Shui Residence.
The family head, Shui Wuzhong, was currently in a meeting with a foreigner.
The foreigner opposite him was a thin, pale-skinned man. Despite his slender build, he exuded an aura of unfathomable mystery.
His first impression was one of immense strength.
At this moment, Shui Wuzhong immediately said, "Mr. Jason, welcome to China!"
He extended his hand for a handshake, but the other party made no move to reciprocate. "Family Head Shui, you've traveled far to bring me to China. I doubt it's just for tea, is it?"
Shui Wuzhong was not embarrassed and chuckled, "Mr. Jason, you are the sixth-ranked expert on the Heavenly Rankings. I've invited you here because I have a request!"
"I don't like how you Chinese always beat around the bush. State your purpose directly!"
Jason said coldly. He was the sixth-ranked expert on the Heavenly Rankings, and the globally recognized King of Assassins. He had been active for decades.
He had assassinated countless influential figures, including many of pivotal importance, and had always succeeded.
He was known worldwide as an assassin who never failed. His fees were astronomical, and at his level, they could no longer be measured by mere money.
It was either legendary treasures or peerless martial arts techniques.
At this, Shui Wuzhong smiled and said, "I need Mr. Jason to help me kill someone!"
With that, he handed Yun Fan's profile to Jason.
Jason picked up the profile and saw Yun Fan's name and photograph. What puzzled him was that such a young man like Yun Fan required the intervention of a King of Assassins like himself.
Was this not an overreaction?
Seeing the look of disdain on Jason's face, Shui Wuzhong explained, "Mr. Jason, please do not underestimate him. Although he is not on the Heavenly Rankings, he is a genuine Innate expert, and it has been confirmed that he is an expert at the peak of the Innate realm!"
As soon as he said this, Jason's expression instantly turned serious, followed by anticipation and excitement.
Having been an assassin for so many years, he had lost interest in ordinary people, and even low-level martial artists. His only interest was in hunting Innate experts.
Furthermore, they had to be peak Innate experts.
Since Yun Fan met his hunting criteria, he was naturally pleased. However, he did not agree immediately.
After all, he conducted business, and he would not agree until the other party offered what he desired in return.
Therefore, he said to Shui Wuzhong, "What reward can you offer me? Don't tell me it's money!"
"Of course not!"
Shui Wuzhong laughed, "Mere dirt, how could Mr. Jason possibly care for it? I will give you a set of peerless martial arts techniques!"
"Peerless martial arts techniques?"
Jason said doubtfully, "I don't believe you have the ability to possess peerless martial arts techniques!"
Shui Wuzhong replied, "Whether I have the ability is not important. What's important is that I can afford it. My family branch gave me a set of peerless martial arts techniques called 'Weak Water Three Thousand'."
"Weak Water Three Thousand?"
Jason's interest was instantly piqued. For decades, he had roamed the globe and naturally heard of many hidden sects and families in China.
He had also heard of the martial arts techniques within these families. For example, "Weak Water Three Thousand" was one of the Shui family's supreme secret arts.
Although it was not a world-shaking treasure, it was still exceptionally rare.
It was rumored to be a set of Yin-type techniques, more suitable for women to cultivate, though men could also practice it. Coincidentally, his attributes were Yin and fierce.
If he were to cultivate it, it would be the icing on the cake. Therefore, at that moment, he was moved.
However, he still kept a cautious eye, "How can I believe you?"
Shui Wuzhong directly produced the first half of "Weak Water Three Thousand."
"Please take a look, Mr. Jason!"
Jason immediately picked up the first half and read it, discovering its profound depth. If it were fake, he would never have felt this way.
Therefore, at this moment, he believed him.
Thus, he immediately said, "Alright, I accept this mission. I will deliver his head to you within a week!"
"That would be best!"
Shui Wuzhong reminded him, "Before you carry out the mission, there is one thing I must remind Mr. Jason of, and that is that this brat comes from the Guigu Sect!"
"The great name of Guigu, I presume Mr. Jason has heard of it. Whether you accept this mission or not is up to you!"
Originally, he had no intention of reminding him. Tricking a foreigner like Jason would incur no loss for him.
But what if Jason failed and revealed him? Would he not be finished?
By reminding him now, the other party might refuse. But if he accepted, then according to the rules of assassins, he could not reveal his employer.
He had already prepared to abandon this plan, but his family branch insisted that he eliminate Yun Fan, and at any cost.
Therefore, he had sought out Jason. He firmly believed that this King of Assassins, who had long surpassed the peak of the Innate realm, had the ability to eliminate Yun Fan.
At this moment, Jason sneered, "Even if he's from Guigu, so what? This world is still Guigu's world!"
With that, he vanished from the room, leaving behind only a single sentence.
"Prepare the complete 'Weak Water Three Thousand' for me!"
...
Today was the day for Yun Fan and Zhan Qingcang's decisive battle.
Initially, Zhan Qingcang was still worried that Ye Ji and Yun Fan would come together, and he would be distracted, unable to kill Yun Fan.
But he never expected Yun Fan to be so reckless, challenging him to a duel alone with no spectators.
Even Zhan Qingcang did not understand why Yun Fan, as a descendant of Guigu, would be so bold when he knew he was no match for him.
It seemed the current sect leader of Guigu lacked intelligence!
He looked down upon Yun Fan in his heart.
The decisive battle between the two took place outside Jinling, in the training camp that Lin Wudi had previously planned.
This was also Yun Fan's wish. Their battle should not involve ordinary people; this was the bottom line of the Guigu Sect. Su Dan Novel Network.
At this moment, Zhan Qingcang, having confirmed that there were no powerful auras around Yun Fan, finally relaxed completely.
"Brat, do you truly not know the immensity of heaven and earth!"
Zhan Qingcang smiled playfully, "However, I still respect you as a man. After you die, I will personally bury you!"
"Don't speak too soon. Although you've been famous for a long time, in my eyes, you're just so-so!"
Yun Fan said calmly.
"Hmph!"
Zhan Qingcang snorted, "Enough with the nonsense. Are you ready to die?"
"Coincidentally, that's the question I wanted to ask you!"
When words fail, silence is golden, especially between enemies. With just a glance, the two were locked in combat.
"Boom!"
In the first exchange, both were forced back.
At this moment, a look of shock appeared on Zhan Qingcang's face because he discovered that Yun Fan's aura was as strong as his own.
This was simply unbelievable! After all, Yun Fan had been completely suppressed by him until now.
He never expected to be evenly matched with him now, after only a few days.
"Impossible!"
Zhan Qingcang attacked again, unleashing his powerful strength and charging at Yun Fan.
Both were power-based martial artists, so their battle was a fierce exchange of blows. In the blink of an eye, they had exchanged dozens of rounds.
The already dilapidated training camp suffered further devastation, turning into a ruin.
Above the ruins, Yun Fan and Zhan Qingcang glared at each other.
"How did you suddenly become so strong?"
Zhan Qingcang asked Yun Fan.
"I have no obligation to tell you!"
Zhan Qingcang sneered, "Even if you don't tell me, I know what's going on!"
"You must have taken some forbidden medicine to forcibly enhance your strength. Unfortunately, in terms of endurance, you can't compare to me! Your peak is only temporary!"
With that, Zhan Qingcang rapidly attacked Yun Fan, now very confident because he believed his analysis was sound.
Yun Fan would not be able to hold on for much longer.
Yun Fan offered no explanation and instead moved his fist, moving at extreme speed past Zhan Qingcang.
He attacked from behind.
Unexpectedly, Zhan Qingcang's reaction was incredibly swift, perfectly evading Yun Fan's strike.
Under the starlit sky, they engaged in a world-shattering battle.
This battle should have been a draw, but at this moment, Zhan Qingcang noticed that Yun Fan was in a weakened state.
"Good opportunity!"
Zhan Qingcang rejoiced inwardly. After waiting for so long, his chance had finally arrived.
Seizing this moment, he unleashed his strongest attack.
"One Battle Shatters Heaven!"
Zhan Qingcang charged at Yun Fan like a ferocious beast, his aura locking onto Yun Fan beforehand, leaving him no chance to escape.
"Hmph!"
Yun Fan snorted coldly. This was exactly what he was waiting for.
At this moment, Zhan Qingcang had already closed in, and even the surrounding air seemed to be suppressed by him.
"Brat, this is the end!"
With that, Zhan Qingcang charged at Yun Fan like a battle tank.
However, just before the impact—
"Break!"
With a roar from Yun Fan, he forcibly broke through Zhan Qingcang's confinement. Before Zhan Qingcang could react, he struck him in the abdomen with a punch.
Then he leaped up and kicked him flying, the entire sequence smooth and seamless.
"Bang!"
Zhan Qingcang slammed heavily against the wall, cracking even the several-meter-thick concrete.
"Pfft!"
He spat out a mouthful of blood, utterly weakened.
"You didn't forcefully elevate your strength; you inherently possess this power!"
He said to Yun Fan in terror.
Yun Fan nodded, "That's right, you've guessed correctly!"
"How did you do it in just a few days?"
He asked Yun Fan with lingering unwillingness.
"Have you heard of the Great Returning Pill?"
This statement stunned Zhan Qingcang. "Isn't the Great Returning Pill a medicinal pill for healing?"
"That's right, but healing is only one aspect of the Great Returning Pill's effects. Its primary effect is to permanently enhance one's strength!"
Upon hearing this, Zhan Qingcang finally understood everything. No wonder Yun Fan dared to fight him alone; he had been prepared all along.
However, he couldn't understand why, even with his enhanced strength, Yun Fan could only match him, not dominate him.
He now seemed to understand Yun Fan's earlier words: "In my eyes, you're just so-so."
At this moment, Yun Fan walked towards him.
"Zhan Qingcang, I know you still have means to forcibly enhance your strength. Use them! Otherwise, you won't have another chance!"
Zhan Qingcang gave a wry smile. "If I had known you had this trick up your sleeve, I should have disregarded the rules and killed you!"
"Disregarded the rules?"
Yun Fan sneered, "Do you think you could escape her detection these past few days?"
As soon as he said this, Zhan Qingcang said playfully, "A brat who only hides behind a woman. Your scandalous affair will soon be known to the world, though you probably won't live to hear it!"
With that, he plunged a sharp needle into his own neck.
Such ferocity astonished even Yun Fan.
However, his strength quickly surged, reaching what seemed to be the ceiling of the Innate realm.
"Even if you've elevated your strength to match mine from before, you will still die!"
He taunted Yun Fan. At this moment, his hair was disheveled, like a ferocious beast, a rampaging demon beast, charging at Yun Fan.
Yun Fan, who had been prepared, leaped up, his cold light flashing.
Although he had taken a palm strike from Zhan Qingcang, the cold light also pierced Zhan Qingcang's body with a sword.
But Zhan Qingcang seemed to feel no pain. At this moment, he had only one goal: to kill Yun Fan.
Even if it meant mutual destruction, he regretted not being able to kill Zhu Que, leaving the Heavenly Emperor to live in guilt forever.
The battle between the two was a fight to the death.
After countless rounds, both had sustained injuries that were temporarily irreparable.
In this severe mutual injury, although Zhan Qingcang was more wounded, he showed no signs of fatigue. On the contrary, Yun Fan's complexion was not as good.
Zhan Qingcang said playfully, "Brat, the most foolish thing you did was to fight me alone. You should have had that woman finish me off quickly!"
In his opinion, if Ye Ji had intervened, even his forcibly enhanced strength would have been useless, given the disparity.
But Yun Fan replied, "I don't think so!"
"Oh?"
Zhan Qingcang sneered, "Do you have any other tricks up your sleeve?"
Just as he finished speaking, Yun Fan's aura rapidly increased, his cold light trembled, and the surrounding atmosphere seemed to become sharp.
"What's happening?"
This scene caused even Zhan Qingcang to show a look of confusion.
"The battle with you has allowed me to grasp a trace of sword intent!"
Yun Fan stated directly.
"I don't believe it!"
Zhan Qingcang absolutely refused to believe that Yun Fan possessed such talent, that a mere battle could lead to comprehension. That would be too monstrous!
Little did he know, Yun Fan's solo battle with him was precisely for this moment.
"If you don't believe me, then watch closely!"
Yun Fan held the cold light horizontally before him. At this moment, he was gradually merging with the sword intent.
"Unity of Man and Sword?"
Zhan Qingcang's first thought was this. But how difficult was the Unity of Man and Sword? It seemed only the sect leader of the Sword Sect, from the hidden sects, had achieved this level.
Therefore, he simply did not believe Yun Fan could achieve it. In his eyes, Yun Fan was merely bluffing.
"Die!"
Zhan Qingcang wanted to shatter Yun Fan's deception.
But at this moment, a cold light flashed, and the next moment, he froze in place.
"You really did comprehend it!"
He looked at Yun Fan tremblingly. Although he could still stand, in reality, the battle had already ended.
Yun Fan said calmly, "I never lie!"
Upon hearing this, Zhan Qingcang, though unwilling, finally found peace.
"They say the Old Heavenly Master of Guigu is overwhelmingly powerful. Not to mention the hidden sects, even among those ancient families, no one could fight him alone. But now I realize that he is not only powerful but also has a unique eye for talent!"
This was his sincere opinion. In his view, Yun Fan's talent might even surpass that of the Old Heavenly Master of Guigu.
After all, the Old Heavenly Master of Guigu was nearly seventy years old when he achieved peerless power under heaven. But judging by Yun Fan's current talent,
Perhaps he could become peerless under heaven before the age of forty, becoming the first person in history to achieve such a feat at such a young age.
"It seems the hidden sects ultimately cannot compete with your Guigu Sect!"
With that, Zhan Qingcang sat down on the ground, his life gradually fading away.
Yun Fan's emotions remained unchanged, but he had to admit that this sword strike had consumed nearly two-thirds of his strength.
While Unity of Man and Sword was stylish and could instantly kill opponents, it had a fatal flaw: it consumed too much energy.
The strength he had lost now, he did not know how long it would take to recover, so this sword strike was not suitable for group battles, only for duels.
Moreover, it had to be used with confidence. Otherwise, if he used this strike and the opponent dodged it, he would be finished.
At this moment, Zhan Qingcang said to Yun Fan, "I hope you can grant me one request!"
"After I die, bury me next to Rong'er's grave. Even in death, I wish to protect her for eternity!"
Upon hearing this, Yun Fan directly replied, "I cannot grant you this. How you are buried is not my concern. You should ask the Heavenly Emperor!"
Zhan Qingcang seemed to have expected Yun Fan's answer and immediately said to Yun Fan, "If you agree to my request, I will tell you a secret!"