"Not bad, Wolong. It's only been a few days since I last saw you, and your blade can now block my arrows. Your growth has exceeded my imagination."
After Wolong's blade strike shattered the golden arrow, a tall man in black strode forward and said to Wolong, "You and Shen Lang are menaces. If you continue to grow, it will be even harder to kill you in the future."
"It's you?"
The man before him was the same black-clad assailant who had been pursuing Wolong ever since he descended the mountain. Seeing him actually show up at his doorstep, Wolong was somewhat shocked. He then asked, "Are you from the Crippled Army?"
"Haha, it seems you're quite intelligent to have guessed my identity."
The man in black slowly removed the mask from his face, revealing a disfigured visage. Not only were there seven knife scars on his face, but half of his nose was gone, and only one ear remained.
The so-called Crippled Army was an organization composed of disabled individuals. Every member of the Crippled Army had a physical deficiency – some missing limbs, others blind or deaf, unable to speak, or with deformities.
They were monsters rejected by the world, and thus harbored an innate hatred for it. This was also the reason for the Crippled Army's brutal actions, their plundering and burning in Heizhou, which led to countless deaths.
"You are the second leader of the Crippled Army. I remember now, your name is Tian Yangyi. Seven years ago, when my senior brother and I stormed the Crippled Army's main base, you fought me."
Wolong looked at him with a smile and said, "Your martial arts cultivation was superior to mine back then, but you lacked my ferocity. Therefore, my Tang saber severed your nose and cut off your right ear. However, thanks to your subordinates' interference, you managed to escape with your life, fleeing with your elder brother, Tian Yangsheng."
"Good memory. It's no wonder I've craved your life every single day for so many years."
Tian Yangyi looked at Wolong and smiled, "You and Shen Lang are martial arts prodigies, and even more so, madmen among men. Back then, even with our overwhelming advantage in numbers and power, you still annihilated the entire Crippled Army. My brother and I were fortunate to escape by employing our final gambits."
"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west. We were the ones fleeing in disgrace back then. Today, it's your turn to flee in disgrace."
Tian Yangyi said with a sneer, "You destroyed our families back then. Today, I will have your women and Shen Lang's women slowly sliced to death. Only then will my hatred be appeased."
"With just you?" Wolong scoffed, "Your golden arrows are potent, but you shouldn't have gotten so close. At this range, even your golden arrows, no matter how strong, cannot save you from death today."
Wolong slowly raised his Minghong Saber, a dismissive smile on his face. "Any last words? You can speak them now."
"Minghong Saber? Not bad. The most powerful saber in this world. It is said that after Xuanyuan the Yellow Emperor forged the Xuanyuan Sword, the remaining materials spontaneously solidified into this saber. Fearing that the Minghong Saber would overshadow the Xuanyuan Sword, Xuanyuan the Yellow Emperor intended to destroy it with his sword. Unexpectedly, as he swung, the Minghong Saber transformed into a white crane and vanished."
Tian Yangyi examined the black saber in Wolong's hand with a serious expression and said with a smile, "With your martial arts cultivation and this saber, at such close range, you could indeed kill me. But I bet you won't succeed. Do you believe me?"
"Fine, then we shall see," Wolong grunted. He then exploded from his spot, appearing before Tian Yangyi in an instant. His saber tore through the air, aimed at Tian Yangyi's neck.
The speed was indescribable.
The power was immeasurable.
As the saber swung, even the air became heavy and oppressive.
Facing this strike, Tian Yangyi wanted to dodge, but he found himself locked by Wolong's blade energy, unable to move. He could only watch as the saber descended towards him.
At this moment, Tian Yangyi understood how terrifying Wolong had become. This young man had already reached the Celestial Realm.
As the Minghong Saber was about to descend, and Tian Yangyi's life hung by a thread, a black dog-headed curved saber suddenly appeared, blocking the fearsome strike.
However, although it blocked the blow and sent Wolong staggering back two steps, the black dog-headed curved saber, unable to withstand the force of the Minghong Saber, shattered instantly into over a dozen pieces that fell to the ground.
"What a terrifying saber..."
The newcomer, looking at the shattered black dog-headed curved saber, had a look of terror and unease in his eyes. He said, "This saber of mine was forged from fine steel, unbreakable and capable of slicing through iron like mud. Yet, a simple collision caused it to shatter. The Minghong Saber truly lives up to its legend as a divine weapon."
"Good. Today, I will take your life, and I will also take the Minghong Saber from your hand. Both will be mine."
"Tian Yangsheng?"
Wolong smiled as he looked at Tian Yangsheng, clad in a black trench coat, with his refined appearance. "I didn't expect you to still be alive. Very well, then the unfinished business from back then will be settled here today."
"Wolong, I admit you are strong, but today, you will die."
Tian Yangsheng looked at Wolong, whose killing intent blazed like a fire, and sneered, "Do you believe I will personally cut off your head?"
"Tian Yangsheng, stop boasting. The one who was chased into having white hair overnight back then wasn't me, but you."
Wolong looked at Tian Yangsheng and chuckled, "Have you already forgotten the feeling of hearing the wind rustle and mistaking it for soldiers, of being startled by every shadow and sound?"
Seven years ago, Shen Lang and Wolong had stormed the Crippled Army's base, killing thirteen hundred members with their terrifying might. Tian Yangsheng and Tian Yangyi had fled in panic, pursued by Shen Lang and Wolong for hundreds of kilometers. They had their hair turn white overnight, constantly on edge, mistaking every gust of wind and rustling leaf for an approaching enemy.
Although they had managed to escape, they became a laughingstock, though not many people knew of this tale.
"Wolong, the humiliation I endured back then, I will repay you tenfold today. I will have your women and Shen Lang's women slowly sliced to death."
Tian Yangsheng's originally refined face twisted into a狰狞 and distorted grimace upon hearing Wolong's words, the shame of the past resurfacing.
"Enough of your empty talk. Since you've both shown yourselves today, come at me together."
Wolong waved his long saber and roared, "Does this young master fear anything?"
"You court death—"
Hearing Wolong's words, Tian Yangyi swung the large black bow on his back towards Wolong.
After Wolong dodged the fierce strike, Tian Yangyi drew a large Damascus sword from his waist and swung it down from the air directly at Wolong.
"All sabers in this world bow to my Minghong Saber. How dare you draw yours against me?"
Facing the descending Damascus sword, Wolong snorted and swung his blade. The next moment, the Damascus sword was instantly cut in two.
However, what Wolong never expected was that the Damascus sword was hollow in the middle. As it broke, a puff of white powder emerged, instantly scattering into Wolong's eyes, causing them to burn with excruciating pain, rendering him blind on the spot.