Chapter 103: The Eccentric Reappears

The elder of the Flying Snake Sect struck Lu Han to the ground with a single palm, a blow of overwhelming force.

Lu Han lay on the ground, feeling the injuries within his body. Although he coughed up blood, his wounds were not critical. The massive black palm print from moments ago had instantly shattered his "Heavenly Robe" technique. Fortunately, Lu Han’s "Heavenly Robe" had long since reached mastery, and his physical constitution far exceeded that of an ordinary person; had this been any other practitioner at the ninth level of the Postnatal Realm, they would likely have perished on the spot.

The Flying Snake Sect elder looked at Lu Han with astonishment. While he hadn't used his full strength, the strike had still packed eighty percent of his power—a force he knew to be formidable. He had expected the young man in white robes to be unable to withstand the blow, yet not only had Lu Han survived, but his injuries appeared far from fatal.

Lu Han braced himself and slowly stood up, his eyes filled with despair. The person before him was simply beyond his ability to contend with.

A surge of murderous intent flickered in the elder’s eyes. Even the young master of the Flying Snake Sect, considered a genius, wouldn't dare claim he could block such a palm strike at the ninth level of the Postnatal Realm. Seeing the youth’s apparent age, the elder realized he could not allow such a talent to live.

"What a pity. Such a genius, yet you are not a disciple of my Flying Snake Sect, and cannot be used for our cause!" the elder sighed.

In an instant, the massive black palm print descended once more.

"Is this the end? I will not wait for death!" Lu Han closed his eyes. The Biluo Sword appeared in his hand, and faint frost-like energy enveloped him, turning the blade a stark white. He pointed the sword directly at the incoming palm print. This was the opening stance of the Profound-grade high-tier martial skill: "Ice Lotus of the Sword Realm."

Just as Lu Han prepared for a final, desperate stand, a black figure suddenly appeared before him. The movement was incredibly swift, bringing the figure to his side in a blink. When Lu Han saw who it was, he lowered his sword.

The man was dressed in tattered, old black rags, his graying hair a tangled mess, his eyes fixed intently on Lu Han. Lu Han understood the meaning behind that gaze all too well. Ever since Lu Han had first been robbed of a wolf leg, this strange man had appeared every time Lu Han sat down to eat, always wearing that same look, begging for food. Although Elder Ling had once suggested the man was likely a powerful Earth King-tier master whose soul had been shattered—leaving him wandering the Soul-Chaos Plains without a memory of his own identity—Lu Han felt a genuine sense of pity for him. From then on, he had always grilled an extra portion, and the strange man had always appeared right on time.

However, after entering the Gulin Basin, the man had vanished. Lu Han had assumed he was still wandering aimlessly through the Soul-Chaos Plains. It turned out he had been trailing Lu Han the entire way.

"Watch out!" Lu Han suddenly cried out in alarm.

But it was a step too late; the black palm print landed squarely on the stranger's back.

*Thump!*

Lu Han had assumed the stranger was doomed, but to his surprise, the palm print vanished upon contact like a stone tossed into the sea. The man didn't even flinch. Lu Han suddenly recalled what Elder Ling had said: this man possessed the physical body of an Earth King. He could likely stand there and let the elder strike him all day without effect.

The elder was struck with shock. He hadn't even sensed the man's presence until he had appeared. Who exactly was he? Furthermore, that palm strike had landed with full force, and he had clearly seen the disheveled man use no defensive techniques, yet the blow had been like a tickle.

"Who... who is he?" the Flying Snake Sect elder gasped, his face pale with terror. Could he be with the boy?

"My friend, I am Jiang Yuan, an elder of the Flying Snake Sect. I hope you will not interfere in this matter," the elder said in a deep, cautious voice.

The stranger ignored him, staring only at Lu Han. A flicker of anger crossed Jiang Yuan’s face. Throughout the Great Xia Empire, everyone bowed in respect at the mere mention of his name, and even rogue Earth King masters treated him like a brother. Yet, this man seemed not to care at all.

The stranger continued to stare at Lu Han, leaving the boy bewildered. *My ancestor, this is hardly the time! I almost kicked the bucket, and you're still thinking about food?* Lu Han thought, feeling bitter.

"Friend, are you looking down on our Flying Snake Sect?" Jiang Yuan asked again, his voice dropping an octave.

The cave remained silent.

Jiang Yuan’s face twisted in rage as he roared, "How arrogant!"

He could not remember the last time he had been ignored like this. He had revealed his affiliation, and this repeated disregard had crossed his line. It was utterly intolerable.

A massive black snake shadow manifested, its presence even more imposing than before. *Hmph, I’ll teach you a lesson!* Jiang Yuan thought. He slammed his feet into the ground, causing the earth to sink ten centimeters deep. He seemed to transform into a long snake, lunging forward like a streak of lightning.

"Yellow-grade high-tier movement skill: Snake-Glide Step!"

Hearing the commotion behind him, the stranger’s eyes flashed with irritation, as if he blamed the noise for delaying his meal.

"Scram... get away!" the stranger muttered in a slurred, garbled voice.

"Hmph, die!" Jiang Yuan was unmoved. Those who looked down on the Flying Snake Sect had to pay the price.

The stranger’s annoyance deepened.

*Hum!*

A sound of swords resonated throughout the cave. Lu Han felt as if he were suddenly standing in a world of blades. The stranger formed a sword-finger with both hands and pointed it directly at Jiang Yuan—a strike as calm and still as a stagnant pool.

*Clang!*

The moment the sword-finger touched Jiang Yuan’s palm, the elder was sent flying like a punctured balloon, slamming into the rock wall of the cave.

*Whoosh!*

A golden sword shadow flickered behind the stranger, accompanied by a piercing ringing sound. The stranger stepped forward, the sword shadow intensifying. With a thunderous boom, before Jiang Yuan had even fallen from the wall, the stranger appeared before him, his sword-finger thrusting toward the elder's chest.

It all happened in a heartbeat; the stranger’s speed was so great that Lu Han could only see a blur. In an instant, the situation had completely reversed.

Jiang Yuan slumped from the rock wall, blood streaming uncontrollably from his mouth. His pupils dilated as if he had realized something, his eyes wide with shock.

"That sword shadow... Ah! You are... you are..." Jiang Yuan pointed at the stranger, his voice incoherent and roaring. "How is this possible! How is this possible! How can you still be alive?" Jiang Yuan shouted, ignoring the blood spilling from his lips.

*Gurgle!*

A mouthful of blood sprayed out as he spoke. Jiang Yuan clutched his chest, only to see bits of his own shattered internal organs mixed in the gore. The stranger’s final strike had pierced his vitals; his internal organs were pulverized, and he was beyond saving.

"Ha... to think you have ended up in such a state. If this were to get out, the entire Great Xia Empire would be turned upside down, wouldn't it?" Jiang Yuan laughed weakly. "And so, this Evil Wind Cave has become my burial ground!"

Jiang Yuan looked toward the other side of the cave—the direction of the Flying Snake Sect—and with that, the light slowly faded from his eyes.