Chapter Twenty-Five: So What If It Is

“A mid-phase third-class shikigami… this is going to be troublesome…” Liu Ye’s brows knitted tightly. He hadn’t expected that this youth’s cultivation had already reached the Sancai Realm!

“Attack!” Ye Zihan wasted no time letting Liu Ye recover from his shock. With a crisp command, he directed the Arm-Span Monkey to charge forward!

Though both were summoned beasts, the outcome of a duel between a mid-phase third-class and an early-phase third-rank was a foregone conclusion. The instant they clashed, the difference was clear. In just moments, the Black Cloud Tiger had already been driven to a disadvantage.

Seeing that the situation was turning against him, Liu Ye’s face grew even gloomier. If he truly couldn’t win, he would have no choice but to call for his elder brother.

A thunderous crash rang out. Still racking his brain for a countermeasure, Liu Ye was startled out of his thoughts and looked up in alarm, only to see his own Black Cloud Tiger struck by the Arm-Span Monkey’s swinging fist. The beast was sent hurtling through the air, crashing heavily onto the stone steps before the hall!

Debris flew, cracks snaked across the stone, and the Black Cloud Tiger lay dying, utterly spent.

“Hand over Lin Zhen’s wife, or don’t blame me for being ruthless.” Without his summoned beast, a summoner was like a tiger stripped of its fangs and claws—utterly powerless, posing no threat whatsoever to Ye Zihan. Having delivered his warning to Liu Ye, Ye Zihan turned his gaze toward the depths of the hall, saying, “And you in the hall—if you find this scene displeasing, feel free to step forward.”

“Oh? With only early Sancai cultivation, you can sense my presence? Impressive perception.” Not long after Ye Zihan’s words faded, a deep, resonant voice sounded from within, and a man in black robes, around fifty years of age, strode out.

“Big Brother!” Seeing the black-robed man, Liu Ye clung to him like a drowning man to a lifeline. With his elder brother Liu Xiong’s cultivation, dealing with Ye Zihan should be effortless!

Yet Liu Xiong shot Liu Ye a glare. He knew full well that most of the trouble coming to the Liu family’s door was due to Liu Ye’s lust and mischief outside, but as the head of the Liu family, Liu Xiong was fiercely protective. Even knowing Liu Ye was at fault, he still offered him shelter. As someone at the late Sancai stage, he had the standing to do so.

“You’re young, but your tone is bold,” Liu Xiong observed Ye Zihan. “However, with mere early Sancai strength, I’m afraid you’re not quite up to the task.”

“My words are bold, but my abilities are greater. As for whether I’m enough, why don’t you try and see?” Ye Zihan replied coolly.

“How arrogant! If I don’t teach you a lesson, you’ll truly believe my Liu family is powerless!” Liu Xiong’s voice boomed like thunder. With a flick of his finger, he shot out three blasts of force, aimed straight at Ye Zihan’s face!

“The Liu family isn’t powerless, but it’s certainly shameless.” Ye Zihan’s feet tapped the ground a dozen times, his figure flitting like a phantom, dodging left and right to evade the attacks. He sneered as he spoke.

Liu Xiong snorted coldly, wasting no words. In a flash, he appeared behind Ye Zihan, palm raised, chopping toward Ye Zihan’s neck!

The wind whistled as the strike fell, but Ye Zihan ducked low, dodging the blow. With a forceful pivot, he spun to face Liu Xiong and threw a punch!

Liu Xiong twisted aside, his arm bent into an elbow, driving it straight toward Ye Zihan!

Ye Zihan reacted with lightning speed, flipping backward in a series of somersaults, retreating several yards in an instant.

The two drew apart, neither eager to resume the fight immediately, as if both were waiting for the perfect moment.

Liu Xiong narrowed his eyes thoughtfully at Ye Zihan. Though the youth’s attack power was inferior, his reflexes seemed to surpass what was expected at early Sancai. More puzzling still, though clearly a summoner, his close-combat skills were impressive.

Ye Zihan was equally astonished. A late Sancai Shadow Dancer was indeed formidable—not only swift but powerfully aggressive. Though he had recently subdued a late third-rank Bone Leopard, compared to Liu Xiong, the leopard’s strength might be a touch higher, but its intelligence was far lower. Besides, when he subdued the Bone Leopard, all his Five Elements had been unlocked.

Now, facing Liu Xiong at late-third rank, Ye Zihan was confident: if he unlocked all Five Elements, he could take him down. Still, it was wise to keep a reserve; he didn’t intend to reveal his full strength here.

After a moment’s thought, Ye Zihan made up his mind. With a flick of his wrist, a dark red dagger appeared in his hand from who knows where. He toyed with it, channeling the power of fire.

The instant the dagger flashed forth, Liu Xiong’s pupils contracted sharply. Ye Zihan’s handling of the blade was skillful to the extreme—not the work of a novice. Combined with his close-quarters prowess, Liu Xiong began to suspect. “A Shadow Dancer?”

Ye Zihan gave no reply. With a flourish of dagger blossoms, he charged at Liu Xiong!

“Overestimating yourself!” Liu Xiong’s lips twitched. This youth was outrageously arrogant! Even if he practiced both summoning and shadow arts, a gap of two full stages meant he was no match!

“Eagle Talon Rend!”

As Ye Zihan closed in, Liu Xiong bellowed, his ten fingers curved into talons, elemental energy pooling at his tips. Like a raptor swooping for prey, he launched a furious assault!

Ye Zihan didn’t flinch. The dagger slashed out to meet the attack head-on. With my blood-grade Red Lotus Dagger, would I fear to wound you?

Just as Ye Zihan hoped Liu Xiong would suffer a hidden loss, Liu Xiong proved cautious. His attacks were cunningly angled, targeting eyes, throat, and other vital points, yet never clashing directly with the Red Lotus Dagger!

The dagger flashed dazzlingly as Ye Zihan protected his vitals, seeking a direct exchange. Dozens of rounds later, he hadn’t so much as grazed Liu Xiong’s finger, while Liu Xiong’s elemental aura had already landed a few minor injuries on him.

“This won’t work.” Sensing the disadvantage, Ye Zihan feinted with the dagger and quickly retreated, opening up some distance. His hands formed seals in rapid succession. “Windbreaker Slash!”

Raising the dagger high, Ye Zihan brought it down with force. As the blade traced a mysterious arc, a blast of fierce, baleful wind howled toward Liu Xiong!

Compared to when he’d used this technique against the Flame Lion months ago, Ye Zihan’s Windbreaker Slash was much stronger now—he could even unleash the baleful wind apart from his weapon!

“A paltry trick!” Sensing the energy of the baleful wind, Liu Xiong judged it to be merely mid-level in the dark grade—no threat to him. Still, he didn’t take it lightly. With a gesture, he summoned his famed weapon—the Mountain-Splitting Axe. He lifted it high, and as the wind approached, he brought it down in a mighty blow, cleaving the gust clean in two!

His move countered, Liu Xiong had no chance to feel triumphant. From his right, a dark red dagger darted toward his waist like a viper!

Liu Xiong stomped the ground, retreating several paces. He swung his axe defensively before his chest, secretly alarmed by Ye Zihan’s speed.

The ambush failed, and Ye Zihan dared not press the attack. He kept the dagger close, wary of a sudden counterattack.

“Mountain-Splitting Spinning Axe!” After two exchanges, Liu Xiong cast aside all contempt and unleashed his signature upper dark-grade martial art. He flung his broad axe, aiming straight for Ye Zihan!

The axe flew fast and true, whistling through the air as it spun toward Ye Zihan!

Ye Zihan leapt high, dodging the oncoming axe. But before he landed, the axe turned sharply in midair, spinning back toward him!

The Mountain-Splitting Spinning Axe struck with the force to shatter stone, and its double assault—outbound and returning—had cost many experts dearly.

Midair, Ye Zihan was unable to shift his momentum to dodge. In desperation, he raised the Red Lotus Dagger before his chest, bracing himself to take the blow head-on!

Clang!

The broad axe struck the dagger, the sheer force numbing Ye Zihan’s hands and hurling him backward!

He tumbled uncontrollably, and before he could regain his footing, Liu Xiong flashed to his side, fist raised to smash into Ye Zihan’s chest!

“Damn!” Ye Zihan’s heart lurched. There was no time to guard—he hastily gathered all his elemental energy to his chest!

Bang! Bang!

The force of the blow sent Ye Zihan plummeting like a cannonball. When he hit the ground, the impact thundered, shattering the thick earth and sending dust billowing skyward!

“Haha! Regret it now, boy? That’s the price for sticking your neck out—and for crossing my Liu family!” Having landed the punch, Liu Xiong laughed heartily. With Ye Zihan’s early Sancai cultivation, taking a full-force blow from him should mean death or at least grave injury!

“So what?” As the dust settled, a thin figure slowly rose, a cold voice echoing from within.