Instant Kill, Did I Underestimate Myself

Muddy Corner Alley.

Cui Peng leaned against a crooked-neck tree, seemingly waiting for something.

"Killing Li Mo and staining my blade with the blood of a genius will elevate my Blood Saber to new heights."

"I just wonder if, apart from the Murong family, he has other experts by his side..."

As these thoughts ran through his mind, a yellow-furred rat crawled up from his pant leg to his shoulder.

After a few squeaks, a sinister smirk curled at the corners of his lips.

The little beggar had succeeded in leaving a trace on the target.

Now, he could use the mutant rat as his eyes, gathering every detail about his prey—his martial arts, whether he had mentors nearby, even his daily habits.

"When you know a person completely, killing them becomes effortless."

Cui Peng gently stroked the Blood Saber hidden beneath his robe, his heart burning with anticipation.

Tap—

Footsteps sounded in the distance.

Cui Peng glanced up—it was the little beggar he had sent out earlier.

Now that his goal was achieved, the beggar had outlived his usefulness.

"Come here for your payment."

He pulled out a string of copper coins from his sleeve and jingled them.

His other hand, however, was already gripping the Blood Saber.

But before he could strike, the yellow-furred rat squeaked urgently into his ear.

His heart lurched, and he whipped his head around.

There, standing silently, was a young man in cloud-patterned brocade robes, his smile warm and unreadable.

"Cui Peng, you look nothing like your portrait."

Li Mo spoke unhurriedly.

He hadn’t expected this.

Originally, he’d been helping the "ice block" search for someone, but now he’d stumbled upon Cui Peng before the Murong family could even send word.

"How did you find me?"

Cui Peng’s voice was like a frigid wind from the depths of the underworld.

Every nerve in his body was stretched taut.

Knowing his enemy had made him feel like a hunter, confident and in control.

But now, with his prey standing before him, the roles had blurred.

Who was the hunter, and who was the hunted?

"There are many things in this world beyond your understanding."

Li Mo shook his head.

In his Divine Eye of Fate, Cui Peng’s information unfolded:

[Name: Cui Peng]

[Age: 28]

[Physique: White Ape Arm]

[Realm: Inner Breath Condensation]

[Fate: Green tinged with gray]

[Evaluation: A ruthless, fortunate blade master—a born killer.]

[Recent Events: His Blood Saber Technique has reached a bottleneck. Still recovering from injuries, desperate, he plans to ambush Li Mo, a true disciple of the Qingyuan Sect, to join the Drizzle Tower.]

Cui Peng’s eyes bore into Li Mo.

A faintly crimson short saber, reeking of blood, slid into his palm.

The alley’s air thickened, heavy with killing intent.

The little beggar stood frozen, his young mind blank with terror, the rice bag slipping from his fingers.

"Go on, leave."

Li Mo walked over and patted the boy’s head.

"Th-thank you..."

The beggar stumbled away, his legs giving out multiple times before he reached the alley’s mouth.

At the exit, he cast one last glance back.

Though he didn’t fully grasp the situation, he instinctively knew—the kind Li Mo of the Qingyuan Sect was the good man, while the one who’d paid him was the villain.

Cui Peng!

That madman who’d recently taken lives!

Snap—

In his panic, the boy stepped on a twig.

The sound shattered the tension in the alley.

"Enough of your tricks."

"Coming alone to face me? Today will be your last!"

Cui Peng’s eyes darkened with malice.

His Blood Saber flashed, carving a vicious arc toward Li Mo’s chest.

The blade shrieked, carrying with it...

The sharp aura of a weapon’s killing intent?

And a faint trace of blood?

Li Mo’s expression turned odd.

Cui Peng wasn’t holding back—for him, a desperate, swift strike was the best strategy.

But what a coincidence...

"So this is how you cultivate your blade technique—by killing."

Li Mo sighed.

He’d planned to test his hammer skills, but now it seemed unnecessary.

With a flick of his wrist, the Scarlet Sky Sword slid into his grasp.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

In the blink of an eye, the Scarlet Sky Sword shattered the inner breath enveloping the saber and clashed with the Blood Saber thrice.

To Cui Peng’s disbelief, the near-famed weapon chipped, tiny gaps marring its edge.

His eyes bulged with fury.

But before he could react, explosive force erupted from their clash.

Crack—

The Blood Saber shattered.

The backlash of weaponized killing intent tore through his arm, rendering it useless.

"You... know the Blood Saber Technique too?"

Cui Peng’s mind reeled.

"What nonsense."

Splat—

Blood sprayed, dripping down the Scarlet Sky Sword’s blade.

Cui Peng died peacefully.

"Even at his peak, an Inner Breath Condensation cultivator wouldn’t stand a chance against me."

Li Mo was slightly surprised.

Had he grown this strong?

That had just been an "ordinary strike," yet he’d effortlessly slain someone a realm above him.

But then again—

Though only at the Blood Qi Realm, he’d surpassed the twelve-meridian limit.

His Extreme Weapon Slaughter Physique naturally unleashed weaponized killing intent, piercing through an Inner Breath cultivator’s defenses.

And he wielded a mystic-grade sword.

These extraordinary advantages had allowed him to achieve the "feat" of a one-strike kill.

"I’d hoped Cui Peng would give me some combat experience."

Shaking his head, Li Mo rifled through the corpse’s belongings—a habit from his gaming days.

"Silver notes... the Blood Saber Technique manual... Bone-Strengthening Pills..."

Most of it was worthless to him.

The Blood Saber Technique, Cui Peng’s prized possession, was merely a mid-tier martial art.

Silver and pills? Li Mo lacked neither.

But then—

His fingers brushed against something hard and sharp.

Pulling it out, he found an iron swallow.

The material was ordinary, just common iron, but the calligraphy etched into it was strikingly fierce.

It read:

["Swallows that once graced noble halls, now nest among common homes."]

"A Drizzle Tower’s Swallow Token."

Li Mo recognized it.

His beautiful master had mentioned it in passing.

The Drizzle Tower was one of the most infamous organizations across the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.

Even their initiation rites were inhumane.

Joining wasn’t a matter of applying—they came for you.

An iron swallow meant you’d been marked.

Willing or not, you’d participate in the "Endless Trial."

The trial? A free-for-all in a designated zone.

Only the last survivors earned membership.

"So the Drizzle Tower’s Endless Trial is coming to Purple Sun Prefecture?"

Li Mo had no interest in such organizations.

Best to let the Qingyuan Sect’s elders handle Cui Peng’s corpse once the constables arrived.

Just then—

"Just ahead!"

The voice of the young beggar rang out.

Accompanying him were Murong Hai and Murong Xiao, grandfather and grandson.

Hearing no movement, Murong Xiao grew impatient.

"Don’t worry, young friend Li Mo is safe."

Murong Hai, a powerhouse of the Observation Divine Realm, possessed keen perception.

He could sense only Li Mo's aura within Mudhorn Alley—steady and undisturbed.

Most likely, Cui Peng had fled...

Before the thought could fully form,

his eyes landed on the young man standing over a corpse, idly twirling an iron swallow in his hand.