Zhu Han didn't even spare Lu Fan a glance. He had blocked the previous sword strike with little effort. To injure him? He'd need another hundred years of cultivation!
Zhu Han looked at Lu Fan with disdain, slowly raising his treasured sword. Then, he brought it down with a seemingly fierce strike, his feet even trembling slightly.
*Clang...* As expected, the sword strike landed, producing only a *clang*. Not even a spark flew. *Stumble... Thump...* Lu Fan himself was shaken back two steps, landing on his backside.
"Kid! You're out of chances! I'll turn you into a vengeful spirit with this sword!" Zhu Han sneered at Lu Fan, raising his great sword slowly. He didn't believe Lu Fan could withstand another of his strikes. However, to be safe, he poured all twelve of his strengths into it. He wanted this ignorant brat to die...!
*Whoosh...* The sword descended towards Lu Fan's head.
Lu Fan hadn't managed to stand up yet. He could only raise his sword while sitting on the ground.
*Bang...* Lu Fan was almost blasted into the ice. Yet, strangely, even in this state, he didn't let go of his sword. He managed to block Zhu Han's strike perfectly.
"How the hell can you do that! How is this possible!" Zhu Han was about to go mad. Three strikes and this brat still wasn't cut in half. And this brat was just a piece of trash who hadn't even reached the Soul Realm.
"It's... my turn!" Lu Fan scrambled to his feet a few times, finally managing to stand. He seemed unable to stand steadily, but he still prepared to swing his sword again.
"Damn it! Fine! This old man isn't one to break his word. It's your turn, and with the next strike, I'll turn you into a ghost!" Zhu Han yelled, his neck bulging. This brat was infuriating. This little bastard was like an immortal cockroach.
Lu Fan staggered to his feet, his sword trembling as he raised it.
"I... I'm going to swing! Are you ready?" Lu Fan still remembered to ask.
"Stop the crap, hurry up, don't waste my time," Zhu Han cursed impatiently, his sword ready to parry.
*Swish...* A cold glint flashed in Lu Fan's eyes. His sword suddenly changed, becoming a dark blade of black. In that instant, Lu Fan stopped shaking, his hands and feet no longer trembling. A killing aura suddenly emanated from him. *Whoosh...* A beam of black light slashed down fiercely.
Zhu Han suddenly felt danger, but it was too late to prepare. He hastily met the incoming strike with his sword.
*Bang... Clang... Hiss...* With a muffled thud, Zhu Han's sword instantly snapped in two. At the same time, Lu Fan's dark blade fell, severing Zhu Han's entire arm.
"Ah...!" Zhu Han let out a scream, staggering back several steps. But before he could steady himself, Lu Fan retracted his sword and lunged forward again. *Bang bang...* Two punches landed squarely on Zhu Han's stomach.
*Thump...* Zhu Han collapsed onto the ground. Blood instantly stained a large patch of the white snow.
"Hmph! I played with you for so long because I was afraid you'd run and alert the people on the mountain. I really can't deal with them! You thought you were so powerful? Hmph!" Lu Fan looked at Zhu Han with disdain, saying coldly.
"Kid! What do you want?" A flicker of panic and dread flashed in Zhu Han's eyes. He hadn't expected this brat was faking it.
"Nothing much! The people searching for the gems down the mountain, they're all working for you, aren't they?! The so-called Han Shi Xuan and the Shadow Organization are your pawns, right?" Lu Fan asked calmly.
"You... Who exactly are you?" Zhu Han's eyes widened with even greater shock. This brat seemed to know quite a lot.
"Hmph! Have you heard of Hua Thirty-Five?" Lu Fan's heart grew certain. This brat was likely the mastermind!
"You are Hua Thirty-Five!? Truly a prodigy of a young age!" A voice suddenly boomed, and a figure appeared before them in a few blinks. It was an old Taoist with white hair and a white beard, exuding an ethereal aura, holding a whisk in his hand.
Lu Fan's lips twitched. He hadn't wanted to alert the people on the mountain, but it seemed he had. Looking at the old Taoist's immortal demeanor and graceful bearing, could he truly be an immortal?
"Palace Master! Save... save me!" Seeing the old Taoist, Zhu Han seemed to find a glimmer of hope and quickly shouted.
"Hmph! You're already useless. What use do I have for you?" The old Taoist rolled his eyes and lightly flicked his whisk. A surge of energy instantly killed Zhu Han.
"What the hell?" Lu Fan was stunned. This old Taoist was ruthless! He killed him just like that. He hadn't even gotten to soul-search him yet!
"Hua Thirty-Five! Are you willing to follow me and join my Kunlun Palace!" the old Taoist said to Lu Fan calmly.
"What if I refuse?" Lu Fan suddenly retorted.
"The same as him. Die!" the old Taoist said very casually, as if he didn't value a human life at all.
Damn it, this wasn't an immortal demeanor, this was a devil! Lu Fan muttered to himself, and suddenly... he felt a vague... a sense of familiarity about this old Taoist.
"Are you really the Palace Master of Kunlun Palace?" Lu Fan suddenly asked.
"Haha! On this peak, no one else can be the Palace Master of Kunlun Palace but me," the old Taoist suddenly burst into laughter, clearly very pleased with himself.
"But I heard there's a Taoist Master Yuan Shi Zi on Kunlun Mountain, a loose immortal of this mountain," Lu Fan asked again, feigning disbelief.
"Hmph! This humble Taoist is Yuan Shi Zi!" the old Taoist snorted, speaking with an air of superiority.
"Oh! So you are Senior Yuan Shi Zi. This junior pays his respects." Lu Fan shot up and bowed respectfully to Yuan Shi Zi.
"Take it out!" Yuan Shi Zi's lips curved into a cold smile, and he suddenly said again.
"Take... Take what?" Lu Fan asked, confused.
"Zhu Han's gem box! Take it out!" Yuan Shi Zi stared at Lu Fan and said.
"As expected of an immortal! You know everything!" Lu Fan said with feigned admiration, quickly taking out the box and handing it to Yuan Shi Zi with a bow.
"Hmph! On Yuxu Peak, nothing can escape my eyes. Come with me!" Yuan Shi Zi snorted and suddenly floated towards the mountain peak.
Lu Fan's eyes lit up. It turned out Yuan Shi Zi was stepping on a delicate short sword. If one didn't look closely, one might think the old Taoist could fly without using sword-riding techniques.