Forging Immortality: The Undying Blacksmith

Chapter 97: One Punch

As the calm, resonant voice echoed through the hall, Ke Luoda’s pupils shrank to pinpricks. “Such audacity!” he growled, his voice dropping to a dangerous rumble.

The four thugs who had just suffered at the blacksmith shop began to tremble uncontrollably, their legs turning to jelly at the mere sound of that voice.

“Boss… it’s him! It’s the blacksmith!”

Ke Luoda didn’t need the warning. The blacksmith had brought the fight directly to his doorstep. Walking alone into the heart of the Sand Crocodile Gang was an act of such staggering arrogance that a cold knot of apprehension tightened in Ke Luoda’s gut. His headquarters wasn’t completely undefended. He had armed guards stationed at the gates. They would never just let an intruder waltz in. Yet, here this blacksmith was, strolling in as casually as if he were walking through his own courtyard. The fate of his guards was obvious.

Ke Luoda sucked in a sharp breath. To silently dispatch so many of his core enforcers without raising a single alarm… this man’s strength was likely above his own.

Moments later, a tall, youthful figure stepped into the main hall, strolling leisurely toward the dais.

Ke Luoda stared at Li Qing, unable to keep the grim tension out of his voice. “How did you get in? What did you do to my guards?”

Li Qing walked with his hands clasped behind his back, a faint, relaxed smile touching his lips. “Don’t worry. They were just a bit tired. I helped them catch some sleep.”

The casual dismissal confirmed it. The intruder’s power was absolutely not inferior to his own.

Ke Luoda watched Li Qing’s unhurried approach, his tone heavy with wariness. “Sir, wasn’t teaching my subordinates a lesson enough? To personally break into my headquarters and stir up trouble… don’t you think you’re pushing things a bit far?”

By now, Li Qing had reached the dais. He hadn’t so much as glanced at the four terrified thugs. Instead, he stopped by a side table, picking up an old-world ceramic cup. He turned it over in his hands, inspecting the glaze with a soft chuckle. “Didn’t you want to dig into my background? Well, I’m here. Whatever you want to know, feel free to ask.”

Li Qing casually stepped past Ke Luoda, turning his back entirely to the gang leader, leaving himself completely unguarded.

Ke Luoda’s heart hammered against his ribs. A vicious, predatory glint flared in his eyes. To expose his back at such close range? It was an absolute insult. At this distance, an Outer Force expert like him could launch a lethal, explosive strike before the man could even blink.

Should I do it? The normally ruthless Sand Crocodile suddenly found himself frozen in a state of agonizing hesitation.

Seeing their leader’s silence, the ignorant thugs completely misread the room and started shouting.

“Boss, this blacksmith is too arrogant! Kill him!”

“He walked into our house alone! He’s pissing all over your face!”

A muscle twitched violently in Ke Luoda’s jaw. He had an overwhelming urge to rip the throats out of these useless idiots himself.

“Shut your mouths, you worthless trash!” he barked, shooting them a venomous glare. He swore to himself right then—if he survived this encounter, he was kicking these imbeciles out of the gang immediately.

He turned back to Li Qing, forcibly smoothing his expression. “Sir. This was all a misunderstanding. I am willing to let the matter drop.”

Li Qing’s lips curled into an amused, mocking smile. He set the ceramic cup back on the table and slowly turned around. “I don’t like wasting words. Gang Leader Ke, if you can take a single punch from me, I won’t say another word. I’ll turn around and walk right out that door.”

Ke Luoda felt a jolt of shock, followed instantly by a surging tide of humiliated rage.

Such unbelievable arrogance! He was the leader of the Sand Crocodile Gang! He was a renowned Outer Force expert in Giant Rock City! Did this blacksmith truly believe he couldn’t survive a single punch?

“Aren’t you being a bit overconfident, Sir?” Ke Luoda sneered, his pride flaring. “My martial skills might not be at the pinnacle, but I can certainly withstand a single strike from you.”

Li Qing, whose sole intention was to establish absolute dominance through overwhelming force, didn’t bother replying.

“Good,” Li Qing said coldly. “Then watch closely.”

The moment the words left his lips, a terrifying torrent of Inner Force erupted from Li Qing’s body. His hand clenched into a fist so fast it was a blur. His vital energy and blood roared through his arm, his muscles swelling and exploding with kinetic power like a thunderclap!

Boom!

The sheer displacement of air generated a violent shockwave within the enclosed space. Li Qing’s entire demeanor instantly transformed. The calm, detached blacksmith vanished, replaced by a primal, mountain-descending tiger. His eyes turned into dark, bottomless pits of pure, predatory intent that threatened to swallow Ke Luoda whole.

Confronted by this devastating aura, Ke Luoda’s breathing completely stopped. The terror was so absolute it literally stalled the flow of blood in his veins. The incoming fist felt like an entire collapsing mountain—a force of nature that no mortal flesh could hope to block! He was entirely paralyzed by Li Qing’s overwhelming martial spirit, crushed under a spiritual and physical suppression so total that his body refused to even attempt a defensive guard.

In a fraction of a second, the fist rapidly expanded in Ke Luoda’s pupils, driving straight toward the center of his forehead. The kinetic pressure hit him like a physical wall.

Stop. The fist halted exactly a single hair’s breadth from Ke Luoda’s skull. A fraction of an inch further, and his head would have burst like a dropped melon.

For the rest of his life, whenever Ke Luoda recalled this moment, he would wake up drenched in cold sweat.

The concussive blast of wind trailing the fist slammed into his face, violently whipping his hair backward. It took several agonizing seconds for the displaced air to settle.

Thud! Ke Luoda’s knees buckled. He sagged heavily, nearly collapsing onto the floor.

It was true. He couldn’t withstand a single punch.

“Inn—” Ke Luoda choked on the word. He cut himself off the second he met Li Qing’s icy stare. The silent warning was crystal clear: Do not say ‘Inner Force’. We have an audience.

“Boss… Boss, are you okay?” The four thugs were staring in dumbfounded horror. Why hadn’t their leader blocked? Why did he just stand there and let the blacksmith almost cave his skull in?

Li Qing slowly retracted his fist. He cast a sideways glance at the four thugs near the door, his voice returning to a smooth, dangerous calm. “You four. Get outside. Go back to slapping each other. If I don’t hear loud, crisp slaps echoing through these walls, you will beg me for death.”

Tears welled up in the thugs’ eyes. They looked at Ke Luoda in absolute despair. “Boss?!”

Dark veins throbbed on Ke Luoda’s forehead. Still calling for me? What good can I do you now, you absolute curses?! “Do exactly as he says!” Ke Luoda hissed.

It was over. Even their untouchable leader was nothing before this monster.

The four bruised, swollen comedians slumped their shoulders and trudged out, quietly pulling the heavy doors shut behind them. Seconds later, a rhythmic, violent chorus of slaps echoed from the courtyard.

Listening to the surprisingly rhythmic beat of the slaps, Li Qing smiled in satisfaction. He casually pulled Ke Luoda’s massive command chair over, sank into the cushions, and crossed his legs.

“Alright, Gang Leader Ke. Now it’s time for us to talk business.”

Ke Luoda let out a bitter, defeated laugh. “When did Giant Rock City acquire such a young Inner Force expert? It’s unbelievable.”

Li Qing completely ignored the question. His eyes narrowed slightly. “You received an invitation from the City Lord’s Manor, didn’t you?”