Half an hour later, the carriage had already left the Royal Capital by several hundred li.
The group that had been secretly tailing them reappeared, now numbering over fifty, including the nine who were previously repelled by Old Man Tanner in the Outer City.
Among these fifty-plus, there were even three mid Soul-Split stage experts.
"Ian Song, hand over the Ink-Black Sword and your Storage Ring, and we’ll spare your life!" shouted one of the mid Soul-Split experts, wearing a smug smile as if he had Ian completely cornered.
"You bunch of trash dare threaten my young master?" Old Man Tanner sneered with disdain.
The mid Soul-Split expert sneered back, "Old Man Tanner, don’t get ahead of yourself. You may be late Soul-Split, but we have fifty-six people here, all at the Soul-Split stage. Can you handle dozens? Ten? Twenty? Why not join us, and you’ll get a share of the spoils?"
Another mid Soul-Split expert chimed in, "Old Man Tanner, wise birds choose good trees to nest in. Ian Song is too arrogant—he was doomed the moment he showed up in the Royal Capital. Why tie yourself to a sinking ship?"
With his experience, Old Man Tanner immediately saw that one was playing bad cop and the other good cop. Unfortunately, these people were nothing but pitiful cannon fodder, sent here as the vanguard.
Thinking this, he said calmly, "If you’re going to make a move, do it quick—don’t waste my young master’s time."
"Old Man Tanner, why bother?" the good cop mid Soul-Split expert tried to persuade him again.
"Enough talk, let’s fight!"
Just as the three mid Nascent Divinity experts were about to die at Old Man Tanner’s hands, a black-robed young man suddenly appeared between them. He held a black spear, with star-like brows and lightning eyes. With a flick of his wrist, the spear split into countless shadows, all blasting toward Old Man Tanner.
The Heaven-Hate Fist, taught by Ian Song, is an incredibly powerful martial art. After only a short period of training, Old Man Tanner could already exert double his usual strength.
"Arrogant!"
The three mid Nascent Divinity experts who escaped death looked shaken, now staring at Old Man Tanner with a new layer of fear.
"Hmph, today I, Wu, will cut down a late Soul-Split!"
Faced with Old Man Tanner’s attack, all three mid Soul-Split experts were enraged. The bad cop drew a longsword and slashed at Old Man Tanner’s fist.
Golden sword qi burst brilliantly, radiating a sense of tearing force as it collided with Old Man Tanner’s fist.
Reminded by the black-robed youth, the three mid Nascent Divinity experts snapped out of it and darted toward the carriage.
The last mid Soul-Split expert rapidly formed hand seals, causing illusory ghostly shadows to appear all around, wailing as they lunged at Old Man Tanner.
Facing the three attackers, Old Man Tanner’s eyes flashed with disdain as he declared loudly, "All the arts in this world—I can break them with a single punch!"
Pop! Pop! Pop!
One punch shattered the golden sword qi, another sent the giant jade-green sword flying, and the third shook the void, dispersing all the ghostly shadows near Old Man Tanner into wisps of black smoke.
At the same time, Old Man Tanner stepped forward in midair, formed a hand seal, and unleashed three more punches.
Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!
As he spoke, the old man floated forward and launched an attack at the three mid Nascent Divinity experts.
Although the old man wasn’t as strong as Old Man Tanner, the three mid Nascent Divinity experts had already been injured by Old Man Tanner, so for now, they were forced into a steady retreat.
"Pathetic! Like chickens and dogs, not worth a strike!"
The bad cop struggled to hold his ground while shouting at the other fifty-three early Nascent Divinity experts.
"Hate the heavens! Hate the earth! Hate myself!"
With a soft shout, Old Man Tanner’s will spread out, enveloping the three. Just as they tried to flee, they froze in place like puppets.
Just as the three mid Soul-Split experts were about to die at Old Man Tanner’s hands, a black-robed young man suddenly appeared between them. He held a black spear, with star-like brows and lightning eyes. With a flick of his wrist, the spear split into countless shadows, all blasting toward Old Man Tanner.
Boom—!
Damn, how did three more late Nascent Divinity experts pop out?
Seeing this, the fifty-plus early Nascent Divinity experts were dumbfounded.
"Who are you?" Old Man Tanner asked warily, keeping his eyes on the black-robed youth.
Several miles away, on a small hilltop, stood three men. At the front was a handsome young man in black, no older than his twenties, with a flame-shaped mark on his brow. If Ian Song were here, he would recognize him as Fletcher Toba, Divine Son of the Fire God Church. Behind Fletcher stood two burly middle-aged men, both late Nascent Divinity experts, watching the battlefield from afar.
I never thought Ian Song would have five late Nascent Divinity experts by his side!" one of the burly men exclaimed.
Fletcher Toba gave a cold smile, his gaze sweeping the area. "Even if he had twice as many late Nascent Divinity experts, Ian Song cannot escape his fate today!"
Thinking of Diana Toba suffering in Ten-Thousand-Ghost Valley, Fletcher’s jaw tightened, and his eyes turned ice-cold as he stared at the carriage, killing intent radiating from his gaze.
"Die!"
The good cop once again summoned the giant jade-green sword and slashed toward the carriage.
Just then, a massive black palm print appeared, effortlessly knocking the jade-green sword aside.
Next, an elderly man stepped out of the carriage, looking calm and composed.
"If you want to harm Young Master Song, you’ll have to get past me first!"
As he spoke, the old man floated forward and launched an attack at the three mid Soul-Split experts.
Although the old man wasn’t as strong as Old Man Tanner, the three mid Soul-Split experts had already been injured by Old Man Tanner, so for now, they were forced into a steady retreat.
"Are you idiots just here to watch? Start fighting already!"
The bad cop struggled to hold his ground while shouting at the other fifty-three early Soul-Split experts.
"Use your magic treasures!"
A woman shouted and unleashed her magic treasure at the carriage. The others quickly followed suit, launching their own magic treasures toward the carriage.
"Hmph!"
Just then, a cold snort rang out as three elders stepped out of the carriage, each waving their palms and easily knocking away the incoming magic treasures.
"Damn, how did three more late Soul-Split experts pop out?"
Seeing this, the fifty-plus early Soul-Split experts were dumbfounded.
Still, their numbers gave them courage—otherwise, they would have already turned and fled.
Several miles away, on a small hilltop, stood three men. At the front was a handsome young man in black, no older than his twenties, with a flame-shaped mark on his brow. If Ian Song were here, he would recognize him as Fletcher Toba, Divine Son of the Fire God Church. Behind Fletcher stood two burly middle-aged men, both late Soul-Split experts, watching the battlefield from afar.
"I never thought Ian Song would have five late Soul-Split experts by his side!" one of the burly men exclaimed.
Fletcher Toba gave a cold smile, his gaze sweeping the area. "Even if he had twice as many late Soul-Split experts, Ian Song cannot escape his fate today!"
Thinking of Diana Toba suffering in Ten-Thousand-Ghost Valley, Fletcher’s jaw tightened, and his eyes turned ice-cold as he stared at the carriage, killing intent radiating from his gaze.