Jiang Hu swept his gaze over the corpse of the Silver-Horned Rhino on the ground, a look of surprise crossing his face.
Jiang Han really was luring and killing Silver-Horned Rhinos.
But was he extracting their Source Essence Blood to refine it?
Jiang Hu had no idea what Jiang Han was trying to achieve, but his actions were far too strange and unpredictable.
Killing intent stirred within Jiang Hu’s heart.
Jiang Hu slowly drew his longsword. The scarred flesh on his face twitched as he advanced toward Jiang Han step by step and shouted coldly, “Jiang Han, you dare cultivate demonic arts here! Return to Jiang Family Town with me immediately to face the Elder Hall’s judgment, or do not blame me for disregarding our ties as clan brothers!”
In truth, Jiang Hu and Jiang Bao had entered the Heavenly Fox Mountain Range long ago.
The only reason they had only just found Jiang Han was because they had already searched the first four peaks, then been delayed for quite some time on Black Head Peak.
To save time, Jiang Han had not disposed of the Silver-Horned Rhino corpses.
The stench of blood had drawn quite a few Demon Beasts.
During their search, Jiang Hu and Jiang Bao had run into several of them. Not only had they been left in a sorry state, but Jiang Hu had even suffered a minor injury.
Seeing Jiang Han now, Jiang Hu was already holding back a bellyful of anger.
But discovering that Jiang Han was refining the Silver-Horned Rhino’s Source Essence Blood filled him with an inexplicable unease.
Jiang Han’s father had once been a once-in-a-century genius of the Jiang Clan.
Could he have secretly left his son some bizarre and powerful ultimate technique?
Han Shiqi would arrive to marry Jiang Li in half a month.
This matter was of the utmost importance to the Third Elder’s branch.
Absolutely no mistakes could be allowed.
Jiang Hu gripped his sword and stalked toward Jiang Han step by step.
Jiang Han remained rooted in place with his eyes shut tight.
The muscles beneath his skin rippled slightly, his complexion growing increasingly flushed, while a strange aura flowed around his body.
“Die!”
A cold light flashed in Jiang Hu’s eyes.
His speed abruptly erupted, and the longsword in his hand transformed into a streak of light, thrusting straight toward Jiang Han’s chest.
At that exact moment, Jiang Han’s eyes snapped open.
A silver gleam flashed in his pupils.
The war blade in his hand chopped fiercely down toward Jiang Hu’s head.
Jiang Han’s sudden counterattack carried astonishing physical force, seemingly accompanied by the faint roar of wind and thunder.
Jiang Hu’s thrust had not fully extended.
Bending his knees, he shifted his sword from a stab into an upward parry, choosing to meet Jiang Han’s blade head-on.
He was at the sixth level of the Purple Mansion Realm, while Jiang Han was merely at the fifth level.
Furthermore, thanks to his cultivation technique, his raw strength was slightly superior to that of an ordinary sixth-level martial artist.
In a direct clash, he was confident he could easily deflect Jiang Han’s weapon.
Once Jiang Han’s guard was forced wide open, a single thrust of his sword would take Jiang Han’s life.
Jiang Hu’s battle instincts were undeniably solid, and his response was flawless.
However…
The instant blade and sword collided, a wild and overwhelming force surged forth.
The webbing between Jiang Hu’s thumb and forefinger instantly tore open.
His body was launched into the air by the rampaging force transmitted through his weapon.
It felt exactly like being struck head-on by a massive charging Demon Beast.
Boom!
Jiang Hu crashed heavily into a massive boulder two zhang away.
His head happened to smash directly against a jutting stalagmite, and blood instantly gushed out like a fountain.
“Brother Hu!”
Jiang Bao, who had been casually watching from the side, was dumbfounded.
He stared at the wailing Jiang Hu on the ground, then looked at the vicious aura surrounding Jiang Han.
He rubbed his eyes, convinced that he was seeing things.
He knew Jiang Hu’s combat strength perfectly well.
Even though they were both at the sixth level of the Purple Mansion Realm, Jiang Bao knew he was no match for Jiang Hu.
Yet now, Jiang Hu had been sent flying in a single exchange by Jiang Han, who was only at the fifth level?
Even if Jiang Hu had suffered a minor injury earlier, it should not have ended like this.
“Huh?”
Jiang Bao was stunned.
Jiang Han was equally stunned.
He stared at Jiang Hu, who was bleeding profusely and screaming on the ground, then looked down at his own war blade in disbelief.
So strong!
My physical strength has increased at least fivefold.
It is probably even slightly stronger than that of a ninth-level Purple Mansion Realm martial artist!
Jiang Han quickly assessed the situation, his heart pounding wildly.
The Heavenly Beast Cauldron truly was a wondrous treasure.
Having refined ten drops of Silver-Horned Rhino Source Essence Blood, he had indeed obtained its Bloodline Divine Ability, “Power of Frenzy.”
With the divine ability unleashed, his entire body felt packed with explosive power.
He was confident that he could now cleave through a massive tree requiring three men to encircle in a single strike.
Thud, thud, thud!
The rapid crunch of footsteps jolted Jiang Han from his thoughts.
He looked up and saw Jiang Bao charging at him, sword raised.
Seeing Jiang Hu’s miserable state, Jiang Bao’s sharp, monkey-like face twisted with malice.
He glared viciously at Jiang Han and roared, “Jiang Han, you little mongrel, you dare hurt Brother Hu? Your life is mine!”
Confronted with Jiang Bao’s murderous charge, boundless killing intent erupted from Jiang Han in return.
The Third Elder’s branch had pushed him too far.
Not only were they forcing his sister into concubinage with Han Shiqi, but they were also trying to take his life!
“Die!”
Jiang Han lashed out in fury, his long blade sweeping forth in a flash of white.
Jiang Bao had intended to execute a profound skill, but Jiang Han’s assault was too fast and too fierce.
Driving the Profound Energy in his body to the limit, Jiang Bao was forced to meet the blow head-on.
Clang!
In that single clash, Jiang Bao’s arms simply could not withstand the frenzied force.
The sword was instantly knocked from his grip.
Riding the terrifying residual force, the war blade cleaved heavily into Jiang Bao’s body.
“Ahhh—!”
Jiang Bao slammed into the dirt.
A massive gash had been carved deep into his chest and abdomen, his ribs cleanly severed.
Even his shattered internal organs could be faintly seen beneath the blood and gore.
He twitched and shrieked twice on the ground before gradually falling completely silent.
“Jiang Bao? Jiang Bao!”
Jiang Hu struggled to his feet.
He grabbed Jiang Bao’s corpse and shook it twice, then snapped his head toward Jiang Han and roared, “Jiang Han, you little bastard! You actually killed Jiang Bao! You’ve gone mad! You’re dead! Nobody can save you now!”
“Is that so?”
Jiang Han walked forward slowly, his expression cold and grim.
“Gone mad? You came here to kill me. Was I supposed to bare my neck and wait for death?”
“Dead? When you kill me, it is clan justice, but when I kill you, it becomes an unforgivable sin?”
“Nobody can save me? Who in this world was ever going to save me in the first place?”
Swish!
Before his words had even faded, Jiang Han dashed to Jiang Hu’s side.
The long blade swept out in a horizontal arc, aiming straight for Jiang Hu’s neck.
Killing one was murder.
Killing two was no different!
Since blood had already been drawn, there was no turning back.
Jiang Han cast aside all hesitation.
Sensing the chilling killing intent radiating from the blade, Jiang Hu’s soul nearly scattered in terror.
He instinctively rolled across the ground, desperate to dodge the strike.
But he was already wounded, and his reaction was half a beat too slow.
The tip of the blade carved through his neck.
A severed head flew into the air, and blood erupted from the headless stump like a fountain, dyeing a large patch of earth red.
Drip.
Drop.
Blood gathered at the tip of the blade, dripping onto the withered leaves with a chilling sound.
Jiang Han’s face was pale.
He silently gazed in the direction of Jiang Family Town, his eyes devoid of the slightest emotion.
“Jiang Xiaotian,” he murmured. “You forced my hand.”
“If you want to take away the most important thing in my life, then you will pay the price in blood.”
“Wait for your brother, Jiang Li!”
Jiang Han pursed his lips and murmured again, “Once I awaken three Bloodline Divine Abilities, I will return to Jiang Family Town and take you away.”
“When the time comes, whoever dares stand in my way—I will kill!”