Chapter Seventy-Seven: The Body of the Regretful Land

Lu Han lunged fiercely at the one-eyed man, his foot stamping hard against the ground as he flipped through the air. Bi Luo Sword shot straight toward the one-eyed man's chest. Around the one-eyed man, a brown innate energy surged upward. With a black-gloved fist, he swung a heavy, circular punch.

"Bang!"

Lu Han was knocked back more than ten steps before he managed to halt his retreat.

"Is the gap really this wide?" Lu Han's arm throbbed with soreness. The one-eyed man’s punch had been overwhelmingly fierce; Lu Han could barely withstand it.

"Chief! Chief!" The surrounding men, seeing their leader force Lu Han back with a single blow, raised their long knives and shouted in excitement.

Sha Wei was not slow to react; he charged forward immediately.

"Trying to compete with me in strength?"

The one-eyed man had honed the "Stone Armor Technique," a technique he had stumbled upon in a mountain cave—a low-rank Xuan-level cultivation method. His gloves were part of the set. In both defense and power, it was among the strongest of its grade.

"If you’re so eager to die, don’t blame me," he growled.

Brown fists collided with pale yellow ones.

"Bang!"

"Thud—thud—thud."

Sha Wei was forced back six steps, while the one-eyed man only retreated a single step—a clear disparity.

But in that moment, waves of shock surged within the one-eyed man's heart. He was at the second level of Innate, specializing in strength-based techniques. Even if he faced someone at the third level of Innate, he feared no one in terms of raw power alone. Yet this youth before him, who appeared no older than twenty and was only at the peak of Postnatal, had managed to block his punch and even forced him back a step.

"This one must have cultivated a strength-based technique—perhaps even a mid or high Xuan-level method," the one-eyed man thought, licking his lips. He had been stuck at the second level of Innate for some time. If he could obtain this youth’s technique, perhaps he could break through to a higher level. Who wouldn't want to grow stronger?

"You two are truly my lucky stars. And that sword in your hand isn’t bad either. After today, both the technique and the long sword will be mine."

"Brother Sha, use your full strength. We have no choice but to risk everything here. Otherwise, none of us will leave alive," he called out.

"Heh, how long do you think it’ll take for the chief to defeat them?" one of the bandits asked nearby.

"Fifty breaths, at most. You know the chief’s strength," another replied. He had personally seen their leader defeat someone at the third level of Innate.

"I think it’ll take longer. These two are not simple. At least eighty breaths," another shook his head, still shaken by the earlier fight between Lu Han, Sha Wei, and their group.

"Bang!"

Once again, the metallic ring of clashing steel echoed—Lu Han’s Bi Luo Sword had struck the one-eyed man’s gloves.

After being knocked back, Lu Han gripped his sword tighter. A chill surged along the blade, and he charged again, thrusting at the one-eyed man from a cunning angle.

The one-eyed man dodged aside.

"Clang!"

His brown innate energy flared as he punched at Lu Han.

Lu Han hastily dodged, abandoning his thrust. Instead of feeling frustrated by the failed attack, a hint of a smile appeared on his lips.

Because at that moment, Sha Wei had successfully circled behind the one-eyed man.

"Bear King Fist!"

A flash of brownish-yellow, the shadow of a bear, flickered in Sha Wei’s hand.

"Roar!"

He seemed to let out a bear's bellow.

"Chief!"

"Chief, look out!"

The one-eyed man had just turned when Sha Wei’s punch landed.

"Thud—thud—thud."

The one-eyed man staggered several steps, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

Even he hadn’t expected to be wounded by a junior at the Postnatal level.

Sha Wei frowned. He had used every ounce of his strength in that blow, yet the man before him suffered only a minor injury.

Lu Han and Sha Wei now stood shoulder to shoulder.

"Very good. You’ve succeeded in angering me," the one-eyed man roared.

The surrounding bandits retreated at once. They knew what their chief was like when enraged and dared not get too close, lest they be caught up in the chaos.

A brown aura of innate energy enveloped the one-eyed man’s fists, sending dust swirling all around.

"The chief is actually using his Stone Armor Iron Fist against Postnatal opponents. That’s a low-level Xuan martial technique, and with the accompanying cultivation method, it’s a true killing move. These two are doomed," said He Yong, one of the bandits, his brows lifting in relief. He had just escaped death himself. If they hadn’t needed him as a guide, he might have ended up like their previous subordinate.

Lu Han and Sha Wei were both startled. For an Innate expert to use a Xuan-level martial art—this was no ordinary power.

But Lu Han and Sha Wei were no ordinary men; their composure far exceeded that of others.

Bi Luo Sword pointed straight at the one-eyed man, dense cold energy swirling around the blade.

"Furious Strength Qi!"

Sha Wei roared.

"Clang!"

Once more, Bi Luo Sword collided with the gloves.

But now, the chill on Lu Han’s sword was beginning to wane.

He rapidly circulated "Heavenly Frost Chill."

He knew he could not afford to drag this out any longer.

Leaping back over ten steps, he called to Sha Wei, "Brother Sha, buy me a little time."

Lu Han closed his eyes, cold energy raging around him.

The one-eyed man frowned. For some reason, a tremor ran through his heart—a seasoned instinct of an Innate fighter. He had survived in Death’s Reach Mountain this long by being cautious.

"I don’t know what this brat is planning, but I can’t let him finish it."

He flew forward.

"Hey, have you asked if you can pass me, Sha Wei?" Sha Wei blocked his path.

"Out of my way!"

"Bang!"

Their fists collided.

"Hmm?"

The one-eyed man sensed that Sha Wei’s strength had grown even greater.

Yet Sha Wei was still sent flying by a single punch—the gap in level was simply too great.

In the distant woods, an old man fought the urge to intervene.

"Wei’er, you may well have the same physique as our ancestor, but you must awaken it yourself. Don’t blame your grandfather for his harshness."

That old man, who had been tailing them all along, was none other than Sha Wei's grandfather.

Though Sha Wei was wounded, he was not in mortal danger, so the old man merely watched, fists clenched, betraying his inner turmoil.

Just as the fight reached a fever pitch, Lu Han’s eyes snapped open.

"Brother Sha, move!"

With a loud shout, Lu Han leapt into the air. White frost seemed to spill from the Bi Luo Sword.

He now wielded this advanced Xuan-level technique with practiced ease.

He dove, sword tip aimed at the one-eyed man, body spinning rapidly.

"Advanced Xuan Martial Art: Sword of the Frozen Lotus!"

Lu Han had locked onto the one-eyed man’s aura; the latter knew he could not dodge.

He roared, "Stone Armor Iron Fist!"

A phantom fist of energy exploded forth.

"Boom!"

The fist shadow collided with the sword tip, unleashing a thunderous roar.

Dust billowed, obscuring everything.

For a long while, nothing could be seen. Gradually, the dust settled. Lu Han knelt on one knee, Bi Luo Sword supporting his weight, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

The one-eyed man too spat a mouthful of blood, though he seemed less injured than Lu Han.

"Boy, for your age and cultivation to injure me like this—you have reason to be proud. But now, you don’t even have the strength to stand, do you?"

The one-eyed man strode slowly toward Lu Han, raising his palm to strike.

At that moment, the old man in Lu Han’s ring glanced toward the woods. "Still not going to intervene?"

"No! Stop!" Sha Wei roared.

Lu Han was his first friend since leaving the village—his only friend. Back in the village, his grandfather had only ever pushed him to cultivate.

A yellow light suddenly flickered on Sha Wei’s arm.

A killing aura swept through the air.

The old man in the ring murmured, "As expected... The Earthshaker Physique!"

...

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