"Humph, if you won't go, I will!"
Chu Qingcheng had reached her limit again, flicking her sleeve as she rushed to save him. Long Jiu and his group helplessly followed after her.
But an explosion stopped them before they could intervene.
Huangpu Qingyun was right at the edge of the crumbled stage when it shot into the air. A black figure flashed and a foot slammed Huangpu Qingyun's cheek.
Huangpu Qingyun flew for dozens of meters and was now seeing stars. The black figure was far from finished, flickering behind Huangpu Qingyun and hacked with two thunderous axes for his head.
Huangpu Qingyun was too caught up to even know what was happening before finding himself face to face with death.
"Watch out, second young master!"
Hell Valley's 5th elder swung his two fists to help him, but the figure already retreated.
When the black figure stopped, it was unmistakably Zhuo Fan.
Zhuo Fan had blood flowing from his mouth and sporting an infuriated expression, only surpassed by the killing intent in his eyes.
"Dammit, so close and I would've had that punk's life!" Zhuo Fan spat blood and barked at Huangpu Qingyun.
Huangpu Qingyun was overwhelmed and his body broke out in cold sweat.
[This goddamn prick is too deceitful. He faked death among the ruble so that I would get close enough to kill me.]
[If not for 5th timely rescue, I would've been a goner.]
Huangpu Qingyun grew more roiled, but feeling more appalled than ever. Chu Qingcheng's side was wild with joy. Zhuo Fan looked as fine as ever, with hardly enough to be called wounded.
"Well damn. I always took the rumor of him being a freak as nothing more than a jest. But two years after we last saw each other, this brat's hardheadedness reached a whole new level. With how strong Hell Valley's 5th elder's body was, even Veiled Dragon Pavilion's 3rd elder would want to avoid fighting him. They have come to blows many times over the years but always ended in a tie. How is it that this brat is pitch-perfect after getting a smack from his hammer? He is an abomination."
Long Jiu said suddenly to Xie Tianyang, "Kid, didn't you see him last time? Just when did he get that freakish?"
Shrugging, Xie Tianyang felt downcast, "Who knew it would all happen overnight? From the 6th layer of Qi Condensation, where he could beat even Bone Tempering experts, he suddenly changed to the Bone Tempering freak who killed You Guiqi!"
[Overnight?!]
They all smacked their lips. What baffling skill did the brat use to become so dreadful?
But then they recalled how he changed overnight when the Luo clan was in crisis at that time as well. And now he did it again, this time gaining an unbreakable body.
"Brother, just how much are you hiding for your dear older brother?" Long Jiu sighed as the rest watched Zhuo Fan in amazement.
This kid was a true monster. Not only his alchemy ability was top-notch, but he was well versed in other aspects as well!
Unaware of his dear older brother, Long Jiu, labeling him a monster, Zhuo Fan spat another mouthful of blood as he watched the appalled Huangpu Qingyun and 5th elder.
"Goddamned old fart! Your hammer almost snapped my rib. But you at least managed to shake my organs a bit and give me a slight wound. Hell Valley, eh? Fine then, Hell Valley's old 5th, I'll remember this debt."
With a twitching face, Zhuo Fan spat the words with great rancor. Yet, why did it sound more like a mockery than anything else?
A grand 5th layer Profound Heaven bone cultivator's hammer blow couldn't kill a Bone Tempering cultivator, when it would turn any normal Profound Heaven expert to mush. Not even Veiled Dragon Pavilion's 3rd elder dared to take on his hammer.
The least was a serious wound and worst, death.
But this punk didn't even get a rib cracked, nor sported the slightest wound.
[Just who the hell is this brat?]
5th elder had regarded Zhuo Fan highly from the start. At least at You Guiqi's level since he managed to kill him.
But he now realized how sorely mistaken he was.
[This punk is a monster through and through. His body is nigh unbreakable!]
[Thank the fates he's not in the Profound Heaven Stage and can't use his body to its full advantage…]
Spatting, 5th elder turned grave!
Zhuo Fan secretly laughed having figured out what was on his mind. This was the best time to flee. And he did just that, without any useless words, just fled.
The grave 5th elder jolted and cursed inside as he rushed to block him.
[Think I'm a fool to let you walk away after you cursed me? You won't get the chance! You won't live to make my life miserable.]
He was indeed a Profound Heaven expert, catching up in an instant and swinging his hammer on Zhuo Fan again.
But Zhuo Fan was prepared this time. Grinning, his Lightning Wings deflected the hammer and rushed towards the 5th elder.
5th elder was in glee.
Zhuo Fan may have dodged the blow, but coming closer, couldn't be better.
5th elder let go of the hammer and smashed his fist towards Zhuo's face.
The blow packed enough power to at least break a few bones this time.
But Zhuo Fan kept his cool, even snickering. He lightly stepped, "Mystifying Phantom Step!"
Zhuo Fan vanished into thin air and popped behind 5th elder.
5th elder had no idea what occurred while Zhuo Fan used this chance to flee.
"Kid, you won't get away that easy!"
Suddenly, Huangpu Qingyun appeared and blocked his escape.
Zhuo Fan frowned and felt vexation get to him, [I so want to take him down a peg but this is not the time.] They were both body cultivators but with one stage gap. Brawling would be detrimental to Zhuo Fan.
Moreover, it would also slow down his speed if he were to use the Lightning Wings to fend off his opponent. Afterwards, the 5th elder would rush over during the gap and make matters worse.
With no alternative, Zhuo Fan used Mystifying Phantom Step again to escape Huangpu Qingyun.
Huangpu Qingyun stood dumbly in mid-air. [What's with this strange art?] He never saw anything remotely resembling it.
However, to the dismay of the ones on the terrace, a blue figure flashed over, curbing Zhuo Fan's escape.
With a boom, he was kicked back before he could figure out how it happened.
He hit the ground so hard, a wave of dust formed.
The messy Zhuo Fan clawed back to his feet. He felt his sore face as he looked coldly.
5th elder and Huangpu Qingyun took one side around him as did the blue figure. Zhuo Fan snickering at him, "The kick was fast, but hardly powerful. It turns out to be an elder from Merry Woods. "
The one to get a leg up on Zhuo Fan was none other than Lin Zitian.
Taking a quick look at Vicious Pill King, he found him too drained to join in the fight. Huangpu Qingyun and 5th elder were tough but had no way to counter Zhuo Fan's eerie movements.
Thus making Merry Woods' speed the only way to bring the brat down a peg.
Lin Zitian thought, [Fortune favors the bold.] He made sure to kick back this monstrosity to win the greatest credit.
Unbeknownst to him, that kick shot him straight through the gates of hell.
"Elder Lin, well done! I will remember this later!" Huangpu Qingyun was vexed by Zhuo Fan's erratic movements but now only Lin Zitian could keep him here so Huangpu Qingyun flattered him.
Picking up on the second young master's plan, 5th elder followed suit, "This little prick is such a headache, having a strange movement art on top of his strong body. If not for Elder Lin, he would've escaped."
Lin Zitian was proud of his glorious achievement, but shook his head trying to act modestly.
Peony Overseer was itching to go there and kick his butt.
[You damn old fart. It's fine if you don't want to help Drifting Flowers Edifice, but you went as far as helping that bastard from Regent Estate against Drifting Flowers Edifice's son in law? I was a fool to waste my feelings on you.]
Zhuo Fan had a contemptuous grin and secretly cursed him for being a moron. Ye, even in this situation, he didn't put him in his eyes.
He already saw through Merry Woods' cultivation method, a useless trick, fancy but pointless! If his disciple ruined himself with it, what was to say of his master?
How was he a worthy enemy if he was the weakest, albeit fastest?
Zhuo Fan sneered. He only took into consideration Huangpu Qingyun and 5th elder, while throwing Elder Lin in the back of his mind.
Such clearcut disregard irked Elder Lin, stinging his prideful heart.
"Second young master, 5th elder, allow me to handle this arrogant punk!"
Lin Zitian didn't find anything amiss and shouted. Zhuo Fan looked at him queerly. [This opportunist sure is ballsy.]
[You know I killed You Guiqi, who was as weak as you, yet you dare challenge me?]
Huangpu Qingyun and 5th elder looked at him the same way.
[Is this old man alright? Even I have to watch my every move when facing this demon and here you are asking to do it alone?]
[Just who was the truly arrogant one here? One or two praises already got to your head?]