Chapter Forty-One: Burn, My Life

"Stop laughing!" Seeing Qin Xiaochuan kneeling on the ground and watching the scene, actually mocking him, the two Vermilion Bird phantoms restraining Qin Xiaochuan increased the current flowing through his body once again. "Don't forget your life and death are in my hands." Suddenly, the current surged with abnormal strength. The Vermilion Bird seated on the chair sneered at Qin Xiaochuan, who was nearly losing consciousness from the electric shock. "I've changed my mind, brat. I should kill you first, toss your corpse into the dark swamp of the Demon Realm, and then turn this world into hell! Die!"

"Idiot, can't you even endure this little bit of suffering..." As Qin Xiaochuan gradually lost consciousness, it was as if he returned to that hellish training ground. Master Jinghai's mocking voice echoed in his ears. "The real contest begins when you think you can't take it anymore. Another round, brat! Didn't you eat? Again, again!"

"No, I can't take it. I'm dying..."

"You must persevere until death..."

"What!?"

"To be precise, you must persist until you are near death. Only at the brink of your limit can you truly unleash the power of training. Athletes have similar methods, though theirs are safer. The basics and philosophy are much the same—it's all about will and prayer. Concentrated, wholehearted prayer is the only way to control your body's ultimate strength. The pain you're experiencing now is still far from enough..."

'During the battle against the demon child, I was battered and bruised, and before I even had time to recover, I was forced into this training. The worst part is missing the live finals of the martial arts championship, and now she talks of near-death training!' "Who wants to do your death training, you old witch..." With a furious shout, a drained Qin Xiaochuan, who was practicing One-Finger Zen, somehow found strength and sprang up, aiming a spirit-bullet gesture at Master Jinghai on the ground.

"There, see? All this hidden power—proof you haven't given your all, idiot!"

"Enough! I've had it with all this so-called training! I'm going to defeat you and go home! No more lectures, prepare yourself, old witch!" As he spoke, light surged from Qin Xiaochuan's right index finger, as if he truly intended to fire the spirit bullet.

"Oh, I forgot—if you fire a spirit bullet in that state, you’ll be dead, brat!" Glancing at Qin Xiaochuan suspended in midair, Master Jinghai vanished, reappearing behind him. "Here it comes!" With that, she punched Qin Xiaochuan to the floor. Watching him roll his eyes, she landed and folded her hands behind her back. "Listen well: to unleash your hidden extraordinary power, concentrated prayer and focus are the only way..."

"To unleash extraordinary power through prayer and focus..."

Awakening from Master Jinghai's teaching, Qin Xiaochuan seemed to understand a bit of what she meant about extraordinary power.

Seeing Qin Xiaochuan revive, one of the Vermilion Bird phantoms stepped in front of him, drawing the thunder bow and aiming once more at his body. "Die, you!"

At this moment of life and death, images of his friends Zhang Yang, Bai Ying, Feiyan, and those most precious to him—Xia Dan and Fan Fan—flashed through Qin Xiaochuan's mind. A surge of spiritual power beyond himself erupted from within. He shouted toward the sky, and the flashing light in his hands blasted the two Vermilion Bird phantoms gripping his arms away.

"What!? He unleashed even stronger spiritual power than before—this guy!"

"Let's settle this, Vermilion Bird!" Qin Xiaochuan assumed the stance for the Spirit Light Wave Fist, lowering into a horse stance, his left hand covering his glowing right hand, facing all seven Vermilion Birds rushing toward him. Even the real Vermilion Bird, usually lurking and not participating, joined the attack, recognizing the danger Qin Xiaochuan posed. All seven infused their hands with lightning, fourteen hands lunging to eradicate Qin Xiaochuan in one strike.

"Spirit Light Wave Fist!" As the seven descended, Qin Xiaochuan's right hand flashed, unleashing the full force of the punch he'd learned from Master Jinghai, concentrating his spiritual energy into one point for a devastating attack. Especially against multiple opponents, it was a formidable technique. His right hand glowed, the fist enveloped in his entire spiritual power, smashing into all seven Vermilion Birds, sending them and the demon flute flying into the air. When they crashed to the ground, they lay motionless; it seemed Qin Xiaochuan's punch had slain Vermilion Bird and all his phantoms.

"Su...ccess...you...bastard!" Seeing all seven Vermilion Birds defeated, Qin Xiaochuan seemed to have expended both his physical and spiritual strength, losing the will to stand. Trembling, he crawled to the ground. Remembering Fan Fan's comforting words, he raised his head again. In the mirror, Fan Fan and Xia Dan were cornered by Teacher Li and a group of puppets. "No, if this keeps up, Fan Fan is in danger!" Thinking this, Qin Xiaochuan saw the demon flute lying nearby. Only by destroying it could the puppets controlled by demon insects awaken and Fan Fan and Xia Dan escape.

Determined, Qin Xiaochuan crawled toward the demon flute with all his remaining strength. Just as he was about to grab it, a foot stepped on the back of his hand. When he looked up to see who it was, he was kicked in the stomach and sent flying.

"What a pity, among the seven, only I escaped fatal injury. Your punch was full of spiritual power, but its weakness is accuracy!"

Hearing the familiar voice, Qin Xiaochuan clutched his stomach and stood, seeing the battered Vermilion Bird sneering before him. "Heh...don't put on airs, Vermilion Bird...looks like you're not much better off than me. Now...our true death match begins!" Qin Xiaochuan shuffled two steps forward, clearly intending to close the distance for his next attack.

"A death match? Hahaha...don't kid yourself," Vermilion Bird laughed loudly at Qin Xiaochuan's words. "You still don't understand the dread of my Seven Demon Fists." He raised his right hand, and ghostly phantoms resembling souls emerged from the six fallen Vermilion Birds, gathering in his hand. After collecting them all, Vermilion Bird formed a seal, and six phantom Vermilion Birds appeared at his side again.

"What...how?" Seeing the seven Vermilion Birds reappear, their injuries gone, Qin Xiaochuan despaired. They could revive like this—how was he supposed to fight?

Noticing Qin Xiaochuan's shocked expression, Vermilion Bird looked quite pleased. "See? Even if you defeat six bodies at once, as long as one remains, I can revive. And I told you—all seven are my true selves. No matter how many times you beat me, I can come back. As your greatest reward, let me send you off with the most powerful Light Thunder Fist!" All seven Vermilion Birds raised their right hands, summoning thunder from the heavens. A massive bolt split the sky, crashing onto the seven, surging currents crackling around them. A storm infused with lightning roared from their bodies, blowing Qin Xiaochuan backward.

'How embarrassing...the wind pressure alone is pushing me away.' Qin Xiaochuan shielded his face, barely able to withstand the gale emanating from the seven Vermilion Birds, his body gradually forced back.

On the monitor, Fan Fan and Xia Dan were surrounded by puppets, exhausted and powerless, clinging to each other and sobbing as they awaited death.

"Ahahahahaha! You two are astonishingly alike—even dying at the same time," Vermilion Bird laughed, raising his right hand for the finishing blow. "Looks like you'll be able to get along well in the next world. This exceeds even my expectations—a perfect ending, ahahahaha!"

Seeing Fan Fan and Xia Dan huddled together in the screen behind Vermilion Bird, and Teacher Li stepping forward with a dagger, a bolt of lightning flashed in Qin Xiaochuan's mind. An unprecedented surge of spiritual power flooded his entire being. "No, I haven't lost—I still have the power of life!"

"What!? He's ignited his very life!" Witnessing the tremendous spiritual energy bursting from Qin Xiaochuan, Vermilion Bird was shaken. Never had he felt such overwhelming power—this was the energy of burning one's life, terrifying indeed. "This brat is too dangerous. Die! Dark Light Thunder Fist!"

Sensing Qin Xiaochuan's lethal power, the seven Vermilion Birds wasted no time, all raising their fists and charging at him.

Watching them rush forward, Qin Xiaochuan cast one last glance at Fan Fan in the scene behind, and, without hesitation, charged at the seven Vermilion Birds. After a burst of dazzling light, the entire Vermilion Bird Palace was completely destroyed by their immense clash. In the final moment of the explosion, Qin Xiaochuan saw the demon flute in Vermilion Bird's hand disintegrate into ashes, and he smiled. At last, he had destroyed the demon flute. Fan Fan—should be safe now. With that thought, Qin Xiaochuan closed his eyes as his body was blasted backward by the explosion's force.