Zhan Lang remained motionless where he stood, but the light coalescing on the Sky-Splitting Greatsword grew ever brighter.

More terrifying still was the astonishing heat emanating from it, surging like a volcanic eruption, enveloping every inch of the surrounding space.

It was as if even the air drawn into their lungs began to burn.

Within this blindingly hot sphere of Dou Qi, streams of continuously twisting and flickering blue arcs of electricity were densely packed, eerie and sinister, seemingly capable of tearing space itself asunder. "Ah! What kind of Dou Qi energy is this? Merely feeling this sheer presence sends shivers of dread down one's spine." Jian Xing, Jian Wu, and the others were utterly aghast.

How could they possibly fight like this? This single aura was enough to crush everyone's spirit and will. "Damn it," Jian Wu suppressed the near-paralyzing fear and numbing sensation gripping him, stating in a deep voice, "Everyone, be careful.

We absolutely cannot allow his momentum to overwhelm us." "......" Hu Xiao Shan Ye and the rest could only nod with immense difficulty; they couldn't even manage to speak a reply.

In truth, merely remaining upright without being crushed by that aura was already a monumental feat.

After a considerable while, Zhan Lang's wildly escalating momentum finally stabilized.

Everyone knew clearly that the truly terrifying part was yet to begin! "Who shall it be first?" Zhan Lang's mocking gaze lingered over the assembled figures, like a predatory beast selecting its prey, circling and scrutinizing them one by one. "......." All of them were terrified to the core, yet dared not move rashly, struggling only to control the chaotic sense of panic induced by Zhan Lang's terrifying presence! Simultaneously, they remained cautiously vigilant. "Heh heh, it seems your strength lies primarily in brute force." Zhan Lang's scrutinizing gaze finally settled upon the massive, sturdy physique of Xiong Ba Tian Xia. "Let's see just how durable your body truly is." "Hmph," Xiong Ba Tian Xia snorted coldly, instinctively bringing his thick Verdict Cudgel forward to guard his chest, his tiger-like eyes locked fiercely onto Zhan Lang.

Zhan Lang let out a strange laugh, stomped both feet once, and launched himself forward like a cannonball toward Xiong Ba Tian Xia! The Sky-Splitting Greatsword descended like Mount Tai bearing down, hacking fiercely toward Xiong Ba Tian Xia’s head.

The speed of this strike wasn't fast, yet everyone could feel the terrifying force contained within—a power capable of splitting mountains and cleaving stone.

Roar! Xiong Ba Tian Xia bellowed, showing no inclination to retreat whatsoever.

He planted his feet firmly and braced his stance, whirling the Verdict Cudgel violently.

It gathered the Dou Qi energy of several heavily armored warriors and swept out a dazzling crescent wave of sword energy! This move, "Igniting the Sky," slammed fiercely against the descending Sky-Splitting Greatsword.

Clang! Rumble! A dull, heavy roar instantly erupted, and amidst the din, the crescent sword energy swept out by Xiong Ba Tian Xia was actually cleaved apart by Zhan Lang's awe-inspiring strike! Following that, the Sky-Splitting Greatsword continued its descent, slamming brutally against Xiong Ba Tian Xia’s Verdict Cudgel.

Crack! Thud! A sharp sound of metal fracturing suddenly rang out; Xiong Ba Tian Xia's Verdict Cudgel had been forcibly severed by a section! The Sky-Splitting Greatsword, having broken the Cudgel, retained its formidable momentum and continued its trajectory toward Xiong Ba Tian Xia’s head.

Xiong Ba Tian Xia’s expression transformed drastically, yet his reaction was swift enough.

Almost at the instant the Verdict Cudgel shattered, he violently twisted to dodge sideways! But even so, he was a fraction too slow! Splat! A sickening crunch of tearing flesh and snapping bone echoed as, amidst the violent rushing wind, a bloody, severed arm flew a long distance! Although Xiong Ba Tian Xia narrowly avoided the sword blow aimed at his head, one of his arms was ruthlessly hacked off by the Sky-Splitting Greatsword! Ah! The agonizing pain of dismemberment was unbearable even for a man of Xiong Ba Tian Xia’s rugged fortitude.

He let out a pained cry, and the terrible burning heat from the wound instantly spread throughout his entire body! It made Xiong Ba Tian Xia feel as if he were engulfed in fire, a pain beyond description, and he subsequently passed out from the sheer agony. "No! Tian Xia!" The scene before him made Hu Xiao Shan Ye completely unable to process what he had seen.

His sworn brother, Xiong Ba Tian Xia, had lost an arm! To lose an arm as a warrior—this was something harder for him to accept than death itself! "Still too fragile," Zhan Lang commented, seemingly unsatisfied even after severing Xiong Ba Tian Xia’s arm with one strike. "Bastard!" The tragic sight of his friend utterly enraged Hu Xiao Shan Ye. "I'll fight you to the death!" In a fury, Hu Xiao Shan Ye launched himself upward like a shell, appearing above Zhan Lang’s head in the blink of an eye! His dark, heavy Moon in the Well soared upward, transforming into a thick, colossal dragon of sword energy, executing the move "Cleaving Mount Hua" and hacking savagely toward Zhan Lang’s head.

This strike, fueled by righteous indignation, embodied all the power Hu Xiao Shan Ye could summon—it was truly capable of splitting mountains and shattering stone, immensely formidable! "The momentum is decent, but sadly, the speed is too slow," Zhan Lang replied calmly, completely unconcerned! With a phantom-like flicker of his body, executing a bizarre sway, the move "White Crane Soars to the Heavens" propelled his powerful form without warning behind Hu Xiao Shan Ye in mid-air.

Hu Xiao Shan Ye’s Cleaving Mount Hua strike was only halfway complete.

He didn't even have time to react.

A searing, tearing pain erupted at the back of his neck, and this terrifying agony instantly spread to his head.

Then, everything dissolved into a murky darkness! Splat! Another strange, brittle snapping sound occurred, and a cloud of bloody mist instantly exploded in the air! Jian Wu and the others could hardly believe their eyes! Because Hu Xiao Shan Ye, suspended in mid-air, had just had his head severed by Zhan Lang's sword! And Hu Xiao Shan Ye’s heavy Moon in the Well, despite its owner being decapitated, continued its unstoppable trajectory toward the ground! The staggering Dou Qi energy even blasted a huge crater into the solid earth below.

He then took a few futile, awkwardly angled steps forward before crashing heavily to the ground! After cleanly severing Hu Xiao Shan Ye's head, Zhan Lang’s ghostly form descended lightly to the ground, yet still wore an expression of mild annoyance and dissatisfaction. "Apologies, I may have used a bit too much force." Ah! Another instant kill! Jian Wu and the others were dumbstruck; what they witnessed had far exceeded the limits of their understanding! These powerhouses of the continent—could they not even withstand a single move against him? Every face was etched with the pallor of death and despair! Facing such an enemy, they possessed not even a shred of ability to resist! "Shan Ye," Jian Chi stood frozen, staring fixedly at Hu Xiao Shan Ye's headless corpse! Three moves.

It had taken only three moves.

Long Yuan, Fei Xue Ying, Zhen Kuang Ren, Xiong Ba Tian Xia, and Hu Xiao Shan Ye—the four renowned generals of the Tian Hong Guard—had all fallen in succession without even getting a chance to counterattack! "What speed and power is this!" Jian Wu’s pale face contorted and trembled uncontrollably due to fear and despair. "There wasn't even time to react," Jian Qi whispered hoarsely.

Yes, everyone had seen the scene clearly! Hu Xiao Shan Ye didn't even know how he had been beheaded before it happened. "Is this the strength of a Hero?" Jian Xing’s hands gripping the Dragon-Slayer began to stiffen and grow numb involuntarily.

They had never imagined that such a powerful and terrifying monster existed in this world.

The shadow of death felt so close, so tangible! How could one possibly deal with a monster like this?