Xiantian vs Foundation Establishment: A Kill in the Alley

The Punishment Platform in the back mountain of Xianyun Sect was a high platform built from massive black stones. Strange runes covered its surface, radiating a cold, sinister aura. At that moment, Lin Xiaohu was bound to a stone pillar at the center of the platform. His face was full of fear, yet he still gritted his teeth stubbornly, not uttering a single plea for mercy.

Two Xianyun Sect disciples stood beside the Punishment Platform. One of them was tall and thin, with three cloud patterns embroidered on his cuffs—a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator. He looked at Lin Xiaohu with a disdainful smile. "A mere mortal dares to offend an immortal sect? Today, I'll let you learn the consequences of insulting an immortal sect!"

As he spoke, the tall, thin disciple raised the sword in his hand and prepared to slash down at Lin Xiaohu's arm.

"Stop!"

At that moment, Chen Fan's voice rang out from afar. He hurried to the Punishment Platform, his eyes locked onto the tall, thin disciple, murder blazing within them. "Let Xiaohu go, or I'll make you regret ever coming into this world!"

The tall, thin disciple turned around. Seeing Chen Fan dressed in coarse cloth, with not the slightest fluctuation of spiritual energy around him, he immediately sneered. "Another mortal who doesn't know the height of heaven or the depth of earth. You dare meddle in Xianyun Sect's affairs? I think you're tired of living!"

The other Xianyun Sect disciple chimed in as well. "Senior Brother, don't waste words on him. Just kill him and save us the trouble."

Chen Fan ignored their mockery. His gaze fell on Lin Xiaohu, and he said softly, "Xiaohu, don't be afraid. I'm here to save you."

The instant Lin Xiaohu saw Chen Fan, tears welled up in his eyes. He said anxiously, "Brother Fan, run! They're immortal cultivators—you can't beat them!"

"I said I would get you out of here, and I always keep my word!" Chen Fan's tone was firm, leaving no room for doubt.

Seeing Chen Fan disregard him, the tall, thin disciple flew into a rage. "You've got nerve! Since you're courting death, I'll grant your wish!"

Before his words had even faded, spiritual energy erupted from the tall, thin disciple's body. The longsword in his hand glimmered with faint white light as it stabbed toward Chen Fan. The blade ripped through the air with sharp whooshes, moving at an astonishing speed.

Chen Fan's expression sharpened, and he did not dare let down his guard in the slightest. A Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator was far beyond a Houtian Stage martial artist. They could draw upon Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy and wield spells and divine abilities; both their attack power and speed far surpassed those of martial artists at the same level.

But Chen Fan had advantages of his own. A martial artist's physical body was far tougher than that of an immortal cultivator, and in close combat, they were virtually unmatched. Moreover, he had just broken through to the Xiantian Stage. True Energy surged endlessly within him, and he was brimming with confidence.

Facing the tall, thin disciple's attack, Chen Fan did not choose to meet it head-on. Instead, he relied on his nimble footwork to evade the sword's thrusts again and again. His figure flickered before the Punishment Platform like a ghostly shadow, causing the disciple's attacks to miss time after time.

"Damn it! How is your movement technique so fast?" The tall, thin disciple was inwardly shocked. He had never expected a mere mortal to dodge his attacks. Taking a deep breath, he stirred the spiritual energy within himself once more and began chanting, "Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy, heed my command—Ice Seal Technique!"

As his incantation fell, the surrounding temperature plummeted. Countless tiny ice particles condensed in the air and shot toward Chen Fan.

Chen Fan's expression changed. He could sense the bone-piercing cold contained within those ice particles. If they struck him, his body would likely freeze solid. He did not dare be careless. True Energy instantly circulated through his body at full force, and he clenched both fists before punching toward the ice particles.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

His fists collided with the ice particles, producing dull impacts. The ice shattered beneath his blows, turning into a sky full of icy fragments, but the chill also seeped into Chen Fan's fists, making them somewhat stiff.

"Hahaha! A mortal is still a mortal. So what if your movement technique is fast? Before my spell, you'll die all the same!" Seeing Chen Fan's predicament, the tall, thin disciple burst into laughter.

Chen Fan said nothing. He knew he could not keep going like this. An immortal cultivator's spiritual energy could keep flowing without end; as long as Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy supported them, they could cast spells continuously. His True Energy, however, was limited. If this dragged on, defeat was inevitable.

He had to end this quickly!

Chen Fan swept his gaze over the surroundings and spotted a narrow alley beside the Punishment Platform. An idea immediately came to him.

"Take this!" Chen Fan shouted, deliberately exposing an opening to lure the tall, thin disciple into attacking.

The tall, thin disciple took the bait, thinking Chen Fan had exhausted his strength. He hurriedly swung his sword and stabbed toward Chen Fan's chest.

Just as the sword was about to pierce Chen Fan, Chen Fan suddenly spun around and ran into the alley.

"Trying to run? It won't be that easy!" The tall, thin disciple snorted and immediately gave chase. He was confident that with his speed, he would certainly catch Chen Fan.

Once they entered the alley, the space abruptly narrowed. The tall, thin disciple could no longer properly wield his sword, and the confined space prevented him from casting spells. His strength was greatly diminished.

Yet Chen Fan was like a fish in water. The cramped space perfectly played to his advantage in close combat. He turned around, gathered all the True Energy in his body into his right fist, and drove it toward the tall, thin disciple's chest.

The tall, thin disciple's face changed drastically. He tried to dodge, only to find the alley too narrow to evade at all. He could only hurriedly mobilize the spiritual energy in his body and form a spiritual energy shield before himself.

Bang!

Fist and spiritual energy shield collided with a thunderous crash. The shield shattered instantly, and the tall, thin disciple was thrown back several steps by the immense force, blood spraying from his mouth.

"How is this possible? How can your strength be so great?" The tall, thin disciple's eyes were filled with disbelief. He had never imagined that a Xiantian Stage martial artist could break through his spiritual energy shield.

Chen Fan gave him no time to think and pressed his advantage. His figure flashed, and he appeared before the tall, thin disciple. His left hand seized the disciple's wrist while his right fist smashed into his abdomen.

"Ah—!"

The tall, thin disciple let out a miserable scream. His body flew away like a kite with its string cut, crashing into the wall of the alley before falling unconscious.

The other Xianyun Sect disciple saw the tall, thin disciple defeated and was scared out of his wits. He turned and ran. Chen Fan snorted, picked up the longsword from the ground, and hurled it at the disciple's back.

Splat!

The longsword pierced through the disciple's heart. He collapsed to the ground and did not move again.

After dealing with the two Xianyun Sect disciples, Chen Fan hurried to the Punishment Platform and untied the ropes around Lin Xiaohu.

"Brother Fan, you're incredible! You actually defeated immortal cultivators!" Lin Xiaohu said excitedly, his eyes full of admiration.

Chen Fan smiled and rubbed his head. "Let's go. This isn't a place to linger. Xianyun Sect's people will be here soon."

The two did not dare delay. They quickly left Xianyun Sect's back mountain and ran in the direction of Qingyang City. What they did not know was that this battle of Xiantian vs Foundation Establishment had already been witnessed by one of Xianyun Sect's elders.

At Xianyun Sect's main peak, inside a magnificent palace.

An elder dressed in a purple robe watched Chen Fan and Lin Xiaohu's departing backs through a water mirror. Surprise and killing intent flashed in his eyes. "I never expected there to be such a formidable martial artist in this world, one capable of defeating a Foundation Establishment Realm disciple with Xiantian Stage strength. This boy cannot be allowed to live. He must be eliminated as soon as possible!"

After saying that, the elder picked up a Communication Talisman, poured spiritual energy into it, and said in a grave voice, "Pass down the order: pursue Chen Fan and Lin Xiaohu with all your strength. Dead or alive!"