Han Guan was breathing coldly, gazing at the vastness of the cave, with Yi Mo standing beside him.
Yan Yue looked at them from behind, feeling something different.
"How long will you keep staring at us?"
Yi Mo spoke, turning his head toward Yan Yue.
"Only two have passed this test, and unfortunately, they died at the hands of a madman. The rest perished inside the cave. I hope you understand."
"Let the test begin."
A second later, they rushed into the massive cave, extremely excited, joy in their hearts. They hadn't fought in a long time.
That's why they always sparred with each other, honing one another's skills.
The cave was dark, with dim fire torches and biting cold, but they had endured far worse.
The first thing they encountered was a murderous spirit wielding a sword. "This is the first time I've seen something like this."
"Me too."
In a single step, the spirit was before them, swinging its sword to sever their heads, but both ducked to the ground and delivered kicks from either side.
Han Guan ran, drawing his two black swords.
"Mental Shatter Melody."
He sent subtle vibrations of his energy toward the spirit, paralyzing it temporarily.
"Now, Yi Mo!"
Yi Mo leapt and struck the spirit's head with his iron staff, splitting it in half, and its body vanished.
"Wow, your moves have really been refined!"
"Heh heh heh, did you see? With one strike of my staff, it split in two!"
"You fool, I'm joking. Don't think you're stronger just because you hit an empty spirit with your staff."
Yi Mo looked into Han Guan's eyes. "Want to try, you idiot?"
"No problem, come on."
Yi Mo grabbed Han Guan's clothes. "I could kill you with that strike alone if I wanted."
"You're too full of yourself, you yellow monkey."
Haaaagh haaaaagh.
"What's that damned sound?" While holding Han Guan's clothes, Yi Mo turned his head to the left.
A massive, obese monster appeared, with no eyes, standing six meters tall.
It swung its sharp hand toward them, large enough that its fingers alone could kill anyone easily.
The spot where they stood turned to dust, and the monster was surprised...
Fwoooosh fwoooosh.
Their movements were swift. Han Guan leapt and kicked the monster with his leg, but it wasn't greatly affected. It grabbed him with its hand and squeezed...
Yi Mo jumped quickly to save him, striking the monster with his iron staff.
The monster released Han Guan, screaming and clutching its head. "Don't let go of your weapon again. To defeat it, we need to use our weapons."
"Sorry, I thought it was weak and a single kick would finish it."
"Hahaha, let's take it down!"
They ran beside it, striking from all directions, their speed far surpassing the monster's...
Yi Mo stood on its collarbone and thrust his staff into its mouth.
"Heh heh heh, let's see if you can handle the staff's power! Roar of the Blazing Beast."
The monster's lungs and some internal organs exploded.
"Now, Han Guan!"
Holding his black swords, Han Guan ran at top speed, ripping out both its heart and brain.
Yi Mo pulled his staff from its mouth. "That was an awesome scene, Han Guan! You didn't tell me about that move."
"I don't know, it was by chance."
Yi Mo approached, resting his elbow on Han Guan's shoulder. "Hey, are you sure?"
"Alright, it doesn't matter. We need to pass the test. Let's keep going."
They continued their path, encountering a giant red serpent, a savage bear, and many other monsters.
The final stage featured an elder sitting on a small rock, wearing a white robe, with white hair, aged over 100 years.
He carried a gleaming white sword beside him, and his aura was pure white...
He stood, bowing slightly. "Welcome, young children, to the final stage of the test."
"One thing only: if you defeat me, you pass the test."
Both were nearly exhausted, having gone through about 21 stages, each stronger than the last.
"Old man, do we kill you, injure you, or what?"
"Heh heh heh, two stabs to the upper part of my body and two to the lower part."
They split up, Yi Mo going right and Han Guan left. The old man smiled broadly, cunningly.
Yi Mo swung his staff at the old man's legs, and Han Guan swung his sword at his chest.
The old man leapt, standing on the edges of their weapons...
They pretended to be surprised, but each had a brilliant plan.
"Mental Shatter Melody."
The old man was temporarily paralyzed, and Han Guan shouted at Yi Mo to grab his sword and stab quickly.
Yi Mo took the sword and made his move.
"Heh heh heh, naive children."
The old man stepped back slightly, grabbed the sword, and punched Yi Mo.
"What? Where's the paralysis effect?" Han Guan was greatly shocked.
The old man laughed and turned to Han Guan. "It's in your backside."
He grabbed his white sword and swiftly slashed Han Guan's stomach, then seized his neck to stab his heart.
Yi Mo was furious and unleashed his full power, gripping his staff and hurling it at the old man's neck.
The old man released Han Guan's neck and caught the staff. "Nice. Throwing it from that distance, yet its power is still strong, nearly piercing my hand."
"But let me tell you—"
Han Guan kicked the old man's neck with his left leg and stepped back, holding his swords.
The old man coughed slightly. "You know, I have a heart condition. Can't you show some sympathy?"
He threw the staff back at Yi Mo. "Come, let's finish this. Let's see the Twin Disasters of the Sky versus the power of a sixth-rank old man, former deputy to the king."
"Hey, Yi Mo, this old man will be the most fun we've ever fought, so unleash your true power."
"Yes, let's unleash our true power, but wait—don't use that instinct unique to your clan. It's filthy."
"Hmm, mayb—"
The old man slashed Han Guan's chest and kicked him into the cave wall.
Yi Mo ran toward the old man. "Back off, you geezer!"
He unleashed his aura, strong enough to halt Yi Mo's movement.
"Pure Flash."
A white layer appeared beneath the old man's feet, moving at an unbelievable speed, possibly rivaling light itself.
The distance between the old man and Yi Mo was about 30 meters; in less than a second, he was in front of Yi Mo's face.
"Wait, wha—"
The old man stabbed Yi Mo in the lung, pulled out his sword, and kicked him away.
He then turned to finish Han Guan first, as his aura was demonic, while Yi Mo's was neutral.
Han Guan leapt toward the old man, then vanished, reappearing in front of him. "Those tricks don't work on me, you little beast. Yes, I can see what's inside you—a hidden, terrifying energy or something like that. Unleash it, let me enjoy it."
In another step, Han Guan was behind the old man.
Baaam—
The old man turned in less than a second, the white layers beneath his feet, and his sword pierced Han Guan's heart.
He withdrew his sword, and Han Guan fell.
"You've failed the test, heh heh heh. And what does that mean? Death."
Yi Mo was lying on the ground. "Old man, don't you want to see that mysterious power Han Guan possesses? Turn your head and look closely."
Han Guan was slowly rising, his wounds completely healed, the bleeding stopped. The atmosphere around him was truly terrifying, as if a demon controlled him. He breathed slowly, his eyes entirely pitch black.
He began walking slowly toward the old man, his hands bare. "Once you draw your sword against him, he'll pounce like an animal on its prey—that's the simplest description."
The Great Heavenly Disaster versus the Sixth-Rank Old Man, Former Deputy to the King
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The End