“Senior!” Ren Qingchou suddenly roared. “What is your name?”

Outside, Xue Xianzi laughed with dashing charm. “My surname is Zhong.”

“I’ll remember!” Ren Qingchou turned and ran toward the depths of the tunnel, shouting, “I’ll remember!”

That voice roared earth-shakingly, causing more loose earth to fall from the hillside. Yu Konghou didn’t pursue. With Ren Qingchou so severely injured, wanting to save Wen Hui was undoubtedly a fool’s dream—he wasn’t anxious. He himself was wounded and particularly cherished his own body, so he didn’t attack Xue Xianzi either, just stood aside smiling as he watched people dig the grave.

Gui Mudan, having failed to kill Ren Qingchou, lost considerable face. Anger rising from his heart, he turned back to attack Xue Xianzi. Though Xue Xianzi appeared graceful while fighting evasively with Zhu Yan, his movement was already heavily hindered by the “Demon Pearl-Spitting Energy.” With Gui Mudan turning back to attack, Xue Xianzi’s figure transformed again. “Thousand Traces Solitary Form Change” was unleashed to its utmost—under Gui Mudan’s fierce and ruthless palm techniques, he had no choice but to respond with real palm power.

At this moment, Zhao Zhen’s grave was being dug open inch by inch. The hard white clay crumbled bit by bit under the hoes and chisels of the red and white-robed attendants. Fury rose in Xue Xianzi’s heart. He gave a great shout—continuous palms, energy penetrating the sun! Zhu Yan swept his halberd wildly. Xue Xianzi let out a long whistle, striking out with both palms to meet Zhu Yan’s long halberd. There was a “hum” as the halberd vibrated, then with a “bang” it exploded into countless fragments. Just as Xue Xianzi’s twin palms shattered the halberd, Zhu Yan’s left hand shot out swiftly. “Demon Pearl-Spitting Energy” grazed Xue Xianzi’s shoulder, tearing five bloody marks. Gui Mudan laughed heartily as his “Ghost Zero Cry” struck rapidly toward Xue Xianzi’s back.

Xue Xianzi showed no fear in the face of danger. As Zhu Yan’s five fingers passed over his shoulder, instead of retreating he advanced, simultaneously striking Zhu Yan’s chest with one palm. Gui Mudan’s fierce palm struck toward his back. Xue Xianzi flashed and retreated rapidly, waving his palm behind him. In his flowing retreat, he met Gui Mudan’s palm with his own. With a loud bang, Xue Xianzi broke free, like a snow-white bird landing directly on Zhao Zhen’s grave. Gui Mudan grabbed his flying sleeve, being forced back one step, yet he looked at Xue Xianzi with a cold smile full of contempt.

Blood appeared at the corner of Zhu Yan’s mouth, but he wasn’t seriously injured. Yu Konghou smiled broadly—Xue Xianzi had expended too much true energy in that series of “Thousand Traces Solitary Form Change” moves. Earlier he could force Gui Mudan back three steps; now he could only force him back one step. And in a while, in terms of palm power he would lose to Gui Mudan. While Zhu Yan wasn’t seriously injured, the “Demon Pearl-Spitting Energy” on Xue Xianzi’s shoulder was a fatal wound.

He wasn’t anxious at all, smiling as he watched Xue Xianzi wave his sleeve to knock down the grave-digging women one by one. Having lost his weapon, Zhu Yan’s expression became extremely terrifying. Gui Mudan actually retreated—he knew that Xue Xianzi shattering the long halberd had provoked the strongest madness from deep within Zhu Yan’s heart.

A scorching wild wind suddenly swirled in the valley. The broken Lone Branch Like Snow became very dry in the hot wind, spinning with the breeze. After a while, they even began burning bit by bit. In the pitch-black night sky, more than ten burning white flowers danced—an extraordinarily beautiful sight. Xue Xianzi landed on Zhao Zhen’s grave as Zhu Yan turned sideways with his hand behind his back to face him. His demeanor changed from earlier confusion, anger, and instability to calmness.

It was an abnormal calmness, as if his eyes, heart, and hands had become one line. He wasn’t looking at Xue Xianzi, but everyone knew Xue Xianzi was within the network formed by this line. His eyes and heart connected into one line, and this line cracked into a web. Everything within this web was his prey.

He was like a giant spider, and Xue Xianzi was the white moth in his web.

White flowers burned in the wind, flaming petals falling piece by piece.

Xue Xianzi stood on the grave mound. The five wounds on his shoulder bled continuously, the injuries blackened as “Demon Pearl-Spitting Energy” corroded his true energy. His face showed no smile, appearing more upright and handsome than usual. Lady Hongchan staggered back, and though filled with venomous hatred, seeing Xue Xianzi’s bearing still made her heart flutter. She secretly thought that if this enemy were captured, she must have him for herself.

The white flowers burned out, ashes filling the sky. True energy spread from behind Zhu Yan, swirling the ashes throughout the sky. Those ashes seemed to take form, gradually becoming wing-like. Xue Xianzi frowned—in his decades roaming the martial world, he had never seen such a strange state.

Gui Mudan laughed heartily. “Third Brother can actually practice ‘Demon Pearl-Spitting Energy’ to this level. Could it be he truly has exceptional talent like the master who first created this evil technique, able to remain unharmed by the fierce flames of ‘Demon Pearl-Spitting Energy’?” Yu Konghou smiled. “This move is called ‘Feathered Transformation.’ I’ve seen it once.” Gui Mudan asked sinisterly, “Oh? You’ve seen it once? What was the effect?”

“The effect—was Second Brother’s death,” Yu Konghou said with a smile. “Burned into a black-red, withered corpse.” Hearing this, Gui Mudan laughed wildly, but both Zhu Yan and Xue Xianzi remained quiet, saying nothing.

The grave-digging women stopped their work. Those ashes kept falling, each trace carrying scorching true energy that burned skin on contact. Some ashes landed on Xue Xianzi’s white hair, causing the strands to curl slightly, but his white robes remained clean—even the embroidered characters still bright and clear.

The white flower ashes gradually finished falling. The wings behind Zhu Yan gradually faded from sight. The watching red and white-robed attendants retreated step by step. The scorching heat didn’t diminish despite the ashes finishing their fall. Xue Xianzi stood within it—no one knew how he felt, but they could see one corner of his sleeve smoking slightly, showing signs of beginning to burn.

“Third Brother is very serious with this move. It seems he wants to decide life and death in one strike,” Yu Konghou said gently. “Want to bet?”

“Bet on what?” Gui Mudan smiled sinisterly. Yu Konghou drew a bank note from his bosom, saying with a smile, “This is Xue Xianzi’s ten-thousand-tael gold bank note. I bet Third Brother can’t kill Xue Xianzi in one move.” Gui Mudan sneered. “You think too highly of Xue Xianzi.” Yu Konghou said, “Then Big Brother bets Xue Xianzi will die under this move.” Gui Mudan nodded. Yu Konghou smiled. “Bet?” Gui Mudan said coldly, “Bet!”

At this moment, Zhu Yan’s true energy throughout his body had reached its peak. His left arm lifted slightly as he opened his five fingers toward Xue Xianzi from afar. White sand suddenly rose from the ground. This grasp used unknown amounts of force—Zhao Zhen’s grave trembled slightly, loose stones from the opened breach shaking and rolling into the grave’s gap piece by piece.

Xue Xianzi pressed his palms together and pushed forward. Though lacking earth-shaking momentum, where his palm force pushed, the trembling sand and stones on the ground immediately stopped. Zhao Zhen’s grave stabilized with this palm. The ground gradually divided into two clear areas—the section near Xue Xianzi was unusually calm, while the section near Zhu Yan had trembling sand and stones continuously emitting light smoke.

The two faced each other across five feet, comparing palm power through the air. This stalemate undoubtedly favored Zhu Yan. Blood continuously flowed from Xue Xianzi’s shoulder. After moments of deadlock, the blood from his wound had already dyed half his white robe red. Lady Hongchan watched with three parts heartache but seven parts gloating.

Yu Konghou said in a low voice, “When Third Brother closes his five fingers, life and death will be decided…” Before he finished speaking, Zhu Yan’s five fingers suddenly clenched. With a thunderous sound, sand and stones flew as smoke filled the sky. Zhao Zhen’s grave suddenly exploded. Xue Xianzi leaped skyward and pounced down—Zhu Yan’s move wasn’t aimed at Xue Xianzi but at Zhao Zhen’s grave! Both Yu Konghou and Gui Mudan were stunned. Yu Konghou laughed. “Third Brother indeed has scheming. Big Brother, you lost.”

With Zhao Zhen’s grave exploded, Xue Xianzi struck with furious palms. Zhu Yan’s expression remained coldly indifferent as he struck his second palm. Xue Xianzi, carrying the momentum of his aerial descent, struck directly down. With a loud bang, both retreated one step—evenly matched. Yu Konghou laughed heartily. Xue Xianzi didn’t care about the palm exchange result, turning urgently back to Zhao Zhen’s grave. As white smoke and dust cleared, the shattered grave revealed white bones. His face turned pale, grief flashing across his features. Zhu Yan stepped forward twice, striking his third palm—five fingers spread, true energy surging behind him. Still “Feathered Transformation”!

Xue Xianzi suddenly turned around. Zhu Yan’s figure instantly rushed forward, the powerful true energy behind him driving this pounce with incomparable strength. His spread five fingers were like an unmatched iron net, hooking toward vital points throughout Xue Xianzi’s body! This was the essence of the “Feathered Transformation” move! Xue Xianzi dared not dodge—Zhao Zhen’s white bones lay on the ground. If he avoided, Zhu Yan’s grab would target Zhao Zhen’s bones, and with his palm power, the bones would instantly turn to ash! In an instant, “Thousand Traces Solitary Form Change” appeared again. He manifested dozens of shadows, each launching dozens of killing moves at Zhu Yan’s pouncing figure! Crackling sounds rang out as Zhu Yan took at least twelve or thirteen heavy blows instantly. But Gui Mudan’s face showed a cold smile—Xue Xianzi was at his limit. Though these twelve or thirteen moves severely injured Zhu Yan, they could no longer stop “Feathered Transformation”!

The phantom figures bloomed like flowers, vanishing in an instant. Zhu Yan’s five soul-hooking fingers still grasped toward Xue Xianzi’s throat. Xue Xianzi raised his palm to block Zhu Yan’s five fingers. Zhu Yan clenched his fingers with a “crack” sound, blood flying and spotting white clothes. Zhu Yan again clawed five bloody marks on Xue Xianzi’s right arm, wounds deep to bone, blood streaming.

Blood appeared at Zhu Yan’s mouth corner. Eyes slightly closed, he lifted his foot and continued walking toward Xue Xianzi. Xue Xianzi’s expression didn’t change much. Zhu Yan waved his hand, and thunderous explosive sounds rose again. Sand and stones flew once more. In the dust and smoke, blood splattered three feet, a spray of fresh blood falling to the ground and splashing onto Zhao Zhen’s toppled tombstone.

As smoke cleared, Xue Xianzi sat collapsed before Zhao Zhen’s white bones, his right hand firmly gripping his wife’s arm bone, left hand pressed against his chest. That last palm—Zhu Yan had clawed five bloody marks on his chest, missing his heart by just a little. Blood gushed like springs from his shoulder, arm, and chest. In moments, the dashing Xue Xianzi had become a bloody man. But he smiled, his handsome features still jade-like. “One more palm and you won’t be able to hold on.”

Zhu Yan held a mass of torn cloth in his hand. Hearing this, he cast aside the bloody garment and said lowly, “One more palm and I can kill you.”

“You can’t kill me,” Xue Xianzi smiled happily. “You and I have both overexerted our energy. Even if ‘Demon Pearl-Spitting Energy’ is a divine technique, it’s not truly… invincible under heaven…”

Zhu Yan looked at him coldly, his eyes filled with killing intent and brutality. He raised his palm inch by inch, true energy circulating again, his complexion darkening bit by bit. At this moment, Yu Konghou spoke. “Third Brother, stop.”

Zhu Yan turned a deaf ear. The terrifying momentum focused entirely on Xue Xianzi. His form moved as he fully unleashed that palm.

With a “splash,” blood rained everywhere, falling on both Xue Xianzi and the white bones, dyeing the bloody clothes especially red and staining the white bones into blood bones. After the clothes settled, Xue Xianzi held those white bones, sitting cross-legged. His wounds were indistinguishable in origin, his blood unknown whether depleted. His hands held his wife’s remains, never loosening his grip. Though his own body was covered in wounds, Zhao Zhen’s bones remained intact.

Zhu Yan retreated three feet away, looking coldly at Xue Xianzi. Xue Xianzi lowered his brow and closed his eyes, ignoring him. Just as Gui Mudan was about to laugh loudly, suddenly with a bang, Zhu Yan fell backward, spitting fresh blood. Everyone was stunned. Yu Konghou had a white-robed attendant take Zhu Yan away for treatment, then slowly walked to Xue Xianzi’s side. “Senior truly lives up to his reputation. What did you do with those thirteen palms on his body?”

Xue Xianzi turned a deaf ear, only tightly holding Zhao Zhen.

Yu Konghou bent down, pressing several acupoints behind him to stop the bleeding, saying gently, “Don’t think I’ll let you die as you wish—you think because you burned the poison flowers, let Ren Qingchou escape, fought to exhaustion, secretly injured Zhu Yan, and embraced Zhao Zhen’s remains, I’ll let you die—dying like that would be too heroic, too satisfying.” He blocked several blood vessels on Xue Xianzi’s body to prevent him from bleeding to death, saying word by word, “I’ll still take Zhao Zhen’s bones to feed dogs, but I’ll save you, feed you poison, turn you into a medicine man to conquer the world for me in the future… With your martial arts and world-shaking reputation, wouldn’t it be a pity to just die like this?”

Xue Xianzi suddenly opened his eyes. “You—” Yu Konghou pried open his fingers, extracting Zhao Zhen’s remains inch by inch from his hands, while showing a gentle, charming smile. “I never fulfill anyone’s wishes.” Xue Xianzi’s fury stirred his heart blood as he spat out fresh blood with a “wah.” Yu Konghou smiled slightly. “Susu, take Xue Xianzi away for strict custody.” Bai Suche stepped forward to receive orders, then said flatly, “Yu Qifeng failed in her duties. Won’t Master punish her?” Yu Konghou said gently, “I’ll handle it myself. Susu, you speak too much.” Bai Suche fell silent, lifted Xue Xianzi from the ground, and retreated to one side.

Yu Konghou looked around at everyone. Seeing the blood everywhere and the silent white bones, all remained speechless. Only he alone laughed, his laughter graceful and charming, devastatingly beautiful.