394 The Final Destination?
The spear thundered through the air, narrowly missing Fang Huo as he jerked his head back.
âIf only I were a second quicker,â lamented a second elderly man emerging from the forest.
Fang Huoâs heart sank, feeling like his luck had taken a turn for the worse. Given the circumstances, it was likely that ten people had arrived in this vicinity. Yet, he had already bumped into forty percent of the rival group.
Whoosh!
A second spear flew from behind. The wielder moved silently like a ghost, catching Fang Huo off guard. He barely twisted his wounded body aside as the spear sliced past the muscles under his armpit.
âDamn it!â he muttered, as the old man slipped back into the forest, leaving him to face the imminent threat alone.
In front of him was a bold adversary, and lurking behind him was a predator. Such a duo was indeed a formidable challenge. Fang Huo anxiously waited, his gaze slowly turning blurry. The golden fur on his body flickered weakly.
âWaiting for backup?â the elder from the Fang family taunted. âDo you think weâd dare to confront you without having made proper arrangements?â
Fang Huoâs heart pounded nervously.
âWe are as much in this fight as you are. We all possess the kingâs force, which gives us an edge in this battle, even if our vitality is waning,â he continued, his grin growing sinister. âThe illusion realm can only hold so many people. As long as we eliminate them quickly enough, even the most powerful opponent wonât find enough people to fight.â
His smile grew wider, revealing a chilling malice. âAt worst, weâd end up in a one-on-one duel. You were too hasty, too driven by the sight of your fallen comrades. Your confidence betrayed you. You believed that being young and prospective kings gave you an upper hand.â
The elder from the Fang family mocked him openly. Suddenly, he roared at Fang Huo, the veins on his forehead throbbing visibly, âWho are you to look down on us!â
He used the lionâs roar technique in conjunction with his yell, effectively concealing his companion lurking in the darkness. The duoâs coordination was flawless.
The next moment, a spear emerged silently from behind, striking Fang Huo. The impact drew blood that trickled down the spearâs tip.
Fang Huo glanced at the spear that had breached his shoulder armor and clenched his teeth. He roared in fury. His dulled golden fur sprang back to life amidst his desperation. âLion spirit, help me!â he implored.
Boom!
Fang Huoâs eyes sharpened, taking on a wild, beast-like glint. His body tensed for a moment as his normally faintly glowing yellow pupils turned vertical. He roared, channeling his inner beast.
Crack!
The spear impaled in his body snapped under the pressure of his flexing muscles. He thrust his palms forward with an imposing force, sending the opponents in front and behind him flying, albeit only by a couple of meters.
The old man holding the spear silently retrieved another spear previously planted in the ground and vanished from sight.
The old man didnât rush to attack. Instead, he evaded Fang Huoâs fierce onslaught, staying hidden. But he kept close whenever Fang Huo tried to flee. âIâm intimately familiar with the Lion Spirit Mountainâs cultivation techniques, so your moves wonât work on me.â
Despair seeped into Fang Huoâs heart, a despair unlike anything heâd experienced before. If his great-grandfather hadnât plotted against him successfully, he was confident he could fight the two alone. But now⦠time was their ally, and death was all he could foresee.
Mockery tainted the great-grandfatherâs voice once more. âAt best, one person will come to your rescue. No matter who it is, no matter how strong⦠you canât escape death. Why not just surrender and meet your end under my hands?â
Suddenly, a familiar scent wafted into Fang Huoâs nostrils. A faint trace of poisonous mist in the air, harmless but a clear signal. His comrades were almost here.
âHow could my kingâs heart be shattered by your foul words?â he roared defiantly, his aura visibly strengthening.
âStubborn!â The elder from the Fang family scoffed, launching a punch at Fang Huo.
All the hair on Fang Huoâs body stood on end in response. He decisively turned his back to the elder, swinging his fist.
Bang!
His punch met another, their forces evenly matched.
âIs this your reinforcement?â the elder sneered. But then, Qin Huai in front of him vanished.
Stunned, he swung his fist again, missing his target. Not only was the person gone, but Fang Huo had disappeared as well. Even his partner was missing.
He looked around in confusion, seeing only the forest and the sweet-smelling grass. The bronze wall that was once in the distance was now replaced by a floating bronze chest.
âWhat happened?â he cried out in bewilderment. âWhere am I? Have I arrived at the final destination?â