A furious roar erupted, like a sudden clap of thunder over flat ground.
The roar made countless people tremble in body and soul. It even startled the pretty young girl with the twin buns so badly that she dropped the roasted pork joint from her hand.
Every gaze in the area swept toward the sound. When they saw the shattered luxury carriage and the figure shooting straight toward Han Shiqi, they were all dumbfounded.
Just moments ago, everyone had been filled with disappointment, preparing to disperse. In the blink of an eye, Jiang Han had delivered such a massive surprise.
Most importantly-Jiang Han had made his move, and the target he chose was Han Shiqi, the strongest expert present.
The fifth level of the Profound Nether Realm!
This was the master of Yunmeng Pavilion’s Internal Affairs Hall. Even if Han Shiqi did not serve in the Combat Hall, which held the Pavilion’s greatest martial strength; even if he was considered very weak among the Pavilion’s upper echelons; and even if he had drunk quite a bit of wine at noon-he was still a genuine expert at the fifth level of the Profound Nether Realm.
For a seventh-level Purple Mansion Realm cultivator to dare draw a blade against the Profound Nether Realm already required immense courage, let alone against someone at the fifth level, a renowned expert of many years.
A newborn calf truly feared no tiger!
Han Shiqi had indeed drunk a few extra cups at noon, leaving his reactions somewhat dulled. Otherwise, he would have responded the instant Jiang Han burst from the ground.
He held a high position and had not fought in years, but his foundation remained. As Jiang Han’s blade split the carriage, a cold glint flashed in Han Shiqi’s eyes. His body shot straight into the air. With a flash of light from his spatial ring, a longsword appeared in his grasp.
His face was icy, and a rolling aura of malice poured from him. Flipping midair, profound power blazed along his sword. He swung the blade, unleashing a dazzling cascade of sword light as he thrust viciously downward at the charging Jiang Han.
“On this day of joy, you insist on forcing this old man to go on a killing spree?”
He roared. A terrifying aura surged from his body as sword light scattered in all directions, completely engulfing Jiang Han below.
He had utilized a formidable profound technique. The sword light manipulated the surrounding airflow, leaving any martial artist trapped within nowhere to run. They could only obediently await death by his blade.
“This…”
“It’s over. Jiang Han is dead for sure!”
“A mayfly trying to shake a tree! For Jiang Han to actually attack Lord Han-isn’t he courting death?”
“Alas, a genius will perish!”
“Jiang Han is too foolish. He should have ambushed the second carriage, grabbed Jiang Li, and burrowed straight underground to escape…”
Seeing Jiang Han enveloped by the sword light, the onlookers all shook their heads and sighed.
Han Shiqi’s strength was simply too overwhelming. Let alone Jiang Han, even Jiang Xiaotian likely couldn’t withstand a few of his moves.
Han Shiqi suddenly cried out. The moment his longsword pierced Jiang Han, he realized the boy’s figure had frozen midair.
His longsword punched straight through Jiang Han’s shadow without encountering any resistance, and the shadow began to slowly dissipate.
Phantom Shift!
Jiang Han naturally hadn’t gone to throw his life away. After shattering the carriage and charging upward, he had immediately unleashed the Phantom Shift divine ability the moment he saw Han Shiqi strike.
His true body materialized to the left of the ruined carriage. On the ground nearby, a person was struggling frantically to stand. It was Han Shiqi’s disciple, Han Renfeng.
Han Renfeng had only just broken through to the Profound Nether Realm, an advancement Han Shiqi had paid a massive price to facilitate. At thirteen, Han Renfeng had become Han Shiqi’s male pet. He had lived in luxury and been thoroughly pampered ever since. Even after reaching the Profound Nether Realm, his actual combat strength was pathetically weak.
When the carriage shattered moments ago, the Dragon-Lion Horses panicked, and the violent force had instinctively thrown him out.
Terrified, he scrambled to his feet, only to be met by a blinding flash of blade light. Nearly frightened out of his wits, he screamed, “Master, save me!”
Bang!
Struck by the blade, his body flew out like a kite with a snapped string, crashing heavily to the ground three zhang away.
“Courting death!”
Han Shiqi shot a glance over and instantly flew into a rage. Twisting midair, he shot toward Jiang Han like an arrow. His longsword, trailing a brilliant stream of light, thrust fiercely toward Jiang Han’s back.
However…
His longsword pierced nothing but air once again. Jiang Han’s figure slowly dissipated, appearing in the next second before the distant Han Renfeng.
Jiang Han pressed his long blade against Han Renfeng’s neck and planted one foot firmly on the man’s chest. Radiating dense Killing Intent, he glared at Han Shiqi. “Old dog Han, don’t move! Or I’ll kill him!”
“Master, save me! Save me!”
Han Renfeng had taken Jiang Han’s strike moments ago. A bloody gash marked his chest, and two of his ribs had been shattered by the impact, the pain sending his entire body into convulsions. And this was only because Jiang Han hadn’t used his full strength; otherwise, that single strike would have cleaved him in half.
His face twisted in agony. Feeling the chilling Killing Intent from the blade edge resting against his neck, his body trembled uncontrollably. Not daring to move an inch, he could only turn his head and scream at Han Shiqi, “Master, I don’t want to die! Save me, quickly…”
Han Shiqi froze in his tracks. At this moment, the entire scene plunged into a deathly silence.
Countless people stared at Jiang Han, who stood with his foot on Han Renfeng, his face a mask of wild, untamable defiance. It sent chills through their hearts. Many stopped breathing entirely, their hearts racing as they felt their blood boil.
Moments ago, many had thought Jiang Han was insane to attack Han Shiqi. Only now did they understand-from beginning to end, his target had never been Han Shiqi. It was Han Renfeng.
Shattering the carriage and charging Han Shiqi had been a feint all along, a misdirection to secure Han Renfeng!
Many had heard rumors of Jiang Han’s Phantom Shift divine ability. It had been the talk of the town over the past few days. To finally witness it with their own eyes today made countless people feel the trip had been worthwhile.
Others felt a pang of envy. This divine ability was far too absurd-it had even deceived Han Shiqi’s eyes…
“Brilliant! Worthy of a toast!”
The pretty young girl with the twin buns grinned, revealing two small canine teeth, and tilted her head back to take a massive gulp of wine.
Han Shiqi’s expression was exceptionally ugly. He looked at the bleeding Han Renfeng on the ground, a trace of heartache flashing through his eyes. Gritting his teeth, he looked up at Jiang Han. “Release him, and I will pretend today’s events never happened.”
“I can release him!”
Jiang Han remained on high alert. Profound power surged wildly through his hands, ready to cleave Han Renfeng dead at a moment’s notice.
He stared at Han Shiqi expressionlessly. “But you will provide a carriage for my sister and me to leave. Once we reach a safe place, I will immediately release your beloved disciple.”
“Heh!”
Han Shiqi laughed out of sheer fury. Jiang Han could leave, but Jiang Li absolutely could not.
Why had he come today? To take Jiang Li as his bride.
If Jiang Li was taken away, where would he put his old face? He would become the laughingstock of tens of thousands of people across dozens of surrounding towns and villages.
He shook his head, his expression resolute. “This old man will give you one last chance. Release him, and you may walk away. As for your other conditions… there is no room for discussion.”
“No room for discussion? Then… we’re done talking!”
Jiang Han yanked his long blade back sharply. The war blade sliced through Han Renfeng’s neck. A perfectly good head rolled free, and blood geysered frantically from the headless stump!
Jiang Han kicked the severed head, sending the bloody thing rocketing straight toward Han Shiqi.
Gripping his dripping blade, he charged forward at Han Shiqi with absolute, suicidal resolve.
He roared once more: “Old dog Han! I never planned to leave here alive today! If I’m going to die, I’ll kill enough to make it worth my life!”