For those readers still unaware of this book's update schedule, let it be known: normal release times are 8 AM and 6 PM daily. －－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－ Nan Zhonghao let out a roaring laugh, settling into a defensive sword stance, awaiting Tie Yuyang’s assault. As a second-level Qi Refining cultivator, protected by the Vajra Shield, he could easily dispatch any peerless master present if he chose to use offensive spells like Fireball or Wind Blade.

Yet, some wire in Nan Zhonghao’s brain seemed crossed; he chose to forgo magic, instead arrogantly attempting to match Tie Yuyang blade-for-blade.

This impulse might stem from his early life experiences.

When he was only six or seven and just beginning to understand the world, his father, Nan Tianba, was alive, and the Nan family stood at its zenith. Nan Zhonghao was the family's impossibly arrogant young master; no one in Pingzhou dared defy his will. But this prosperity was fleeting. Nan Tianba and several of the Nan family’s strongest members perished during a confrontation with the Feng family of Dingzhou. To evade potential pursuit from the Feng clan, the remaining Nan family members became hunted dogs, hiding in the shadows for two decades, draining their accumulated spiritual stones and wealth until they were forced back into the light. Nan Zhonghao had witnessed both the peak and the nadir of the Nan clan’s fortunes, growing up steeped in humiliation, and upon reaching adulthood, he constantly sought to wash that shame away.

Now that the Nan family’s day of resurgence had arrived, a powerful, subconscious urge drove him to impose that humiliation onto others, to make the entire world acknowledge his strength. Tormenting the renowned Peerless Master of Pingzhou, Tie Yuyang, with degradation—letting him feel what it was like to be beneath a superior—would undoubtedly bring Nan Zhonghao immense pleasure.

Tie Yuyang’s expression grew grim as he tightly gripped the Snow Iron Precious Saber that had been his companion for decades.

He continually channeled inner strength into the saber until it glowed faintly red, an imminent surge of blade energy just waiting to erupt. Then, adopting a peculiar posture, he began to move the saber slowly. Faster and faster he swung, until only a blurred shadow of the blade remained, accompanied by a whistling sound caused by the saber’s violent vibration from the infused internal energy.

Nan Zhonghao watched with a cold sneer, unconvinced that Tie Yuyang possessed any skill capable of piercing his Golden Light Shield.

He intended to meet Tie Yuyang’s ultimate blade technique head-on.

Suddenly, Tie Yuyang stomped his foot, leaping skyward, soaring several zhang high. In mid-air, he raised the saber—now radiating a dazzling, icy-cold blade light—and let out a thunderous, resonant roar that echoed across the night sky of Zhuqi County. The blade light emanating from his weapon was something no mere peerless master could possibly conjure.

“Startling Swan Thirteen Slashes! Hah!”

Tie Yuyang unleashed a furious, rain-like barrage of downward saber swings. An almost invisible arc of blade light separated from the saber, cleaving toward Nan Zhonghao on the ground.

This was the first time Nan Zhonghao had witnessed a top-tier ultimate technique—a blade light—executed by a martial arts master. Startled, he hastily raised his sword to parry. His precious sword snapped with a sharp crack under the impact of the blade light.

Nan Zhonghao was both shocked and furious. This sword was one of several gifts from Li Pingxi, the Young Master of the Medicine King Gang, reputedly capable of slicing through iron like mud. To think it couldn't withstand a single strike from the blade light was outrageous.

Smack!

The second beam of light struck the Golden Light Shield, causing it to momentarily depress inward, but it remained unharmed. Nan Zhonghao braced himself for the impact, and when the shield held, he let out a quiet sigh of relief.

But the blade lights did not cease.

Swish, swish!

With a volley of cracks and snaps, several more arcs of light slammed into the Golden Light Shield. Each strike nearly caused the shield to cave in by half an inch, throwing Nan Zhonghao off balance. The shield flickered violently, its divine radiance rapidly dimming, looking as if it might collapse at any moment.

Startling Swan Thirteen Slashes—the name alone suggested the technique could unleash a full thirteen beams of light. Yet, this was only the seventh; six or seven more strikes remained, enough to shatter even the immensely durable Golden Light Shield.

Nan Zhonghao’s expression finally turned to horror. He realized he had been overly arrogant, underestimating the mundane martial world, foolishly standing still to be battered by a peerless master's blade techniques. He, a mere second-level Qi Refining cultivator, was not yet in a position to casually dismiss the peerless masters of Pingzhou’s martial world.

He lost all confidence in his ability to absorb Tie Yuyang’s blade strikes and immediately prepared to use Wind Riding Art to evade the impending light.

Ye Qin had been watching calmly from the nearby shadows.

Though he was astonished by Tie Yuyang’s ultimate saber skill, his focus remained fixed on finding the optimal moment to strike down Nan Zhonghao. He clearly observed Nan Zhonghao’s panicked shift in demeanor as he buckled under the blade lights, preparing to flee.

Ye Qin chuckled inwardly. As soon as Nan Zhonghao and Tie Yuyang engaged, he had cast a Quicksand Art beneath Nan Zhonghao’s feet. A bowl-sized quicksand vortex had already formed below him. Initially slow-moving, the vortex steadily absorbed his mana, expanding its size and revealing terrifying suction power.

Although Nan Zhonghao was protected by the Golden Light Shield, this defense was designed to prevent physical harm. It offered little resistance against the Quicksand Art, a spell specifically designed to trap and engulf targets.

While fully occupied defending against Tie Yuyang, Nan Zhonghao hadn't noticed the anomaly beneath him. Only when he could no longer withstand the ultimate technique and attempted to deploy the Wind Riding Art to escape did he realize the danger: his feet were firmly stuck by the quicksand vortex. His Wind Riding Art was utterly incapable of overcoming the vortex's pull; instead, he sank deeper. The quicksand enveloped his ankles, and he cried out in terror, “Who is it? Who is attacking me from the shadows?”

Unaware of the sudden turn of events below, Tie Yuyang in mid-air continued his onslaught, launching six or seven more furious blade strikes down upon Nan Zhonghao’s Golden Light Shield. The final blow shattered the virtually unbreakable shield, and the precious saber pierced straight through Nan Zhonghao’s chest, pinning him to the ground.

A gaping, foot-wide wound was torn open across Nan Zhonghao’s chest, blood surging forth. He struggled to open his mouth, his face a mask of unwillingness. How could he, the young master of the Nan family, who had just regained a taste of glory after years of hiding, die at the hands of a mere secular warrior?

Having completed his ultimate saber technique, Tie Yuyang crashed heavily back to the ground. His face was pale, and he leaned tremulously on his saber, barely able to move his fingers. Clearly, the Startling Swan Thirteen Slashes had completely drained his strength and vital energy.

He glanced back at Nan Zhonghao with lingering dread.

Only then did he clearly see that the Nan clan scion’s golden aura had long since dissipated, half his body submerged in the sand, unable to struggle free. On the ground, the quicksand vortex was slowly grinding to a halt.

What was this?

An immortal art? Were there other Celestial Masters present?

As Tie Yuyang stared in horror, a chilling clarity settled in his mind. Had this young master been ambushed and trapped by another Celestial Master just moments ago, allowing Tie Yuyang’s thirteen blade strikes to land successfully? Otherwise, his blade lights might not have continually struck the young master. More likely than not, the one lying dead would have been himself, not the young master.

Tie Yuyang’s heart tightened, and he abruptly looked up toward the darkness tens of zhang away, where a faint, dark silhouette stood.