Qi Nu choked, feeling as if the immense force gripping his neck was about to snap his cervical vertebrae!

He couldn't muster a shred of strength throughout his entire body, unable even to struggle. All he could do was watch, filled with sheer terror, as the half-demon youth held his throat with just one hand.

On that exquisitely beautiful face, there was the faintest hint of a smile, yet it was utterly icy, devoid of any warmth. Reflected in his eyes, the chill pierced straight to his bones, inspiring unparalleled dread.

The few others nearby stared at Zong Shou with equally stunned expressions, finding the scene utterly preposterous.

It was as if watching a rabbit that didn't even know how to bite suddenly transform into a deadly, primeval fiend!

Just moments ago, he was panting, looking as though he might collapse at any second. Even now, his vital energy was entirely gone, perhaps even weaker than ordinary people who had managed to open a few meridians. Yet, in the blink of an eye, a figure had flashed, an arc of lightning had struck, and Qi Nu had been killed on the spot!

—Though not yet dead at this precise moment, the arteries in his throat were already shattered. Blood erupted in torrents, leaving virtually no chance of survival.

That entire sequence of movements was so fast they could barely follow it.

Gong Xinran was momentarily lost in a daze, finding it impossible to believe what she was witnessing.

Not long ago, Qi Nu was radiating murderous intent, his expression composed as he openly mocked the two of them. But how, in the turn of an eye, had it become Zong Shou, who should have been defenseless, gripping his neck, leaving him hanging between life and death?

He suddenly exerted force in his hand, and with a crisp 'crack,' Qi Nu's neck shattered completely! This severed the man's last thread of life.

Zong Shou casually tossed aside the dripping head, taking a deep breath to forcefully suppress the boiling killing intent and the rage burning within his body, pushing it down for the moment. Then, acting as if the remaining people nearby were invisible, he painstakingly shifted his steps and walked toward the blooming peach tree.

First, several needles were inserted near Gong Xinran's wounds, forcing all arterial blood vessels to constrict, before he violently wrenched free the sword lodged in her chest and abdomen.

Not much blood gushed out, but Zong Shou's gaze darkened slightly. Her internal organs were severely damaged, her spleen ruptured. Unless one possessed those legendary Golden Pills capable of restoring flesh and bone to the dead, there was little hope of saving the girl’s life. All he could do now was delay the inevitable.

He had desperately rushed over, but ultimately, he had been a step too late—

Gong Xinran, however, remained remarkably composed. Far from despairing, she managed a comforting smile toward him. Her body trembled slightly, seemingly chilled.

Zong Shou inserted several more golden needles, giving Gong Xinran a slight surge of spirit. He then wordlessly removed his outer robe and covered the girl’s body.

The fierce, violent aura gathered in his chest could no longer be suppressed, surging into his mind.

As the murderous thought ignited, his vital energy responded instantly. The five people behind him, who were fully focused and vigilant, sharpened their gazes simultaneously. Like startled wild cats, they lunged forward with agile, tiger-like pounces.

"Die!"

Amidst a tiger's roar, several flashes of weapon light swept in from all directions. A central punch generated a tremor almost like thunder, even before the body arrived.

This attack aimed to ensure his death, brutally absolute and showing no mercy whatsoever.

Zong Shou offered a self-mocking smile. He had thought his composure could withstand even the collapse of heaven and earth without change. Yet, when crisis struck, he still couldn't avoid wavering.

Even setting aside all the memories and emotions of the previous thirteen years of Zong Shou, he likely couldn't remain detached now. This violent impulse, pent up in his chest, hadn't surfaced in a long time.

He wanted to see blood! He wanted to kill! He wanted to utterly annihilate these beasts!

Yet, he remained perfectly still, driving a golden needle into Gong Xinran’s temple.

Only when the glint of blades and the momentum of swords were upon him did a fierce light explode in Zong Shou’s eyes!

With a slight flick of his voluminous sleeve, two Willow Leaf Talisman Blades slipped out.

Six Gods Control Blades, Blade Drawn, Life Ends!

The cyan blade shadows soaring into the air, impossibly, pierced through the dense curtain of weapons, precisely embedding themselves in the throats of the two secret martial artists on the right flank.

His right hand drew his sword, and his entire body exploded with another arc of lightning. He retreated sharply to the side, and as he turned back, a heavy cascade of sword energy instantly submerged everything within ten feet in front of him!

Bloodlight sprayed, sword-light scattered. When stillness returned, Zong Shou stood twenty feet away.

Everywhere his path had crossed was nothing but fragmented flesh! Two other figures remained, hands clamped over their throats, kneeling on the ground. Blood poured out between their fingers like springs, their life force fading in their eyes.

Only the one who had attacked with his fist remained intact. However, he now bore dozens of sword marks and stood there pale-faced, frozen in place.

He had just watched his two companions have their throats sliced open by the Willow Leaf Talisman Blades.

And the other two had been instantly chopped into countless pieces of shredded meat by the furious torrent of blade light stirred up by the youth!

In that instant, who knew how many strikes had been delivered? They were unbelievably fast! Two intact human bodies had been thoroughly shredded into innumerable pieces of minced meat!

He had experienced a hundred battles in his life, yet never before had he felt so utterly powerless as he did today. He had faced Innate Realm experts before, but never had any opponent made him feel such a deep, visceral sense of panic and dread as this half-demon youth.

Gong Xinran was stunned again, her gaze toward Zong Shou tinged with unfamiliarity. Was this truly her junior apprentice brother from the academy? The one who was somewhat shy and slightly insecure?

The heir of Mount Qiantian, whom the elders had assessed as possessing only a Dual Meridian physique, destined for no achievements, whom they felt pained to see bullied arbitrarily? Was this truly the figure radiating terrifying aura before her now?

He had arrived seeming utterly exhausted, yet he had so effortlessly dispatched Qi Nu. And moments ago, in less than two breaths, five secret martial artists, each possessing unique skills, were dead and one wounded, their deaths gruesome and unbearable to witness. It all seemed effortless, achieved with the utmost ease.

Every move he made commanded attention.

Zong Shou swung his sword, shaking off the gore and flesh. He felt a slight release in his chest, but his mind remained unsettled. The ferocious, hostile energy was so dense it almost seemed to solidify, threatening to burst out from his chest and abdomen like blades.

When he looked back at the girl beneath the peach tree, even the last flicker of solace vanished.

Seeing the final secret martial artist near them suddenly bolt madly down the mountain, Zong Shou's lips curled into a cold sneer, tinged with contempt.

His left index finger moved slightly, and another Willow Leaf Talisman Blade shot through the air.

Months ago, as a mere Martial Apprentice, he could severely wound Wu Wei with a single strike. Now, his blade mastery was naturally unerring.

After the blade flew, Zong Shou didn't even bother to look back, walking straight back to the base of the peach tree.

As expected, just as he took a step, a muffled gurgle sounded—the crisp sound of the talisman blade slicing into the windpipe. Then, with a thud, a body crashed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Zong Shou sighed softly and walked to Gong Xinran's side. After a brief hesitation, he finally spoke with a bitter tone, "Senior Sister, do you have any final wishes?"