Advancement and Counterattack

The Shepherd Monster was extremely fast.

Jiang Yan watched, calculating.

It would reach him in at most three breaths.

One breath: He slapped an Ice Talisman onto his sword, its long blade flashing red and blue light.

Two breaths: Jiang Yan slapped a Body Protection Talisman onto himself.

A fine, film-like current of air adhered to his body.

Three breaths: He looked up and could clearly see the Shepherd Monster's bloodshot eyes, and smell its stench.

Slap!

He pressed down with his left foot, leaning back.

Gathering strength!

The immense power of a peak Martial Apprentice roared within him.

"Come on."

"Come! Let's decide life and death!"

He had already understood the Shepherd Monster's extreme speed. In a war of attrition, he would surely die.

Therefore, with the protection of the Body Protection Talisman, he would not dodge or evade.

The moment he used the Body Protection Talisman to resist the Monster's charge.

He would not be injured, and at the same time, that would be

his only chance to strike.

Thump-thump-boom!

The Monster lowered its head, its sharp forehead horn striking Jiang Yan's chest like thunder and lightning.

The Body Protection Talisman burned to ash with a poof.

A light flashed on Jiang Yan's body.

At the same time, the sword in his hand flashed red and blue.

"Die, beast!"

With a slash, the sword pierced the Shepherd's eye socket.

The next instant, Jiang Yan's body flew backward. Although the Body Protection Talisman had blocked most of the Monster's impact force, the remaining power still sent him flying.

Using the momentum, he flicked his long sword, drawing out the Monster's dark green blood, which sprayed into the sky.

In mid-air, Jiang Yan held his sword horizontally in front of him, ready to block the Shepherd's second attack.

However, nothing happened.

Boom!

Jiang Yan landed, the ground cracking and dirt flying.

He leaned on his sword, his chest feeling heavy and suffocated.

He looked up. The Shepherd stood motionless, a bloody hole revealing itself in its eye socket, blood trickling out.

Dead?

Impossible. His left hand showed no reaction; there was no Monster value gain.

The Shepherd was alive, so what was it doing?

Playing dead? Completely unnecessary.

His stamina recovered slightly, he raised his sword to probe.

At this moment, the Shepherd opened its eyes, and endless ferocity overflowed from its remaining bloodshot eye.

"Can't move?"

Suddenly, he remembered the strange food on Sheng Fuwu. Could this Monster be on the verge of an evolution? Having eaten the strange food, its blood energy was surging, and it was about to evolve at the brink of death?

This was the only explanation.

"Good opportunity."

Jiang Yan raised his sword and slowly retreated. He took five steps and saw that the Monster was just staring at him coldly, with no other reaction.

Jiang Yan turned and ran wildly. He wasn't at a point of certain death where he would risk his life to test if a Monster undergoing evolution could still move.

He spotted a direction and quickly returned the way he came.

Returning the way he came, he was surprisingly lucky and didn't encounter a single Monster.

He passed the alkaline land, traversed the dense forest, and only the dwarf red willow forest remained.

Yuyang Village was close.

Passing a pond, Jiang Yan suddenly stopped. He walked to the edge and looked down. The water's surface was like a mirror, reflecting a young man.

He wore black, form-fitting clothes, a long sword at his waist, and his black hair was disheveled. His eyebrows were sharp, and his eyes were like stars.

Noticing fish in the water and judging the water quality to be fine, he scooped up several handfuls and drank.

The clear water revitalized him. He sat by the pond, took out a ration cake, tore off pieces, and ate them greedily.

He seemed starving and exhausted, needing rest.

Only after eating several ration cakes and recovering most of his strength did he stand up. He glanced around; the low red willow forest was quiet, with nothing in sight.

"Swish..." Just then, a sound came from behind him, as if something was about to emerge.

A cold glint flashed in Jiang Yan's eyes. He concealed a Blazing Flames Talisman and an Ice Talisman in his hand and turned.

Sheng Fuwu, covered in blood, burst out. Seeing Jiang Yan, a flicker of awkwardness crossed his face, but more so, surprise. "Jiang Yan, you're alive!"

"Leader Sheng, what are you doing here?" Jiang Yan exclaimed, feigning a look of post-disaster fear.

"Me... I was in too much of a hurry to escape and got a bit lost, that's why I ended up here."

"I apologize for my selfishness just now. I will make amends."

Speaking of the recent events, Sheng Fuwu looked guilty yet composed, appearing sincere.

"Let's not mention what happened just now."

Jiang Yan, like a young man, blushed beet red at Sheng Fuwu's apology, seeming embarrassed.

Rookie, Sheng Fuwu scoffed inwardly.

At the same time, his expression suddenly turned to terror, and he stared fixedly behind Jiang Yan. "Jiang Yan, you, behind you..."

He shouted, "I'll save you!"

He strode forward and appeared in front of Jiang Yan.

Jiang Yan turned his neck, as if his attention was drawn to something behind him.

However, the tip of his lowered sword twitched and exploded in the air, like myriad silver lights, resembling a silver dragon, stabbing directly at Sheng Fuwu.

"You dog, are you too confident in yourself?"

His long-charged sword thrust erupted. In less than a breath, the tip pointed directly at Sheng Fuwu's heart.

Jiang Yan's move was long-planned and preemptive, giving Sheng Fuwu no chance to react.

As the sword rose, a violent killing intent locked onto him. Sheng Fuwu's hair stood on end, his heart pounding. His powerful Body Refining physique came into play at this moment.

He leaned back, dodging the fatal blow.

But while he dodged the killing strike, avoiding a vital spot, his right arm and the joint of his torso were pierced by the sword.

Jiang Yan reacted instantly, twisting his wrist and flicking upwards. Sheng Fuwu's right arm bone snapped, connected only by flesh. White bone fragments were exposed, and his blood vessels were severed.

He was completely crippled.

Sheng Fuwu made a swift decision, enduring the dizziness from blood loss, and turned to flee.

Behind him, Jiang Yan's eyes held a mocking glint.

Clang!

The next moment, Jiang Yan flicked his long sword, and a silver light streaked through the air, shooting down rapidly.

Thwack!

Sheng Fuwu looked down. The tip of a sword penetrated him from behind. Blood flowed like water from the tip, dripping onto the grass.

"No!"

Despair filled Sheng Fuwu's heart. All his strength drained away instantly, and he collapsed to the ground, no longer able to struggle.

"You... you are definitely not a beginner Martial Apprentice, absolutely not."

Such strength, such speed, only a peak Martial Apprentice possessed.

Regret! If he had known Jiang Yan was a peak Martial Apprentice, he would have immediately returned to the Dahe Gang. No matter how severe the punishment for framing a fellow disciple, he would have accepted it.

That's right. After escaping, he hadn't returned to Yuyang Village at all. After hastily treating his injuries, he had waited on the outskirts of the village.

Although it was highly unlikely, if Jiang Yan and the other two had survived, he would still be guilty of framing a fellow disciple, a severe punishment. It wouldn't kill him, but it would cost him dearly.

He had approached with a "what if" attitude, and unexpectedly, instead of seeing Tang Long or Fei Shan, he found Jiang Yan had returned.

He couldn't figure out how Jiang Yan had escaped, but it didn't matter. Since he had survived, he would kill him once.

He was unwilling to bear the punishment for framing a fellow disciple, and even less willing to be hated by a genius with exceptional talent.

The pain was bone-deep, and he was unwilling to accept it. One mistake, and he lost everything.

He deeply concealed the venom in his eyes.

"Jiang Yan, you... what are you doing? This is framing a fellow disciple!"

"Enough, stop pretending."

Ignoring Sheng Fuwu's pain, Jiang Yan pulled out his long sword and, with two swift slashes, severed Sheng Fuwu's legs at the knee.

Intense pain almost made Sheng Fuwu faint.

"Boss Sheng, this is the third time today you've insulted my intelligence."

Jiang Yan's gaze was cold.

Resentment flickered in Sheng Fuwu's eyes. There was no need for words at this point; it was a dead end.

From the moment Jiang Yan drew his sword, it meant Jiang Yan had already anticipated his intentions. He had even thought Jiang Yan was naive and wanted to trick and kill him.

How foolish. Jiang Yan not only saw through his intentions but, judging by his demeanor, was waiting for him to take the bait and strike back.

The enmity was now set. Jiang Yan wouldn't want a high-level Body Refining realm martial artist constantly plotting to take his life, would he?

Then, he must be at his weakest now. This was even Jiang Yan's best chance to kill him.

Perhaps, his only chance.

With these thoughts, Sheng Fuwu closed his eyes and awaited death. Jiang Yan, true to form, put him out of his misery swiftly.

The scent of blood spread, and soon, several cold gazes fixed on this spot.

Jiang Yan didn't take anything from Sheng Fuwu's body. He slowly retreated and walked back into the village.

Behind him, the sound of brutal chewing began.

PS: I'm silently watching the recommendation tickets in your hands, and I know what you should do now ╭(╯ε╰)╮.