"You’re only this wounded?"

Blood gushed from the wound on Gong Xing’s chest, and his aura instantly weakened by more than half. He clutched his wound, staring at Fang Han in shocked and furious disbelief.

’My all-out attack failed to even seriously injure him?!’

’He’s hurt. Time to take his life!’

Fang Han suppressed the encroaching numbness, a murderous glint flashing in his eyes. With a sharp tap of his toes, he shot out like a bolt of lightning, his Flowing Wind Sword aimed straight for Gong Xing’s throat.

’If I keep fighting, I’ll almost certainly be the one to die!’

Seeing Fang Han charge at him again, disregarding his own injuries, and feeling the severity of his own wounds, a sliver of fear finally bloomed in Gong Xing’s heart.

He knew that if the fight continued, his own death was certain!

Although his heart was filled with unwillingness and humiliation at losing to a newly promoted True Inheritor of the Qingxuan Sect, the instinct to survive overrode everything.

"I’ll remember this!"

Gong Xing shot Fang Han a venomous glare.

Gritting his teeth, he ignored the wound on his chest and forcefully circulated his Inner Qi. His body retreated rapidly like a plume of black smoke as he tried to escape.

"Trying to run? Leave your life behind!"

How could Fang Han allow Gong Xing to escape? He pushed his Flowing Wind Shadowless Step to its absolute limit and gave chase relentlessly, rapidly closing the distance between them.

"Damn it!"

Seeing Fang Han closing in, a look of pained reluctance and grim resolve flashed across Gong Xing’s face.

He yanked a Jade Bottle from his robes and, without a second glance, stuffed a longan-sized, pitch-black Elixir from within it into his mouth.

As the Elixir entered his stomach, Gong Xing’s skin instantly turned as black as ink. A thick black mist surged from his pores, completely enveloping his body.

"SWOOSH—!"

Shrouded in the black mist, Gong Xing’s speed skyrocketed. Like a phantom, he flickered a few times and vanished from the grounds of the Fang Mansion, his velocity far exceeding Fang Han’s pursuit.

Fang Han pursued him to the mansion gates, only to see a rapidly shrinking black dot in the distance.

The numbness in his chest had now spread to half his body. The poison was clearly intensifying, forcing him to halt his pursuit.

He took out a Jade Bottle of Antitoxic Pills from his robes, uncorked it, and poured out five or six pills, stuffing them all into his mouth and swallowing.

The Antitoxic Pills, combined with the detoxifying ability of the "Poison Resistance" Divine Treasure he had unlocked upon breaking through to the Late Stage of the Eighth Grade, began to counteract and neutralize the toxins invading his body.

The numbness gradually subsided, but he had completely lost his chance to continue the hunt.

"Fang Han!"

Hurried footsteps and a worried call sounded from behind him.

Fang Lingyuan, Fang Tu, and the other core figures of the Fang Family rushed over. When they saw Fang Han standing alone outside the gates, his left sleeve torn to shreds to reveal three crimson claw marks, their faces immediately filled with concern.

"Are your injuries serious?"

Fang Lingyuan darted forward, his gaze anxiously sweeping over the wound on Fang Han’s left arm, his expression grave.

"It’s nothing, just a flesh wound. The real problem is the poison on the claws, but I’ve already taken the antidote."

Fang Han turned around, his eyes calm. He flexed his left arm slightly, showing that it was not a serious issue.

"But I let Gong Xing escape."

"He escaped?"

Fang Tu’s thick brows furrowed, then relaxed.

"You defeated an old-hand True Inheritor like Gong Xing and forced him to flee in disgrace. That’s already a huge victory! If he was determined to escape, it’s only normal that you couldn’t stop him!"

"Exactly! Gong Xing made his name long ago, and his strength is unfathomable. Yet you managed to fight and defeat him!"

Elder Mingde’s eyes were filled with amazement.

His gaze toward Fang Han was full of indescribable relief and pride.

He had originally thought it would be an incredible feat if Fang Han could just hold his own, but he never expected him to actually win the battle.

"With Gong Xing defeated and forced to flee, our Fang Family has finally weathered this crisis."

Elder Zhen Shan carefully inspected Fang Han’s injuries. After confirming it was only a flesh wound and that the poison was under control, he also breathed a sigh of relief.

Hearing this, the members of the Fang Family all broke into smiles of relief, their eyes filled with awe and gratitude as they looked at Fang Han.

If not for Fang Han, the fate of the Fang Family would have been unimaginable.

...

The news that Fang Han had defeated Gong Xing, a veteran True Inheritor of the Netherworld Pavilion, was like a giant boulder dropped into a calm lake. With the intentional push from the Fang Family, it swept through all of Liangshui City at astonishing speed.

At first, when people heard that Gong Xing had come seeking revenge, most assumed the Fang Family was doomed. Some even began to secretly calculate how to cut ties with the Fang Family or cozy up to the Gong Family.

However, when the definitive news that "Gong Xing fled in defeat, Fang Han was victorious" spread, the entirety of Liangshui City was thrown into an uproar!

"What? The one who lost was Gong Xing? The True Inheritor from the Netherworld Pavilion who’s ranked twenty-sixth?"

"Fang Han... hasn’t he only been a disciple at the Qingxuan Sect for a little over a year? How could he possibly defeat Gong Xing? This... how is this possible?!"

"It’s absolutely true! The front courtyard of the Fang Mansion is a complete wreck—those are the marks left behind by a battle between Sixth Grade Experts! Gong Xing escaped with heavy injuries!"

"Incredible! Absolutely incredible! A true dragon has emerged from Liangshui City!"

"From now on, I’m afraid Liangshui City will truly belong to the Fangs..."

In teahouses and taverns, on every street and alley, everyone was fervently discussing the matter, their words filled with a deep reverence for Fang Han.

At that moment, the Fang Family’s prestige reached an unprecedented peak.

Inside the study of the Yue Mansion.

Patriarch Yue Xiong stood before the window with his hands behind his back, gazing at the courtyard scenery outside in prolonged silence.

Behind him, several Yue Family Elders exchanged glances, their expressions complicated.

After a long while, Yue Xiong slowly turned around, his face a mixture of bitterness and relief.

"The Fang Family’s... momentum is now unstoppable. Pass down my orders: all family businesses that overlap with the Fang Family’s enterprises are to yield completely."

"Also, prepare a generous gift. I will personally visit the Fang Family tomorrow to offer my congratulations."

「The He Family」

Patriarch He Wen of the He Family put down the secret report he had just received and sighed deeply. He spoke to the clan elder seated below him.

"Send word. From now on, when our family’s younger generation is out and about, they are absolutely forbidden from clashing with anyone from the Fang Family. The Fangs... they are not someone we can afford to provoke."

「The Sun Family」

Patriarch Sun Mang of the Sun Family slammed his palm on the zitan wood table, making the teacups jump. The muscles on his face twitched, but his anger eventually dissolved into a helpless roar.

"Damn it, that brat from the Fang Family... is a fucking monster. Tell those little bastards downstairs to keep their goddamn eyes open!"

The Yue, He, and Sun Families—who, along with the Fang and Lin Families, were once known as the five great families of Liangshui City—felt their last trace of unwillingness and wishful thinking evaporate completely after confirming the news was true.

They had no choice but to accept the fact that the Fang Family now stood alone in its dominance over Liangshui City, reigning supreme above them all.

...

In the afternoon, inside a private room at Liangshui City’s largest teahouse, the Qingxin Tea House.

Four young men and women sat around a table, the atmosphere somewhat subdued.

They were none other than Fang Hong, Yue Lingtian, He Qingyan, and Sun Qing—the most famous figures of Liangshui City’s younger generation, second only to Fang Han.

The four of them, along with the deceased Lin Ao and the now-ascendant Fang Han, were once known collectively as the "Six Heroes of Liangshui."

"Cousin Fang Han... has now become someone we can only look up to."

Fang Hong lifted his teacup and took a sip, breaking the silence. His tone was tinged with an indescribable complexity.

He had recently broken through to the Ninth Grade Internal Qi Realm, making him a standout among his peers. But compared to Fang Han, the difference was like that between the clouds and the mud.

"To become a True Inheritor of the Qingxuan Sect after just over a year of entry and defeat a veteran True Inheritor from the Netherworld Pavilion... such achievements... Forget Liangshui City, how many in the entire younger generation of Qingyang County could accomplish that?"

Yue Lingtian, dressed in martial attire and known for his proud nature, for once did not retort, merely muttering sullenly.

He clenched his fists, a trace of unwillingness in his eyes, but it was overshadowed by a sense of powerlessness.

"Thinking back to when the six of us shared the same title... it seems now that the five of us were just basking in Fang Han’s glory."

He Qingyan, beautiful in a water-blue dress, furrowed her delicate brows and spoke softly.

They had once been known as the "Six Heroes of Liangshui" alongside Fang Han. Thinking back on it now, what right did they have to share a title with him?

"It’s a good thing almost no one brings up the Six Heroes of Liangshui anymore, or we’d truly die of shame."

The burly Sun Qing said helplessly.

His words were blunt, but they stated the reality of the situation.

The four of them looked at each other, speechless, each seeing the same mix of emotion and unavoidable shame in the others’ eyes.

Once upon a time, they were the "Six Heroes," advancing side-by-side. Now, they had been left so far behind they couldn’t even see his shadow.

Fang Han had reached a height they could likely never hope to attain in their entire lives.

...

「Fang Mansion, Tingyu Pavilion.」

When Fang Han returned to the courtyard, his parents, Fang Zheng and Lin Wan, and his little sister, Fang Ying, were already waiting there anxiously.

"Han’er!"

"Brother!"

Seeing Fang Han return, and especially seeing the obvious wound and shredded sleeve on his left arm, Lin Wan rushed forward, grabbing his hand as her voice filled with worry.

"Are you badly hurt? Quick, let Mother see!"

Fang Zheng’s face was also filled with concern, but he forced himself to remain calm. "How are your injuries?"

Fang Ying hugged Fang Han’s waist tightly, her small face tilted up, her big eyes brimming with tears.

"Brother, does it hurt? Ying’er will blow on it for you."

Feeling his family’s concern, Fang Han’s heart warmed. He gave them a gentle smile and reassured them.

"Father, Mother, Xiaoying, don’t worry. It’s just a superficial wound. With my current physical constitution, I’ll be fine after a day or two of rest."

He let his parents inspect the wound, and only after they confirmed it wasn’t serious did Lin Wan and Fang Zheng relax slightly, though their hearts still ached for him.

"I already heard that you fought off the enemy who came to attack, but you, my child... why are you always getting hurt...?"

Lin Wan was both heartbroken and proud.

"Mother, it’s alright. For martial artists, getting injured is unavoidable."

Fang Han smiled reassuringly and gently patted his little sister’s head.

"See? Isn’t your brother perfectly fine?"

After reassuring his parents and little sister, Fang Han didn’t immediately return to his room to recuperate. Instead, he walked over to a familiar open space in the courtyard.

Scene after scene of his life-and-death battle with Gong Xing flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern.

He especially recalled the moments of peril, when he had relied on the subtleties of the Flowing Wind Shadowless Step to evade and counterattack...

He could clearly feel that after this battle, his Flowing Wind Shadowless Step had improved tremendously.

’A life-and-death battle is truly the best whetstone, but this method of cultivation is too dangerous. With my talent, there’s no need to take such risks.’

’However, I must make good use of the insights gained from this life-and-death struggle. I can’t let them go to waste.’

Fang Han began to practice the Flowing Wind Shadowless Step in the courtyard.