The desolate Great Wasteland stretched bleakly before Tian Fan, who walked alone, feeling a deep sense of solitude. He missed the days spent with Li Yunyang and the others, cherished the moments with Zi Ying, and adored the toddling, yowling little creature. Yet, for various reasons, he had to part ways with them.
“Sigh, what am I thinking about?”
Tian Fan muttered, quickening his pace toward the edge of the wasteland. He passed a small pond and paused briefly. It was here he had saved the little one, as if fate had planned it. Not long ago, when he was gravely injured and near death, the little one’s father saved him. To his surprise, it was the child of a sacred beast.
A massive barbarian elephant lay nearby. Upon seeing Tian Fan, it looked as if it had seen a ghost, its face full of astonishment.
“Brother Elephant, hello.”
Tian Fan smiled faintly, then stood and continued outward, leaving the barbarian elephant beast king staring blankly at his retreating figure by the pond.
Dressed in pristine white, Tian Fan walked slowly. Soon, he left the wilderness and entered a bustling city. The streets echoed with vendors’ calls. He climbed to a tavern, where a waiter eagerly served him food and wine.
“Hey, heard the news? The Son of God is dead.”
“What? The Son of God, the one hunted by the Sword Immortal Sect’s Demon Extermination Decree?”
Taverns were always hubs of gossip, and many were talking.
Tian Fan listened quietly, stunned. It hadn’t been long, yet news of his “death” had spread across the Northern Region.
“Sigh, such a pity. A prodigy like that, gone just like that!”
“Shh, keep it down. If the Yin-Yang Sect hears, we’re in trouble. Their young lord is in this town, buying something.”
A companion quickly hushed the speaker.
“Heard about it? They say the Son of God’s old friends went to settle scores with the Yin-Yang Sect in a tea garden near the next town.”
“What? Really? The ones from the Great Sealing Sect? But they’re no match! Yin Shitian’s got a terrifying elder at Cloud Heaven peak protecting him, sent by the Yin-Yang Sect leader.”
“Sigh, looks like they’re done for. Let’s finish eating and go see!”
At these words, Tian Fan’s mind roared, his eyes flashing with cold light. He paid for his meal and dashed toward the mentioned location.
“Yin Shitian, come out here!”
Before a grand mansion, three men and one woman appeared. One man shouted furiously, kicking the gate open.
“Heh, who’s this? Oh, the little fish from the Great Sealing Sect!”
Deep within the mansion, Yin Shitian was admiring tea blossoms with Huangpu Han. They stepped out, each flanked by a stunning, flamboyantly dressed woman.
“What did you do to Xiao Fan?!”
Seeing him, Li Yunyang demanded angrily, followed by Li Yunhua, Di Fu, and Sun Yueying.
“What? Heh, dead. Completely dead!”
Yin Shitian laughed loudly, relishing the anxiety and rage on the Great Sealing Sect members’ faces. He’d forgotten all about the Yin-Yang Sword.
“No way! Junior Brother Xiao Fan wouldn’t die so easily. You say he’s dead—where’s the body?!”
Li Yunhua stepped forward, suppressing his fury, and asked in a low voice.
“Heh, over there, in that basin.”
Yin Shitian nodded toward a corner. There, a basin held shattered bones and minced flesh, being eagerly devoured by a bull-sized yellow dog.
“I’ll kill you!”
The Great Sealing Sect group erupted in rage. Even the usually silent Di Fu glared with deep hatred. Li Yunyang’s eyes reddened as he roared, his azure sword glowing brilliantly, too bright to look at. After months, he had reached the peak of Spirit Condensation, a formidable expert.
“Grains of rice daring to rival the moon’s glow, hmph…”
Yin Shitian sneered, waving a hand. A gust of wind sent Li Yunyang flying, blood spilling from his mouth.
“Junior Brother, you okay?”
Li Yunhua helped him up, concerned.
“Junior Sister, leave now!”
Li Yunyang saw Huangpu Han and two elders behind them—any one could wipe them out. His expression grew grave. He didn’t want Sun Yueying in danger.
“Heh, leave? Not so easy. Since you’re here, stay!”
Yin Shitian sneered again, waving his hand. A dozen Yin-Yang Sect disciples surrounded the four.
“Heh, this young lord’s short a concubine. Sun Yueying, you’ll serve me today!”
Yin Shitian’s eyes gleamed with lust, brazenly eyeing Sun Yueying.
“Oh, Young Master, don’t you want me anymore? How’s she better than me? I’ll serve you perfectly.”
The woman beside him clung to his arm, cooing, her eyes flickering with seductive charm.
“Oh, darling, don’t worry. You’ll have your fun tonight. How about this—Sun Yueying goes to Young Master Huangpu, haha,” Yin Shitian said, turning to Huangpu Han.
“Haha, great, great! I accept your kindness, brother!” Huangpu Han laughed, his eyes narrowing with wicked intent.
“You—I’ll fight you to the death!”
Sun Yueying’s face flushed with shame and rage. Her violet-green sword glowed purple as she thrust forward. After all this time, she too had reached Spirit Condensation’s peak.
“Heh, a feisty girl, full of spirit—I like it!”
Huangpu Han laughed, pushing the woman in his arms aside and striding forward. Li Yunhua and Di Fu stepped up to meet him.
“Heh, who can stop what this young master wants?” Huangpu Han laughed, eyeing Sun Yueying. “Serving me is your blessing!”
“A blessing, my foot!”
Li Yunyang’s rage surged. Wiping blood from his mouth, his azure sword flared as he attacked. Li Yunhua and Di Fu joined in, both at the Cloud Heaven secret realm, notable experts themselves.
“Hmph, seeking death!”
Huangpu Han sneered, his right hand flashing red. He casually unleashed three crimson blade arcs.
“Pfft…”
“Pfft…”
“Pfft…”
How powerful was a Cloud Heaven peak expert? All but Sun Yueying—Li Yunyang, Li Yunhua, and Di Fu—spat blood and staggered back, pale and gravely injured.
“Senior Brother!”
Sun Yueying cried out, helping each one up, glaring at Huangpu Han.
“Heh, come on, beauty. Tonight, I’ll make you feel like you’re riding the clouds, haha…”
Huangpu Han laughed heartily, advancing step by step.
Boom!
Suddenly, a deafening crash echoed from afar. The tea garden’s gate wall was blasted apart. A godlike, demonic figure approached, gripping a sword that dragged a long mark across the ground. Boundless killing intent radiated from him, making Huangpu Han and Yin Shitian’s faces twist in shock…