Chapter 138: Chapter 137: Killing Another Two, Shen You

"Han You!"

Lei Bao’s eyes looked ready to burst from their sockets, and Chen Xiao also let out a furious roar.

They had been tracking this Qingxuan Sect disciple to ambush and kill him, but they never expected their own side to be the first to lose a man to a sneak attack.

Both shocked and furious, the two of them attacked almost simultaneously.

Chen Xiao’s palms instantly turned black as ink, stirring up a foul wind as he struck at Fang Han’s face. He was clearly practicing some kind of Poison Skill.

Lei Bao, on the other hand, wielded a pair of short spears. The tips glinted with a cold light as he jabbed at the major acupoints on Fang Han’s body, his moves cunning and vicious.

SWOOSH!

Having succeeded with one strike, Fang Han didn’t hesitate for a moment, pushing his Wind Shadow Step to its absolute limit.

His body flickered like wind and shadow as he drifted backward, narrowly avoiding their combined attack.

’Two at the Middle Stage of Eighth Grade...’

Fang Han’s expression was calm, his gaze as sharp as a sword.

These two reacted extremely quickly. They were stronger than the Netherworld Pavilion disciple he had just ambushed and killed. They had to be Middle Stage of Eighth Grade Martial Artists.

And as disciples of the Netherworld Pavilion, both their Inner Qi Cultivation Technique and Martial Techniques were more profound. Their strength was not something the bandit leader Ba Xiong, who was also at the Middle Stage of Eighth Grade, could ever compare to.

"Kill him! Avenge Han You!"

Lei Bao roared, his short spears dancing through the air, transforming into specks of cold starlight that enveloped Fang Han.

Chen Xiao gritted his teeth, his palms a blur. Coated in venomous Inner Qi, his hands were strong enough to clash directly with blades.

He stirred up trails of black qi, coordinating with Lei Bao’s assault to seal off Fang Han’s escape routes.

CLANG! BOOM—

Fang Han took a deep breath, and the Inner Qi of an Early Stage of Eighth Grade cultivator erupted from him. The Cyan Blade Sword let out a clear, melodious ring.

He fully unleashed his Wind-Splitting Swordsmanship at the Mastery Level, striking twice in an instant to block both of their attacks.

But their attacks didn’t stop. They continued to press their siege on Fang Han.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

The urgent sound of metal on metal rang out beside the official road, sending sparks flying.

Chen Xiao and Lei Bao had impeccable coordination. One on the left and one on the right, their attacks were as relentless as a tide.

WHOOSH—

Chen Xiao’s ink-black Poison Palms stirred up gusts of foul wind, specifically targeting Fang Han’s upper body. Wherever the Palm Wind passed, the very air seemed to grow thick and corrosive.

SWISH—

Meanwhile, Lei Bao’s twin short spears were like vipers striking from a cave. The cold glints from their tips blanketed Fang Han’s lower body and vitals. His Spear Technique was vicious and cunning, his strikes fierce and powerful.

SWOOSH!

Fang Han’s expression was as tranquil as still water, his gaze as sharp as a hawk’s.

He had pushed his Wind Shadow Step to its absolute limit, his figure flickering unpredictably between the gaps in their frenzied attacks.

He was like a lone boat in a tempest, seemingly in constant peril, yet always managing to evade the fatal blows by a hair’s breadth.

CLANG CLANG CLANG—

The Cyan Blade Sword in his hand transformed into streaks of cyan lightning. He executed the exquisite Sword Techniques of the Wind-Splitting Swordsmanship with ease, sometimes blocking, sometimes counter-attacking. The wind from his sword was fierce, creating a "CHH-CHH" Sky Splitting sound.

Relying on the profundity of his Swordsmanship and Body Technique, he fought against the two of them without being at a disadvantage.

’I can’t drag this out!’

Fang Han’s thoughts raced. He was alone, but the two of them might have reinforcements. He absolutely could not let this fight drag on; he had to end it quickly.

His gaze swept across the battlefield, instantly locking onto the greatest threat: Chen Xiao.

That man’s Poison Palm was bizarre and difficult to defend against, making him the biggest variable.

His mind made up, Fang Han’s Sword Techniques suddenly changed. He stopped clashing head-on and instead combined the agility of his Wind Shadow Step with the speed of his Wind-Splitting Swordsmanship to the fullest.

His body blurred in a feint, pretending to attack Lei Bao, which tricked Lei Bao into hastily blocking with his twin spears.

SWOOSH!

The instant Lei Bao’s move had lost its momentum, Fang Han’s toes tapped the ground. He changed direction like a phantom, abandoning Lei Bao and lunging straight for Chen Xiao!

The change in direction was extremely abrupt, and his speed was far beyond what Chen Xiao had anticipated.

Chen Xiao’s vision blurred. A pale cyan sword light, like a venomous dragon, was already stabbing toward his chest. Wind Momentum gathered at the tip of the blade, letting out a sharp hiss.

’Not good!’

Chen Xiao’s face drained of color. He hastily threw out both palms, his jet-black Inner Qi erupting as he tried to meet the sword head-on.

However, Fang Han had been building up power for this strike. It was a killing blow from the Wind-Splitting Swordsmanship that emphasized extreme speed and penetration.

PFFT!

The sword light was like lightning. It had already passed through before his palms could even connect, piercing through the protective Inner Qi on Chen Xiao’s body and plunging into his heart.

Chen Xiao’s body went rigid. His eyes were wide and round, his face a mask of disbelief, horror, and indignation.

He opened his mouth, trying to say something, but only bloody froth bubbled out.

Then, the light in his eyes rapidly faded, and his body slumped to the ground.

"Chen Xiao!"

Seeing this, Lei Bao let out a furious, horrified roar.

He never would have imagined that the situation would turn so drastically in the blink of an eye, that Chen Xiao would be killed instantly by Fang Han.

Fear and rage instantly filled his chest. Like a Mad Tiger, he recklessly swung his twin spears, launching a tempest of attacks at Fang Han.

With the most troublesome opponent, Chen Xiao, dealt with, the pressure on Fang Han lessened considerably.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the roiling Inner Qi within him and the numbness in his arm. His Cyan Blade Sword traced a series of Xuan trajectories to meet Lei Bao’s attack.

At this moment, Lei Bao was in a state of utter disarray due to his companion’s death. Though his Spear Technique was ferocious, it had lost all form, revealing one opening after another.

Fang Han calmly seized the opportunities. His sword light was like threads of silk, weaving between Lei Bao’s twin spears.

CLANG!

Fang Han’s sword knocked aside the short spear in Lei Bao’s right hand. Lei Bao’s assault faltered, leaving his right arm wide open.

How could Fang Han possibly let such a golden opportunity slip by?

PFFT—

The Cyan Blade Sword followed like a shadow. With a move, "Returning Wind and Shadow," the tip of the blade quivered and sliced across Lei Bao’s throat.

Lei Bao’s charging figure froze abruptly. He clutched his gushing throat with both hands, making a strange "HURK HURK" sound. His eyes filled with despair and indignation before he finally crashed to the ground.

After killing two powerful Middle Stage of Eighth Grade enemies in a row, Fang Han’s Inner Qi was heavily depleted. He leaned on his sword, breathing heavily.

’I have to get out of here as soon as possible!’

Fang Han didn’t dare to delay. He forced himself to muster a breath of Inner Qi and prepared to go forward to search the bodies of Han You, Chen Xiao, and Lei Bao for valuables before leaving.

’Netherworld Pavilion disciples are probably quite wealthy. I can’t let it go to waste.’

However, the very instant he took a step—

An ice-cold, bone-chilling killing intent, so tangible it felt real, surged toward him from behind like a monstrous wave.

The intensity of this killing intent far surpassed that of Chen Xiao’s group of three. It was as if it instantly froze the very air around him.

The hair on Fang Han’s entire body stood on end. An unprecedented sense of mortal danger washed over him.

Without a second thought, acting on pure instinct, he poured Inner Qi into his legs and unleashed the Wind Shadow Step at its maximum limit, lunging diagonally forward.

At the same time, he twisted his body with all his might, swinging his Cyan Blade Sword in a backhanded strike to try and block.

BOOM!

A palm, shrouded in a dark Inner Qi as deep as an abyss and carrying a terrifying, world-shattering power, had already arrived before him.

The speed of this palm strike was unbelievable. The Palm Wind was so oppressive that it made it hard for Fang Han to breathe.

KABOOM—!

The Cyan Blade Sword slammed into the palm, but instead of the crisp ring of metal, it produced a dull, thunderous explosion.

Fang Han felt an irresistible, immense force travel up the blade. The webbing between his thumb and index finger split open instantly, blood gushing out, and he nearly lost his grip on the Cyan Blade Sword.

His entire body felt as if it had been struck by a stampeding elephant. A sharp pain shot through his chest, and his body flew backward, out of control.

THUD!

With a dull thud, Fang Han’s back slammed hard against the trunk of a large tree behind him—one so thick it would take a person’s full embrace to circle—shaking loose a shower of leaves.

A sweet taste rose in his throat, and he couldn’t help but spit out a large mouthful of blood. His face instantly turned ashen.

He hurriedly looked up at his attacker.

It was a male disciple from the Netherworld Pavilion, slightly older than Han You and the others. His face was stern, and his eyes were as sinister as ten-thousand-year-old ice, currently burning with a blazing fury.

The aura fluctuating from his body was as profound and powerful as an abyss, far exceeding the scope of the Eighth Grade Realm!

’A Seventh Grade Martial Artist!’

Fang Han’s heart sank to the pit of his stomach.

This person was definitely a Seventh Grade Martial Artist, and not a simple one who had just entered the Seventh Grade!

This person who had suddenly appeared was none other than Shen You, who had rushed over after receiving Chen Xiao’s message, feeling uneasy.

He had arrived just in time to see Fang Han cut down Lei Bao, and was instantly consumed by rage, striking out in his fury.

"He’s not dead?"

Shen You had thought that one palm strike would be enough to pulverize this little brat at the Early Stage of Eighth Grade.

He hadn’t expected his opponent to react so quickly at the critical moment, not only avoiding a fatal blow but also blocking with his sword. He was only injured, not dead.

"You little bastard, pay with your life for what you did to my junior brothers!"

A murderous glint exploded in Shen You’s eyes. Without another word, he moved, once again striking at Fang Han with a ferocious palm.

This palm strike was even more powerful than the last. The dark Inner Qi condensed into a massive Palm Seal that enveloped a radius of several feet around Fang Han, giving him the feeling that there was no escape.

Before the Palm Wind even arrived, the terrifying pressure was already making Fang Han feel like he was suffocating.

SWOOSH!

Knowing he couldn’t take the blow head-on, Fang Han endured the sharp pain in his chest and the churning Inner Qi in his body. He abruptly pushed off with his feet, executing the most exquisite directional-change technique from his Wind Shadow Step.

His body slid bizarrely backward and to the side as if he had no bones, narrowly avoiding the core of the Palm Seal’s power.

KABOOM!

Shen You’s Palm Force solidly struck the large tree behind Fang Han.

With a loud crack, the tree, thick enough for a person to wrap their arms around, snapped in two.

Wood splinters flew everywhere, and the break was charred black as if it had been burned by a scorching fire.

Although Fang Han had avoided the direct impact, he was still hit by the aftershock of the Palm Wind. His back felt like it had been struck by a sledgehammer, and his Inner Qi roiled.

He used the momentum to lunge forward. The moment he landed, he pushed his Wind Shadow Step to its limit and fled for his life without looking back.

"Trying to run? In your dreams!"

Seeing Fang Han not only dodge another fatal blow but also decisively flee, Shen You was incandescent with rage.

He roared, his body flashing like lightning as he gave chase.

However, as one chased and the other fled, Shen You quickly discovered that the kid’s Body Technique was incredibly fast.

Although his Cultivation was far superior to Fang Han’s, he was not proficient in Body Techniques. In terms of speed, he actually held no advantage and was even starting to fall behind.

"Stay right there!"

Seeing Fang Han getting further and further away, a cold glint flashed in Shen You’s eyes. He stopped relying solely on his Body Technique to chase and instead began launching a series of palm strikes.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

One after another, condensed blasts of dark Palm Force shot through the air toward Fang Han’s back.

Although these remote Palm Force attacks were weaker due to the distance, they were still incredibly fierce, powerful enough to shatter stone tablets.