Chapter 18: Twin Dragon Mountain

Wang Lun struck the black hand with his fist, and in an instant, the black hand exploded. Yet, it did not vanish completely; instead, it continued to envelop him, exuding a terrifying aura as if intent on crushing him to death.

“What? Still not dead?” Wang Lun was astonished.

This black hand seemed to be formed from demonic energy, but it also contained spiritual force, making it an even greater threat. Had he been merely a Qi Practitioner, he would likely have been consumed by this demonic aura.

But Wang Lun had long since refined spirit stones, and the vortex-shaped artifact within his dantian could absorb and convert all external energies. Though the demonic energy was formidable, it was not enough to harm him.

Wang Lun immediately activated the vortex artifact. A powerful devouring force erupted forth. The demonic energy surged wildly, quickly sucked in. Within seconds, every trace of that black demonic mist was swept away by the vortex, vanishing without a single remnant.

Yan Po-xi's eyes widened in disbelief.

This was one of her trump cards.

She had used this demonic energy before to obliterate two warriors at the early stage of the Innate Realm!

Never had she imagined it would be dispelled today.

At this moment, Wang Lun closed in again, slashing through the air with several swift strikes. The blade gleamed fiercely; Yan Po-xi had no choice but to focus all her strength on defense.

The two became locked in a fierce struggle, exchanging blows without relent.

Every move from Wang Lun brimmed with destructive power.

Yet Yan Po-xi was a martial arts master in her own right, her strength formidable—she did not falter.

Nevertheless, she could not be certain of victory over Wang Lun. The vitality emanating from him was astonishing, his body indomitable. Her weapon was a whip, while Wang Lun wielded a short spear as his artifact.

Their weapons clashed again and again.

Gradually, Yan Po-xi regained her footing.

Wang Lun remained calm and unhurried.

His strength surpassed hers, and above all, his greatest expertise lay in the blade.

He had only recently learned the blade techniques, but his experience in combat was vast.

He had often pondered the true extent of his own power—now, at last, he had a chance to test it.

His strikes grew ever swifter, ever more ferocious.

With a resounding crack—

Yan Po-xi could hold out no longer. She took a vicious blow, a deep wound carved into her chest, blood gushing forth.

Reeling from the pain, Yan Po-xi stumbled back more than thirty feet.

“Damn it! This man’s artifact is stronger than my whip!”

She was stunned. As a second-rank grandmaster, she wielded a magical weapon—a treasure far more powerful than common arms.

Her weapon had slain Innate Realm experts at their peak, yet the bronze artifact in Wang Lun’s hand withstood it with ease.

“Very well. If you dislike me, so be it. Tell me, then—what is the current cultivation level of Li Zhong, king of Twin Dragon Mountain? Do you know?” Wang Lun advanced with his short sword.

Yan Po-xi’s expression flickered uncertainly.

She truly did not know Li Zhong’s precise situation.

Li Zhong had ruled Twin Dragon Mountain for years, but she rarely saw him in person.

“Why do you ask?” Yan Po-xi demanded warily.

He could only be up to no good.

“Heh, I intend to avenge him.” Wang Lun sneered, “I advise you to answer me honestly. Otherwise, you’ll be coming with me.”

“Rubbish! Don’t even think about it!” Yan Po-xi spat in fury.

“Then you’re as good as dead,” Wang Lun declared. In a flash, he was upon her.

Yan Po-xi sensed the danger and hastily activated the jade pendant hanging at her waist. Channeling her power into it, the pendant erupted with blinding light—a pillar of green shot toward Wang Lun.

He punched the green beam.

With a boom, the beam shattered, but Yan Po-xi used the recoil to retreat swiftly, widening the gap between them.

“You’re a disciple of the Celestial Spirit Sect!”

Yan Po-xi glared at Wang Lun, her eyes cold and venomous.

That jade pendant was a gift from her master—a life-saving treasure.

“I am a core disciple of the Celestial Spirit Sect. You bandits of Twin Dragon Mountain have stolen our sect’s spiritual herbs and cruelly slaughtered cultivators for their resources. You’ve broken the sect’s commandments. I have come to eradicate you all on behalf of my order!” Wang Lun proclaimed.

She broke into harsh laughter. “What a farce.”

“A core disciple of the Celestial Spirit Sect? So what? If you kill me, you make an enemy of all Twin Dragon Mountain!”

Yan Po-xi sneered, “Don’t blame me for not warning you. You may be strong, but you’re still too green. If you dare kill me, my master Li Zhong will never let you go!”

Li Zhong was a third-rank grandmaster, sworn brother to Lin Chong, Chief Instructor of the Imperial City of Bauhinia. A cultivator of such stature should be enough to cow this upstart.

Wang Lun did not hesitate. He seized the black iron staff floating in the air.

Yan Po-xi’s face paled.

This black iron staff radiated a terrifying sense of danger.

She knew Wang Lun possessed a magical weapon, but had not expected it to be so formidable.

Wang Lun gripped the staff like a spear and hurled it with all his might, striking Yan Po-xi squarely.

With a sickening thud, blood spurted from her mouth.

She failed to dodge this time, suffering a grievous wound.

Panic-stricken, she hurriedly produced a silver needle, intent on escape.

But Wang Lun was upon her again, staff raised.

Yan Po-xi was sent flying, tumbling across the ground before finally coming to a halt.

“Who… who are you? I’ll fight you to the death!” Yan Po-xi roared, struggling to her feet and lunging at Wang Lun.

Wang Lun replied coldly, “You have no chance.”

“My master will kill you!” Yan Po-xi howled, but her body swayed, barely able to stand.

With a single stride, Wang Lun closed the distance, lifting his staff to smash her skull.

Yan Po-xi squeezed her eyes shut in terror.

Yet the expected pain did not come. She opened her eyes to find Wang Lun’s hand clamped around her neck. He seized her collar and tossed her aside like a sack.

Frightened to her core, Yan Po-xi trembled uncontrollably.

“I… I surrender,” she conceded.

She dared not utter another threat.

Wang Lun cast her a cold glance and released his grip.

“Is anyone there?” At that moment, a young voice called out from the bamboo grove’s edge.

Within the mountain valley, just beyond the bamboo forest.

Bai Zongnan stood with his hands behind his back. Moments earlier, while refining his inner strength, he had sensed the violent energy fluctuations coming from within the bamboo, and without even extending his spiritual sense, he could tell that two powerful figures were clashing inside, their martial prowess not inferior to his own.

He frowned, growing wary.

Were it not for his mission to locate the Twin Dragon Mountain stronghold and apprehend its leaders, he would not have risked entering the valley.

“I am Bai Zongnan. By order of my senior brother, I have come to invite you out for a meeting,” Bai Zongnan announced in a clear, resonant voice, then waited in silence.

Moments later, footsteps sounded from the bamboo.

“Who’s lurking there, putting on airs?” Bai Zongnan growled, his eyes flashing with cold light.

But soon, he saw who emerged.

The man wore blue and white garments, his aura chilling—clearly no virtuous soul.

“And who might you be?”

“Are you the leader of the Twin Dragon Mountain bandits?”

Bai Zongnan studied the man.

There was something evil in his bearing, yet also a sense of familiarity.

“So Li Zhong is a monk after all!” Wang Lun’s eyes blazed, his aura surging. “Come, let me see what sort of master the king of Twin Dragon Mountain truly is!”