Chapter Sixty-Four: Lu Han vs. Li Zong

Lu Family Guards—the ten strongest below the Innate Realm in the Lu Family.

Their status within the family was extraordinarily unique. Except for the Lu Family head and the commander of the Guards, no one had the authority to command them.

Yet, aside from the family head and the ten Guards themselves, no one within the Lu Family knew who the commander was—not even Lu Tianlin or Lu Tianbei.

Who could have expected that Uncle Fu turned out to be the commander of the Lu Family Guards?

"Boy, your Uncle Fu practices a rare technique that conceals his aura; that’s why he usually appears to be a feeble old man. In truth, he’s already at the Fifth Heaven of the Innate Realm," the frail voice of Old Man Ling echoed in Lu Han’s mind.

Ever since his last intervention, Old Man Ling’s soul had grown even more transparent, his voice weaker still.

"The Fifth Heaven of the Innate Realm? Isn’t that stronger than Third Uncle?" Lu Han stared at Uncle Fu in shock. All these years, he’d never realized it—not just him, but no one in the Lu Family had ever suspected that the unassuming steward, who managed the family head’s daily affairs, was actually the commander of the Lu Family Guards.

"Master, could my grandfather be in danger?" Lu Han couldn’t help but worry as he watched his grandfather standing together with Wen Hao, who was reputedly the number-one expert in Maple Leaf City.

"That Wen Hao is at the Second Heaven of the Profound Lord Realm, your grandfather is at the Third Heaven. However, your grandfather’s cultivation technique is a bit inferior. The outcome is hard to determine for now, but judging from your grandfather’s aura, he must have only recently broken through. What’s more, age is not on his side—if the battle drags on, things could turn against him," Old Man Ling analyzed.

Lu Han’s heart filled with unease.

"Lu Han, prepare to die!"

Before Lu Han could react, a silver spear whistled toward him.

Clang!

Sword and spear collided, the ring of metal filling the air. Lu Han drew the Bilu Sword to parry, retreating rapidly in the process.

"You’re… the Young Master of the Li Family, Li Zong!"

Lu Han recognized his assailant, pupils contracting.

A man’s reputation can overshadow him. Li Zong was hailed as the Li Family’s greatest talent, his fame rivaling that of Lu Hui. At twenty-three, he had already reached the Ninth Level of the Acquired Realm.

"Lu Han, you’re just unlucky to have run into me," Li Zong sneered, a sea-blue light flashing over his body as he lunged forward with his spear again.

Lu Han could almost hear the roar of the ocean.

The Li Family’s signature art, "Tide Surge Manual," was a low-tier Profound-grade technique, reserved only for the head and young master of the family, as renowned as the Lu Family’s "Golden Spirit Blade Manual." It counted among the strongest arts in Maple Leaf City.

…

"Kill!"

"Azure Light Blade!"

"Rampaging Bull Charge!"

Every corner of the Lu estate was drenched in the light of blades and swords, the entire compound stained with blood.

The people of Maple Leaf City, watching the carnage from afar, dared not approach.

Those with insight observed, "This will be the greatest reckoning in decades for Maple Leaf City. No matter who emerges victorious, the balance will tip—one family will come to dominate the city."

…

"Li Zong, to be honest, you’re just barely enough to put some pressure on me. Ninth Level of the Acquired Realm, nothing more," Lu Han said, flipping the Bilu Sword in his hand as he launched himself at Li Zong.

"Hmph, arrogant!"

The Bilu Sword in Lu Han’s hand flashed like a white lightning bolt, stabbing fiercely toward Li Zong.

Under the roaring wind and shrill hum of the sword, Li Zong felt a trace of pressure.

Li Zong raised his spear to block, deflecting Lu Han’s blade. His left hand struck out like thunder.

Lu Han's reaction was just as swift, bringing up his own hand to parry.

A surge of sea-blue light exploded from Li Zong’s palm, carrying a violent force as he shoved fiercely at Lu Han.

Lu Han instantly activated the "Heavenly Frost Qi" to its utmost, stamping the ground and retreating in great bounds, each step leaving a crater in the earth. He withdrew several paces before stopping.

Feeling the ache in his right shoulder, Lu Han muttered, "They say the Li Family’s palm technique is unmatched—truly, it’s not to be underestimated. If not for the 'Heavenly Robe' absorbing some of that blow, I’d already be injured."

"As expected from the Young Master of the Li Family."

Lu Han lifted his head, a hint of seriousness in his eyes. This was nothing like his earlier battles with Zheng Qi or Zhang Mang. Zheng Qi, though at the peak of the Ninth Level, practiced only a Yellow-grade technique, and Zhang Mang had just broken through to the Ninth Level with his grandfather’s aid.

But Li Zong was different—he had been at the Ninth Level for some time.

In a direct confrontation, he held a clear advantage over Lu Han.

"I can’t afford to drag this out. Whether in cultivation or combat experience, he surpasses me in every way. I have to end this quickly," Lu Han thought, gripping his sword tightly, body lowering as he suddenly stamped the ground and charged once more. The frosty energy surged, making the entire Bilu Sword blaze with dazzling white light.

Li Zong looked at the sword in surprise, feeling a chill emanating from it.

"This sword is unusual."

Lu Han was no longer using his internal energy to suppress the sword’s chilling aura—doing so would only result in self-injury. Lu Han himself possessed a strong ice affinity, and practiced "Heavenly Frost Qi," yet still couldn’t keep out the sword’s biting cold. This blade was indeed extraordinary.

The Bilu Sword sang with a terrifying resonance in his hand.

Lu Han attacked Li Zong with wild abandon—thrusting, slashing, hacking in a relentless assault.

Li Zong’s expression was grim. While he didn’t fear Lu Han’s ferocity, he felt the chill grow with every clash of spear and sword, almost forcing him to drop his weapon several times.

After nearly a hundred exchanges, Lu Han finally paused, breathing heavily as he stared at Li Zong.

It wasn’t that Lu Han was unwilling to continue, but even he could barely withstand the sword’s cold. Ice crystals had formed on his right hand.

"Boy, I warned you not to fight this way before reaching the Profound Lord Realm. This sword is too strange—continue like this and you’ll frostbite yourself," Old Man Ling’s ancient voice intoned, even weaker than before.

Lu Han gazed at the battles raging around him, fists clenched. With every passing moment, more lives were lost.

He took a deep breath, the air thick with the scent of blood, then looked at Li Zong and declared, "I have heard that the Li Family’s palm technique is the best in Maple Leaf City. Please, enlighten me."

With these words, he spun the Bilu Sword in a flourish.

Clang!

He plunged the Bilu Sword into the ground.

"Well, you truly deserve your reputation as the one who survived the bottomless abyss of the Cold Abyss Forest," Li Zong remarked. He thought Lu Han’s choice was unwise; without the strange sword, he’d have no chance against the Li Family’s famed palm arts.

Lu Han ignored him, closing his eyes as internal energy surged within, his entire arm cloaked in white frost—a signature of "Heavenly Frost Qi."

At the same time, Li Zong locked his aura onto Lu Han, whose body shivered from the oppressive cold.

Yet, under this pressure, Lu Han’s fighting spirit only intensified.

His hands formed seals with blinding speed.

His aura soared, body leaning forward as his hands swept back like a bolt of lightning.

Suddenly, Lu Han thrust out his right hand.

"Take this! Frost—Starshatter Palm!"

Lu Han’s Heavenly Frost energy fused with the Starshatter Palm, giving it an aura akin to a Profound-grade martial art.

Seeing this, Li Zong sneered, "Is this all you’ve got?"

His own "Tide Surge Manual" erupted, sea-blue light blazing as he formed his own seals.

"Profound-grade basic martial art: Unadorned Tianshui Palm!"

Li Zong chanted inwardly.

A giant white palm and a giant sea-blue palm, each two meters across, collided with overwhelming force.

Boom!

With a thunderous crash, dust billowed outward in all directions.

"Han’er!" cried Meng Wan’er, who was fighting nearby, as she saw the smoke and dust rise.

"Madam, watch out!" Xing’er stepped forward, deflecting a sword aimed at Meng Wan’er.

Announcement: The final three weeks of the Web Novel League’s preliminary round are here! If you haven’t joined yet, hurry up! Huge prizes and a chance at immortality await—click to participate.