In truth, it wasn't that he hadn't been poisoned, but rather that the Nine Yang Divine Skill possessed immunity to hundreds of poisons. Although the "immunity to hundreds of poisons" had some exaggeration, especially in this world where martial arts flourished, true immunity to all poisons was impossible. Nevertheless, ordinary poisons indeed had no effect under the Nine Yang internal energy, to the extent that Xia Ci hardly noticed them.
He had been pretending to be poisoned earlier, merely to draw Flying Dragon into attacking.
Now, seeing Xia Ci charge toward him, Flying Dragon said no more. Though somewhat surprised that Xia Ci wasn't poisoned, he didn't take it too seriously. With a flick of his wrist, his steel saber instantly transformed into countless saber shadows, layer upon layer, dense and impenetrable.
Xia Ci engaged Flying Dragon in combat, relying on the subtlety of the Mysterious Heart Saber Technique. However, the problem was that although the Mysterious Heart Saber Technique was remarkably subtle with its mix of illusion and reality, it wasn't a technique with high killing power. It lacked the means to quickly defeat an opponent, making the vast internal energy of the Nine Yang Divine Skill seem somewhat wasted.
However, while Xia Ci felt he was wasting the Nine Yang internal energy and believed the Mysterious Heart Saber Technique lacked ferocity, Flying Dragon, who was engaged in combat with him, grew increasingly alarmed with each exchange of blows.
Flying Dragon's saber technique was originally bold and vigorous, each strike containing tremendous force. He had thought he could easily dispatch Xia Ci, given the young man's age and his technical saber style. Yet surprisingly, each clash revealed that this technical saber technique carried enormous power, causing Flying Dragon's arms to ache from the impacts.
In an instant, the two exchanged dozens of moves.
Xia Ci wanted to match internal energy with Flying Dragon, but Flying Dragon also recognized Xia Ci's profound internal power and avoided direct energy confrontations, focusing only on saber techniques.
For a time, saber shadows howled, their glint flashing brilliantly.
"Forget about Tang Tianhao, kill this young man first! He's too troublesome!"
After exchanging another blow with Xia Ci, Flying Dragon quickly retreated two steps and shouted to Wu Huan and Yang Tang for assistance.
However, before Wu Huan and Yang Tang could react,
Flying Dragon suddenly saw Xia Ci extend his hand, transforming his palm into a claw, grasping at the air.
While he was still confused,
He suddenly heard a whistling sound behind him. He hurriedly turned around to see a basin-sized rock hurtling toward him.
Flying Dragon was greatly alarmed, unable to comprehend where this rock had come from. He quickly tried to dodge, but the rock came too suddenly and too fast. Unable to evade completely, he was struck and forced back several steps. In that instant, Xia Ci rushed forward and stabbed his Tang saber into Flying Dragon's back.
"Pfft!"
The Tang saber twisted and pulled, spraying blood.
Flying Dragon fell to the ground, his eyes wide open in death. He could never have understood where that flying rock had come from.
At the same moment,
A system notification sounded in Xia Ci's mind.
[Killed 3★ Wanted Criminal]
[Received 3★ Reward—SSS-level Mastered Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms]
[Claim Now?]
"Claim!"
...
At this moment, in the courtyard of the house,
Wu Huan and Yang Tang, who had nearly killed the exhausted Tang Tianhao, were stunned. Xia Ci's immunity to the poison had already caught them off guard, causing fear to rise within them.
Now, with Flying Dragon killed in such an incomprehensible manner—they too had seen the rock suddenly lift off the ground and fly toward him—they were thoroughly frightened. They no longer had any desire to fight Tang Tianhao, even though he had little strength left.
The two quickly retreated, intending to take the unconscious Lady Tang hostage.
Xia Ci naturally understood their plan. Once again, he swiftly used the Dragon Capturing Skill. Under everyone's shocked gaze, Lady Tang flew up from the ground and instantly landed before Xia Ci.
This time, they saw clearly,
Finally understanding how Flying Dragon had died.
"Run!"
Wu Huan and Yang Tang were utterly terrified by Xia Ci's Dragon Capturing Skill. When Flying Dragon was killed earlier, though frightened, they had speculated that perhaps Xia Ci had used some advanced hidden weapon technique, or perhaps a thin steel wire had pulled that rock.
But at this moment,
Witnessing with their own eyes how Lady Tang was drawn to Xia Ci from a distance, their terror was beyond words.
Both were veteran martial artists, not novices to the martial world. They knew that regardless of any special technique, this ability had one prerequisite—internal energy so profound that it reached a level beyond what ordinary people could achieve.
The two no longer had the courage to stay.
However, being quick-witted, they knew Xia Ci was blind and immediately devised countermeasures. They forcefully struck the house pillars, causing numerous roof tiles to fall like heavy rain with a crashing sound, creating massive noise.
Then, both displayed impressive lightness skills, leaping onto the roof.
In the rush, and in an unfamiliar environment, Xia Ci was indeed affected. He momentarily lost track of the pair's direction. Moreover, being unskilled in lightness techniques—indeed, barely knowing any lightness skills beyond some rudimentary jumping techniques he had worked out during his days roaming the martial world—he was at a disadvantage.
However,
In the next instant,
Xia Ci heard movement—the fleeing Wu Huan and Yang Tang had been forced back, crashing heavily to the ground, spitting blood, severely wounded and unable to rise.
"Elder Brother!"
Following that, another person descended from the sky—it was the Tang family's Second Master, Tang Tianyuan. He quickly ran over, anxiously asking, "Elder Brother, are you alright? Are you injured?"
By now, Tang Tianhao was deeply poisoned. Earlier, his blood had been flowing backward, his body flushed red. Now his entire body had turned bluish, his face swollen, looking terribly frightening. Black blood flowed from his mouth, yet he still struggled to say, "I'm not in immediate danger. Thanks to young friend Xia, our family escaped peril!"
Tang Tianyuan quickly bowed to Xia Ci with clasped hands: "Many thanks, Young Hero Xia, for saving my elder brother..."
Xia Ci waved his hand, preparing to first treat Xia Xiayin's injuries.
But in that instant,
Tang Tianyuan's previously lowered eyes suddenly sharpened like an eagle's. The sword in his hand, like a ferocious beast awakening from slumber, shot forth with wind-cutting momentum, directly targeting Xia Ci's vital point.
Simultaneously, Wu Huan and Yang Tang, supposedly severely injured on the ground, suddenly stood up. One wielded a knife, the other held a silver needle as they pounced from behind toward Xia Ci.
In that moment,
Xia Ci was caught in a front and rear attack.
Xia Ci's heart jolted in alarm. He quickly raised his hand and struck directly at Tang Tianyuan's sword.
In that instant, a massive surge of true energy rippled through the courtyard. There seemed to be a faint dragon's roar, carrying a mountain-toppling force. Before the palm wind arrived, the ground had already been compressed into a slight depression. Sand and stones flew about as the air seemed to distort.
This move was "Shock for Hundred Miles" from the Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms.
The powerful true energy sent Tang Tianyuan flying.
In that moment, Xia Ci turned his body, his clothes fluttering loudly. His single palm became double palms as he executed "Twin Dragons Fetch Water." Like phantoms of giant dragons roaring forth, they stretched their claws toward the opponents. The air seemed sliced by blades where they passed, emitting a "sss" sound as he struck toward Wu Huan and Yang Tang.
The two were instantly sent flying, crashing through a stone wall.
Wu Huan died on the spot, while Yang Tang lay on the ground, spitting a mouthful of blood. He stared fixedly at Xia Ci, his lips moving twice without making a sound before his neck tilted and he died.
[Killed 2★ Wanted Criminal]
[Received 2★ Reward—SSS-level Mastered Cloud Stepping Skill]
[Claim Now?]
...
[Killed 2★ Wanted Criminal]
[Received 2★ Reward—SSS-level Mastered Divine Finger Flick Technique]
[Claim Now?]