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This type of throwing dart was hard to predict, but he had a smell superpower; as long as his reactions were quick enough, it was manageable, much like when he was ambushed by the Mei Mountain Magic Arrow, with even trickier angles, yet he still caught it.
Simultaneously, a few venomous snakes on the ground coiled up and abruptly sprang forward, baring their fangs, attacking him.
However, Li Yanâs blade was faster.
As he sidestepped, the Duan Chen Blade in his hand swung left and right, transforming into a flash of blade light, shredding the attacking venomous snakes into pieces.
On the opposite side, Hua Snake Yang Yun let out a strange laugh, continuously whistling, wielding a long sword while moving around the stage, throwing snake-shaped darts, coordinating with the venomous snake assault on Li Yan.
For a moment, it formed a suppressive force.
Although Li Yan swung the blade like lightning, guarding himself fiercely, he appeared to have no chance to counterattack under the upward and downward attack.
Many in the audience, their expressions also became grim.
They were not worried about Li Yan; this young man from Guanzhong, his life and death were irrelevant to them.
They were just envisioning, if they fell into such a situation, they probably wouldnât last long before dying.
This Hua Snake Yang Yun was insidious and cunning, indeed difficult to deal with.
Only a few experts realized that it was all a facade.
On the stage, Li Yan appeared flustered, but amid the flickering blade light, his eyes were exceptionally calm.
The corners of Zhang Xiaoshanâs mouth also curved into a smile.
He had seen through Li Yan, who was calculating distance, waiting for the right time.
Sure enough, as the venomous snakes atop the platform were continuously shredded, a trace of pain flashed in Hua Snake Yang Yunâs eyes.
He hadnât expected Li Yan to defend himself so thoroughly.
All these were magic snakes; during their cultivation and refinement, they required some Heavenly Spirit Earth Treasure and precious herbs, making them very expensive.
If all were killed, this would result in a financial loss.
Thinking of this, he couldnât help but shorten the distance, simultaneously retrieving an iron fan from his chest and suddenly opening it.
On the iron fan was boldly painted a cobraâs head.
The snake eyes, unknown what pigment was used, even in daylight, emitted a faint glow, resembling a living creature.
Hua Snake Yang Yun stopped whistling, instead quickly performed a mantra, muttering an obscure Magic Spell in a local dialect.
Without the whistleâs urging, the snake formation on the ground also became chaotic.
And at this moment, Li Yanâs hidden energy at his feet erupted, suddenly leaping into the air, crossing past the snake formation, charging straight towards him.
However, a trace of pride appeared in Hua Snake Yang Yunâs eyes, suddenly blowing the whistle again.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
The snake formation on the ground exploded once more.
Each little venomous snake pounced up, and Li Yan, now airborne, became a moving target.
However, Li Yan had long been prepared.
As he soared into the air, the Three Talents Demon Suppressing Coin Blade Tassel suddenly jingled, fierce killing intent spreading outwards.
With his current Dao, the power of the Demon Suppression Coin grew stronger.
The terrifying killing intent instantly scattered the snake formation.
In fact, to deal with this, Li Yan had many means; had he taken out the Divine Tiger Token, using the North Emperor Mountain Climbing Skill or Protective Spell, he could have long since driven the snakes away.
But in that manner, Hua Snake Yang Yun would also have fled in fright.
In such a situation, using the Soul Hook would be just right, but that counted as a trump card, and most enemies who have seen it are dead.
Exhibiting it under so many eyes could be discovered through someoneâs Divine Skills.
Thus, this strategy was the only choice.
Seeing the snake formation couldnât stop Li Yan, and feeling the terrifying powers of the Magic Artifact on the opponent, Hua Snake Yang Yunâs face changed, hurriedly retreating.
However, it was all too late.
Li Yan was just a few meters away from him. After landing, he reached his toes, sped up again, and the Duan Chen Blade sliced through like a bolt of lightning, stabbing straight at Yang Yunâs throat.
"Wishful thinking!"
Hua Snake Yang Yun, at this point, had no room to retreat, unleashed his fury, simultaneously raising the long sword in his hand, without any dodging, stabbing towards Li Yan.
This was a fight to the death.
From earlier cowardice to now madness, the shift in demeanor happened instantly.
Even the audience below the stage felt secretly alarmed.
Fighting life and death in the pugilistic world sometimes was also a psychological battle, experienced experts leveraging such changes to disrupt the opponentâs mind.
And these were similarly Yang Yunâs underhanded tactics.
As he swung the sword to stab, suddenly, three black shadows popped out from the other sleeve, twisting and turning, directly entangling Li Yanâs Duan Chen Blade.
Again, it was three venomous snakes.
These three venomous snakes were entirely different from those on the ground, with scales shining with a metallic luster. Upon contact with Li Yanâs Duan Chen Blade blade, generating sparks with a tinkling clash between scales and metal.
Another peculiar magic snake!
Invulnerable to blades and swords, extremely tenacious, and powerful, it clung tightly to the Duan Chen Blade, halting its momentum.
Meanwhile, Hua Snake Yang Yun also let out a sinister laugh, his poisoned long sword in the other hand stabbing towards Li Yanâs heart.
These moves of his were summed up amidst life and death.
Countless experts had been schemed to death by him, and this young man before him, famed in vain, couldnât escape death all the same.
But just at this moment, he suddenly froze all over.
Only to see electric light flickering on the Duan Chen Bladeâs edge, entering his body through the several venomous snakes.
It was the North Emperor Yin Thunder, capable of attacking the spirit.
Hua Snake Yang Yun couldnât respond, his mind buzzing, his body rigid, and his vision blackened.
A fear of death rose from his heart. Still, with the last shred of reason, he fiercely controlled the venomous snakes, blocking Li Yanâs blade.
He had practiced the "Yin Fetus Longevity Technique," as long as he blocked the deadly attack, even with body injuries, there would be a chance of recovery in the future.
However, Li Yanâs other fist clenched suddenly, electric arcs crackling, yanked the Duan Chen Blade violently, drawing Hua Snake Yang Yun straight before him.
The fist, glowing with electricity, smashed down suddenly.
Boom!
A thunderous roar, like a thunderstorm erupting on stage.
Blood and flesh sprayed everywhere; Hua Snake Yang Yunâs head was blasted directly, leaving only a headless corpse, stumbling and falling to the ground.
Li Yanâs expression was indifferent, shaking the Duan Chen Blade, sparks flying, shredding the three iron-scaled venomous snakes into pieces, then coiling the blade in a flourish, suddenly stabbing down towards the opponentâs heart.
Thunder Technique!
The audience below watched with a jolt in their hearts, simultaneously feeling somewhat puzzled.
This young man had such a deadly aura; having already killed the man, why must he abuse the corpse so?
But the next scene made their scalps prickle.
Only to see the Duan Chen Blade piercing Hua Snake Yang Yunâs heart, crackling with electrical lights surrounding, the headless corpse constantly trembling, seemingly struggling.
Stinking black smoke oozed continuously from the corpseâs chest.
And as the black smoke completely dissipated, all the little venomous snakes on the platform stiffened, ceasing activity.
After all this, Li Yan kicked the corpse off the stage, saying coldly: "This man practiced Evil Techniques, upon dying, his corpse will surely cause trouble, find someone to burn it thoroughly."
The eerie occurrences on stage were witnessed by all.
The steward of the Ezhou Chamber of Commerce, clearly aware of Li Yanâs circumstances, quickly nodded when he heard, bringing a few people to move the corpse farther away, setting it ablaze.
Of course, those little venomous snakes werenât spared either.
Having finished, the Chamber of Commerce steward then jumped onto the stage, casting a deep glance at Li Yan below before announcing:
"The second round, Guanzhongâs Li Yan wins!"
"The third round, Brotherhood, Four Seas Carriage."
With that, he jumped off the stage.
Following his announcement, two more people jumped onto the stage from below.
The Brotherhood, considered a Jianghu Sect with many experts, the one representing them, Li Yan had seen before; precisely Han Yang Cityâs "Cheap Third Master."
And the Four Seas Carriage had hired outside aid, a renowned boxer from Ezhouâs path, hailing from the North, specializing in Bajiquan.
They clearly knew each other, meeting with smiles and clasped hands.
"Cheap Third Master, well met!"
"Brother Wang, well met!"
"Such heavy killing today. Shall we stop at touches?"
"But of course, afterward, letâs have a drink."
Despite their good relationship and stopping at touches, they were, after all, skilled practitioners, with one being fierce in the Eight Extremes, and the other with ingeniously closed 24 Hands.
Such sparring between experts was rarely seen.
Yet, the pugilists below the stage frequently glanced to the other side.
There they saw Li Yan, whose killing intent hadnât dissipated, occasionally whispering to Zhang Xiaoshan, and at times, glancing towards the Pai Sect.
In the distance, a few monastery monks from the Law Enforcement Hall also approached.
The face of Pai Sectâs leader Shi Chen turned a mix of expressions.
Everyone knew the previous matter might not be resolved.
Sure enough, a monk from the Law Enforcement Hall came over, directly inquiring: "Leader Shi, this Hua Snake Yang Yun..."
"Who recommended you?"
"""