"You think you can stop me?"

A cruel smile crept onto Gong Xing’s lips, and killing intent flashed in his eyes.

He had come today to bathe the Fang Family in blood—to use the blood of their entire clan to wash away the humiliation the Gong Family had suffered and to appease the spirits of his brother, Gong Bao, and the other clan members who had died.

"Die!"

His figure blurred, and he shot toward the Fang Family members like a phantom. A ghostly light flickered over his claws, which tore through the air with a piercing shriek as he lunged straight for the throat of Fang Lingyuan, who stood at the very front.

His speed was so great that it far exceeded Fang Lingyuan’s ability to react!

Fang Lingyuan’s pupils contracted. In an instant, he felt the aura of death envelop him.

He tried to dodge or block, but his body felt bound by invisible shackles, unable to react in time.

Just as the sharp claws, glinting with a frigid, ghostly light, were about to touch Fang Lingyuan’s skin—

"SWOOSH!"

A cyan shadow suddenly appeared as if tearing through the void, moving too fast for the eye to follow.

"CLANG!"

The sharp ring of metal on metal exploded outward, sending sparks flying!

A dark cyan longsword, arriving second but striking first, had precisely intercepted the fatal claw.

A burst of Powerful Qi sent a ripple of dust spreading across the ground.

Gong Xing felt a condensed and immense force travel up from his claw, bringing his attack to an abrupt halt. His body froze for a fraction of a second.

He focused his gaze and saw a tall, straight figure now standing before Fang Lingyuan. Holding a dark cyan longsword, his robes fluttering, it was none other than Fang Han.

"Patriarch, leave this to me. All of you, fall back!"

Fang Han didn’t turn his head. His voice was as calm as still water, yet it carried an authority that could not be questioned.

As if granted a pardon, the Fang Family members scrambled back until they were under the eaves of the main hall’s corridor, clearing a large area. Every face was a mask of terror and relief.

They were terrified by Gong Xing’s frightening power and relieved that Fang Han had arrived just in time.

"You’re... Fang Han, the True Inheritor of the Qingxuan Sect?"

Gong Xing’s gaze was as sharp as a blade as he stared intently at Fang Han, sizing him up.

The speed, power, and timing of that last sword strike had been exquisite—far beyond what any ordinary Sixth Grade Martial Artist could execute.

This confirmed Fang Han’s identity as a True Disciple of the Qingxuan Sect.

What he hadn’t expected, however, was how young Fang Han was.

’This kid... he’s so young! And his power... it’s even greater than what Father described!’

Killing intent surged through Gong Xing’s heart like a tidal wave.

Fang Han was even younger than he had anticipated. To become a True Disciple at such a young age... his Talent was simply monstrous.

If he was allowed to keep growing, he would become a grave threat in the future.

Today, he had to be eliminated!

"Gong Xing... the 26th-ranked True Inheritor of the Netherworld Pavilion..."

Fang Han was also sizing up Gong Xing. His eyes were calm, but his heart grew cold.

Though he hadn’t been at a disadvantage when he hastily blocked the claw, he had clearly felt the sinister, sharp, and incredibly condensed Inner Qi from his opponent’s strike, as well as the strange Momentum of the claw that seemed capable of tearing through anything.

This Gong Xing’s Cultivation had already reached the Late-Stage Sixth Grade Limit. He was likely just one step away from breaking through to the Fifth Grade!

If he hadn’t already broken through to the Late Stage of Sixth Grade and greatly increased his strength, there was no way he could have blocked that last claw so easily.

This veteran True Inheritor really lived up to his reputation!

"Fang Han!"

Gong Xing’s voice was hoarse, filled with bone-deep hatred and killing intent.

"You killed my brother Gong Bao, slaughtered my clan members, and severed my father’s right arm! Today, I will take your life and bathe the Fang Family in blood to get justice for my Gong Family!"

Fang Han pointed his Flowing Wind Sword diagonally toward the ground, his Sword Qi contained but not released. His tone was level, yet it carried a bone-chilling coldness.

"Justice? Your Gong Family coveted our Fang Family’s Silver Mine. You tried to seize it by force first, then resorted to threats of violence. If I hadn’t returned in time, my family would have already fallen victim to your cruelty."

"Gong Bao and the others brought their deaths upon themselves! The Gong Family has no right to speak of justice!"

"Sharp-tongued brat! Die!"

Of course, Gong Xing didn’t care that his side had been in the wrong. To him, the law of the jungle—the strong devouring the weak—was perfectly normal. Since his Gong Clan Members had been killed, a life had to be paid as the price.

"SWOOSH!"

Done with words, his body flickered, transforming into several distorted, ghostly shadows that pounced on Fang Han from different angles.

As his claws swung, trails of dark claw-shadows spread out, unpredictable and strange. They carried a bone-chilling, sinister air as they enveloped all of Fang Han’s vital points.

This was the Netherworld Pavilion’s Top Grade Claw Technique mentioned in Tingyu Hall’s intelligence report on Gong Xing—the Ghost Shadow Claw.

He had reached Great Success and was approaching the Realm of Perfection!

The wind from his claws shrieked, as if tearing the very air apart, emitting a piercing, grating sound!

"You’re the one who’s going to die!"

A sharp glint flashed in Fang Han’s eyes as he unleashed the full force of his Late Stage of Sixth Grade Cultivation.

He executed the Flowing Wind Shadowless Step, his body moving like wind and lightning. He left afterimages in his wake as he masterfully weaved through the gaps in the sky-filling claw-shadows.

At the same time, his Flowing Wind Sword let out a clear, piercing ring as he unleashed the Wind Shadow Annihilation Sword at the Great Success Level.

The moment the sword light appeared, the true essence of strangeness, annihilation, and speed was on full display!

At times, his Sword Techniques were like a viper striking, cunning and vicious, aimed at the subtle openings in the transition between Gong Xing’s moves.

At others, they were like a hurricane passing through, tearing apart the claw-shadows with absolute speed and ferocity.

And at other times, he conjured layers of sword-shadows, a blur of real and illusory, making it impossible to tell them apart.

"CLANG! CLANG! CLANG... BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"

The sound of sword and claw clashing was as dense as popping beans, interspersed with the dull roar of Powerful Qi colliding violently.

The two fought speed with speed, their figures flickering across the front courtyard, clashing, separating, and clashing again.

The light of the sword was like a dragon cleaving the heavens; the shadows of the claws were like phantoms darting about!

The sharp Sword Qi and the sinister claw-wind clashed and annihilated each other madly, creating terrifying shockwaves that spread out in all directions like a fierce wind scattering leaves.

The green flagstone ground was plowed with deep gashes, and stone chips flew everywhere.

The surrounding flowers, grass, and trees were shredded to pieces by the escaping Powerful Qi.

Even the roof tiles on the distant eaves were shaken loose and rattled down.

The Fang Family members were forced back again and again by the terrifying aftershocks of the battle. They retreated all the way into the main hall, staring through the doors and windows at a scene that resembled a clash between gods and demons. Their faces were pale, their minds utterly shaken.

’So this is a battle between True Disciples of the Seven Sects?’

"CLING! CLING! CLING—"

In the midst of the fierce battle, Fang Han wielded his sword as if it were flying, flawlessly blocking, dodging, and counterattacking. His control over his Sword Techniques had reached the pinnacle of perfection.

Every strike unleashed immense power.

Although his Wind Shadow Annihilation Sword had only recently reached Great Success, and its Realm was slightly inferior to the Ghost Shadow Claw, which was approaching Perfection...

...the Wind Shadow Annihilation Sword itself was a Top Grade Sword Technique known for its formidable power and unpredictable deadliness. The might it unleashed was beyond that of any ordinary Top Grade Martial Technique.

Even though its Realm was slightly inferior, he was faintly gaining the upper hand!

"SCHLICK!"

With a flash of sword light, Fang Han’s blade pierced through layers of claw-shadows like a phantom and sliced an inch-deep gash on Gong Xing’s left arm. Blood instantly stained his sleeve red.

"He... actually wounded me?"

Gong Xing grunted, a hint of horror flashing in his eyes. He hastily retreated several steps, his gaze on Fang Han now filled with shock and rage.

He had actually been injured. Wounded by a junior who had just become a True Inheritor.

"Fang Han, I’ll kill you!"

Completely enraged, Gong Xing held nothing back. His Late-Stage Sixth Grade Limit Cultivation erupted, ignoring the rapid consumption of his Inner Qi, and his aura surged once more.

The ghostly light on his claws flared, and the wind from them grew even sharper and more vicious. His assault rained down on Fang Han like a tempest, actually managing to suppress him.

...

Fang Han immediately felt the pressure intensify. The flow of his Sword Techniques was no longer as smooth as before. He could only rely on his exquisite Body Technique to maneuver, occasionally striking back but finding it difficult to wound his opponent again.

A dark claw-wind, condensed to the point of being almost solid, was about to strike Fang Han’s right shoulder. If it connected, his entire arm would likely be crippled.

"WHOOSH—!"

Fang Han’s eyes sharpened. Pushing his Flowing Wind Shadowless Step to its absolute limit, his body seemed to merge with the wind. In the nick of time, he shifted three feet horizontally out of thin air, narrowly avoiding the fatal claw.

At the same time, with a flick of his wrist, his Flowing Wind Sword transformed into a cyan bolt of lightning that tore across the sky. It slashed upward from an incredible angle, stabbing straight toward the opening under Gong Xing’s ribs.

His grasp of the opportune moment was perfect!

"PFFT!"

Gong Xing never expected that Fang Han could launch such a sharp counterattack while simultaneously dodging with all his might. It was too late to bring his claws back to block, so he could only twist his body to evade.

Although the sword tip didn’t pierce deeply, the sharp Sword Qi still left a bloody gash under his ribs.

"SCHLICK! SCHLICK! SCHLICK—"

Pressing his advantage, Fang Han unleashed his Flowing Wind Shadowless Step to its full extent, his figure circling Gong Xing like a phantom.

A waterfall of sword light assaulted Gong Xing’s vital points from all directions.

Relying on the advantage of his Top Grade Body Technique at the Mastery Level, Fang Han once again turned the tables and suppressed Gong Xing.

’I’m actually at a disadvantage!’

The more Gong Xing fought, the more alarmed he became. Wounds, both deep and shallow, began to accumulate on his body. None were fatal, but he was drenched in blood and looked utterly wretched, now completely on the defensive.

He was both shocked and furious, and a powerful sense of humiliation washed over him.

He, a dignified, veteran True Inheritor of the Netherworld Pavilion, was being pushed into such a corner by a newcomer who had joined the sect just over a year ago!

"AHH! GO TO HELL!"

A crazed glint flashed in Gong Xing’s eyes. Ignoring the sword stabbing toward his body, he swiped his claws at Fang Han’s head and chest with an air of mutual destruction.

He was trying to trade a wound for a life!

"WHOOSH—!"

Fang Han remained calm in the face of danger, his gaze as cold as iron, showing no sign of retreat.

His thoughts raced. The momentum of his sword thrust toward Gong Xing’s heart didn’t change, but with a nearly imperceptible tremor of his wrist, the sword tip trembled and transformed into three points of cold light, covering several major acupoints on Gong Xing’s chest.

At the same time, his footwork shifted, his body moving sideways like a willow catkin in the wind as he tried to evade Gong Xing’s life-or-death strike as much as possible.

"PFFT!"

The Flowing Wind Sword struck first. Its sharp edge tore through Gong Xing’s Protective Inner Qi, leaving a gruesome, bone-deep wound on his chest from which blood gushed wildly.

"Urgh!"

Gong Xing let out a wretched scream, but his claws, carried by their remaining momentum, viciously raked across Fang Han’s left arm.

"RIP!"

The sleeve on Fang Han’s left arm, which wasn’t protected by the Golden Silk Armor, was instantly shredded, revealing three deep claw marks.

What made his heart sink, however, was a strange, numbing sensation that rapidly spread from the wound on his arm.

’It’s poisoned!’

Fang Han used the force of the blow to drift back several yards. After landing, he staggered two steps before steadying himself, his face slightly pale.

He looked down at the wound on his arm, his gaze icy.