The Beautiful Woman's lips curled into a sinister smile. Her voice dripped like poison wrapped in honey:
Hehe… to chop off such a beautiful arm, wouldn't that be far too cruel? Since you care so much about this little fairy named Naiqi, I suppose I'll have to 'take good care' of her later… hahahaha!"
Her laughter echoed, cruel and mocking.
Zhang Xiaofan's brows furrowed. His fire stick trembled in his grip, fiery light licking its edges.
Try it if you dare!"
Within his heart, there was no hesitation....Lu Xueqi was his destined one.
No one would harm her, no one would even think of it. Anyone who crossed this line would pay with blood.
A fleeting thought crossed his mind....In the original fate of this world, Naiqi bore him a son, Xiaoding.
Would it still be the same now? Or perhaps a daughter? Or even twins?
He almost chuckled at the thought, muttering under his breath:
Hehe…"
---
A rough, barking laugh suddenly split the air.
"Your Wild Dog Grandpa is here!"
The Wild Dog Taoist leapt onto another stone platform, brandishing his jagged fang-blade.
His wild grin revealed a row of broken teeth, his eyes gleaming with bloodlust.
But when his gaze met Zhang Xiaofan's, his pupils constricted. Instinctively, he looked away, his bravado faltering.
Memories of the devastating power of Zhang Xiaofan's fire stick flooded back, along with the suspicion that Zhang Xiaofan had slaughtered Jiang Laosan in the red mist earlier.
If not for the youth's tender age of sixteen, the Wild Dog Taoist would have believed him to be an ancient monster reborn.
An old man cloaked in black stood among several other demonic experts, his aura steeped in blood and malice.
His cold gaze swept across Zhang Xiaofan and the gathered disciples of Qingyun, Tianyin Temple, and Fenxiang Valley.
The Blood Refining Hall has not feasted in a long time. Tonight, the slaughter begins!"
Qi Hao stepped forward, face twisted with righteous fury.
"Hmph! Just with the few of you? Pathetic—"
But his words were cut short as he suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood, his body trembling.
Gasps rippled through the group. The old man narrowed his eyes, then glanced at the Wild Dog Taoist as if asking...Was that you?
But the Wild Dog Taoist quickly shook his head.
Zeng Shushu turned, eyes falling on Zhang Xiaofan.....who stood with arms folded, looking off into the distance, as though none of this had anything to do with him.
The disciples of Tianyin Temple rushed to aid Qi Hao. Faxiang pressed a pill into his hand with concern:
"Brother Qi, you're injured. Was it the demons who struck you just now?"
Qi Hao forced a smile, swallowing the pill. His injuries stabilized, but shame burned in his chest.
Truthfully, the blood he had coughed up was not from this battle...it was the lingering wound Zhang Xiaofan had dealt him eleven days ago during the Martial Competition.
His ribs had cracked, and though he had tried to hide it, the fierce battles had aggravated the injury until it could no longer be suppressed.
Now, before allies and enemies alike, he had been humiliated.
If not for Zhang Xiaofan's terrifying strength, I'd teach him a lesson right here!
Suddenly, xiaofan of the Blood Refining Hall struck, unleashing the Mountain and River Fan.
"Mountain and River Fan...Wild Sand!"
A violent gale roared forth. The cave shook as sand and rock exploded into the air, blinding all vision.
The disciples of Qingyun and their allies cried out, scattered by the storm.
Amidst the chaos, Zhang Xiaofan sensed a killing intent behind him. He spun, fire stick sweeping back in a blazing arc.
Zeng Shushu's figure appeared....Zhang Xiaofan instantly held back, or else his strike would have shattered his friend's bones.
The ground cracked beneath him, and in the dust storm, the Wild Dog Taoist lunged, his fang-blade slicing toward Zhang Xiaofan's neck.
Steel met flame....Zhang Xiaofan's fire stick blocked the strike, and with his free hand he thrust a palm forward.
The Wild Dog Taoist roared, channeling all his demonic power to resist.
A sickening crack split the air.
"Ahhh!"
The Wild Dog Taoist screamed as his wrist shattered. He was hurled backward, vanishing into the choking dust.
When he finally staggered free of the storm, clutching his limp, broken wrist, his face twisted with rage and regret.
With his good hand, he slapped his own face....pa!
"You fool! You swore not to provoke that brat, yet you couldn't resist a sneak attack? A gentleman's revenge can wait ten years! I'll settle this later… ten years later!"
The cave was filled with smoke and dust, a suffocating haze that swallowed every sound and shadow.
Lu Xueqi held the Tianya Divine Sword tightly, her posture elegant yet tense.
Her expression remained calm, but her eyes stayed sharp, alert to every ripple in the smoke around her.
Suddenly, a cold gleam pierced through the fog like lightning. A sword thrust came from behind her, aiming straight for her back.
It was Xiao Zhou.
He had concealed himself within the haze, waiting for this exact moment to launch a sneak attack.
The point of his sword gleamed wickedly, ready to pierce flesh.
But before he could strike true, Lu Xueqi's body reacted instinctively.
She spun with the swiftness of a snow hawk, and the Tianya Sword in her hand flashed cold.
Puchi!
The blade of Tianya pierced toward Xiao Zhou's chest.
Xiao Zhou's eyes widened...her reaction was too fast. He hastily withdrew his sword and twisted his body aside.
Though he avoided being skewered, the force of her counterattack rattled him.
"So sharp… Even though she's young, her perception and reflexes are terrifying," he thought, his lips tightening.
Realizing a direct duel might not go in his favor, Xiao Zhou abruptly slashed his sword downward.
The ground trembled. A huge boulder nearby glowed red, wrenched up by his power, and flew toward Lu Xueqi like a meteor.
Lu Xueqi did not retreat. She raised the Tianya Sword and struck cleanly.
Crack!
The sword light split the massive stone into two halves, both crashing uselessly to the ground.
But the moment the boulder shattered, Xiao Zhou appeared again, his sword already aimed for her throat like a venomous snake.
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