Imperial Scepter

The five people walked briskly along the forest path.

The ambush that had just occurred was glossed over by Gao Chun, and although everyone was still somewhat shaken, they gradually calmed down.

Sunlight filters through the branches and leaves, casting dappled shadows on the road.

Wang Hu walked on the far right with his fists clenched, still feeling sullen because he hadn't been able to help Gao Chun earlier.

Gao Chengzhi's face still showed some lingering fear, and his little hands tightly gripped Gao Chun's clothes.

Li Daoqiu frowned slightly, remaining vigilant as a scout, his eyes constantly scanning the dense forest on both sides.

Huang Xiaoming then reverted to his usual charming and diplomatic demeanor, occasionally making lighthearted remarks in an attempt to ease the atmosphere.

Gao Chun walked at the front, his expression calm and seemingly composed, but in reality, his mind was constantly tense.

He had just killed Li Tianjiao and two other cultivators from the aristocratic clans. This place wasn't too far from Li Family Village, and if he were to expose even the slightest clue, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Moreover, he had consumed one-third of the thirty strands of energy from the bloodline crystal, which required a bloodline bead to replenish, and he was heartbroken.

But just as the group had walked less than half a mile, Gao Chun suddenly stopped and his expression changed drastically.

The blood vessel crystal in his heart began to pulsate up and down.

This indicates that someone within a 300-meter radius harbored ill intentions towards him.

Stop.

At Gao Chun's command, all five people stopped.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the branches and leaves, casting dappled shadows on the five people. The world was peaceful and serene.

But no one expected that this peace would be completely shattered.

boom--!!!

A terrifying aura, violent, domineering, and overwhelming, suddenly erupted from the bend ahead without warning!

The pale purple mystic energy surged like a purple raging tide, its imposing aura pressing down on all sides, even the air seemed to freeze instantly.

The gentle breeze suddenly stopped, and the roadside grass and trees were bent over, emitting a slight rustling sound.

The five of them, Gao Chun and his companions, stopped abruptly at the same moment.

Everyone's faces instantly darkened.

"A formidable enemy is at hand!"

Li Daoqiu's voice was low and urgent, and a faint purple aura of profound energy flowed through him in an instant.

With a swift movement, he blocked Gao Chun's right side.

His movements were lightning fast, without the slightest hesitation.

Wang Hu reacted more directly, roaring as his burly body moved out like an iron tower, blocking Gao Chun's path.

His fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white, and a surge of pale purple energy coursed through him. His eyes were fierce like those of a hungry tiger as he stared intently at the direction from which the aura was coming from.

The playfulness and complaints on Gao Chengzhi's face vanished instantly, his small face tightened, and his pale red Xuan Qi steadily covered his fists.

Although he was the youngest, he did not back down in the slightest, staying close to the team and ready to fight alongside them at any time.

The smile on Huang Xiaoming's face vanished completely, replaced by a resolute expression, and he quickly stepped to the side to block.

Gao Chun slowly raised his head, and a barely perceptible chill flashed deep in the calm depths of his eyes.

He could clearly sense that the other party's cultivation level was firmly at the sixth level of the Bronze Realm.

It was two whole minor realms higher than his current suppressed four-star cultivation level.

More importantly, he had just gone through a major battle and his strength had not yet recovered.

next moment.

A figure dressed in a black brocade robe slowly strolled out from behind the bend.

The young man looked to be in his early twenties, with a handsome face but an air of deep-seated arrogance and coldness.

His eyebrows were raised, his eyes looked down on others, and a condescending smile played on his lips, as if he were looking down on a group of insignificant ants.

The young man's gaze lazily swept over Gao Chun and his group of five, his eyes lightly passing over Huang Xiaoming, Li Daoqiu, and Wang Hu.

In his eyes, these three people were like pebbles on the roadside, utterly worthless, not even worthy of his second glance.

Only when his gaze fell on Gao Chun and Gao Chengzhi did a faint glint of greed and amusement finally flash in his eyes.

"Gao Chun, Gao Chengzhi?"

The young man in black robes spoke, his voice not loud, but carrying an unquestionable tone of command, arrogant to the extreme.

"I am a core disciple of the Human Puppet Sect. I was passing by today when I was drawn by a fierce battle and unexpectedly encountered the two of you. You two are lucky."

"I'm giving you a chance to rise to the top in one step—come with me, join the Human Puppet Sect, and receive its core inheritance."

He spoke of it so casually, as if he were giving alms to a beggar.

Deep down, he had already decided on the outcome.

Kidnapping Gao Chun and Gao Chengzhi, two geniuses with three-color Dao seeds, was nothing more than a trivial matter for him, something he could easily handle.

The five young men in front of him had a maximum cultivation level of only four-star high-purity bronze, and were not worth his full strength.

They can suppress with a wave of their hand and crush with a step.

The bloodline crystal in Gao Chun's chest was throbbing violently, indicating that the young man harbored deep malice towards him, and it seemed that another great battle was about to begin.

Since a major battle is unavoidable, there's no need to give the other side a friendly face.

Having just killed three people, he was still somewhat agitated. His expression was indifferent as he softly uttered two words.

"Get out of the way."

There was no anger, no passion, only pure, utter disdain.

So what if they're from the Puppet Sect? If they harbor ill will towards me, Gao Chun, I'll kill them.

He was just a sixth-level Bronze Realm cultivator, yet he had just killed two of them.

The disdain and languor on the young man's face froze instantly.

He seemed somewhat unable to believe his ears.

How dare a mere fourth-star Bronze Realm country boy speak to him in such a tone?

How dare you directly refuse the opportunity he offered?

After a brief moment of astonishment, a surge of intense anger and sarcasm instantly welled up in his heart.

"You ungrateful wretch."

The black-robed youth let out a cold laugh, his voice icy and chilling, and the oppressive aura emanating from him surged once more.

"I originally wanted to save you some face, but since you refuse to listen to reason and are forced to drink the penalty cup, then don't blame me for being ruthless."

"First, we'll cripple these three troublesome pieces of trash, then we'll tie you both up and take you back to the Human Puppet Sect!"

The moment he finished speaking, he moved.

There was no probing, no holding back.

The profound power of the sixth-level Bronze Realm cultivator erupted without reservation, and the pale purple profound power surged out like a raging tide.

With a flash of movement, as fast as a ghost, he pounced directly on Huang Xiaoming, who was closest to him!

In his view, the simplest approach was to deal with the weakest one first, making an example of him to deter others.

"Watch out, Xiaoming!"

Gao Chun let out a low shout.

His Xuan power can be replenished at any time with the energy of the bloodline crystal, but after fighting fiercely with two adult Xuan practitioners, his physical strength is basically exhausted and he will need some time to recover.

The second and most important reason is that Gao Chun always understood his responsibility as the team captain.

He couldn't possibly rush into everything alone. The other party was just a young man, but they were a team, and he wanted his team to cooperate.

If you always rush into things by yourself, how will your teammates feel?

I hadn't let them go to the dense forest before, so they must have some reservations.

Now that only one young man has arrived, what will his teammates think if he rushes forward alone again?

The book says: An excellent team captain is not only outstanding in ability, but more importantly, he must unite his teammates and bring their hearts together.

He hasn't been reading books for nothing these past few years; he knows a thing or two about leadership and team cohesion.

So he stood still, partly to recover his strength and partly to test his teammates' teamwork.

Huang Xiaoming's face turned pale instantly. The opponent was too fast and the pressure was too strong. He didn't have time to make any dodging movements.

The shadow of death instantly enveloped my entire body.

At this critical moment.

A burly figure charged forward fearlessly.

"Don't you dare hurt my brother!"

Wang Hu roared so loudly that he didn't even consider the difference in cultivation level between himself and his opponent.

He turned around abruptly, using his broad and sturdy back to block Huang Xiaoming from view.

boom--! ! !

The black-robed youth, filled with rage, delivered a powerful blow that slammed into Wang Hu's back.

A terrifying pale red aura surged into Wang Hu's body like a flash flood.

Wang Hu's massive body trembled violently, a sweet taste rose in his throat, and he spat out a mouthful of scalding blood.

It stained the ground in front of him red, and also stained Huang Xiaoming's clothes behind him red.

But he gritted his teeth and planted his legs firmly on the ground like iron pillars, not retreating even half a step.

"Wang Hu!"

Huang Xiaoming's eyes instantly turned red, and tears welled up uncontrollably.

He never expected that Wang Hu, the village's unsociable and arrogant man, would actually shield him from this fatal blow.

"I'm fine... I can still fight..."

Wang Hu's voice was hoarse and his whole body was trembling, but he still stood straight and stood at the forefront.

As long as his brothers are alive, he will not retreat.

When his brother was injured, he risked his life to protect him.

This was his declaration of loyalty to the Gao Chun team, made while he was convinced of Gao Chun's abilities.

Li Daoqiu's eyes were icy cold. When he saw Wang Hu was injured, he did not hesitate at all.

With a leap, he moved like a lone wolf in the dark night, gathering pale purple profound energy at the soles of his feet.

Holding a sharp dagger, instead of helping or dodging, he lunged straight for the black-robed youth's vital point on the waist!

Attack where the enemy must defend, and use your own body to buy your teammates a chance to survive!

"A bronze mirror made of three stars, yet you dare to show off your limited skills before an expert."

The young man in black robes scoffed disdainfully, completely disregarding Li Daoqiu's sudden attack.

With a backhand flick, pale red profound energy condensed in his hand and slammed it hard onto Li Daoqiu's shoulder.

Snapped!

A crisp sound.

Li Daoqiu's shoulder bone was dislocated, causing excruciating pain and his profound energy instantly became disordered.

He staggered back several steps, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, his face as pale as paper.

But his eyes remained firm, without the slightest fear. After landing, he immediately adjusted his body and prepared to pounce again.

Never live alone, never abandon the team.

Gao Chengzhi, the youngest of the group, saw Wang Hu and Li Daoqiu injured one after another, his eyes turned red and his jaw clenched.

Her little face was filled with anger and determination.

He suddenly charged out, unleashing his full power of pale red Xuan energy, his small body resembling an enraged little leopard.

Without dodging or avoiding, he lunged straight at the black-robed youth's calves, using his most naive attack to disrupt the enemy and cover his teammates.

In his heart.

His uncle is family; Wang Hu, Dao Qiu, and Xiao Ming are all his brothers.

When his brother was injured, he was determined to fight to the death.

Gao Chun stood still, watching the scene unfold before him.

Seeing Wang Hu shield his wound with his back, determined not to retreat even at the cost of his life.

Seeing Li Daoqiu launch a surprise attack, fearless and undaunted.

Despite his young age and weak strength, Gao Chengzhi dared to face a powerful enemy.

Seeing Huang Xiaoming's red-rimmed eyes, he was ready to fight to the death.

A surge of intense heat instantly coursed through his limbs and bones.

Warmth and murderous intent intertwined, penetrating to the bone.

This is his team.

This is his brother.

Share the blessings and share the difficulties.

Never abandon, never give up, live and die together, never leave each other.

This brotherhood is more precious than the Mystic Vein Origin Pearl and more powerful than any magic technique.

Gao Chun's eyes flashed with a cold light, and his voice was as steady as a bell, clearly reaching everyone's ears.

"Chengzhi, focus your attack on the lower three routes to hinder his movements!"

"Daoqiu, flank from behind and harass, focusing on their weak points!"

"Xiao Ming, harass him from the side and distract him!"

"Wang Hu, protect the flanks, don't engage in a direct confrontation!"

Each tactical command was clear, precise, and calm.

Like a stabilizing force, it instantly calmed everyone's panicked minds.

Without the slightest hesitation or doubt.

"yes!"

The four responded in unison, their voices, though tinged with injury, were unwavering.

next moment.

Gao Chengzhi lowered his body, like a nimble raccoon, and repeatedly pounded the black-robed youth's knees and ankles with his fists, which were filled with light red Xuan power.

Every strike was delivered with all one's might; even if it couldn't break through the defense, the attack would relentlessly entangle the opponent, never letting up.

Li Daoqiu endured the excruciating pain in his shoulder, his movements erratic, relying on his assassin's instincts to constantly circle behind the black-robed youth.

The fingertip dagger would occasionally stab out, cunning, ruthless, and precise, aiming straight for vital points such as the waist, back of the heart, and the back of the knee.

Huang Xiaoming suppressed his panic and activated his light purple Xuan power at full force, leaping and shouting like a nimble monkey on the side.

He would throw stones at times and feint attacks at others, doing his best to attract the attention of the young man in black robes and create opportunities for his teammates.

He was only at the second level of the Bronze Realm; a direct attack would only cause trouble for his teammates.

Wang Hu, panting heavily, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and gathered pale blue Xuan power in his palms, constantly harassing the area from the side.

As soon as the black-robed youth showed the slightest weakness, he would pounce on him immediately. Even when facing the attack, he would not dodge or retreat, but would block it with his body.

The four worked together seamlessly, their movements perfectly coordinated, complementing each other's strengths and weaknesses, and often using their bodies to shield their teammates from attacks.

Like a battle formation that has been executed countless times, their tacit understanding is at its peak.

For the first time, a flicker of emotion appeared on the black-robed youth's previously haughty and disdainful expression.

He raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.

These teenagers, whom he considered like chickens and dogs, actually possessed such terrifying teamwork.

They trusted each other, protected each other, and entrusted each other with their backs.

This sentiment is quite meaningful.

But it only has a vague idea.

Faced with an absolute disparity in strength, all cooperation is futile.

"Very well, since you're so eager to die together, then I'll grant your wish."

"Let me show you the true power of magic!"

The black-robed youth let out a cold shout, mobilized his internal energy, struck the spell seed in his dantian, and activated the spell.

Offensive Technique: Golden Claw That Pierces the Sky!

He clenched his right hand tightly, and pale red Xuan power frantically condensed, transforming into a red claw more than half a zhang long.

The claws gleamed with a cold, icy light, tearing through the air with a piercing shriek.

This is an extremely powerful and aggressive top-tier bronze-level spell, with overwhelming power that can tear apart any defense.

The Xuanli Golden Claw flew through the air toward Li Daoqiu; during the previous attack, this kid was the most formidable.

At the same time, he pressed his left hand down in mid-air, and the ground shook violently.

Eight chains formed from pale blue profound energy burst forth from the ground, darting out like venomous snakes and coiling around Gao Chengzhi's legs.

"Control Technique: Eight Locks to Bind the Body!"

Once a control-type spell is locked, not only will the flow of profound energy be obstructed, but the body will also be completely imprisoned.

One offensive, one controlling – two techniques, used simultaneously!

The black-robed youth sneered inwardly. A few greenhorns who didn't even know magic dared to contend with him?

With a single move, these five arrogant brats will all be suppressed.

It's all over.

He could already imagine the scene of receiving a great reward from the sect after abducting Gao Chun and Gao Chengzhi back to the Human Puppet Sect.

But in that split second...

Gao Chun moved, activating the profound energy within his dantian to strike the seed of the spell and unleash the spell.

"Assassination Technique: Level 3 Thunder Shadow!"

In an instant, a pale purple aura of profound energy erupted from Gao Chun's body like thunder, surrounding him and making him appear like a thunderous war god.

At the same time, three illusory, sharp, and extremely fast phantoms instantly surrounded him.

Four figures, gleaming like lightning, stood on the battlefield, their true forms indistinguishable from each other.

next moment.

The four figures, streaked with lightning, vanished from their original spot.

It wasn't running, it wasn't jumping, but the speed was so fast that it exceeded the limits of what the naked eye could perceive.

Everyone only saw a blur before their eyes as a purple light flashed and disappeared.

Gao Chun appeared in front of Gao Chengzhi and pulled him away instantly.

Just then, eight pale blue chains appeared on the spot, but they missed and failed to subdue anyone.

Gao Chengzhi appeared unharmed on the other side.

"What?!"

For the first time, genuine shock appeared on the young man's face.

"Gao Chun actually learned assassin techniques, and these techniques are at least top-tier."

"This Gao Changhe actually has top-notch techniques for his son to learn. It seems that the rumors of him being unfathomable are indeed true."

"That's all there is to it. Did you think you could contend with me with just a top-tier spell?"

The young man in black robes remained disdainful, looking down on the five members of the Gao Chun team as if they were ants.

He then manipulated the chains, locking them around Huang Xiaoming, wanting to see how he would save him.

Meanwhile, facing the three lightning-like figures rushing towards him, the black-robed youth didn't bother to use any spells.

He clenched his fist and used only his physical strength to blast towards a figure.

With his cultivation at the sixth level of the Bronze Realm, what could three phantoms do to him?

Sure enough, the illusion shattered with a crash, breaking like glass, without wasting the young man even a moment.

At the same time, a flash of purple light appeared, and Gao Chun instantly appeared beside Li Daoqiu.

He grabbed Li Daoqiu, who was nearly struck by the black eagle's claws, and pulled him back sharply.

It was extremely dangerous; they narrowly escaped a fatal blow.

"team leader!"

Li Daoqiu's voice trembled slightly, his heart filled with indescribable emotion.

In the most dangerous moments, the captain would always be there for him immediately.

Gao Chun watched as he saved two of his companions, while his three lightning illusions were simultaneously shattered by the black-robed youth.

He looked intently at the young man in black robes; he was indeed no ordinary person.

He had already learned two spells at the sixth level of the Bronze Realm, and according to his knowledge, these two spells were at least at the top level of the Bronze Realm.

"It seems that his claim of being a core disciple of the Human Puppet Sect is indeed true."

"Since the Human Puppet Sect dares to call itself a sect, it must be one of the ten sects and twenty-one schools."

As a sect that once ruled the Nine Provinces, they certainly don't lack top-tier bronze-level spells.

"It seems that dealing with this young man will indeed require some effort."

Gao Chun frowned, sensing the gravity of the situation.

He quickly gathered his thoughts and continued to save Huang Xiaoming, because the light blue chains were about to engulf him.

He transformed into a bolt of lightning, quickly dragging Huang Xiaoming away, and the light blue chains missed their target once more.

The black-robed youth simultaneously unleashed two more spells, one offensive and one controlling, continuously targeting the other team members.

Li Daoqiu and his three companions also kept dodging, while helping and cooperating with each other, and even taking the blows for their companions.

Brothers shield each other from harm, protecting one another.

Back to back, we'll share life and death.

This brotherhood was amplified infinitely in the bloody battle, becoming deeply ingrained and earth-shattering.

Gao Chun saw it all, felt the pain in his heart, and his fighting spirit burned to its peak.

Gao Chun also continuously used his level three Thunder Shadow Technique to save the four team members.

The purple light flashed and crisscrossed, and each time it appeared, it saved its brothers from dire straits.

Save Chengzhi, protect Daoqiu, pull Xiaoming, and support Wang Hu.

He was like the axis of the entire team, supporting everyone and sustaining this seemingly doomed battle.

His inner energy in his dantian quickly dried up.

With a thought, he used two strands of energy from the bloodline crystal, instantly filling his dantian with profound energy.

His tactics and strategy were very simple: use Xuan power to wear them down.

"The opponent is at the sixth level of the Bronze Realm and has more Xuan power than me, but I can use the energy in the bloodline crystal to wear him down directly."

"Once his profound energy is exhausted, I can go up and easily defeat him."

A quarter of an hour passed.

The contempt on the young man's face vanished completely, replaced by solemnity and seriousness.

He finally put away all his contempt.

The high-purity opponent before him was far stronger than he had imagined, and was worth a serious fight.

"Interesting. As expected of a genius with three-colored Dao seeds. You can still maintain a lot of profound energy. Is it due to your innate talent or the birth of a bloodline supernatural power? Let me test your abilities."

The black-robed youth took a deep breath, and his "Golden Claw of Sky Piercing" and "Eight Locks of Body Binding" stopped attacking other team members and focused on attacking Gao Chun.

"I'll use one offensive move and one control move to deal with you simultaneously. Let's see how you dodge that!"

However, he underestimated Gao Chun's application of the third-level Raikage.

He blended in among the three phantoms, making it difficult to distinguish the four figures from the real ones.

Sometimes this leads the young man in black robes to misjudge the situation, realizing that he has only controlled an illusion.

Sometimes, high purity can be directly shaken off by speed.

And so, another quarter of an hour passed as the black-robed youth fought Gao Chun.

The more the young man fought, the more terrified he became.

His state of mind is undergoing a dramatic transformation.

From the very beginning, they were arrogant and disdainful.

From the unexpected surprise in the middle, to facing the opponent squarely.

Then came the seriousness, dedication, and all-out effort.

And this moment.

He was filled with utter shock and disbelief.

The person in front of me, Gao Chun, is clearly only a fourth-level Bronze Realm cultivator. His movements are strange and his spells are powerful, which is fine.

What drove him to the brink of despair was the high purity of his profound energy, which seemed inexhaustible!

A level 3 Raikage.

Two times, he was a Level 3 Raikage.

Three times, Level 3 Raikage.

Four times... five times...

After countless uses, any Bronze Realm cultivator would have long since exhausted their Xuan power and collapsed to the ground.

High purity is achievable.

His aura remained calm, his movements swift, and his lightning strikes were unleashed at will, showing no signs of exhaustion of his profound energy.

"It seems that this high-purity bloodline has been born or awakened, and can restore the profound power of the bloodline."

"Even if you have developed supernatural powers through your bloodline, I don't believe I can't defeat you."

"I possess four Dao Seeds, dual magical arts, and a Bronze Six-Star cultivation level. Surely I can't handle or suppress a mere Four-Star youth?"

The black-robed youth quickly swallowed two second-grade Xuan pills to replenish his Xuan power. While releasing spells to attack Gao Chun, he also refined the Xuan pills to replenish his nearly depleted Xuan power.

As he continued to attack, he discovered that Gao Chun was still casting spells.

He watched helplessly as Gao Chun's aura became weak and unstable, and he was about to exhaust himself.

Available in the next second.

Gao Chun became energetic again, his Xuan power as abundant as ever.

His profound power is inexhaustible, making him stronger with each battle.

It defies common sense and goes against the natural order.

"This bloodline ability... is extraordinary, it's practically heaven-defying! The regenerative power is just too strong!"

"Only the most legendary bloodline supernatural abilities can achieve the transformation of profound energy, making it endless and inexhaustible."

The black-robed youth's gaze towards Gao Chun completely changed.

It's no longer about looking down on it, no longer about scrutinizing it, no longer about being wary of it.

Instead, it's extreme greed, fervor, madness, and an unwavering determination to win!

Three-colored Dao Seeds, plus heaven-defying bloodline supernatural powers.

If such a genius is brought back to the Puppet Sect, he will surely rise to the top and become the most core disciple of the sect.

There's even a chance that the sect leader might personally take him in as a disciple!

"Gao Chun! You truly are a genius!"

The black-robed youth roared furiously, his entire body surging with profound energy as he unleashed his strongest attack.

The "Golden Claw of Sky Piercing" and the "Eight Locks of Body Binding" were unleashed simultaneously, their combined power overwhelming the sky and the earth.

Faced with the black-robed youth's all-out attack, Gao Chun did not wander in the distance as before, or use illusions to deceive the real person.

Instead, he charged directly at the young man in black robes.

He discovered that the black-robed youth's profound energy had been exhausted after unleashing his full power in a single attack.

Four lightning bolts charged towards the black-robed youth like tigers descending a mountain, causing him to feel a sense of unease, and a hint of panic flashed deep in his eyes.

The true form of Gao Chun constantly weaved and shifted among the three illusions, and the four figures also kept changing, making it impossible for the black-robed youth to distinguish who was real and who was fake.

Boom boom boom boom boom—

Just as the pale blue chains and pale red claws were about to fall, Gao Chun himself narrowly avoided these two spells.

What was hit were his three phantoms.

After such a long battle, and with his physical strength not yet fully recovered, his face was as pale as paper, and his forehead was covered in fine sweat.

But he still gritted his teeth and charged toward the black-robed youth.

The black-robed youth was now completely drained of his spiritual energy, his face was pale, and he was at his wit's end.

Gao Chun gripped the dagger, its sharp edge aimed at the black-robed youth's chest, throat, and other vital points.

Extremely fast speed, extremely sharp angle, and extremely powerful force.

Although the black-robed youth had exhausted his profound energy, his combat experience remained, and he narrowly avoided the sharp dagger.

But Gao Chun wouldn't give him a chance to breathe.

His left hand, which was suspended, gathered a pale red aura of profound energy and then slammed it directly into the black-robed youth's chest.

In an attempt to dodge a dagger aimed at his throat, the young man in black was accidentally struck by Gao Chun's attack.

His blood and qi surged like a raging torrent, and he was in excruciating pain. His massive body staggered backward.

Each step left a deep footprint on the hard ground.

Ultimately, they could no longer hold on.

"puff--"

A mouthful of scalding hot blood gushed out.

We lost!

He was in his twenties, a four-colored Dao Seed, a six-star Bronze Realm cultivator, and possessed two magical techniques.

Defeated by a teenager who was only a teenager

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh..."

The young man in black robes clutched his chest, writhing in pain, and gasped for breath.

His face was ashen, and there was still blood at the corner of his mouth.

Even though he was severely injured and his breath was weak, there was no fear in his eyes. Instead, a crazy and ferocious fighting spirit ignited within him.

The fighting spirit did not extinguish; instead, it surged like a raging fire that consumed everything, burning fiercely in his eyes.

He slightly raised his chin, his neck taut and straight. Although he was clearly at his limit, his eyes still held a deep-seated arrogance and determination.

His eyebrows were raised slightly, and a cold light flashed. It was the composure and ruthlessness of a prey that was already in a cage and could not escape no matter how hard it struggled.

The previous contempt had long since faded, replaced by an almost manic fervor and self-confidence.

He steadied himself firmly, enduring the excruciating pain throughout his body, without fleeing or panicking.

He slowly parted his lips, revealing a cold and eerie smile, and spoke each word slowly and deliberately, each word as cold as ice.

"Gao Chun, you are very strong, much stronger than I expected."

"Bloodline supernatural power, three-colored Dao seed, top-tier technique, four-star Bronze Realm, you are indeed a genius that comes along only once in a century."

"But do you think this battle is over just like that?"

You're wrong!

As soon as he finished speaking, the black-robed youth steadied himself completely, his eyes filled with fierce fighting spirit and his face brimming with an arrogant determination to win.

(A long chapter of 7600 words, to keep you company during the New Year.)

In 2026, may we go all out and head towards the mountains and seas in our hearts.

May we, both in and out of our books, embody the spirit of the dragon and the horse.

Happy Lunar New Year's Eve! May you achieve great success!