Stunned Everyone

Black Shark Gang, main headquarters.

"If we don't kill that bastard, our Black Shark Gang's foundation will sooner or later be swallowed up by the Sacred Dragon Book Pavilion."

"Have the people from Greenwood Hall arrived?"

A tall, imposing man paced back and forth, a trace of unease showing on his face.

Just then, a martial artist outside suddenly reported, "Gang Leader, they're here."

The Black Shark Gang Leader's face lit up, and he immediately said, "Invite them in."

"Forget it. I'll go out and receive them personally."

He strode out through the gate and saw two figures walking toward him.

One was covered in a full beard, while the other carried a long saber on his back.

"Gang Leader, have you made up your mind?"

When he saw the Black Shark Gang Leader, the bearded man grinned and asked.

"I accept Greenwood Hall's conditions. We'll join forces against the Sacred Dragon Book Pavilion."

"But once it's done, I want one-third of the things inside that Ancient Scripture Library."

The Black Shark Gang Leader spoke in a deep voice.

These had been the agreed-upon terms from the start, but to be safe, he wanted to confirm them again.

"No problem."

The bearded man agreed without hesitation.

Then he introduced the person beside him to the Black Shark Gang Leader. "This is Immortal Master Xu. The Hall Master invited him to deal with the Hat Swordsman from that Sacred Dragon Book Pavilion."

"Immortal Master? Could you be a cultivator?" The Black Shark Gang Leader was startled.

"Gang Leader, you flatter me. I was merely an Attendant of Prince Guangling's Estate. To put it plainly, I'm only an unaffiliated cultivator, far inferior to those cultivators from sects."

"When the estate fell, I was fortunate enough to earn Greenwood Hall Master's favor and stay here to enjoy a little peace and comfort."

The saber-bearing man smiled.

Although the other party was being quite modest, the Black Shark Gang Leader's expression turned solemn.

No wonder Greenwood Hall had dared invite the Black Shark Gang to deal with the Sacred Dragon Book Pavilion. It turned out they had been hiding such a formidable trump card.

To many forces in the martial world, cultivators were lofty existences beyond their reach. Even top-tier martial artists found it extremely difficult to contend with them.

"Greenwood Hall truly has hidden dragons and crouching tigers."

The Black Shark Gang Leader nodded inwardly.

"With Immortal Master Xu's help, we'll certainly be able to take down the Sacred Dragon Book Pavilion this time. However, that Hat Swordsman is mysterious and powerful. Earlier, when over a hundred martial artists from our Black Shark Gang ambushed Mo Xue, he dispelled it with ease."

The Black Shark Gang Leader pondered.

"No matter."

"Though the spiritual energy here is poor and I can't use much magic, dealing with a mere martial artist is still well within my grasp."

Immortal Master Xu smiled confidently.

"Gang Leader, rest assured. The reason our Greenwood Hall went to the trouble of inviting Immortal Master Xu was precisely to deal with that mysterious Hat Swordsman."

"That bastard from the Sacred Dragon Book Pavilion actually dreams of going against our Greenwood Hall. Then he'll have to pay a devastating price, just like his father did."

The bearded man spoke with certainty.

"If that's the case, then victory should be assured."

"When do we make our move?"

The Black Shark Gang Leader asked.

"I suggest the sooner the better. Once I finish dealing with these minor matters, I still want to return and cultivate in peace."

Immortal Master Xu spoke arrogantly.

"Then we'll do as Immortal Master Xu says."

Three days later.

Night fell.

A biting wind howled as several hundred martial artists from Greenwood Hall and the Black Shark Gang surrounded the entire Sacred Dragon Book Pavilion.

Yet the martial artists of the Sacred Dragon Book Pavilion showed not the slightest hint of fear. Led by Mo Xue, they all looked toward the man wearing a bamboo hat at the very front.

Dozens of corpses lay sprawled before the Hat Swordsman, every one of them killed by a single sword thrust to the throat.

He was like an insurmountable mountain, standing there before the many martial artists of the Sacred Dragon Book Pavilion.

The martial artists from Greenwood Hall and the Black Shark Gang watched the powerful figure standing before them like a god of slaughter. Their palms grew sweaty, and for a time, none dared act rashly.

"He's strong—definitely a top-tier swordsman."

The Black Shark Gang Leader's expression was grave. Only after personally witnessing the Hat Swordsman's attack did he truly realize how terrifying this mysterious man was.

"Immortal Master Xu, what do you think...?"

The bearded burly man looked toward him.

"Not bad. He should be able to withstand two moves from me."

Immortal Master Xu, who carried a saber, smiled and stepped forward.

"A cultivator..."

With a single glance, Lin Fan saw through the other party's origins.

"Stand aside, or die."

Immortal Master Xu slowly drew his saber, his tone utterly indifferent and disdainful.

Lin Fan suddenly laughed. Without any unnecessary words, he swept his sword straight across.

The Black Shark Gang Leader and the bearded burly man both thought this would be an overwhelming battle, with Immortal Master Xu effortlessly slaughtering the Hat Swordsman.

However, in the next second—

"Impossible... This is absolutely impossible..."

Immortal Master Xu's face was filled with shock and horror.

His saber had actually broken. The other party had sliced it in two with a single sword strike.

Immortal Master Xu was in an utterly wretched state. His feet kicked wildly, yet the man's large hand clamped around his neck like iron pincers, lifting him into the air.

He looked like a little chick dangling helplessly in midair, filled with powerlessness and despair.

With a single exchange, he had not merely lost—he had lost in such a miserable fashion!

"Who... exactly are you?"

Immortal Master Xu struggled violently and asked in disbelief.

Even though he could not use magic, he was still an existence no martial artist could contend with. The other party was definitely not a martial artist, but a cultivator far more terrifying than himself.

Lin Fan held him with one hand. With the other, he raised his sword and thrust, the frightening blade instantly piercing through Immortal Master Xu.

"Ah..."

A shrill scream rang out. Immortal Master Xu's head lolled to the side, and he became a cold corpse on the spot.

Lin Fan casually plucked the cloth pouch from his waist, then tossed the corpse aside as if throwing away garbage.

"Immortal... Master Xu..."

The bearded burly man felt his entire body grow cold.

"Is... is that even human?"

The Black Shark Gang Leader's heart pounded violently. He suddenly regretted it. He should never have allied with Greenwood Hall against the Sacred Dragon Book Pavilion.

"I knew it... You were invincible!"

Mo Xue's beautiful eyes shimmered as she looked at Lin Fan with deep admiration.

She had not misjudged him. His peerless might had surpassed everyone's imagination.

"What are you still standing around for? Go kill them all."

Lin Fan suddenly spoke, ordering the martial artists of the Sacred Dragon Book Pavilion.

As his voice fell, the martial artists of the Sacred Dragon Book Pavilion snapped out of their daze. Their morale soared, and they charged at the enemy opposite them with bloodshot eyes.

By contrast, the martial artists of Greenwood Hall and the Black Shark Gang were all dispirited, practically scared out of their wits.

With one side rising and the other falling, the martial artists of the Sacred Dragon Book Pavilion soon gained the upper hand.

Lin Fan did not remain idle either. With one sword per man, he specifically hunted the high-ranked martial artists.

Even the Black Shark Gang Leader and the bearded burly man from Greenwood Hall, who had not yet managed to flee, were nailed to the ground and killed by a single sword from Lin Fan.

Without the protection of their high-ranked martial artists, the ordinary martial artists of Greenwood Hall and the Black Shark Gang were like lambs led to the slaughter, having lost their last strength to resist.

In less than half an hour, apart from a few who escaped, most of the martial artists from Greenwood Hall and the Black Shark Gang died one after another.

Of course, the Sacred Dragon Book Pavilion also suffered considerable casualties. However, they had crushed the forces of Greenwood Hall and the Black Shark Gang in one fell swoop, so the price had undoubtedly been worth it.

Moreover, after this battle, the remnants of the two martial-world forces could no longer become opponents of the Sacred Dragon Book Pavilion.

"You can handle what remains."

After leaving behind these words, Lin Fan's figure vanished on the spot.

Mo Xue nodded, then commanded the martial artists of the Sacred Dragon Book Pavilion to launch the fiercest counterattack, with the headquarters of Greenwood Hall and the Black Shark Gang as their direct targets.

After several more days of fierce slaughter, the Sacred Dragon Book Pavilion completely wiped out Greenwood Hall and the Black Shark Gang.

Lin Fan's fame as the Hat Swordsman also officially spread throughout Ask Heaven City!

It was precisely because of his existence that the Sacred Dragon Book Pavilion had been able to crush the two great martial-world forces.

Without Greenwood Hall and the Black Shark Gang holding them back, the Sacred Dragon Book Pavilion naturally became the number one martial-world force in Ask Heaven City.

Ancient Scripture Library.

Lin Fan flipped through the talisman insights Master Ruan had given him.

"So the Blood Demon Talisman is divided into many types, and its grades are also divided according to its power."

"The Snow Demon Wolf Talisman I mastered before could only barely match a first-grade Blood Demon Talisman of the Spirit Opening Realm."

"If I can produce a second- or even third-grade Blood Demon Talisman of the Spirit Opening Realm, both its power and the summoned demon-beast phantom will become stronger and more durable."

He slowly closed the booklet, gaining a deeper understanding of the Blood Demon Talisman.

Would you like to consume thirty years of lifespan to advance the Talisman Secret Manual to proficiency in advance?

At that moment, a line of small text appeared before Lin Fan.

"Agree to the advance."

He spoke instinctively.