Chapter Fifty-Four: Slaying the Enemy

Ye Zihan and Yan Chen were sent flying by Li Broadsword's powerful strike. While airborne, they spat blood, their inner vital energy in tumultuous disarray. Hastily, they suppressed the chaos, finally stabilizing their organs.

With resounding thuds, the two crashed heavily to the ground, grimacing in pain. Their right hands, gripping their weapons, stung with fresh wounds where blood oozed.

So this is the power of a Four Symbols cultivator, one who has stepped into the Five Elements realm? Ye Zihan’s eyes sparkled with excitement. He was eager to test himself again, scrambling to his feet and gazing up at the fierce battle between Li Broadsword and the master of Liuguang Mountain Stronghold.

Yan Chen, too, patted the dust from his clothes and wiped the blood from his lips, his eyes fixed unwaveringly on that clash beyond their reach.

Li Broadsword wielded his long blade, unleashing techniques one after another. Sparks flew, swirling like fiery serpents in the dawn light, illuminating the battleground.

The master of Liuguang Mountain Stronghold was broad-shouldered and barrel-chested, wielding two golden hammers. His stature was like a house, his weapons like boulders, pounding relentlessly, shaking the ground with thunderous force—so powerful it stirred awe and fear in all who witnessed it.

By all rights, such a frame should slow him down, yet his speed exceeded even the slight Li Broadsword by several measures. They were not of the same class; Li Broadsword struggled to keep up, retreating step by step, anxiety etched across his face.

Occasionally, after a few desperate swings, he glanced back as if waiting for someone.

“Are you hoping for the master of Qingshui Mountain Stronghold to arrive?” The master of Liuguang Mountain sneered.

Li Broadsword gritted his teeth, struggling to defend himself. “Go ahead and gloat, but when my elder brother arrives, you’ll meet your end by his hand!”

Ye Zihan and Yan Chen, watching from the sidelines, were absorbed in the spectacle. Hearing these words, they understood: Li Broadsword had to be eliminated before the master of Qingshui Mountain arrived.

With this resolve, the two moved stealthily, weapons in hand, approaching Li Broadsword from behind. His focus was entirely on the master of Liuguang Mountain; any distraction would spell his doom, so he could only concentrate all his efforts on his superior opponent.

The master of Liuguang Mountain saw their movements and instantly understood their intent. His attacks grew fiercer, abandoning defense altogether.

The golden hammers descended like falling stones, smashing down from the sky. Li Broadsword was beset as if under a meteor shower, forced only to block with his blade, retreating steadily, his hands bloodied from the strain.

“Bullying the weak—is that all Liuguang Mountain Stronghold knows?” Li Broadsword, like a petulant child, clung to this accusation.

The master scoffed, “Just now, you fought two juniors without regard for your age. Is that the act of an honorable man?”

“Hmph, those fools brought it upon themselves,” Li Broadsword retorted, always finding excuses for his own actions.

“So you're saying I shouldn't strike?”

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“You can strike, but wait for my brother, then face him!” Ye Zihan and Yan Chen, now behind him, were filled with disdain. Li Broadsword was a petty, childish man, even in speech. But recalling how he'd exploited their kindness to sow chaos in Liuguang Mountain, they could not let it go.

A gentleman's revenge may wait ten years, but they were no gentlemen and would not use gentlemanly methods. The petty seek revenge at every opportunity—they would not miss their chance.

“Very well, I’ll oblige you and will not fight you!” The master declared boldly, his hammers crashing down, trailing fire like meteors, swift and deadly.

Li Broadsword’s pupils widened. He raised his blade, and with a clang, he was forced back dozens of steps, vomiting blood. He saw the master had not pressed the attack, a flicker of relief crossing his face—he thought his end had come, but the master merely wished to force him back.

Arrogant fool, he sneered inwardly, raising his hand to wipe the blood from his lips.

Something was wrong—the master’s eyes held a gleeful glint. Li Broadsword sensed danger. Suddenly, two gusts, sharp as knives, assaulted him from left and right.

He was too wounded, caught off guard; his blade wavered uncertainly, unable to decide which way to strike.

If he blocked the left, the right would kill him; if he blocked the right, the left would end him all the same.

“Hmph, if I die, I’ll take someone with me!” With a ferocious snarl, he swung his blade to the left, meeting the crimson flash head-on.

“Zihan, be careful!” Yan Chen shouted from the right, his Clear Wind sword poised to defend, but Ye Zihan’s voice rang out, “Kill him!”

Yan Chen gritted his teeth, his sword slicing deep, piercing Li Broadsword’s spine and emerging from his chest. Blood sprayed like a fountain.

Meanwhile, the Red Lotus dagger, which clashed with the long blade, remained unscathed. Ye Zihan’s hair was disheveled, blood staining his lips, but his face wore a victorious smile.

“He—he caught a death blow from a cultivator on the threshold of the Five Elements realm!” the master exclaimed from several yards away, shock surging through him. Who were these two, if not disciples of some great power?

Yan Chen was beside himself with joy, stumbling forward, nearly knocking Ye Zihan over. “Zihan, you’re incredible!”

Li Broadsword’s last attack was deadly, one even the master would not dare face head-on, and yet Ye Zihan, a mid-stage Three Talents cultivator, had not only faced it but emerged unharmed—exhausted, yes, but otherwise intact!

Few would believe such a feat, yet it happened before their eyes. The master was stunned, unable to recover; Yan Chen was equally speechless, his awe finding voice only in those heartfelt words, his respect for his peer deepened, his spirit moved by Zihan’s fearless resolve.

“Hmph, Liuguang Mountain’s whelps—today Qingshui Mountain will overrun your home, slay your three masters and ten leaders, and claim the branch mountain. If you wish to live, lay down your arms and submit!” A rough voice echoed, accompanied by the thunder of hooves. Fifteen riders crested the summit of Water Splash Pass, their shadows long in the newborn sunlight.

“Shut your damned mouth! Qingshui Mountain is nothing but evil. Born as a man of Liuguang Mountain, I’ll die as its ghost!” a Liuguang Mountain fighter shouted, still battling fiercely.

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Voices rose in succession: “Ha ha ha... Liuguang Mountain’s men are true sons of valor! How can you, Qingshui Mountain, sully their honor?”

“Qingshui Mountain overestimates itself. How can you rabble break Liuguang Mountain’s gates?”

Liuguang Mountain’s defenders shouted as one, their voices rolling like thunder, startling the fifteen horses on the slope, some riders tumbling from their mounts.

“Ha ha ha... These are Qingshui Mountain’s so-called strongmen? Ha ha ha...”

“You can’t even ride a horse; better go home and practice.”

The master, now recovered, joined the other two masters and ten leaders, preparing to charge the slope and engage the fifteen foes, when a voice called from behind.

“We wish to join the fight!” Ye Zihan’s weak voice sounded, Yan Chen supporting him.

“No, you’ve spent too much strength, and this is Liuguang Mountain’s own affair.”

Ye Zihan grinned, “Isn’t the entrance test a hundred heads? I wonder if a Qingshui Mountain leader’s head will suffice?”

Yan Chen laughed heartily, his spirit soaring.

The master frowned, then relaxed and laughed. “Young brothers, your loyalty moves me deeply!”

The seventh leader, who had previously challenged them in the council hall, bowed. “I hope you can forgive my earlier offense.”

Ye Zihan and Yan Chen brushed it off, both licking their lips, eyes blazing with excitement for battle. Pointing to the slope, they declared, “Whether or not we’re accepted, today’s trouble is ours. For the sake of both justice and compensation, we’ll slay at least one of them! We hope the masters and leaders will allow it.”

The master nodded, “Let us all fight together, and kill these bastards!”

Everyone shouted in unison. Ye Zihan and Yan Chen yearned to be ever at the heart of mortal combat, for the thrill it brought was beyond measure. Strength and experience gained in battle were crucial. Upon hearing that the top nine contenders in the Five Elements tournament were all Four Symbols cultivators, they felt a pang of defeat, but this only spurred them onward.

They would grow stronger and prove themselves against those so-called geniuses, showing they were no less.

This was their shared resolve.

“Liuguang Mountain will fall today—look what’s become of your stronghold!” The master and the leaders turned, alarmed, to see flames raging throughout Liuguang Mountain Stronghold, the sky filled with smoke.

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