"???"

Zhao Xingjin was still a bit baffled at first, not quite understanding why Ye Liuyun suddenly said that.

But then he saw the marks of pill fire burns clearly appear on Ye Liuyun’s palm, and yet, those wounds swiftly healed before his very eyes.

At the same time.

The mark left by Nether Bone Fire was also disappearing little by little.

"How is this possible!"

Even if they were both Grandmaster Realm.

Zhao Xingjin had tested the overbearing power of Nether Bone Fire many times—there was no way the other could break his pill fire so easily.

"You’re not the only one special in this world!"

Nether Bone Fire was tyrannical, but in the end, it was just a gold-quality entry.

But Ye Liuyun’s Immortal Body was a red-quality talent entry.

Moreover, even without the Immortal Body, Ye Liuyun had several other gold-quality talent entries of the same type—any one of them was enough to suppress the erosion of this Nether Bone Fire.

"Could it be...?"

Ye Liuyun’s words made Zhao Xingjin realize something.

In this world, some people have unique gifts in certain aspects—could Ye Liuyun be one of them?

The other’s talent could just happen to counter his own Nether Bone Fire?

What the hell.

This was just too much of a coincidence!

"Time’s about up. This farce ought to end now!"

The true power of Nether Bone Fire—he’d already seen it clearly.

So next, there was no need to waste any more time.

As he spoke, Ye Liuyun made his move.

"Slash!"

The black blade at his waist was swiftly drawn by Ye Liuyun.

The instant the blade left the sheath, scorching flames ignited along its body. With his Extreme Yang Physique upgraded, Ye Liuyun’s yang energy was even more intense now.

Even without pairing it with a perfectly matching cultivation technique.

Just circulating inner strength alone was blazing hot, as if it could reduce everything to ashes.

Ye Liuyun moved fast.

Zhao Xingjin, after snapping back, had no time for doubts—he hurriedly raised his hands to defend.

Grandmaster Realm protective inner strength was certainly far above that of Innate Realm.

Ordinary blades, and even some rare spiritual qi, couldn’t break through the Grandmaster Realm’s protective True Qi.

Whatever.

Zhao Xingjin, though hastily raising his hands to block, was actually utterly confident—he didn’t believe Ye Liuyun’s attack could hurt him.

People,

sometimes just get wrapped up in this mysterious confidence.

Just like Zhao Xingjin at that moment.

But.

In the blink of an eye, Zhao Xingjin regretted it.

The moment Ye Liuyun’s black blade swept over, it cut through like a knife through tofu—Zhao Xingjin’s protective True Qi was shattered instantly and effortlessly.

The sensation of zero resistance made it feel like his protective True Qi didn’t even exist.

Zhao Xingjin realized it, but too late.

"Whoosh!"

One slash.

An arm was flung high, landing hard on the ground.

Zhao Xingjin’s arm was hacked clean off.

"Ah!"

Stunned for a moment, the belated pain made Zhao Xingjin scream aloud.

This scene—

made the remaining Zhao family members turn and look, unable to help themselves.

And it was that very look—

that completely stunned those in the Zhao family who still wanted to resist.

The source of all their confidence was Zhao Xingjin, the Patriarch.

Now that even the Patriarch had lost an arm, continuing to resist seemed pretty pointless.

"Middle stage! No, with this strength, you’re late stage—Grandmaster Realm late stage! Who the hell are you!"

If he were only Grandmaster Realm early stage, he couldn’t have broken my protective True Qi so easily.

An intermediate stage wouldn’t have been able either. Only Grandmaster Realm late stage could manage this. But it was hard to believe—Ye Liuyun was just too young. If he’s already this strong now, what about in the future?

Damn it, just what kind of monster had the Zhao family crossed this time!

"Southern Governor of Embroidered Uniform Guard, Ye Liuyun!"

Looking at Zhao Xingjin, clutching his severed arm and half-kneeling on the ground,

Ye Liuyun lazily announced his name.

"The Young Grandmaster—it’s you!"

Sure enough.

Even though he’d never seen Ye Liuyun, he’d definitely heard of his reputation.

The title "Young Grandmaster" had probably spread through all of Great Qian’s territory by now.

The martial world gossips more than anyone, and news like this spreads fast.

"Now that you know it’s me, can you die in peace?"

"..."

Zhao Xingjin had no intention of dying here.

He’d only just awakened his pill fire talent. Next, he should be making a name for himself, letting the whole world know who he was—not dying silently like this.

It wasn’t as though all the Zhao family members had given up.

Just as Ye Liuyun sheathed his black blade and walked toward Zhao Xingjin step by step—

a middle-aged man appeared out of nowhere, leaping between Ye Liuyun and Zhao Xingjin to shield the latter.

"Patriarch, you hurry and run! I’ll hold him off!"

"Uncle!"

This man was Zhao Xingjin’s second uncle, his cultivation at peak Innate Realm—the highest in the Zhao family aside from Zhao Xingjin himself.

Normally, he was always cold and aloof.

Zhao Xingjin never expected his uncle would step in to protect him at a time like this.

"The Purple Jade Pill Furnace! If we get the Purple Jade Pill Furnace, the Zhao family still has a chance!"

This man wasn’t just acting for Zhao Xingjin, but for the future of the Zhao family.

As long as Zhao Xingjin survived, they’d still have hope.

Conversely,

if anything happened to Zhao Xingjin, the Zhao family would be finished.

"Alright!"

At the mention of the Purple Jade Pill Furnace,

Zhao Xingjin’s eyes lit up, clearly recalling something—then he answered seriously.

,,,,,,,