Fierce Battle in the Woods

"Not giving it?"

Tian Hu looked at Fang Chen, his expression darkening. Without another word, he charged straight at Fang Chen.

Although Tian Hu had yet to break through to the Qi Refining Realm, he possessed a four-attribute Mixed Spiritual Root, allowing him to absorb spiritual energy from the outside world through his spiritual roots. Over the years, he had also consumed a large amount of Spirit Medicine, making his body exceptionally powerful—he could easily lift objects weighing several hundred jin.

Before Zhang Tieniu came to Dragon Tiger Mountain, Tian Hu had been the strongest Handyman there.

Tian Hu rushed before Fang Chen and kicked at him without warning.

With a flash, Fang Chen evaded Tian Hu's attack.

Tian Hu staggered, nearly falling over. After steadying himself, he looked up at Fang Chen with astonishment written across his face. He had never expected this good-for-nothing Fang Chen to evade his attack.

Zhang Tieniu was somewhat surprised as well. Though Tian Hu was inferior to him, among the Handymen, he was still at the very top.

Although Tian Hu had not put his full strength into that kick, it was not something an ordinary person could evade. Yet Fang Chen had dodged it with ease.

"You actually dare dodge? You're courting death!"

Seeing Fang Chen evade his attack and make him lose face before Zhang Tieniu, Tian Hu flew into a rage and charged at Fang Chen again.

Yet every one of Tian Hu's subsequent attacks was still dodged by Fang Chen.

After attacking for so long without success, Tian Hu was secretly shocked. He had not expected Fang Chen's strength to be so formidable.

He had originally wanted to put on a good show before Zhang Tieniu, but instead, he now found himself riding a tiger with no way to dismount.

In his fury, he immediately drew the machete at his waist. With an enraged roar, his muscles suddenly swelled as though he had used some kind of secret art, and he swung his blade at Fang Chen.

Fang Chen's gaze sharpened, and he immediately leaned backward.

"Whoosh!"

The machete swept past his neck, its sharp edge leaving a shallow cut there.

Fang Chen retreated several steps with the momentum. He reached up to touch his neck, then lowered his head and saw that his hand was covered in blood.

His gaze instantly turned razor-sharp. If he had not dodged in time just now, he would probably have already been separated from his head.

Before this, no matter how Tian Hu bullied him, he could endure it, since his life had never been in danger.

But today, Tian Hu truly intended to kill him.

Just then, Tian Hu, his eyes bloodshot, charged at him again with his machete in hand.

Fang Chen's eyes narrowed as he swung the Heavenly Remnant Sword against the machete.

Clang!

Sparks flew in all directions.

Tian Hu staggered back four steps in a row. A huge notch had appeared in his machete, while the sword in Fang Chen's hand was completely unharmed.

The next moment, Fang Chen felt a scorching current flow from the Heavenly Remnant Sword. This current was far stronger than when he chopped bamboo or stones.

Under the effects of that current, he could not help but shudder.

Tian Hu looked at the chipped blade in his hand, and his expression changed drastically.

When Zhang Tieniu, standing in the distance, saw this, a faint smile appeared on his lips. "Just as I thought. This sword is definitely a treasure!"

The next moment, his body turned into an afterimage as he rushed toward Fang Chen.

Fang Chen looked up and immediately swung his sword at Zhang Tieniu.

But Zhang Tieniu wore a cold smile. His lips curled, his figure flickered, and then he struck Fang Chen's chest with his palm.

Bang!

Fang Chen's chest caved in slightly, and his body flew backward like a straw dummy. He only came to a stop after crashing into an Exquisite Bamboo.

He felt a heavy pressure in his chest. Sweetness rose in his throat, and he opened his mouth and spat out a mouthful of blood.

Zhang Tieniu fiercely kicked off the ground and shot toward him. A violent gust rose in his wake, sweeping up the bamboo leaves scattered across the ground. When he reached Fang Chen, he clenched his fist and punched at Fang Chen's face.

Zhang Tieniu was simply too fast. Fang Chen had no time to raise his sword to block, so he instinctively twisted aside to evade.

Zhang Tieniu's fist grazed Fang Chen's ear and slammed into the Exquisite Bamboo behind him.

Bang!

The Exquisite Bamboo shook violently and was actually cracked open by Zhang Tieniu's punch.

Fang Chen rolled aside with the momentum, his ears ringing. Before he could get back to his feet, Zhang Tieniu leaped into the air, spinning midair as his right leg swept down at him like a battle-axe.

Rather than retreating, Fang Chen advanced. He swung the Heavenly Remnant Sword at Zhang Tieniu's foot, intending to force him back.

But Zhang Tieniu was utterly fearless. He maintained his original attacking posture and kicked the Heavenly Remnant Sword with his shin.

Clang!

Sparks scattered in all directions. A powerful rebounding force sent Fang Chen stumbling back seven steps before he stopped.

The next moment, a scorching energy burrowed from the Heavenly Remnant Sword into his palm, surging through his meridians and throughout his body.

Under the effects of this energy, Fang Chen's heartbeat instantly accelerated, and his body temperature soared.

Zhang Tieniu landed and took two steps back. Lowering his head, he looked at his foot and saw that his trousers had been cut open.

He pulled up his pant leg, revealing a piece of black metal strapped over his shin. A deep sword mark ran across it—the very mark Fang Chen had just carved with his sword.

Zhang Tieniu stared at the sword mark on the metal plate, his gaze narrowing slightly. What he had strapped to his leg was deep-sea mystic iron, incomparably hard, something ordinary blades could scarcely damage. Yet a handyman without spiritual roots had cut such a deep mark into it with one stroke. The rusty longsword in the other man's hand was even more formidable than he had imagined.

If that sword fell into his hands, his strength would surely rise even further.

He raised his head to look at Fang Chen and pulled the machete from his waist.

"Whoosh!"

The next instant, Zhang Tieniu turned into a blur and charged at Fang Chen. In practically the blink of an eye, he was before him, swinging his machete down at Fang Chen.

Fang Chen's gaze sharpened, and he immediately raised his sword to block.

"Clang!"

Blade and sword collided. Fang Chen was sent flying by the tremendous force and crashed to the ground.

A nick was also cut into the machete in Zhang Tieniu's hand by the Heavenly Remnant Sword.

Although Fang Chen had been driven back, the warm current flowing from the Heavenly Remnant Sword into his body grew even stronger.

Under the effects of that current, Fang Chen felt more and more alert, his entire body brimming with strength.

Zhang Tieniu did not pause. He had no intention of giving Fang Chen a chance to catch his breath, immediately rushing before him and slashing down again.

Gritting his teeth, Fang Chen swung the Heavenly Remnant Sword up to block.

"Clang! Clang! Clang..."

Zhang Tieniu had gone all out as well. Each strike was fiercer than the last, and the immense force numbed Fang Chen's palms every time. Yet under the effect of the energy flowing into him from the Heavenly Remnant Sword, the numbness vanished in an instant.

This guy is so strong!

Watching from afar, Tian Hu was utterly shocked to see Fang Chen withstand Zhang Tieniu's relentless assault. He could not believe that the Fang Chen before him was the same worthless wretch on Dragon Tiger Mountain whom they used to bully at will, who had never dared to fight back.

Throughout his exchange with Zhang Tieniu, the mysterious current from the Heavenly Remnant Sword continued to flow into Fang Chen's body.

At this moment, the current entering his body from the Heavenly Remnant Sword was far stronger than when he had chopped bamboo or stones.

Under such circumstances, Fang Chen felt more energized with every exchange, stronger with every strike.

After fighting for a while, Zhang Tieniu also began to sense that something was wrong.

The prolonged, high-intensity assault had drained him somewhat. He knew that if this continued, defeat would be inevitable. Then he would never obtain the sword in Fang Chen's hand.

He shouted to Tian Hu, "Brother Tian Hu, come help me!"

Hearing Zhang Tieniu's call, Tian Hu instantly snapped back to his senses. Gripping his machete, he immediately charged forward and slashed at Fang Chen.

Fang Chen had already been struggling to fight Zhang Tieniu alone. Now that Tian Hu had joined in, his expression changed drastically. He tried to swing his sword to block Tian Hu's blade, but Zhang Tieniu gave him no chance, immediately using his machete to pin down the Heavenly Remnant Sword.

"Die!"

With an enraged roar, Tian Hu's machete instantly chopped toward Fang Chen's right arm.

Fang Chen's face changed sharply as he immediately dodged. But he did not evade completely. Tian Hu's machete skimmed across his arm, slicing open a wound.

"Pshht!"

Blood sprayed as agonizing pain shot through his arm.

"Ah..."

Fang Chen could not help letting out a scream.

Seizing the opportunity, Zhang Tieniu kicked Fang Chen squarely in the chest.

"Bang!"

Fang Chen was sent flying, his body rolling down the slope before finally crashing into a sandstone boulder.

At that moment, a powerful current surged from the Heavenly Remnant Sword. Under its effects, the pain in Fang Chen's arm instantly eased considerably.

"Whoosh!"

"Whoosh!"

Zhang Tieniu and Tian Hu immediately rushed down. The two swung their machetes at Fang Chen at the same time.