Chapter 77: The Ferocious Hong Lan

Hong Lan, driven to anger, let out a scornful laugh.

His Seahorse Tidal Wave technique was pushed to its limit as he unleashed the Divine Rain Angel skill. Suddenly, the heavens underwent a dramatic transformation.

The Abyssal Sea was vast and with air heavy with moisture. But the Blood-Black City, situated at the edge, the city was drier, not yet enveloped by the Abysasl Sea’s domain. But now, a relentless downpour began, transforming the arid Blood-Black City into a downpour.

This mere rain visibly unsettled Li Kong and Li Shuang.

“From tides arise waves, powerful enough to shatter a thousand mountains!”

Hong Lan’s spiritual energy erupted, converging countless droplets into mighty, rolling waves.

Water, the nurturer of life, also held the power to destroy the world.

These colossal waves, unstoppable and formidable, surged ahead.

Li Kong, with a flick of his three-foot iron sword, created a faint, melodious hum. His body and sword became one, forming a colossal blade that cut through the sky, attempting to cleave through the waves toward Hong Lan.

Yet, even a slight parting of the waves by his strike did little to hinder their relentless advance.

Li Shuang’s face turned grave. Clasping his hands, he conjured a phantom mountain in his grip. With a clap, the illusory mountain soared, nearly a hundred feet tall.

Despite the onslaught of the massive waves, the mountain stood firm.

Li Shuang clenched his teeth, steadfast against the overwhelming waves.

Then, a gentle sigh echoed. Another True Core expert stepped in, halting the monstrous waves.

These were other powers from the Blood-Black City, reluctant to join the dispute between Li Shuang and the Hundred Horses Guild. Yet, they knew if Hong Lan’s assault went unchecked and Li Shuang faltered, it would be the Blood-Black City that paid the price.

As the massive waves were stopped just outside the Blood-Black City, Li Shuang let out a breath of relief, no longer having to withstand the relentless tide on his own.

At the same time, Li Kong approached Hong Lan.

Sword practitioners were famous for their potent offensive capabilities. A practitioner with a second layer True Core could often stand up to one with a third layer True Core.

However, Hong Lan was fearless. Apart from being an extraordinary third layer True Core master, he knew that any competent third layer expert could outlast a sword practitioner by evading their blade’s edge and biding time, eventually leading to the sword practitioner’s defeat.

Indeed, a powerful offense didn’t necessarily mean equivalence in all aspects to a third layer True Core. This was particularly true for many sword practitioners who, in their quest for deadly efficiency, overlook other skills, creating vulnerabilities.

“I am unmatched in physical strength. You dare to confront me?” Hong Lan’s eyes sparkled as Li Kong rashly decided to face him head-on, just as he had hoped.

With his horse-like ears twitching, he unleashed a barrage of palm strikes.

The Tidal Dragon Tornado Palm!

Transforming water into fine streams and streams into whirls, they enveloped the sky and earth, their sharpness unmatched.

Instantly, Li Kong found himself besieged by countless streams slicing at his sword’s edge, as if caught in quicksand, slowly being consumed.

Despite his desperate resistance, he was overwhelmed by the incessant streams from every direction. His grey robe shredded and blood gushed forth. Within moments, Li Kong was swallowed by the tornado.

“Brother Li,” Li Shuang cried out in alarm.

Hong Lan’s brow furrowed, not feeling his water streams cutting through flesh as expected.

Then, an ominous premonition struck him.

“So that’s your strategy,” Hong Lan, with his vast combat experience, realized. 

He spun around and launched a punch, an unstoppable force colliding with a three-foot iron sword.

Li Kong’s long sword vibrated with a resonant hum, nearly slipping from his grasp. He retreated nearly a dozen meters before steadying himself.

Hong Lan, too, was forced back several meters, a gaping, bleeding wound on his fist.

“To stealthily flank me, it’s impressive. You almost had me there,” Hong Lan laughed heartily, a sense of extreme relief in his heart. 

Had it not been for his vast experience and timely realization of the danger, he might have been skewered by that sword.

“You won’t get another chance like that, Li Kong.”

Though the move had caught him off guard, now that he was wary, repeating its element of surprise was unlikely.

Li Kong’s face was etched with concern as he clutched his precious sword tightly.

“This is problematic,” he whispered under his breath.

He hadn’t anticipated that his attack would inflict only minor damage on Hong Lan.

Divine Sword Shadow, Giant Sword Technique, One-Sword Slash–he had nearly exhausted every technique in his arsenal. Yet, his most potent strike only managed to puncture Hong Lan’s fist.

With such a formidable physique, bolstered by his martial techniques, Hong Lan was a daunting opponent.

His ferocity now fully unleashed, Hong Lan battled fiercely against both Li Kong and Li Shuang. As a member of the Horse Clan, naturally endowed with incredible physical strength and raised in the Abyssal Sea, he was a hardened warrior, accustomed to battling from the depths of adversity.

In terms of combat experience and sheer ruthlessness, neither Li Kong nor Li Shuang, both outsiders, could match him.

Hong Lan let out a cold snort.

Losing patience with the drawn-out battle, a vicious glint appeared in his eyes. As Li Kong lunged with his sword, Hong Lan grasped the blade with one hand.

The razor-sharp sword qi cut through flesh and bone. However, Hong Lan, far from retreating, intensified his grip. He trapped the sword with his arm and shrouded it in his heavy wave protective aura.

Li Kong was stunned. His long sword was completely immobilized.

“Die!” bellowed Hong Lan, as he struck down with his palm, hitting Li Kong squarely in the chest.

A colossal burst of heavy water exploded upon impact, unleashing a tremendous force that instantly caved in Li Kong’s chest.

Gasping, Li Kong spat out a mouthful of blood, severely wounded and hurled away.

The turn of events was quick. It all unfolded in a mere instant, leaving Li Shuang no chance to react.

“This is over,” declared Hong Lan, his fist ready for the next attack, now aimed at Li Shuang.

Although Li Kong had, in the final moment, funneled all his strength into his sword, causing an explosion that crippled one of Hong Lan’s arms, the exhaustive fight left Li Shuang, who had only recently advanced to the True Core stage, completely drained. Without Li Kong’s help, he stood no chance against Hong Lan.

For Hong Lan, sacrificing an arm to defeat two True Core opponents was a calculated and worthwhile trade.

“Die!” Hong Lan thundered, his powerful fist descending with the relentless force of a tidal wave.

Desperation filled Li Shuang’s eyes. He hurriedly summoned a protective aura, but his spent energy rendered it dangerously weak. It stood no chance against Hong Lan’s onslaught, and the specter of death overshadowed Li Shuang.

In that dire moment, a blood-red streak shot forth from the Li residence.

Moving with fleeting swiftness, it pierced Hong Lan’s body, leaving a gaping hole.

Blood poured profusely. Hong Lan remained suspended in mid-air, incredulously gazing down at the vast hole spanning from his chest to his waist, his body held together only by the skin on either side.

“How… how is this possible?” Hong Lan fell, his life and soul extinguished in an instant.

Li Shuang, recovering from his initial shock, quickly gathered Hong Lan’s body and took it away.

He surveyed the area. None of the True Core onlookers dared to show themselves, still reeling in their shock.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Li Shuang dug out Li Kong, who had been hurled into the mountain rocks, and supported him as they returned to the Li residence.

Their departure set off a frenzy among the remaining True Core masters in Blood-Black City. The final blood-hued streak had left them all quivering with fear, struggling to regain their composure.

“That had to be the doing of a Law Manifestation expert, no question about it!”

“Li Shuang has a Law Manifestation powerhouse backing him? That’s unbelievable!”

“Why didn’t he reveal this sooner? Had I known about his powerful ally, I would’ve lent my support earlier.”

“Not even giving us a chance to forge a good connection? That’s ruthlessly cunning!”

“He played his part too convincingly, pretending to be a rootless cultivator when he had such a strong supporter. Isn’t that deceiving?”

“Clearly, our approach to the Li family needs a serious rethink from now on.”

***

For Li Kong, the shock was overwhelming. He had braced for the worst, only to see Hong Lan fall so suddenly.

His shock soon gave way to resentment. They had known each other for so long, yet this crucial detail was never disclosed. If he had known earlier, could he have avoided pushing himself to such dangerous limits, resulting in his grave injuries?

His intense gaze was so penetrating that Li Shuang felt a twinge of embarrassment under its scrutiny.

“Brother Li, there’s much more to this situation than meets the eye. It’s not that I was unwilling to share; it just wasn’t the right time,” Li Shuang explained.

He himself had been unaware that his master had attained the Law Manifestation stage. He had also been reluctant to involve Lin Fanyun, who was due to arrive in the Abyssal Sea, in his own troubles.

His previous reticence was mainly because he thought Lin Fanyun, being only at the True Core stage, couldn’t stand up to the Hundred Horses Guild. That’s why he kept it hidden, even instructing his children to maintain the secret.

This way, even if they died, there would still remain a glimmer of hope for vengeance.

“Just try not to overdo it, our master is currently waiting for us at the mansion.”

Li Kong coughed up another mouthful of blood. His injuries were grave. Although his core was intact, his chest was severely concave, and his internal organs had sustained damage.

Unfortunately, Li Shuang, having only recently advanced, had no True Core healing pills at hand.

Li Kong, a lone cultivator, also often struggled with a shortage of cultivation pills. He had a few emergency healing pills, but only two or three, and he preferred not to use them now.

The situation, after all, wasn’t dire, and he could recover gradually with proper care and rest.

In the courtyard sat Lin Fanyun, his demeanor serene. Beside him stood Li Li, Li Lir, Li An, and Wang Man, all waiting attentively. A little further away, Li An and Wang Man’s children stood back, ready to heed any instructions.

Yet, without exception, every one of them was brimming with emotion.

The Li family, who had risen from humble beginnings as solitary cultivators, intimately understood the hardship of lacking backing. Now, finding themselves linked with a Law Manifestation elder, their excitement was natural.

Only Li Li and Li An, who had been privy to the truth all along, were relatively more composed.

“Li Kong? You are quite exceptional,” Lin Fanyun remarked, his eyes brimming with respect. 

In the vast wilderness, those brave enough to battle to the death for a comrade were exceedingly rare. While it might seem foolhardy, such individuals were without a doubt valuable either as allies or instrumental assets.

He pointed a finger, and a surge of life force cascaded down on Li Kong.

Li Kong’s initial instinct was to resist, but his better judgment prevailed, and he allowed it to happen.

As the life force infused his body, it began healing his wounds. He felt a prickling sensation, akin to countless ants marching within him.

Li Kong’s expression twisted uncomfortably.

“Focus on channeling it properly, mend your injuries, then return,” Lin Fanyun advised, worried that Li Kong might not be able to hold back his pain if he remained.

“You should leave as well. Given your recent advancement, your cultivation is still unsteady, and following such an intense battle, you likely have many insights. Dedicate time to comprehend and solidify your practice. Return to me once you’re healed. I have questions for you.”

Li Kong and Li Shuang departed to attend to their recovery.

Li Li and others also withdrew in stages. With the Li family’s crisis averted, there were numerous affairs to be tended to.

Only the third generation of the Li family stayed behind, awaiting further instructions.

This also served as an opportunity for the younger Li family members to gain familiarity with Lin Fanyun’s presence.

Lin Fanyun then flipped his hand, and a jade slip appeared in his grasp.

This jade slip contained valuable intelligence about the local region and a part of the adjacent Abyssal Sea. It was precisely for this intelligence that Lin Fanyun had arranged Li Shuang’s family’s relocation here decades earlier.

“I could have eventually gathered this information myself. However, certain nuances in local customs and environmental differences necessitate firsthand experience.”

Lin Fanyun’s gaze drifted into the distance. The Li family served as his chess pieces. Their experiences here would serve as a sample, laying the groundwork for his grand scheme of expanding the Ancient Covenant’s influence to this area.

He carefully perused the intel documented in the jade slip.

While he could access some of this data on the mainframe network, the jade slip offered far more detailed insights.

Lin Fanyun wasn’t taken aback by this. Those who could utilize a secondary leaf to connect to the mainframe were either prodigies with substantial backing or individuals of True Core, Law Manifestation, or even higher cultivation levels.

It was commonplace for these high-level entities to exchange significant information.

The upper echelons of the human race would also disseminate crucial updates through this network. However, data below a certain threshold of importance seldom made it onto the mainframe.

It wasn’t a matter of ability, but rather a lack of willingness.

Why would these individuals, each powerful in their own right, bother to upload mundane, uninspiring details that held scant relevance for them?

“Yet, it is precisely these overlooked details that are crucial for the survival of ordinary people.”