Yu Shuai smiled and said, "Young man, confidence is a good thing, but too much confidence is arrogance!"
"Don't believe me? You can try!"
With that, Yu Shuai took a step forward, and an invisible killing intent locked onto Yun Fan.
However, to his surprise, as soon as his killing intent exerted pressure, Yun Fan had silently diffused it and returned the favor.
Shock appeared in Yu Shuai's eyes. He hadn't expected Yun Fan to be so strong.
"Fighting you will surely be an interesting battle!"
Yu Shuai attacked proactively, directly charging at Yun Fan with a palm strike that seemed to split heaven and earth.
Yun Fan also launched his attack. As they exchanged a palm strike, the two at the center of the battlefield were unharmed, but those around them suffered.
Yu Shuai's men were repelled by the residual force of their clash, crashing into the walls. Instantly, many died.
On the other hand, Yun Fan's companions were protected by Tian Ying at the crucial moment, though Tian Ying paid a heavy price for it.
He was injured, feeling a surge of blood wanting to erupt from his chest.
"Fall back!"
With Tian Ying's warning, everyone quickly retreated.
Meanwhile, the clash between Yun Fan and Yu Shuai had begun. Although the previous move had the power to shake the heavens and earth, neither of them had emerged victorious.
Yu Shuai said to Yun Fan, "Your strength is immense. I've lived for so many years, and I've never seen any family capable of nurturing such a powerful being as you!"
This statement was genuinely from the heart. Neither the four great families nor the ruling powers could cultivate someone like Yun Fan.
Only those reclusive sects could nurture such martial arts prodigies.
He even doubted if Yun Fan was truly from such a force, as those sects, though hidden, were beginning to show signs of emerging in this era.
Yun Fan replied, "Thank you for the compliment! I know I am strong!"
"So what if you're strong? Facing me, you are but a fleeting bloom!"
Yu Shuai said coldly, "Since ancient times, how many geniuses have been buried in the river of time? And are you not one of them?"
Yun Fan detested Yu Shuai's pompous words and replied, "That's not necessarily true!"
Instantly, the two resumed their fierce battle.
This time, Yu Shuai directly employed the combined fist technique he had created. Though seemingly simple, it was both offensive and defensive.
The combined fist technique learned by the military was his creation, albeit a simplified version. Yu Shuai, the old fox, would never impart it in its entirety.
"Bang!"
He landed a punch on Yun Fan. Just as he was inwardly triumphant, Yun Fan counterattacked with a palm strike to his abdomen.
In this exchange, they were still evenly matched, but unlike before, both had suffered.
After all, they were both at the peak of the half-step innate realm. While separating them might take an instant, reaching that instant required long and arduous effort.
At this moment, Yun Fan attacked swiftly, like a venomous snake lurking in the darkness, his movements spectral as he struck at Yu Shuai when he was caught off guard.
Yu Shuai reacted quickly, as the reflexes of a half-step innate expert were astonishing.
He used his combined fist technique to parry Yun Fan's killing moves. Although both their attacks were deadly, capable of killing any post-natal expert with a single blow, they appeared rather ordinary in their hands. In gaming terms, they would be considered mere basic attacks.
In a flash, Yu Shuai finished his combined fist sequence but still couldn't overcome Yun Fan. Similarly, Yun Fan couldn't overcome him.
Just as Yu Shuai was preparing to adapt, Yun Fan suddenly struck with lightning speed, a punch landing on Yu Shuai's chin.
Yu Shuai staggered back several steps before regaining his balance.
"How is this possible?"
Yu Shuai's subordinates stared in disbelief. Who was Yu Shuai? He was a veteran figure of China.
To soldiers, he was an undefeated, invincible legend. Though the Dragon God of War was heavily hyped, it was based on the same narrative.
But everyone knew that compared to Yu Shuai, the Dragon God of War was an utter fraud. Without Yu Shuai's aura to shield him, who was the Dragon God of War?
Yu Shuai was different; his legends and myths were solid achievements, as he was a renowned marshal of long standing.
Even after retiring for over twenty years, his legend endured. Wherever he appeared, he could suppress the fortune of a place for a century.
To think that such a legend would suffer a setback at the hands of an unknown youngster was simply preposterous.
"No, Marshal Yu cannot be defeated!"
"That's right, he was just caught off guard. How could a mere brat make him suffer!"
"Exactly, Marshal Yu is an undefeated legend!"
Yu Shuai's subordinates chimed in.
"Silence!"
Yu Shuai, with disheveled hair, let out a roar, and his subordinates ceased their chatter. At this moment, he fixed Yun Fan with a venomous gaze.
"Has little martial brother inherited all of master's strength?"
Similarly, Zhao Fanghua looked shocked. She knew Yun Fan was the current sect master of Ghost Valley, but she hadn't known he could make Yu Shuai suffer.
She had been a disciple of Ghost Valley, but beyond a harsh remark, she knew nothing of its true power. Now, she realized that Ghost Valley was indeed a force capable of dominating the world.
Yang Xuejian said proudly, "He's worthy of being the man I fancy. Who wouldn't be moved by such a man?"
Zhao Fanghua gave her a disdainful look, realizing that Yang Xuejian's earlier claims of disinterest in Yun Fan were false.
In fact, it was true at first, but after truly witnessing Yun Fan's charm, it became genuine.
Tian Ying, who was already healing his injuries, remained very calm. His allegiance to Yun Fan was not simply for survival.
During his fight with Yun Fan, he had sensed an unfathomable depth, like a muddy ox entering the sea. He only revered strength.
He revered strong individuals like Yun Fan. Although the strength Yun Fan had displayed was already astonishing, he still felt that it wasn't Yun Fan's true power. If Yu Shuai wasn't using his full strength, he wouldn't be able to probe Yun Fan's true combat capabilities.
Yun Fan then asked, "How does it feel?"
Yu Shuai's eyes turned cold. He had never been so dishevelled in his decades of service. Even when surrounded by thousands of soldiers, no one had ever touched his uniform.
To think that this time, he would suffer a setback at Yun Fan's hands.
A being who was not inferior to him in any aspect. It was no wonder his foolish disciple had died at Yun Fan's hands.
Yu Shuai said coldly, "Boy, you have angered me. I originally intended not to use my full strength, but you are forcing me to rage!"
"Stop with the platitudes. It's not like you didn't intend to kill me!"
Yun Fan taunted dismissively.
Yu Shuai had come to kill him, so there was no need to sugarcoat it.
"Today, I will show you what high-level martial arts are!"
Yu Shuai said coldly to Yun Fan.
With that, Yu Shuai began to gather his full power. At this moment, he was no longer the respected, benevolent elder but had transformed.
His muscles began to swell, tearing his clothes, and he appeared to have aged twenty years, looking like a middle-aged man.
Of course, this was not the most important thing. What was most crucial was that Yun Fan could clearly feel his strength growing.
It was evident that this old fellow was ready to get serious.
Instantly, Yu Shuai attacked. Each step had the potential to split the heavens and earth. The elder, nearing his twilight years, finally unleashed his most brilliant moment.
He had never thought anyone could force him to this extent, only to discover it was a mere boy in his early twenties.
At this moment, his aura alone made it difficult for others to breathe.
Yu Shuai's subordinates erupted with joy. They knew the Yu Shuai who had once dominated the battlefield and was always victorious had returned.
Their faith reached a new peak at this moment.
"This transformation is so strange!"
Yang Xuejian noticed the anomaly. Rejuvenation was but a legend, yet today, she witnessed it in Yu Shuai.
Tian Ying then said, "Such a transformation is certainly not found in the secular world, but it exists in those reclusive sects!"
"I've traveled far and wide and heard of many techniques that can bring the practitioner into their peak condition!"
"Does Marshal Yu have backing?" Hei Long asked in shock.
In fact, his question was redundant. While Yu Shuai was strong, he was essentially alone.
Apart from him, there was no one he could rely on for assistance. Describing him as having few helpers would not be an exaggeration.
Yet, under such disadvantages, he had managed to execute his plans under the watchful eyes of the ruling powers and the four great families.
It was clear that he must have had a force supporting him from behind.
Yu Shuai then said to Yun Fan, "Our battle, only now, truly begins!"
"I shall await it!"
Yun Fan replied calmly.
Instantly, Yu Shuai attacked. His powerful palm strikes, like a howling cold wind, assaulted Yun Fan.
Yun Fan dodged. His palm strike landed directly on a parked vehicle nearby.
"Boom!"
The off-road vehicle, weighing nearly three tons, was utterly destroyed by his strike.
"Hiss!"
The spectators gasped. Even steel couldn't withstand Yu Shuai's palm strike. If it were them, they would have been shattered in an instant.
Following that, Yu Shuai unleashed three consecutive palm strikes, each carrying immense destructive power.
Everyone knew that even Yun Fan would have to temporarily retreat. They didn't believe Yun Fan would dare to clash directly with Yu Shuai in his peak state.
However, to their surprise, Yun Fan actively engaged and clashed head-on with Yu Shuai.
"How does he dare?"
Yu Shuai's subordinates were stunned. They hadn't expected Yun Fan to dare to confront Yu Shuai with his bare body.
Even more astonishing was that the strength Yun Fan displayed was not inferior to Yu Shuai's.
"Sky Splitting Palm!"
Yun Fan instantly identified Yu Shuai's palm technique.
"You know it?"
Yu Shuai's expression turned to shock. He hadn't expected Yun Fan to know the name of his palm technique. It seemed he had underestimated Yun Fan.
Yun Fan replied, "I've heard of it. They say the Sky Splitting Palm is the most overbearing of all palm techniques!"
"Once cultivated to mastery, even steel bones would be as fragile as tofu before it!"
Yu Shuai smiled playfully. "It seems you are indeed knowledgeable. This time, what are your chances?"
"Sixty percent!"
Yun Fan stated directly. "Although the Sky Splitting Palm is overbearing, it is not the most overbearing technique!"
"Oh? Then what other more overbearing techniques do you know?"
Yu Shuai looked at Yun Fan with confusion, clearly not believing that any technique in the world could be more overbearing than the Sky Splitting Palm.
Under his perplexed gaze, Yun Fan transformed his fists into claws.
"Hmm?"
Yu Shuai's expression turned doubtful.
At that moment, Yun Fan lunged forward and slashed down at him.
The path of his claws left behind invincible afterimages.
As palm and claw collided, Yu Shuai cried out in pain.
Looking down, he saw two distinct blood marks on his palm, deep enough to expose bone.
"What sharp claws!"
Everyone gasped. They hadn't expected Yun Fan to be able to break through Yu Shuai's overbearing palm technique.
Yun Fan's claws were also extraordinary, possessing such sharpness.
Tian Ying seemed to have learned something and looked at Yun Fan with admiration. Why hadn't he thought of sharpness as the nemesis of overbearing power?
And the claws Yun Fan displayed were precisely Yu Shuai's nemesis.
"Dragon Seizing Claw!"
Yu Shuai exclaimed in shock. Compared to the Sky Splitting Palm, the Dragon Seizing Claw was far more demanding, requiring that any single finger of the practitioner possess the strength to lift a thousand pounds to cultivate.
This martial art had been lost for a century, yet here it was in Yun Fan's possession. The Sky Splitting Palm was extremely overbearing, but the Dragon Seizing Claw was a fusion of overbearing power and sharpness. Possessing both, it was the dream of all martial artists.
He hadn't expected Yun Fan to possess such a heaven-defying technique.
No wonder Yun Fan didn't use weapons; these sharp claws alone were enough to tear anything apart, rendering weapons unnecessary.
He hadn't known before, but he had seen records in the martial library, though only records.
A hundred years ago, a senior from China had used the Dragon Seizing Claw to tear apart several renowned powerful figures from the Island Nation.
Of course, that was the last time the Dragon Seizing Claw had appeared.
Yun Fan didn't exchange further words with Yu Shuai but directly attacked. The Dragon Seizing Claw, like a peerless sharp blade, swept towards him.
With one claw strike, it carved five holes into a steel door tens of centimeters thick, proving its invincibility.
When the invincible met the invincible, it came down to sheer strength.
In the blink of an eye, they had exchanged dozens more blows. The battle had reached a white-hot stage.
Yu Shuai and Yun Fan separated.
Several deep, bone-exposing gashes appeared on Yu Shuai's body, blood mingling with sweat and dripping onto the ground.
Even in his middle-aged form, he showed signs of weariness.
Yun Fan's condition was much better. Apart from a few broken ribs, he had sustained no other injuries, and his spirit was not as dejected as Yu Shuai's.
On the contrary, his eyes held endless desire and fighting spirit.
"Marshal Yu!"
Yu Shuai's numerous subordinates looked dejected. They were deeply worried about Marshal Yu's condition. If this legend were to fall, their faith would vanish. Sudan Novel Network.
Yu Shuai shook his head and sighed, "I never expected to meet my lifelong enemy in my later years, after an invincible life!"
At this moment, he no longer dared to treat Yun Fan as a mere youngster but as a mortal enemy.
Yun Fan said, "You are not weak either. Since I began my journey, I have never sustained such severe injuries!"
This was truly Yun Fan's heartfelt opinion. In the past, he could defeat anyone in an instant. Only when he encountered Yu Shuai did he get injured.
However, the stronger the enemy, the more interested he became, as what he currently lacked was tempering.
If it were a life-and-death struggle, that would be even better. If he could step into the innate realm, his hopes of reaching that level would be even greater.
Similarly, the shrewd Yu Shuai sensed Yun Fan's unusual demeanor.
"Killing me is not your true objective. Your real goal is to use me as a stepping stone!"
Thinking of this, Yu Shuai grew agitated. He hadn't expected Yun Fan to harbour such intentions.
The reason he could sense this was because Yun Fan's reactions and speed were superior to his, yet he consistently chose to fight head-on rather than evade.
It was akin to a mutual destruction pact, hence he could sense that Yun Fan was using him as a training dummy.
Yun Fan did not deny it, which completely infuriated Yu Shuai.
"Yun Fan, you will pay for your foolish actions!"
He roared at Yun Fan. If he had retained a shred of rationality earlier, he had now lost it completely, plunging into madness.
Yun Fan said, "What price?"
The next moment, Yu Shuai entered a berserk state. Grandmasters possessed such strength, and half-step innates could wield it with ease.
They could enter and exit this state at will. Unlike those below them, when they exited this state, they wouldn't enter a weakened condition but would remain at their peak.
"Fight!"
Yu Shuai let out a roar, like a wild beast, and charged at Yun Fan.
"Boom!"
Yun Fan landed a blow on him, but he remained as immovable as a mountain, as if feeling no pain. This state was truly invincible.
Everyone thought Yun Fan would also enter a berserk state, as the current Yu Shuai was nearly invincible.
Unexpectedly, Yun Fan showed no intention of entering such a state, completely exceeding their expectations. Yun Fan's performance also caused confusion.
Could it be that he could truly fight Yu Shuai in his peak state while remaining in his normal condition?
The fact proved to be true. Although their battle had reached a frenzied level, Yun Fan could still strategize and counter Yu Shuai's attacks.
Yu Shuai's overbearing strength, before Yun Fan, was like hitting cotton—soft and weak, yet undeniably frustrating.
They fought in this state for over a hundred rounds.
At this moment, Yun Fan paid the price of three broken ribs and landed a punch on Yu Shuai's head.
Yu Shuai was sent flying backward, blood streaming from all seven orifices.
"Marshal Yu!"
His subordinates rushed forward, as Yu Shuai was currently critically weak.
However, Yu Shuai, disoriented, couldn't distinguish friend from foe. Everyone who approached him was knocked flying.
Anyone hit was killed without exception.
"Marshal Yu, it's me, your subordinate!"
One man cried weakly before his death, but alas, his fate was tragic. In a flash, he was shattered by Yu Shuai's palm.
Even his subordinates, who were worried about his safety, dared not approach.
After a long while, Yu Shuai's mind gradually cleared. Looking at the dozens of subordinates he had killed, Yu Shuai was stunned.
In his current state, even he didn't know he had done these things. Under the effect of dizziness, he had perceived everyone who approached him as Yun Fan.
Thus, he had attacked them in a frenzy.
Yun Fan said disdainfully, "To think you're a respected and invincible commander. To lose your mind and not spare your own subordinates... Impressive, truly impressive!"
At this remark, the Black Dragon Society members burst into laughter.
"Shut up, damn you!"
Yu Shuai roared in fury. The scene just moments ago was a complete humiliation for him.
Fortunately, these were his most loyal subordinates. If word of this got out, even if he defeated Yun Fan, he would lose his reputation.
Yun Fan then said, "Old man, what other tricks do you have? Bring them all out!"
Of course, by now, he had lost his patience. The tempering with Yu Shuai had achieved the desired effect.
Further sparring would not yield any additional benefits, so he now just wanted to quickly end this boring battle.
Yu Shuai was consumed by anger, but he knew he was at the end of his rope. Although he could maintain his peak condition after going berserk, the blow to the head from Yun Fan had drained all his strength. Even he had no confidence in fighting Yun Fan again.
"Are you planning to give up?"
Yun Fan asked him. He could see that Yu Shuai had no intention of attacking. This world-renowned veteran had finally been defeated.
For Yun Fan, this was undoubtedly the most challenging battle since his debut. This fight would make him famous throughout the world.
Yu Shuai's expression was complicated. Once, he had been a leading figure. To think that now, he was forced into such a predicament by a young man in his early twenties.
How could he accept it?
Although he was over seventy, he did not want to fail, nor did he want to die. He still had plans and ambitions to fulfill.
Therefore, he could not die here.
Seeing Yun Fan pressing forward, his subordinates quickly stepped in front of him.
"Kid, Marshal Yu is a figure of great power and influence. If you dare to kill him, not only you, but the entire Jiangnan region will be implicated!"
"That's right! Since you've won, you should know when to stop. The price of killing Marshal Yu is one you cannot afford!"
"If you have any self-awareness, you should apologize to Marshal Yu, or it will be too late to regret!"
Yu Shuai's subordinates spoke one after another.
Their support was Yu Shuai. If Yu Shuai died, they would lose everything and even face retaliation.
After all, over the years, under Yu Shuai's protection, they had committed many heinous deeds.
Those people merely dared not speak out. If their protector were gone, no matter how many of them there were, they would be torn apart by those people.
"Move aside!"
"Marshal Yu!"
Everyone was worried.
"Move aside!"
With Yu Shuai's repeated command, the crowd parted, creating a path.
At this moment, Yu Shuai, dragging his injured body, walked towards Yun Fan.
"I have lost. This is not something to be ashamed of!"
Yun Fan said coldly, "Indeed, in life, failure is inevitable. But your failure signifies the end of your life!"
Upon hearing this, Yu Shuai said calmly, "My defeat does not necessarily mean death, but even if you win, you will have to pay the price of your life!"
"Oh?"
Yun Fan asked doubtfully, "May I ask what means you have left to kill me now?"
"You will soon find out!"
With that, with a glance from Yu Shuai, his subordinates immediately issued commands. Instantly, outside the Black Dragon Society, they were surrounded by countless people.
The approaching force numbered no less than thirty thousand, and there were no pedestrians on the streets; all had been sealed off by his subordinates.
"Your subordinate Ling Du arrives late. I beg Marshal Yu's forgiveness!"
Following that, a post-natal expert strode forward. He was a soldier, his aura robust and fierce.
But he was only the beginning.
Then, another roar echoed, "Your subordinate has surrounded the bandit den with thirty thousand men. With Marshal Yu's command, all the bandits can be apprehended!"
The speaker was another war god.
And he was not the last.
"The Northern War Dragon Legion has arrived!"
"The Southern Flying Dragon Legion has arrived. What are Marshal Yu's orders?"
...
In less than ten minutes, eight war gods had arrived, standing before Yu Shuai, all glaring at Yun Fan.
With a single command from Yu Shuai, they would unflinchingly attack Yun Fan.
At this moment, the Black Dragon Society was in a panic. Who could have imagined that Yu Shuai had such a backup? The forces outside were estimated to be no less than a hundred thousand.
This was a despairing number.
Even with the Black Dragon Society's fighting prowess, breaking through was impossible. Let's not forget that they were all equipped.
"Pull yourselves together, you dogs!"
"What are you afraid of? At worst, we die. In eighteen years, we'll all be good men again!"
With a roar from Hei Long and Lei Bao, the panic among the crowd subsided somewhat, but facing a hundred thousand people, even the most composed would not be free from fear.
Seeing this lineup, Zhao Fanghua and Yang Xuejian also became unsettled. Regardless of what happened, they would not flee.
At this moment, they had already decided in their hearts that even if they had to die, they would carve a bloody path to help Yun Fan escape.
At this moment, the most composed person in the entire venue was Yun Fan.
Yun Fan calmly said, "To deal with a mere civilian like me, you've deployed a hundred thousand troops. You truly think highly of me!"
"Hmph!"
A war god snorted, "What civilian? They are just a bunch of disreputable bandits, ultimately nothing more than a mob!"
Yun Fan's eyes turned cold, and a killing intent fixed on the war god. The war god instantly shivered, never expecting that he, who had killed without batting an eye, would also experience such a chilling moment.
Yu Shuai then said to Yun Fan, "Even if your strength is immense, what of it? A single person's strength is ultimately limited. Can you, one man, withstand a hundred thousand troops?"
"No!"
Yun Fan answered concisely.
"What a shame. If you had joined me earlier, I might have spared your life. But now, I have no intention of letting you go!"
Yu Shuai threatened him coldly.
Yun Fan calmly replied, "How about we make another bet?"
"Do you still have any bargaining chips?"
Yu Shuai sneered dismissively.
"Don't worry about whether I have chips or not. I bet you still can't kill me!"
Upon hearing this, the eight war gods sneered. With this formation, let alone Yun Fan being a half-step innate, even a true innate expert would likely end up regretting it.
To speak such arrogant words, they had no idea who gave Yun Fan such courage—was it Liang Jingru?
"I don't believe it!"
Yu Shuai said decisively.
Let alone him, even the Black Dragon Society members didn't believe it. They simply couldn't see where Yun Fan's confidence was coming from.
Yun Fan then said, "I'll say this to you too: you'll soon find out!"