Shi Hao Wielded the Sword of the Willow Deity, Holding a Willow Branch and Easily Defeating the Fatty Ma Hongjun

Ma Hongjun looked at Tang San, his heart filled with confusion and worry.

He quickly helped Tang San up and asked with concern.

"Third Brother, how are you? Are your injuries serious?"

Tang San was already slipping into unconsciousness, yet he tightly gripped Ma Hongjun's arm and said with all his strength, "Kill him, quickly! Kill that Spirit Hall scum!"

Hearing the urgency and fury in Tang San's words, Ma Hongjun nodded without hesitation. Then he turned around and looked coldly at Shi Hao.

Shi Hao showed no change in expression as he looked at Ma Hongjun, who had come to assist. His white robes fluttered in the wind, making him seem unrestrained and elegant.

Indeed, ever since becoming the Willow Deity's disciple, Shi Hao's bearing had undergone an earth-shaking transformation compared to a few hours earlier.

As he faced Shi Hao, Ma Hongjun's two Soul Rings lit up simultaneously in the next instant. Brilliant light reflected off his resolute face. He took a deep breath, his body resembling a phoenix blazing with flames as he charged fiercely toward Shi Hao with scorching momentum.

As he sprinted forward, the surrounding air seemed to ignite. Phoenix flames gathered in his mouth like a burning sun, carrying boundless fury as they surged toward Shi Hao.

Shi Hao showed no panic in the face of this attack. With a cold snort, his body flickered as he unleashed the Kunpeng Extreme Speed Art. His figure vanished from the spot in an instant, and when he reappeared, he was already at Ma Hongjun's side, moving so fast it was as though he had crossed space itself.

Shi Hao threw a punch, gathering tremendous soul power and killing intent. Its target was Ma Hongjun's seemingly bloated yet power-packed fat face.

The force of that punch was enough to shatter a massive boulder.

Ma Hongjun only had time to let out a miserable "Aah!" before Shi Hao's punch struck him. His body flew away like a sandbag smashed by a giant hammer, tracing an arc through the air before crashing heavily onto the ground.

The stone slabs beneath him instantly cracked under the impact of his fat body, sending fragments flying everywhere.

After throwing that punch, Shi Hao landed gracefully, looking exceptionally elegant.

In truth, he had already anticipated the situation before him.

Shi Hao knew very well that with his current level-sixty soul power, combined with the several Divine Techniques he had only recently begun to master, dealing with Tang San at his peak might not be so easy. But defeating a fatty like Ma Hongjun was more than effortless.

"Fatty, how are you?"

Seeing Ma Hongjun get sent flying in a single exchange, Tang San, who had nearly passed out, anxiously shouted again.

"I'm fine, Third Brother. I can still fight."

Amid the swirling dust, Ma Hongjun struggled to his feet. His face was covered in dirt and blood, yet it could not conceal the determination in his eyes. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, secretly puzzled.

"Where did this expert come from? This Spirit Hall disciple is so powerful—why have I never encountered him before..."

He had never imagined that he would be knocked down in a single exchange.

However, Ma Hongjun was not someone who gave up easily. After getting back up, he stared at Shi Hao, blazing fighting spirit still burning in his eyes.

From their earlier clash, the fatty had understood that if he fought Shi Hao in close combat, with Shi Hao's terrifyingly swift and bizarre speed, he would definitely be at a disadvantage.

Therefore, he decided to unleash his strongest single-target soul skill—Phoenix Sky-Shattering Strike.

Ma Hongjun's fourth Soul Ring suddenly lit up, and a terrifying aura burst from his body. The surrounding air instantly became unbearably scorching, as if it were about to combust.

The phoenix flames in Ma Hongjun's mouth grew even more intense. His entire body resembled a burning phoenix as he charged at Shi Hao.

"Phoenix Sky-Shattering Strike!"

Ma Hongjun let out a long cry like the clear call of a phoenix, shaking the entire night.

A dazzling, enormous wave of fire shot toward Shi Hao at incredible speed. It resembled a burning river, scorching the air and baking the ground until it cracked wherever it passed. The power of this attack was enough to melt a house in an instant.

Shi Hao's expression remained calm in the face of this astonishingly powerful strike. He could have completely evaded it with the Kunpeng Extreme Speed Art, but right now, he had no intention of dodging.

He knew that evasion could not solve the problem. Only by shattering it head-on could he display his strength.

Shi Hao extended his right hand, releasing the willow branch from his palm, a branch containing supreme sword dao. It rose into the wind, seemingly transforming into a longsword as sharp sword radiance flickered from it.

"Haha, you're far too arrogant..."

Seeing the white-robed man before him trying to block his Phoenix Sky-Shattering Strike with a broken willow branch, Ma Hongjun laughed on the spot. To him, this was nothing more than using a mantis's arms to stop a chariot—courting death. His True Phoenix Flame was no ordinary fire. It was a blazing flame condensed from the Evil Fire Phoenix, hot enough to melt through everything in the world.

However, in the next moment, Ma Hongjun's smile froze on his face.

Shi Hao lightly swung the willow branch in his hand, and the enormous wave of fire was split straight down the middle, divided into two. That willow branch was like the sharpest sword between heaven and earth, effortlessly cutting through his True Phoenix Flame.

Ma Hongjun's eyes widened, his face full of disbelief.

"How is this possible? A willow branch... How could it possibly cut through my True Phoenix Flame? It can cut water and fire—how can such a powerful tool spirit exist in this world? Even Third Brother's Clear Sky Hammer couldn't do that..."

Just then, he felt an immense sword intent rushing toward him. It was as overwhelming as a gigantic wave crashing head-on. He had no time to react before the sword intent struck him, sending his entire body flying high into the air.

His body traced an arc through the sky before crashing heavily onto the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Ma Hongjun felt agonizing pain throughout his body, as though all his bones had shattered.

He violently spat out a mouthful of blood, his entire face turning pale as paper.

Shi Hao, meanwhile, remained standing where he was, holding the willow branch. His figure stood as steady as a mountain, his momentum like a rainbow, and sharp force radiated from his eyes.

The surrounding air seemed to freeze. Only Shi Hao's cold gaze, Ma Hongjun's pained groans, and Tang San's terrified dog face remained.

The outcome of this battle was already obvious. Ma Hongjun had lost, and he had lost badly.

Under the bleak moonlight, Tang San saw Ma Hongjun lying on the cold street and vomiting blood, and his heart instantly clenched.

He was not faring well either. The left side of his dog face had been beaten swollen, and the pain was unbearable. However, he knew that now was not the time for sorrow. He had to flee this place immediately, then return personally for revenge once he had recovered to his peak.