At the moment when Nan Gongqianliu’s momentum reached its peak, the two figures had already crossed paths…
Nan Gongqianliu originally thought that even if he couldn’t defeat Xiao Yufan, he could at least escape. However, after witnessing Xiao Yufan’s terrifying speed, his heart sank.
“Do you really think you have a chance to defeat me?” Xiao Yufan sneered coldly. Naturally, he was fully aware of Nan Gongqianliu’s strength. Although both were at the凝劲 stage, there was still a significant gap between them—one sufficient to ensure Xiao Yufan’s invincibility.
“We’ll see. If you want my arm, you’ll have to prove you have the strength to take it!”
Nan Gongqianliu knew further words were useless. Xiao Yufan had made up his mind to exact a price, and wouldn’t stop easily. Realizing this, a glint of madness flickered in Nan Gongqianliu’s eyes.
Bang…
The first clash happened in an instant. Nan Gongqianliu’s figure had already been sent flying backward, his face turning pale.
“The husband’s inner energy seems quite extraordinary!” Huangpu Xian’er observed with sparkling eyes. She could now be considered a half-step Qi-condensation expert; defeating Nan Gongqianliu in a single strike wasn’t unreasonable. Yet Xiao Yufan had done so effortlessly, demonstrating the immense power of his inner energy.
“This is impossible! I used all my strength, so why can’t I even withstand a single blow from you!”
Nan Gongqianliu was horrified, a cold sweat breaking out on his back. He had poured out nearly all his strength, but the result was still unacceptable. This man’s aura wasn’t significantly stronger than his own, yet the impact of their clash was overwhelming.
“Because your strength is simply too weak!”
Feeling the ripple of the Dragon-Taming True Art within him, Xiao Yufan curled his lips into a contemptuous smile. His words sounded arrogant, sending a tremor through the Dark Sect’s experts. Only someone as formidable as the Young Master could treat凝劲-level experts with such disdain.
“I’ll show you just how strong I am!” Nan Gongqianliu refused to believe Xiao Yufan was that much stronger. He charged again, channeling his inner energy as power surged into his palms.
Changing from palm to fist, he swung downward toward Xiao Yufan’s chest—the most vulnerable spot on the body. Nan Gongqianliu could already envision Xiao Yufan grievously wounded…
“Fool!”
Another cold taunt rang out. Before Nan Gongqianliu could react, a sharp pain shot through his right arm, spreading until his face twisted in agony.
“I’ll kill you!” The excruciating pain made Nan Gongqianliu’s voice hoarse. His eyes turned blood-red, and a chilling, murderous intent radiated from him, causing even those newly arrived at the凝气 stage to shiver with fear.
“If you want to kill me, let’s see if you have the ability!”
Xiao Yufan’s inner energy had nearly shattered Nan Gongqianliu’s right arm. His expression hardened—this man had already developed murderous intent, and he had no intention of leaving such a threat alive. If someone with such extraordinary talent could be cultivated, the force behind him must be formidable. Letting him go might bring even greater trouble later.
Xiao Yufan was not afraid of trouble, but he had to consider his woman. If his enemies targeted her, he might not be able to protect her…
“If your skills fall short of others’, don’t try to force it. A true man knows when to yield and when to stand firm!”
For some inexplicable reason, Xiao Yufan suddenly sensed something strange. Nan Gongqianliu’s aura was rapidly rising and finally stabilized at the peak of Ning Jin. There was even a faint indication of breaking through to the Ning Gong stage. At that moment, a figure appeared before him.
One hand rested on Nan Gongqianliu’s head while the other moved suddenly. Xiao Yufan felt his inner energy tremble, nearly dispersing entirely.
“This person’s strength is incredible—surely at least at the Later Heaven Stage. Why are there suddenly so many powerful experts?”
Shocked, Xiao Yufan’s pupils sharply constricted. He could sense the middle-aged man’s aura—it was certainly no weaker than the Later Heaven Stage. As the man took action, the blood-red fury in Nan Gongqianliu’s eyes gradually dissipated, and his strength reverted to the mid-level Coalescing Energy stage.
“Father!” Nan Gongqianliu’s face lit up as he recognized the familiar figure. He hadn’t expected his father to show up unexpectedly. Otherwise, if he had employed secret techniques to elevate his strength to the point of凝聚, even defeating Xiao Yufan would have left him severely crippled.
“Hmph! Do you still dare call me father? If you become a cripple so easily, what good was raising you for!”
The middle-aged man looked at Nan Gongqianliu with a mix of disappointment and frustration. His son’s talent was decent, but he had never been serious about cultivation. Otherwise, with his potential, he wouldn’t be far behind those terrifying prodigies.
“Father, I’m already a cripple now. My right arm is ruined. My strength will likely never improve much again!”
Nan Gongqianliu bit his lip, blood trickling out. Thinking about his ruined right arm, a cold and sinister aura radiated from him.
“Who says losing your right arm means your strength can’t improve? As long as you have the will, you can still reach a higher level!”
Though the middle-aged man scolded him, his eyes carried a hint of tenderness. After all, this was his only son. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have secretly protected him all along.
The two conversed slowly, as if no one else existed around them. Xiao Yufan frowned but did not attack, knowing that even if he did, he couldn’t gain any advantage against the middle-aged man. It seemed that his mastery of the “凝劲” technique was still far from sufficient.
“Dark Sect’s Young Master, your strength is indeed extraordinary. However, your heart is too ruthless. Don’t think you’re invincible. There’s always someone stronger. Many possess great talent, but many also fall before reaching their full potential.”
After a long silence, the middle-aged man turned to Xiao Yufan, his expression emotionless. If Xiao Yufan had no background, he would have already killed him on the spot. However, since he was the Young Master of the Heaven Alliance, taking action would provoke the entire Heaven Alliance’s wrath.
“Thank you for the warning, but it’s unnecessary. Since I’ve done what I must, you may take this useless fellow away…”
Eyes narrowing slightly, Xiao Yufan’s expression remained unyielding. His only regret was failing to kill Nan Gongqianliu, letting a future threat escape. He clearly noticed the middle-aged man’s wary gaze—evidently, he feared the Heaven Alliance…
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