Chapter Thirty: The Young Man with Ashen Hair

Su Fan’s gaze was icy. The young man in blue possessed cultivation far beyond his own, yet to have his Dao extinguished here today was something he could not accept. Su Fan’s hands moved swiftly, his eyes suddenly turning purple as he spat a cloud of violet mist that enveloped Ren Ping ahead of him.

The mist shrouded Ren Ping, who let out a miserable scream. Without pausing, Su Fan’s shadow flashed, and he appeared before Ren Ping. A small hill materialized and came crashing down onto Ren Ping, who had no power to resist. The impact sent him flying, blood and flesh splattering, and he lost consciousness—his cultivation clearly destroyed.

The young man in blue stepped back, startled; even with his strength, he feared Su Fan’s recent strike. Such an attack rivaled those of the elders within the sect. He looked at Su Fan with suspicion. Su Fan’s face was expressionless, murderous intent radiating from his eyes.

“Young one, today I’ll teach you a lesson on behalf of your elders,” Su Fan said coldly.

Not far away, Fan Ruoyu watched Su Fan with deep confusion. The Su Fan before her seemed utterly unfamiliar—his demeanor and words alike. Now, he was fierce and domineering, nothing like the gentle, approachable Su Fan she knew.

Though the blue-clad youth was shaken by Su Fan’s attack, he quickly regained composure and sneered, “Then I must ask you to reconsider your price.”

He flung his jade-green fan, following it as he charged toward Su Fan, conjuring a yellow sphere of light and sending it flying. Su Fan remained calm, weaving seals to conjure a shield of purple mist before him. The Mountain Soul Fan in his hand flared with brilliance, rushing to intercept the jade fan.

With a thunderous crash, the yellow sphere shattered into stardust, while the purple mist remained unscathed. Su Fan laughed, mocking, “With your meager strength, I wouldn’t have even glanced at you in my prime. Your death at my hand today should bring you peace.”

The blue-robed youth glanced at the two battling fans, equally matched in midair, his brow furrowed. He silently lamented: this man’s cultivation was only at the ninth level of Qi Condensation, just on the brink of Foundation Establishment, and he’d been gravely wounded by my Phoenix Feather Arrow. Yet not only has his power not diminished, it has grown stronger. He must have a powerful background or possess rare treasures—perhaps he’s from the Azure Origin Pavilion. He must be eliminated today, to rid us of a formidable foe.

Resolute, the youth drew from his sleeve a golden crossbow engraved with a phoenix coiled around its frame. He frowned, rapidly infusing it with spiritual energy, and a red arrow appeared in the groove.

Seeing the crossbow, Su Fan’s brow furrowed, and he swiftly conjured a Tai Chi formation before him, the purple mist ball in his hand flickering ominously.

The blue-clad youth shot Su Fan a venomous look, a wicked smile curling his lips. “Today, your death beneath the Phoenix Feather Crossbow will grant you peace.”

With a subtle movement, he unleashed the red arrow silently toward Su Fan. Alarm flashed in Su Fan’s eyes—this arrow far surpassed the last, its power at least five times greater. He retreated hastily. Fan Ruoyu, standing nearby, sensed its deadly force but was powerless to help, collapsing in a faint.

The red arrow sped forward, unaffected by the purple mist, piercing through it and striking Su Fan’s Tai Chi formation, shattering it like a mirror. In a blink, Su Fan vanished.

“Teleportation? That he could teleport in the Qi Refining stage—this man hides many secrets. He must die today,” the youth raged, shooting another arrow into the void.

He sneered, striding to Fan Ruoyu’s side. “I don’t believe you won’t come for her.”

Far in the void, Su Fan drifted, dazed, but clarity returned to his eyes as a surge of divine sense entered his mind.

“My essence is spent—I must sleep to recover. That arrow was too powerful, and I used too much energy. While he hasn’t pursued, escape on your own,” came Lan Yifeng’s voice, who had briefly controlled Su Fan to unleash such power.

Su Fan smiled bitterly and murmured, “Thank you, elder, but I cannot abandon her.”

With that, he flew back toward the battlefield, unable to sense Fan Ruoyu from afar but feeling her presence within his heart. The blue-robed youth was nearing her, a sinister smile on his lips, prompting Su Fan to clench his fists and accelerate. Though wounded by the arrow and drained from battle, he staggered, nearly collapsing.

Su Fan knew he was no match for the blue-clad youth, yet he refused to leave Fan Ruoyu behind. Morally and emotionally, he could not betray his principles.

The blue-robed youth approached Fan Ruoyu, drew his jade fan, and casually swung it, its sharp edge aimed at her throat. With a single stroke, her life would end.

Suddenly, a streak of azure light shot from afar, knocking the fan aside. The youth laughed, “Quite the sentimental pair. Today, I’ll grant you both release.”

Controlling the jade fan, he sent it soaring toward the airborne Su Fan. Su Fan, deathly pale, continued weaving seals, his Mountain Soul Fan blazing, clashing fiercely with the jade fan, sparks flying.

The youth, unwilling to prolong battle, drew his golden crossbow and fired another arrow at Su Fan. Though less powerful than the previous one, it was clear even he could not wield such a treasure at will. Yet, Su Fan was now too weakened to withstand it.

Su Fan stared, memorizing the face of the man who would kill him—the one who saw his life as worthless. The arrow raced through the air, about to strike him.

Suddenly, red mist enveloped the arrow, causing it to pause briefly, but it continued, trailing the mist toward Su Fan. The blue-robed youth glanced at the struggling Fan Ruoyu, sneered viciously. Fan Ruoyu’s eyes narrowed, she did not rise, instead coughing blood onto her pink dress before losing consciousness.

The arrow struck Su Fan, sending him crashing to the ground, his body a bloody mess. A faint gray mist shrouded him, barely visible unless inspected closely.

The blue-clad youth popped a pill, glaring at the fallen Su Fan, suppressing his rage, and commanded, “Ren Da, kill the girl.”

Ren Da, who had collapsed, scrambled to his feet, gathering spiritual energy in his fist as he rushed toward Fan Ruoyu. His hand trembled, clearly shaken by her earlier attack. The massive fist hurtled toward the frail Fan Ruoyu, while the blue-robed youth smiled as if a heavy burden had lifted.

Ren Da’s fist struck empty space, blocked by a barrier of gray mist. Beneath it was a sturdy back.

It was the body of a man, battered and pale. Gradually, his body became fiery red, flames flickering faintly, his complexion regained color, and his cultivation soared—early Foundation Establishment, peak early Foundation Establishment, mid Foundation Establishment.

Finally, his cultivation stabilized at the peak of mid Foundation Establishment. Su Fan raised a fist and struck Ren Da.

Ren Da, unable to dodge, was reduced to a cloud of blood, his Dao extinguished.

The blue-robed youth's smile faded, replaced by terror.

“Burning lifespan to reach mid Foundation Establishment—madness,” he muttered, stepping back as Su Fan rose and advanced.

Su Fan’s face was blank, only murderous intent in his eyes. The youth hurled the jade fan, but Su Fan punched it, extinguishing its light. Then, weaving seals, he summoned a mountain five zhang tall, which floated in midair.

With a gesture, the mountain crashed toward the youth, who panicked, quickly directing the jade fan to collide with it. Without waiting for the outcome, he roared, “Explode!”

The jade fan shattered, taking the mountain with it.

The youth retreated, infusing spiritual energy into his golden crossbow. Its golden light blazed as a fiery phoenix flew at Su Fan.

Gray mist coalesced before Su Fan, forming a gray dragon that flew to meet the phoenix. The dragon, overmatched, dissipated upon contact, drifting back to shroud Su Fan.

The youth stepped back, intent on fleeing, when a gust of wind swept through. He stared in horror at the arrow he’d fired—the phoenix halted in midair, then shattered and faded into starlight.

He forced a smile, “Mo He, I was just passing by, nothing more. I’ll leave immediately.”

“Leave? You come and go as you please. You’ve disturbed the Azure Jade Pavilion’s teleportation array and harmed my friend. This debt will be settled today,” Mo He replied.

Ran Hua’s smile froze. “I am from the Ran Suo Sect—”

Before he could finish, Mo He interrupted, “And what of it? Today I’ll kill you and repay Su Fan.”

With a sweep, a fierce wind lashed Ran Hua, three black whirlwinds converging upon him.

Ran Hua tried to dodge, but he was already caught in Mo He's formation. Their cultivation levels were worlds apart, and Ran Hua, exhausted, could no longer wield the Phoenix Feather Crossbow.

Thus, he could only watch as the whirlwinds descended, powerless to resist. With a scream, the first whirlwind struck him, his blue robes soaked in blood that turned black under the pressure. Before he could beg for mercy, the second whirlwind followed.

Mo He had come prepared to annihilate Ran Hua. The Ran Suo Sect and Azure Origin Pavilion were lifelong enemies, the hatred passed down through generations, so much so that neither side could explain its origins—only that too many kin had died at each other's hands.

Mo He had arrived long ago, waiting for the right excuse to kill Ran Hua. To save Su Fan and eliminate an enemy—two birds with one stone.

The second whirlwind lashed Ran Hua, leaving him a bloodied figure. The third whirlwind followed—after this, Ran Hua would certainly perish.

Suddenly, a roar echoed from the sky, filled with endless rage and murderous intent. A vortex appeared in the void, a giant hand reaching out to disperse the whirlwind.

The hand grabbed the dying Ran Hua and withdrew into the vortex.

A heavy voice lingered:

“This grudge, the Ran Suo Sect will remember. One day, we will wash the Azure Origin Pavilion in blood.”