Chapter 101: The Death of Old Hua

Lu Han hid behind the rocks, watching the two figures in the arena without daring to move an inch. He knew that if he were discovered, it would bring considerable trouble.

Then Hua Lao spoke again, his voice filled with anger: “The Flying Snake Sect has truly gone mad!”

“Haha, do you still think this is the age of the Murong royal family’s dominance in the Great Xia Empire? Do you really believe we don’t know? Murong Zheng’s alliance through marriage with the Tiangang Sect is nothing more than a move to solidify the Murong dynasty’s position,” the elder of the Flying Snake Sect laughed heartily.

Hua Lao’s eyes narrowed. Indeed, in recent years, the Tiangang Sect, Flying Snake Sect, and Blood Spider Pavilion had all grown rapidly. The Murong royal family had to secure the alliance of at least one sect; otherwise, if these three sects came to an agreement, the Murong family would face grave peril. As the leading sect among the three, Tiangang was naturally the best choice.

“Hmph. Not only will your marriage alliance fail, but sooner or later, the Flying Snake Sect will replace the Murong royal family!” the elder from the Flying Snake Sect declared with confidence.

“Enough talk. It’s time to settle this,” the elder said, a black tornado swirling around him.

“This is trouble. No matter what, this matter is serious and the news must be sent back to the imperial capital!” Hua Lao’s heart raced with anxiety.

This time, she and Princess Qingcheng had come alone to the Evil Wind Cave without informing anyone stationed at the Gulin Basin royal encampment. Princess Qingcheng wished to keep this matter secret, as there were supporters of the Third Prince within the camp. She did not want this incident to spread, but little did they expect it to be a trap set by the Flying Snake Sect.

Before Hua Lao could ponder further, the elder from the Flying Snake Sect launched an attack.

A faint black snake silhouette appeared behind the elder. Carrying immense force, he surged wildly toward Hua Lao. Wherever he passed, sand and stones flew, and the ground was scarred smooth.

Lu Han swallowed hard. Even with their cultivation suppressed to the third innate level, their strength was still overwhelming.

Hua Lao snorted coldly, refusing to give up without a fight.

A flash of azure energy flickered around her—a technique she had learned in the imperial palace called “Glazed Skill,” reaching the initial profound stage.

It should be noted that profound stage techniques were the treasured martial arts of many small clans.

The azure glazed light suddenly burst forth, meeting the black snake silhouette of the elder head-on.

They collided like lightning bolts.

Boom!

The entire cave trembled faintly once more.

Lu Han, hiding behind the rocks, felt the roar echoing in his ears.

Black energy clashed fiercely against the azure glazed energy; neither side giving way. The battle remained at a stalemate.

After a few minutes, both opponents exerted themselves again, producing a muffled boom as their energies neutralized each other.

Hua Lao’s complexion had turned pale; she seemed to be running out of strength.

As the black and azure energies vanished, the elder from the Flying Snake Sect leapt to the cave’s ceiling like a cannonball.

His body flashed like lightning again, his palm striking toward Hua Lao, leaving a swift snake shadow in its wake.

“Ssisss!”

The cave seemed filled with the hissing of countless snakes flicking their tongues.

Bang!

Hua Lao, already at a disadvantage, barely blocked the palm strike but was still sent flying, collapsing to the ground.

“Pfft!”

Blood sprayed from her mouth as she fell.

“I told you long ago—you’re no match for me,” the elder said confidently.

The elder wielded a mid-profound stage technique of the Flying Snake Sect called “Black Snake Devour.” This technique was famous within the vast sect. Hua Lao only practiced the initial profound stage “Glazed Skill,” placing her at a natural disadvantage. Even without the strange suppressive forces of the Chaos Soul Plains, Hua Lao’s cultivation was inferior to this elder’s. Although she could hold her ground briefly, she had no hope of victory.

“Ah!”

Lu Han let out a soft cry the moment Hua Lao was struck down. After all, she had once shown him kindness, and he felt a measure of affection for her.

He covered his mouth, stifling any sound.

“Die! Don’t worry, soon that Princess Qingcheng will come down to join you,” the elder sneered.

“Initial profound stage martial art: Thousand Snakes Under Heaven.”

The elder shouted inwardly and then unleashed a palm strike toward Hua Lao.

A giant black snake silhouette flashed behind him. As his palm surged forward, countless small black energy snakes spewed forth.

“If you want to kill me, you’ll pay a price!” Hua Lao roared, struggling to stand.

With her fierce shout, she drew her long sword, unleashing a martial technique she had been cultivating.

Suddenly, she thrust the sword forward, releasing a more than ten-meter-long azure glazed sword shadow from her hand.

It carried terrifying energy, charging toward the elder of the Flying Snake Sect.

“Initial profound stage martial art: Glazed Sword!”

This technique complemented the “Glazed Skill.” Though only at the initial profound stage, when combined, it possessed the might of a mid-profound stage martial art.

Boom!

The black snake shadow and the massive azure glazed sword collided instantly, like two meteorites crashing with explosive force.

The azure glazed sword, with overwhelming power, shattered the snake shadow before it. Yet, despite the shadow’s diminutive size, one feared it might truly represent the martial art’s name—thousands of snakes.

Gradually, the azure sword shadow dimmed until it vanished, but numerous black snake shadows, charged with dreadful energy, surged toward Hua Lao.

Hua Lao closed her eyes in despair. She was utterly spent, without the slightest strength to resist.

The energy snakes passed through her body. Hua Lao groaned and then collapsed silently to the ground.

“Princess, I have taken my leave first,” Hua Lao’s eyes closed forever.

She had fully absorbed a profound stage martial art and had no chance of survival.

Thud!

The elder of the Flying Snake Sect was also forced back several steps by the recoil of Hua Lao’s last sword strike.

Looking down at the lifeless Hua Lao, the elder nodded with satisfaction. Though not as easy as imagined, the outcome was exactly as he desired. He had thought eliminating Hua Lao would require little effort, yet in the end, he suffered a slight injury from her final counterattack, the “Glazed Sword.”

Lu Han stared wide-eyed at the fallen Hua Lao, terrified to make a sound.

Though he had only caught fragments of the battle, he understood the gravity of the situation. The Flying Snake Sect would never want anyone outside their sect to learn of this.

Currently, the Flying Snake Sect had not openly opposed the Murong royal family, indicating they lacked the power to confront them directly. If this matter were exposed now, the Flying Snake Sect would be challenging the Murong family’s authority. Moreover, Princess Qingcheng was the fiancée of Shen Tai, the young sect leader of Tiangang. Offending both the Murong royal family and Tiangang Sect at once would spell disaster for the Flying Snake Sect.

This entire affair was meant to prevent the alliance between the Murong family and Tiangang, though the young sect leader of the Flying Snake Sect had his own personal motives.

At this moment, Lu Han dared not breathe. If discovered, his fate would be unthinkable.

Though the elder’s cultivation had been suppressed, Lu Han knew very well that in his hands, he himself could not last ten breaths.

But was Lu Han truly unnoticed?

The elder first glanced at Hua Lao, confirming she was utterly lifeless, then suddenly spun around, gazing at the huge rock behind him.

“Watching for so long? Isn’t it time you showed yourself?” The elder’s cold voice echoed through the cave. Though not loud, it sounded to Lu Han like the call of a death messenger.