The old man in green stood suspended in the sky, his vast Dou Qi wings slowly flapping, causing the surrounding air to ripple like waves. His face was dark, and between his eyebrows, there was a sinister aura. His figure was somewhat petite, but the hands that were exposed outside his sleeves were exceptionally large, with surprisingly long fingers. Under the sunlight, his nails gleamed coldly like blades. With the appearance of this old man in green, the expressions on both sides changed. The two Dou Wang strongmen from the Demon Flame Valley quickly retreated and knelt on one knee, respectfully shouting, “Welcome, Fourth Elder!” Wu Hao’s expression became grave as he gazed at the old man in green in the sky, but his heart sank slowly. He was quite familiar with this elder. The Fourth Elder of the Demon Flame Valley, named Xie Zhen, was known in the Black-Corner Region as the Eagle Claw Elder, with a strength estimated to be around the Sixth Star Battle Emperor. His fierce close combat skills were well-known, especially his fearsome claw techniques, which made many tremble in fear. Over the years, in the confrontation between the Xiao Gate and the Demon Flame Valley, many Xiao Gate strongmen had fallen under his hand. Those like Xiao Yu and others, who had evidently heard of him, also paled at the sight. In the sky, the old man in green flapped his Dou Qi wings and gradually descended, finally landing on a steep rock, looking down at Wu Hao and others who were resisting stubbornly. Then, he turned to the two Dou Wangs and said indifferently, “Two Dou Wangs, yet you can’t even take care of a junior.” Hearing these words, the two Dou Wangs shuddered and hurriedly explained, “Fourth Elder, although Wu Hao’s strength is similar to ours and defeating him shouldn’t be too difficult, for safety’s sake, we called for the Fourth Elder. We hope you will forgive us for the disturbance.” “Tsk, what do you mean it isn’t hard? Wu Hao’s cultivation technique and combat skill are superior to yours. Together with his infamous all-out attack, even if both of you fight together, it will still be difficult to defeat him without paying a certain price. It seems you genuinely feared that you couldn’t handle him, hence you called me here,” Xie Zhen sneered, revealing their thoughts. Caught in the act, the two Battle Emperors blushed in embarrassment and dared not respond. Seeing their embarrassed faces, Xie Zhen huffed and lost interest in dealing with these cowards. He turned his gaze to Wu Hao and the others in the valley, smiled faintly, and said, “To have reached such a level at this age, indeed, it’s not simple. The aptitude of the students from the Gan Nan Academy is truly enviable. If not for the fact that most graduates leave afterward, this force would likely cause unrest throughout the Black-Corner Region.”
Wu Hao’s face tightened, his hand gripping the heavy blood sword. He said in a deep voice, “Xie Zhen, you are a well-known strongman in the Black-Corner Region. To come and personally attack a group of juniors disregarding your status, won’t this invite much ridicule?”
“Ha ha, young man, this is the Black-Corner Region, not some other place. Here, the victor has the most authority… There are no such taboos regarding juniors and seniors here,” Xie Zhen shook his head and said disdainfully.
“Alright, I won’t waste time with you. Will you surrender today or continue to resist?” Xie Zhen waved his hand impatiently and said indifferently.
“The Gan Nan Academy has no one who surrenders!” Feeling the rising killing intent in Xie Zhen’s words, Wu Hao’s body tensed, and he declared in a deep voice. Behind him, the Gan Nan students clenched their teeth, standing steadfast. They weren’t fools; they knew well that even if they surrendered, their fate would be no better. Hence, they preferred to fight to the death.
“Ha ha, the Gan Nan Academy’s people are indeed tough, but… it’s just self-inflicted hardship!” Xie Zhen’s eyes turned cold, and he laughed sinisterly. Suddenly, he stomped his foot, and his figure fluttered down, appearing before Wu Hao and the others.
“They say Wu Hao, the Blood Sword, will throw away his life in battle. Today, I will test how far you can go.” As Xie Zhen walked towards Wu Hao, he coldly shouted, “Lock the valley entrance. If anyone escapes, you answer with your life!”
Hearing Xie Zhen’s cold command, the black-clothed figures of the Demon Flame Valley hastily responded, then slowly moved back, blocking the valley entrance in a semicircle.
Seeing the evident intent to kill, Wu Hao’s heart sank completely. His bloodshot eyes locked onto Xie Zhen, who was approaching. Holding the blood sword tightly, he suddenly roared, stomped the ground, and shot out. The blood sword flew straight toward Xie Zhen’s heart.
Seeing Wu Hao’s offensive, Xie Zhen’s lips curled in disdain. As the sword approached within two feet, his wide palm suddenly bent, then extended like an eagle’s claw, and finally clamped down, freezing the powerful surge of the blood sword.
The sudden halt of the blood sword made Wu Hao’s face change slightly. He gritted his teeth and tugged hard, but Xie Zhen’s withered fingers held the sword immobile like a vise.
“Such power, and you dare to be arrogant in front of me?” Xie Zhen sneered, seeing Wu Hao’s struggle. Suddenly, he flicked his finger, striking the sword with a burst of overwhelming force!
*Clang!*
With a metallic clang, Wu Hao was forced backward, leaving a long trail on the ground. His hand shaking, a trickle of blood oozed down, dripping from the blood sword.
“Elder Wu!” Seeing Wu Hao retreat, the young men and women behind him cried out anxiously.
“Are you alright?” Xiao Yu placed a hand on Wu Hao’s back, dispersing the force, and asked worriedly. Wu Hao was their strongest fighter, and if he were incapacitated, they would have no resistance left.
“I’m fine!” Wu Hao set his teeth and straightened up, his gaze fixated on Xie Zhen’s composed face. After a moment, he took a deep breath, and his face turned a deep crimson.
*Pfft!*
A mouthful of fresh red blood spewed out, turning into a blood mist that enveloped him. As the mist wrapped around him, a dark, ruddy glow erupted from his body.
With the surge of the blood glow, Wu Hao’s Dou Qi surged, and his figure transformed into a blood-colored shadow, rushing out again!
“Huh? You do have some small tricks, but against true strength, they are useless!” Feeling the sharp increase in Wu Hao’s aura, Xie Zhen was mildly surprised. He sneered, and his hand curved, a dense white Dou Qi emerging in his palm, swirling around the razor-sharp fingertips, emitting a cold light.
The blood-colored shadow swiftly approached, raising the heavy sword high, and a surge of blood-colored Dou Qi followed. It aimed to cleave Xie Zhen’s head with the force of a mountain breaker.
Xie Zhen coldly watched the descending sword. His white, cold hand lashed out, moving in a strange pattern, each strike weakening the thick blood-colored Dou Qi on the sword. In a few seconds, the powerful Dou Qi on the blood sword was completely dispersed.
“Let me show you what true Battle Emperor power is!” Xie Zhen sneered, then forcefully grabbed the sword, wrenching it from Wu Hao’s grasp and throwing it into a cliff face.
*Bam!*
As the sword left Wu Hao’s hand, Xie Zhen lunged forward, his hand tracing a strange path, and brutally slammed into Wu Hao’s chest.
*Pfft!*
Wu Hao spat out a mouthful of blood, his body flying backwards and stopping after skidding for several meters.
Seeing Wu Hao struck again, Xiao Yu and the others cried out in alarm. The mentors rushed out, but before they could reach Wu Hao, they were hit by powerful gusts and forced back, spitting blood.
For a moment, no one dared to approach.
Xie Zhen looked coldly at Wu Hao, struggling to stand, his lips curling in disdain. He stepped forward, walking towards the seriously injured Wu Hao.
Xiao Yu and the others, who wanted to stop him, were helpless. Their strength was far below Xie Zhen’s, and he could easily keep them at a distance.
Under the stunned gazes, Xie Zhen stopped before Wu Hao, his menacing eyes looking down and saying coldly, “Boy, if you were given a few more years, you might surpass me. But, alas, geniuses always die young!”
His hand shot out, and a suction force pulled the blood sword back, clutching it in his grip.
“Dying by your own weapon, I wonder if it’s a disgrace?” Xie Zhen casually waved the sword, smirked, and his gaze chilled. He stabbed the sword towards Wu Hao’s head. Seeing this, Xiao Yu and the others’ faces paled, and some girls screamed.
The blood sword rapidly grew larger in Wu Hao’s eyes. At this moment, he could only await death, having no other option…
*Swish!*
Amidst the shocked gazes, as the sword was about to strike, a sudden whistling sound echoed through the sky. A black blur shot across like lightning, smashing into the blood sword with incredible precision!
*Clang!*
A clear sound reverberated, and a huge black object landed in the ground, the blood sword driven into the earth. Dust rose from the impact, and everyone was dumbfounded. Wu Hao slowly opened his eyes, staring in shock at the massive black ruler in front of him. Recognizing it, a wave of wild joy washed over his face.
“Xiao Yan? Is that you?”
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