Xu Yimeng swallowed several Elixirs, and his complexion regained its rosy hue.
“Brother Hua, I’m about to make my move.”
“You remember…”
He didn’t finish his words. Fu Ruheng nodded and said, “I understand.”
Having received a clear answer, Xu Yimeng still felt an indescribable unease deep inside. He couldn’t shake the feeling that the other party’s words weren’t entirely reliable.
But for the sake of his pride, he had no choice but to try and believe.
This time, Xu Yimeng didn’t launch ice spikes. Instead, he channeled his spiritual power, causing it to condense beneath his feet. Soon, a crack of icy blue appeared, slithering like a water snake toward Fu Ruheng. The stones on the surface of the high platform were flung into the air by the “water snake,” scattering everywhere.
Fu Ruheng didn’t dodge. Instead, he took two steps forward.
His cloak loosened slightly, revealing a sharp jawline and thin, pink lips curled in a mocking smile.
Xu Yimeng’s thoughts wavered for a moment, feeling as though he had seen this half of a face somewhere before.
Before he could recall where he had seen it, Xu Yimeng was horrified to discover that his new technique had been dismantled without him even realizing it. Fu Ruheng had already strolled leisurely to stand right in front of him, with only two fists’ distance between them.
Up close, the impact of that half of a face was even more intense.
Xu Yimeng froze for a moment before finally remembering whose face it was.
It belonged to that little beggar.
Not only did the little beggar possess exceptional talent, but he also had an extraordinarily beautiful face.
Once seen, no one could ever forget it.
Xu Yimeng swallowed hard, his eyes filled with terror. “You… how could it be you?”
“Your Spiritual Root talent, your cultivation… it’s impossible…”
“This can’t be…”
Xu Yimeng stumbled backward as if he had seen a ghost.
He had personally witnessed his subordinates extract the little beggar’s Spiritual Root and had seen with his own eyes the beggar’s half-dead, scar-covered body. How could the other party have soared to such heights in just a month? Not only had he restored his Spiritual Root, but he had also achieved the Earth Realm?
Fu Ruheng adjusted his cloak, his slender fingers tightening slightly, his gaze cold and distant. “Young Master of the Bijan Sect, it’s been a while.”
Xu Yimeng had no mind for pleasantries with Fu Ruheng. His soul was practically scared out of his body. “Are… are you human or a ghost?”
Could it be that some ancient demon had possessed the little beggar’s body, used a secret method to restore his Spiritual Root, and now came seeking revenge?
Fu Ruheng moved his fingers slightly, and a long, ice-blue sword materialized in the air. Gripping the hilt, he slowly pressed the blade against Xu Yimeng’s neck.
“The one who will kill you.”
The chill of the ice sword pressed against his flesh. Xu Yimeng’s eyelashes and lips were coated with a faint layer of frost. His pupils trembled violently, and a foul, urine-like odor seeped from between his legs.
So it really was revenge.
He couldn’t defeat this little beggar!
Xu Yimeng’s face turned deathly pale. Knowing when to yield, he pleaded, “Brother… brother, I was wrong. Please don’t kill me.”
“It was all my subordinate’s idea. I never intended to take your Spiritual Root. I was forced…”
Fu Ruheng listened to his ramblings. “Are you done?”
Xu Yimeng instinctively nodded. Then, a sharp pain shot through his neck, and he saw the world turned upside down.
Next, he saw his own headless body.
He… had been killed?
Xu Yimeng wanted to say something more, but darkness engulfed his vision, and his life force was severed.
The once lively atmosphere froze. The disciples of the Bijan Sect were speechless.
Holy shit, in the blink of an eye, their senior brother Xu Yimeng was dead?
Xu Yimeng was the young sect master, the sect leader’s most beloved son.
This… this disciple must have gone mad!
The disciples of the Avoidance Sword Sect exchanged uneasy glances. While they didn’t care whether the young sect master lived or died, they feared that if the sect leader went berserk, he might slaughter them all!
“What should we do? He killed the young sect master. Should we join forces to capture him? That way, when the sect leader emerges from seclusion, he won’t take his anger out on us.”
“The young sect master was at Mystic Realm Fifth Layer and still got killed. Can we even handle this?”
“Why not? We have tens of thousands of disciples. Even a war of attrition could wear him down.”
“Sounds good. Let’s attack together and avenge the young sect master.”
After whispering among themselves, the disciples all agreed it would be better to kill Fu Ruheng.
Of course, if they could capture him alive, that would be preferable.
One by one, they began crowding toward the high platform.
Fu Ruheng gripped his ice sword, his cold gaze fixed on the despicable faces of these people. In a gentle voice, he whispered, “It might get a bit bloody. If you feel uncomfortable, don’t look.”
Ruan Ruoyin nudged the back of his hand to show she understood.
The soft touch lingered briefly before she withdrew her hand. Reassured, Fu Ruheng swung his sword to engage the enemy.
He hadn’t actually reached the Earth Realm yet; he had merely simulated it using a special technique to shatter Xu Yimeng’s confidence.
However, his cultivation at Mystic Realm Seventh Layer was more than enough to deal with these Avoidance Sword Sect disciples.
During this period, the sect leader and elders of the Avoidance Sword Sect were all in seclusion. The highest cultivation level in the sect was that of the young sect master, Xu Yimeng. With Xu Yimeng dead, the rest were nothing but small fry, hardly worth fearing.
Fu Ruheng moved swiftly, killing with a single strike.
Before the person in front had even fallen, the one behind him had already been beheaded.
The high platform was soon covered in mangled, bloodied corpses.
Some who had initially charged forward bravely grew fearful at the sight.
They began to slow their pace intentionally or unintentionally, squeezing through the crowd to retreat.
This person was too terrifying. On the surface, he only had Mystic Realm Third Layer cultivation, yet his combat power was even more absurd than Mystic Realm Ninth Layer.
Charging at him was nothing but a suicide mission.
“Everyone, stop attacking! We can’t defeat him. We’re just throwing our lives away.”
“Don’t talk nonsense. He’s just one person, only a bit more abundant in spiritual power. If we wear him down, he’ll soon run out of strength.”
“We have to attack. If we don’t capture him, we’ll still end up dead anyway.”
Hearing this, many of those who had retreated began to advance again.
Yes, even if they didn’t die at this man’s hands, they would still die at the sect leader’s. It was better to take a risk and try to kill him.
But to their dismay, no matter how many people attacked, Fu Ruheng showed no signs of exhaustion. Instead, he killed with increasing ease, taking down dozens with each step.
By the evening sunset, countless headless corpses lay piled together. Thick blood splattered everywhere, the stench of gore filling the air, so foul it made one tremble.
The ice sword made no sound as it sliced through flesh. Some noticed that Fu Ruheng, all by himself, had killed the vast majority of them.
They had tens of thousands of disciples…
The survivors were on the verge of tears.
What happened to the war of attrition? Why was the other side killing with such ease?
Even slaughtering chickens wasn’t this simple, was it?
“Let’s run. Stop throwing our lives away.”
“It’s better to die at the sect leader’s hands. This murderous demon is too monstrous.”
“Senior Brother Xu Yimeng is already dead. With our trash cultivation levels, we shouldn’t even be here.”
Some of them: “…”
That’s not what you said earlier!
You’re the ones who told them to get on, and you’re the ones who told them to run—what exactly do you want them to do!