Seeing Shen Xiang approach without any fluctuation in his aura, Zhang Long's lips curled into a disdainful smirk.
Shen Xiang's speed wasn't particularly fast since his opponent was standing still, allowing him to strike. However, his fist was charged with the Qiankun power, formed from the fusion of the five-element true qi!
"Sky Tiger Violent Strike!" As Shen Xiang reached Zhang Long, he unleashed a punch. A semi-transparent tiger head suddenly flashed over his fist, its mouth wide open, tearing through the protective qi shield Zhang Long had been so proud of, striking directly onto his chest!
In the instant the shield shattered, Zhang Long and Shen Furong were both shocked, but it was already too late. Shen Xiang's fist, imbued with mysterious power, had already connected with Zhang Long's chest.
At that moment, Zhang Long felt an overwhelming force pouring into his body, swiftly destroying every inch of him. In a fleeting moment, every conceivable kind of pain surged through him before he lost consciousness, disappearing from the world forever.
In the square, everyone stood frozen like statues, their minds replaying the scene. After Shen Xiang threw his punch, it shattered Zhang Long's shield and struck his chest. In that very moment, Zhang Long's entire body erupted in a mist of blood, followed by a thunderous explosion. His body burst apart like a tomato violently smashed against the ground, leaving only a mess of bloody pulp!
With just one punch, Shen Xiang had reduced Zhang Long, who was at the eighth level of the Mortal Martial Realm, into a pile of flesh! The blood mist still lingered in the air, drifting with the wind, its pungent smell causing nausea in some, but most were left in shock—profound, soul-shaking shock that they would never forget.
With a calm expression, Shen Xiang let out a faint snort. He waved his hand, releasing a burst of true qi fire to burn the remains to ashes before picking up a storage pouch from the ground and putting it away.
"I have now defeated the disciple of the martial sect. Can I receive the True Essence Pill now?" Shen Xiang coldly turned his gaze to Shen Furong.
Although he had just killed Zhang Long, Shen Xiang remained entirely unbothered. In his view, this arrogant fool who thought he could rule over the secular world was of no concern to the martial sect, especially since Zhang Long had broken the rules by meddling in the affairs of the secular world.
Shen Furong's brows twitched, and his bloodshot eyes were filled with fury. He hadn't expected Shen Xiang's strength to be so formidable, destroying Zhang Long with a single punch—something even he would find difficult.
"You cannot receive it!" Shen Furong roared.
"Why not?" Shen Xiang coldly pressed.
"Because you killed Yao Tianhua and a Yao family elder! You killed people from the sect that hosted this martial event. You are not eligible for the reward," Shen Furong shouted, causing an uproar throughout the crowd. They hadn't realized that Shen Xiang had truly killed Yao Tianhua.
With Shen Xiang's strength now apparent, no one doubted it anymore.
"You have no proof. Stop making baseless accusations," Shen Xiang replied nonchalantly. Given his current relationship with the Yao Family, being exposed was no longer a concern. It was only a matter of time before the Shen and Yao families clashed.
Shen Furong sneered. "We used an ancient technique to gather the remnants of Yao Tianhua's soul. He personally told us it was you who killed them. Would you like to hear it?"
With that, Shen Furong took out a palm-sized yellow paper talisman, covered in complex markings. Seeing this, Shen Xiang was startled. He recognized it immediately as a "charm," a rare, mystical, and terrifying object that only a select few could craft.
It was a creation of a "Charm Master," a profession Shen Xiang had often heard Su Meiyao and Bai Youyou mention, one that even these two mysterious women held in awe.
As Shen Furong chanted an incantation, infusing his true qi into the talisman, its symbols began to glow. Suddenly, a chilling voice echoed, sending shivers down the spines of everyone present: "It was Shen Xiang who killed us. Shen Xiang killed us!"
The voice seemed to come from the depths of the underworld, filled with resentment and hatred, chilling everyone to the bone.
"What do you have to say now?" Shen Furong coldly questioned. He had finally revealed his trump card, hoping to intensify the conflict between the Shen and Yao families, ensuring an inevitable clash. If he helped the Yao Family destroy the Shen Family, they would certainly reward him.
With this undeniable evidence of Shen Xiang's killing of Yao Tianhua, the crowd was even more astounded. Any lingering doubts they had vanished.
"Yes, I did kill Yao Tianhua and the Yao Family elder," Shen Xiang admitted calmly. Even now, facing the situation, his composure earned the admiration of many.
"You… the Yao Family and the Shen Family will never stop until one of us is destroyed!" A middle-aged man, whose appearance bore some resemblance to Yao Tianhua, stepped forward and roared.
This man was Yao Hong, the head of the Yao Family!
"They were the ones who tried to kill me first! They sent assassins! On the day our Shen Family hosted a banquet to invite various families, it was your Yao Family that sent assassins to cause trouble and kill the young members of other families, trying to turn them against us," Shen Xiang's voice grew cold. Although he had no evidence, everything he said was the truth.
"You're spouting nonsense! The Yao Family would never do such a thing!" Yao Hong roared in fury, knowing Shen Xiang had no proof. The Yao Family's assassins were meticulous and left no trace.
Shen Xiang sneered coldly. In a flash, he appeared beside an old man from the Yao Family, who was one of their elders. The elder could sense someone approaching but had no time to react before Shen Xiang's speed overwhelmed him. With one swift move, Shen Xiang scattered his true qi.
"Don't come closer, or I'll kill him!" Shen Xiang placed his hand on the elder's head, knocking him unconscious.
The Yao Family elder was one of their key members, and none of the Yao Family dared to act rashly.
"Shen Xiang, you're doomed today! Surrender, and I'll leave your body intact," Shen Furong threatened. He couldn't make a move himself, as it would risk the Yao Family elder's life, for which he would be held accountable.
Everyone assumed Shen Xiang was taking the Yao Family elder hostage, but that wasn't his true intention. He wanted to use a unique technique Bai Youyou had taught him to control the elder's mind and force him to speak the truth.
Shen Xiang sent a wave of spiritual energy into the Yao Family elder's mind, activating the technique that placed him in a dazed state.
"Did the Yao Family send assassins to kill the young members of various families?" Shen Xiang asked.
"Yes!" The elder confessed, causing Yao Hong's face to darken. A buzz of discussion spread across the square. Previously, many had doubted Shen Xiang's claim, but now, hearing the Yao elder's admission, they had no choice but to believe it.
"Why?" Shen Xiang continued.
"Because the Shen Family's influence was growing. Once they entered the pill industry, they would threaten our Yao Family. So, we took advantage of the banquet, sent assassins to kill the young members of the other families, hoping to turn them against the Shen Family. It would be beneficial for us," the elder confessed.
Shen Xiang sneered. "Everyone, this is the Yao Family's despicable scheme! Our Shen Family established the Dan King Pavilion to offer you affordable pills, but the Yao Family is doing everything to stop us. Their goal is clear—to continue exploiting you and forcing you to buy their overpriced pills!"