Fang Han leaped off the White Tiger's back and landed lightly on the official road.
He held the Cloudsplitter Sword, its tip pointing diagonally at the ground, the Dark Cyan blade shimmering with a restrained radiance under the Internal Qi.
It's not dazzling, yet it makes you afraid to look directly at it.
Lei Zheng's gaze fell on Fang Han, scrutinizing him from head to toe, then he glanced at the sword, his voice hoarse:
"Such power... just who are you?"
" Azure Profound Sect, Fang Han."
Fang Han's voice wasn't loud, but it could be clearly heard on the empty official road.
Lei Zheng's pupils contracted sharply in that instant.
"You're Fang Han? Impossible, how could you possibly have such strength?"
Lei Zheng gritted his teeth, his voice filled with barely suppressed anger and apprehension.
According to the records, Fang Han is only twenty-one years old now, how could he possibly have such strength?
Fang Han has this kind of strength, then hasn't he been wasting his life all these years?
He was more inclined to believe that the person in front of him was an old monster who looked young but was actually older than himself.
"You are simply ignorant."
Fang Han raised the Cloudsplitter Sword in his hand.
"I didn't want to cause any trouble, but since you've chosen to die, don't blame me."
His voice was flat, as if he were simply stating something perfectly ordinary.
Before he finished speaking, he moved.
"Whoosh!"
A pale blue afterimage suddenly lengthened on the official road.
It was so fast that it exceeded the visual perception limit of Lei Zheng, First Grade Late Stage martial artist, leaving only a blurry trail in the air.
Alarm bells rang in Lei Zheng's mind, and almost instinctively, he threw out both fists at once, the blue fist energy surging forward like a raging tide.
However, with the enhancement of the Greater Accomplishment < Wind God Step >, the azure figure only swayed slightly before silently slipping through the gaps in his fist's energy.
A flash of sword light.
"Laugh!"
On the outside of Lei Zheng's right arm, his robe and the soft armor inside tore silently apart, revealing a wound about an inch deep that instantly bleed out.
He didn't even see how Fang Han drew his sword; he only felt a chill on his right arm, followed by excruciating pain.
"Well!"
Lei Zheng grunted, staggered half a step to the side, and steadied himself.
He glanced down at the bleeding wound on his right arm, then looked up at the figure in green robes standing several feet away, sword in hand. The horror in his eyes was no longer concealed.
First Grade Late Stage! He's First Grade Late Stage martial artist! Yet, he couldn't even dodge a single sword strike from this kid?
How is that possible?
Fang Han gave Lei Zheng no time to catch his breath.
The second sword strike has arrived.
This sword strike was faster, more ruthless, and more cunning than the previous one.
The sword light, like a streak of cyan, traced an almost imperceptible path in the afternoon sunlight, heading straight for Lei Zheng's throat.
Lei Zheng gritted his teeth and threw out both fists, the blue fist energy colliding fiercely with the cyan sword light.
But it still couldn't stop it.
"Clang!"
The fist's energy was torn apart the moment it touched the sword light. Lei Zheng only had time to slightly turn his body before the sword light grazed his left rib.
It tore through his soft armor, leaving a deep, bone-revealing wound under his ribs.
Blood instantly soaked through the dark blue Elder's robes, and he was forced back seven or eight steps by the immense force transmitted from the sword.
Each step left deep footprints on the official road, and the ground around the footprints cracked inch by inch.
" Elder!"
The young disciples and Deacon of the Thunderlight Pavilion exclaimed in alarm at the same time, their faces turning deathly pale.
They wanted to step forward, but knew they couldn't help at all with their strength; the oppressive feeling emanating from the sword-wielding figure in the green robe was simply too terrifying.
Lei Zheng steadied himself, panting heavily, blood seeping from the wound under his ribs with each breath.
He raised his head and looked at Fang Han, his sharp, eagle-like eyes now filled with deep horror.
If it were some old monster who looks young, that would be one thing.
If it really is that Fang Han, then it's terrifying. To have such terrifying strength at just over twenty years old.
"This... how is this possible...?"
Lei Zheng's voice was hoarse and dry, with an incredulous tremor.
He didn't finish speaking because Fang Han's third sword strike had already arrived.
Fang Han didn't even use any footwork for this sword strike; he simply delivered a straightforward, unremarkable strike.
But the moment the sword advanced, a fine crack silently appeared in the air, the crack solidified and did not dissipate, like a spatial rift.
A sharper intent, far exceeding anything seen before, suddenly erupted.
Lei Zheng's pupils shrank to the size of pinpoints.
He desperately channeled his internal Internal Qi, and blue light surged from his fists like raging flames in a final attempt to resist—but it was no use.
A flash of sword light streaked past.
"Puff!"
A thin line of blood suddenly appeared and expanded at Lei Zheng's throat.
He opened his mouth as if to say something, but only managed a few muffled, hissing sounds, like air leaking out.
The brilliance in those sharp, eagle-like eyes quickly faded, eventually turning into a hollow, grayish-white.
His body swayed, then he fell straight forward, crashing into the dust of the road with a dull thud.
Fang Han sheathed his sword and turned his gaze to the young disciples and Deacon.
The young disciple and the Deacon were terrified, their faces turning ashen.
Elder Lei Zheng, First Grade Late Stage Rank cultivator, was killed in just a few moves by this young man who looked to be no more than twenty years old.
What kind of monster is this?
The Deacon was the first to come to his senses. He suddenly pulled on the reins and gave a sharp urging sound. The silver-gray giant wolf beneath him abruptly turned around and fled for its life along the official road!
"Are you able to leave?"
Fang Han's voice was calm, yet it carried an undeniable air of authority.
He raised his right hand and slashed with the Cloudsplitter Sword from a distance.
A condensed cyan Sword Qi shot out from the sword at an astonishing speed, instantly catching up with the silver-gray giant wolf that was accelerating.
"Puff!"
The giant wolf's massive body suddenly stiffened, its momentum carrying it forward a few more steps. Then, a line of blood suddenly appeared from its left shoulder to its right rib.
The next instant, its massive body, along with the Thunderlight Pavilion Deacon and the young disciple on its back, was silently and simultaneously severed in two.
Blood and entrails were spilled on the ground, their dark red color gleaming shockingly in the morning light.
The official road was utterly silent.
On the back of the White Tiger, Luo Yuntian's hand holding the sword froze in mid-air, and he did not put it down for a long time.
He stared at Fang Han figure, a hint of undisguised shock flickering in his usually calm eyes.
He knew Fang Han was strong, but he didn't expect him to be this strong.
He killed a First Grade Late Stage martial artist in just a few moves, and casually slew a First Grade sword stroke.
It's even stronger than rumored, and by a significant margin.
The Azure Profound Sect Deacon froze on the spot, his Adam's apple bobbing as he tried to say something, but found his throat too dry to produce a sound.
He's seen the world and has weathered many storms.
But the scene he just witnessed—four swords killing First Grade Late Stage martial artist and a casual sword slaying First Grade demon—still left him somewhat bewildered.
The most talented disciple of the Azure Profound Sect in hundreds of years... is actually this strong!
Fortunately, Fang Han possessed such strength; otherwise, they would have been in grave danger today.
Fang Han sheathed his sword, his gaze sweeping over the three corpses on the ground and the silver-gray giant wolf severed in two.
He crouched down and began the search.
Lei Zheng's body was the first to be searched.
He pulled out a bulging brocade pouch from his bosom, untied the string, and inside was a thick stack of silver notes, each with a face value of 100,000 taels, roughly ten million taels.
Under normal circumstances, it would be impossible to carry so much silver. It must be because he was going on a long trip that he brought so much money.
Upon further searching, several jade bottles were found.
The jade bottle contained Danyao for healing injuries and restoring Internal Qi; they were of a high grade.
Finally, there was a piece of soft armor that was already damaged and its value greatly reduced.
The young disciple was quite well-off.
A hidden pouch was sewn inside his undergarments. Inside were over five million taels of silver notes, plus three bottles of cultivation-aiding Danyao. Although their quality was not as good as the Heaven Origin Pill, they were comparable to the Earth Origin Pill.
The longsword inlaid with blue gemstones felt slightly heavy in the hand, and its blade gleamed with a cold, eerie light; it was High Grade Low-grade Dharma Weapon.
The Deacon had the fewest valuables, but still possessed over two hundred thousand taels of silver and several bottles of Danyao.
Fang Han packed the silver notes, Danyao, and weapons into the Cloth Pouch he had obtained from the three men, silently calculating their value.
If we include the value of the silver notes after they were converted into gold and silver, the profit would be around 20 million taels.
'It's a pity there were outsiders present.'
Fang Han glanced at the corpse of the silver-gray giant wolf.
If the corpse of this demonic wolf, whose strength is comparable to that of First Grade martial artist, Recharge to the System Panel, at least several million more taels of wealth can be gained.
However, Luo Yuntian and the Deacon were standing not far away, so he naturally couldn't use the Recharge method in front of them.
"Senior Brother Fang."
Luo Yuntian leaped down from the White Tiger's back, walked closer, his gaze sweeping over the corpse on the ground, his voice tinged with a sigh.
"I never imagined the gap between us had widened to this extent."
Don't underestimate yourself; you're already exceptionally outstanding among your peers!
Fang Han stood up, dusted off his hands, and turned to look at the corpse of the silver-gray giant wolf.
"The meat of this demonic wolf could serve as food for the White Tiger."
"I'll handle this. You two True Disciple, please wait a moment."
The Azure Profound Sect Deacon quickly stepped forward and took over the task.
He moved swiftly, and in no time he had cut off hundreds of pounds of flesh and blood, which he carried toward the White Tiger.
The White Tiger had already smelled the blood; a low growl rumbled in its throat as it began to tear at the flesh.
He cut off several thousand kilograms of meat, tied it to the White Tiger's back, and then discarded the rest of the wolf meat.
The White Tiger ate its fill and was full of energy.
The three men leaped back onto the tiger's back, and the Deacon gently tugged the reins. The White Tiger spread its four paws and continued galloping north along the official road.
A few days later.
The scenery on both sides of the official road gradually became familiar.
Rolling hills, meandering streams, and the distant silhouette of a city faintly visible in the morning mist—
All of Fang Han.
Because this was Westview Prefecture he had visited before.
"We should be able to re-enter the secret realm!"
Fang Han sat in the carriage, looking out the window at the familiar landscape, a slight stirring in his heart.
With the "key," one can enter the secret realm once a year. Now that it's a new year, one should be able to enter again.