Chen Shanhe was panting heavily. His opponent’s terrifying strength and Qi Force had left him severely wounded.

His entire chest burned with searing pain, and the slightest movement sent agony radiating through his torso...

...Several of his ribs were broken.

His internal organs had suffered varying degrees of damage.

He even had hairline fractures in his bones!

...’This kid... how in the world did he train?!’

Chen Shanhe’s heart was filled with bitter resentment.

’It must have been that Treasure Fish!’

’That waste Xu Ran must have absorbed a huge amount of the Treasure Fish’s essence! Even though I ate him, so much of its potency was already lost...’

’If I’d been able to eat a whole Treasure Fish myself, I would’ve definitely broken through to the Divine Secret Realm! How could I possibly be suppressed like this by some junior?!’

Though his heart seethed with resentment, he quickly said, "Fine, fine. I’ll give it to you. It’s in my hut..."

He struggled to get up.

But his mind was racing.

...’What do I do now?!’

’Do I really just hand over the Divine Technique Manual?’

’That part wasn’t a big deal. After all, a secret manual isn’t one-of-a-kind. He already knew its contents by heart, so giving it away wouldn’t be a loss in itself.’

’But the real question was... would the man actually let him live?’

He struggled to turn, feigning the effort of rising, but his eyes darted about frantically.

’The man is utterly ruthless. We’ve only exchanged blows once... but back when we encountered the Treasure Fish, he slaughtered six of my disciples without a hint of mercy.’

’The three who went missing afterward... he must have killed them too.’

’And when he fled a month ago, he casually killed four more of my disciples...’

’He’s vicious and decisive, utterly without compassion!’

...’Would an opponent like that really spare my life after getting the Divine Technique Manual?’

Chen Shanhe knew that if their roles were reversed, he certainly wouldn’t be so merciful.

’So what can I do?!’

’My opponent is a Huajin Powerhouse, just like me. His mind is like a polished mirror, reflecting my every intent.’

’Forget the fact that I’m already heavily injured... Even at my peak, any subtle movement I made before launching a second strike—even the slightest twitch of a muscle—would be instantly detected by him!’

...’A sneak attack is impossible!’

’Am I really going to die here?’

Chen Shanhe was frantic, but he managed to say with feigned difficulty, "I admit I’m no match for you. I only ask to live... This way..."

He led Qin Fang deeper into the valley.

The disciples finally snapped out of their daze, only to freeze in place, not daring to advance or retreat.

Someone subconsciously called out, "Master!" Chen Shanhe merely lifted his eyelids for a glance before letting them fall again...

...’A bunch of useless fools!’

’Even if they all rushed him at once, they wouldn’t cause him the slightest bit of trouble!’

’And they certainly couldn’t create an opening for me to escape...’

Qin Fang followed calmly behind Chen Shanhe, his mind as clear as glass, every change in his surroundings within his grasp.

...This included Chen Shanhe’s now-frantic heartbeat and the several times his muscles tensed and then relaxed. It was all within his perception.

Despite Chen Shanhe’s slow pace, they finally arrived in front of a thatched hut.

"...It’s inside."

He turned to Qin Fang, spoke with difficulty, and then entered the hut first.

He had smashed a large hole in the hut when he’d been sent flying out of it, and wooden fragments were now scattered nearby. Afraid Qin Fang would misunderstand any sudden movements, he carefully kicked the wood aside and went in, clutching his chest.

Qin Fang followed calmly.

The inside of the hut was spartan: just a meditation cushion, a simple altar, and a wooden box resting on it.

Chen Shanhe walked up to the wooden box and reached out to grab it...

’I can’t give it to him. If I do, I’m a dead man!’

’My only choice is to...’

Just as his hand was about to touch the box, a vicious glint appeared in his eyes.

Qin Fang suddenly spoke. "Try anything, and I promise you’ll die instantly."

The words made Chen Shanhe freeze on the spot.

He stood stiffly for a long moment before saying with difficulty, "I... I was just getting the Secret Manual for you..."

"Your heart rate just spiked. That means you’ve made a risky decision. I’m guessing you intend to destroy the Secret Manual, using it as leverage to keep me from killing you. That would buy you time to find a way to escape... Am I right?"

Qin Fang’s calm voice sounded from behind him.

The color drained from Chen Shanhe’s face. The next instant, he slammed his palm down with all his might!

A terrifying Qi Force instantly began to churn!

...’He really is a Huajin Martial Artist! No physical change, no matter how small, can escape his senses!’

’I have no choice...!’

Before the thought had even finished forming, there was a loud THUD.

He felt an immense, irresistible force that nearly snapped his spine in two!

The terrifying impact sent him flying uncontrollably, and he spewed a mouthful of blood in midair.

After he landed, his face smeared with blood, he struggled to turn his head and look at Qin Fang.

His eyes were filled with bitter resentment.

"You..."

He struggled to utter a single word, but in the next second, his head slumped to one side, and he breathed his last.

...And so this Huajin Grandmaster—the True Martial Hall Master who, only a month ago, had beaten Qin Fang as easily as an adult beats a child—perished!

Qin Fang withdrew his hand and looked down coldly at Chen Shanhe’s corpse, his eyes showing no flicker of emotion.

...’I already knew what he was planning. If I’d still let him succeed in destroying the Secret Manual, I might as well have just killed myself.’

After one last look at the dead Chen Shanhe and the wooden box on the altar, Qin Fang turned and walked out of the hut.

Outside the hut, the disciples of the True Martial Boxing Hall had subconsciously followed and were now gathered together, dazed and unsure of what to do.

When Qin Fang emerged, they instinctively looked up.

Qin Fang casually grabbed the doorframe of the hut. With a single jolt, he shattered the wood and pulled a piece free.