Slaying Mu She

Mu She watched the arrogant Xiao Fan before him and coldly ordered his men to surround him.

He sneered. "Today, I'll use you to teach everyone in Qingshan Town that not just anyone can humiliate the Wolf Head Mercenary Group!"

At his command, everyone around them aimed their weapons at Xiao Fan, and Mu She mocked him.

"Little bastard, don't expect me to follow some etiquette of the strong and fight you one-on-one. Since you dared provoke the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, you'll be facing not just one Dou Shi, but our entire group."

Looking at the sneering Mu She, Xiao Fan had to admit that, enemy or not, Mu She had chosen the best approach. Against an enemy, one should naturally use every means available to diminish their strength.

At that thought, Xiao Fan smiled too.

"What a coincidence. You didn't think this poison was that simple, did you?"

The whistle in Xiao Yi Xian's hand suddenly sounded. Blue Eagle appeared overhead and released the cloth bag held beneath his claws, scattering white powder from the sky.

The corners of Xiao Fan's lips curled slightly. With a burst of force, he spread the powder over an area several yards around him.

Seeing Xiao Fan's movements, Mu She hurriedly shouted.

"Everyone, fall back!"

But it was already too late. Enveloped in the white powder, the surrounding mercenaries quickly collapsed, gradually slipping into unconsciousness.

That was the terrifying thing about drunken dragon saliva. Once someone had been poisoned, all it took was a trigger to easily send them back into unconsciousness.

Without that trigger, they would never even discover they had been poisoned. Even an Alchemist well versed in medicines would find nothing upon examination.

The white powder soon dispersed, and most of the mercenaries around them had fallen. Xiao Yi Xian seized the opportunity to climb onto Blue Eagle's back and circle overhead.

Looking at Mu She on the rooftop, Xiao Fan softly mocked him.

"Commander Mu She, do you like this gift?"

Looking at the mercenaries sprawled around him, Xiao Fan slowly advanced toward Mu She. Just as he took his second step-

Something suddenly changed. A figure who had been lying on the ground groaning sprang up and thrust a short blade toward Xiao Fan's chest. A faint blue sheen coated the blade, clearly indicating a potent poison, and the angle of the strike was viciously cunning.

There was no panic on Xiao Fan's face, not even a flicker of surprise. The Thousand-Flame Spear in his hand swept sideways, not only blocking the ambush but continuing straight toward the mercenary.

Clang!

The blue-tinged short blade struck Xiao Fan's Thousand-Flame Spear, sending sparks flying, but left not a single mark on its crimson shaft.

When his strike failed, the attacker immediately used the recoil from Xiao Fan's blow to spring away, attempting to flee.

Xiao Fan had no intention of giving him that chance. He chuckled softly.

"Since you've made your move, don't think you can leave."

Noticing that the attacker intended to use the opening to retreat, Xiao Fan refused to give him a chance. Gripping the Thousand-Flame Spear, he thrust fiercely at him.

Sensing the attack behind him, the assailant had no choice but to change direction and block Xiao Fan's strike.

"It's you!"

Seeing the attacker's face, Xiao Fan spoke in surprise.

Their eyes met, and Xiao Fan recognized him as Mu Li, the man who had intercepted him and Xiao Yi Xian at the entrance to the Mountain Cave.

A cold smile curled Xiao Fan's lips. What a coincidence.

Looking at Xiao Fan's face right before him, a trace of panic flashed across Mu Li's face. He had pretended to be poisoned to deliver a fatal blow, but not only had Xiao Fan blocked it, Mu Li himself was now in danger.

"A peak Dou Zhe? How is that possible!"

"Li'er, watch out!"

The sudden attack had startled Mu She on the rooftop as well, though he had hoped the mercenary could successfully wound Xiao Fan. Once he realized it was his own son, however, he immediately wanted Mu Li to retreat.

"Too late!"

Xiao Fan glanced back at Mu She with a cold smile, then stamped his right foot down. A violent boom rang out, and he closed in on Mu Li in the blink of an eye.

The spear extended and withdrew in Xiao Fan's hands as freely as his own arm. Feeling the force transmitted through it, Mu Li cried out in horror.

"A peak Dou Zhe? How is that possible!"

Yet all he received in reply was a mysterious smile from Xiao Fan.

The spear easily flicked aside the short blade in Mu Li's hand, sending it flying. Xiao Fan extended his spear toward the airborne blade, and its tip trembled lightly, drawing the blade against it before swatting it fiercely toward Mu Li.

Whoosh!

The blue-tinged short blade shot toward Mu Li at a speed barely visible to the naked eye.

"Father, save me!"

Sensing the danger, Mu Li pleaded in terror, praying that Mu She could rescue him.

But with the distance between them, Mu She could not possibly reach him in time.

He could only rush toward Mu Li as fast as he could.

"Li'er!"

Yet he was still a moment too late.

The short blade pierced Mu Li's chest, burying itself to the hilt.

The flesh around Mu Li's chest began rotting at a visible rate. Terror, pleading, and malice lingered in his eyes, but in the end, he coughed up blood and collapsed where he stood.

Arriving too late, Mu She stared at the state of his dead son, his eyes nearly splitting with rage. Holding Mu Li's gradually cooling body, he wailed helplessly.

"Um... sorry to interrupt, but your son prepared that hidden weapon himself. You could say he got what he deserved!"

Watching Mu She from the sidelines, Xiao Fan spoke mildly, happy to stir up more trouble.

"Little bastard, I'll kill you!"

Hearing Xiao Fan's words, Mu She stood and glared at him, his eyes filled with towering venom and hatred.

Boom!

As expected of a Dou Shi, Mu She glared furiously at Xiao Fan as a dou qi veil materialized and covered his entire body.

The most distinctive feature of a Dou Shi was the dou qi veil.

A dou qi veil could enhance its user's speed, strength, defense, and other abilities.

Moreover, wherever the veil covered the body, it helped its wearer absorb energy from the world more effectively, strengthening his recovery. Thus, every Dou Shi would first manifest a dou qi veil before attacking.

"So what if you're a peak Dou Zhe? Your strength may have soared in a mere month, but as long as you haven't reached Dou Shi, I can still crush you to death with ease!"

Mu She looked at Xiao Fan and spoke venomously.

"I'll make you experience the cruelest tortures in this world. I'll make you regret ever being alive!"

Looking at Mu She unleashing his full strength, Xiao Fan chuckled and said.

"Oh dear, a Dou Shi! I'm so scared!"

"You're courting death!"

Mu She stared at Xiao Fan, driven out of his mind by the provocation.

Taking up his spear, he swiftly closed in on Xiao Fan.

"Gale Stab!"

Seeing Mu She's rage-filled strike, Xiao Fan tightened his grip on the Thousand-Flame Spear, circulated the Dou Qi within him, and thrust fiercely toward Mu She.

Seeing Xiao Fan advance rather than retreat before his furious strike, Mu She laughed in his anger.

"Haha! You little bastard, today I'll teach you just how high the heavens are and how deep the earth runs!"

Watching the "peak Dou Zhe" Xiao Fan dare meet him head-on, Mu She could already envision his fate after this strike.

"Die!"

The expression on his face gradually twisted as well.

Clang! A piercing clash of metal rang out.

The tip of Xiao Fan's Thousand-Flame Spear met the tip of Mu She's spear.

"Impossible!"

Mu She's smug expression instantly crumbled. Xiao Fan, who should have been killed by his single strike, instead revealed the strength of-

"A Two-Star Dou Shi!"

Mu She's face twisted with resentment and shock as he stared viciously at Xiao Fan, unable to believe what he was seeing.

Just then, the spear in Mu She's hand began cracking from its tip.

Crack!

Cracks quickly spread across the shaft, which shattered into fragments under the ravaging Dou Qi of Xiao Fan and Mu She.

The impact of their clash forced Xiao Fan back several steps as well. Only by turning the Thousand-Flame Spear and bracing it against the ground did he barely steady himself.

Mu She was not so fortunate. With his weapon shattered, he had nothing to brace himself with, and the strength Xiao Fan had displayed had frightened him as well. The shock wave from their clash sent him flying.

Still, he was worthy of being a Dou Shi. He adjusted himself in midair and swiftly circulated his Dou Qi. The moment he landed, he retreated more than ten steps, finally dissipating the force and steadying himself.

Looking at Xiao Fan standing opposite him with spear in hand, a hint of retreat flickered in Mu She's eyes.

He had thought Xiao Fan was merely a Dou Zhe. To be a Two-Star Dou Shi at such a young age made Mu She fear his origins.

Yet he could not accept seeing everything he had built over his many years in Qingshan Town destroyed in a single day.

Seeing Mu She's hesitation, a trace of disdain flashed through Xiao Fan's eyes.

His family member had been killed and his mercenary group had suffered heavy losses, yet Mu She still behaved this way, making Xiao Fan despise him all the more.

He was nothing but a bully who preyed on the weak and feared the strong.

Just as Xiao Fan was about to attack again, Gan Mu, whom Mu She had sent out earlier, returned.

Seeing the wreckage strewn everywhere, Gan Mu looked shocked. Judging by the marks on the ground, their commander seemed to have come off worse?

At the sight of Gan Mu, Mu She rejoiced inwardly and spoke to Xiao Fan.

"Xiao Fan, you didn't expect this, did you? Heaven always leaves a path out! No matter how well you fight, today you'll die right here."

He then gathered the surrounding mercenaries again and confronted Xiao Fan alongside Gan Mu.

Seeing their movements, Xiao Fan frowned slightly. Mu She, a Two-Star Dou Shi, was already difficult to deal with; even if Xiao Fan could defeat him, he might not be able to kill him. Now Gan Mu, a Nine-Star Dou Zhe, had arrived, along with numerous mercenaries on the perimeter, making Xiao Fan hesitate as well.

Looking at the two men's posturing, Xiao Fan steeled his heart.

"Today, I'll use you two for practice!"

Xiao Fan raised the Thousand-Flame Spear and charged toward Mu She and Gan Mu, quietly making a hand signal to Xiao Yi Xian along the way.

Seeing Xiao Fan dare take them both on alone, the two men charged toward him as well, looking certain of victory.

"Cloudborne Crane Shadow!"

The instant the three closed in on one another, Xiao Fan swallowed two pills. Dou Qi surged out from within him and gradually flowed into his spear.

As Xiao Fan poured Dou Qi into it, the Thousand-Flame Spear gradually began radiating a crimson glow.

Seeing Xiao Fan's aura steadily climb, unease flickered in Mu She's and Gan Mu's eyes, and they unleashed their signature moves as well.

"Mad Lion's Roar!"

"River-Breaking Hand!"

In an instant, Xiao Fan's aura climbed to its peak, and even the temperature in the surrounding alley rose sharply.

The red radiance of the Thousand-Flame Spear reached its peak in that same instant. Xiao Fan cleaved his spear down furiously, and a red crane shadow over ten feet long blasted out of it. Roaring flames ignited wherever it passed, spreading a path of fire before him.

The crushing pressure and scorching heat in the air brought a flicker of regret into Mu She's and Gan Mu's eyes.

Boom!

The tremendous explosion blasted away everything around the alley. Dry objects were ignited by Xiao Fan's Dou Qi, and thick smoke and flames engulfed the area.

Amid the smoke, Xiao Fan leaned on the Thousand-Flame Spear, panting heavily. Shock flashed in his eyes. Was this an Earth Tier Dou Technique?

Looking at the deep crater before him, Xiao Fan took a moment to recover, then leaped into it.

Gan Mu's aura had already vanished; he was as dead as could be. Mu She, however, lay where he had fallen, his body battered and torn, clearly gravely injured as well.

Looking at Xiao Fan, despair flashed in Mu She's eyes. "Spare me. I can give you everything the Wolf Head Mercenary Group owns. Even my life will be yours."

Looking at Mu She, fierce on the outside but cowardly within, Xiao Fan gave him a disdainful glance.

"Rather than wealth, I prefer pulling weeds out by the roots..."

He gently drove his spear into Mu She's chest, ending his life. Xiao Fan collected Mu She's and Gan Mu's Storage Rings, but just then, he suddenly heard the system speak.

Ding! Detected that the host has destroyed the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, interfering with Xiao Yan's growth. Issuing punishment...

Xiao Fan: ??

But he could not worry about that now. Having just fought a battle, he did not want to get tangled up with the Wolf Head Mercenary Group again. Their leader was dead anyway, and they now existed in name only.

High above, Xiao Yi Xian seized the moment and guided Blue Eagle into a dive, picking up Xiao Fan and departing with ease.