Cold sweat covered Chen Hu’s forehead, his body trembling slightly...
Shang Xiangyu was going to kill him!
Chen Hu did not expect this day to come so soon!
He thought he would have to wait until his three-year term was up, during the assessment period!
At the moment when a mist of blood spurted from Yin Cong’s chest, Chen Hu’s most primal survival instinct overpowered his fear of Shang Xiangyu.
His face turned ashen, his eyes filled with malice.
Suddenly, Chen Hu reached to his waist and pulled, the Nine-section Steel Whip leaving his waist and landing in his hand.
His body leapt up like a startled rabbit in the grass; as he leapt, his right hand flicked, and the Nine-section Steel Whip in his hand, like a snake emerging from its hole, flashed with a gleam of icy light. Just as Yin Cong fell, the tail blade of the whip scraped past Yin Cong’s shoulder and suddenly stabbed at Shang Xiangyu’s brow.
This was Chen Hu, seizing the perfect moment!
However, it was not a moment to kill Shang Xiangyu, but rather a slim chance for him to escape.
The moment Chen Hu launched the Nine-section Whip, his body soared, executing his Body Technique to its pinnacle, rushing towards the cave entrance.
As Yin Cong fell, Shang Xiangyu noticed a flash of cold light before his eyes; the tail blade of the Nine-section Whip almost scraped past Yin Cong’s shoulder, flying towards him.
Shang Xiangyu’s eyes narrowed, and he suddenly raised his hand, a white glow shooting from his fingertips, aiming at the tip of the tail blade that Chen Hu had flung.
At the instant when the fingertip and the icy blade met, in the flickering white light, the tail blade of the Nine-section Whip fractured inch by inch, turning into fine powder, exploding into a cloud of dust the size of a fist.
The entire Nine-section Whip was then sent flying backward by an erupting, invisible Power!
This was the strength of a Martial Artist at the Primordial Qi Realm Great Perfection!
Chen Hu’s precisely timed strike apparently forced Shang Xiangyu to reveal part of his hidden power, this explosion of Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi being evidently more violent than when he killed Yin Cong!
But just as Chen Hu tried to move, a shadow flickered before his eyes. He saw Duan Rong, who was originally not far from his side, suddenly leap up, his foot kicking towards him in mid-air.
Chen Hu did not expect Duan Rong to suddenly leap out and intercept him. His eyes turned ruthless, and with a flip of his hand, a dagger appeared in his grasp.
This dagger was the one he used to skin his offerings when feeding the Black Blood Vine, incredibly sharp.
Chen Hu gripped the dagger tightly, channeling his Inner Breath, and slashed towards Duan Rong’s kicking foot!
Originally, Chen Hu thought he would see flesh and blood fly, severing Duan Rong’s foot.
But all he heard was a clear metallic "ding," as Duan Rong’s shoe burst open at the toe, revealing a golden Tiger Head.
It was precisely the Tiger Head Kick that Duan Rong practiced with the Broken Stele Leg technique.
Duan Rong’s kick, infused with Inner Breath, sent Chen Hu’s body flying backward.
Duan Rong’s form floated down, blocking Chen Hu’s escape route to the cave entrance.
Chen Hu staggered back several steps before stopping, his face ashen, his gaze sharp as a knife. "Duan Rong, you..."
Not only was Chen Hu taken aback, but even Shang Xiangyu and Pan Yong, not far away, looked on in shock.
Duan Rong met Shang Xiangyu’s gaze and suddenly cupped his fists, saying, "Master Shang, I am willing to kill Chen Hu for you as a pledge of allegiance! Duan Rong pledges a lifetime of loyalty to Master Shang, never wavering!"
Upon hearing this, Shang Xiangyu merely looked at Duan Rong with an expressionless face.
But Pan Yong and Chen Hu both had a change of expression!
A cold glint flashed across Chen Hu’s face, and he suddenly laughed, "Duan Rong, do you think that using me as a stepping stone will make Shang Xiangyu, that madman, spare you? Daydreaming!"
Duan Rong’s gaze sharpened, "Once a teacher, always a teacher. Whether I am spared is up to Master Shang, not you or me!"
With that, Duan Rong sharply unsheathed the Minghong Saber, his form blurring as he charged towards Chen Hu!
As Duan Rong’s form flickered, Pan Yong’s pupils suddenly contracted.
Duan Rong’s Body Technique was even more exquisite than what he usually displayed.
At this moment, Duan Rong held nothing back, using every means at his disposal!
And without his usual weapon, the Nine-section Whip, Chen Hu’s combat strength was already diminished. Now, Duan Rong unleashed the Duster Mountain-Cracking Saber, Broken Stele Leg, and Hundred Flowers Mistaken Body Step, forcing Chen Hu into a steady retreat.
Duan Rong’s saber techniques were wide-ranging and forceful, forcing Chen Hu to struggle to hold on with his dagger, his grip weakening repeatedly, the weapon almost slipping from his grasp, yet after a few moves, Duan Rong’s saber techniques suddenly became meticulous, subtly slicing towards his dagger-wielding fingers.
Chen Hu was shocked, flipping his hand to defend, but at this moment, Duan Rong suddenly twisted his waist, lifting his right leg and kicking out abruptly, striking Chen Hu in the chest and sending him flying backward.
In mid-air, Chen Hu’s body lost balance, his Inner Breath chaotic, as a large spray of blood erupted like mist...
Pan Yong, who initially stood beside Shang Xiangyu with no intention to act, saw Chen Hu fly backward, and his gaze shifted as his hand reached to his lower back, pulling out a Soft Sword with a resounding clang.
Pan Yong’s form suddenly surged upward, stabbing towards Chen Hu as he flew backward in mid-air.
Pan Yong, at this moment, intended to seize the opportunity to kill Chen Hu, denying Duan Rong the chance to secure his pledge of allegiance!
Just moments ago, Duan Rong had displayed an array of Martial Arts, including Saber Technique, Leg Technique, and Body Technique, not only astonishing him but also causing Shang Xiangyu’s expression to change slightly!
In mid-air, Chen Hu saw Pan Yong rise up, a sword grinding towards his throat.
At this moment, suspended in mid-air, his Inner Breath was in disarray, but he refused to die without a fight.
Chen Hu shifted his body slightly, thrusting the dagger in his hand towards Pan Yong’s wrist.
As Pan Yong leapt, Duan Rong’s side flickered with the remnants of plum blossoms, three Flying Sabers shooting out from a burst of plum blossom shadows!