Hearing Ian Stone’s taunt, Gavin Zhu’s face turned ashen. He glanced at the Sun-Soul elder beside him.
The Zhu Family was a major clan in Hongtian City, with three Sun-Soul masters.
To ensure Ian Stone’s death, Gavin Zhu came in person and brought a Sun-Soul martialist with him.
Ah!
The Zhu Family’s Sun-Soul elder sighed softly, stepped forward, and looked at Ian Stone with some regret: "Your talent and potential are astonishing, but your greatest mistake was being born into the wrong family."
The elder’s words were veiled, but Ian understood. For some reason, a surge of anger welled up inside him. He retorted coldly: "I was indeed born into the wrong family—a family that, for wealth and power, refuses to acknowledge its own blood. And your Zhu Family, for the sake of currying favor with the Prince of Jin..."
Hearing Ian’s words, Gavin Zhu’s expression changed dramatically. He shouted, "Third Elder, don’t let him speak—kill him now!"
Die!
The Sun-Soul elder’s face also changed. If this secret got out, disaster would befall the Zhu Family. He conjured a blood-red giant palm and slammed it toward Ian.
He intended to kill him with a single palm!
Just then, a streak of red light shot in from the horizon, transforming into a crimson sword beam that slashed out.
Pfft!
The blood-red giant palm was split in two. Suddenly, a beautiful woman in a red dress appeared beside Ian.
It's her!
Ian was surprised to see the woman in red had arrived—and had even broken through to the Sun-Soul Realm.
Who are you, and why do you oppose my Zhu Family?
The Zhu Family’s Sun-Soul elder asked in a challenging tone.
The woman in red replied in a low voice: "Sorry, I don’t mean to oppose the Zhu Family, but Young Master Chu has done me a great favor. I ask you to show mercy and let me take him away."
"Absurd! If the Zhu Family wants someone dead, no one else can take him away. I advise you not to be foolish!" Gavin Zhu couldn’t sit still and spoke up. He hadn’t expected a Sun-Soul martialist to come save this brat.
"If that’s the case, then I have no choice but to offend you!" The woman in red said resolutely.
"Miss, I think you’d better leave!" Ian suddenly spoke to the woman in red.
"Don’t worry. Thanks to your technique, I advanced to Sun-Soul. Even if I have to risk my life, I’ll get you out!" The woman in red responded, her resolve growing.
"But I really don’t need your help!"
Ian was speechless.
"Young Master Chu, I know you don’t want to drag me into this, but I, Ruby Nie, don’t like owing favors. No matter what, I’ll protect you!"
Ian felt both amused and helpless. He knew that no matter what he said, she wouldn’t leave, so he said, "If that’s the case, Ruby, help me stall Gavin Zhu. Once I deal with this old man, I’ll come help you!"
Ruby Nie was stunned, not quite understanding Ian’s meaning.
Ian didn’t bother explaining further. Sword in hand, he charged at the Zhu Family’s Sun-Soul elder.
Seeing this, Ruby Nie was about to help, but Gavin Zhu stepped forward and blocked her.
Die!
Seeing Ian charging at him, the Zhu Family’s Sun-Soul elder was not alarmed but delighted. He suddenly pointed, sending out a beam.
The blood-red finger light shot out like lightning, instantly appearing at Ian’s brow.
Squelch!
His head was pierced, but not a drop of blood spilled.
But at that moment, another Ian appeared above the Sun-Soul elder, his Azure Flood-Dragon Sword radiating multicolored light as he slashed down.
Sensing the power in Ian’s sword, the Sun-Soul elder instinctively dodged and unleashed the Zhu Family’s secret martial art, Heaven-Tyrant Grand Grasp.
Boom!
Squelch!
But Ian’s sword light rose and broke through the blood-red hand, continuing toward the Sun-Soul elder.
Ian’s sword light lifted and shattered the blood-red hand, slashing straight toward the Sun-Soul elder.
Boom!
The blood-red sword light swept across, moving twice as fast as before.
Squelch!
The Sun-Soul elder’s body was cut in half.
"You wretch! You dare destroy my body—I’ll have your life!"
A massive figure burst from the severed body, forming a ten-zhang-tall giant in midair. The figure formed a fist and smashed it down at Ian.
The punch’s power had reached the peak of late Divided-Spirit—truly terrifying.
But Ian was unimpressed.
He soared into the sky, his Azure Flood-Dragon Sword turning into a rain of sword-light.
Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash!
The punch shadow shattered, and the sword light sliced the elder’s Sun-Soul into countless fragments.
But the shattered Sun-Soul quickly reformed, once again taking the elder’s shape, though his aura was much weaker.
How…how are you this strong?
The elder’s face was filled with shock and fear; even his full-powered Sun-Soul attack couldn’t hurt Ian.
Go ask in hell!
Ian strode through the air and struck again with his sword.
Bastard!
The elder was furious, transformed into a streak of light to dodge, and shouted, "Fellow Daoists, aren’t you going to help?"
Think you can escape?
Ian sneered. He realized after fighting the Zhu Family’s Sun-Soul that the elder wasn’t as strong as he’d thought—the elder’s maximum power was only late Divided-Spirit.
It was probably because he cultivated a King-Grade technique; if he had a Royal-Grade technique, his combat strength would reach early Fusion.
Skyless!
Although using this world’s martial force to drive the Heavenbreaker Sword Canon was somewhat lacking, even so, once Skyless was unleashed, the Zhu Family elder’s Sun-Soul couldn’t withstand it.
Like sunlight on snow, after one sword the elder’s Sun-Soul melted away, turning into clusters of pure spiritual power.
Absorb!
Such pure energy was extremely rare. Ian didn’t intend to let it go—he opened his mouth wide and absorbed all the scattered spiritual power.
At that moment, four figures suddenly appeared around him and attacked—two Sun-Soul elders from the Scarlet Flame Sect and two from the Lei Family.
Be careful, Young Master Chu!
Ruby Nie, fighting Gavin Zhu, saw this and instinctively flew up to help Ian, but Gavin seized the chance and struck her shoulder with a palm.
The combined attack of the four Sun-Soul martialists was enough to shatter the sky and destroy the sun—the entire void broke apart.
But Ian revealed a strange smile, quickly formed a hand seal, and the hidden grand formation erupted, covering all of Gracefield Town.
Before the four Sun-Soul elders could react, Ian triggered the Godpiercer thrust.
Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash!
Sword light flashed, easily decapitating all four, revealing their Sun-Souls.
The four, standing in the void, looked at each other in disbelief and anger. Their next thought was to escape—each tore open the void and fled.
Ian was unfazed, smiling as he turned his gaze to the terrified Gavin Zhu.
Ruby Nie, blood at her lips, was stunned. Remembering how Ian had told her to leave, and how she’d stubbornly insisted on staying, she realized how ridiculous she’d been. Her cheeks flushed—someone that strong never needed her help; she’d been overestimating herself.