Chapter 34: I Can Save Him

As soon as the words fell, Crane Among the Clouds gathered all his inner strength, channeling it into his sword. A sharp blade light slashed down instantly. Everyone saw a flash of white before their eyes, and a sense of extreme danger welled up within them. Murong Fu gazed ahead at the blade light, which seemed slow but was in fact incomparably swift; his pupils shrank to the size of pinholes in an instant.

In this strike, he sensed a suffocating aura of death; every hair on his body stood on end. He had never expected that the Extinction Cross Blade technique wielded by Crane Among the Clouds could rival, or even surpass, that of Fu Hongxue in sheer power.

“Shift the Stars!” Murong Fu shouted, and his immense inner force surged to form a circular shield around him, entirely enveloping his body. The moment Crane Among the Clouds’ attack landed, it would be absorbed by this energy barrier and returned in kind to its originator.

“Let’s see how I break through your turtle shell.” Crane Among the Clouds sneered. Though Murong Fu’s Shift the Stars could transfer any attack, it had its limits. If the attack exceeded that threshold, the defense would shatter, and Murong Fu himself would suffer the backlash.

With a grunt, veins bulged across Crane Among the Clouds’ hand as he poured out every ounce of his inner strength into the blade light before him. Yet, rather than grow, the blade light shrank, its dazzling glow fading into something unremarkable.

Those nearby watched, unable to describe their emotions. The danger radiating from the blade was several times more terrifying than before. None dared make a sound, for fear that Crane Among the Clouds’ deadly blade might turn on them instead.

Murong Fu, too, sensed the unprecedented power condensed upon the blade. Though he was no ordinary man and forced himself to suppress his terror at this critical moment, his eyes hardened with resolve. Even though he had already esteemed Crane Among the Clouds highly, he realized he had still underestimated him.

He exhaled softly and channeled all his energy into the shield before him. The barrier grew even more solid, almost tangible from a distance. “Crane Among the Clouds, with your strength alone, to think you could break my Murong family’s Shift the Stars—pure delusion!” Murong Fu shouted, his confidence in his family’s art absolute. So what if Crane Among the Clouds’ internal energy surpassed his own?

The technique he wielded, even Xiao Feng could not break; Crane Among the Clouds, even with his strongest strike, must have been gravely wounded by the effort. As long as Murong Fu could endure, Crane Among the Clouds was nothing but a fish on the chopping block.

Victory would be decided in a single move!

Under everyone's gaze, the strongest spear and the strongest shield collided with tremendous force.

A deafening crash erupted—a shockwave carrying an indescribable force swept outward. Instinctively, everyone covered their ears, grimacing in pain and hastening to circulate their own energy for protection. Those with lesser skill began to bleed from the ears and collapsed, writhing on the ground.

No one knew how much time passed before the storm subsided. All eyes turned to the center of the clash. Would Murong Fu’s shield prove impenetrable, or was Crane Among the Clouds’ spear even sharper?

Dust and smoke obscured the scene, making it impossible to see what had become of the two. The crowd hastily used their energy to disperse the dust, revealing the aftermath.

A massive, circular pit had formed, spreading out from where the two had stood. Shock was writ large on every face, their gazes finally settling on Crane Among the Clouds in the depths of the pit.

He was half-kneeling, bracing himself with a broken sword, his robes in tatters, not a single part left whole. The aura emanating from him was faint, nearly extinguished.

Seeing him in such a miserable state, a few in the crowd could not help but smile—Murong Fu had prevailed after all.

Now, Crane Among the Clouds’ energy was depleted, his face ashen as paper; clearly, he had suffered grave internal injuries. In this condition, even a child could easily end his life.

A’Zi hurried forward, worry etched across her face, a trace of reproach rising in her heart. Why did this man always push himself to such a sorry state, forcing her to live in constant fear for him? Yet, as her thoughts turned, she stepped protectively in front of his weakened form.

“Cousin!” At this moment, Wang Yuyan’s voice drew everyone’s attention. Turning, they saw Murong Fu lying on the ground, bloodied and unconscious, breathing shallowly—more out than in.

The scene was like a hammer blow to their hearts. They had all been mistaken—it was Crane Among the Clouds whose spear had proved sharper in the end.

The abrupt reversal made those who had considered moving in to finish Crane Among the Clouds hesitate, suppressing their intentions for now. For all his cunning and depth, even Young Master Murong had been undone; fame and fortune paled beside their own lives.

Crane Among the Clouds took in the expressions of the crowd. With A’Zi’s help, he staggered to his feet and, though barely able, made his way toward the dying Murong Fu. Everyone understood he intended to eliminate all future threats, but none dared utter a word.

Wang Yuyan, eyes brimming with tears, gazed upon her bloodied cousin, her heart breaking. Hearing Crane Among the Clouds’ approach, she looked up in panic and pleaded anxiously, “I beg you, spare my cousin. I will agree to do anything you ask.”

Yet Crane Among the Clouds was not a man to be swayed by a woman’s tears. Even if he refrained, Murong Fu would not last much longer. Since that was the case, he might as well drain Murong Fu’s skills before his death.

With this thought, Crane Among the Clouds maintained a composed expression, feigning innocence. “Miss Wang, you misunderstand. Murong Fu is at death’s door; I only wish to see if I can save him.”

His words sent a ripple of surprise through the crowd. To think that after such a bitter fight, he would now offer to save Murong Fu—who did he take them for, fools?

Wang Yuyan was even less convinced, clutching Murong Fu tightly.

Unwilling to relent, Crane Among the Clouds continued, “Murong Fu is already so gravely injured. If I truly meant him harm, why would I bother with all this? Moreover, with so many people present, should anything happen, there would be no place for me in the martial world.”

His reasoning only deepened the crowd’s confusion—what on earth was he plotting?

Crane Among the Clouds, seeing Wang Yuyan waver, thought it was time to add a final push. Rising slowly, he spoke with a touch of disappointment, “Since Miss Wang does not trust me, I will not insist. Farewell.”