"You little thief, if you have the guts, stop and face me in a real duel!"
The furious voice of the Black-Robe Elder echoed from behind.
"Why don't you wait until you catch up to me first!"
Ian Song replied with a hint of sarcasm.
The Black-Robe Elder was enraged at his words. "Boy, do you really think I can't do anything to you? Believe it or not, I'll turn right around and wipe out all your troops in the capital!"
"Go ahead, then!"
Ian Song said carelessly. In another hour, his martial Golden Core would advance to the late stage. If the old man wanted to harm ordinary soldiers, he'd have to get Ian's permission first.
"You're just bluffing, kid!"
The Black-Robe Elder sneered, stopped chasing Ian Song, and shot off toward the capital instead.
Ian Song chuckled and also headed for the capital, keeping a safe distance from the Black-Robe Elder.
Seeing this, the Black-Robe Elder ground his teeth in anger.
As they passed a mountain forest, the Black-Robe Elder suddenly landed within it.
For a moment, Ian Song was puzzled.
But after a while, the old man soared into the sky again and continued toward the capital.
So Ian Song followed once more, but he deliberately skirted around the mountain forest. With his vast combat experience, he suspected the old man had set a trap there, most likely planning to ambush him.
After Ian Song avoided the forest, a figure shot up from the trees—it was none other than the Black-Robe Elder, cursing furiously: "Damn you, little thief! So cunning!"
"Ha! Old man, you’re still too green to trick me!"
Ian Song laughed loudly, taunting him.
"You’re asking for death!"
The Black-Robe Elder roared and charged, while Ian Song turned and ran.
Another wild chase began.
Unable to catch Ian Song, the Black-Robe Elder could only turn back toward the capital.
Unknowingly, an hour passed. Both of them drew near the capital, and the wide-open city gates were already in sight.
Ian Song’s Golden Core finally advanced to the late stage. A cocky grin crept onto his face, and he bellowed at the Black-Robe Elder ahead—his voice booming across the whole capital: "Hey, old geezer! Quit running and come fight young master me fair and square!"
Hearing Ian Song’s shout, the Black-Robe Elder blew his beard and glared in outrage. What did he mean, 'quit running'? Wasn’t it this little punk who kept fleeing? How did it suddenly become His Majesty running away?
"What’s wrong, old geezer? Don’t tell me you’re too chicken to fight young master me!" Ian Song kept taunting him.
"You little punk, let’s see you stand still for once!"
With a fierce shout, the Black-Robe Elder spun around and shot toward Ian Song.
When he was within a hundred meters, the long blade in his hand turned into a streak of red lightning, tearing through the air and slashing down hard at Ian Song.
Ian Song flickered, dodging the strike. Instead of retreating, he pressed forward, his Frostbrand Sword transforming into a misty rain that enveloped the Black-Robe Elder.
"You little punk, you finally dare to fight me head-on! Die!"
Seeing Ian Song charging in, the Black-Robe Elder was elated. He unleashed blade techniques with one hand and palm strikes with the other, filling the air with blade energy and palm shadows.
But Ian Song stayed cool as ever.
His figure flashed nimbly between the torrents of attacks, occasionally flicking out a sword strike.
His figure flashed nimbly between the torrents of attacks, occasionally flicking out a sword strike imbued with the World‑Shocking Art—the founder’s so-called ultimate technique, which Ian exposed as a crippled, stolen sect method.
Just as he quietly closed the distance, the blade energy and palm imprints suddenly scattered.
"Old geezer, eat my sword!"
Ian Song called out, merging sword and body, turning into a bolt of lightning that stabbed straight at the Black-Robe Elder.
All the Black-Robe Elder saw was a flash, and Ian Song was already at his chest. Panicked, he could only block with his blade and lash out with a palm strike at the same time.
All the Black-Robe Elder saw was a flash, and Ian Song was already at his chest. Panicked, he could only block with his blade and lash out with a palm strike at the same time.