The exchange between the two had just begun. While Mei Xueyan's strike against Jun Moxie was fierce, it was not fatal; even if it landed squarely, it would at most result in grievous injury, with room for recovery. Yet, every move, every single action from Jun Moxie, was a killing blow meant to end life!

In the blink of an eye, Mei Xueyan had skirted the edge of death twice. It was only when she was left with no choice that she activated her Mystic Qi, forcing back Jun Moxie’s fierce assault!

She had never imagined that this graceful, jade-like youth could unleash nothing but lethal, mortal strikes the moment he moved!

“The feeling is mutual, you are no pushover yourself!” Jun Moxie smiled faintly, letting out a small cough. That brief exchange had left him with lingering dread; he had faced the prospect of permanent disability three or four times in succession!

Had he shown even a sliver of pity or gentleness toward this beauty, he would surely be lying there now—either crippled for life or blind, living in eternal darkness.

This woman was truly troublesome!

“I won’t take advantage of you either. Let’s forego the use of Mystic Qi altogether. A fair fight, and we’ll see who wins!” Mei Xueyan snorted, advancing again. Before becoming a Beast King, she had been renowned across the world for her agility. Even among the billions of Mystic Beasts in the Heaven’s Punishment Forest, few, if any, could match her nimbleness!

Yet, in this confrontation with the youth before her, she had clearly been outmatched! She had ultimately needed to use her full power just to shove him away—an almost unbelievable event for her, and profoundly humiliating!

This loss of face must be recovered!

It must be regained!

This was no longer a mere dispute of pride; it was a battle for honor!

Jun Moxie felt no triumph facing such an overwhelmingly formidable foe; there was only a soft chuckle, his eyes colder than ice, quieter than snow, still as ten thousand-year-old glaciers. The moment Mei Xueyan’s figure moved, he lunged forward simultaneously, without the slightest deviation.

Just as Young Master Jun charged forward, his long, black hair seemed to be suddenly yanked straight, whipping violently backward, accompanied by a sharp snap. Coincidentally, just as the sound of this crack faded, the two white figures were already locked in entanglement!

The two white blurs were intertwined so tightly they seemed inseparable, melting into a single, vague mass of white! A series of light puffs merged into one continuous sound; no one could possibly tell how many blows each had struck in that instant!

This type of pure, close-quarters grappling depended entirely on individual reaction time and inherent agility. At this moment, perhaps it couldn’t even truly be called a fight to the death; this "brawl" was likely just a way for both sides to vent the frustration churning within them.

Mei Xueyan was frustrated, deeply frustrated, utterly vexed. Because Jun Moxie, a mere human who hadn't even reached the Divine Mystic Realm, dared to threaten her, yet she couldn't afford to ignore the threat Jun Moxie posed. Though Jun Moxie hadn't stated it explicitly, Mei Xueyan could discern that what Jun Moxie relied on was nothing more than the Spiritual Elixir of the Heaven’s Punishment Sacred Fruit!

Thus, Mei Xueyan felt she had suffered a loss—a loss she had to accept, yet one that felt exceptionally bitter!

But despite the vexation, this threat forced her hand; she had no other choice!

Yet, how much more frustrated was Jun Moxie? Equally frustrated, to the very extreme! In his two lifetimes as the Evil Monarch, he had always been accustomed to occupying the superior position, the one in charge. Even when his strength was low, he could manipulate Supreme Experts and the Beast Kings of Heaven’s Punishment as if they were in the palm of his hand, dominating the scene. When had he ever accepted a threat from another?

But this time, he was utterly cornered by Mei Xueyan’s threat, forced to comply! And precisely because Mei Xueyan’s threat concerned something Jun Moxie could not, could not afford to disregard! Because they were his kin in this life, his only family across two lifetimes—the only two truly important, irreplaceable kin!

So, Jun Moxie felt he had taken a loss! This loss felt equally deeply humiliating!

But despite the frustration, this threat forced him to yield, because there was no other option!

Though the reasons for yielding differed, the core state of their tangled emotions was surprisingly identical. And both of them were people who would accept anything except being at a disadvantage, yet today, both had been bested by the other, and neither could back down!

If it were anyone else, a shared laugh might have settled the score, but these two were diametrically opposed, neither willing to concede a loss! Even though they were evenly matched and both had suffered hidden setbacks, both believed they could win!

If they lost ground verbally, they would repay it with fists and feet. Let’s see who triumphs in the end!

Furthermore, due to the existence of the Heaven’s Punishment Sacred Fruit and the Forest itself, the two were destined for a cooperative relationship. But the outcome of this single contest would determine their relative standing and influence afterward!

In this exchange, both were deploying their ultimate moves!

Jun Moxie had a persistent habit when facing opponents: to exert full force. No matter how weak the enemy, if he could secure a kill in one move, he would never use a second—like a lion pouncing on a rabbit, every strike maximized. After all, killing the enemy was the best form of self-protection; this Golden Rule was something he had always embodied, the core experience of the King of Assassins.

Mei Xueyan, however, was often more nuanced. Because of her subtlety, she often neutralized some of Jun Moxie’s moves before counterattacking. If Young Master Jun’s moves were linked tightly, she might even need to chain several blocks to respond to a single thrust. This dynamic made their battle all the more fierce.

As the fight intensified, the speed of the two white blurs accelerated, swirling together like twin cyclones, until it became utterly impossible to distinguish one from the other. This sight struck the Serpent King, who had stealthily returned, with utter shock!

The Heaven’s Punishment Forest was teeming with countless types of Mystic Beasts, marvelous in every conceivable way, but absolutely none could compare to the Great Sister’s innate agility. Even Crane Three and Crane Chongxiao, who were also famed for their nimbleness, along with the Serpent King himself—even the two of them combined couldn't withstand a hundred of the Great Sister’s moves. But this brat before them, clearly just a human, was matching their Great Sister move for move! In fact, judging by the sheer frequency of his attacks, he seemed to have a slight edge over her! How could this be possible?

Is… is he truly human?

Mei Xueyan grew increasingly frustrated as they fought, a different kind of frustration than before. This stemmed directly from Jun Moxie himself and the threat of his inherent power. This boy was too ruthless; in every move, every strike, none of his attacks deviated from a vital point! No matter how she twisted or evaded, or how sharply she counterattacked, he always found the most damaging spot to strike and press the attack!

Most maddeningly, he showed absolutely no consideration that his opponent was a woman, and a peerless beauty at that. He ignored all taboo areas: chest, lower abdomen, groin, eyes, throat—wherever the deadliest strike landed, that was where he aimed, regardless of any potential scruple!

Every move was tricky and vicious. Even when forced by circumstance to aim at a non-lethal spot, he targeted major joints. If she were struck carelessly by one of those blows, Mei Xueyan could imagine even a Supreme Expert would feel excruciating discomfort!

Even she would not be spared!

How could anyone possess such skill? Facing Jun Moxie’s onslaught, Mei Xueyan suddenly felt: this fellow’s actions all had a single goal—to kill, to destroy the opponent!

Such ferocity was rare even among the Mystic Beasts, who generally held no affection for humans!

But Jun Moxie possessed it!

In terms of agility, Mei Xueyan was confident that her innate nimbleness surpassed Jun Moxie’s by more than a notch. However, under this flood of incredibly frequent, viciously mean-spirited, almost ruffian-like fighting style, she was beginning to struggle!

Because even when attacking her at full tilt, this fellow protected his own vital areas exceptionally well. He was like a hedgehog, impossible to get a grip on, as his offense and defense were matched almost seamlessly! It seemed that with every attack launched, he knew exactly where the opening in his stance was, and where potential weaknesses lay, preparing perfectly before the move even launched. If Mei Xueyan attacked those openings, the weakness would instantly transform into a deadly trap!

What terrifying combat tactics, what flawless execution!

Mei Xueyan had fought countless battles in her life but had never encountered such a ruthless person! Someone so acutely aware of his own strengths, even more aware of his own flaws and openings, and who could instantly perceive and fiercely attack the enemy’s gaps…

He was a monster!

If she managed to land two strikes on him, she definitely wouldn't hit his vital spots—at least, not spots capable of inflicting crippling damage. But in the time it took her to land those two hits, he could land one on her, and it would be an agonizing area!

He could ignore one hit she landed on him; he could endure it. But the strike he landed on her would be absolutely fatal! At the very least, it would cost her significant combat capability.

Of course, if she were to use her innate Primal Force, even merely striking Jun Moxie’s toe would unleash a power that could "jerk one hair and move the entire body," shattering his entire frame into dust! But she had made it perfectly clear before the fight began: neither was allowed to use Mystic Qi to settle this matter. With her status, could she really go back on her word to a mere youth?

Mei Xueyan did not know that Young Master Jun was also having a terrible time!

Jun Moxie was secretly struggling. The agility of this woman was simply terrifying. This agility didn't just refer to her footwork, but her entire being—her body, her techniques—everything was flexible to the extreme, like a loach soaked in oil, impossible to grasp firmly! Sometimes, when a strike seemed certain, or had already landed, she would suddenly evade it.

As they fought, a flash of inspiration struck Jun Moxie. He retreated slightly and shouted, “Are you the one from the Tiannan Road who has been setting traps for me everywhere?”

Mei Xueyan’s cold, jade-like face remained impassive. Seizing the moment when Young Master Jun retreated, she swooped in like a whirlwind, a storm of nineteen punches, twenty-seven palm strikes, thirteen elbow jabs, and thirty-six kicks showering down amidst her mocking laughter: “You only realized that now? Too slow! How did you find the taste of this road’s banquet? Was the aftertaste unforgettable?”

Jun Moxie’s expression remained calm, though a flicker of coldness crossed his eyes.

[Editor’s Note: Dear reader, the current chapter has reached the final page of this book.]