From Sword to Slaughter: Evolution

"I'm sorry, really sorry, it was my mistake," Lin Qiang said as he slowly approached Zhang Xiaoming, his tone filled with sincerity.

Zhang Xiaoming frowned. Was this Lin Qiang, a third-rank warrior, really that easily subdued? Could it be that he was truly frightened after seeing how many people Zhang Xiaoming had slain? How pathetic, he thought to himself with a smirk.

"Kneel," Zhang Xiaoming commanded, his eyes cold as he pointed the demonic sword at Lin Qiang.

"Alright," Lin Qiang agreed without hesitation, dropping to his knees on the ground.

"Tsk, tsk, Lin Qiang, huh?" Zhang Xiaoming sneered, his confidence swelling. "You thought you were so powerful, didn't you? But you're just a third-rank warrior. Did you really think I couldn't kill you?"

As he watched Lin Qiang kneeling before him, Zhang Xiaoming's sense of superiority grew. A third-rank warrior, someone once seen as formidable, now knelt at his feet. A grin spread across his face, one of pure satisfaction.

"Pathetic," Zhang Xiaoming spat, remembering how others had once looked down on him when he first arrived at the Heavenly Dome Sect. Now, he could say those very words to someone else. The sense of power was intoxicating.

"Yes, I'm just... pathetic," Lin Qiang mumbled, but as he spoke, he suddenly lifted his head, revealing a small wooden box in his hands.

What is that? Zhang Xiaoming's eyes narrowed in suspicion. His instincts screamed that something was wrong, and he quickly tried to retreat.

Swish, swish, swish!

In an instant, the box in Lin Qiang's hands unleashed a barrage of tiny needles, shooting toward Zhang Xiaoming with terrifying speed.

Zhang Xiaoming frantically swung his sword to deflect the needles, but they were too fast and too numerous. He managed to block most of them, but a few found their mark, piercing into his shoulders.

The sharp pain made Zhang Xiaoming grit his teeth. Fortunately, the needles had only struck his shoulders, so the damage wasn't severe.

"Rain of Pear Blossom Needles... Did you enjoy it?" Lin Qiang taunted, standing up with a twisted smile. He picked up a long sword that had been lying on the ground and looked at Zhang Xiaoming with a mocking gaze, as if everything had gone according to his plan.

"Using hidden weapons?" Zhang Xiaoming's face darkened as he began pulling the needles out of his body. Though thin and sharp, the needles hadn't penetrated deeply enough to cause fatal wounds.

"Even if you use such tricks, do you think they can really harm me?" Zhang Xiaoming said, his voice filled with disdain.

"Of course," Lin Qiang replied calmly, his grin widening. "Because those needles were poisoned."

Zhang Xiaoming's pupils contracted in shock as he inspected the needles he had pulled out, noticing the darkened tips. Poison! They were indeed poisoned!

"You're courting death!" Zhang Xiaoming roared, fury coursing through him.

"Getting angry will only cause the poison to spread faster in your bloodstream," Lin Qiang said with a sinister smile. "The faster the poison spreads, the quicker you'll die."

"No, I can't die here... I need the antidote! Give me the antidote!" Zhang Xiaoming's voice was filled with desperation.

"This one's losing it," Ye Fan muttered, observing Zhang Xiaoming's panic. It was clear that Zhang Xiaoming was still too inexperienced, too easily outwitted. But then again, Ye Fan thought, if he could kill this third-rank warrior, he'd gain quite a few evolution points.

Realizing that his situation was dire, Ye Fan decided to intervene. He transmitted the sword's abilities to Zhang Xiaoming, hoping to give him a fighting chance.

"Antidote?" Lin Qiang laughed cruelly. "There is no antidote. You're as good as dead!"

Zhang Xiaoming watched in horror as his arms began to turn black, the poison spreading rapidly through his veins. The pain was excruciating, but he refused to give in.

"Lin Qiang... Lin Qiang!!!" Zhang Xiaoming roared, summoning all the strength he had left. A surge of terrifying energy exploded from his body as he charged at Lin Qiang.

Lin Qiang's eyes widened in shock. How could Zhang Xiaoming still have so much power left? Before he could react, Zhang Xiaoming was already upon him, the demonic sword slicing through the air toward him.

Clang!

Lin Qiang barely managed to raise his sword in time to block the attack. The force of the blow sent him stumbling backward, disbelief written all over his face. How could Zhang Xiaoming's strength have increased so suddenly?

Then he noticed it: a strange, blood-red energy was emanating from Zhang Xiaoming's body, swirling around him like a malevolent aura. And the blood from the corpses on the ground was being drawn toward the demonic sword, absorbed by its blade.

That sword... it's absorbing the blood?!

"Lin Qiang, even if I die, I'm taking you to hell with me!" Zhang Xiaoming snarled, his face twisted in rage. The sword had somehow communicated with him, revealing the [Blood Frenzy] skill. With death looming over him, Zhang Xiaoming no longer cared about the consequences. All he wanted was to kill Lin Qiang.

"You fool!" Lin Qiang shouted, but fear was evident in his voice. He could no longer afford to underestimate Zhang Xiaoming. Gathering all his strength, he prepared to face the oncoming onslaught.

Clang, clang, clang!

Their weapons clashed furiously, the sound of metal ringing out as they exchanged blows. Lin Qiang's expression grew darker with each strike. He could feel the terrifying aura emanating from Zhang Xiaoming, a killing intent that sent shivers down his spine.

And the dark energy emanating from the sword was horrifying. It corroded everything it touched, even his armor was starting to disintegrate.

"I'll kill you!!!" Zhang Xiaoming screamed, his fury reaching its peak. The poison coursing through his veins only heightened the pain, pushing him further into madness.

"You don't have to do this..." Lin Qiang stammered, his voice trembling as panic set in.