"Boom--!!!"
A deafening roar erupted, and the shockwave was like a tangible tsunami.
The trees within a radius of a hundred feet were all uprooted, the soil was turned upside down, and gravel was sent flying.
Jia Four's body drifted backward for dozens of feet. When he landed, he was unsteady on his feet and took several steps back before he could regain his balance.
He looked down at his right palm, where there was a faint red mark—a mark left by the Sword Qi.
Gu Changqing stood still, without moving an inch.
"People from the Dark Abyss?"
Gu Changqing's voice was low and deep, filled with suppressed anger.
"How dare you infiltrate my Azure Profound Sect and commit violence! You have no fear!"
Jia Four remained silent.
He glanced at Fang Han, then at Gu Changqing, a quick calculation flashing across his deep-set eyes.
It's impossible to do it.
Without hesitation, he darted off towards the outside of the mountain gate.
The dark afterimage quickly disappeared into the night.
"Trying to leave?"
Gu Changqing snorted coldly, his dark blue figure following closely behind.
Two figures, one after the other, quickly disappeared into the depths of the night, leaving only the distant, ever-receding sound of explosions.
From the direction of the mountain gate, the flashing of sword light and shadows could be faintly seen, followed by several muffled roars from afar.
"Grandmaster..."
Fang Han landed at the edge of the pine forest on the back mountain, knelt on one knee, and gasped for breath.
The chase that had just taken only a dozen or so breaths felt like a life-or-death race, almost exhausting all his energy and spirit.
He raised his head, looked in the direction Jia Four had retreated, and let out a long breath, still shaken.
He anticipated that if Dark Abyss continued its mission, it would send out Grandmaster-level assassins, but he did not expect that a Grandmaster-level assassin would be so bold as to infiltrate Azure Profound Sect to assassinate him.
That sword exchange made him clearly realize the gap between himself and a grandmaster.
If it weren't for the fact that the speed of the < Wind God Step > after the Perfection Realm is no slower than that of an average grandmaster, and if Gu Changqing hadn't arrived in time...
Tonight, he is likely in grave danger.
In the darkness, the Break the Wind came from all directions.
The first to arrive was Sect Leader Chen Tianyuan.
He was dressed in a dark blue casual suit, clearly having been startled awake from his sleep and rushed over; one of the buttons on his shirt was even fastened crookedly.
He landed beside Fang Han, his gaze quickly sweeping over Fang Han's body. Only after confirming that there were no obvious injuries did the tense and solemn look in his eyes relax slightly.
" Fang Han? Are you injured?"
"Reporting to the Sect Master, this disciple is unharmed."
Fang Han took a deep breath, leaned on his sword to stand up, his voice still a little hoarse.
"It's just that the run was too intense; a short rest will do the trick."
Chen Tianyuan was about to ask another question, several more figures landed at the edge of the pine forest.
Under the moonlight, the faces of Chen Wanjun, the deputy head of the Law Enforcement Hall, Elder Han Qing, Jin Han, Chen Tie, and others showed varying degrees of surprise and solemnity.
Chen Wanjun's gaze was like lightning as he swept over the chaotic battlefield left behind after the clash between the two grandmaster auras.
Ancient trees within a radius of hundreds of feet were all felled, and the ground was plowed with several furrows several feet deep, with gravel and soil swirling like waves.
He frowned and spoke in a deep voice:
" Fang Han, that aura just now... was it a Grandmaster?"
"Yes."
Fang Han nodded slightly, his voice becoming more composed.
"They must be a master-level assassin sent by Dark Abyss."
Upon hearing this, the expressions of all the Elder present changed drastically.
Chen Wanjun's pupils suddenly contracted, Han Qing's stern face showed shock and anger, and Jin Han's knuckles turned white with rage.
"A master-level assassin from the Dark Abyss?"
Chen Wanjun's voice was kept extremely low.
"They dared to infiltrate my Azure Profound Sect and commit such atrocities?"
"If the Supreme Elder hadn't arrived in time..."
Fang Han didn't finish speaking, but the meaning behind his words was self-evident.
Han Qing scrutinized Fang Han carefully, her voice trembling with barely suppressed shock:
"You were hunted down by a master-level assassin from the Dark Abyss, and you even managed to escape and hold out until the Supreme Elder arrived?"
Fang Han nodded.
A brief silence fell over the courtyard.
Chen Wanjun and Han Qing exchanged a glance, both seeing undisguised surprise in each other's eyes.
They understood what the strength of a Grandmaster meant; it was an insurmountable barrier.
Even Barrier-Breaking Martial Artist is like a child facing an adult in front of a grandmaster, powerless to even fight back.
Fang Han, who is only at the Early First Grade, actually managed to escape with his life from the hands of a grandmaster.
"This matter will be discussed later."
Chen Tianyuan made a decisive move, his gaze sweeping over the Elder present, his voice low but carrying an unquestionable authority.
"Vice Hall Master Chen, you take some men to comfort the frightened disciples. Elder Han, Elder Jin, and Elder Chen, the three of you will patrol different parts of the mountain gate to prevent Dark Abyss from having any further plans."
"Yes."
The four of them bowed in unison and accepted, then turned and disappeared into the night, their clothes Break the Wind as they quickly faded into the distance.
Chen Tianyuan then turned to Fang Han, his voice softening slightly:
"Let's go, follow me to the Sect Master's Hall to wait for the Supreme Elder to return."
Fang Han followed Chen Tianyuan along the mountain path toward the Sect Master's Hall at the summit.
A night breeze swept by, and the back of his robe was soaked with cold sweat, sticking to his skin with a chill.
When the two entered the Sect Master's Hall, the candles inside had already been lit by the disciples on duty.
Chen Tianyuan sat down on the rosewood chair and gestured for Fang Han to sit down as well.
Fang Han sat down as instructed and recounted his experience from beginning to end in detail.
From sensing the approaching chilling aura to the courtyard, to proactively drawing his sword to probe, to being repelled by a master-level assassin's palm strike and fleeing with all his might, until the Supreme Elder arrived in time to force the assassin back.
Chen Tianyuan listened quietly, his fingers holding the teacup tightening slightly, and a layer of white appeared at his knuckles.
" Dark Abyss..."
He uttered those two words in a low voice, his voice filled with barely suppressed anger.
"A master-level assassin directly infiltrates a sect to carry out an assassination; they completely disregard the Azure Profound Sect."
Fang Han sat at the lower end of the table, remained silent for a moment, and then spoke:
"Sect Master, it is I who have implicated the sect. If it weren't for me—"
There's no need to say such things.
Chen Tianyuan raised his hand to interrupt Fang Han.
"While the top powers in Qingyang Prefecture appear to be at peace on the surface, their schemes behind the scenes have never ceased. It's not an isolated case that a prodigy like you, who has the potential to break through to the Grandmaster level, has been targeted by the Dark Abyss."
Fang Han was slightly taken aback.
Chen Tianyuan put down his teacup, his gaze falling on the deep night outside the hall, his voice carrying a hint of reminiscence:
"Back when the Supreme Elder was young, he was also commissioned to assassinate someone by a certain force and was assassinated by the Dark Abyss."
Fang Han was about to ask further questions, a series of steady footsteps came from outside the palace gate.
A figure in deep blue stepped into the hall, his hair tied up with a wooden hairpin, his face slender and refined. It was none other than the Supreme Elder, Gu Changqing.
His robes were stained with dust, and there was a small tear in his left sleeve, but his breathing was steady and normal, indicating that he had not been injured in the fight with the master assassin.
" Supreme Elder "
Fang Han and Chen Tianyuan stood up at the same time.
Gu Changqing waved his hand, sat down in the seat above Chen Tianyuan, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly spoke:
"I chased him for a hundred miles outside the mountain gate, but I couldn't stop him."
Chen Tianyuan Fang Han, a look of worry on his face.
"His Body Movement are unpredictable, and his speed is no slower than mine."
Gu Changqing picked up the teacup offered by Maid in the hall, took a sip, and put it down with a rare hint of solemnity in his voice.
"In our several encounters, he only defended and did not attack, focusing solely on escaping. Although I was stronger than him, I was unable to stop him."
Chen Tianyuan frowned.
Having failed in his assassination attempt, this master-level assassin will not give up easily.
Fang Han narrowly escaped death today, but what about next time?
If the assassin finds a better opportunity, a more unexpected method...
A brief silence fell over the hall.
The candlelight burned quietly on the lampstand, occasionally crackling softly, its sound particularly clear in the stillness.
After a long silence, Fang Han broke it and said:
"Sect Master, Supreme Elder, I have something to discuss with you."
Their eyes fell on him at the same time.
"Now that the Dark Abyss's master-level assassins have made their move, they won't give up easily."
Fang Han slowly voiced the thought that had been lingering in his mind.
"If I stay here, not only will I be in grave danger, but the entire Azure Profound Sect will also be affected. I think... I should temporarily leave Qingyang Prefecture and seek refuge in one of the Central Thirty-Six Prefectures."
Chen Tianyuan and Gu Changqing exchanged a glance.
Gu Changqing pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded:
"That's a good idea. The Dark Abyss's forces mainly operate in the surrounding counties; the Central Thirty-Six Prefectures are not their territory. It is indeed a good place to hide."
"Moreover, the Central Thirty-Six Prefectures cover a vast area and are densely populated."
Chen Tianyuan picked up the conversation, his gaze falling on Fang Han.
" The Dark Abyss has almost no intelligence capabilities over there. As long as you don't actively reveal your identity, you'll be like a drop of water in the ocean; they won't be able to find you."
Fang Han nodded slightly; this was exactly what he had in mind.
"But..."
Chen Tianyuan changed the subject.
"You've been targeted by Dark Abyss. If you're ambushed and killed by that master-level assassin on the way—"
I personally saw him off.
Gu Changqing stood up, his deep eyes gleaming with determination in the candlelight.
"Let's set off under cover of night, avoiding detection. Since that assassin has already retreated, he won't dare to return to investigate anytime soon. Tonight is the best opportunity."
Chen Tianyuan pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded:
"Then it's settled."
Gu Changqing looked at Fang Han:
Go pack some changes of clothes, I'll wait for you outside the mountain gate.
Fang Han stood up, bowed to the two of them, then turned and strode out of the Sect Master's Hall.
A night breeze brushed against my face, carrying the unique coolness of the mountains.
Fang Han walked briskly along the bluestone path to the True Transmission Courtyard. The disciples on duty along the way, seeing his hurried expression, all made way for him and bowed.
He didn't have time to respond to each one, he simply nodded slightly and moved on.
The door to the No. 35 Annex was half-open.
When Fang Han pushed open the door, Qui Lan was anxiously waiting for news in the courtyard with her Maid and servants.
The men were all pale and disheveled, clearly terrified by the commotion they had just witnessed.
Fang Han walk in unharmed, Qui Lan breathed a sigh of relief.
"Senior brother!"
She hurried forward, her voice trembling with relief, as if she had just escaped a disaster.
"Just now...?"
"It's alright now."
Fang Han stopped and looked at her face, which was slightly pale with fear, and softened his voice.
"The enemy has been driven back by the Supreme Elder, so you need not worry."
Qui Lan's lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she just nodded vigorously.
The Maid behind her looked a little better, her pale face softening as she loosened her clasped hands.