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Gu Dun Di burned with shame. As Grand Elder of a Seventh-Grade cultivation sect, his lofty status commanded respect wherever he went. Yet, a woman two minor realms weaker had severed his arm a wound unhealable, likely due to the Heaven-Grade Purple Wood Sword's unique properties. Though her weapon gave her an edge, it did nothing to quell his raging fury.
Seeing Mu Zi Yin weakened, he showed no mercy. With ruthless intent, he channeled his full spiritual energy, slashing at her jade-like neck.
Facing the ferocious sword aura, Mu Zi Yin showed no fear, instead offering a gentle smile toward a certain direction.
Her gaze sparked doubt in Gu Dun Di's heart, but he pressed his attack with greater force.
Whoosh. Whoosh.
Two familiar sounds rang out. In a flash, Lan An scooped Mu Zi Yin into his arms, dodging the strike, leaving Gu Dun Di's blade to cleave empty air.
Stunned, Gu Dun Di's eyes bulged, his divine sense frantically scanning the surroundings. Gu Zheng's presence had vanished without a trace—not even a wisp remained.
"Where's Gu Zheng? What did you do to him?" Gu Dun Di roared, his face contorted.
Though focused on Mu Zi Yin, he had kept tabs on Gu Zheng's battle with his divine sense. But the searing pain of his severed arm had distracted him briefly, and in that fleeting moment, Gu Zheng had evaporated, as if erased from existence. Doubt and dread surged within him.
Lan An ignored the elder's bellows, his gaze fixed tenderly on the woman in his arms. Her silken hair was slightly disheveled, her rosy cheeks paled from spiritual exhaustion, her vibrant lips now faintly pink. Wiping the sweat from her brow, he leaned down, kissing her softly, transmitting, "Wife, once again, you make me proud."
Mu Zi Yin smiled weakly, whispering, "Take me into the Spirit Realm Pearl. I don't want to burden you."
Lan An nodded, grinning, "Let your husband pluck this old dog's fur to avenge you!" With that, he stored her in the Spirit Realm Pearl.
"Brat, who're you calling an old dog? Courting death?" Gu Dun Di glared venomously, no longer underestimating the youth.
"Old dog's asking who?" Lan An barked coldly.
"I'm asking you!" Gu Dun Di roared.
"Good boy, old dog!" Lan An nodded mockingly.
"You…" Gu Dun Di choked with rage, realizing he'd been played. Unable to endure, he bellowed, "Cloud-Splitting Slash!"
A colossal sword aura, like clouds parting before a storm, tore toward Lan An.
Facing a Late-Stage Spirit Transformation attack, Lan An grew serious. With a thought, a deep rumble echoed.
Boom.
A massive turtle materialized, shielding him. The sword aura slashed into the Wood Turtle's shell, as if striking an endless forest. Ripples spread across the shell, but it held firm against the devastating strike.
Lan An smiled, satisfied. The Wood Turtle's defense, bolstered by Devouring Heaven Wood absorbing eighty percent of the attack's power, was formidable.
"First a bear, now a turtle? Damn you!" Gu Dun Di's face twisted.
"Old dog, weren't you eager to seize my memories earlier?" Lan An taunted.
"Where's Gu Zheng? What did you do?" Gu Dun Di dodged the question, plotting Lan An's death.
"You'll find out soon," Lan An grinned eerily, sending a chill through Gu Dun Di.
"Hmph, playing tricks. Full Gale Slash!" Gu Dun Di vanished, a whirlwind slashing at the turtle.
Again, the Wood Turtle withstood the blow. Though slow and lacking offensive power, its defense was peerless, rendering Lan An nearly untouchable.
Realizing this, Gu Dun Di considered retreat. Wounded and bleeding, he needed to return to Qing Yun Sect for treatment and rally forces to raze Ping An City. He now suspected Lan An's group had killed Gu You and Gu Fei Hua. Hatred consumed him, craving Lan An's blood.
Not giving him a chance to regroup, Lan An clenched his fist, shouting, "Mother Earth's Funeral—Coffin of Dust!"
Countless earth spiritual energies enveloped Gu Dun Di, aiming to trap him in a sandy tomb.
"Hmph, child's play!" Gu Dun Di sneered, unleashing Full Gale Slash repeatedly. Sword aura and wind energy shattered the coffin, scattering earth energy.
"Worthy of Late-Stage Spirit Transformation. First time my Coffin of Dust failed," Lan An mused.
"Brat, hiding under that turtle, what can you do? Face me!" Gu Dun Di taunted.
"Haha, Ten Thousand Forest Heights!" Ignoring the provocation, Lan An formed seals. Wood spiritual energy sprouted a vast forest, aiming to engulf Gu Dun Di.
"Damn, what kind of freak is this? So many spiritual roots?" Gu Dun Di cursed.
"Full Gale Slash!" He struck again, but the forest eerily swallowed his sword aura.
Unwilling to yield, Gu Dun Di roared, "Upper Earth-Grade Art—Great Wind Tempest!"
His sword trembled violently, summoning wind spiritual energy into massive whirlwinds around him.
Hasagi!
With a strange cry, he swept his sword. The whirlwinds exploded outward, clashing with the forest.
Boom!
The collision rivaled a meteor strike. Tian Mu Sect's renowned Ten Thousand Forest Heights met Qing Yun Sect's Great Wind Tempest, both dissipating in a cataclysmic clash.
Though fought in a desolate sky, the battle's tremors drew distant onlookers, wary of approaching. This was why Lan An hadn't summoned the Fire Phoenix—its radiance could expose his Strange Fire, inviting greed. Donning the Proud Smile Mask, he weighed his options.
Gu Dun Di, weakened by blood loss, sought escape. "Little beast, wait! Qing Yun Sect will slaughter your kin!" Laughing maniacally, he fled with his movement art.
Lan An wouldn't let a tiger return to its den. Dissolving the Wood Turtle, he pursued with Phantom Charm Wander Step.
"Hmph, seeking death!" Gu Dun Di sneered. If Lan An stayed shielded, he'd be helpless, but now he'd kill the brat.
Turning, he slashed at Lan An.
Whoosh.
Lan An dodged.
Gu Dun Di fled.
Lan An chased.
Gu Dun Di struck again.
Whoosh.
Lan An evaded.
"Infuriating!" Gu Dun Di panted. Each counterattack was dodged with Lan An's uncanny movement art, yet pursuit persisted, clearly toying with him.
Behind the mask, Lan An knew this couldn't continue. Summoning the Big Dipper Bow, he aimed at the fleeing elder. The sky darkened, the Big Dipper constellation faintly shimmering behind him. A sharp green arrow, forged from Devouring Heaven Wood, formed on the string.
Gu Dun Di's hair stood on end. Glancing back, he nearly wet himself. The arrow shot forth.
"Wind Rider Leap!" Using Qing Yun Sect's signature movement, he rode the wind, dodging the first arrow.
"Such speed," Lan An noted, impressed. His first miss with the Big Dipper Bow.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Arrows rained, Lan An pursuing and firing. Gu Dun Di dodged desperately, unable to counter as Lan An evaded his strikes. Fleeing, he faced relentless archery, kited like a helpless target.
Finally, an arrow pierced his shoulder. He carved out the flesh to remove it, but two-tenths of his spiritual energy drained.
Paling, Gu Dun Di snarled, "You wield Strange Wood? I'll spread this across the continent, letting the greedy hunt you. You'll never know peace!"
Lan An's eyes chilled. Gu Dun Di recognizing Devouring Heaven Wood was a dire threat. If word spread, he'd face endless pursuit.
"Kill him at all costs!" Lan An stowed the Big Dipper Bow. Clasping his hands, the Blazing Star Cauldron, Earth Spirit Cauldron, and Mysterious Water Cauldron vibrated in his dantian. Fire, earth, and water spiritual energies converged.
Furious, Lan An prepared, "Heaven-Grade Art—"
"Brother, seems you're in trouble. Need help butchering that brat?" A voice interrupted, startling Lan An into dispersing his energy.
Beside the fleeing Gu Dun Di appeared a middle-aged man, hair, brows, and robes blood-red, exuding Early-Stage Spirit Transformation aura.
"Who are you? What's your game?" Gu Dun Di tensed, wary of the stranger's mysterious movement.
"I am Xue You, one of Blood Spirit Sect's Four Protectors," the man declared.
"Blood Spirit Sect?" Gu Dun Di's face shifted.
Behind his mask, Lan An's expression darkened, fists clenched.
"Indeed. This brat is our sect's target. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, no?" Xue You smiled courteously, pointing at Lan An.
Xue You was surprised. The Four Protectors had scoured South Continent for Lan An, finding only a trace at Ling Wu City's Beast Arena. Split up, Xue You patrolled the South-North border, drawn by battle sounds, stumbling upon his quarry.
"Khaha, if so, I'll gladly join you!" Gu Dun Di cackled, eager to kill Lan An at any cost.
"His loot, we split eight-two. I take eight, you two—after all, I must report to Blood Spirit Sect," Xue You stressed, implying their Eighth-Grade sect's dominance.
Gu Dun Di, though irked, forced a smile, nodding.
"Little beast, why not end yourself?" Xue You turned to Lan An, voice mild.
Whoosh.
A five-fingered handprint bloomed on Xue You's face.
Whoosh.
Lan An returned, rubbing his hand, savoring the slap. Speed Shift, though short-range, was invaluable, worthy of its Spirit-Grade status.
"You court death!" Xue You roared, face stinging, humiliated beyond measure.
Ignoring his fury, Lan An drew a robe from the Black Skull Ring. Pure white with crimson veins, its left shoulder bore a ferocious red ghost face, the right adorned with silver feathers—both eerie and chilling.
Donning the White Horse Battle Robe, Lan An seemed to emerge from a sea of blood and corpses, exuding oppressive dread. Gu Dun Di and Xue You felt their spirits wane, unable to pierce his aura, even with Mid-Stage Void Refinement divine sense.
This Middle Heaven-Grade robe suppressed enemy morale, concealed the wearer's aura, and paired with movement arts, rendered Lan An a ghostly enigma.
His eyes blazed with killing intent. Both men had to die.
SCREECH!
A noble cry shook the heavens. Massive wings of blazing flame unfurled, engulfing the sky. The Fire Phoenix soared, illuminating the night, startling hidden onlookers to their feet.
Lan An abandoned secrecy, unleashing the Fire Phoenix. With the Proud Smile Mask and White Horse Battle Robe, he'd kill both, ensuring no one traced him.
Today, he'd fight to his heart's content. Anyone who interfered would perish.