Chapter 113: The Shadow of the Colossal Claw

Two forces collided.

The moment Jun Tan saw the gray-white Nether Crow rushing toward him, he felt a chilling coldness in his soul, as if it were about to freeze solid.

The scream that followed was none other than his own.

The gray-white Nether Crow did not get blocked by the dark purple serpent shadow upon collision; instead, it passed right through it and pierced directly through Jun Tan’s head.

Clutching his head, Jun Tan howled in agony, feeling as though his entire skull was about to crack open.

In that instant, the dark purple serpent shadow instantly shattered.

Even Han Lu was momentarily stunned. He had only tried the move as a last resort, since he seldom used the "Nether Crow Finger" technique, but the effect was unexpectedly powerful.

“Truly fitting for a soul-based martial art!” Han Lu murmured.

Ever since merging with that mysterious gray page, Han Lu’s soul power had surged dramatically. Old Master Ling even said that Han Lu’s soul strength was now nearly on par with that of a Xuanjun.

For a martial artist at the Ninth Heaven of the postnatal realm to possess soul power close to a Xuanjun-level warrior was unprecedented. Old Master Ling admitted he had never seen anything like it before. After much contemplation, the credit had to go to that gray page. Moreover, Han Lu had even comprehended a technique called the "Ten Absolute Nether Crow Finger" from it. This martial skill was so extraordinary that even Old Master Ling praised it highly. Given his discerning eye, any technique he lauded was undoubtedly exceptional.

Unfortunately, Han Lu’s skill was not yet perfected. Although his strike wounded Jun Tan’s soul, the damage wouldn’t last long. Han Lu had not fully mastered the "Ten Absolute Nether Crow Finger," which was why it was only called the "Nether Crow Finger" at this stage.

The Princess of the City of Splendor slightly parted her lips. Even from a distance, she had felt a shiver run through her soul when Han Lu struck. She hadn’t expected him to possess such a formidable weapon.

Sweat poured down Jun Tan’s face. Just moments ago, his head had felt as if it might split open, leaving him shaken. He vowed never to endure such a sensation again, thankful it hadn’t lasted long.

“I never imagined this brat had such a trick up his sleeve. If I can get my hands on it… combined with my ‘Myriad Snakes’ technique, who can stand against me? I truly am the protagonist of this era! Ha ha ha ha…” Jun Tan laughed aloud, already envisioning himself seated on the imperial throne, wielding supreme power over the world.

What Jun Tan and Han Lu didn’t realize was that at the moment Han Lu unleashed the “Nether Crow Finger,” the entire Soul Chaos Land trembled violently. From the deepest parts, countless venomous demon beasts surged forth, terrifying the people of the Ancient Lin Basin, who feared an all-out attack by the poisonous beasts.

A piercing cry echoed from the depths of the Soul Chaos Plain, stirring the demon beasts into even more frenzied agitation. Some even prostrated themselves on the ground.

The sound reached every ear, causing tremors to ripple through their souls.

“You brat, I don’t believe you have any more tricks. Now, if you hand over that martial technique scroll obediently, I might consider sparing you. What do you say?” Jun Tan narrowed his eyes, showing no fear that Han Lu would refuse.

“Just as I thought,” Han Lu’s heart sank. From Jun Tan’s expression earlier, he knew the man had set his sights on the scroll.

“Will you keep your word?”

“Of course.”

“I hope you’re honest. Here, take it!”

Han Lu tossed a scroll from his hand—but not toward Jun Tan. Seeing the scroll fly out, Jun Tan stepped forward and pursued it.

“Go!”

The power released by the Cold Pearl restored a bit of Han Lu’s strength. With a swift turn, he grabbed the Princess of the City of Splendor and fled.

Her delicate hand, as soft as if boneless, was seized in Han Lu’s grasp. But at this moment, Han Lu had no time to appreciate such details.

The Princess frowned slightly at first, but upon seeing Han Lu’s anxious and hurried face, she relaxed.

“Move!” Han Lu urged when he sensed her hesitation.

In truth, Han Lu had learned the “Ten Absolute Nether Crow Finger” from that gray page. The scroll he had thrown was merely a yellow-rank martial skill hidden in his storage ring. Taking advantage of Jun Tan not noticing, Han Lu quickly fled with the princess.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Jun Tan’s voice sounded cold and clear.

Han Lu and the princess froze.

With a bound, Jun Tan appeared before them, no more than a yard away.

“Hmph, brat, you dare play tricks on me!” Jun Tan sneered, throwing the scroll in his hand.

Suddenly, he slammed a palm hard against Han Lu’s chest.

“Bang!”

Though Han Lu’s body was stronger than others of his rank, against Jun Tan, it was of no avail.

The palm strike sent Han Lu flying, landing near the unconscious strange man.

Han Lu tried to lift his head, but he couldn’t. He wanted to speak, but no words came.

With great effort, he curled his fingers, trying to say something.

“You brought this on yourself, brat. Don’t blame me. As for that strange martial technique, once I kill you and seize your storage ring, I won’t believe I can’t find it,” Jun Tan said coldly.

Han Lu was already severely wounded. Were it not for the mysterious Cold Pearl, it was uncertain if he could have lasted this long. This palm strike only worsened his condition.

He could feel his life rapidly draining away.

“Brat, let me send you off!” Jun Tan took a step forward, striking again. This palm was a death blow!

“No!” the princess cried out.

Jun Tan remained unmoved.

At that moment, the entire cave began to shake. Small rocks fell from the jagged walls.

A piercing cry echoed throughout the cave, startling Jun Tan and the princess.

Both felt their souls tremble violently, as if about to shatter. In that instant, their souls seemed frozen solid.

The cries continued. Suddenly, a huge gray claw print appeared, swiftly scooping up Han Lu and the strange man from the ground.

Beside it, a vast black spatial rift tore open, space within raging uncontrollably.

With a flash of the claw, Han Lu and the strange man were dragged into the rift. The entrance gradually shrank until it became a pinpoint and vanished.

Jun Tan had been closest to the gray claw just moments ago. Now, he stood rigid and motionless, as if frozen in place. If the power of the “Nether Crow Finger” was a mere one, then this claw was a hundredfold.

Jun Tan’s entire soul was frozen. The princess was similarly affected but, being farther away, she recovered faster.

As soon as she regained consciousness, the princess looked at the motionless Jun Tan. Summoning every last ounce of strength, she made a gesture. The Bilu Sword lying on the ground flew into her hand. With a fierce thrust, she stabbed toward Jun Tan.

“That claw was terrifying. That brat won’t survive. Such a pity for that strange martial technique,” Jun Tan thought as he awakened briefly.

“Pfft!”

A bone-piercingly cold longsword pierced through his back and out his chest.

“Ahh... for...”

“Pfft!” The sword was pulled out again.

Jun Tan collapsed lifelessly to the ground.

The young sect leader of the Flying Serpent Sect had perished.

The Princess of the City of Splendor stared blankly toward the direction where Han Lu had disappeared.

After a long moment, she cradled the Bilu Sword tightly, as if afraid it might vanish.

“Maple Leaf City… Han Lu.”

She staggered out of the cave, holding the icy-cold longsword, which now felt inexplicably warm to her touch.