In four days, Xiao Hao had refined four Foundation Establishment Pills, and his cultivation advanced further, breaking into the Profound Realm Fifth Layer.
Now, even if he encountered a Profound Realm Ninth Layer powerhouse, he had the confidence to put up a fight.
’I’m just a hair’s breadth away from mastering the third form of my Flame Emperor Sword Skill. Once I do, I’m afraid few Profound Realm Martial Artists will be my match.’
Xiao Hao’s face was filled with anticipation.
For the past few days, he had been using his free time to practice the Flame Emperor Sword Skill.
Coupled with his unearthly comprehension, the third form of the Flame Emperor Sword Skill was on the verge of being mastered.
The third form was much more powerful than the second. Once mastered, it would undoubtedly grant him a massive increase in strength.
’It’s about time I paid a visit to the Celestial Pill Pavilion.’
Xiao Hao stretched and was about to head to the Celestial Pill Pavilion to get the batch of medicinal materials for the Foundation Establishment Pills from Pavilion Master Ma.
BANG!
Just then, a loud crash erupted from outside.
An incredibly burly man had shattered the main gate with a single punch and barged into the courtyard with another man in black robes.
"Xiao Chen, get your ass out here and die!" the burly man roared.
"Who are you?"
Xiao Chen shot out from his room, his brows furrowed tightly.
The two men before him both gave off an incredibly dangerous aura.
The man in black robes, in particular, had a presence so oppressive that Xiao Chen found it hard to breathe.
"I am Blood-handed Fang Tu," the burly man sneered. "You’ve got some serious nerve, daring to kill a member of our Black Dragon Alliance. We’re here to avenge Ma Hong."
"What? Blood-handed Fang Tu!"
Xiao Chen froze as if he’d been struck by lightning.
Blood-handed Fang Tu was a notorious wanted criminal in Huangyang County. His cultivation was even higher than Ma Hong’s; he had already reached the Profound Realm Seventh Layer.
Even in his prime, Xiao Chen would have been no match for him, let alone now.
"Enough! Stop wasting your breath on this trash. Just kill him. We have other missions to complete," the black-robed man said, his face devoid of expression.
"Yes, Mad Blade!" Blood-handed Fang Tu replied with reverence.
’Could he be... Mad Blade Situ Xiao?’
Xiao Chen couldn’t help but gasp.
Mad Blade Situ Xiao was one of the ten most wanted criminals in Huangyang County. He was known for his extreme brutality and had once massacred an entire village.
It was said that his strength was immense; he had even managed to kill Profound Realm Ninth Layer Martial Artists.
How could Xiao Chen possibly contend with someone like that?
"Die!"
The next moment, Blood-handed Fang Tu’s figure flickered, and he charged toward Xiao Chen like a wild bull, appearing before him in an instant.
A mass of blood-red True Qi then materialized over his right fist as he threw a vicious punch at Xiao Chen.
’Not good!’
The hair on Xiao Chen’s body stood on end, and his face was a mask of utter despair.
’This punch will definitely be enough to kill me easily.’
PSHH.
At that critical moment, a flash of crimson sword light suddenly streaked past Xiao Chen’s eyes.
In the next instant, Blood-handed Fang Tu’s entire right arm was lopped off, sending blood flying everywhere.
"Aaargh! My arm!" Blood-handed Fang Tu shrieked in agony.
But a moment later, a Treasure Sword pierced his throat, killing him instantly.
He died without even knowing who had killed him.
"Anyone who dares to harm my adoptive father will be killed without mercy!"
Xiao Hao said coldly, looking down at Fang Tu’s corpse.
He had sensed that Xiao Chen was in danger, so he cast aside any thought of concealing his identity and struck instantly, slaying Blood-handed Fang Tu.
’It’s Hao’Er! How has he become so strong?!’
Xiao Chen stood rooted to the spot, simply unable to believe his own eyes.
After all, Blood-handed Fang Tu was a Profound Realm Seventh Layer powerhouse! He was even stronger than Xiao Chen had been in his prime.
And yet, just now, Xiao Hao had killed him with only two strikes of his sword.
It was simply inconceivable.
"Father, you protected me for so many years. Now, it’s my turn to protect you!"
Xiao Hao smiled faintly, then turned his gaze to Mad Blade Situ Xiao, a terrifying, cold light bursting forth from his eyes.
’Could it be... that the expert who saved Xiao Ming and me last time was actually Hao’Er?!’
A sudden realization dawned on Xiao Chen.
If Xiao Hao could slay Blood-handed Fang Tu, then of course he could have killed Bai Shan and his men.
He just couldn’t comprehend how Xiao Hao had grown so powerful in less than two short months.
This rate of cultivation could no longer be described as merely monstrous!
"Kid, who are you?"
At this moment, Situ Xiao’s expression was one of utter shock, as if he were seeing a ghost.
A boy of fifteen or sixteen had just easily slain Fang Tu.
A peerless prodigy like him would be hard to find in the entire Great Li Dynasty.
And yet, he had somehow run into one in a small place like Celestial Water City.
"A dead man doesn’t need to know!"
Xiao Hao said coldly. His figure flickered, moving like a Spiritual Ape as he charged toward Situ Xiao.
VWOOM!
At the same time, he unleashed all the True Qi in his body, infusing it into the Treasure Sword in his hand.
"You’re overestimating yourself!"
Situ Xiao sneered, drawing the Black Saber from his waist. It radiated an incomparably sharp aura.
He could tell from Xiao Hao’s True Qi that his opponent’s cultivation was only at the Profound Realm Fifth Layer.
He, on the other hand, was a Profound Realm Ninth Layer powerhouse. Moreover, he had mastered a Mortal Level Top Grade Saber Technique, so even experts of the same realm could rarely defeat him.
Therefore, he didn’t take Xiao Hao seriously in the slightest.
BZZZT!
The next moment, Situ Xiao unleashed his True Qi, letting it coil around his Black Saber as he slashed horizontally at Xiao Hao.
"Oh no! Hao’Er is in danger!" Xiao Chen cried out, his heart burning with anxiety.
Although Xiao Hao’s rate of growth was astonishing, his cultivation was a full four small realms lower than Situ Xiao’s. How could he possibly win?
Flaming Meteor.
Just then, Xiao Hao suddenly executed the second form of the Flame Emperor Sword Skill. He also activated his Three-headed Dragon Elephant Power, meeting Situ Xiao’s Black Saber head-on.
With a deafening CLANG, in a flash, their two killing moves collided violently.
But in the next moment, Xiao Hao was sent flying back, only coming to a stop several dozen feet away.
Situ Xiao, in contrast, hadn’t moved an inch.
"You actually blocked my Gale Saber Technique? How is that possible?"
Although Situ Xiao had gained the upper hand, his face was a mask of sheer horror, as if he couldn’t believe his eyes.
His Gale Saber Technique was a Mortal Level Top Grade Martial Arts that he had cultivated to the Perfection Realm. It was far more powerful than the Xiao Family’s Lightning Sword Skill.
This was the very reason he was able to kill other Profound Realm Ninth Layer powerhouses.
Yet now, a mere brat at the Profound Realm Fifth Layer had managed to block his Gale Saber Technique.
This was simply unbelievable.
"Today, you die. Gale Martial Soul!"
Killing intent surged within Situ Xiao, and he activated his Martial Soul without a moment’s hesitation.