"Iron Might, come out and face me!"
Tang Ya shouted sternly, her figure flashing forward in a single bound as she rushed past the archway and into what was once the Tang Sect's front courtyard.
Dark Blue Silver Grass lashed out, flinging the two Ironblood Sect disciples' corpses directly inside the vermilion walls.
Blood sprayed, blooming into a crimson flower across the Ironblood Sect's training grounds.
The dying screams of those two disciples shook the entire sect. Soon, a large number of Ironblood Sect disciples rushed out.
At their head was a tall, burly man. His eyes were small, and the center of his short hair was thinning. When he saw Tang Ya barge into the courtyard, his gaze instantly froze.
"You killed my Ironblood Sect's people, and still dare be so arrogant?"
"Without giving me an explanation, you'll die here today!"
This tall man was none other than Tie Tang, the current young sect master of the Ironblood Sect. His father, Tie Li, was the one who had seized the Tang Sect's foundation all those years ago.
"I will avenge my parents!"
Tang Ya's eyes were blood-red as she glared at the son of her mortal enemy. Behind her, the purple-black Blue Silver Grass unfurled into countless vines, thrashing wildly.
"So you're the little girl who escaped back then," Tie Tang said, realization dawning as a cruel light flickered in his small eyes.
"Your Tang Sect squandered all its resources to raise those useless Spirit Masters with Blue Silver Grass martial souls, neglecting everyone else. A bunch of trash, a herd of pigs—it was only right that you were destroyed!"
"Our Ironblood Sect might have taken your land, but we've also kept the Tang Sect alive, haven't we?" Tie Tang laughed disdainfully.
Back then, the Ironblood Sect had managed to wipe out the Tang Sect not just because of their own strength, but because some of Tang Sect's own disciples, long tired of being suppressed, betrayed their own. Without such turncoats, they never could have crushed the Tang Sect overnight.
"Ahhhh!"
"All of you—die!"
Tang Ya let out a furious roar, stomping on the ground with one foot. Her delicate figure spun like a top, and in an instant, countless hidden weapons flew out in all directions like celestial flowers scattering.
Dozens of Ironblood Sect disciples in the front ranks immediately collapsed, their faces blackened as shrieks filled the courtyard.
These ordinary disciples were only first- or second-ring Spirit Masters. How could they possibly withstand the hidden weapons of a Spirit Elder like Tang Ya?
"Iron-Arm Bear!"
Tie Tang saw clearly the four Spirit Rings glowing around Tang Ya—he also had four, though his were one white, two yellow, and one purple.
As a wave of hidden weapons cut through, Blue Silver Grass erupted in overwhelming force, each vine thick as an arm and tipped like a spearhead. Wherever they passed, blood mist exploded, and dozens more disciples perished.
Then, the vines coiled around the fallen corpses, their thorns piercing in deep. One by one, the bodies shriveled as though drained dry.
"Damn it! An Evil Spirit Master!"
Tie Tang cursed, but his eyes burned with greed, not fear.
Right now, the three great empires offered enormous rewards for Evil Spirit Masters. For a mere third-rate sect like theirs, if they could capture Tang Ya alive and claim the bounty, the loss of these disciples would be nothing.
Low-level Spirit Masters were plentiful—even the Ironblood Sect had hordes lining up to join. What they lacked were Spirit Elders and above.
"I just need to stall her. Once Father and the two Spirit King elders arrive, this girl won't be able to escape even if she grows wings!"
Tie Tang steadied himself, glancing at the dozen or so disciples still standing.
"No rush. She and I are both Spirit Elders—and I've got backup. The advantage is mine!"
"Kill you! I'll kill you!"
Tang Ya's screams grew ever more frenzied, her reason completely drowned in bloodlust. Dozens of Blue Silver Grass vines lashed out like lightning, surging toward Tie Tang.
"Ironbear Shield!"
Tie Tang planted his stance, his third Spirit Ring flaring. His fists shot forward, releasing a blast of white light that formed into a two-meter-wide shield.
The shield deflected the incoming vines before blasting straight toward Tang Ya.
She gave a cold snort. Her vines recoiled with lightning speed, converging inward, each lined with sharp thorns, while she herself slipped aside with Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track.
"Heh, I told you the advantage was mine. Seems I won't even need to wait for Father—I'll take you down myself!" Tie Tang grinned, but his confidence shattered an instant later.
Tang Ya's thousand-year Spirit Ring burst with purple light, and savage Blue Silver Grass surged from all directions.
Tie Tang punched and tore through vine after vine, but sharp thorns pierced his arms, leaving bloody craters across his flesh.
"Is this really that useless Blue Silver Grass? Did it secretly evolve?"
A crimson flush colored Tang Ya's pale face as her vines absorbed Tie Tang's blood. It was the first time she had drained the lifeforce of a Spirit Elder, and a rush of exhilarating power surged through her.
The vines whipped and tightened around Tie Tang, slowly enclosing him. The other disciples had already retreated, leaving him to face her alone.
It was like drinking poison to quench thirst—Tie Tang knew the longer he resisted, the more blood he'd lose. But he had no choice but to fight back.
After only seven or eight punches, his strength faltered, his body nearly collapsing. Terror filled his face as he felt himself being hollowed out.
When a particularly thick vine came lashing in, his fist struck out—but failed to knock it away. Its sharp thorns pierced into his muscular arm and clung tight.
"AHHHHH!"
Tie Tang's screams split the air as countless vines swarmed over him, engulfing his body completely.
Purple radiance pulsed along the vines into Tang Ya, her aura surging explosively.
"I must fight!"
"Son! You dare kill my son?!"
A furious roar boomed as an older man, bearing an eight-tenths resemblance to Tie Tang, rushed in with two elders by his side.
It was Tie Li. His eyes burned red with wrath as his body swelled, spirit released, growing to two and a half meters tall. His arms bulged monstrously, his physique radiating brute strength.
One white, two yellow, three purple—six Spirit Rings, though below the optimal configuration—rose beneath his feet.
Seeing her lifelong enemy, Tang Ya's eyes brimmed with bloody hatred, burning like a volcanic eruption.
Dozens of massive Blue Silver Grass vines gleamed faintly red, whipping wildly like giant lashes toward Tie Li.
But he was a Spirit Emperor, vastly stronger than Tie Tang. With white light surging around his body, Tang Ya's vines couldn't even pierce his defenses.
His fifth Spirit Ring flared brilliantly, repelling every vine that tried to stab into him.
Crushing his way forward, Tie Li charged like a raging beast, his colossal arms crashing down toward Tang Ya.
She looked around at the courtyard, grief filling her gaze. This had once been her home.
"Father, Mother… Xiao Ya is coming to join you."
"Bei Bei… I'm sorry…"
Her eyes, glowing purple, gently closed as tears slid down her cheeks.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk…"
"My boundless wisdom and brilliant mind tell me someone needs help right about now."
A mocking, playful voice rang out, and a shadowy black figure emerged.
(End of Chapter)