Chapter 687: 687 Han Yan finally made a move
"Move, Huayue, move." Blood continuously trickled from the corner of Yue Ji’s mouth, but she kept casting Hand Formations, unleashing storms one after another, while urgently shouting at Huayue.
"Do you really think he can still escape?" the Black-clothed Swordsman said with a painful and hoarse voice, filled with disdain.
Yue Ji then noticed that the entire temple was enveloped in an invisible Prohibition Barrier. Although it did not affect her much, it was still enough to render Huayue and the others unable to move an inch.
This was the Prohibition of the Divine Artifact, the Demon-breaking Spear.
"I’m going all out against you," Yue Ji declared resolutely, charging straight towards the Black-clothed Swordsman.
From her earlier tactics, it was clear that her close combat skills were entirely different from those of a Swordsman; they resembled more of the legendary Qimen Technique, which could be released from a distance but was exceedingly weak in melee combat. Now choosing to engage closely was obviously a desperate move.
The Black-clothed Swordsman, of course, understood this and his face showed a scornful cold smile.
Dim starlight filtered through the cracks in the dark clouds, falling upon the earth. Yue Ji’s previously shimmering silver hair turned dull and gray-white, her pristine complexion now lined with wrinkles. She had aged decades in an instant—not a disguise but a genuine transformation.
"Life Sacrifice, you truly do not wish to live anymore," the Black-clothed Swordsman frowned as he spoke.
Yue Ji did not reply. She thrust her hands forward forcefully, and a black tempest spiraled out from between them, growing continuously.
The force was evidently many times stronger than the previous storms, after all, this was her ultimate strike, launched at the price of sacrificing her life.
"Hmph!" the Black-clothed Swordsman let out a disdainful snort.
Yue Ji’s power was ultimately still too weak. Even with the Forbidden Technique and the Life Sacrifice to unleash the Night Storm, at most she could heavily injure him, but she could not threaten his life. As soon as he fully broke his Seal and regained his past strength, such damage would be of little consequence to him.
He concentrated all his effort to break the final thread of the Seal, completely disregarding Yue Ji’s ultimate attack, allowing the tempest to barrage his body.
Countless Chaotic Wind Blades tore through his flesh, revealing stark white bones, with even the vivid red of his internal organs visible through the torn muscles. Excruciating pain caused his body to convulsively twitch, but his face showed a sickly excitement and madness.
"Boom!" Thunder roared in the sky, and numerous bolts of lightning converged, forming pillars of light that fell upon the Black-clothed Swordsman like raindrops.
Under the immense might of the Heavenly Thunder, his entire body trembled violently, but his eyes revealed a joy like that of being set free.
It was almost over. As soon as the final thread of the Seal was broken, he would be able to regain his strength, kill Yue Ji, kill the cursed offspring left by Hua Guanyu, complete the mission, and return to the temple.
Thinking of his distant homeland, his twisted face surprisingly displayed a hint of warmth.
But suddenly, a cold intent to kill appeared behind him. His gaze instantly regained clarity, and as he swiftly turned around, he saw Mu Hanyan’s indifferent eyes, and the chilling edge of her sword.
Mu Hanyan had finally made her move. After a long wait, she had finally seized the one opportunity.
Again, thunder struck; another storm assailed. Now, the Black-clothed Swordsman was wounded all over. Although the Seal was continuously being broken and his aura was rising, he was on the verge of breaking the last Barrier and regaining his strongest power. But, this was precisely the critical point of his power transition, when he was most vulnerable.
Just like a Swordsman, each breakthrough at a key moment was often the most dangerous time.
If she couldn’t kill him even with such an opportunity, then Han Yan would likely never have a better chance.
More importantly, she could tell that once the Seal was completely broken and the opponent regained his strength, he would probably be an expert comparable to a Sword Saint. By then, her chances would be even slimmer.
"A mere peak Great Swordsman dares to court death!" scoffed the Black-clothed Swordsman disdainfully.
He didn’t care who Han Yan was, nor why she appeared here. All of this was meaningless to him.
Once he killed Huayue, he could complete his mission and return to the temple. The affairs and grievances of the Holy Court Continent meant nothing to him.
The only thing he cared about was his opponent’s strength.
To a mere Great Swordsman, who might have posed some threat to him in the past, but now, having bet everything on casting a Forbidden Technique and breaking open the Seal, although he had not yet fully regained his former strength, he was equivalent to the peak of the Holy Court Continent’s Great Sword Masters. How could he regard such strength seriously?
However, he was now in the final moment of completely breaking the Seal, also the most critical point when his body was weakest. Unlike when he faced Yue Ji earlier, he dared not take Han Yan’s sword directly. Therefore, he still divided his mental state and struck out with his palm.
A vague Palm Shadow appeared out of thin air, aiming for Han Yan’s chest.
At the moment, he looked quite disheveled, but his face was filled with confidence.
This fledgling, wet behind the ears, did indeed possess decent strength and Eye Power to choose the moment of his utmost weakness to strike. Unfortunately, he was still too young, unaware of the vast gulf between a Swordsman and a Sword Master. Didn’t he know that even a camel on its last legs is bigger than a horse? Even in his weakest state, he had the confidence to kill Han Yan with a single palm strike.
"Young master!"
"Young master!" Huayuezi and the others cried out in alarm simultaneously.
They could never have dreamed that Han Yan would come. Although Mu Feng had escaped the village earlier and said he would go back to relay the message, they were unaware that Han Yan had already returned to Heishi City. They simply knew the Mu Family would not mobilize troops for the sake of a few guards. Even the Great Elder and others would be glad if they were dead—without the henchmen, the Big Playboy Mu would lack several strong supporters. After all, they were not disciples of the Mu Family; even if they were left to die, no one would gossip.
As for Han Yan, even if she heard the news and hurried over in time, upon seeing the opponent’s strength, the best choice under the circumstances would have been to stand by idly, right?
Therefore, seeing Han Yan appear suddenly, they were both surprised and moved, with tears welling up in their eyes. Beyond their emotion, they couldn’t help but feel profound concern.
They too could see just how powerful the Black-clothed Swordsman was; even if Han Yan staked her life, she would stand no chance against him.
Facing the Palm Shadow struck by the Black-clothed Swordsman, Han Yan behaved as if unseen, and upon hearing the cries of Huayue and the others, she acted as if unheard.
Her expression was so cold, her gaze so resolute. Without flinching or dodging, she flew towards the palm strike, her Longsword aiming straight for the opponent’s Heart Meridian.
Clearly, this was a sword strike with the determination to perish together.
However, to wish for mutual destruction also required the strength to do so, and at the moment, Han Yan clearly lacked such strength.
"Stop!" Huayue exclaimed, her face streaked with tears.
"Don’t worry about us, just go!" Zirong also shouted anxiously.
"This madman, even more reckless than I," Jiang Yuzhe murmured, held in Zirong’s arms, weakly opening his eyes to witness the scene, yet his sight was hazy.