Central Plains, southern Ji State—a desperate chase was unfolding at this very mont.
An old man and a young girl fled in haste, their faces filled with anxiety and haste.
The old man appeared to be seventy or eighty years old, with disheveled white hair and deeply etched wrinkles. Blood still oozed from a wound on his forehead, and his gray robe was tattered, exposing blood-soaked injuries beneath.
His wounds were grave, bleeding constantly. His aura grew weaker and weaker, even his gaze began to grow dull, as if he might faint any mont from blood loss.
Yet he pressed on desperately by force of will alone. His right hand gripped a broken sword—only half a blade remained, and it was but a low grade Dao Artifact, hardly precious.
And in his left hand, the old man held a girl of fourteen or fifteen years old.
The girl’s hair was like a waterfall of black silk; her skin, pure as cream; lips like cherries. She radiated a gentle, elegant poise.
Her delicate body, wrapped in azure garnts, already revealed the contours of feminine grace.
Truly, a natural-born beauty in her youth!
The old man had protected her well; aside from a few stains of his own blood, she bore no injury, but her strength was too weak—only at the Divine Sea Realm—utterly unable to offer him any aid.
"Grandfather, put down! I’ll serve as a decoy—you can surely escape with your strength!"
Though young, the girl had matured early from life’s hardships. She spoke through her tears, hoping her grandfather would abandon her.
With grandfather’s Divine Skills Realm cultivation, without being burdened by her, he was sure to escape the pursuers behind them.
She was orphaned of both parents, depended on her grandfather alone. She could not bear for him to die for her sake.
"Qingyue, don’t speak nonsense. Even if I die, I will never abandon you!"
The old man clenched his teeth, holding Qingyue’s hand more steadily than he did his sword; even if he sacrificed everything, he would never forsake his granddaughter.
"Such touching affection. In that case, you can die together!"
A cold, arrogant voice rang out. A figure flashed forth, quickly bearing down upon them.
The pursuer was alone, but he was a Divine Skills Fourth Layer powerhouse—far superior to the old man’s First Layer cultivation.
Were it not for the old man’s several desperate stands, this man would have overtaken them long ago and slaughtered them with ease.
A man with narrow, sinister eyes, donned in black and red robes, with a vivid fire crow embroidered at his chest.
This signified he ca from the Fire Crow Sect!
The Fire Crow Sect, a third-rate force in southern Ji State, whose chief was only at the Heavenly King Realm. Yet to Qingyue and her grandfather, it was insurmountable.
This man was but an elder of the Fire Crow Sect, yet he could drive the pair to such desperate straits—the disparity between them needed no words.
"Qingyue, run!"
Upon seeing the man, the old man’s countenance grew ashen. His foe’s strength was overwhelming, and after so many desperate battles, he himself was gravely injured—even giving his all again would be futile now.
Rather than dying exhausted, it was better to use what strength remained to fight the man, striving to buy Qingyue a shred of hope.
Whoosh!
The old man suddenly mustered his strength and flung Qingyue far away.
"Grandfather!"
Qingyue’s beautiful eyes widened. She reached out jade-like hands trying to grasp her grandfather, but she was too weak to resist, hurled a kiloter away by his throw.
"Li Mingliang, you think she can escape? The sect master’s orders are clear: both of you must die. Since you want to go first, I’ll oblige you!"
The man sneered coldly, not at all worried Qingyue could flee. Her strength was too feeble—without Li Mingliang’s protection, killing her would be effortless.
"Hmph! We fled all the way here and you still hound us without reprieve. If that’s how it is—then kill . Even if I die, I will never take a step back!"
Li Mingliang wiped bloody froth from his lips, eyes sharp as he stared down the man. He gripped his broken sword tight. Though gravely wounded, hovering at death’s door, he still exuded the biting edge of a drawn blade.
He was a sword cultivator—brilliant with an unyielding edge; even in death, he would never flinch.
"A cooked duck, but the mouth is still tough!"
The man scoffed, showing no fear. In his hand appeared a Crimson Fla Fire Saber—a low grade Dao Artifact, within which Crimson Fla Dao Rhy surged, its might not to be underestimated.
"Earth Rank Low Level Martial Technique: Fire Crow Sky-Slashing Art!"
The man gripped his Crimson Fla Fire Saber, spiritual energy surging through him as he activated the Fire Crow Sect’s cultivation technique and slashed down with a single blow.
Shhk!
Scorching flas roared into being, drawn forth by the Crimson Fla Fire Saber, and slashed toward Li Mingliang. The flas boiled in midair, transforming into a giant fire crow, ford purely of saber radiance—fierce with both the searing heat of fla and the razor edge of the blade.
With one slash the air rippled and twisted; fire crow rampaged, slashing at Li Mingliang.
Li Mingliang’s face darkened. He gripped his broken sword tight, spiritual energy surging within, activating a unique cultivation technique.
"Spring Thunder Sword Technique!"
A fierce sword intent burst from the broken sword. In a flash, thunder cracked on a clear day as if spring’s thunder rolled—blinding white sword radiance shot forth to clash with the fire crow’s saber radiance.
Though Li Mingliang’s strength fell short of his enemy, his swordsmanship was profound. Spring thunder sword radiance collided with fire crow’s saber radiance—a deafening explosion erupted, energy waves exploding madly.
Guh!
Though his swordsmanship was superb, Li Mingliang was far too injured. Unable to withstand the energy backlash, he spat a mouthful of blood and staggered backward.
"Perfect chance!"
The man was unhurt. Seeing Li Mingliang coughing blood and reeling, he instantly used a secret technique, leaping through the air to appear right before Li Mingliang.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
They traded blows again—clashing fiercely. But in the end, Li Mingliang was no match; his broken sword flew from his hand as he crashed to the ground, blood laced with fragnts of viscera pouring from his lips. He tried to stand, but could not—his combat power was spent entirely.
"I’ll kill you!"
Just as the man was about to finish off Li Mingliang, Li Qingyue rushed back, gripping a slender blue sword, slashing at him.
Though uninjured, her strength was only at the Divine Sea Realm—her gap with the man too vast.
"Overestimating your abilities!"
The man waved his hand—a blaze of fire struck Li Qingyue, sending her flying with blood spurting from her mouth as she fell, gravely wounded.
"Qingyue, run!"
Li Mingliang was frantic with worry—he couldn’t bear to see his granddaughter perish here.
"Grandfather, I won’t go! If I must die, I’ll die with you!"
Tears welled in Li Qingyue’s eyes; she refused to leave her grandfather, her only family!
"Enough! No more nonsense. I’ll send you both on your way!"
The man laughed triumphantly, then raised his Crimson Fla Fire Saber, slashing down without hesitation—a blow aid at both Li Mingliang and Li Qingyue. In their wounded states, death was certain.
Facing that slash, Li Mingliang’s face turned ashen, despair flooding his heart.
Yet at that very mont—space itself twisted, the flaming saber radiance was devoured and vanished, and a figure rolled forth from within.
It was Su Han!
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