The Black Dragon Sect's Southern King, Hong Qi, gave a cold, mirthless laugh. A trace of vicious cruelty flashed in his eyes, his voice icy and arrogant:"The Black and Yellow Venerables are missing, their fates unknown—and as for you three, today you are doomed to die!"
Liu Yun's anger flared, her almond eyes wide, her voice trembling with outrage:"What grudge do you bear against the Heavenly Sovereign Sect, to speak so insolently?"
Hong Qi sneered, folding his arms, his gaze sharp as an eagle's. His voice boomed:"You must be Liu Yun—the daughter of the Heavenly Sovereign Sect's leader. Since you're about to die, I'll let you know: I am Hong Qi, Southern King—one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Black Dragon Sect!"His tone was steady and powerful, each word ringing with an oppressive weight that made hearts tremble.
The Black Dragon Sect's Four Heavenly Kings each ruled their own territory; their strength was formidable beyond measure. Upon hearing his name, Liu Yun's fury only deepened. She snorted coldly:"Just the Southern King of the Black Dragon Sect, and you dare spout such madness? If I don't show you a little of my skill today, you'll think too little of me!"
Before her voice had faded, Liu Yun had already leapt into the air, her robes billowing like a sudden gust. Her palm shot forward toward Hong Qi's face—light in appearance, yet brimming with deep inner force, the palm wind whipping up dust in all directions.
Hong Qi's lips curled in contempt. Without dodging, he raised a single palm to meet her.Bang!The two inner forces collided violently, blasting out a shockwave. Both were forced back—Liu Yun staggering several steps, while Hong Qi stood firm as a mountain, not yielding an inch.
"A little girl barely weaned, and this is the best you can do? And you dare make trouble here?" Hong Qi mocked, his tone dripping with disdain.
The Heavenly Venerable Ding Ren barked:"Bullying a young lady—what kind of hero are you? Let me, Ding Ren of the Heavenly Sovereign Sect, test your skill!"
With that, he sprang forward like a tiger descending the mountain, his sleeves snapping through the air. Both fists drove toward Hong Qi's chest, breaking the air with fierce whistling.
Hong Qi's eyes flashed cold. Pivoting on one foot, he slipped aside, then turned defense into attack, his right palm whipping forward. The strikes came like a storm, ruthless and aimed straight for Ding Ren's vital points. Ding Ren grunted, blocking with rapid palm changes and countering with a strike to Hong Qi's flank.
Their palms met in a flurry, inner force surging and thundering, dust swirling around them, withered leaves shaken from the trees. Though Ding Ren's skill was high, the Southern King's savage power soon forced him into retreat, sweat beading on his brow.
Hong Qi smiled coldly, his palm winds intensifying, relentless and unbroken, pressing Ding Ren hard.
The Earthly Venerable Wei An's eyes flashed."Enough!" he shouted, leaping forward like a great roc spreading its wings, his palm slicing toward Hong Qi's crown. This was a "Rescue Zhao by besieging Wei" tactic—forcing Hong Qi to defend himself instead of attacking Ding Ren.
Hong Qi's gaze chilled further. He turned, blocking Wei An's strike with crossed palms. At that instant, Ding Ren darted in, his palm hammering toward Hong Qi's left ribs.
Boom!The three collided palm to palm, inner force exploding outward, dust billowing. All three staggered back several paces, their expressions grim.
Hong Qi steadied himself, his eyes like cold lightning."You think numbers will help you win? You may have come here, but you won't leave alive! All three of you—come at once and save me the trouble!"
Ding Ren and Wei An's faces hardened. They knew there would be no easy way out of this fight. Wei An murmured urgently to Liu Yun:"Miss, this Southern King's skill is deep, his nature brutal. If we want to survive today, we must cut a path through!"
Liu Yun's expression firmed. From her waist, she drew three short swords. With a flick of her wrist, silver light flashed coldly as she tossed two of them to the Venerables, keeping the last for herself.
"Cut our way out!" she cried.
Three swords rose as one, their deadly arcs carrying the surge of inner force, the air trembling with their momentum. Hong Qi's eyes narrowed, a killing intent glinting in them. He laughed darkly:"Insects, daring to oppose me? Then see for yourselves the true power of the Black Dragon Sect!"
With a sharp jolt of his arms, waves of qi roared from his palms, the battlefield heavy with killing intent.
"Everyone—kill them all! Leave no survivors!" Hong Qi's shout cracked like thunder, ringing painfully in the ears.
At his order, the black-clad men surged forward, weapons raised, their murderous intent thick.
Wei An faced four opponents at once, his swordwork fierce but the pressure unrelenting. With a sudden triple thrust—each move swift as lightning—he struck fear into their hearts, stabbing two men in the shoulder and thigh, blood spraying. But a blade slashed his calf in return, blood soaking his trouser leg and dripping to the ground.
Liu Yun was engaged with three foes, her swordwork light and agile, darting left and right, forcing them back step by step. Seeing Wei An wounded, she pushed her opponents away with a flurry, then leapt forward. Her blade shot out like a viper, piercing a man clean through the chest. He gave a scream and collapsed lifeless.
Ding Ren's roar split the air as his sword swept wide and heavy, cleaving down two enemies in quick succession. His style was open and grand, each stroke like a crashing wave, filling his enemies with dread.
By now, the enemy's numbers were halved. The momentum shifted in Liu Yun's favor—until Hong Qi's cold snort cut through the chaos.
"Fall back! I'll deal with these three myself!"
At once, the black-clad men retreated, clearing a space.
Hong Qi drew his long sword, its blade gleaming with a cold light, exuding a chilling aura."Your sword skills are impressive," he said with mocking courtesy. "I salute you. But if you wish to leave here alive, you'll have to pass my blade first."
Before he finished speaking, Ding Ren leapt forward, sword stabbing like rain. But Hong Qi remained composed, drawing his sword in a single smooth motion to block, then whipping it back in a lightning counter—point darting like a serpent's tongue toward Ding Ren's chest, belly, waist, and shoulder in rapid succession.
Ding Ren barely deflected the thrusts, already pressed to the limit. Wei An rushed in to aid him, but his injured leg slowed him. A flaw appeared in his guard, and Hong Qi seized the chance, stabbing deep into Wei An's thigh. Blood gushed as Wei An staggered back, pale-faced.
Seeing the danger, Liu Yun lunged, her blade flashing in intricate, fierce patterns that drove Hong Qi momentarily back. Ding Ren and Wei An, gritting their teeth, joined her.
Three swords closed in, forcing Hong Qi to yield ground—until his shout split the air. His swordplay shifted suddenly, the point flickering with eerie speed, the blade humming as it wove unpredictable arcs.
The three were caught off guard by the sudden change. Wei An shouted, "Miss, get clear!"—but too late.
Hong Qi's wrist twisted, his sword thrusting with brutal precision. With a harsh shhk! the blade stabbed into Ding Ren's right shoulder, blood spurting. Ding Ren cried out, stumbling back.
Hong Qi turned and swept aside another attack, then drove his point into Wei An's thigh once more, fresh blood pouring forth. Wei An bit back a groan but could no longer stand.
Then, pivoting like a predator, Hong Qi bore down on Liu Yun. Four rapid thrusts came like a torrential storm, forcing her to retreat three steps to avoid a killing blow.
But Hong Qi was relentless. Like a wolf scenting blood, he surged after her—four more vicious strikes aimed straight at her vital points, each promising death if it landed…