“Hmph, an evil demon like you dares to spout nonsense in front of me? Today, I'll cut you down and rid the world of your evil, restoring peace."
Chen Fan flew like a bullet, and a force erupted from his palm, leaving the area trembling.
The terrifying and oppressive force reached Xue Chongtian, startling and surprising him.
“Ridding the evil? With just you?” Xue Chongtian scoffed, baring two rows of white teeth. He spat a large cloud of blood-colored poisonous gas, enveloping Chen Fan.
“Just a petty trick!”
Chen Fan smiled coldly.
You think you can render me helpless with just this scarlet, poisonous gas?
When the gas came in contact with the primeval force around Chen Fan, lightning sparks danced around him. Like a rat encountering a cat, the gas shrank back and dissipated.
Rumors spoke of great experts who had cultivated lightning cultivation techniques to such a high level that they could materialize electricity in their palms. Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled when they struck, their power making them seem like the god of thunder rampaging in the mortal world.
Chen Fan hadn't practiced any lightning-attributed technique, but his primeval force, mutated by a lightning strike, carried a hint of that power. While not powerful, it was still highly effective against Xue Chongtian’s petty tricks.
“Wind Demon Sword Light!”
Chen Fan unsheathed his sword, swinging it with primeval force enveloped in a cold sword light. This technique increased the attack’s power significantly, making it capable of splitting open mountains, cracking stones, cutting metal, and breaking jade.
“Blood Shadow Poison Dragon Drill!”
With a shake of his arm, Xue Chongtian turned his Blood Shadow Divine Whip into a bloody drill, boring through the air. Crackling and booming noises resounded in the secret room, shaking the space and shattering Chen Fan’s sword light.
“Wind Demon Cross Slash!”
Chen Fan slashed out twice, vertically and horizontally, forming a cross with the sword light. The two attacks clashed violently, and an explosion rang out immediately. The remnant qi stormed out violently and shook the space, booming noises ringing out endlessly.
“Bastard, you do have some tricks in your sleeves. Looks like you’re some elite genius disciple of some sect! But it’s too bad for you. You shouldn’t have come to my underground treasury to steal my loot.
“Today, no one will be able to save you. Only death lies ahead!”
Xue Chongtian forcefully revolved his cultivation, unleashing a potent oppressive force that confined the entire space. The wind howled, producing a mournful whistling noise.
“Blood Shadow Boundless Prison!”
He attacked violently, lashing the air with the long Blood Shadow Divine Whip. Blood shadows densely filled the space, resembling waves of blood roaring from all directions.
“Wind Demon Blood Rain!”
Chen Fan didn’t dare to be careless. He skillfully wielded his sword to establish an impenetrable defense.
Streaks of sword light shot out like wind blades, raining down on the blood shadows.
However, Xue Chongtian had unleashed his true strength.
The endless blood shadows continued pressing in, shattering the streaks of Wind Demon Sword Light. The blood shadows were squeezing towards Chen Fan, bit by bit.
“Sinful bastard, you should be proud to have forced me to show you my true strength. You’ve truly lived up to the word ‘genius.’ Unfortunately for you, I love killing geniuses. How is it? Are you regretting it now? Don’t you want to kneel and beg for my mercy? Hahaha, it’s useless. I’ll have your blood!” Xue Chongtian taunted, whipping the Blood Shadow Divine Whip repeatedly like lightning.
Crimson whip shadows flooded the space, occupying the entire secret room except for its center. Chen Fan moved his sword continuously, slashing out to create an impenetrable domain.
“You really speak too much nonsense. After trading blows with you, I have roughly understood your true capabilities. Frankly speaking, I am a bit disappointed. If this is all you have, you will die today,” said Chen Fan without emotions.
He slashed multiple times, switching between different moves of Nine Swords of Wind Demon. Even as the blood shadows tried invading repeatedly, they could not shake Chen Fan in the slightest.
Chen Fan seemed like a reef at the bottom of the sea, impervious to the wind and waves.
“Such shameless boasting. You sure are an arrogant fellow!” Chen Fan's words stirred fury in Xue Chongtian's eyes.
Undeterred by Chen Fan's disdain, Xue Chongtian shook, and blood-colored primeval force oozed from his pores and shot out.
“Blood Shadow Divine Whip, Myriad Shadows Returning as One, stab!”
The surging blood shadows gathered as one, merging with the Blood Shadow Divine Whip. A wild, blood-colored light illuminated the treasure room, turning it into a sea of blood.
With a flick of his wrist, Xue Chongtian's Blood Shadow Divine Whip straightened and tensed, resembling the sharpest and hardest metal, capable of piercing through space.
It shot toward Chen Fan with lightning speed, a devastating strike that obliterated everything in its path.
Chen Fan sensed an imminent crisis as his pupils shrunk. He roared, sheathed his sword, and grabbed at the air, condensing the Heavenly Piercing Spear.
He squeezed out all the strength in his muscles; with a jerk, he launched his spear.
The two's attacks clashed violently like an asteroid crashing into the earth. The resultant shockwave swept outward, leaving the secret room with cracks and on the verge of collapse. Several tons of rubble tumbled with a rumble.
“Break!” Chen Fan shouted again, making an unexpected move. The Heaven Piercing Spear surged forward with unstoppable momentum. The Blood Shadow Divine Whip crumbled inch by inch amidst explosions.
Xue Chongtian's eyes widened in disbelief as Chen Fan's spear shattered his strongest attack. Pinned down by the Heaven Piercing Spear, a relentless power pushed him upward.
The falling boulders broke apart under the rumbling.
With a whoosh, Xue Chongtian emerged from the underground secret room and appeared on the surface. A spear nailed him to the huge iron pillar in the imperial palace.
Chen Fan also emerged from underground, his aura surging powerfully as he looked at his enemy indifferently.
Nailed to the pillar, Xue Chongtian trembled. The terrifying force transmitted through the spear had shattered his internal organs, and his primeval vessel was suppressed.
Xue Chongtian felt true fear.
“Xue Chongtian, you probably never expected to be—”
Chen Fan was interrupted by a roar that abruptly came from outside the palace.
“Xue Chongtian, I, Chu Tiange, have come to take your head!”
The resounding voice shook the imperial palace, and the dome flew off with a slash.
Chu Tiange descended, stepping through the air with a sword in hand, surrounded by an overwhelming sword intent that swept out, his aura unparalleled.
Chen Fan looked over, and his eyes narrowed. A chilling intent erupted from him, and he said coldly, “Chu Tiange, you came too late!”