A Single Strike Leaves Him Gravely Wounded

A Single Strike Leaves Him Gravely Wounded

The Finger Profound Realm stood among the Three Shattered Realms on the long road of martial cultivation. As the second realm, its name alone inspired awe far and wide.

Ordinary Daoist Great Grandmasters had to endure countless trials and break through their limits before they could enter this mighty realm. In the eyes of common martial artists, anyone who reached the Finger Profound Realm was like a lofty immortal, whose every movement contained awe-inspiring power.

The martial arts displayed at this level were nothing short of divine techniques: intricate, peerless, and beyond imagination. They represented an understanding and application of the laws of heaven and earth. Every move seemed capable of drawing on the power of the world, and their might was beyond comparison with that of ordinary realms. Against such power, challenging someone above one's level was nearly unthinkable. Those capable of defeating a Finger Profound expert were all peerless prodigies whose names resounded throughout the martial world.

Though Xuanyuan Jingxuan had entered the Finger Profound Realm only because Xuanyuan Dapan had forcibly helped him, he was now a genuine Finger Profound expert. At that moment, he was filled with disdain. In his eyes, Wang Ritain was nothing more than a once-timid little retainer who had grown so arrogant that he thought he could stir up trouble in the martial world. He believed that, as a Finger Profound expert, personally going after Wang Ritain was already showing him more than enough respect. With that conceited attitude, Xuanyuan Jingxuan unhurriedly used his lightness skill to head in the direction the thirty-eight skilled fighters had gone. Beneath the moonlight, he moved like a black bolt of lightning, swift and nimble.

On the way, Xuanyuan Jingxuan suddenly spotted someone hurrying toward him.

The man was drenched in sweat and looked utterly terrified. He bore clear signs of severe injuries and was none other than a scout sent out by the Xuanyuan Family.

The scout stumbled with every step, as though he might collapse at any moment. The qi within him was in disarray, surging wildly like a turbulent tide.

Xuanyuan Jingxuan frowned slightly. With a flicker, he appeared in front of the scout. He pressed his right palm against the man's back and slowly sent a steady, powerful stream of qi into him, helping to calm the turmoil within. After a moment, the scout's complexion improved slightly. He raised his head, his eyes full of terror and shock, and stammered, "M-My lord, everyone's dead."

Xuanyuan Jingxuan's heart stirred. At first, he thought the scout meant that Wang Ritain was dead. A smug smile appeared on his face. "Hmph. I knew that boy couldn't possibly stand against our Xuanyuan Family."

"Not Wang Ritain. The more than thirty skilled fighters we sent... they're all dead."

The scout's voice trembled.

"What did you say?"

Xuanyuan Jingxuan's eyes widened in disbelief. "Say that again!"

The scout took a deep breath, summoned his courage, and repeated, "My lord, the more than thirty skilled fighters we sent were all killed by Wang Ritain."

Xuanyuan Jingxuan's face darkened at once, shock and fury filling his eyes. He never would have imagined that Wang Ritain possessed the strength to slaughter all thirty-odd fighters he had carefully selected. He looked at the scout and asked again, "Are you sure? Did you see it with your own eyes?"

The scout nodded quickly. "I swear it's true, my lord. I was there. I saw Wang Ritain strike with my own eyes. His strength... it was terrifying."

Xuanyuan Jingxuan fell silent, unease rising in his heart. He realized Wang Ritain couldn't have stirred up such a storm in the martial world through luck alone. The retainer he had once regarded as an ant had now grown into an opponent he could no longer afford to ignore.

Without further hesitation, Xuanyuan Jingxuan quickened his pace and rushed to the scene. When he arrived, a thick stench of blood hit him, as if an invisible blade had sliced into his nostrils. He looked around and saw bloodied, mangled corpses scattered everywhere. The sight was horrifying.

"Damn it!" Xuanyuan Jingxuan cursed, his blood surging as his fury reached its peak. He could hardly believe that the ambush he had meticulously planned had ended like this. Looking at the carnage, he roared, "Worthless fools! You couldn't even deal with one lowly retainer!"

Just then, he spotted Xuanyuan Qingfeng lying wounded in the distance. He hurried over, helped her up, and asked anxiously, "Qingfeng, what happened? Were all the retainers killed by Wang Ritain?"

Xuanyuan Qingfeng's face was pale. She nodded with difficulty. "Y-Yes... Wang Ritain. His strength... is far beyond anything we imagined. Second Uncle, you must be careful."

Xuanyuan Jingxuan's face darkened as if it might drip with water. His fury grew even more intense. He couldn't believe Wang Ritain had dared to act so brazenly and slaughter all his men right under his nose.

"Wang Ritain, I'll tear you limb from limb!" Xuanyuan Jingxuan snarled through gritted teeth.

But the instant the words left his mouth, a sharp blade cry rang out. A black figure shot toward him like a bolt of black lightning. It was Wang Ritain, launching a surprise attack!

The strike was so fast that it was almost impossible to follow. Terrifying demonic qi poured from the blade, so dense it seemed almost solid, and instantly enveloped the entire area.

As a Finger Profound expert, Xuanyuan Jingxuan's expression turned grave at the sudden attack. He felt a powerful pressure bearing down on him. The terrifying demonic qi even disrupted the flow of qi within his body. He hurriedly circulated his energy, forming a sturdy barrier in front of himself in an attempt to block Wang Ritain's attack.

But Wang Ritain's strike was devastatingly powerful. Its blade energy was like a razor-sharp sword, easily tearing through Xuanyuan Jingxuan's qi barrier before slashing toward him. Xuanyuan Jingxuan couldn't dodge in time. The blade energy cut across his body and sent him flying.

"Pfft!" Xuanyuan Jingxuan spat out a mouthful of blood in midair before crashing heavily to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. He struggled to get back up, only to find that his injuries were so severe he couldn't move.

Wang Ritain appeared before him. Looking down at the wounded Xuanyuan Jingxuan, he showed no emotion. "Xuanyuan Jingxuan, what did you think of that strike?"

Xuanyuan Qingfeng's eyes widened. She stared at what had just happened, stunned and unable to believe it. She never would have imagined that Wang Ritain could ambush and injure a Finger Profound expert head-on despite being below the Three Shattered Realms. To her, it was utterly impossible. Yet there it was, right before her eyes.

Xuanyuan Jingxuan was just as shocked. Only now did he truly understand what Xuanyuan Qingfeng had meant when she said Wang Ritain was not to be underestimated. The demonic intent behind that strike had chilled him to the bone. He realized Wang Ritain's strength far exceeded anything he had imagined. He was also astonished by Wang Ritain's audacity: he had actually dared to lie in wait and attack a Finger Profound expert like himself.

Wang Ritain looked at the wounded Xuanyuan Jingxuan, his expression calm. Slowly, he raised his long blade and walked toward him one step at a time. Xuanyuan Jingxuan's face darkened ominously. He snapped, "Wang Ritain, you only succeeded because you caught me off guard! Even though I'm gravely wounded, I'm still a Finger Profound expert. You think you can kill me?"

Wang Ritain said nothing. He simply pointed his long blade at him and replied coldly, "There's only one way to find out." His voice was icily chilling, as if it had come from the depths of the underworld. A shiver ran through anyone who heard it.