Chapter Forty-Four: Defeating the Enemy

Yet he had no idea that this was already Lin Fan’s most formidable technique. Though it was only a single finger, it contained the power of the stars and was further enhanced by the Divine Creation Fist, a fusion of a thousand moves into one. With a thunderous crash, the hundred-zhang sword light was shattered by Lin Fan, dispersing into countless points of light, while that finger pressed on unabated, like a celestial pillar collapsing, suppressing everything before it.

“What!”

Jian Wufeng’s eyes flickered in shock, but his reaction was swift. He spun and retreated with lightning speed, narrowly evading Lin Fan’s blow.

Lin Fan did not pursue Jian Wufeng. Instead, he rained down heavy blows, continuing his assault on the small pagoda. After dozens of exchanges, a deafening boom resounded—the semi-treasure pagoda was cracked open, fragments flying in all directions.

“Ah!”

Ji Changkong screamed in agony, blood spurting from his body, and he fainted dead away.

Bathed in starlight, Lin Fan’s body shone with radiance, but he did not strike at Ji Changkong again. Instead, he smashed his fist through the heavens, hurling it directly at Jian Wufeng.

“Hmph! So your physical body is tough—I’d like to see just how powerful you really are!”

Zhang Xiwen finally made his move. He had been lurking in the shadows all this time, silent even when Ji Changkong’s semi-treasure was destroyed. Now, he seized his chance with uncanny timing, striking as Lin Fan’s old strength waned and new strength had yet to rise.

“You think I don’t see through your schemes? You want to reap the spoils without effort? Impossible!”

Lin Fan sneered, his expression unchanged. He spun around and unleashed a punch, clearly having anticipated this moment.

A colossal Kunpeng burst forth, its vast body like a mountain, an overwhelming aura erupting from it. At the same time, streaks of divine patterns descended from the heavens.

An iron fist crossed the sky, Kunpeng wings unfurled, and boundless strength engulfed everything. Lin Fan reached the pinnacle of his power, even summoning his Dao arts—this blow was enough to shake a Core Condensation cultivator.

Zhang Xiwen’s face changed; he hastily drew back his fist, sensing the terror in Lin Fan’s strike. To take it head-on would shatter his bones.

But at such a moment, how could escape be possible?

Lin Fan advanced like a dragon, his speed breathtaking. In the blink of an eye, he was upon Zhang Xiwen. His fist became an open palm, fingers as thick as roots unfurling, and a torrent of power exploded outward.

Zhang Xiwen screamed in pain. He was no match for Lin Fan, especially not in a contest of sheer physical might. His figure was flung through the air, like an arrow loosed from the bow, blood spraying from his lips. Fortunately, his body was resilient, and the injury was not grave.

“Damn it!”

Jian Wufeng swung his sword again, this time with all his strength—ten times fiercer than before. Boundless sword light blotted out the sky, an ultimate killing technique that few could withstand, its terrifying might laid bare.

The sword light was both fearsome and dense, falling like a rain of blades. Each streak contained the force of three elephants; together, even a top ten inner disciple would be hard pressed to survive within it.

“Hmph! So scattered and unfocused—where’s the threat? You can’t hurt me at all. It seems your cultivation is truly regressing.”

Lin Fan scoffed, his whole body radiating with divine brilliance. Stepping across the stars, he advanced, a massive hand blasting forth, its dreadful power engulfing everything.

He struck without mercy, overwhelming in his might. Amidst the storm of sword rain, Lin Fan found Jian Wufeng’s position—a dragon’s claw descended from the heavens, its scales vivid and distinct, as if a true dragon’s talon were rending through the void.

This was a killing move; Lin Fan held nothing back. He meant to end the battle swiftly—if the Sons of the Divine Alliance arrived, he would not only fail to see Yunxi, but might also bleed to death here.

The sword light was snuffed out. Jian Wufeng coughed blood, his body trembling; even his treasured longsword was shattered by Lin Fan’s claw.

“You, you…”

Jian Wufeng stared in horror. His defeat was too swift—his ultimate attack useless, utterly unable to rival Lin Fan. Even the sword he cherished was destroyed, the gap between them beyond all reason.

“Get out of my sight!”

Lin Fan didn’t spare Jian Wufeng another glance. A flick of his finger sent the latter flying hundreds of yards.

“Kill him!”

Just then, a fearsome savage beast appeared—Zhang Xiwen had exploded with full force, unleashing his most secret trump card.

It was a gift from the Son of God himself: a technique that allowed Zhang Xiwen to become a savage beast for a short time. It was his ace in striving for the inner sect’s top ten, but he had not expected to reveal it here.

“A three-headed demon ape?”

Lin Fan frowned; he had never before seen such a technique and felt a surge of curiosity.

“Prepare to die! Years ago, the Son of God slew a Core Condensation three-headed demon ape and refined its blood essence for me! When I become the demon ape, even most Core Condensation experts are no match!”

Zhang Xiwen’s voice boomed across the heavens, brimming with arrogance. Now, he had reason to be—his terrifying aura swept the world. Even Jiang Yun in the distance frowned, a flash of dread appearing in his eyes.

“It’s just an external force—what’s there to boast about? Without that blood essence, you’re nothing—a worthless weakling. And I will shatter your confidence at your strongest moment!”

Lin Fan let out a long howl, his hair flying wildly as he pushed the Divine Creation Fist to its limits. To forge his own supreme legend, he would tread over countless powerful foes. Even if Zhang Xiwen had become the three-headed demon ape, it could not sway his resolve.

Twenty elephants’ worth of force raged like a hurricane—Lin Fan’s entire being radiated a terrifying aura.

He reached the peak of his power—a colossal true dragon emerged at his call, its coiling body and awe-inspiring might as if it had come to life.

Lin Fan stepped atop the dragon, both hands weaving divine patterns. The very laws of the Core Condensation realm flooded the world.

He knew Zhang Xiwen’s power—his strength alone surpassed fifteen elephants, more than Lin Fan’s own. Even after slaughtering and devouring over two hundred demons, Lin Fan had only reached twelve elephants’ strength, still less than Zhang Xiwen.

But the Divine Creation Fist was a true godly art. Pushed to its zenith, it could elevate Lin Fan’s might to twenty-four elephants—already the strength of the Core Condensation realm, far above Zhang Xiwen’s current power.

“Ah!”

Zhang Xiwen roared, the three-headed demon ape he had become howling at the sky. A shaggy hand reached out of nowhere, trying to crush Lin Fan in its grasp!

“You are not my match.”

Lin Fan shook his head; his calm voice exuded unrivaled dominance. He took a single step forward.

A vast tide of blood and energy surged. Suddenly, a gigantic foot appeared in midair, carrying an incomparable, terrifying might. The enormous foot crashed down from the sky, directly suppressing the three-headed demon ape Zhang Xiwen had become.