Blood Blade Ancestor stared at the narrow cut in Wang Xuan's palm, which had long since healed, then glanced at the bodies strewn across the ground. Suddenly, he grinned. There was a viciousness in that smile, his yellowed teeth fully bared, the cruelty in his eyes almost dripping with blood.
"Good! Very good!"
His voice rasped from his throat like a broken gong. With a sharp flick of his wrist, the curved blade in his hand began to tremble on its own, emitting a faint buzz. "The more blood my Blood Blade drinks, the sharper it becomes!"
As soon as he spoke, the blood flowing from the corpses on the ground seemed to have been ensnared by something. It transformed into wisps of pale red mist and drifted toward the blade, merging into it completely.
The Blood Blade gave a low hum. The scarlet color of its blade deepened visibly, eventually becoming nearly dark red. The cold gleam flowing along its edge hurt the eyes, while an overwhelming stench of blood assaulted everyone's noses, making the people nearby retch repeatedly.
"See that?" Blood Blade Ancestor waved the Blood Blade in his hand, his tone arrogant and smug. "This is the true power of the Blood Blade Scripture! Brat, being able to force me to use this move means your death will have been worthwhile!"
Wang Xuan's gaze sharpened, his fingers tightening slightly. This old demon's martial arts were truly sinister. Without turning his head, he said calmly, yet with unquestionable authority, "Ding Dian, move farther back."
Without another word, Ding Dian retreated several steps, pressing his back tightly against the frame of the Death Prison gate. His expression was taut as iron. He knew perfectly well that he could not interfere in what came next; getting too close would only be a hindrance.
The Martial Artists and Players who had not managed to flee also forgot to run. They stared wide-eyed at the center of the field, their murmurs buzzing all around.
"Damn, that blade can absorb blood? That's too evil!"
"At this rate, Skull-Crushing Hand might be finished?"
"Blood Blade Ancestor really hid his strength well..."
Blood Blade Ancestor paid no attention to the discussion. With the Blood Blade in hand, his entire presence surged. He stomped hard and lunged at Wang Xuan again like a phantom.
This time, his blade was faster, trickier, and crueler. Blood-red blade light wove an airtight net, accompanied by piercing shrieks as it targeted Wang Xuan's eyes, throat, heart, and other vital points. The angles were so vicious they hardly seemed possible for a human to strike.
Wang Xuan did not dare underestimate him. He pushed the Water-Skipping Technique and Wild Goose Movement Technique to their limits, moving like a fallen leaf in a gale through the gaps in the blade light. He no longer dared take the attacks head-on. He could see clearly that the blood-drinking Blood Blade was sharper than before. Earlier, it had merely cut his flesh; if he blocked it directly now, it might truly bite into his bones.
The palm force of the Great Monument-Breaking Hand shifted freely between release and restraint. Whenever blade light was about to strike him, Wang Xuan used subtle force to precisely knock the blade aside. Crisp clangs rang out one after another as the two figures crossed at high speed across the field. Internal force burst outward, sand and stones flew, and even the bluestone slabs beneath their feet cracked with fine lines.
Blood Blade Ancestor grew more alarmed the longer they fought.
His Blood Blade Scripture had always emphasized "tricky, fast, ruthless." Ordinary experts would be thrown into disarray and reveal openings within three to five exchanges. Yet this brat's movement technique was as slippery as a loach, while his hands were absurdly tough. Even the occasional graze against the side of the blade made Blood Blade Ancestor's arms go numb from the impact.
What made him even warier was that after nearly twenty exchanges, Wang Xuan's breathing had not been disrupted in the slightest. He was as steady as a mountain.
Damn it, what kind of turtle technique does this brat practice? Blood Blade Ancestor cursed inwardly. The saber technique in his hands became increasingly frantic and vicious, every move carrying the intent to risk his life, yet he could not even touch a corner of Wang Xuan's robe.
Wang Xuan looked composed on the surface, but he was not having an easy time either. Blood Blade Ancestor's icy internal force scraped over his body along with the blade wind, stinging like tiny knives cutting into flesh. On top of that, the old monk was deeply experienced in the martial world, every strike aimed at a vital point. Wang Xuan had to remain completely focused, his nerves drawn taut like a fully stretched bowstring.
A prolonged defense would eventually fail!
Wang Xuan understood that principle better than anyone.
Another streak of blade light came slashing down. As Wang Xuan twisted aside to evade it, he "accidentally" stepped on a bloodstained shard of stone. His body slipped slightly, hesitating for an instant. The opening was so small it was almost impossible to notice, but to a top expert like Blood Blade Ancestor, it was like a lamp lit in the dead of night—blindingly obvious.
"Good chance!"
The ferocity in Blood Blade Ancestor's eyes flared. Without a moment's hesitation, he poured all his internal force into the blade. The Blood Blade transformed into a shrieking bolt of crimson lightning and shot straight at Wang Xuan's chest. It was the Blood Blade Scripture's killing move, Blood Splatter Five Steps, so fast that no one could possibly react in time.
Wang Xuan "could not" evade it completely and could only twist his body aside.
Splat—
The dark red Blood Blade stabbed viciously into Wang Xuan's left chest. The sensation of the edge tearing through flesh came through clearly, yet it still drove forward with unstoppable force. Only when it struck bone inside his chest with a soft crack did it finally stop.
"I got him!"
Blood Blade Ancestor was ecstatic. A savage grin spread across his face. "No matter how tough your external cultivation is, your organs can't withstand a blade!"
But the smile had barely risen before it froze on his face.
Wang Xuan's hand clamped down on the wrist holding the blade like an iron pincer, the force so immense it nearly crushed his bones.
Wang Xuan slowly raised his head. His face had turned somewhat pale from the agony, fine cold sweat seeping from his temples, but his eyes were terrifyingly calm, even carrying a trace of icy mockery. "Got you."
Blood Blade Ancestor's heart lurched, and a chill shot from the soles of his feet to the top of his skull!
He tried to pull back the blade, but his wrist was locked fast. He could not move it even a fraction.
Wang Xuan gave him no chance to catch his breath. His right palm had long since gathered its strength. The power of the [Lesser Vajra Indestructible Body], the Indestructible trait of the Great Monument-Breaking Hand, and the vast internal force of the Post-Heaven Eighth Layer all erupted at this instant!
A dense yellow-jade radiance covered his right palm. Carrying the terrifying force to split monuments and shatter stone, it struck Blood Blade Ancestor's bald head squarely.
Smack!!!
A dull explosion rang out. It did not sound like a human head being struck, but like a ripe watermelon being smashed apart. Blood Blade Ancestor's savage grin froze completely, his eyes bulging wide, filled with incredulous terror.
Wang Xuan released his hand. Blood Blade Ancestor's corpse swayed, then fell stiffly backward. With a thud, it crashed onto the ground, his right hand still loosely curled before slamming down with the momentum.
The scene fell into deathly silence. Only the howl of the wind and Wang Xuan's slightly heavy breathing remained.
He looked down at the Blood Blade embedded in his chest, then glanced at the corpse on the ground. Slowly, he exhaled a breath tainted with the smell of blood. "He was strong. Truly troublesome."
Only then did Ding Dian recover from his shock. He hurried two steps forward, staring at the blade in Wang Xuan's chest, his voice tight. "Brother Wang, you..."
"I won't die."
Wang Xuan cut him off cleanly. Though his voice was somewhat hoarse, it carried complete confidence. "The blade got stuck in the bone. It didn't hit anything vital."
That was what he said, but his pale face and cold sweat at his temples could not deceive anyone. This wound was definitely serious.
The dark red Blood Blade remained embedded in his chest, savage and glaring enough to make one's scalp tingle.
Wang Xuan reached out and gripped the exposed hilt tightly. His brows knotted together. He gritted his teeth and pulled with all his strength.
The Blood Blade was wrenched out, drawing a spray of scorching blood with it. Wang Xuan's body swayed slightly, and he immediately circulated his internal force to activate the Iron Cloth Shirt. The flesh on his chest wriggled faintly, and the wound closed at a visible speed. Even the bleeding gradually stopped.
Before you continue