Chapter 73: Do You Still Want More?

Of those present, only a handful possessed deep inner strength and could barely withstand the Lion King’s mighty roar. Hearing Crane in the Clouds’ words, their gazes swept the surroundings, searching for Xie Xun’s figure.

While the others were seeking Xie Xun, Crane in the Clouds' eyes turned to the Dragon-Slaying Saber on the stage. His five fingers curled slightly, and an invisible force appeared out of nowhere—the blade flew into his palm, landing firmly.

The saber felt heavy in his grip, causing his arm to dip before he steadied himself. Running his palm lightly along the blade, he felt a chill seep into his heart. Both blade and hilt shone with a golden hue, dazzling in the sunlight, while the dragon motif carved into it exuded an ancient and domineering aura.

“I didn’t expect you to come out unscathed from my Lion’s Roar!” A hearty voice rang out just as Crane in the Clouds was studying the saber. In a flash of gold, a figure appeared before him, eyes wide with astonishment.

But in the next second, Xie Xun’s gaze was fixed on the saber in Crane in the Clouds' hand. The smile vanished from his face, replaced by a stormy expression as he barked, “Enough nonsense. Hand over the Dragon-Slaying Saber, and I’ll spare your life. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being ruthless!”

He reached out, demanding the weapon. Crane in the Clouds regarded Xie Xun, whose moods shifted unpredictably, his eyes cold. You fool, still unaware you’re being played for a puppet by Cheng Kun. And yet you think you can snatch the saber from me? Do you really deserve such face?

The last one who dared speak to me that way already has grass three feet high on his grave.

Crane in the Clouds looked at Xie Xun as though he were a simpleton.

“What’s with that look, boy? Are you courting death?” Xie Xun’s eyes flashed with killing intent when he saw Crane in the Clouds unwilling to yield the saber. If this brat refuses the cup of respect, then he’ll be forced to drink from the cup of punishment. There could be no mercy if the Dragon-Slaying Saber was within reach—once its secret was unlocked, Xie Xun could command the martial world and avenge his wife and son against Cheng Kun, the Thunder Hand.

With a shout, Xie Xun unleashed a wave of force from his throat, powered by his formidable inner strength. It was as if a giant lion opened its bloody maw to tear its prey apart. The soundwaves rippled outward, shattering everything in their path.

Crane in the Clouds had foreseen this. As the sound spread, he circulated his internal energy, channeling it to his ears for protection.

The others, seeing this, hastily retreated. Neither man was to be trifled with—getting involved in their battle would bring nothing but trouble.

Ye Kai, cradling Yin Susu, used his lightness skill to leap into the treetops, setting her securely among the branches while keeping his eyes fixed on the confrontation below.

The resonating roar continued, reducing the surroundings to ruins under its power. When it became clear the Lion’s Roar could not harm Crane in the Clouds, Xie Xun clenched his fist, pouring all his energy into it, and struck at Crane in the Clouds with full force.

The punch sliced through the air with a sharp explosive sound. As Xie Xun’s fist approached, Crane in the Clouds’ eyes narrowed. Xie Xun’s speed was like lightning, and in the blink of an eye, his fist was in front of his opponent. The wind from the blow pressed down with such force it made Crane in the Clouds’ skin sting.

Not wishing to meet strength with strength, Crane in the Clouds stepped back just as the fist was about to land, allowing Xie Xun’s punch to graze past him.

Missing his mark, Xie Xun’s eyes widened in surprise. It seemed he had underestimated Crane in the Clouds. Yet he was no ordinary man—he quickly suppressed his distraction and adjusted his stance.

Using the momentum, Xie Xun spun, his right fist shooting out straight for Crane in the Clouds’ face.

As Crane in the Clouds’ foot touched the ground, he saw the incoming punch magnified in his gaze. He knew this strike could not be dodged again, or he would leave himself vulnerable. More importantly, he had no intention of avoiding this attack.

Let me experience the true power of the Seven Wounds Fist, he thought, his fists clenching. His internal energy surged through his meridians and gathered in his fists.

The crowd gasped to see Crane in the Clouds choosing to meet Xie Xun’s attack head-on.

“Has Crane in the Clouds lost his mind?”
“The Seven Wounds Fist is ferocious—he dares to take it head-on?”
“This time, he’s surely doomed!”

In the trees, Ye Kai’s eyes were filled with worry. But after a moment, he reasoned that Crane in the Clouds was not a reckless man; he must have had his reasons for acting so.

With this thought, his anxiety lessened. Still, without anyone noticing, a three-inch willow leaf throwing knife appeared in his hanging hand. If anything went awry, he would immediately intervene and save Crane in the Clouds. With his lightness skill, he was confident he could escape with both of them, unimpeded.

Bang!

Just as everyone was preoccupied with their own thoughts, the two fists collided mid-air with a muffled crash. A wave of energy rippled outward from their clash, decimating everything nearby. Even the ground beneath them could not withstand such force—it cracked open, spreading like a spider’s web, until it completely shattered and their feet sank three inches into the earth.

With a sneer, Xie Xun spat, “Arrogant brat, you don’t know how to fear death!” As he prepared to summon more energy to finish Crane in the Clouds, he suddenly felt an even greater force surge into his arm, flooding his meridians.

The smile froze on Xie Xun’s face.

The two powers tangled violently within his body, the agony pushing him to the brink. Yet the pain only made him more alert. Gritting his teeth against the torment, Xie Xun mustered all his inner strength to resist and expel Crane in the Clouds’ energy.

But the invading power clung to his meridians like a parasite, ravenously devouring his flesh and blood. The suffering was unimaginable.

Even a man as tough as Xie Xun could not help but scream in agony. The sound sent chills through the onlookers, but remembering Crane in the Clouds’ past actions, some could not help but gloat.

Soon, the aftermath of the battle faded, revealing the two men’s conditions to all. When the crowd took in the sight, their jaws dropped in disbelief.

“How is this possible?” someone blurted out, eyes wide with shock.

While the crowd whispered, Crane in the Clouds calmly withdrew his fist and looked at Xie Xun with composure. “Do you still want the Dragon-Slaying Saber in my hand?” he asked.

With those words, the already tense atmosphere grew even more charged.