Fierce Battle

Hiss hiss!

Bang!

After a loud noise, countless dense steel needles shot out, exploding into bloody mist among many Gui Ling Sect disciples.

"Hidden weapons?"

Fang Yuan's scalp went numb. Having been prepared, he immediately lunged forward, his figure disappearing behind a large rock.

Pfft pfft!

But the other Gui Ling Sect disciples were not so lucky.

Accompanied by continuous piercing sounds, bloody mist exploded in the dense forest, corpses stood upside down, blood flowed everywhere, instantly turning the area into a slaughterhouse.

When this wave passed, Fang Yuan poked half his head out and immediately saw the disciple surnamed Sun, who had mocked and challenged him earlier, lying in a pool of blood, his entire body riddled like a beehive.

A tall, slender figure then emerged from the darkness, vaguely carrying something in his hand.

"It's Song Zhong!"

Lin Leyue exclaimed, suddenly waving her sleeve. A sleeve arrow shot into the sky, emitting a sharp whistle and exploding into a brilliant firework.

"Heh heh... are you trying to notify Elder Li?"

Song Zhong chuckled upon seeing this. "No need! I've already brought him here!"

He waved his hand, and the object he was carrying rolled onto the ground, coming to a stop before Lin Leyue and the other disciples.

"Uncle-Master Li?!"

Xiao Qing shrieked, nearly fainting.

What Song Zhong was carrying was none other than the head of an elder with disheveled hair and wide, unseeing eyes – who else could it be but Elder Li?

"How could this be?"

Seeing this, even Lin Leyue felt her vision blur.

"Cough cough... this old thief Li's Blazing Sun Palm is indeed powerful, but he was still a notch below me!"

Song Zhong coughed, spitting out a mouthful of bloody mist, but his expression was one of extreme pride. "That bitch Shi Yutong thought I was already severely injured and sent you to take advantage and gain prestige. To be safe, she also sent Elder Li to follow in secret... But she wouldn't have expected that I, by chance, obtained the 'Return to Life Pill' left by the Fate-Defying Divine Doctor, and have already healed my injuries, cough cough..."

Lin Leyue pursed her lips, her heart sinking.

She had also seen the great name of the Return to Life Pill in the sect's secret manuals. It was said to be able to bring the dead back to life and regrow flesh and bones as long as there was a breath left, but death would surely follow seven days later!

However, during these seven days, the martial artist's essence, energy, and spirit would be pushed to their peak.

Otherwise, Elder Li's ranking in the sect was higher than Song Zhong's. Even in his prime, Song Zhong would not have been his opponent, so how could he have been so easily hunted and killed?

Cold sweat dripped from Lin Leyue's forehead.

The situation had deteriorated beyond repair.

Even if other elders from the sect saw the signal and rushed over, they might not be able to hold on until then.

After all, the gap between a martial artist at the second level of inner breath and a martial artist at the third level of internal energy was too vast. Even if the opponent suppressed his injuries and had just killed a powerful enemy, he would still be heavily injured from the counterattack, yet he was still like this!

"Elder Song, we have no enmity. Why must you do this?"

Lin Leyue forced herself to remain calm.

"No enmity?"

Song Zhong scoffed. "Not to mention that bitch Shi Yutong expelled me from the sect and issued a kill order, but you, you vixen, caused my Jie'er to be in such a state. I absolutely cannot let you go today!"

Hearing this, Fang Yuan immediately flinched. Seeing Song Zhong's eyes glance over, his scalp tingled even more.

He knew that even if Song Zhong didn't know he was the real killer of Song Yujie, with his identity as the former fiancé, Song Zhong would not let him and Lin Leyue, this pair of 'adulterous couple,' off the hook today!

Fortunately, Song Zhong's attention was mostly on Lin Leyue. But Fang Yuan was certain that after dealing with the others, Song Zhong would not mind casually strangling him to death.

This level of hatred... if Song Zhong knew who the real culprit was, wouldn't he pounce on me like a mad dog the moment I appeared...

Fang Yuan was speechless.

With his Spirit Yuan, he could sense that although Song Zhong was focusing most of his energy on Lin Leyue, he was also paying attention to him with about half his focus, fearing he would run away.

"What do you want?"

Lin Leyue looked at the approaching Song Zhong, a trace of nervousness finally appearing on her pretty face.

After taking the Return to Life Pill, a person who would die in seven days, how could he possibly hold her hostage to break through? He most likely intended to drag her down with him.

Not only herself, but even her fellow disciples beside her, and even Fang Yuan not far away, would not be spared.

Am I going to die... The world is so vast and boundless, and I haven't seen it yet... I'm not reconciled!

Lin Leyue gritted her teeth. "Everyone, this person has gone mad. We must work together to overcome this difficulty! Elder Li was highly skilled. This villain must have suffered considerable damage in a direct confrontation!"

At this moment, everyone was in the same boat. Hearing Lin Leyue's words and seeing the blood at the corner of Song Zhong's mouth and the charred palm print on his chest, they couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope.

"Little girl, you have discerning eyes... Unfortunately, even a severely injured expert at the seventh level is far beyond what you can imagine!"

Song Zhong strode forward.

His steps were not large, and his demeanor was leisurely, but he was incredibly swift and strange. His body flickered, and he instantly appeared before a male disciple. With a casual grab of his right hand, the male disciple immediately stopped breathing and slumped to the ground.

The might of a Seven-Gate expert is truly no small matter!

"Moon Condensing Swordplay!"

At this moment, Lin Leyue let out a soft cry, and amidst the fear of her many fellow disciples, she suddenly made her move!

Whoosh!

The long sword at her waist glowed brilliantly, carrying a chilling aura. It was clearly no ordinary item. As she unleashed her sword move, it was like moonlight cascading from the heavens, spreading out and encircling Song Zhong.

"Good swordplay! Good internal Qi!"

Song Zhong's expression changed slightly, a hint of solemnity appearing. He extended his right hand, flicking his index fingernail at the sword light.

Clink!

With a crisp sound, the moonlit radiance vanished. Lin Leyue retreated several steps. She looked at Song Zhong, whose expression was impassive but whose index finger had developed a layer of deathly pallor. Instead of fear, her face lit up with joy: "This person's martial arts have already fallen in realm. He's at most a Six-Gate expert. Don't be fooled by him!"

"Brat, you truly deserve to die!"

Song Zhong's expression shifted, and he lunged forward.

"Swallow Piercing Cloud Strike!"

"Azure Sky Green Palm!"

"Moon Condensing--Frost Bloom!"

The remaining Gui Ling Sect disciples, spurred on by Lin Leyue, all attacked. Sword Qi and palm winds crisscrossed, surrounding Song Zhong.

"A mere clown, a speck of light, dares to come and act wild?"

Song Zhong stood proudly amidst the encirclement, his face suddenly contorting into a ferocious grimace. "If it weren't for my Gut-Piercing Bone-Penetrating Needles being long depleted, you lot would still be alive?"

"Even so, you still don't know the terror of a martial artist who has broken through the Three Dangerous Gates and cultivated internal energy!"

Song Zhong gazed at his own hands, his clothes suddenly billowing as if in a strong wind: "Demonic Wind Hand!"

He roared, and phantom images of his palms danced wildly, astonishing palm force spilling out everywhere like a tempest.

Puff! Puff!

Xiao Qing and a few others' faces changed. They felt a surge of immense power and were forced to retreat with internal injuries.

They were all martial artists of the Fourth or Fifth Gate, possessing only internal Qi, not internal energy!

After breaking through the Wound Gate, all internal Qi condenses into one, forged through a thousand fires and a hundred refinements, becoming as unyielding as steel wires, which is true internal strength!

The gap between them was truly like a chasm.

This was also why Six-Gate experts could serve as elders and command such prestige.

With Song Zhong unleashing his power, everyone present, except for Lin Leyue whose innate talent and the aid of a spirit pill allowed her to barely stand, had fallen.

"Cough... cough..."

After one move, Song Zhong's face was as red as blood. He looked at Lin Leyue, who had yet to fall, with slight surprise. "You could actually withstand my move. Even in death, you should be proud!"

Lin Leyue's right hand gripping the sword hilt trembled slightly, but her gaze was clearer and more determined than ever.

The power of the spirit pill within her was constantly circulating, repairing her previous injuries. With this experience, as long as she survived, she had a seventy to eighty percent chance of breaking through the Wound Gate and truly achieving the position of a martial arts master!

For a genius like her, she had to be completely crushed in one blow, given no chance whatsoever, otherwise, the speed at which she would rebound would far exceed the expectations of ordinary people.

"It's just... can I survive today? The sect disciples are almost all wiped out..."

Lin Leyue's meridians were blocked. It was not so easy to completely resolve the damage from internal energy.

"Even if Fang Yuan is a Five-Gate martial artist, he missed his chance earlier. What use is it for him to make a move now?"

At this thought, despair welled up in her heart.

"Dead girl, I'll send you to see Jie'er now..."

Song Zhong's expression shifted several times. He took a deep breath and finally suppressed his injuries, stepping forward again.

Clearly, the previous burst of power was not easy for him either. Just then, a slight disturbance emerged from the surroundings.

"Hmm... trying to run?"

He suddenly turned his head, picked up a pebble, and flicked it with immense force.

Whoosh!

The pebble let out a sharp whistle in mid-air, as if launched by a powerful crossbow, heading towards a dark shadow.

Bang!

The pebble hit the ground, creating a small pit. The dark shadow, however, nimbly dodged it, revealing Fang Yuan's figure.

He rubbed his head, smiling somewhat sheepishly. "Old man, you continue. I promise I won't say anything out of line..."

Xiao Qing, who was lying on the ground spitting blood, was so angry her nose almost crooked.

They were fighting for their lives here, and this scoundrel wanted to run? Hmph! As expected, he's a big bad guy. She had even thought he wasn't too bad earlier. This was infuriating.

"I'm not deaf. Are you that brat's fiancé?"

Song Zhong narrowed his eyes, his gaze like a knife as he scrutinized Fang Yuan. "If that's the case, I have even less reason to spare you!"

"Damn it! Old geezer, just say if you're in a hurry to reincarnate!"

Fang Yuan's temper flared up too.

What else was there to say to the person who wanted to kill him?

Screech!

His expression turned stern, his skin instantly shifting to a dark, obsidian black. His hands formed into eagle claws, and he lunged forward abruptly.

"Chirp chirp!"

As he moved, the wind from his claws rubbed against the air, producing sounds like the cry of an eagle.

Song Zhong closed his eyes, feeling as if he saw a swift, soaring overlord of the skies, diving down from the heavens!

"What magnificent eagle claws!"

In an instant, everyone present was deeply moved.