"What’s the meaning of this? Heh heh... I’ve been searching high and low for you, and here you are, delivered right to my doorstep. I was just about to come looking for you! To think you’d walk right into the lion’s den and come to my Kongtong Mountain."

Lin Han snorted coldly, his voice dripping with resentment.

"Did Brother Lin miss me? What a coincidence. I came to Kongtong on this trip precisely because I’ve missed you so dearly."

"I was quite disappointed when you weren’t on the mountain as I arrived. I never imagined you’d be waiting for me here. For this display of affection, we should really share a toast! Haha."

Zhao Rui laughed heartily, looking genuinely overjoyed. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Lin Han’s cheek twitched. The words he had been about to say caught in his throat, leaving him speechless for a moment.

The Luo River Three Uglies and the others at his side all shot Lin Han cold glances.

’This is the man you invited us to ambush? Someone who treats you like a brother?’

’Your character is even worse than ours!’

Sensing their contemptuous gazes, Lin Han flew into a rage and bellowed, "Cut the crap! What affection is there between us? You humiliated me, and I’ll know no peace until I get my revenge!"

"Enough talk! Face my sword!"

With a great shout, Lin Han lunged at Zhao Rui, sword in hand.

He, too, used the Profound Celestial Sword Technique. As he executed the technique, his movements were as smooth as flowing clouds and running water, continuous and unending.

Empowered by the Sword Technique, the Treasure Sword in his hand changed size at will, its movements erratic. It was like an Immortal Sword descending from the heavens, flickering in and out of sight—a truly marvelous sight.

Zhao Rui was secretly overjoyed. He parried the blows while steadily retreating, feigning great difficulty.

In just a few breaths, he had already put more than a thousand meters between himself and the Luo River Three Uglies.

Although The Three Uglies were allied with Lin Han, ambushing Zhao Rui wasn’t part of their agreement.

Now, after hearing Zhao Rui’s words and being unsure of the history between the two, they were more inclined to stand back and watch the show.

Unless Lin Han’s life was in danger, they would most likely continue to watch from the sidelines.

Their hesitation and desire to watch the drama unfold was exactly what Zhao Rui wanted.

"Brother Lin, your techniques are as sharp as ever. We became friends through our shared love of Martial Arts, cherishing our bond. This scene... it reminds me of the time when you and I..."

"Shut your mouth! Who are you calling Brother Lin? I’ve never met anyone so shameless in my life!"

Zhao Rui’s reply was sent as a thread of sound that went straight to Lin Han’s ears. "Well then, I’m glad to be the first one to show you, son."

Enraged by Zhao Rui’s mockery, Lin Han’s Sword Techniques grew even fiercer. Within a ten-meter radius, sword flashes crisscrossed like a peacock fanning its tail in a dazzlingly brilliant display.

"Zhao Rui, I hear you’ve reached the Dharma Realm. Stop hiding your strength and show me what a Dharma Grandmaster is really capable of!"

Seeing Zhao Rui only defending without attacking, Lin Han’s resentment grew, and he couldn’t help but taunt him.

"Patience!"

Zhao Rui remained unhurried, continuing his leisurely retreat. By now, he was several kilometers away from The Three Uglies and the others.

The Three Uglies weren’t fools. Instantly realizing something was amiss, they flickered into motion and sped toward the dueling pair.

"Haha! Sword, come to me!"

Zhao Rui’s brow rose. He crooked a finger at the Treasure Sword in Lin Han’s hand. Instantly, an inexplicable controlling force shot into the blade.

The sword struggled for a moment before wrenching itself from Lin Han’s grasp. It transformed into a streak of light and vanished without a trace.

"My Mixed Element Sword!"

Lin Han was merely in the Divine Void Realm. Compared to Zhao Rui, the disparity in their Realms and Power was as vast as that between heaven and earth.

In the time they had been fighting, Zhao Rui, who was also familiar with the Profound Celestial Sword Technique, had secretly inscribed his own Magic Technique onto Lin Han’s Mixed Element Sword.

"What’s this ’yours’ and ’mine’? What’s yours is mine."

Zhao Rui laughed, and with a flicker of his body, vanished from Lin Han’s sight.

By the time The Three Uglies and the Six Demons arrived, there was no trace of Zhao Rui to be found.

"My sword... my sword!"

Lin Han’s eyes were practically splitting from rage, and he suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood.

His ability to contend with experts of the Dharma Realm depended entirely on that Kongtong Mixed Element Sword.

Without that sword, he was just an expert at the Divine Void Realm. Forget about making a name for himself in the Jianghu; he couldn’t even protect himself among this crowd from the Evil Sects.

Most importantly, he had betrayed his sect and slaughtered his fellow disciples for that very sword.

If the Kongtong Sect found out he had lost the Kongtong Divine Sword, they would want to tear him to shreds.

Everything he had done had turned to smoke and mirrors.

"Zhao Rui! I’ll kill you!"

Powerful Qi swirled around Lin Han’s body as he descended into a frenzy. He flailed his arms wildly, sending blasts of True Qi smashing into the surrounding peaks, leaving a trail of destruction.

Six Stars Demon Dao’s brow furrowed. He grew wary. ’The Mixed Element Sword is forged using the Kongtong Sect’s unique methods. How could an outsider possibly steal it?’

’Could this be a trap?’

He couldn’t help but quietly back away several dozen meters from Lin Han, wary of being caught in a plot.

Though they were allies, their group was only a temporary, thrown-together alliance.

Trust only existed when victory was a certainty.

The Luo River Three Uglies, however, began to search the area with looks of utter shock on their faces.

"Brother Lin, where did that Zhao Rui go?"

"Did he steal your Divine Sword?"

"Aren’t the Kongtong Divine Swords linked to their wielder’s mind? Quick, try to see if you can track it!"

The words snapped the furious Lin Han out of his rage. He hastily circulated the Profound Celestial Sword Technique, attempting to locate his Divine Sword.

But no matter how he performed the Magic Technique, his Divine Soul Consciousness received no response.

His expression gradually twisted into a ferocious snarl.

"How is this possible?"

"This is impossible!"

Lin Han muttered to himself, a crazed look in his eyes.

"What’s wrong?"

The leader of The Three Uglies asked curiously.

"I can’t sense it... This is impossible."

"You can’t sense it?!"

The Three Uglies exchanged a look, a flash of horror in their eyes.