Zeng Han reacted quickly. The moment he sensed something was wrong, he immediately flew off, escaping without a care for the lives of his fellow disciples.
In his mind, only by preserving his own life could he even consider anything else.
The path of cultivation is one where it’s either you die or I survive.
Zhang Yan’s sword escape moved as fast as lightning. If he were even slightly slower, he’d perish under the sword. Those fellow disciples left behind might even buy him a moment of delay.
Once he returned to the sea boat, protected by the prohibition arrays, he naturally wouldn’t need to worry about Zhang Yan causing him trouble anymore.
Since he had acted so decisively, by the time Zhang Yan had killed Shen Minggu and circled back to seek him out, Zeng Han was already less than a hundred zhang away from the Mysterious Snake Nine-orifice Sea Boat.
Seeing he would reach the sea boat in just a few moments, Zeng Han couldn’t help but reveal a look of delight.
Hatred swirled in his heart as he thought, "That Zhang Yan is utterly ruthless; so many fellow Daoist brothers have died at his hands. I may not be his match today, but once I return to the sect and solidify my Pill, I’ll seek to reclaim the dignity lost today."
And yet, at this very moment, a streak of golden light seemed to descend from the heavens, directly barring his path.
Zhang Yan stood atop clouds of smoke, his face carrying a faint smile, but his deep eyes seemed like bottomless chasms, cold as ice.
Zeng Han felt a chill rise from his spine, as if he had fallen into an icy cavern. Yet he knew well that now was not the time to flee in panic—such action would only hasten his death.
With a loud shout, he summoned twenty-eight Yin Light Flying Needles into the air, channeling all his Spiritual Energy to propel them like a swarm of locusts toward Zhang Yan.
Zhang Yan smirked and, without any visible movement, a plume of smoke rose before him. It was a strand of Evil Qi extracted from his Golden Core, imbued with the Power of Elixir Evil. The flying needles struck it, and most were deflected to the side.
Even the occasional needle that pierced through the Evil Qi had lost its momentum, hitting Zhang Yan’s forehead with metallic clangs that sent golden sparks flying. Yet Zhang Yan seemed entirely unfazed, not leaving so much as a scratch.
Zeng Han was utterly shocked, his eyes filled with terror.
Zhang Yan strode forward leisurely, casually waving his hand. A surge of golden mist rolled toward Zeng Han like a great tide.
Zeng Han felt his scalp tingle and leapt back in retreat, hurriedly throwing the Lingzhi he held into the air.
This Lingzhi, nurtured from a branch of a Spirit Vein growing on Taihao Mountain, naturally possessed spiritual nature and required no refining. It unfurled its cap and shielded the front, momentarily blocking the fiery golden mist.
But Zeng Han knew this was only a temporary measure. Even if it could block one or two attacks, how could it possibly withstand three or four?
Seeing that he had no chance to reach the sea boat, cold sweat streamed down his forehead.
Yet he was, after all, a cultivator of a hundred years. Unlike Shen Minggu, he didn’t lose his composure. With just a flicker of thought, a flash of inspiration struck, and he devised an escape plan.
Never mind why Zhang Yan’s cultivation had surged so suddenly—even at Zhang Yan’s original sword escape speed, Zeng Han knew he could never outrun him on the open sea.
There was only one place left to go!
Pulling an Ink Jade Talisman from his sleeve bag, Zeng Han saw its surface patterned with waves. It was the Hailing Golden Fish Talisman given to him by Daoist Qiu, capable of summoning the essence of aquatic spirits to ferry him across the sea and rivers.
He tossed the talisman into the seawater. Almost immediately, Spiritual Light shimmered beneath the waves, and a colorful koi, about a zhang long, leapt from the sea. Opening its mouth, it swallowed Zeng Han whole, then flicked its tail, diving swiftly into the depths.
Seeing this, Zhang Yan’s face showed a mocking smile. He said, "A ghost seeking refuge under the pot—still struggling like a cornered beast?"
He shouted, made a gesture to conjure a spell, and the "Three Elements Mixed Water Banner" flew into his grasp. With a shake, the sounds of turbulent waves intensified, white foam churned, and a massive vortex—a swirling abyss of unknown depth—formed on the sea.
The colorful koi, which had been swimming freely in the waters, was abruptly caught in the whirlpool’s chaotic currents. Being an essence-form creature, it was utterly incapable of resisting. After struggling for just a moment, it dissipated into nothingness.
With the koi gone, Zeng Han’s figure could no longer remain hidden and was exposed under the daylight once more.
Realizing that even fleeing underwater couldn’t grant him escape from Zhang Yan, Zeng Han sank into despair. With a desperate cry, mystical light burst from his acupoints as he prepared for a last stand. Yet Zhang Yan gave him no such chance. Raising his hand, he unleashed a burst of golden wave smoke that struck directly at Zeng Han’s crown.
With a thunderous explosion, Zeng Han’s skull shattered, his brain matter splattering. He fell dead on the spot.