"Zhenkong Ancestor, Yang Xiao may have made a grave mistake, but his family should not be involved! No matter how great his transgression, you should seek your revenge on him alone. Why must you hunt them down to the last? Why take your anger out on his kin?"
Lu Fangliang was dressed in black, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
He looked utterly disheveled.
But his gaze was resolute, as if he would rather die here than betray anyone.
Standing before him was a silver-haired man.
The man emanated a terrifying aura.
Even the void itself seemed to vibrate at his presence.
He was truly extraordinary.
But upon hearing Lu Fangliang's words, he bristled with rage and snorted coldly, "It seems you truly are a traitor. To defy me, a Saint, for a common thief... Even if you are a genius, I cannot let you live. Now, die!"
With that, the silver-haired man threw a punch.
The entire void began to vibrate.
Lu Fangliang felt the terrifying power of the punch and was completely paralyzed.
He'd had a chance to kill this man.
His Innate Treasure Skill, the Greater Yang God Arrow, could have killed the man in a single strike.
But the man was, after all, a Sect ancestor, a powerful Martial Saint who guarded Medicine King Valley. Lu Fangliang still held some affection for the Valley.
And so, he had missed the perfect opportunity.
He had allowed Zhenkong Ancestor to get too close. The Saint's oppressive aura locked down the space around them, and no matter how powerful his Treasure Skill was, he couldn't unleash it in time. He was completely at the man's mercy.
Just like now.
With a single punch, Zhenkong Ancestor locked down the void, and Lu Fangliang couldn't even dream of dodging.
'Am I going to die here?'
Lu Fangliang was indignant.
Yet he had no regrets.
"A magnificent Martial Saint bullying a junior—how shameful! If you've got the guts, come at me!"
Just as Lu Fangliang resigned himself to his fate, Yang Xiao flashed in front of him. With a single punch, he completely shattered the force of the incoming blow.
At the same time, a terrifying, scorching energy, brimming with destructive power, blasted Zhenkong Ancestor back over a hundred feet.
Only then did he manage to stop himself.
And that was only because Yang Xiao hadn't used his full power.
Otherwise, never mind a hundred feet—Yang Xiao's Fist Force could have struck him from a hundred miles away.
After all, this was the very Technique he had used to attain the Dao in his past life.
It couldn't compare to Emperor Xuanyuan, who had once sliced through the void with a single strike, ignoring all distance to leave his Sword Intent here.
Still, he could kill a creature a hundred miles away with a single punch.
At his peak, Yang Xiao could also ignore the void.
All he lacked was that strand of eternal, indestructible will.
And now, his cultivation was also lacking.
His current cultivation was a far cry from what it had been in his past life.
It was impossible for him to truly unleash the power of the Flame Emperor Divine Fist.
However, as his cultivation grew, his Flame Emperor Divine Fist would inevitably become more and more terrifying.
More and more powerful.
'But no matter how weak I am now, it's more than enough to deal with this guy.'
Yang Xiao shot Zhenkong Ancestor a contemptuous glance.
Then, he turned to Lu Fangliang. He had already heard how Lu Fangliang would rather be beaten to death than reveal the whereabouts of Yang Xiao's family.
A flicker of gratitude rose within him.
"Thank you. Leave this old fool to me."
Hearing this, Lu Fangliang looked like he wanted to say something, but he ultimately just nodded. "Alright. When you win, I'll buy you a drink."
"A drink? Sounds good. I actually haven't had one in all these years. I've been wanting to see what it's like. Haha..."
Yang Xiao laughed heartily.
Lu Fangliang smiled as well.
A sense of camaraderie bloomed between the two of them.
Watching them, Zhenkong Ancestor's expression grew even fouler.
'These two juniors have absolutely no respect for me. But wait... that kid... isn't he that little thief?'
Zhenkong Ancestor was shaken.
At that same moment, Yang Xiao looked over at him and smiled with contempt.
He strode forward.
'Isn't this the same guy from the Earth Flame Cave who forced me to jump into the lava?'
Before, Yang Xiao's strength had been insufficient to see it.
But now, he could see it with perfect clarity.
'The True Intent this man comprehended is quite powerful, allowing him to lock down the void. Of course, this void-locking power isn't actually all that strong. It's useless against me. But it's a different story for others. Someone like Lu Fangliang couldn't even lift a finger against it. His strength is definitely not at the Tier Four Martial Saint level I guessed before. He's a Tier Six.'
He was ten times stronger than Yang Xiao had expected.
'If I hadn't broken through to the Yellow Flame Realm, I might have been a bit wary of him. But now...'
A sinister smile played on Yang Xiao's lips.
'This guy is a dead man.'
"You little thief! It really is you!"
The silver-haired man, Zhenkong Ancestor of Medicine King Valley, finally reacted as Yang Xiao strode menacingly toward him, letting out a sharp cry.
He appeared to be bursting with rage.
But Yang Xiao could see a flicker of retreat in his eyes.
Apprehension.
This old codger.
It seemed he was afraid.
'That punch just now must have really shocked him.'
Yang Xiao sneered internally.
Zhenkong Ancestor's expression shifted when he saw the mockery in Yang Xiao's eyes. "You little thief, your strength may be extraordinary, but you are still no match for me. Besides, with Lu Fangliang helping you like this, do you want to see him expelled from Medicine King Valley and branded a traitor?"
"If you know what's good for you, hand over the Medicine King. Otherwise, both you and Lu Fangliang will die here today!"
Hearing this only made Yang Xiao more certain that the man was afraid of him.
'A crafty old fox who's lived for hundreds of years, just as I thought. Too bad for him he ran into me.'
Yang Xiao chuckled to himself, but said aloud, "I'd really love to hand it over, I would. There's just one problem... I already ate the Medicine King. What are we to do?"
He finished with a shrug, a helpless look on his face.
Yet the mockery in his eyes didn't lessen in the slightest; if anything, it intensified.
"Hmph! You think you could consume that Medicine King? Don't be ridiculous. Since you refuse to hand it over, you can just die here today."
Zhenkong Ancestor snorted coldly.
He clearly didn't believe a word of it.
After all, that was a Medicine King, not some ordinary Spirit Medicine. Even he wouldn't dare to consume it rashly.
And this brat, though he seemed strong, only had the aura of a Martial Grandmaster Second Layer Peak.
'Someone with that level of cultivation could consume a Medicine King?'
He didn't believe it.
He refused to believe it.
As for why Yang Xiao possessed such strength, after his encounter with Lu Fangliang, Zhenkong Ancestor figured this kid must be just like him—he must have awakened some special bloodline or Talent Ability.
Others might not know about such things.
But as a Supreme Ancestor of Medicine King Valley, Zhenkong Ancestor knew a thing or two.
He knew such abilities were inextricably linked to one's own cultivation.
'This little thief's cultivation is only at the Martial Grandmaster Second Layer Peak. Even if he awakened some powerful ability, there's no way he could surpass me. What do I have to be afraid of?'
He reassured himself.
Zhenkong Ancestor's courage swelled.
He raised his hand and threw another punch.
It shot toward Yang Xiao.
This time.
He used his full strength.
It was even stronger than before.
Its power reached the level of a Tier Six Peak Martial Saint.
Even a Tier Seven Martial Saint probably wouldn't dare to take it head-on.
Zhenkong Ancestor believed.
There was no way this brat could withstand his punch.
(PS: Chapter 4 is here. Please add this to your favorites!)