“You ignorant fool, you really refuse the toast only to drink the forfeit.”
Faced with Chu Feng’s blatant contempt, Fang Hualong gnashed his teeth in fury.
“Oh? Why don’t you let me taste this ‘forfeit’ of yours then?” Chu Feng’s smile grew even more mocking in response to Fang Hualong’s threat.
“Fine, I’ll grant your wish.” Tired of Chu Feng’s repeated provocations, Fang Hualong wasted no more words, letting his actions speak instead.
With a wave of his hands, countless fist shadows erupted like a meteor shower, streaking across the sky and bearing down on Chu Feng in a dense, oppressive barrage.
*Bang, bang, bang—*
The fist shadows detonated around Chu Feng, sending ripples of energy raging through the heavens.
“What’s that?”
But after such an assault, Fang Hualong and his clan didn’t show any signs of joy—instead, their expressions grew even grimmer.
Because his attack had been blocked.
And not just partially—*entirely* blocked.
That earlier move wasn’t some ordinary technique—it was the Fang Heavenly Clan’s treasured clan-protecting skill, the Immortal Forbidden Martial Technique: Immortal Forbidden Storm Fist!!!
Yet even such a formidable move hadn’t managed to harm Chu Feng in the slightest.
As the ripples dissipated, they could clearly see a golden shortsword and a golden axe hovering around Chu Feng.
These were the fused secret skills: the Ancient War Sword and Ancient War Axe.
With the protection of these two ancient secret skills, Chu Feng had also gained the power to fight one rank above his cultivation!!!
“What are those things? Are they treasures? But why do they carry the aura of secret skills?”
The Fang Heavenly Clan members were utterly shocked, their expressions as if they’d suffered a devastating blow.
It was understandable. When Fang Hualong unleashed the Hell Ghost Insect Armor, they’d thought victory was assured.
But only now did they realize that Chu Feng, too, possessed a means to gain rank-defying combat power.
No wonder Chu Feng had mocked Fang Hualong even after he gained that rank-defying strength.
More importantly, despite both achieving rank-defying power, Chu Feng had stood still, casually deploying his techniques to block Fang Hualong’s Immortal Forbidden Martial Skill.
This showed that the gap in their true combat strength was immense!!!
“Chu Feng’s combat power is terrifying. I’m afraid no one at the same cultivation level can stand against him,” Wuming Fenghuo remarked.
“Indeed, it’s quite terrifying,” Wuming Gangxiong echoed.
Though he disliked Chu Feng, even he had to admit that the combat strength Chu Feng displayed was overwhelmingly fearsome.
In fact, it wasn’t just them who were stunned—even Chu Hanpeng and Chu Xuanzhengfa were astonished.
Chu Feng’s combat power was so extraordinary, far surpassing what it had been before.
“Chu Feng, could it be that you truly underwent a transformation under that heavenly lightning?”
Chu Hanpeng and Chu Xuanzhengfa wondered inwardly. They found Chu Feng’s sudden change too drastic, and the only explanation they could think of was tied to the Heavenly Lightning Punishment Platform.
“Now, do you see the gap between us?” Chu Feng continued to regard Fang Hualong with that same contemptuous gaze.
But this time, no one thought Chu Feng was arrogant—because even if he was, he undeniably had the capital to back it up.
“Chu Feng, don’t get cocky. Today’s victor isn’t decided yet!” Fang Hualong roared, then swiped his hand across his Cosmos Sack, tossing three emerald-green pills into his mouth.
“Hualong, you…”
Seeing this, many Fang Heavenly Clan members showed worried expressions.
They recognized at a glance that the pills Fang Hualong had swallowed were forbidden drugs.
Everyone knew what forbidden drugs were—items that could boost combat power for a short time, only to leave the user with unbearable backlash once the effects wore off.
The forbidden drug Fang Hualong had taken was an especially potent one.
It could drastically enhance his combat strength, but the risks he’d face afterward were equally severe.
That’s why the Fang Heavenly Clan members were so concerned.
Yet they didn’t try to stop him. They knew that using the forbidden drug might be their clan’s only chance—otherwise, they’d lose the Purple Tree Mortal Realm.
“Arghhh!!!”
Suddenly, Fang Hualong let out a sky-shaking roar. As he bellowed, green flames spewed from his mouth, and at the same time, green energy coiled around his body.
His combat strength surged dramatically. Though it didn’t grant him another rank-defying boost, the magnitude of this increase was already terrifying.
“Forbidden drugs, huh?” Seeing Fang Hualong like this, Chu Feng shook his head, a hint of disappointment in his eyes.
“So what if I use forbidden drugs? In the world of martial cultivators, only victory matters—means are irrelevant.”
“As long as it’s within the rules and leads to a win, nothing else matters,” Fang Hualong snarled. Even his voice had changed—no longer human, it sounded like a ferocious beast, each word grating and dripping with killing intent.
“I didn’t say there’s anything wrong with using forbidden drugs. I just think that even with them, you’re still nothing special. That’s why… I’m a bit disappointed,” Chu Feng replied.
“Disappointed?”
“Fine words, ‘disappointed.’ Let’s hope you don’t disappoint me!”
With a flick of his wrist, Fang Hualong summoned a silver spear into his hand. Then, with a leap, he closed in on Chu Feng.
The silver spear danced like a dragon, shifting unpredictably as it struck at Chu Feng relentlessly.
Seeing this, Chu Feng didn’t hesitate. He swiped his hand across his Cosmos Sack, and a black shortsword appeared in his grip.
*Swish, swish, swish—*
With the shortsword in hand, Chu Feng didn’t retreat but advanced. In an instant, silver and black light clashed, the two locked in fierce combat.
“What a sharp immortal weapon. Could that be… the Black Flame Ghost Sword forged by Chu Hanxian?”
“No mistake—it’s the Black Flame Ghost Sword! To think Chu Hanxian’s lost weapon has returned to Chu Feng’s hands!”
Seeing the black shortsword in Chu Feng’s grasp, not only the Fang Heavenly Clan and their allies but even Wuming Gangxiong and Wuming Fenghuo showed a flicker of surprise.
Though it was merely an immortal weapon, the Black Flame Ghost Sword’s reputation was immense.
And why? Because it had been crafted by Chu Hanxian himself.
But compared to the Black Flame Ghost Sword, people were more focused on the ongoing battle.
Fang Hualong’s forbidden drug wasn’t for nothing—his combat strength had indeed risen significantly, now nearly matching Chu Feng’s.
In this state, Chu Feng couldn’t break through Fang Hualong’s defenses.
“Hahaha… Chu Feng, you’re doomed to lose today!” Realizing he could hold his own against Chu Feng, Fang Hualong grew bolder and more excited, laughing maniacally.
“Your forbidden drug’s effects won’t last long. Let’s see how much longer you can keep laughing,” Chu Feng said calmly. Though he couldn’t penetrate Fang Hualong’s defenses yet, he wasn’t worried—he knew the drug’s power would eventually fade, and when it did, Fang Hualong would be helpless, let alone able to stop him.
“You’re right, the effects won’t last forever. But don’t you know this duel has a time limit?”
“One hour is the deadline. After that, whichever side has captured more encampments wins.”
“Right now, my Fang Heavenly Clan holds sixty intact encampments, while your Chu Heavenly Clan has nothing but the flag on your shoulder. Aren’t you the one destined to lose?” Fang Hualong declared.
His words caused a ripple of reactions.
The previously worried Fang Heavenly Clan members lit up with joy, while Chu Xuanzhengfa and others, who had thought Chu Feng’s victory was assured, grew tense.
Fang Hualong’s reminder hit them hard.
The one-hour time limit was indeed approaching fast.
“There’s such a rule?” Hearing Fang Hualong’s words, Chu Feng’s expression shifted. He turned to Chu Hanpeng. “Grand Elder, how much time is left until the hour is up?”
Before Chu Hanpeng could respond, Wuming Fenghuo cut in, “Less than half a tea’s time.”
“What? Less than half a tea’s time?”
At that, Chu Hanpeng, Chu Xuanzhengfa, and their group paled as if struck dead.
Meanwhile, the Fang Heavenly Clan members erupted in wild delight.
With less than half a tea’s time left until the duel ended, and Fang Hualong’s forbidden drug able to last at least ten tea’s worth, they were absolutely certain of victory.
Yet, just as the Fang Heavenly Clan reveled in their triumph, Chu Feng’s next words made their nerves tighten once more.
“Half a tea’s time? That’s enough.”
And when he said it, he was still smiling.
