Chapter 164 – How Real Is All This Killing Intent?

Moonlight poured through the shattered ceiling, its cold radiance blooming silently along a trail of metallic chill.

Ye Kuang’s eyes blazed with murderous intent as he abruptly stepped forward, thrusting his blade without the slightest hesitation.

In an instant, the tip pierced completely through Sophia’s spine, continuing its trajectory unimpeded as it shot straight toward Ston.

“Bastard! You damned bastard!!!”

At that moment, Ston felt an icy dread wash over him, his last shred of delusion shattering. He was visibly enraged.

Truth be told, Ston never imagined Ye Kuang could be so merciless.

With no time to dwell on it, Ston released his grip, flapped his wings wildly, and scrambled in panic toward the hole in the ceiling.

Seeing this, Ye Kuang pressed a palm against Sophia’s back, wrenching his blade free—but the outcome was far from ideal.

A foul, metallic scent still clung to the cold steel, fueling his resolve to end Ston at all costs.

He stomped the ground, propelling himself upward in an explosive leap.

By now, Ston was mere moments from escaping through the hall’s opening.

Unexpectedly, Ston twisted sideways in a swift, evasive maneuver.

Whoosh!

A glint of cold light followed, tracing an arc of frigid air through the darkness.

As his strike missed, Ye Kuang kicked off the ceiling, flipping midair to resume his relentless pursuit.

Though Ston dared not look back, he could feel a bone-deep chill creeping up his spine.

Had he not dodged sideways earlier, he would surely have been cleaved in two.

Yet, he never anticipated Ye Kuang’s speed—so astonishing it surpassed lightning itself.

In the blink of an eye, Ye Kuang closed the distance, swinging his blade with brutal force.

“You think I fear you?!” Ston roared, cornered and furious. One of his claws elongated abruptly, morphing into a five-fingered blade.

Clang!

Sparks erupted as it met the Crimson Blade, the impact ringing out violently.

Ston was sent tumbling through the air, flung back several yards from the force of the blow.

Thud. Thud.

Meanwhile, Ye Kuang landed lightly, giving his foe no chance to recover. With his blade angled toward the ground, he charged forth again.

But suddenly, a fierce gale swept through Ston’s position, lifting him bodily into the air.

Swinging his arm repeatedly, Ston unleashed countless wind blades—a storm of slicing energy that swept outward in all directions, ruthless and indiscriminate.

Even Ye Kuang’s expression shifted at the sight. Gripping his blade one-handed, he whirled it furiously.

Yet the onslaught stalled his advance, if only for a moment.

Seizing the opening, Ston snarled, “You think you can kill me? Not a chance!”

Then, his tone shifted, dripping with menace: “Now die!!”

Ye Kuang reacted instantly, sweeping his blade upward. In a shower of sparks, he was forced back several paces, blade and all.

When he looked toward Ston again, he saw the creature ruthlessly tear off its own severed arm.

In the span of a stunned breath, a new right arm regenerated in its place.

“Damned vermin! Wasting so much of my energy… But if I devour your life force, it will all be worth it!” Ston spat with venom.At that moment, hearing those words, Ye Kuang immediately straightened up and swung his blade.

His fighting style fully displayed an attitude of desperately wishing to hack Ston to death with chaotic strikes.

“I have to admit, you’re ruthless enough. To kill me, you’d even mercilessly strike down this woman…” Ston swiftly retreated after taking the blow, unable to conceal his confusion as he questioned: “But I’d like to hear—did you previously intend to kill Sophia too, just to eliminate me?”

Upon hearing this, Ye Kuang paid no attention whatsoever, single-handedly wielding his blade in rapid slashes.

Instead, Ston persisted relentlessly, his questions dripping with ulterior motives: “What’s wrong… if you did, you did; if you didn’t, you didn’t. Are you afraid to admit it, or unwilling to?”

As soon as he finished speaking, Ston launched a flurry of claw strikes at Ye Kuang.

Clang! Clash! Clatter!

For a time, the two exchanged dozens of attacks, each move aimed directly at the other’s vital points, causing the resonant clangs of blades to ring out incessantly.

If that scene could be described in one phrase, it would undoubtedly be: no mercy, only greater ruthlessness.

And it must be said—Ye Kuang’s killing intent toward Ston was genuine and absolute!

Rather than saying Ye Kuang wanted to kill Ston, it would be more accurate to say he was doing it to save Sophia.

As for that earlier blade thrust toward Sophia—it was equally real!

His desire to save Sophia was also real!

Because in that situation, the slightest hesitation from Ye Kuang would have affected the entire course of events. It was better to act on instinct, leaving the enemy no time to react, then seize the moment of their astonishment to achieve an unexpected victory.

Of course, while this process seemed complex, Ye Kuang never hesitated in the slightest. After forcibly repelling Ston, he immediately pressed forward again.

Now, with blades flashing relentlessly, his killing intent was openly undisguised.

“You want to die with clarity, don’t you?” Ye Kuang roared while swinging his blade. “Then I’ll tell you!”

Ston frantically blocked with both claws, but under those heavy, powerful slashes, he deeply understood what true strength meant.

Ye Kuang: “My blade against Sophia was real, but my killing intent toward her was false! What is real is my determination to kill you!”

Clang!

Gripping his blade with both hands, he delivered a fierce downward strike that forced Ston into a purely defensive posture.

Ye Kuang: “Using a woman as a human shield—you’re the most despicable creature I’ve ever seen. Oh… wait, you’re not even human! So I’m killing exactly what you are! How could that be false?”

Crash!

Ston momentarily lost his defense, collapsing to his knees with a shocked expression as he finally realized his opponent’s power was steadily increasing.

Ye Kuang: “You thought I’d show mercy and compromise with you? Let me make this clear—every swing of my blade carries killing intent, but it’s never aimed at Sophia. It’s reserved for you!”

Whoosh—Thud!

A brutal kick landed squarely on Ston’s chest, sending his body flying sideways.

Seeing this, Ye Kuang pointed his blade downward and declared: “You may wear a human form, but you lack a human heart. That’s why you can’t comprehend my fury!”

Crack!

Though this strike carried explosive force, Ston managed to catch it between his tightly clenched palms.

Ye Kuang: “Listen to how loudly the blade sings—that’s the measure of how genuine my killing intent toward you is!”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Clang!!

Crash!!!