally grow indifferent to many things.

When he first arrived in this world, Shen Changqing had found it difficult to adapt, but over time, he had gotten used to it.

The Demon Suppression Division was vast. Those who remained here were either formidable experts or individuals with the potential to become one. Shen Changqing belonged to the latter.

The Division was divided into two roles: the Suppressor and the Demon Slayer. Anyone who entered the Division started as a low-level Demon Slayer, climbing the ranks step by step with the hope of eventually becoming a Suppressor.

Shen Changqing’s predecessor had been a trainee Demon Slayer, the lowest rank among them. Possessing the predecessor's memories, he was very familiar with the environment of the Division.

It didn't take long for Shen Changqing to stop in front of a pavilion.

Unlike the rest of the Demon Suppression Division, which was filled with a murderous atmosphere, this pavilion stood out like a crane among chickens, offering a sense of peace amidst the blood-drenched surroundings.

The gates were wide open, and people occasionally entered and exited. Shen Changqing hesitated for only a moment before stepping inside.

Upon entering the pavilion, the atmosphere shifted instantly. A scent of ink mixed with a faint trace of blood wafted toward him, causing his brows to knit instinctively before he quickly smoothed them out.

The smell of blood on everyone in the Demon Suppression Division was something that could almost never be washed away.