"What is she doing?"
Zhang Mengfei's expression faltered as he watched the Pure Yang Sword Sect disciple, Yang Ziling, about to perish beneath his strongest attack.
He held no killing intent toward the woman before him.
On the contrary, he was deeply impressed. For a woman to reach this stage, and to display such incredible power with a cultivation of only Martial Grandmaster First Layer, was astounding.
Zhang Mengfei was filled with admiration.
He never would have attacked if Xuan Tianzhan hadn't threatened him with his sister's life.
Even if he had to fight, it would have been a fair duel, not a battle to the death.
But nowā¦
"Big Brother, that bitch is trying to get herself killed!"
The Fang siblings grew anxious.
They had their own plans for Yang Ziling and absolutely didn't want her to die like this.
But the bearded youth's spear technique was too formidable. Forget Fang Aohan, who hadn't even reached Martial Grandmaster Sixth Layer; even if he had, he might not have been able to block it.
That strike was nearly as powerful as a full-force attack from a Martial Grandmaster at the Eighth or Ninth Layer.
It wasn't something he could withstand.
'Am I going to miss out on the Secret Skill just like this?'
Fang Aohan's heart filled with bitter unwillingness.
Zhang Mengfei, too, felt a pang of reluctance.
Seeing that Yang Ziling was truly powerless to retaliate, he began to pull back his power, intending to shift the attack's trajectory and spare her life.
But just then.
Xuan Tianzhan's voice echoed through the air.
"Kill her! Otherwise, your sister dies!"
Somehow, he had already arrived with his men.
And he had witnessed the life-or-death moment.
"Thisā¦"
Zhang Mengfei hesitated.
"Hurry up and kill her!"
Xuan Tianzhan's voice thundered in his ears once more.
In the end, for his sister's sakeā¦
Zhang Mengfei gritted his teeth. He stopped holding back, no longer shifting his aim. A terrifying power that seemed to blot out the sky descended upon Yang Ziling.
If it landed.
Forget a mere Martial Grandmaster First Layer like Yang Zilingāeven an expert at the Eighth or Ninth Layer of the Martial Grandmaster realm would be pulverized, utterly obliterated.
Yet, in that moment of certain deathā¦
A figure suddenly materialized before her.
He raised a hand.
And caught it.
Instantly, the great wave formed by countless spear images vanished into thin air.
Everyone saw a fair hand gripping the silver spear tip. It was so steady, it was as if he were holding a toy, not a deadly weapon.
Like it was nothing more than a plaything.
"Th-This is impossible! He caught my strongest killing move with his bare hands! Heā¦"
Zhang Mengfei's eyes flew wide with disbelief.
The others.
Were equally shocked.
Among those present, only a handful were confident they could have taken that last strike, and even then, only by going all out. Yet this man, who appeared even younger and more callow than Zhang Mengfeiā¦
How could a youth who looked even younger than Zhang Mengfei have caught it so effortlessly?
Instantly, everyone was dumbfounded.
Including Xuan Tianzhan.
Back when he had dealt with Zhang Mengfei, he had expended considerable effort. If Zhang Mengfei hadn't been wary of his status as the Young Sect Leader of the Profound Celestial Sect, Xuan Tianzhan might not have escaped unscathed.
Now, some nobody had appeared.
And caught Zhang Mengfei's killing move barehanded.
Xuan Tianzhan was just as shocked.
But his shock quickly turned to fury.
His expression grew incomparably grim.
Because he recognized Yang Xiao!
'It's that brat! It's actually him!'
Yang Xiao had killed his two maids and stolen the Qilin Beast's Essence Blood that should have been his.
Xuan Tianzhan's impression of him was deep indeed.
If he hadn't been preoccupied with his plans for the Northern Wilderness Sword Mansion for the past six months, he would have killed Yang Xiao long ago.
Meeting him again now, Xuan Tianzhan could barely restrain his murderous urges.
He wanted to pounce on him at once.
But the thought of Yang Xiao's methods gave him pause. A glint flickered in his eyes as he suppressed the impulse.
'This is a critical time. This kid is clearly a hundred times harder to deal with than Zhang Mengfei. I can't act rashly. I need to probe his true strength first.'
With this in mind, Xuan Tianzhan reined in his emotions, his expression becoming one of cool indifference.
However, Xuan Tianzhan didn't want to make a move.
But Yang Xiao had no intention of letting him off the hook.
He had spotted Xuan Tianzhan while still on the back of the Purple Gold Cloud Peng Beast.
The death of the Earth Fire Qilin Beast back then.
It had always been a sharp pain in Yang Xiao's heart.
Worse, this bastard had even refined the Earth Fire Qilin Beast's soul.
How could Yang Xiao possibly let him go?
With a casual flick of the wrist, Yang Xiao sent a tremor through the silver spear he held.
The shockwave jolted Zhang Mengfei's entire body.
He stumbled back several steps.
BLECH!
He spat out a mouthful of blood.
"A little lesson, to teach you that not just anyone is worth following. Xuan Tianzhan! Heh hehā¦"
Yang Xiao glanced at Zhang Mengfei. If he hadn't sensed the man's earlier reluctance to deal a fatal blowā¦
ā¦this guy would be dead right now.
Still, since he was one of Xuan Tianzhan's men, Yang Xiao didn't mind teaching him a lesson.
Letting him suffer a little.
Having done that, Yang Xiao strode forward.
Heading straight for Xuan Tianzhan.
As he walked, he spoke, "Xuan Tianzhan, Young Sect Master Xuan. It's been a while. Didn't you tell me to come find you at the Nine Sects Grand Competition? Well, here I am. I wonder, does Young Sect Master Xuan dare to fight me?"
The moment the words left his mouth, Xuan Tianzhan's face turned utterly foul.
He had thought it was an act of great magnanimity on his part not to seek trouble with Yang Xiao. He never expected the fool to be so clueless as to provoke him.
'Does he really think I'm a pushover?'
"You? A nobody? You think you're worthy of fighting Senior Brother Xuan?"
Just then, one of the True Disciples beside Xuan Tianzhan stepped forward.
It was his right-hand man, Qil Zhen.
A moment ago, Yang Xiao had caught the full-force attack of a Martial Grandmaster Sixth Layer, Zhang Mengfei, with his bare hands. Although many couldn't discern its true power, the feat alone spoke volumes about Yang Xiao's strength.
At the very least, the True Disciples who had only just reached the Late-stage Martial Grandmaster realm, at the Seventh or Eighth Layers, would never dare to cross blades with him.
And so, it was Qil Zhen, at the Peak of Martial Grandmaster Ninth Layer, who stepped forward first.
"My Brother Yang, a nobody? Ha! How ridiculous."
At that moment, another figure descended from the sky.
It was Lu Fangliang, who had arrived with Yang Xiao.
He shot a disdainful glance at Xuan Tianzhan and his cronies, his eyes finally landing on Qil Zhen. "You say my Brother Yang isn't qualified to fight Xuan Tianzhan? I, on the other hand, think *you* aren't qualified to fight my Brother Yang. If you're looking for a fight, how about you face me instead?"
"You? Who the hell are you? This world really is full of arrogant fools these days. A mere Martial Grandmaster Fourth Layer dares to challenge me, Qil Zhen?"
Qil Zhen's words were dismissive, but his expression was ugly.
He felt utterly humiliated.
"We'll see who the arrogant fool is after we fight. But when you discover you're no match for me, I wonder if you'll realize the arrogant fool was you all along?"
Lu Fangliang said with a faint, extraordinary smile.
His bearing was remarkable.
While he admitted he was no match for Yang Xiao, he truly couldn't be bothered with a mere cultivator at the Peak of Martial Grandmaster Ninth Layer.
Even without using his Greater Yang God Arrow.
The Purple Flame Dragon Spear in his hand was more than enough.
"Insolent! Since you're so eager to die, I'll grant you your wish!"
Qil Zhen could no longer hold back.
He attacked first.
He raised a hand, and countless streams of Fire Elemental Power surged toward him from the surrounding world.
Lu Fangliang's expression turned icy. "A demonic heretic of the Immortal Dao, just as I thought. How could I, Lu Fangliang, possibly tolerate your existence?"
With a cold sneer, he brandished his Purple Flame Dragon Spear, and a torrent of spear images filled the air.
Its power was in no way inferior to Zhang Mengfei's earlier attackāit may even have surpassed it.
Qil Zhen's face.
Changed in an instant.
He no longer dared to look down on Lu Fangliang in the slightest.
And seeing this unfold.
Xuan Tianzhan, whose expression was already dark, looked even more sullen.
'This brat really came prepared. What should Iā¦ do?'
For the first time, in his heart, as he faced the man he had considered a mere ant a year ago, the thought of retreat began to form.
(PS: Chapter 4 is here. Thank you to my readers "Emperor" and "Winter Cold Summer Snow" for the donations. I appreciate your support and recognition. Thank you. Also, in response to feedback from many readers that the protagonist is a bit too brutal, I'm planning to have him act more gently this time. Let me know what you all think. Is it all just flexing and no killing?)