C19 The Clan Was Destroyed

Seeing Zhang Yu's blatant disregard for him, Liu Yunsheng's anger flared instantly!

"Kid, it's blustery out there, aren't you worried about biting your tongue? Without that sneak attack earlier, you wouldn't have stood a chance against Brother Pengfei!"

Zhang Yu remained silent in the face of Liu Yunsheng's mockery, simply lifting his sword to aim it at him.

"Today, your life ends here!"

Unable to contain himself after Zhang Yu's bold declaration, Liu Yunsheng grabbed the Mad Tiger Blade, surged forward with increased speed, and brought it down toward Zhang Yu.

With a "clang," the Thunder Shocking Sword and the Mad Tiger Blade collided for the first time.

Liu Yunsheng felt a pang of distress seeing a notch on his treasured Mad Tiger Blade. It was well-known that the Liu family, despite their wealth, had only three Level-1 Spirit Weapons besides the Mad Tiger Blade. This Level-3 Spirit Weapon had been acquired with a substantial portion of the family's savings. He had always cherished it, never allowing others to so much as touch it. Yet today, it had been notched from a single encounter with Zhang Yu's Thunder Shocking Sword. A few more strikes, and it might very well be ruined.

"This brat's weapon is unusual; how is it so formidable? Even clashing with my Mad Tiger Blade shouldn't cause damage like this! Could it be a Profound Artifact?" Liu Yunsheng pondered in silence.

It was no surprise he hesitated to consider the possibility of a Profound Artifact; such items were leagues beyond his reach. Weapons for martial practitioners weren't something just anyone could craft; they required a master smith. In a small place like Yishui Town, true master smiths were nonexistent. His Mad Tiger Blade, for instance, had been purchased from the larger Sunset City to the west of Yishui Town. Yet even Sunset City boasted only four Profound Artifacts, each held by one of the city's four dominant forces.

"Kid, where did you get a Profound Artifact?" Liu Yunsheng bellowed suddenly.

"That's right, this young master's possession is a Profound Artifact. You want it? Try and take it!" Zhang Yu declared with an icy tone.

"A Profound Artifact? For real? You actually possess one?" The man's eyes betrayed a raw greed that was almost palpable. Had he not been concerned with appearances, he might have very well salivated openly.

Zhang Yu, realizing the ploy, silently chided himself for falling for the old fox's trick and revealing the truth. Yet, he wasn't worried. If he were to die today, the secret would still get out. If Liu Yunsheng were to die, then his knowledge would die with him.

"I have to kill this kid and seize the Profound Artifact. The higher the weapon's grade, the more it enhances a warrior's power. With it, no one in Yishui Town could challenge my rule! Once I consolidate all the resources, I might even attempt to ascend to the revered Martial Saint realm." The more Liu Yunsheng dwelled on it, the more his greed spiraled out of control.

Zhang Yu could see the predatory glint in Liu Yunsheng's eyes, clear as day. With scorn, he taunted, "Old Dog Liu, prepare to lose your head."

The rush of spiritual energy briefly brought Liu Yunsheng back to his senses, yet it only fueled his avarice further. "Without the Profound Artifact, how could this whelp be so formidable!"

"Long River Setting Sun!" In a swift motion, Zhang Yu unleashed a blinding light that moved in an elusive manner, swiftly closing the distance to Liu Yunsheng. Startled, Liu Yunsheng quickly positioned his Mad Tiger Blade defensively.

The sound of metal clashing rang out. Zhang Yu's strike had been thwarted, but he wasn't overly disappointed. Liu Yunsheng was, after all, a renowned Great Martial Master. It wouldn't be easy to defeat him.

Despite maintaining a stoic exterior, Liu Yunsheng's heart was in turmoil. How could someone so young and of such a low rank be so formidable, even with a Profound Artifact?

Yet, with his extensive combat experience as a Great Martial Master, Liu Yunsheng soon regained his composure. His robust spiritual energy at the Great Martial Master Level surged forth, parrying each of Zhang Yu's subsequent attacks. As he grew accustomed to Zhang Yu's fighting style, Liu Yunsheng began to retaliate fiercely. His broadsword swung with the precision and venom of a viper, each strike targeting Zhang Yu's vulnerabilities with deadly accuracy.

Within the Zhang family's inner courtyard, two tumultuous energy storms raged. Zhang Sen was locked in combat with Wang Pengfei, while Zhang Yu faced off against Liu Yunsheng. The storms left destruction in their wake, deterring anyone from coming close.

With a resounding "Bam!" both combatants were pushed back several steps. Despite the setback, Liu Yunsheng seemed to hold a slight edge, especially in terms of spiritual energy where Zhang Yu couldn't quite measure up. Yet, with the Creation Divine Arts and the Thunder Shocking Sword at his disposal, Zhang Yu's shortcomings were hardly a concern.

Liu Yunsheng had initially looked down on Zhang Yu, but as the battle wore on, doubt began to creep into his mind. He realized he had underestimated his opponent. As Zhang Yu charged once more, lightning in tow, Liu Yunsheng clenched his jaw, a glint of determination in his eyes. He knew all too well that defeat would spell death for him and spell disaster for his family.

"Kid, today you'll witness my full power!" Liu Yunsheng narrowed his eyes as a torrent of spiritual energy burst forth, channeling into his Mad Tiger Blade. "Dance of Death!" he bellowed. The blade vibrated violently, its swift movements leaving a trail of afterimages in the air. Each one, empowered by spiritual energy, seemed to possess boundless might.

"Die!" In a flash, Liu Yunsheng's Mad Tiger Blade appeared to traverse vast distances, its brilliant light aiming a deadly strike at Zhang Yu's neck. Unfazed, Zhang Yu swiftly mustered his spiritual energy, parrying the lethal blow with his Thunder Shocking Sword. The force of the impact drove his feet deep into the ground.

With Zhang Yu momentarily at a disadvantage, Liu Yunsheng seized the chance for another strike. His Mad Tiger Blade descended fiercely toward Zhang Yu's head. Left with no other option, Zhang Yu rolled away, narrowly escaping death.

Frustration mounted within Liu Yunsheng as Zhang Yu evaded yet another attack. He had thought that by casting aside his arrogance and unleashing his full might, he would surely defeat Zhang Yu. But the prolonged battle had only resulted in minor wounds for both. It was clear that Liu Yunsheng would have to resort to a more perilous tactic.

Liu Yunsheng abruptly produced a fiery red pill from within his robes. With a moment's hesitation, he swallowed it, his face contorting into a grotesque snarl.

No sooner had the pill touched his tongue than Liu Yunsheng's face began to convulse wildly. An unnatural redness spread rapidly across his skin, and his spiritual energy seemed to boil over, instantly doubling. His body appeared on the brink of collapse, as beads of blood oozed from his pores. Before they could fall, the rampant spiritual energy enveloping him shattered them into a fine blood mist.

"You little cur, you've cornered me into taking the Burning Blood Pill, facing the dire consequences of a regression in my cultivation. You're going to pay with your life this time. Only your death and your Profound Artifact can make up for my losses," he snarled. With that, he charged at Zhang Yu, his entire being pulsing with spiritual power. The Mad Tiger Blade, carrying the force of a cataclysm, descended from the heavens, aiming to cleave Zhang Yu in two.

"Is this a fight to the death?" Zhang Yu, witnessing Liu Yunsheng unleash his ultimate move, no longer held back. With a thunderous cry, the essence of his life ignited. His body shriveled rapidly, yet the energy he released was like an unstoppable deluge.

"Weeping Blood Setting Sun!"

The boom that followed was ear-splitting, capturing the gaze of all present.

The ground split open with a crack as wide as an earthquake's. Dust and smoke obscured the view, leaving the outcome a mystery.

As the smoke cleared, two blood-soaked figures were revealed. Zhang Yu coughed weakly, spewing a mouthful of blood, and dropped to one knee, his arm dangling helplessly. Liu Yunsheng, though pale, seemed to fare slightly better, standing tall despite his spirit weapon, now broken in two.

"Has Liu Yunsheng triumphed?" The crowd held their breath, each person silently willing victory to their side.

"Kid, without the power of your Profound Artifact, you'd be dead. My defeat is a bitter pill to swallow," Liu Yunsheng bellowed. Then, blood erupted from his body, and with a sickening pop, he burst into a gruesome mess. Even the battle-hardened Zhang Yu felt a wave of nausea at the sight.

"Indeed, I wield the power of the Profound Artifact, but aren't you just as dependent on your advanced cultivation? In the end, the victor is hailed as king, and the vanquished are scorned. Victory belongs to the victor, and today, that victor is me." Zhang Yu murmured to the remains of Liu Yunsheng.