Having felled Wang Huo, Hall Master of the Fire Separation Hall, in a single blow, Mengg Shan was far from finished. A savage grin spread across his face as he strode menacingly closer.

He raised the Golden Mace high, bringing it crashing down toward the defenseless Wang Huo.

"Don’t!"

"Stop!"

"..."

Everyone in the hall paled.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Xiaoo Meng, Hall Master of the Mountain-Shattering Hall, flicked her finger. A flash of green sword light shot out like lightning, slashing viciously toward Mengg Shan’s neck.

"CLANG..."

Her sword seemed to strike a man cast from refined iron, a shower of sparks erupting at the point of contact.

The Flying Sword recoiled.

The force of the blow made Mengg Shan stagger, and his swinging Double Mace missed its mark, slamming into the ground beside Wang Huo.

"CRASH!"

The ground trembled.

Wang Huo spat out another mouthful of blood.

Though the blow hadn’t struck him directly, the force of the impact still aggravated his injuries.

A bizarre energy ravaged his insides. Wang Huo’s mouth fell open, his vision went black, and he fainted.

"Master!"

"Senior Brother!"

Members of the Fire Separation Hall rushed forward, gathering around Wang Huo.

"Heh..."

Mengg Shan touched the spot on his neck where the Flying Sword had struck. His finger came away with a faint trace of blood, and a look of contempt appeared in his eyes.

"That much force? It’s barely more than a mosquito bite."

"And who are you?"

"Xiaoo Meng, Hall Master of the Mountain-Shattering Hall!"

Xiaoo Meng rose from her seat. She glanced at the unconscious Wang Huo, her expression turning fierce. Taking a deep breath, she declared:

"I’ve come to test your skills!"

The Four Veins of the Sword Sect, branches of the same tree—this was more than just a saying.

The disciples of the Four Veins were as close as siblings. Though she and Wang Huo often disagreed on how to handle matters, their personal friendship was extremely strong.

In fact,

of the four Hall Masters, she and Wang Huo had the closest relationship.

Now, seeing Wang Huo grievously wounded and the Sword Sect humiliated, she felt compelled to draw her sword, even if she had been considering joining the Demon Exorcism Hall.

She was, after all, a disciple of the Sword Sect.

A sword,

will break before it bends!

Her previous strike was merely to halt his advance, not a display of her full power. Now, she unleashed the Sword Intent she had nurtured for years.

The Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi for dozens of meters around her began to surge and churn.

"Good!"

Mengg Shan narrowed his eyes, his expression gradually turning serious.

"You seem stronger than that last fellow. I hope you’ll be able to give me some real entertainment."

"Bring it on!"

He tapped his Double Mace together, producing a piercing clang. The shriek was so sharp it sent visible ripples through the air.

"Ugh!"

"Nnngh..."

"It’s the Soul-Shocking Sound! Quick, cover your ears!"

Jiang Qiu’s expression changed dramatically. He shouted urgently, even as he circulated his Magical Power to protect the Talisman Hall disciples behind him.

"SHIIING!"

The sword rang out with a clear hum.

With a flick of her finger, Xiaoo Meng unleashed a torrential tide of Sword Qi. Hundreds of green sword lights rained down upon her opponent.

Demon-Slaying Sword Technique!

Her Sword Momentum stirred the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi within a hundred-meter radius, causing the Sword Light to flare even brighter.

"Hahaha..."

Far from being intimidated by the ferocious Sword Technique, Mengg Shan was delighted. He laughed heartily, swinging his Double Mace forward to meet the onslaught.

His body flickered with a dark black light, a stark contrast to the brilliant golden glow of his Double Mace. The incoming waves of Sword Qi were simply blasted apart.

’He’s so strong!’

Witnessing this, Su Fei’s face turned deathly pale.

’How is his Physical Body so tough?’

’It was one thing to tank a sky full of Sword Qi, but he was even blocking the Flying Sword hidden among the attacks.’

’Xiaoo Meng’s Flying Sword wasn’t of the highest quality, but it could still shatter the Dharma Aspect of a Great Mage with ease.’

But now,

it couldn’t even leave a mark.

"It’s the Heart Demon Lock Chain," Kan Feichen, the Hall Master of Sharp Gold Hall, said grimly. His breadth of knowledge was clear as he explained, "It’s a highly unique form of Magic. One refines Vengeful Fierce Ghosts into eighty-eight Heart Demon Lock Chains and uses them to pierce the Physical Body and the Ancestral Acupoint. The stronger one’s Divine Soul Power becomes, the stronger their Power of the Physical Body will be in turn."

"Furthermore, a Physical Body like this is a natural counter to most forms of Magic!"

Zhu Ju slowly nodded.

He had opened his Eye Acupoint, and his Spiritual Soul Perception was keen. What he saw was different from what the others perceived.

To his eyes,

Mengg Shan’s body was crisscrossed internally by numerous dark chains, while his skin was covered in a dense layer of runes, forming a tightly woven Spirit Net.

While the Sword Qi could annihilate a small portion of it on contact, it would be endlessly replenished from within Mengg Shan’s body.

Impossible to cut down, impossible to exterminate.

"This form of Magic is exceedingly difficult to cultivate. It requires a specific physique, a unique temperament, and the endurance of tortures that no ordinary person could withstand. And, one who practices it can never become a True Man," Kan Feichen said in a low voice.

"However, once mastered, the power it grants is terrifying. At its peak, it is no less formidable than a Demon Body."

"It can go head-to-head with a One Decline True Man!"

"Ah!" Su Fei’s eyes filled with worry.

"Doesn’t that mean Martial Uncle Xiaoo is sure to lose?"

Xiaoo Meng wasn’t just the Hall Master of the Mountain-Shattering Hall; she was also the Sword Sect’s greatest beauty. Her talent with Sword Techniques was astounding, and she was beloved by the disciples of all Four Veins.

Hearing this, his concern for her deepened.

"Not necessarily," Kan Feichen said, shaking his head. "Junior Sister Xiaoo’s talent for Sword Technique is second only to *that* person. When it comes to Sword Technique among the four halls of the Sword Sect, she is the greatest."

"Besides, Mengg Shan’s Heart Demon Lock Chain hasn’t reached Great Success. She won’t necessarily lose."

"HYA!"

Seeing that her Sword Qi was ineffective, Xiaoo Meng let out a sharp cry. The storm of Sword Qi instantly converged, transforming into a single, incomparably pure beam of green Sword Light.

Ten Thousand Swords Forged into One Blade!

Demon Slaying!

"A fine move!"

Mengg Shan’s eyes flashed. He leaped high into the air, his Double Mace radiating Giant Power as it crashed down toward the beam of Sword Light.

"BOOM!"

A thunderous explosion erupted in the center of the hall as the Sword Light and the man collided in a frenzied clash.

Whatever Mengg Shan’s Double Mace was made of, it overpowered the Flying Sword, forcing it back and allowing him to close in on Xiaoo Meng relentlessly.

"CLANG CLANG CLANG..."

Xiaoo Meng commanded her Flying Sword, forming a dense curtain of sword shadows to block the Double Mace.

Celestial Shield Sword!

This was the strongest defensive technique in the Demon-Slaying Sword Technique, capable of drawing on the surrounding Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi for one’s use.

Mengg Shan pressed forward step by step, his power slowly bleeding away until it was spent.

’An opportunity!’

Xiaoo Meng’s eyes flashed. The expansive green sword light suddenly converged, replaced by a faint, almost invisible glimmer of Sword Light.

"SWISH!"

Demon Extermination!

Xiaoo Meng’s expression was grim. Forming a sword seal with her fingers, she channeled a massive surge of Magical Power from her body, and the Sword Light’s momentum skyrocketed.

’She fell for it.’

Zhu Ju gently shook his head.

"Hahaha..."

Mengg Shan, who should have been exhausted, suddenly burst into laughter. His muscles bulged, and his Double Mace erupted with an unprecedented radiance.

"CLANG!"

The Flying Sword let out a piercing shriek upon impact and was sent spinning away. Xiaoo Meng’s face went white, and blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.

"Woman!"

Having successfully landed a long-baited strike that grievously wounded his opponent, Mengg Shan pressed his advantage, striding forward menacingly.

"Is this all you’ve got?"

"How disappointing!"

"CRASH!"

The Double Mace slammed down. The great hall trembled, the ground shook, and dust rained down from the ceiling.

Xiaoo Meng’s figure blurred as she dodged the attack, using the Steps of Yu to leave a trail of afterimages across the hall.

Her Flying Sword, meanwhile, circled him, darting in and out with piercing strikes.

"SWISH!"

"CLINK..."

This time, she avoided a direct confrontation, relying on her exquisite Body Technique and the power of her Flying Sword to harass him.

Mengg Shan was tough as hide and immensely strong, but he lacked agility. For the moment, he was unable to expand on his advantage.

"Dammit!"

After smashing several craters into the hall floor without even touching his opponent, Mengg Shan’s expression grew increasingly frantic.

"Is hiding all you can do?"

"Come out!"

"Get the hell out here!"

His roars were useless. Xiaoo Meng had obviously resolved to stick to her strategy of harassment.

"Heh..."

Mengg Shan stopped. His gaze shifted, and a savage grin spread across his face.

"Woman, you like to hide, don’t you? Let’s see how long you can keep it up."

"BOOM!"

He leaped high into the air, but this time he charged toward the disciples of the Mountain-Shattering Hall, bringing his maces, imbued with Giant Power, crashing down on the crowd.

"Stop!"

"SWOOSH!"

Xiaoo Meng’s expression changed dramatically. Achieving Human-Sword Unity, she shot in front of her disciples, using her sword to block the Double Mace.

"BAM!"

"Hahaha..."

Mengg Shan roared with laughter.

"Go on, hide!"

"Keep hiding!"

"BOOM!"

"BOOM!"

Amidst the roar of Powerful Qi, Xiaoo Meng’s petite frame trembled violently. After another heavy blow, she was sent flying sideways, and her Flying Sword clattered to the ground with a mournful cry.

"Stop!"

"We surrender!"

"Mountain-Shattering Hall agrees to join the Demon Exorcism Hall!"

"..."

Seeing Mengg Shan press his advantage, striding toward the grievously wounded Xiaoo Meng who was coughing up blood, the disciples of the Mountain-Shattering Hall cried out in panic.

One of the elders fell to his knees, trembling.

"Your Excellency’s strength is extraordinary! The Mountain-Shattering Hall admits its inferiority! We beg you to show mercy! Please, show mercy!"

"Ptooey!"

Mengg Shan stopped. He spat on the ground before the kneeling elder, his face a mask of contempt.

"Pathetic trash."

He turned, his gaze sweeping over the members of the Sharp Gold Hall and the Talisman Hall.

"Brother Mengg."

Jiang Qiu, Hall Master of the Talisman Hall, gave a hollow laugh.

"I..."

"Sob..."

He had just begun to speak when he was cut off by the sound of weeping. The disciples of the Fire Separation Hall were kneeling on the floor, wailing.

"Master is dead!"

"The Hall Master was beaten to death!"

"..."

Hm?

Jiang Qiu’s expression froze, and his voice died in his throat.

Xiaoo Meng, who had just been helped to her feet, felt her knees buckle. Trembling, she turned to look toward where Wang Huo lay.

Her lips parted, her voice laced with disbelief.

"Senior Brother Wang?"

"Junior Brother Wang!" Kan Feichen shot to his feet, his face ashen.

The atmosphere in the hall shifted instantly. The disciples of the Sword Sect gritted their teeth, waves of Sword Intent flaring up around them.

A Hall Master, beaten to death in his own hall during a Sword Sect assembly.

This...

...could not possibly end peacefully.

"Master Jiang!" A disciple from Fire Separation Hall knelt on the ground, his eyes bloodshot as he roared at Jiang Qiu:

"Avenge my master!"

"Avenge him!"

?

The muscles in Jiang Qiu’s jaw twitched, his eyes bloodshot and his fingers trembling. Within him, the Qi of his Invisible Sword began to stir.

His Invisible Sword was the Sword Sect’s ultimate treasure, and he himself was the Sword Sect’s foremost expert.

If anyone in the Sword Sect could defeat Mengg Shan, it would be him, and him alone.

Jiang Qiu’s gaze landed on Mengg Shan, then slowly shifted past him to rest on the faintly smiling Emperor Kou. The hatred in his eyes dissolved into bitter reluctance. He opened his mouth, then cupped his fists toward the jeering Mengg Shan.

"Brother... Brother Mengg, your methods are truly impressive. I..."

His voice choked, his body trembling, he forced out the words one by one:

"...am no match for you!"

"Hahaha..." Mengg Shan roared with laughter, a thunderous and unrestrained sound.

"What a fine Sword Sect!"

"What a fine Jiang Qiu of the Invisible Sword!"

"Hahaha..."

"Shut your mouth!" a voice roared.

"I’ll fight you!"

Kan Feichen threw off Su Fei’s supporting arm. Gritting his teeth, he took a step forward and roared:

"I will be the one to face you!"

"Kan Feichen, Hall Master of the Sharp Gold Hall, has come today to test the experts of the Demon Exorcism Hall!"

"Master!" Su Fei was greatly alarmed.

’Though his heart ached for the death of Martial Uncle Wang, he knew his master stepping forward was nothing short of suicide.’

He quickly stepped forward, blocking Kan Feichen’s path.

"Let me!"

"Your disciple will take your place!"

"Enough," Zhu Ju sighed. He waved a sleeve, and an invisible wave of Powerful Qi pulled the two arguing men back.

"I’ll go."