ers strained their eyes—was it not "Grim-Reaper" Wang Yu?
Indeed, Liu Yun had quietly undone Wang Yu's acupoint lock amid the chaos. Freed at last, Wang Yu seethed with fury. He had long resented Yinshan Heavenly Lord's tyranny; seeing him now attack his own men only stoked his wrath. Without hesitation he joined forces with Yuan Rong and Hong Qi against their former master.
Yinshan Heavenly Lord glared, voice thunderous: "Wang Yu, have you betrayed me?"
Wang Yu gave a cold, knifelike smile: "Old ghost, we part ways here. This is your mess—don't drag us down to the grave with you!"
Yinshan Heavenly Lord, livid, laughed harshly: "So loyal, are you? Have I ever failed to reward you? Yet at the first sign of peril you scatter like birds—such fine 'brothers' indeed!"
Fiend Yuan Rong sighed softly, eyes flickering with calculation: If this old ghost dies, one great danger to me is gone… but if we don't strike together, he may drag us all down with him.
Aloud he said, evenly: "Save your strength for the Six Sects."
Demon Hong Qi sneered, his eyes flashing cold light: "Exactly. Push us further and we'll show no mercy." Yet in his heart he scoffed: This obstinate tyrant would drown us all for his pride. Only a fool would follow him to death.
Though their tones were calm, all four men unleashed inner force. Blades of killing intent filled the air as palm clashed with palm, fist with fist. Wang Yu, Yuan Rong, and Hong Qi, though wary of one another, had no choice but to unite against Yinshan Heavenly Lord. Each kept one eye on him and the other on his so-called allies, lest betrayal strike at any moment.
Their blows grew fiercer. Yinshan Heavenly Lord seethed: "Good! Good! Good! I raised you up, and now you show your treachery. Truly, the Jianghu has no loyalty!"
The battle raged. Palm winds howled, killing aura thickened—the struggle of life and death could be decided in an instant.
Yinshan Heavenly Lord darted forward with ghostlike speed, suddenly upon Wang Yu. "Take my palm first!" he snarled, launching both hands toward Wang Yu's chest. Wang Yu, who had once fought at his side, now felt his anger boil over. With a snort he twisted his wrists outward and roared, "You take mine instead!"
Yuan Rong and Hong Qi seized the chance, striking from either side. At such close range, four bodies blurred together, their assaults desperate and swift. Yinshan Heavenly Lord flung out both palms—his left clashed with Yuan Rong's right, his right with Wang Yu's. But just then Hong Qi's arm chopped downward like a thunderbolt, striking squarely into his chest.
Boom!
Yinshan Heavenly Lord staggered back four, five steps before steadying himself. Though not gravely injured, his qi and blood roiled; his face darkened.
Hong Qi barked: "We want no part in this! Persist, and we'll cut you down! Wang Yu, Yuan Rong—let's go!"
With that, the three vaulted skyward. In a few swift leaps their figures vanished into the horizon.
By then the sun was sinking, staining the heavens blood-red. Yinshan Heavenly Lord stood alone, beset on all sides.
From the Kunlun Sect came a ringing voice—its master, He Jun: "Old ghost, your end has come. Have you any last words?"
The Heavenly Lord's defeat was plain; a bleak loneliness clung to him. He rasped bitterly: "No last words. Only grant me a warrior's death—single combat, face to face!"
Judge Cui, chief arbiter of the Underworld Court, declared: "That can be arranged." Turning to the Six Sects, he called: "Choose your champion!"
The sect leaders murmured together. Soon He Jun of Kunlun stepped forth: "Old ghost, I shall be the one!"
Fittingly so—he had convened this very Demon-Hunt assembly. Yinshan Heavenly Lord gave a grim nod: "Very well. You and I shall decide this in blood!"
He Jun stamped the ground and soared into the arena. "Old ghost, today I send you to the netherworld. Come, strike!"
Yinshan Heavenly Lord snorted: "Do not be so sure of victory. The deer's fate is not yet sealed!" With a sudden bound he flew three zhang high, his palms surging forward.
The two masters collided, exchanging a dozen strikes in a blink. Shadows spun, robes whipped, palm winds screamed. Neither could seize the upper hand. He Jun grew anxious: Drag this out and he may yet find an opening. With that thought, he unleashed his killing moves without restraint.
Yinshan Heavenly Lord's palm swept in—He Jun slipped aside, his hand darting for the opponent's vital points with Three Yin Hand, striking toward the temples, chest center, and crown.
The Heavenly Lord sprang up, dropping low with a sudden roll, arms flicking outward—palms whipped at He Jun's ribs. He Jun vaulted high, but his foe followed. In mid-air, He Jun abruptly flipped backward, hurling down a crushing strike—Kunlun's deadly Falling Wild-Goose Palm.
The change came too fast. Yinshan Heavenly Lord, airborne, had no way to evade. Forced to meet it, he poured all his strength into a double-palm counter.
Boom!
The impact rang like thunder. Yinshan Heavenly Lord reeled back four, five steps, barely standing. Blood surged up—he spat a mouthful, his face ghastly pale.