On the peak of Mount Akina, stood a building with a distinct Chinese palace architectural style. In front of it was a sizable dojo, surrounded on three sides by nearly a hundred people. Among them were over twenty Soul Realm experts of various complexions; Jingbian Jingjun was merely standing on the side, clearly not the protagonist of Han Shi Xuan.
Additionally, there were over twenty Transformation Realm powerhouses.
Sixty Qi Realm experts, clad in tight black attire and wielding slender, curved sabers, formed the remaining ranks.
Over a hundred individuals, each exuding an aura of killing intent, stood ready for battle.
Lu Fan, with Duanmu Xiu in tow, ascended the mountain step by step. The sudden sight of the imposing presence opposite them startled Duanmu Xiu.
"Are you sure you're not just trying to seize this opportunity to eliminate me?" Duanmu Xiu asked, her round eyes fixed on the formidable group of menacing figures, then glancing at Lu Fan.
"Are you afraid? If you wish to avenge your ancestor, you must emerge alive from the hands of these people," Lu Fan inquired calmly.
"I am not afraid of death. However, will they spare me simply because I am a child?" Duanmu Xiu questioned.
"These people have no room for sympathy in their eyes, nor even humanity. There is only strength and weakness. To survive, you must fight until they are incapable of retaliating. Your pity will only invite the danger of being killed," Lu Fan stated, producing the Immortal Slaying Sword and handing it to Duanmu Xiu.
"Where is my Purple Gold Bell?" Duanmu Xiu asked Lu Fan.
"It has been reclaimed by its true owner. Moreover, such a magical artifact cannot represent your own strength. If your own power is sufficiently formidable, magical artifacts become less significant," Lu Fan explained.
"They are not only numerous, but each of them is at a higher realm than me. Are you certain I will return alive?" Duanmu Xiu looked at Lu Fan with an expression of disbelief.
"Not only are they numerous and at higher realms than you, but there is also a vast, deadly formation here!" Lu Fan surveyed the entire dojo and immediately detected the formidable killing formation. He hadn't expected to encounter such a powerful array in Japan.
"Then why don't you just kill me directly? Why go to all this trouble?" Duanmu Xiu glared at Lu Fan, truly wishing to end him with the Immortal Slaying Sword in her hand.
"Enough nonsense! Go, go! Remember the sword technique I told you about on the way!" Lu Fan pushed Duanmu Xiu towards the center of the dojo.
"You... what did you say? I didn't hear anything... I really didn't hear anything!" Duanmu Xiu's face contorted in misery. What had he said? When had he said it? She had no idea.
However, before she could protest, a force propelled her into the middle of the dojo.
"Esteemed Lu Fan! What is the meaning of this?" Jingbian Jingjun stepped out from the crowd, addressing Lu Fan.
"You lot... are too pathetic! Not worthy of my attention. Let Duanmu Xiu teach you how to conduct yourselves in the future," Lu Fan declared disdainfully from outside the dojo.
"Go, throw her out," Jingbian Jingjun instructed a black-clothed figure beside him.
With a whoosh, the black-clothed figure immediately charged towards Duanmu Xiu. Swish... swish... swish... as he dashed towards her, his movements flickered several times. In an instant, he was before Duanmu Xiu.
Ninjutsu... this was the martial art that Japanese warriors excelled at.
Swish... The Immortal Slaying Sword in Duanmu Xiu's hand flashed like a beam of light. A dazzling radiance emanated as the entire blade traced a miraculous arc. *Puff*... The black-clothed man, who had just reached her, suddenly fell backward.
*Puff*... A gush of blood sprayed onto Duanmu Xiu's face. A large gash appeared on the neck of the fallen man. It seemed he hadn't even understood what had happened, his eyes filled with unwillingness to accept his fate...
He died with his eyes open. Perhaps he hadn't seen how he died!
Duanmu Xiu herself was bewildered. The strike had been too swift, something she hadn't anticipated. It felt as though the sword hadn't been wielded by her, yet the sword was undeniably in her hand.
Duanmu Xiu turned to look at Lu Fan. She saw him already seated on the ground, seemingly with no intention of intervening. Suddenly, a voice echoed in her mind: "Don't be distracted, comprehend it carefully."
Duanmu Xiu froze, wondering who was guiding her.
"Baka! Kill her for me!" Seeing the black-clothed man who had charged forward instantly killed, Jingbian Jingjun became enraged and roared at his side.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh... Three black-clothed figures immediately surged forward. As they moved, they drew the sabers from their waists. With a few flickering movements, they were before Duanmu Xiu. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh... Three saber lights descended upon Duanmu Xiu.
Whoosh... Suddenly, Duanmu Xiu moved. Her petite form contorted into a peculiar stance, and she instantly slipped between the three sabers. Simultaneously, the Immortal Slaying Sword in her hand thrust out three times. The speed was so immense that the three strikes appeared as one, making them impossible to discern. All three attackers saw the sword coming towards them, but they were utterly unable to dodge.
*Puff, puff, puff*... The throats of all three were pierced. They fell backward almost simultaneously. *Bang*... a dull thud echoed as they hit the ground in unison.
*Puff*... Duanmu Xiu was once again splattered with blood.
"Is it really that dramatic? I think you're doing it on purpose! Trying to scare me? Hmph!" Duanmu Xiu huffed, turning back to glare at Lu Fan. It wasn't as if she hadn't seen people kill before; why was there so much blood spraying out? This fellow was definitely doing it deliberately!
"How is that possible? How can this be? Kill him, kill him!" Jingbian Jingjun's face turned red with shame and fury as he roared.
Not only him, but the twenty experts beside him were also dumbfounded. How could a mere child, not even ten years old, wield such miraculous sword techniques? Techniques that even they had never witnessed.
Whoosh... A Transformation Realm expert suddenly charged forward. With a single flicker, he was beside Duanmu Xiu, a short blade resembling a dagger instantly slashing towards her neck. However, just as the blade was about to graze Duanmu Xiu's neck, whoosh... Duanmu Xiu suddenly vanished before him. .oΓg
*Puff*... Duanmu Xiu's figure suddenly appeared above her opponent. With a downward strike, the Transformation Realm expert was cleaved in half by a single sword.
"Ah...!" Jingbian Jingjun let out a guttural roar. This was utterly humiliating. The deaths of a few Qi Realm experts were one thing, but a Transformation Realm expert being instantly killed was too bizarre! These were all his disciples who had died!
"Form the array! The killing formation!" Jingbian Jingjun shrieked hysterically.