A low gasp of surprise rippled through the room.
" Third Grade Late Stage, no, it should be said that it has already reached the limit of the Third Grade Late Stage, and it may break through to Second Grade at any time!"
"This is her true strength!"
"I wonder if Fang Han can win?"
Before the murmurs had even died down, Fang Han had already made his move.
He didn't draw his sword, but merely turned slightly to the side.
The ten silver-white claw beams almost grazed the hem of his clothes, and the sharp claw winds left several shallow white marks on the ground behind him.
Yang Yuan's attack missed, but she quickly changed her move.
The left claw retracted, while the right claw swung upwards from below, aiming straight for Fang Han's lower jaw.
This claw strike was swift and ruthless; even before the claw blade arrived, the sharp wind from the claw had already caused the strands of hair on Fang Han's forehead to flutter backward.
Fang Han still did not draw his sword.
He merely tilted his head slightly, and the claw grazed his chin, missing him by a hair's breadth.
A hint of seriousness flashed in Yang Yuan's eyes, but she did not pause.
With a series of consecutive claw attacks, the claw shadows were numerous, like a dense, silvery-white net, completely enveloping Fang Han Han's vital points.
Each claw carried a terrifying power capable of splitting stone tablets and shattering rocks.
Fang Han still did not draw his sword.
He moved through the gaps in the claw shadows by relying solely on subtle changes in his Body Movement.
Sometimes it's turning to the side, sometimes tilting the head back, sometimes taking a small step back, and sometimes leaping lightly.
Every dodge was perfectly timed, as if he had already anticipated the angle and landing point of Yang Yuan's every attack.
The reason he was so relaxed was because of Yang Yuan's strength, which lay in his cultivation at the late stage of the Wolf Rank.
In terms of martial arts skills, he is no stronger than Liu Bai, Wild Blade, and others, and is even slightly inferior.
Having already reached the early stage of the Second Grade, his cultivation was superior to Yang Yuan's, so he naturally seemed to be handling things with ease.
The hall fell silent.
Those who had initially worried that Fang Han was no match for him now fell silent.
Those who had initially placed considerable trust in Fang Han were surprised to find Fang Han so relaxed.
Yang Yuan's attacks became increasingly fierce, and her claw shadows grew denser.
But Fang Han remained completely at ease.
"..."
Yang Yuan took a deep breath, and her internal Internal Qi circulated wildly at an unprecedented speed, causing her claws to gleam with silver light.
She went all out in this attack.
With both claws extended simultaneously, ten claw beams materialized like ten invisible blades, slashing at Fang Han from different angles.
This strike was enough to severely injure any Third Grade Late Stage martial artist.
Fang Han finally drew his sword.
"Clang--"
The Cloudsplitter Sword was drawn from its sheath, its Dark Cyan blade gleaming with a restrained radiance.
He did not use his full strength, but only revealed his cultivation level at the Third Grade Late Stage and the < Void-Sundering Sword Manual > at the Minor Success Stage.
A sword strike was unleashed.
There were no fancy variations, just a simple sword strike.
But the moment the sword was unleashed, the ten solid, silver-white claw-like beams were torn apart as if they were made of paper.
The sword light, its momentum undiminished, aimed straight at Yang Yuan.
Yang Yuan's pupils contracted sharply, and she used all her strength to block with her claws.
"Clang--!"
The sound of metal clashing echoed through the hall.
Yang Yuan felt an overwhelming force coming from the claws, and her hands went numb and out of control.
A pair of silvery-white claws flew out of his hand, spinning and embedding themselves in the ground several feet away, their bodies still humming and trembling.
She staggered backward, taking seven or eight steps before barely managing to regain her balance.
Looking down at my hands, I saw no wounds, but my entire arm was trembling uncontrollably.
She looked up at Fang Han.
Fang Han had already sheathed his sword, stood with his hands behind his back, his green robe remained perfectly still, and his breathing was as steady as ever.
It was as if that sword strike just now was merely a casual wave of the hand.
"Thank you for your concession."
Fang Han clasped his hands in a respectful greeting, his voice calm.
Yang Yuan opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but found that she didn't know what to say.
She had endured for many years, all for this one battle.
Unexpectedly, they didn't even qualify to make Fang Han take a serious action.
She lowered her hands, her voice hoarse. "I lost."
A brief silence fell over the hall.
Immediately, a torrent of discussion erupted.
"One sword, just one sword."
" Fang Han wasn't even taking it seriously..."
"Is this the strength of the number one on the Prodigy Ranking?"
The younger generation gasped in amazement, some with awe in their eyes, others with complex emotions.
The older generation's gazes fell on Fang Han, their expressions varying.
"This child... is truly a prodigy."
An elderly man with gray hair spoke softly, his voice tinged with emotion.
"That girl Yang Yuan has the cultivation level of the Third Grade Late Stage, and her claw techniques are fierce. In previous years, she would have been a shoo-in for the top spot on the Prodigy Ranking."
Another person chimed in, their voice tinged with a sigh.
"Unfortunately, she ran into Fang Han."
"Twenty years old, Third Grade Late Stage, Sword Technique reaching the divine level... This child's future achievements are limitless."
Fang Han returned to the table and sat down next to Chen Tianyuan.
Chen Tianyuan picked up his teacup and took a small sip, saying nothing, but a faint smile appeared in his gentle eyes.
Yan Wuji, seated at the head of the table, put down his Teacup.
His ancient face was expressionless, but his cloudy yet deep eyes were fixed on Fang Han.
"Truly worthy of being the most talented disciple of the Azure Profound Sect in hundreds of years."
His voice was old and flat, echoing in the hall.
"It lives up to its reputation."
Fang Han stood up, cupped his hands in a Yan Wuji, his voice respectful but not humble:
"Master Yan flatters me; I am merely fortunate."
Yan Wuji nodded slightly, said nothing more, Teacup, and lowered his eyes.
Fang Han sat down again, but a sense of vigilance arose in his heart.
He instinctively felt a sense of wariness towards this Supreme Elder of the Iron River Gang.
The appearance was too sudden, and although a seemingly reasonable explanation was given, he always felt that there was a secret hidden within it that he did not know.
The Grandmaster Banquet ended in the evening.
The setting sun Iron River Gang in a dark golden-red hue, while the river flowed ceaselessly, its waves rumbling softly.
The next day, the people from various factions took their leave one after another.
The monks of Vajra Temple were the first to leave. Ku Du clasped his hands together in farewell to Qi Zhen. His gray robes fluttered in the twilight, and the group quickly disappeared at the end of the official road outside the archway.
Hua Nishang from Hundred Flower Valley then left with her disciples. Her flower-adorned carriage rolled over the bluestone road, leaving behind a faint fragrance of flowers.
Lei Pojun of the Tyrant Blade Sect mounted a black-maned demon horse, bowed to Qi Zhen, and rode away.
Xie Changkong Lingyun Sword Sect nodded slightly and led Liu Bai and the others away gracefully.
Shen Tinglan of Rain Listening Tower was the last to leave. Her calm eyes swept over the Iron River Gang headquarters before she looked away and boarded her carriage.
On the Azure Profound Sect and Nether Pavilion side, Chen Tianyuan and Ling Wuyuan stood up almost simultaneously.
The two sect leaders exchanged a glance, then bowed and said goodbye without saying anything more.
The White Tiger crouched low, and once Chen Tianyuan, Fang Han, Luo Yuntian, Yun Muyao were on its back, it stood up, pushed off with its four paws, and sped along the official road toward the Azure Profound Sect.
The black panther from the Nether Pavilion set off at almost the same time, heading towards the Nether Pavilion.
Fang Han leaned against the carriage wall, gazing out the small window.
"Senior Brother Fang."
Luo Yuntian sat beside him and spoke in a low voice.
What's your opinion on the Iron River Gang?
Fang Han paused for a moment, then slowly said:
"A Grandmaster is enough to change the landscape of Qingyang Prefecture."
He didn't say much.
Luo Yuntian nodded and didn't ask any more questions.
Yun Muyao sat opposite her, her face veiled in white gauze, revealing only a pair of cold, clear eyes.
She didn't speak, but just stared at the scenery rushing past the window, lost in thought.
Chen Tianyuan at the front of the carriage, his eyes closed in rest, his refined face revealing no emotion.
But Fang Han knew that what the sect leader was thinking at that moment was roughly the same as what he was thinking—
With the rise of the Iron River Gang, the balance of power among the Seven Sects has been broken, making the future of Qingyang Prefecture even more unpredictable.
Inside a secret room deep within the headquarters of the Iron River Gang.
The candlelight flickered on the bronze lampstand, casting two figures onto the rough stone wall.
Yan Wuji sat on the stone chair at the head of the table, his gray robe gleaming dimly in the firelight.
His ancient face was expressionless, but his cloudy yet deep eyes gleamed faintly in the candlelight.
Qi Zhen stood beside him, his hands hanging at his sides, his posture respectful.
" Supreme Elder "
Qi Zhen spoke, his voice very low, as if afraid of being overheard by outsiders.
"After the Grandmaster Banquet, the attitudes of the various forces have become clear. Although the Vajra Temple, Hundred Flower Valley, Tyrant Blade Sect, Lingyun Sword Sect, and Rain Listening Tower have not explicitly stated their positions, they have not shown any hostility either, and should be in a wait-and-see attitude."
He paused, then continued.
"As for the Nether Pavilion, Ling Wuyuan an extremely cunning man. He doesn't reveal much on the surface, but in my judgment, he probably won't be content with another Grandmaster emerging outside the Seven Sects."
"As for the Azure Profound Sect..."
Qi Zhen hesitated for a moment.
" Chen Tianyuan's attitude is unclear, and we don't know what his next move will be."
Yan Wuji picked up the Teacup beside him, took a small sip, and put it down.
" The Azure Profound Sect need not worry about this too much."
His voice was old and flat, echoing softly in the secret room.
" Chen Tianyuan a man who always keeps a low profile. As long as he doesn't infringe on the interests of the Azure Profound Sect, he won't cause trouble."
Qi Zhen nodded, and then said:
" Supreme Elder, now that the Grandmaster has been established, our Iron River Gang is qualified to stand on equal footing with the Seven Sects. What should we do next?"
Yan Wuji remained silent for a few breaths.
The candlelight flickered on his ancient face, making the wrinkles on his face appear as if they had been carved by a knife.
"Expansion."
He slowly uttered two words.
"To annex surrounding forces and strengthen the Iron River Gang."
Qi Zhen was slightly taken aback, then nodded.
"I had the same idea, but—"
He hesitated for a moment, then lowered his voice even further.
"Will the Seven Sects allow my Iron River Gang to absorb the surrounding forces?"
They dare not.
Yan Wuji's voice remained calm, yet carried an undeniable certainty.
" The Seven Sects are already engaged in open and covert struggles, and none of them would want to see another sect grow stronger because of their feud with my Iron River Gang."
He raised his eyes, a fleeting glint of cold light flashing in his cloudy pupils.
"Moreover, a grandmaster without the burdens of a sect, if he were to deliberately make an enemy of a sect, would suffer losses that he would not be willing to bear."
Qi Zhen felt a chill run down his spine, then cupped his hands and said:
" The Supreme Elder is wise."
He paused, then asked again.
"So, which faction should we target first?"