Chapter 476 - 473: Support

Chapter 476: Chapter 473: Support

While Fang Han was besieged by disciples from the Thunderlight Pavilion and the Red Flame Sect, Xue Yuanlang struck at him again with his palm.

Fang Han’s pupils constricted. He had no time to think and hastily raised the Cloud Splitting Sword horizontally before him.

"CLANG—!"

Palm and sword met, erupting in a dull clang of metal.

A terrifyingly immense force traveled up the sword’s blade. Fang Han felt his entire right arm instantly go numb, and his feet slid back involuntarily, carving two deep grooves in the ground.

He slid back for more than ten meters before he barely managed to regain his footing.

The qi and blood in his body churned, and a sweet taste rose in his throat, but he forcefully suppressed it.

Before he could even steady himself, the sound of rushing air rose from all directions.

"SWISH, SWISH, SWISH!"

Several disciples from the Thunderlight Pavilion and Red Flame Sect closed in, their flashing blades weaving a net that sealed off all of Fang Han’s room to maneuver.

Although these disciples’ Cultivation was far inferior to Xue Yuanlang’s, there were many of them. Attacking from different directions at the same time, they were impossible to guard against completely.

Fang Han’s gaze sharpened.

His left hand reached into his robes, touching an object—it was round, slightly cool, with fine patterns on its surface.

The Thunder Bomb.

The life-saving treasure Lan Yuexin had given him.

Now was the perfect time to use it.

Without the slightest hesitation, he flicked his wrist.

The pitch-black sphere left his hand, arcing through the air and landing precisely in the middle of the disciples attacking him. ℯℯ𝑙.

"Watch out—!"

Someone noticed something was wrong and cried out in alarm.

But it was too late.

"BOOM—!!!"

A world-shaking explosion erupted, shaking the surrounding forest and sending leaves rustling down. A blast wave swept up countless leaves, sending them scattering through the air.

A blinding flash of light bloomed in the center of the group, followed by a violent shockwave that expanded ferociously in all directions.

The disciples from the Thunderlight Pavilion and the Red Flame Sect didn’t even have time to react before they were engulfed by this terrifying force.

"AHH—!"

Shrill screams rang out at the same time.

Several figures were sent flying backward like kites with broken strings. Charred black and with their robes in tatters, they crashed heavily onto the ground dozens of feet away.

The three who bore the brunt of the blast were killed instantly.

The rest were also charred black, spewing mouthfuls of blood as they groaned in agony on the ground. They were clearly gravely injured and no longer had any combat ability.

With one strike, the encirclement was shattered.

’The effect is even better than I expected!’

Fang Han’s gaze swept over the charred corpses, a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes.

The power of this Thunder Bomb was a bit stronger than he had expected.

It was unexpectedly effective for clearing out "minions" whose strength was only in the Middle Three Grades.

"You little bastard, die!"

Using the momentary delay, Xue Yuanlang bore down on him again.

With a furious roar, blue light flashed on his left palm as lightning-like Inner Qi gathered frantically, condensing until it was almost tangible.

He thrust out his palm, which carried a terrifying power capable of shattering mountains, aiming straight for Fang Han’s chest.

This palm strike, delivered in anger, was faster and more ruthless than the last one.

Fang Han’s expression changed drastically.

With no time to gather his strength, he could only swing his sword hastily to block the palm strike.

"BANG—!"

Amidst the dull thud, Fang Han felt an irresistible, immense force travel up the sword. He was knocked back several steps, his qi and blood churning.

Each step he took left a deep footprint on the ground, with spiderweb-like cracks spreading out from around it.

His right hand, which held the sword, was even more numb, as if it didn’t belong to him.

Fang Han had yet to regain his footing.

"SWISH, SWISH!"

Xue Wu and a man named Lie Yunting lunged at him simultaneously from the left and right.

Xue Wu’s longsword was as red as fire, carrying a searing wave of heat as it stabbed toward Fang Han’s left ribs.

Lie Yunting’s sword was dark red, his Sword Momentum fierce and domineering, aiming straight for Fang Han’s right shoulder.

Both were top-ranking figures on the Celestial Pride List. Although their strength was inferior to Fang Han’s, he was currently off-balance and at his "weakest".

"WHOOSH!"

Fang Han’s gaze sharpened as he activated the Wind God Step with all his might.

His figure became like an invisible wisp of wind, drifting backward and to the side in the nick of time.

However, Xue Wu and Lie Yunting’s swords were too fast.

"RIP—!"

The two longswords practically scraped past his body, the blades slicing through the cyan robe over his chest and abdomen with a soft sound.

The cyan robe tore open, revealing the gleaming Silver Soft Armor underneath.

The sword tips scraped against the Soft Armor, creating a piercing screech of metal on metal as sparks flew.

The Soft Armor blocked the direct cut of the blades, but the Hidden Force contained within the swords penetrated the armor, making his qi and blood churn once again.

If not for the astonishing physical defense he gained after reaching the Entry Level of the Xuanwu True Skill, that blow would have been enough to injure him severely.

"He even cultivates a Body Hardening Technique!"

Xue Wu cursed under his breath, exchanged a glance with Lie Yunting, and was about to strike again.

"SWISH, SWISH!"

However, Fang Han’s counterattack had already begun.

The Cloud Splitting Sword swept out, unleashing two beams of sword light in quick succession.

Both of these strikes contained his Wind Sword Intent.

A cyan-gold light on the blade condensed until it was tangible. An invisible Spiritual Shock then erupted along with the Sword Momentum, striking directly at the minds of Xue Wu and Lie Yunting.

Both felt a violent jolt in their minds, their consciousnesses blurring for an instant.

That single instant was the difference between life and death.

By the time they came to their senses, the two beams of sword light were already upon them.

"Not good—!"

Xue Wu and Lie Yunting’s pupils shrank drastically, and they tried to dodge with all their might.

But the distance was too short, the sword light too fast; evasion was no longer possible.

"SQUELCH! SQUELCH!"

Two dull thuds sounded almost simultaneously.

The first beam of sword light slashed Xue Wu’s left shoulder, splashing blood and leaving a wound so deep the bone was visible.

Xue Wu grunted, stumbling backward. His left arm hung limply, a clear sign that he was severely injured.

The second beam of sword light struck Lie Yunting’s chest. Despite his Soft Armor, the Hidden Force within the sword still penetrated it, leaving a gash half a foot long across his chest.

Lie Yunting spat out a mouthful of blood and was sent flying, crashing hard onto the ground dozens of feet away.

Two strikes, and both men were severely injured.

Fang Han was about to press his advantage and finish off Xue Wu and Lie Yunting, but—

"Little bastard, I am your opponent!"

Xue Yuanlang’s furious roar rang out again.

Though he had lost an arm and was gravely injured, the fundamental power of a First Grade Martial Artist remained.

While Fang Han was dealing with Xue Wu and Lie Yunting, he had closed in on him.

On his left palm, blue Inner Qi gathered frantically, even more condensed and blinding than before.

He struck out with his palm, which carried a terrifying, world-ending power, aiming straight for the center of Fang Han’s back.

This palm strike was faster and more ruthless than any before it.

’Danger!’

Fang Han sensed the lethal crisis approaching from behind, and the hairs on his body stood on end.

He twisted his body with all his might, hastily swinging the Cloud Splitting Sword behind him.

This time, it was even more rushed than before.

He didn’t even have time to turn around completely, nor could he fully unleash his Sword Intent.

"BANG—!"

Palm and sword met, erupting in a tremendous, dull boom.

Fang Han felt an indescribable, immense force travel up the sword. His entire right arm instantly went numb, and the Cloud Splitting Sword was nearly knocked from his grasp.

He was sent flying backward and crashed heavily into a massive ancient tree.

"CRACK—!"

The ancient tree snapped on impact, sending splinters flying.

Fang Han fell to the ground. A sweet taste rose in his throat, and a trickle of blood appeared at the corner of his mouth.

The qi and blood in his body roiled as if boiling. It felt as if his organs had been displaced, and a piercing pain shot through him.

"Senior Brother Fang!"

A cry of alarm sounded from the distance.

Following the sound, eight figures shot out from the dense forest.

It was none other than Luo Yuntian, Yun Muyao, Kuang Tu, Chen Wuhen, Su Yuwei, Mo Chen, Liu Ruyan, and Wang Miao.

The eight who had left had heard the sounds of battle and returned.

"Senior Brother Fang, you focus on that old man. Leave the others to us."

Luo Yuntian said grimly, his and the others’ gazes sweeping quickly across the battlefield.

"Alright."

Fang Han didn’t refuse and nodded.

He took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing his churning qi and blood, and his gaze fell back on Xue Yuanlang.

Luo Yuntian and the others, meanwhile, went to face Xue Wu, Lie Yunting, and the remaining disciples of the Thunderlight Pavilion and Red Flame Sect.

Xue Wu’s left shoulder was gravely injured, greatly diminishing his combat strength. The gash on Lie Yunting’s chest was still seeping blood; he was also badly hurt.

As for the other disciples from the Thunderlight Pavilion and Red Flame Sect, after being hit by the Thunder Bomb, only a few remained, and most of them were injured.

As the battle began, it was not the disciples of the Thunderlight Pavilion and the Red Flame Sect who had the advantage, but rather Luo Yuntian and his group of eight.

’Even gravely injured and missing an arm, he still has this much strength. A First Grade Martial Artist, indeed!’

With the disciples of the Thunderlight Pavilion and Red Flame Sect no longer a hindrance, Fang Han stood with his sword, his gaze fixed on Xue Yuanlang.

Xue Yuanlang’s right arm was severed at the elbow. Although the bleeding had been stopped at the stump, blood still seeped out.

The hideous wound from his left shoulder to his right waist was still there, and every breath tugged at it, causing Xue Yuanlang’s brows to furrow tightly.

But Xue Yuanlang’s aura was still dangerous.

A First Grade Martial Artist, even one severely injured and missing an arm, was by no means someone an ordinary Third Grade Martial Artist could contend with.

If not for his astonishing physical defense and the protection of his Soft Armor, those last few palm strikes would have left him too wounded to stand.

"Little bastard, don’t think I can’t kill you just because I’m alone!"

Xue Yuanlang said through gritted teeth, his voice hoarse.

His narrow eyes were filled with venomous hatred and killing intent.

Before his words had even faded, he pounced again.

He struck out repeatedly with his left palm, sending blue Palm Seals flying through the air toward Fang Han in a continuous barrage.

Each palm strike carried a terrifying, mountain-shattering might, sealing off all of Fang Han’s room to evade.

With a grave expression, Fang Han spun his Cloud Splitting Sword like a wheel.

He unleashed his Wind Sword Intent to its fullest, and streams of Cyan Sword Light clashed violently with the blue Palm Seals.

"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM—!"

Every collision produced a deafening roar.

Shockwaves spread out in successive waves, plowing deep grooves into the ground, sending shattered stones flying, and filling the air with dust.

Fang Han weaved through the gaps between the Palm Seals, pushing his Wind God Step to its absolute limit as he narrowly dodged the fatal attacks.

Those he couldn’t dodge, he blocked head-on with the Cloud Splitting Sword.

Xue Yuanlang’s Palm Force was fierce and domineering, and every strike made Fang Han’s qi and blood churn.

But Fang Han’s sword made Xue Yuanlang deeply wary as well.

The keen edge of the Wind Sword Intent, combined with the inherent spiritual pressure that assaulted the mind, sent a sharp pain through his head every time sword and palm met, causing his own assault to falter involuntarily.

If he weren’t so severely injured and extremely weakened, Fang Han’s Sword Intent Spiritual Shock would never have affected him this much.

But at this moment, this Spiritual Shock posed a grave danger to him.