Rat-a-tat!
Rat-a-tat!
From the ruins of the artificial hill came the crisp sound of footsteps.
As the dust settled, a man walked out.
He was tall and straight, looking barely twenty years old, yet an air of age and weariness surrounded him—a striking contradiction.
He came forward one step at a time, each footfall seeming to land in Liu Qingqing's heart and turn her face paler.
Even now, the Elder of Huoyan Valley could still draw upon the projection of a Jie Realm divine weapon. But facing this man, she no longer had the courage to draw her blade.
Because this man was a true Jie Realm martial artist. Liu Qingqing knew that against him, none of her methods or schemes would be of any use.
"The Lin Family, the Zheng Family, the Tang Family—they really are useless. I went to all that trouble to plan this, and they still couldn't do a thing to you."
The man sighed, then swept out his wide sleeve. The heavens and earth around them changed at once, and a gigantic palm descended from above, crashing down toward Liu Qingqing.
Clang!
With nowhere left to turn, Liu Qingqing drew her blade again. A dazzlingly pure white blade-light burst forth, but all it managed was to carve a mark into the giant palm. She could do no more.
Crack, crack!
Crack, crack!
As the palm descended slowly, the pressure around Liu Qingqing swelled at an alarming rate. She could barely hold herself together; her flesh and soul were on the verge of collapse.
But just then, the giant palm suddenly stopped. It did not immediately strike the killing blow.
The man stood off to the side with his hands behind his back, seemingly waiting for something.
Crack, crack!
Crack, crack!
As this went on, Liu