Chapter Eighteen: An Encounter with Hu Xingfu

“You little brat, there’s a cave to the south—it’s quite concealed, so hide there first. Right now, they can’t sense your location, so they won’t find you so quickly.” Upon hearing about a hiding place, Lu Han quickened his pace and followed the old man’s instructions to reach the cave.

Wild grass grew on both sides of the entrance, making it indeed well hidden.

“Let’s hope they don’t find me… But I can’t take it. I’m starving. I must find something to eat.” Lu Han hadn’t had a drop of water all night, not even with his cultivation at the sixth level of the post-celestial realm; it was too much. He couldn’t risk making a fire—that would give him away. So he had to forage for wild fruits to fill his stomach.

Night fell.

Lu Han sat cross-legged in the cave, eyes tightly shut, his hands exuding a faint chill.

“This kid… Not bad. He’s able to release cold energy externally with only five points of ice affinity, and he hasn’t even cultivated any ice techniques. Should I… No, better observe him a while longer. That pearl—what is its origin? Even I can’t see through it.” The old man muttered quietly beside Lu Han, stroking his beard. Unfortunately, Lu Han was absorbed in cultivation and didn’t hear him; it was rare for the old man to praise him.

Lu Han’s “Mystic Water Art” circulated quietly…

Suddenly, Lu Han’s eyes snapped open. “Haha… Father was right. Battle is the best way to improve cultivation! Now I’ve reached the peak of the sixth level, and I feel I might step into the seventh at any moment. ‘Shattered Star Palm’ is perfected, and combined with my ice affinity, I’m several times stronger than before.”

It had been less than twenty days since Lu Han broke through to the sixth level. Now, he was at its peak—none in the Lu family had advanced so quickly.

“Brat, you’re so smug with just this cultivation? If I had only reached this level at your age, I’d have bashed my head against the wall out of shame.” The old man couldn’t help but comment as he saw Lu Han’s proud expression.

“Old man, I swear I’ll suffer an internal injury one of these days because of you! Considering how many times you’ve saved me, I’ve endured your insults countless times!” Lu Han could no longer stand it—the old man never missed a chance to belittle him. Even when he trained the “Shattered Star Fist,” he was mercilessly mocked.

“Listen, brat, you’ve got a long road ahead. Never be arrogant—there are plenty with more talent than you. In my homeland, you’d be considered mediocre at best.” For once, the old man was uncharacteristically serious. It was the first time Lu Han heard him speak so, and he felt a bit unsettled. Just as he was about to ask something, the old man vanished into his ring.

“Forget it. Better keep cultivating.” Lu Han resumed his practice.

At dawn, dewdrops slid from leaves on the wild grass outside the cave. In the jungle, a few birds chirped, then suddenly, startled, fluttered away.

“It’s just the seventh post-celestial level, what’s so special about that? They keep sending me here, sending me there. I’ll find a place to rest myself.” A voice grumbled.

The man wielded a long blade, swatting at the grass. On his black clothing was an iron insignia.

“Huh? What’s that?” He stepped forward.

“Brat, don’t sleep—someone’s coming.” Lu Han was sleeping soundly when the old man’s voice sounded in his ear. Strangely, not a sound was made in the cave.

“Huh? Someone’s here…?” Lu Han was groggy, but suddenly jolted upright in shock.

“Old man, didn’t you say no one could easily find this place?” Lu Han swore never to trust the old man’s words again. So reliable! Last night he’d said they wouldn’t find him here, and now, just after dawn, someone had arrived.

“Ahem, well… I don’t know how it happened either. But one thing’s certain: kid, you’re in trouble…” The old man looked a little embarrassed, then strangely grinned.

“What do I do now?” Lu Han’s face paled—a group of over a hundred, with a pre-celestial among them. Where could he run?

“Brat, after all this time with me, you panic at just one person of similar cultivation? Look at yourself!” The old man gave Lu Han a look of disdain.

“You…”

“He’s coming.”

“Haha, brat, it really is you!” The man in black entered with his blade and laughed upon seeing Lu Han.

“You… know me?” Lu Han pointed to himself; he didn’t know this man.

“That day, our vice captain ordered me to leave first. I didn’t expect you could kill him. With your sixth post-celestial level, you must have used some trick—otherwise, how could you be his match?” This man was Hu Xingfu.

Hu Xingfu took out a bamboo tube.

“You… you’re going to send a signal!” Lu Han prepared to stop him.

“No, no… I’m taking you back alone. They all look down on me because the vice captain cultivated poison arts, and none wanted to go search for the treasure map. So they sent me. At dawn, they ordered me to hunt you. Once I bring you back, let’s see if they still dare to scorn me!” Hu Xingfu’s expression was a bit deranged. After speaking, he tossed the signaling device aside.

Lu Han breathed a sigh of relief. If he had sent a signal, Lu Han would have had no way out.

Given the situation, he had no choice but to fight.

Hu Xingfu unsheathed his blade and lunged at Lu Han.

As the blade swept toward him, Lu Han leaped sideways toward the cave wall and vaulted over Hu Xingfu’s head, heading for the cave entrance.

“If you want a duel, the cave’s too cramped. Let’s fight outside.” His voice drifted to Hu Xingfu as he stepped out.

A gentle breeze bent the wild grass, and the two stood ten meters apart outside the cave.

Lu Han knew he had to settle this quickly, or more would arrive.

Suddenly, a strong wind swept through.

Hu Xingfu flipped his blade, dragging it along the ground as he charged at Lu Han. Lu Han didn’t back down, launching himself forward with a kick.

“Kill!”

Hu Xingfu exerted all his strength, channeling internal force into the heavy blade. It whistled through the air with terrifying power, slashing at Lu Han like thunder.

Lu Han’s expression changed; he knew he couldn’t take it head-on. He dodged sharply, braced his right hand on the ground, and swept his leg.

Boom!

Two streams of internal force collided, causing the air to tremble.

“Kid, your talent may surpass mine, but I have over ten years’ experience—that’s my advantage!” Hu Xingfu stomped hard and rushed at Lu Han again.

“Frenzied Wolf Blade!”

Internal force surged along the blade, forming a wolf’s head at the tip. Though only a fledgling shape, its menace was clear. He slashed, sending a wolf head a meter wide flying at Lu Han.

Lu Han’s eyes narrowed—he couldn’t dodge. His hands rapidly formed a seal, “Mystic Water Art” spinning fast, cold energy swirling around him. The momentum suddenly grew fierce, like a beast awakening.

“Shattered Star Palm!”

Lu Han’s palm, radiating cold, struck the incoming wolf head.

Boom!

Hu Xingfu was pushed back several steps by the force before steadying himself.

Lu Han also staggered back, panting heavily—his energy visibly depleted.

Hu Xingfu was surprised. “Kid, you’re actually matched with me! This ‘Frenzied Wolf Blade’ is a high-grade yellow-rank martial art—I got it by chance. I’ve never used it in the group. That’s why, even knowing you killed the vice captain, I dared to face you alone.”

In the group, Hu Xingfu was always considered weak. After obtaining a high-grade yellow-rank technique, he never dared show it. Such skills were rare, and he knew not to flaunt his fortune.

Hu Xingfu narrowed his eyes at Lu Han. “This time, it ends! You have no chance!”

“Frenzied Wolf Blade—Twin Wolves Devour the Sun!”

Hu Xingfu poured internal force into the blade. With a single strike, two fiery wolf heads leapt out, lunging at Lu Han.

“This should finish it!”

This move was created by the original master of “Frenzied Wolf Blade”—its power nearly rivaled low-grade mysterious-rank techniques. Its flaw: Hu Xingfu’s internal force would be drained in one go. This was his trump card.

In Hu Xingfu’s mind, Lu Han was already gravely injured and down for the count.

“Shattered Star Palm!”

“You think you can block this?”

Lu Han’s cold-charged palm collided with the two wolf heads.

Bang!

A dull thud sounded as Hu Xingfu was sent flying, crashing against a tree.

“How could this be?” Hu Xingfu couldn’t comprehend.

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