Chapter 14: Your Last Meal Before Execution

"Why have we stopped?"

Su Lang, gripping his saber, questioned with poise.

"This place, surrounded by pristine mountains and crystal-clear waters, seems like an excellent burial ground!"

Tan Zicheng slowly turned, his face contorted into a sinister smirk, replete with cold mockery and a cruel glint.

"I was thinking the same thing."

Su Lang laughed heartily, "Actually, I recognized you back when we were in the city hall buying elixirs."

"You knew I was suspicious all along?"

Tan Zicheng sneered, "And yet you dared to take me outside the city? Did you really think you could take us on? Brothers, time to slaughter the lamb!"

"Ha ha ha ha!"

"I wonder how plump this lamb is?"

"The big boss's choice of prey always has something to his name!"

"We must leave him alive; this tender-skinned boy, I want to take my time killing him!"

Four men, trained in the art of body tempering, burst from the forest's shadows, joining Tan Zicheng in surrounding Su Lang, leaving no escape.

"I'm not sure if you are really a problem."

Su Lang's face remained impassive, his voice calm, "But if you're not, that's good; if you are, I'm not afraid."

"Not afraid? Is this the naïveté of youth? Or the foolishness of one who doesn't know fear?"

"Young one, open your eyes wide and look; two of us are intermediate level in body tempering, three are early-stage. You think we can't handle you?"

"How boastful you are! If you know what's good for you, hand over your blade, and I'll make it quick for you."

The band of brigands looked at each other, surprise turning into incessant mockery.

"You rich young master, you really don't know when to quit, do you?"

Tan Zicheng slowly drew a gleaming dagger, "Before I kill you, I must thank you for the tempering pills and that sumptuous lunch!"

"Do you know why I treated you to such a lavish meal?"

Su Lang's eyes twinkled with mirth, "If you were no problem, it would be a reward; if you were a problem, it would be your last meal before execution!"

"Last meal before execution?"

Tan Zicheng's eyes flashed with murderous intent, "Such arrogance! Attack him, but leave him alive!"

The remaining four brigands charged at Su Lang with menacing smiles.

"Ha ha, you think you've got me cornered?"

With a swift motion, Su Lang drew his long blade, shouting, "Break through!"

In an instant, he emitted a unique fluctuation that signified a breakthrough in the body tempering stage.

Originally, Su Lang's breakthrough to the Later-stage Body Tempering would take only 4 hours, but after taking the pills, it reduced by half to just under 2 hours.

The time since their meal and walk out of the city had already been more than 2 hours.

Su Lang's cultivation had already reached the brim; breaking through was merely a matter of intention.

However, such an on-the-spot breakthrough was as simple as eating and drinking for Su Lang but unimaginable for Tan Zicheng and his cohorts.

"Is that the breakthrough fluctuation!?"

"Damn it, he's advanced to late-stage body tempering!"

"How is it possible? How could he break through at this time?"

"I never saw him cultivating from the beginning to the end, just walking; how could he possibly break through?"

Tan Zicheng and his men were taken aback, terrified, their scalps tingling with horror.

An Middle-stage Body Tempering person fighting against a late-stage one was not just biting off more than they could chew; it was utterly foolhardy!

However, the die was cast; the five of them had made their move, and there was no turning back.

Weapons clashed in an instant, steel met steel!

"Die!"

Su Lang slashed with his blade, eschewing any fancy moves.

"No!"

Two of the beginner body temperers saw the gleaming saber drawing nearer, their pupils shrinking in terror.

But Su Lang was too fast; they had no time to dodge.

"Splat!"

With a flash of the blade, two bodies fell, severed heads spilling blood.

Su Lang's momentum was unbroken, his blade slamming into Tan Zicheng's dagger.

"Clang!"

A metallic reverberation rang through the forest, Tan Zicheng's dagger breaking into shards, spiraling skyward.

"Die!!"

Another intermediate-level body-refiner seized the opportunity, slashing at Su Lang's neck.

"You think I only know how to use a sword?"

Su Lang sneered, twisting his body and landing a back kick that sent the bandit flying.

The last early-stage bandit charged with eyes closed, only for Su Lang to effortlessly dodge.

"Run!"

Tan Zicheng, seeing the situation turning dire, turned to flee.

"You think you can escape?"

Su Lang gave chase, his Late-stage Body Tempering granting him the speed and explosiveness of a cheetah.

Tan Zicheng was only at the intermediate level; how could he outrun Su Lang? In mere seconds, he was caught and his legs severed!

"Aah!!"

Tan Zicheng screamed in agony, blood spraying like fountains from the severed limbs.

Su Lang, without pausing, spun back, ruthlessly pursuing the remaining two bandits.

They were even weaker than Tan Zicheng and fell to Su Lang's blade in mere moments.

"Heh heh, time to deal with you!"

Su Lang, smiling, strolled to the legless Tan Zicheng.