Wu Han’s eyes widened. “What?!”

He never expected Gu Han would strike him first! Still, he wasn’t the young master of a great clan for nothing. Wu Han regained his composure in half a second. “Jade Radiance!”

With a fierce shout, a jade light flashed across him, condensing into a peculiar little beast that charged forward to meet the sword light. It was the Great Dao’s blessing, rewarded after six rings—Jade Radiance Art.

He was certain the Heaven-tier technique would not be ordinary. Moreover, the little beast possessed many mystical aspects that even he couldn’t fully comprehend.

In the next moment, he realized how sorely mistaken he was. With a whimper, the little beast was instantly cut to pieces. The sword light only slowed for a bit before continuing its descent toward him.

Damn it!

Wu Han was gripped by terror. He had never imagined that Gu Han’s sword strike could be this powerful!

Another resounding crash echoed as his layers of jade light shattered, blasting him flying. He spat out large mouthfuls of blood mid-air.

At this moment, the same word flashed through everyone’s minds: he’s so strong!

In the instant they were all stunned, Gu Han shot out from the dust and smoke. His sword flickered as he closed in on Wu Han.

Wu Han’s six followers panicked.

“Young Master!”

“How dare you!”

Forgetting to surround Murong Yan and the other two, they charged straight at Gu Han. The man was far more powerful than they imagined. If Wu Han died, they would have no reason to exist.

Chu Kuang’s expression turned cold. “Move!”

He saw Gu Han’s objective. By directly attacking the leader, he forced the others to retreat and defend, focusing on him alone. Without overwhelming strength and killing power as a foundation, it was practically suicide. Gu Han just happened to possess both.

The remaining dozen or so people were at least at the second stage of the Soaring realm. Murong Yan could barely withstand their auras, let alone Yang Ying and Shen Xuan. They turned as white as sheets, and a trace of blood seeped from the corners of their mouths. Without hesitation, each of them took out several pills and stuffed them into their mouths.

One person sneered endlessly. “Eating pills now? Isn’t it a little late?”

He revealed the full might of his third-stage Soaring realm. Right after, a sword appeared in his hand, and he slashed down at Shen Xuan.

Murong Yan furiously screamed, “Bastard, how dare you hurt my man?! I’ll smash you to death!”

In an instant, the Purple Golden Hammer appeared in his field of vision. With her full eruption, a barely perceptible force field faintly surrounded her.

The man was incredibly shocked. “What is this?!”

Since her cultivation was much weaker, he hadn’t taken her seriously at first. Now, he realized something was wrong. Why is this woman so strong?!

It was too late for him to retreat. The moment the sword touched the hammer, it was shattered into several pieces. Nothing stood between him and the hammer anymore.

“No—”

That was the only word he could utter before being reduced to a mist of blood.

The others, who had been about to make their move, were stunned. What kind of strength is this?!

They had no clue that Murong Yan’s Giant Spirit Bloodline had been greatly purified. In terms of sheer strength, even if Gu Han clashed head-on with her, he definitely wouldn’t come out well.

“Go!”

“Don’t clash head-on with her!”

“Be careful of her hammer!”

After a moment of panic, everyone found a countermeasure, greatly reducing Murong Yan’s advantage.

As attacks rained down, Murong Yan and the others immediately found it hard to hold on. Thankfully, they had the Emerald Condensation Pill. Otherwise, they probably couldn’t have held on for even a short while.

***

At this moment, Di Kan was watching the battle intently. He had only arrived a little later than Chu Kuang. The reason he hadn’t shown himself was to wait and reap the benefits from the conflict.

Beside him, a follower exclaimed endlessly, “This guy is really ruthless, actually abandoning his three companions. They probably won’t last much longer.”

“What the hell do you know?! If he forcibly protected the three, he’d definitely be constrained and surrounded in one place. That would be the stupidest move.” Di Kan glanced at him. “Like this now, this is the method most suitable for him. Only someone of his caliber could pull it off. Even I couldn’t do it. Heh heh, as expected of someone with nine rings from the Dao Bell! Forget about strength, just this calmness and decisiveness alone makes him an extremely terrifying opponent.”

The follower was taken aback. “Uh... Do we still want the thing or not?”

Di Kan said irritably, “Why the hell did we even come then? Wait a little longer. No matter who wins, the remaining side won’t be in good shape. That’s when we strike!”

The follower flattered him greatly, “Young Master, you truly are sinister and cunning, a real schemer!”

Di Kan was furious. “Bloody hell! It’s called being resourceful and wise! When we get back, copy those plundered human classics a hundred times for me!”

That follower nearly cried.

***

On the other side, a follower asked, somewhat puzzled, “Divine Maiden, can he win?”

Zhao Mengyou shook her head. “I don’t know. Whether he can win or not depends on just how strong he really is.”

“This guy is amazing!”

“Right, even more amazing than the Myriad Transformations Holy Son!”

“The Myriad Transformations Holy Son turned out to be just for show. And he thought he could win our Divine Maiden’s favor? Dream on!”

Hearing these discussions, Zhao Mengyou felt inexplicably irritated. What use is being amazing! He’s still just a—ugh!

***

Just then, Wu Han’s scream came through again. “Aaah!”

He didn’t have the guts to face Gu Han’s sword light head-on. In desperation, he could only soar into the air, trying to put distance between them. However, the sword light was too fast and sharp. Unless he fled, there was simply no way to withstand it.

Meanwhile, Gu Han seemed to only have eyes for Wu Han. The others’ attacks meant nothing to him. Only Chu Kuang’s massive maw and divine senses affected him considerably. Still, Gu Han paid no heed to them. He dodged when he could, and relied on his robe and the Emerald Condensation Pill when he couldn’t. From start to finish, his killing intent and aura were locked onto Wu Han.

Filled with horrifying despair, Wu Han almost wanted to curse. “You—”

Why me?! Aren’t there two others over there?! Why only me?!

By now, he had already suffered three of Gu Han’s sword strikes in a row. Two of his followers had died taking the blow for him. Yet even that couldn’t save him from a deep chest wound that exposed his bone, nearly costing him his life.

Suddenly, a voice brimming with killing intent rang out. “Kill!”

Another sword strike was coming!

Wu Han’s expression drastically changed as he turned to Chu Kuang and Qi Jun. “Quick, do something!”

The two said nothing, their expressions grim. If they could do anything, they wouldn’t have waited until now. This was a blatant scheme. Although they were aware of Gu Han’s objective, they were powerless against his strength. They could take the blow for Wu Han, of course, but that would be utterly foolish.

Wu Han nearly lost it. “You all, I’m done!”

He turned around and fled far away into the distance. If he didn’t escape, he would die before even getting his hands on the seed pod. His followers, clearly at their limits, went after him in silence.

Chu Kuang’s face darkened even further. It was pointless to try to stop Wu Han. That was when he knew Gu Han’s plan was already a half success.

***

At this moment, besieged by dozens or so people, Murong Yan and the others were still spitting large mouthfuls of blood, even with the Emerald Condensation Pill. Although their injuries kept repairing, they clearly couldn’t hold on much longer either. The difference in strength was simply too big.

In truth, their opponents were even more astonished. There was only one way to describe the three: unkillable!

Whenever they were on the verge of death, they would recover again in just a few breaths. This cycle had repeated a few times already. They had never encountered such a bizarre thing before.

How were they supposed to know that it was thanks to the miraculous Emerald Condensation Pill? The pills they found were for raising cultivation. Normally, they could have been more useful, but now a healing pill had the clear advantage.

Someone turned gloomy. “Everyone, let’s go all out! They won’t last much longer—”

“Aaah!”

It was Qi Jun! Once Wu Han fled, Gu Han immediately targeted him instead. Under Chu Kuang’s divine sense and attacks, his mind grew groggy and disoriented, yet he dared not stop. His attacking power had decreased by a third.

The sword trembled repeatedly. The sword light, combined with killing intent, nearly made Qi Jun’s liver and gallbladder burst with fear.

Seeing the incoming attack, he could no longer care about anything else. “Quick, help me!”

Suppressing the trembling terror in his heart, a gray light ignited around him. It was the Spirit-Devouring Physique! It allowed one to devour everything that contained spirit power, including attacks. Unable to dodge, he gritted his teeth and took the sword light head-on!

A mouthful of blood spat out as his face turned deathly pale. His physique was clearly far from mature. It couldn’t devour everything, much less this sword light. One strike had already gravely wounded him. Another would send him straight to the grave.

“Holy Son!”

“Go help the Holy Son!”

“Forget these few!”

In an instant, Qi Jun’s followers scattered completely, and the pressure on Murong Yan’s trio immediately halved. Although they were still no match for their opponents, the time they could hold on lengthened somewhat.

However, Gu Han didn’t even glance their way. He only stared at Qi Jun. He casually stuffed a few pills at random into his mouth.

“Kill!”

Killing intent surged in his heart. With a turn of his sword, he was about to deliver another strike.

Qi Jun’s expression drastically changed. “Damn it!”

Just like Wu Han, he no longer had any will to fight. He turned his head and fled into the distance.

What Soul-Nourishing Lotus, half-saint herb! Nothing is more important than my own life!

When his followers saw him flee, they didn’t stay any longer either, going straight after him. “Holy Son!”

However, the sword light was already poised to strike. How could Gu Han be willing to let go so easily?

He brought it down upon the fleeing crowd. “Kill!”

No matter how fast those at the Soaring realm were, they weren’t faster than Gu Han’s sword light.

A scream rang out. A follower at the very back, with a slightly lower cultivation level, was cleaved in two. The corpse fell as it scattered a sky full of blood rain.

Ahead, Qi Jun ran even faster.