The ground was almost entirely stained with blood.
For the second time, Tian Fan used the Tensa Zangetsu Technique, desperately blasting open an opening and escaping.
“Chase!”
Huangpu Han shouted as a group of people quickly pursued him.
“Kid, you can’t escape!”
An old man in green armor rushed forward, startling Tian Fan. This elder was too fast—his Heavenly Crippled Foot technique truly lived up to its reputation.
“You old geezer, stop chasing me! I don’t have money to tip you!”
Tian Fan was covered in blood, his steps slowing considerably. At this point, he had no idea which direction he was flying in. Why? Because he was completely unfamiliar with the Northern Region!
“Sharp-tongued brat!”
The elder in green snorted coldly and kicked forward. A massive energy leg formed in the air and blasted toward Tian Fan.
“You old bastard, if I survive this, I’ll tear you apart with my own hands!”
Tian Fan grinned, though his face was pale. The elder was terrifying—he was on the verge of stepping into the Primordial Unity Realm. Even though the kick hadn’t directly hit him, the residual force of the Heavenly Crippled Divine Power shook him to the core.
The elder’s face darkened, and he stopped speaking. Instead, he sped up, while behind him, the Lord of the Golden Spirit Hall and several other elders followed. Meanwhile, Huangpu Han and Yin Shitian were discussing something in hushed tones.
Boom!
A massive, earth-yellow hand shot out, aiming directly at Tian Fan’s back. Faint laws fluctuated around it, sending chills down his spine. He pushed himself even harder, surging forward in a flash.
“This little b*stard’s movement technique is quite unique. It’s not inferior to my Heavenly Crippled Foot at all.”
The green-clad elder commented, though in his heart, he knew the truth—it wasn’t just comparable, it was far superior.
“No matter, he’s already seriously injured. He has no way to escape!” said the Golden Spirit Hall Lord beside him.
“Indeed. Senior, please hold him back, but don’t kill him. Leave that to us. The Yin-Yang Sect will be forever grateful!”
Yin Shitian stepped forward and addressed the elder. His expression made the old man hesitate—this was clearly an offer of great benefit.
“Rest assured, young master.”
The elder nodded slightly, his body radiating green light as he shot forward at an astonishing speed. The people behind him were all shocked—this speed truly made the Heavenly Crippled Foot live up to its name.
“Damn it, old geezer, did you take some enhancement pills? How are you so fast?!”
Tian Fan’s heart pounded. This elder was too quick—if he was caught, he was dead for sure.
Boom!
The elder ignored him and struck out with his palm. The two of them, one chasing and one fleeing, had no idea where they were heading. Ahead, the land turned barren, the soil a deep red. Swamps stretched out in a chaotic pattern.
Tian Fan’s eyes lit up. After flying for so long, he had finally reached familiar territory! It was here that he had once slain several elite disciples of the Sword Immortal Sect.
Behind him, the elder frowned slightly upon entering this area. Having lived for over a hundred years, he knew all too well—this was a paradise for demonic beasts. Some of the more powerful beast kings were even beyond his capabilities. If he encountered one, it would be a nightmare.
“Hey, old man, why don’t you stop chasing me? If you do, I’ll go rob the Yin-Yang Sect and give you all their treasures!”
Tian Fan continued to flee while chatting with the elder behind him.
“Shut up!”
The elder’s face darkened, his beard twitching in anger. His right leg emitted a profound cyan glow as he struck out again.
“Damn you, old geezer! No sense of decency at all—just attacking without warning!”
Tian Fan dodged awkwardly and cursed viciously, making the elder so furious that he launched a series of relentless attacks.
Boom!
The two had now reached the depths of the Great Wasteland. Tian Fan was finally cornered—there was no way out. His face was pale, his body covered in blood.
As the battle raged, Tian Fan’s heart clenched. This elder was the strongest opponent he had ever faced. He was certain that within a few months, the man would step into the Primordial Unity Realm.
Bang!
The elder remained expressionless as he kicked Tian Fan away, breaking one of his ribs. However, he did not deal a fatal blow—he merely cut off Tian Fan’s escape route.
Tian Fan tried to break through multiple times but was stopped each time. If he weren’t injured, he could have used his Divine Cloud Steps to escape. But in his current state, it was nearly impossible.
“Kill!”
Suddenly, an earth-shattering battle cry rang out. Led by Yin Shitian, Huangpu Han, and several elders, a group of warriors charged forward, their weapons gleaming as they pointed at Tian Fan.
“Heh, little bastard, stop struggling. You’re dead today!”
Yin Shitian stepped forward, shaking his folding fan with an air of elegance. Behind him stood an elder dressed in luxurious robes.
Tian Fan coldly locked eyes with Yin Shitian and Huangpu Han. These two were now at the top of his kill list.
“Everyone, attack! Whoever takes his head will receive a Primordial Unity Manuscript from the Huangpu Clan!”
Huangpu Han stepped forward with a sinister smile, causing everyone’s eyes to gleam. A manuscript left behind by a Primordial Unity Realm expert was an immensely valuable prize.
At that moment, all eyes were on Tian Fan—he had become a coveted target. Even the elders in the group looked tempted.
“Kill!”
No one knew who shouted first, but in an instant, divine light erupted across the sky. Countless treasures crisscrossed the air, unleashing terrifying waves of energy.
Many Beast Kings in the distance were startled by the energy fluctuations and turned their gaze in this direction. Among them, a barbaric elephant stood far away in a pool, staring blankly at the scene. It couldn’t believe that this human was causing trouble again. It hadn’t been that long since the last time, yet here he was again, even more reckless than before—challenging dozens of opponents alone.
If Tian Fan knew what it was thinking, he would probably slap it on the head.
“Let this old man join the fray as well! Scoundrel, prepare to die!”
An elder from the Mystic Shadow Pavilion stepped forward, waving a pitch-black staff. Several dark skulls shot out from it, their hollow eye sockets flickering with eerie green light.
“Tensa Zangetsu!”
Tian Fan shouted coldly as he swung his golden divine sword. In an instant, over a dozen magical artifacts were destroyed. However, he was also struck, coughing up blood violently.
“Ah!”
He roared in fury, his golden sword slashing once more, cutting a man in half. His organs spilled onto the ground in a gruesome sight.
“Heh heh…”
Seeing Tian Fan in such a sorry state, Yin Shitian and Huangpu Han sneered smugly from the sidelines, making no move to interfere—watching as if they were enjoying a show.
“You two, go to hell!”
Tian Fan bellowed, launching a strike at them from a distance. A terrifying golden sword aura slashed toward them, but two elderly figures stepped forward from behind him, each wielding a secret treasure that blocked his attack.
“Pu…”
At that moment, the elder from Mystic Shadow Pavilion struck Tian Fan with his staff, sending him flying. Blood streamed continuously from his mouth, yet his gaze remained ice-cold. A golden sun spun at his brow, and a divine spirit sword shot out, piercing through the skull of the nearest enemy.
Boom!
Another devastating attack followed, divine radiance illuminating the sky. The battle had turned frenzied—everyone was consumed by bloodlust. Tian Fan swung his golden sword again and again, cutting down multiple opponents. The number of people around him dwindled, corpses piling at his feet, but he was also covered in wounds. His golden sword gradually dimmed, its brilliance fading.
“Pu…”
The black staff struck again, sweeping Tian Fan through the air. Seizing the moment, he forcibly turned his body and activated his Divine Cloud Steps, fleeing deeper into the Desolate Lands.
“Heh heh…”
Yin Shitian sneered as he and Huangpu Han charged forward, launching attacks on the heavily injured Tian Fan. They could already tell that he had almost completely depleted his divine power.
“Pu…”
A crimson light struck, sending Tian Fan flying once more. He spat out blood.
“Heh heh, little b*stard, do you finally know what suffering feels like? Let’s see if anyone dares to offend me again in the future.”
Yin Shitian laughed triumphantly, advancing unhurriedly.
Bang!
Huangpu Han also made his move, slashing with a blade, leaving a deep, bloody wound across Tian Fan’s back. His body was sent flying, rolling across the ground before coming to a stop.
Tian Fan lay there motionless. In truth, he couldn’t move even if he wanted to. His strength was nearly drained. Half-reclining, he coldly watched as Huangpu Han and Yin Shitian approached. There was no trace of fear on his face—only scorn and contempt filled his eyes.
“Haha! Who would’ve thought? You actually ended up like this!”
Yin Shitian cackled wildly. Several elders stepped forward, surrounding Tian Fan in a fan-shaped formation.
“There’s no need for more talk. Kill him! Extract his three souls and seven spirits—let him never reincarnate!”
The Hall Master of the Golden Spirit Hall stepped forward, his gaze icy. His only son had been slain by Tian Fan, and he wished he could tear him apart with his own hands.
“Senior, no need to rush. Let’s do it together and make sure you get your revenge!”
Huangpu Han stepped up, speaking to the Hall Master as he retrieved a spatial treasure from his robes. From within, dozens of strange rod-like weapons flew out, each flickering with a faint black light. The elders’ pupils contracted upon seeing them.
These eerie weapons were called “Soul Piercers.” As their name suggested, they were specifically designed to torment and refine the souls of cultivators. When embedded in a person’s body, they wouldn’t kill instantly. Instead, they would slowly shatter the soul over forty-nine days—a horrifying and cruel fate. The Huangpu Clan’s fearsome reputation was largely due to these sinister artifacts.
“Come, seniors, avenge your children and disciples!”
Huangpu Han laughed as he handed the Soul Piercers to the elders. Both he and Yin Shitian also took one in hand, stepping toward Tian Fan.
Tian Fan swept his gaze over them coldly. He no longer had the strength to stand, let alone fight back, yet there wasn’t a shred of fear in his eyes—only endless mockery and disdain.
“Rorrrrr!”
At that moment, a deafening roar resounded. A wave of terrifying pressure descended upon the area, shattering vast swathes of ancient trees. The sonic boom alone caused weaker disciples’ orifices to bleed, killing them instantly.
“Pu…!” “Pu…!” “Pu…!”
The elders holding the Soul Piercers all spat out blood. Cracks appeared on their bodies, their faces turning deathly pale as they looked toward the source of the roar—fear flashing in their eyes…