But the man in red reacted quickly. Although the burly man in red had no idea what the "dead eunuch" Mo Han was referring to, he certainly understood the phrase "neither male nor female," realizing Mo Han was insulting him. However, despite being a Divine Beast, the man in red had never encountered anyone like Mo Han. In the past, any humans he had met were terrified of him and had all perished by his hand. None dared to insult him as brazenly as Mo Han was doing now. Consequently, even if the man in red wanted to retort, he didn't know what words to use. He could only speak with a face full of indignation: "Very well, soon I will let you taste what it means to wish for death."

"Damn it, was I born to be scared?"

Mo Han replied with extreme arrogance. After all, a battle was imminent anyway; better to enjoy the verbal sparring first. He even secretly fantasized that if the opponent was angered to the point of spitting blood and dying, it would save him a lot of trouble.

Upon hearing Mo Han's words, Bai Ling couldn't help but smile. Seeing the crestfallen look on the man in red’s face brought her an indescribable sense of satisfaction.

"Brat, you're courting death!"

The man in red's patience had clearly reached its limit. He suddenly roared.

His entire body flashed.

He transformed into a streak of crimson flame, charging toward Mo Han. His speed was even faster than Da Hong, who was known for swiftness. In an instant, he was right in front of Mo Han and his companion.

Then, the man in red displayed a hideous grin. His massive palms, carrying an intense aura, were already slamming toward Mo Han's chest. At this point, even if Mo Han wanted to cast a spell, it would likely be too late to stop the incoming attack. However, the man in red clearly did not intend to kill Mo Han outright with this blow, so he held back the full force of his strength. Even so, the power radiating from the man's palms was more than an ordinary person could withstand. If struck by this attack, even Mo Han would surely suffer a severe injury.

The man in red had presumed that since Mo Han was a God of Magic, no matter how powerful, a surprise close-range assault from him would certainly defeat Mo Han. Everything unfolded as the man in red predicted; the young man opposite seemed utterly unprepared for this sudden move. He appeared frozen in place, showing no inclination to dodge or cast any magic.

Just then, a white light erupted beside Mo Han.

Following that, the man in red let out a sharp cry of pain. He was sent flying backward at high speed. Where his palm had struck, a shallow gash was now visible. Thin wisps of golden-yellow blood slowly dripped from the wound.

Staring at Mo Han, who now held the Holy Sword of Light, the man in red’s mouth initially showed a flicker of astonishment. Then, he spoke viciously, "Holy Sword of Light. Boy, how does the Holy Sword of Light end up in your hands?" Mo Han, however, was even more surprised than the man in red. He had taken the initiative, counting on the opponent mistaking him for a mere mage, and attacked unexpectedly with the Holy Sword of Light. Yet, he had failed to inflict any substantial damage. When the sword struck, Mo Han felt as if the usually indestructible Holy Sword had merely sliced against an extremely tough piece of rawhide. A strange force violently repelled Mo Han's attack, though it managed to carve a slight wound on the man's hand.

Mo Han had expected that this strike, even if it couldn't seriously injure the opponent, would at least diminish his fighting capacity. Instead, the man in red had barely scratched his skin—it was entirely beyond Mo Han's expectations.

This is the power of a Sword God? Mo Han realized that if he hadn't used the Holy Sword of Light to force back the attack just now, even giving it his full strength, he might not have fully resisted even one casual blow from the man. At that point, he himself would have been injured. To think that he, a Sword Saint, felt so weak when facing a true God-level master! With this realization, Mo Han became even more cautious. A bright white barrier immediately materialized in front of him and Bai Ling, tightly enveloping them both. At the center of this barrier, a faint, multicolored radiance shimmered.

Seeing this, the man in red did not try to interfere. He merely stated coldly, "Boy, I didn't realize you cultivate both martial arts and magic. I misjudged you today. Fortunately, your martial skill hasn't reached the God level; otherwise, just that one sword strike combined with the Holy Sword of Light might have cost me an arm."

With that, the man in red’s tone shifted, turning menacingly cruel: "But alas, you won't get a second chance. The Holy Sword of Light in the hands of such a minuscule human only dishonors its power. It would be better off in my keeping. Don't blame me for not warning you—show me all the strength you have quickly, or you won't get the chance later."

"Damn it, are you going to fight or keep talking? You’re really too verbose."

Mo Han couldn't help but curse at the man's incessant chatter. "Do you think your saliva can drown us? Show us some real ability instead of just bragging. Don't complain later that I didn't give you an opening."

Mo Han threw the man's own verbose words back at him, causing the man in red's face to contort in anger. However, due to his apprehension regarding the power of the Holy Sword of Light in Mo Han's possession, he did not attack immediately. After all, Mo Han was now a warrior at the Sword Saint level, and coupled with what he had learned over the past half-month in the Forest of Death from the ancient martial arts taught by Blaithe, Mo Han's combat strength had been significantly elevated. Otherwise, Mo Han wouldn't have been able to force back the already God-level man in red with that single strike earlier.

Although Mo Han spoke lightly, he dared not let his guard down internally. The opponent's strength clearly surpassed his and Bai Ling's. If not for the man's evident caution regarding the Holy Sword of Light, he would have charged forward long ago and extinguished them, not allowing Mo Han the luxury of standing there acting tough. By Mo Han’s usual principles, he would retreat first in such a situation, but now he couldn't leave, as Jack and Latin were clearly held captive by the opponent. Even knowing that his and Bai Ling's combined strength offered slim odds of victory, Mo Han had no choice but to steel himself and fight.

At that moment, a red light flashed in the hand of the man in red, and a crimson beam materialized there. Simultaneously, the man in red shot forward. His speed was so extreme that his figure was almost invisible—a red line streaked across the space, and in the blink of an eye, the man in red reached the edge of the magic barrier Mo Han had erected. He then brought the red light in his hand down violently upon the magic shield.

With a soft thump, Mo Han's magic shield violently shuddered under the force of the blow. In the past, such an attack would have shattered Mo Han's barrier instantly. Fortunately, Mo Han had already reached a God-level proficiency in magic. Although there was still a significant gap between him and the already God-level man in red, it was impossible for the opponent to shatter Mo Han's barrier with a single strike.

The man in red seemed to have anticipated this result, showing no surprise; his previous attack was merely a probe, intended only to gauge the level of Mo Han's magical prowess, so he hadn't exerted full power. As for Mo Han's martial arts, they weren't even considered by the opponent. If it weren't for the Holy Sword of Light Mo Han wielded, a warrior at the Sword Saint level like Mo Han would pose no real threat to a God-level expert. The man in red was confident that relying on his terrifying speed, Mo Han, even with the Holy Sword of Light, could not threaten him. Moreover, the man in red possessed a weapon capable of matching the Holy Sword of Light, meaning he was unconcerned about Mo Han’s martial skill. Conversely, it was Mo Han's magical ability—now also reaching the God level—that was the true source of the man in red's concern. The destructive power of magic cast by a God-level mage was on par with the man in red's own strength, capable of genuinely threatening his safety. Therefore, the man in red needed to clearly ascertain Mo Han's true magical capabilities before attacking unrestrainedly, hence the initial probing strike.

As the man in red paused, Mo Han finally got a clear look at the red light in his hand: it was a long saber, entirely blood-red. Only because of the intense red glow emanating from the blade, coupled with the man's extreme speed, had Mo Han been unable to discern the weapon’s true form earlier. Mo Han was still some distance away, yet he could already sense the potent aura of bloodshed radiating from the saber. After that single strike, the red light on the blade intensified, emitting a glow reminiscent of fresh blood. The very space behind the man in red began to be submerged in this crimson radiance, and the man's normally black eyes started emitting veins of bloodthirsty red light, exuding a bizarre atmosphere.

However, even upon reaching Mo Han's magic barrier, this blood-red light could advance no further. It stood in opposition to the seven-colored light shimmering above the barrier, creating a distinct spatial division: one half dominated by the red glow from the man in red's saber, and the other by the seven-colored light projected by Mo Han's barrier.

"Sanguine Demonic Blade," Bai Ling exclaimed in shock upon recognizing the weapon. "I never expected one of the Four Demonic Artifacts of the Underworld to be in your hands!"

Hearing her, the man in red let out a cackling laugh, expressing a measure of surprise: "I never thought anyone on this Dragon Soaring Continent would recognize this weapon. Little girl, are you perhaps a descendant of the primordial era?"

Bai Ling ignored his question, replying calmly, "Legend holds that the Four Demonic Artifacts of the Underworld and the Ten Divine Artifacts of the Mortal Realm were both left behind by the ancient gods. Among the Four Demonic Artifacts, the Sanguine Demonic Blade and the Dark Sword were widely rumored to have vanished thousands of years ago. Even the King of the Underworld possesses only the remaining two artifacts. I hadn't expected the Sanguine Demonic Blade to be with you."

Bai Ling knew Mo Han would be unfamiliar with the Four Demonic Artifacts of the Demon Realm, so she deliberately explained their origins to him. This served to inform Mo Han about the approximate power of these artifacts, ensuring he understood that the Sanguine Demonic Blade’s might was certainly comparable to the Holy Sword of Light in his hand.

The man in red was even more astonished by Bai Ling's detailed knowledge of these primordial matters, momentarily hesitating. But being a God-level expert, he quickly regained his composure. He looked coldly at Bai Ling and said, "Little girl, once I capture you, I will certainly extract the answers I seek from your lips."

As the man in red finished speaking, the red light in his hand flared, and he moved instantly. His speed was so impossibly slow, in stark contrast to his previous lightning-fast assault, that it seemed to drag the very pressure of space, making the surrounding air feel frozen. Mo Han, standing opposite, felt a terrifying sensation, as if no matter which direction he moved, he couldn't fully evade the strike.

This must be the man in red’s true power, Mo Han thought inwardly. To be able to manipulate the surrounding space to exert pressure on his opponent with a single move was something only a true God-level master could achieve. Furthermore, Mo Han knew clearly that even if he managed to dodge this attack through sheer skill, he would immediately lose the initiative. What would follow would undoubtedly be the man in red’s relentless, storm-like barrage. Since Mo Han's inherent strength was already inferior to the man in red's, falling behind would mean certain death. The situation offered Mo Han no option to retreat.

Considering this, Mo Han, protected within his barrier, struck simultaneously. His body moved, and the Holy Sword of Light, trailing boundless radiance, lunged directly toward the man in red's eyes, completely disregarding the demonic saber in the opponent's hand. Mo Han knew that no matter how powerful a warrior, the eyes remained their weakness. Moreover, armed with the divine Holy Sword of Light, Mo Han believed that even if the man in red had battle aura protection, his own skill combined with the divine sword could certainly pierce through it. With any other weapon, Mo Han would never dare take such a gamble, as ordinary weapons could never penetrate the protective battle aura of a God-level expert. But the Holy Sword of Light was entirely different.

Indeed, seeing Mo Han target his eyes while utterly ignoring his own attack—a clear strategy of mutually assured destruction—the man in red frowned. He was already stronger than Mo Han, and victory was only a matter of time; he certainly didn't wish to end up in a mutual catastrophe. Therefore, the man in red's body spun suddenly, and the Sanguine Demonic Saber appeared at an incredibly unexpected angle, precisely blocking the trajectory of the Holy Sword of Light. Instantly, several low, muffled thuds rang out as the two peerless divine artifacts clashed rapidly, erupting in a blinding flash of light.

The air surrounding the entire forest thrashed wildly the moment they connected, sending terrifying waves of energy surging outward in all directions. Even the incredibly sturdy black trees thrashed violently upon contact with this energy. Finally, the trees closest to the center of the resulting vortex could no longer withstand the destructive force and crashed down in a heap. Within the surging energy field, two dazzling lights—one red, one white—flew backward, though the white light remained encircled by a shimmering layer of seven-colored radiance: Mo Han's manifested magic barrier.

Mo Han stared, his face pale, at the distant red glow. The power of this man in red far exceeded his expectations. Even protected by his magic barrier after that single exchange, Mo Han had sustained minor injuries. That previous attack represented the utmost effort Mo Han could muster, integrating both the newly learned ancient martial arts and subtly applied auxiliary magic to greatly enhance his attack's power and speed. In Mo Han’s estimation, the resulting force, if not equal to the opponent’s, should not have been far behind. Yet, after the head-on clash, the man in red showed no strain whatsoever. Although Mo Han had forced him back, Mo Han was certain the opponent was unharmed, whereas he himself was lightly wounded.

In reality, Mo Han was unaware that the man in red was far more shocked. The man in red was already a God-level expert at the absolute pinnacle, while Mo Han could at best be considered a newly ascended God-level mage. The man in red hadn't cared about Mo Han's Sword Saint prowess; his sole concern had been Mo Han's magical ability. But now, he was astonished that Mo Han, whose martial skill he had dismissed, could unleash long-lost ancient martial arts, augmented by magic, to force him back. This was entirely contrary to his expectations. The gulf between a God level and a Saint level is immense; ten Saint-level experts would never defeat one God-level master. Yet Mo Han, through ingenious coordination of ancient techniques and supporting magic, had temporarily elevated his martial strength to the God level. Anyone else would likely have failed; it was no wonder the man in red was so surprised.

Meanwhile, protected within the magic barrier, Bai Ling began chanting rapidly: "My contract with the Water Spirits endures eternally. As per our covenant, I invoke my mightiest magic, borrowing the power of all Ice Spirits to complete an invincible spell: Freeze all evil before me..."

Bai Ling understood that a God-level expert like the man in red was essentially immune to magic below the Forbidden Incantation level. Ordinary spells posed no threat. Only Forbidden Incantations, or higher, could genuinely endanger them. While a Forbidden Incantation might not kill a God-level opponent—that would require a Divine Incantation—it was certainly enough to inflict serious wounds. Furthermore, Bai Ling possessed a divine staff, an artifact that previously allowed her to cast Divine Incantations beyond her level; a Forbidden Incantation was certainly within her grasp now. The Azure Water Staff dramatically amplified the power of this spell. Coupled with her own recent advances derived from studying ancient magic texts, the resulting Forbidden Incantation was comparable to a beginner-level Divine Incantation.

As Bai Ling unleashed her magic, the temperature in the space surrounding the man in red plummeted to a terrifying degree. Even the nearby trees instantly became coated in a layer of white frost. The body of the man in red, positioned directly in the center of the magical attack, instantly became encased in a massive block of ice, freezing him completely.

He leaped forward.