This Treasure Is...

"Hmm? You're the one with a treasure to offer this king?"

Watching the mysterious Black Hooded Hat Man being led into the hall by the Barbarian soldiers, A Yanda couldn't help but furrow his brow slightly as he questioned.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Beneath the black robe, Gu Han spoke in a deep voice upon hearing this.

"Oh? And what treasure is that? Bring it forth quickly for this king to see!"

Seeing how composed and unruffled this black-robed man before him was, A Yanda couldn't help but feel a flicker of curiosity rise in his heart.

After all, in ordinary times, which commoner wouldn't tremble in fear before him, terrified of accidentally provoking his wrath?

Yet this black-robed man now stood so calm and at ease—he must either be a madman or truly possess a great treasure!

At this thought, even the others turned their gazes curiously toward the black-robed man in the center of the hall.

"Very well! Since Your Majesty commands, I shall present the treasure for Your Majesty's viewing. This treasure is... is..."

Under the curious stares of the barbarians, Gu Han suddenly paused, reached up to remove the hooded hat from his head, and then hurled it with all his might toward A Yanda, who sat at the center of the hall.

In the next instant, the terrifying power within his body, like that of a great dragon, erupted explosively as he declared aloud:

"The dog's head of Chief Salachi!"

"BOOM!"

The moment Gu Han's words fell, a deafening explosion rang out through the hall. The ground beneath his feet instantly cracked and split. His originally loose and relaxed frame now seemed like a waking divine dragon, striding across heaven and earth like an arrow, hurtling toward Salachi in the center of the hall at an utterly terrifying speed.

"Your Majesty, save me!"

Seeing this fearsome Black Robe Monk suddenly charging at him, Salachi was so terrified his soul nearly fled his body, crying out repeatedly to A Yanda for help.

This black-robed man's aura was far too overwhelming—even compared to the Barbarian King A Yanda himself, it seemed hardly weaker. If he faced him head-on, he feared he wouldn't even last a single blow.

"Stop him! Stop him, I say!"

Seeing Gu Han's sudden move, A Yanda was both shocked and enraged, roaring orders at the others while simultaneously channeling Inner Qi into his palm to viciously strike the flying hat, which shot toward him like a cannonball.

This black-robed man's strength was terrifying—the hat he threw was even more ferocious than gunpowder. If he took that blow head-on to save Salachi without dodging, he would be gravely wounded even if he survived, putting himself in grave danger. So no matter how much he wanted to save Salachi, he would never put himself in harm's way, and could only command others to act.

"Filthy monk, stop right there!"

"Bastard, don't you dare harm Chief Salachi!"

Hearing the Barbarian King A Yanda's command, the assembled Barbarian Chieftains, though unwilling to cross blows with this fearsome monk, had no choice but to obey and launched their attacks at Gu Han.

But Gu Han simply ignored the chieftains charging at him, his gaze locked solely on Salachi—a man with fiery red hair and a bear-like, burly frame, yet whose eyes were filled with the panicked terror of a lamb. Cold intent filled Gu Han's heart.

"Die!"

Gu Han uttered softly, his five fingers clenching into a fist. As he punched out, boundless force instantly tore through the air, as if breaking the sound barrier, carrying terrifying kinetic energy straight toward Salachi's face.

"Ah! You want to kill me? Not so easy!"

Seeing that no one could reach him in time, at the brink of death, Salachi seemed to tap into every ounce of his potential. He raised both hands, Inner Qi surging from his palms like an avalanche, and thrust them fiercely toward Gu Han's fist.

"THUD!"

Under Gu Han's cold gaze and Salachi's frantic expression, Gu Han's fist met Salachi's palms.

The moment they connected, Gu Han's overwhelming power erupted instantly, like a sledgehammer smashing glass, easily shattering Salachi's Inner Qi before slamming brutally into his flesh-and-blood palms.

"Aaargh!"

Accompanied by a sickening crunch of breaking bones, Salachi screamed in agony. Beneath Gu Han's iron fist, the bones in both his hands shattered inch by inch, dangling limply like two dead snakes as he wailed in pain.

But his screams didn't last long, for in the next moment, Gu Han's fist smashed directly into his face.

Crack!

Another sound of bone breaking rang out. How immense was Gu Han's strength? A hundred thousand jin was still an understatement.

With such a terrifying punch, even a body forged from refined steel would be smashed to pulp, let alone a mortal frame like Salachi's.

Though Gu Han's fist had been slowed by Salachi's block, the remaining force was still enough to shatter his skull into pieces.

"SPLATTER!"

As Gu Han's fist landed, the entire hall seemed to turn into a dye shop—red, white, black, and purple all burst forth.

And on the seat where Chief Salachi had sat, his figure was nowhere to be seen. Only a headless corpse remained, collapsing with a heavy "THUD" as its support gave way.

"Chief Salachi!"

Seeing Salachi—who had been laughing heartily just moments ago, praised by the Barbarian King A Yanda—now reduced to such a gruesome state, his life taken in an instant by this black-robed monk, his body not even whole, the chieftains who had been charging at Gu Han were all struck with terror. They recoiled backward as if fleeing from some primordial beast, staring at him in horror.

"You beast!"

At the center of the hall, A Yanda's Inner Qi erupted as he shattered the hat Gu Han had thrown with a single palm strike. His eyes blazed with fury, his hair and beard bristling as he unleashed a terrifying killing intent.

How many years had it been? How many years since someone had dared to be so insolent before him? He remembered the last time was fifteen years ago, when he had just declared his intention to unify the Barbarian Tribe and demanded the other tribes acknowledge him as their master.

Back then, the chieftain of the strongest among the hundred Barbarian tribes had refused and defied him—only to have his head taken off with ease.

Now, fifteen years later, someone still dared to act so brazenly before him, daring to assassinate a Barbarian chieftain during their victory feast. Truly...

"Courting death!"

A Yanda was furious beyond measure. The next instant, he struck with venomous intent, the terrifying internal qi within his body—far surpassing the Great Accomplishment of Internal Qi—erupting violently. He threw a punch at Gu Han, like a divine being from ancient myth enraged, smashing down as if to shatter heaven and earth itself.

"Good, you're coming!"

Seeing A Yanda make his move, Gu Han was not alarmed but delighted. His entire body trembled with eagerness, and his blood and qi burst forth as well.

Ever since he had broken through to Organ Refining and achieved minor success in Blood Tempering today, he only knew that his strength had likely grown tremendously—but he had no idea how he compared to the Barbarian King, A Yanda. After all, he had never seen A Yanda fight before, so he guessed he might be stronger, or perhaps weaker.

But today, he would put it to the test!