Gou Zai Wudao Shicheng Dao

A flood of information rushed into my mind!

"The outskirts of Black Mountain?" Fang Xia sneered inwardly, his thoughts racing.

He immediately rejected this seemingly viable path and began to make his own calculations.

"Ye Qianzhong meticulously planned this scheme, even going so far as to use the beast-attracting incense to lure the Xuanhuo Wolf. How could he have only set up an ambush at Black Wind Ridge?"

The outer perimeter may seem like a path to survival, but it's likely already rife with the machinations of the Hongyun Hall!

Thinking of the open and covert struggles among the various forces in Heishan County, Fang Xia felt a chill run down his spine.

"The eight martial arts schools and three families and two gangs in Heishan County have always been openly and covertly fighting each other. Now that Sanyang Hall has suffered such a great calamity, isn't this the perfect opportunity for them to kick us when we're down?"

The outskirts of Black Mountain... what seems like a path to survival is fraught with danger!

What's even more terrifying is that it's an area where martial artists from various factions mingle!

Fang Xia deeply understands that, faced with the temptation of enormous profits, the human heart can sometimes be more treacherous than demons.

Thinking of this, Fang Xia's gaze suddenly sharpened, locking onto the direction indicated by the [Avoid Misfortune and Attract Good Fortune] supernatural power.

Montenegro Defense Line!

"That place is heavily fortified by the Demon Suppression Division. Although it is deep in the Black Mountain, it is only thirty or fifty miles away from here."

More importantly, no matter how far Hongyuntang's reach extends, it would never dare to set up an ambush right under the nose of the Demon Suppression Division!

"As long as we reach the Montenegrin defense line, there is a chance of survival!"

In a flash, Fang Xia made a decision.

"Let's go!" Fang Xia shouted in a low voice, no longer hesitating.

He pushed off with his feet, and instead of fleeing outwards, he headed towards the Black Mountain defense line!

Fang Xia slowed down, concealed his aura, and used his Qi-sensing technique to avoid the demonic beast.

He specifically chose paths with dense forests and rugged terrain.

Just as he expected, there were significantly fewer black-striped tiger monsters in this direction, and the pressure decreased sharply.

However, Fang Xia's "abnormal" behavior was noticed by Zhang Yuan, who was fleeing in a disheveled state!

He was being chased by two black-striped tiger demons with bloodshot eyes, and he was about to give up.

"Fang Xia? He ran that way?" Zhang Yuan's eyes were first surprised, then a barely perceptible cold glint flashed in them.

"Over there... it seems to be the direction leading to the Black Mountain defense line."

Has he gone mad? Oh right, that area was just cleared out, and the Black-striped Tiger demon beast was lured to the outer perimeter to chase people!

Without hesitation, Zhang Yuan abruptly changed direction and followed Fang Xia in a desperate escape!

"roar!"

Behind Zhang Yuan, two black-striped tiger demons roared and chased after him relentlessly.

.......

"Damn it!" Fang Xia's heart sank. Glancing at Zhang Yuan closely following behind, she cursed inwardly, "Zhang Yuan's presence is a variable!"

Fang Xia accelerated forward, hoping to shake off the other party.

The two ran one after the other toward the Black Mountain defense line.

However, the two black-striped tiger demons were hot on Zhang Yuan's heels!

One of them seemed to be attracted by Fang Xia's aura, and abandoned Zhang Yuan, rushing towards Fang Xia with a bloody stench and a roar!

Zhang Yuan's pressure was greatly reduced; he only needed to face a black-striped tiger monster.

His face instantly lit up with wild joy, and while desperately fighting off the monster, he shouted at Fang Xia.

"Senior Brother Fang, be careful! Quickly help me share the burden!"

He deliberately shifted the fighting towards Fang Xia, trying to draw the attention of the other monster as well.

Fang Xia's eyes were bloodshot, and her anger instantly overwhelmed all her restraint.

He abruptly turned his head and shouted sharply in Zhang Yuan's direction, "Zhang Yuan! You're asking for death! How dare you try to shift the blame!"

He didn't want to be exposed and only wanted to arrive at the safe zone discreetly.

But at this moment, Zhang Yuan's malice and scheming have driven him into a desperate situation!

At this moment, all notions of hiding one's talents and keeping a low profile were thrown to the winds.

He had only one thought in his mind: In this Black Mountain, it's perfectly normal for one or two people to die!

Nothing more to hold back!

Faced with the black-striped tiger pouncing on him, Fang Xia no longer concealed his true intentions.

He took a deep breath, circulated his internal energy, and the disguise of the 'Qi Sensing Technique' instantly disappeared.

The previously suppressed vital energy suddenly burst forth!

The muscles and bones resonated in unison, and the skin subtly shone with a luster.

Fang Xia drew his longsword with his right hand!

"Clang!"

The longsword was drawn, its cold light flashing.

He didn't use any fancy moves; instead of retreating when faced with the monster's attack, he advanced!

Fang Xia flicked his wrist, and the tip of his sword pointed at the black-striped tiger's blood-red left eye.

This is precisely the meaning of "Exploiting Weaknesses and Striking Voids" in the Qingyang Palm technique, transforming palm force into sword power!

The black-striped tiger demon instinctively turned its head to dodge, its sharp claws whistling as it clawed at Fang Xia's chest.

Fang Xia's footwork shifted nimbly, like a willow swaying in the wind, narrowly avoiding the claw that could have disemboweled her.

At the same time, his left palm silently extended, his five fingers slightly bent, and a faint heat emanating from his palm.

This is the blazing palm force of the Lesser Completion of the Qingyang Palm!

"puff!"

A palm strike imbued with intense heat landed squarely on the black-striped tiger's ribs!

A dull cracking sound of bones breaking was accompanied by the agonizing roar of the monster.

The black-striped tiger demon was knocked off balance, its movements instantly distorted.

Fang Xia's eyes were cold as she seized this fleeting opportunity.

The longsword, like a venomous snake spitting its tongue, pierced through the bloody mouth of the black-striped tiger demon beast, going straight to the back of its head!

"Well……"

The roar of the black-striped tiger beast abruptly stopped, and it collapsed to the ground with a thud, twitching twice before falling silent.

From the moment the battle began to the moment the enemy was killed, it only took a few breaths!

The whole process was fast, accurate, and ruthless!

But in the blink of an eye!

Fang Xia displayed not only his cultivation at the intermediate level of the Stone Skin Realm, but also a combat awareness and killing methods far exceeding those of his peers!

This was by no means a fluke, but the result of his countless hours of diligent practice.

And then there's the true strength honed through life-or-death battles in the Poisonous Forest, the Great Rift Valley, and the Withered Swamp!

Zhang Yuan, who was just about to take the opportunity to escape, froze on his smug face.

Horrifying! Unbelievable!

When Zhang Yuan caught a glimpse of this scene out of the corner of his eye, he almost thought he was hallucinating.

He screamed incoherently, his voice trembling: "Stone...Stone Skin Realm?! How is this possible! Wasn't Fang Xia supposed to be a high-level Sword Skin Realm expert? This...this swordsmanship...this palm strike..."

A wave of immense fear washed over him, chilling him to the bone as if he had fallen into an ice cave.

His supposedly brilliant plan has now become a death warrant!

He recalled the constant targeting he had received, and a chill instantly shot from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head!

Zhang Yuan suddenly realized how stupid he had been, and how he had provoked such a terrifying evil star!

Fang Xia slowly drew out the blood-stained longsword and flicked away the blood droplets from the tip.

His face no longer held any trace of its usual calm and composure, only the cold and resolute determination that came from having experienced life-or-death battles.

Turning around, Fang Xia's gaze fell on Zhang Yuan, whose face was deathly pale.

There was no anger in that gaze, only a deathly killing intent, more chilling than the cold wind of Black Wind Ridge.

This Zhang Yuan is jealous by nature and narrow-minded; today he actually wants to kill him!

Such a source of trouble must not be allowed to remain!

Fang Xia's voice was eerily calm as she walked towards Zhang Yuan step by step, each step feeling like it was treading on Zhang Yuan's heart.

"Junior Brother Zhang, I appreciate your 'kindness'."

Now, it's my turn to 'repay' you.

"No! No! Senior Brother Fang! Spare me! Spare me!" Zhang Yuan was so frightened that his soul almost left his body, tears streaming down his face, and he shrank back in terror.

"I was wrong! I was blinded by greed! I'm not human! Please... please, for the sake of our shared sect..."

Where is the Fang Xia before me now, the good-for-nothing he used to mock so ruthlessly?

He is clearly a deadly demon who has emerged from a mountain of corpses and a sea of ​​blood!

"You plotted against me?" Fang Xia's voice was icy cold, devoid of any emotion.

"Be prepared to pay the price!"

He stomped his foot hard, cracking the ground, and his Stone Skin Realm Qi and Blood erupted completely, making him much faster than before!

With chilling killing intent, it rushed straight at Zhang Yuan, who was in a state of mental chaos!

Zhang Yuan was terrified and, in his haste to defend himself, roared desperately, "Fang Xia! How dare you! Master Ning..."

"laugh!"

The sword flashed by, and Zhang Yuan's voice came to an abrupt halt.

The terror, resentment, and despair on his face will forever remain frozen in time.

A thin line of blood appeared on his neck, followed by a gush of blood.

His eyes were wide open, as if he could not believe until his death that he would die by Fang Xia's sword.

The black-striped tiger demon beast that was chasing Zhang Yuan was also intimidated by Fang Xia. It let out a low growl and dared not go forward for a moment.

Fang Xia didn't even glance at Zhang Yuan's corpse; her gaze swept over the black-striped tiger demon beast.

Sensing a deadly threat, the monster whimpered, tucked its tail between its legs, and darted into the depths of the dense forest.

Only after confirming that there were no further threats did Fang Xia's tense nerves relax slightly.

He quickly squatted down and rummaged through Zhang Yuan's body.

There were only ten taels of silver and a bottle of wound medicine.

Fang Xia curled her lip and coldly uttered two words: "Poor bastard!", but her movements were practiced and calm.

"Now that the root of the problem has been eliminated, it's time for me to retreat."

Fang Xia murmured to himself, his eyes becoming deep and reserved, and the aura of the Stone Skin Realm also quietly subsided.

Wiping the blood off his sword, Fang Xia didn't linger and headed towards the Black Mountain defense line.

The setting sun enveloped his shadow, as if staining it with a chilling, blood-red hue.