Chapter 148

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Chapter 148: Xiao Xuanzi Dies

Both scoundrels harbored selfish motives, each withholding their final strike at the critical moment.

Truthfully, four disposable treasures sufficed to breach Fang Lie’s defenses and inflict heavy injuries. A fifth strike would have sealed his fate.

The dilemma lay in determining who would deliver the fatal fifth blow and preserve their sixth treasure.

Though Xiao Xuanzi and Bai First Young Master publicly vowed full cooperation during their Agreement, both secretly plotted to exhaust the other’s resources while conserving their own.

Should Fang Lie perish, the opponent would be left defenseless while the conspirator retained a lethal trump card. With no protective disposable treasures remaining, this final strike could decisively eliminate their rival.

The victor would claim total supremacy in the Secret Realm conflict, gaining not only prestige but crucially, ownership of the Arhat Immortal Fruit tree.

For established Inner Elite Disciples like these, individual Arhat Immortal Fruits held little value – such elites could acquire similar treasures through regular channels.

The tree itself changed everything. While the fruit represented a golden egg, the tree served as the golden-egg-laying hen. Market valuations placed a single fruit around ten million spirit stones, but a properly maintained wild Arhat Immortal Fruit tree could yield tenfold harvests every century.

Effectively, this translated to nearly ten million spirit stones per decade – comparable to a modest Spirit Stone Mineral Vein’s output. More importantly, abundant fruit production could elevate an entire sect’s strength by enhancing multiple inner gate disciples.

This strategic advantage made the tree worth warring over. Only the mutual deterrence among the Three Great Sects prevented open conflict.

Securing the tree promised Major Merits sufficient to elevate an Inner Elite Disciple to Core Inner Gate Disciple status – a position limited to five holders per super sect, fiercely contested even by figures like Puhua.

Driven by these stakes, both conspirators feigned full-force attacks while secretly reserving final strikes for each other.

Had only one schemed, Fang Lie would have died and the plotter triumphed. Their mutual deception backfired spectacularly, allowing Fang Lie to emerge victorious.

Only four disposable treasures actually struck. After shattering the Demon-Subduing Golden Bowl’s protection and dealing heavy injuries, the conspirators’ withheld fifth strike left Fang Lie critically wounded but alive.

Most cultivators would have perished, but Fang Lie’s Divine Phoenix Nirvana Scripture inheritance made him exceptional. Mid-air from the blast, his Healing Art completely restored all injuries.

The fully recovered Fang Lie descended like an avenging deity, leaving both opponents aghast. Realization dawned – they’d squandered their final opportunity.

"Fool!" they simultaneously snarled before fleeing opposite directions. Their panicked followers scattered in all directions.

Fang Lie moved with lightning urgency. The Seven Treasures Vajra Mace dispatched remaining underlings within breaths, their Sumeru Bags and treasures confiscated.

Ignoring Bai First Young Master, Fang Lie pursued Xiao Xuanzi – this vendetta carried ancestral shame requiring priority resolution.

Though Xiao Xuanzi’s sword cultivator abilities granted exceptional Flying Sword speed, Fang Lie’s Divine Phoenix Golden Wings proved superior. Within moments, Fang Lie closed the distance.

Without ceremony, the Seven Treasures Vajra Mace transformed into a colossal divine fist spanning hundreds of feet, hammering down on the fleeing swordsman’s back.

Depleted of disposable protections and relying on mere third-rank defensive treasures, Xiao Xuanzi faced this assault at his weakest moment.

Facing this terrifying strike, he had no choice but to forcefully activate his Fourth-Rank Flying Sword to counterattack, hacking fiercely at the vajra mace with Sword Energy.

A strange spectacle appeared in the sky as the massive vajra mace glowing golden violently clashed with the hundred-zhang-long colossal sword. The collision exploded with blinding light and massive shockwaves that scattered all surrounding clouds and shredded the forest below.

Both Fang Lie and Xiao Xuanzi grunted simultaneously, sent flying miles backward.

When attack-type treasures of equal tier clash, mutual destruction always follows!

Since their Magic couldn’t fully activate the Fourth-tier Magical Items’ power, the treasures remained mostly intact. But both fighters suffered ruptured organs and bloody coughs from the backlash.

Identical injuries yielded vastly different outcomes.

Without pause, Fang Lie roared and reactivated the Seven Treasures Vajra Mace while healing himself with the Healing Art.

Xiao Xuanzi desperately swallowed a spirit pill, his combat power halved. Seeing Fang Lie charging again like a madman, he nearly wept – gravely injured yet forced to fight.

Reluctantly, Xiao Xuanzi mustered his Magic to activate his Flying Sword again. Blood poured from his mouth as his wounds worsened.

BOOM!

The second clash again left both battered. Fang Lie merely spat blood and retreated, quickly recovering. Xiao Xuanzi crashed to the ground, unable to rise.

Fang Lie chuckled, healing himself before floating victoriously before his foe. Hands clasped behind his back, he smirked at the fallen man.

"Cough… What evil Dao magic are you practicing?" Xiao Xuanzi spat blood, face twisted in rage. "Righteous sects’ techniques couldn’t heal so fast!"

"Heh. The Heaven’s Mandate Art – only the virtuous can learn it." Fang Lie grinned. "Convinced yet?"

"Never!" The younger man retorted. "My Magic surpasses yours hundredfold! You cheated with dark arts! No righteous method heals instantly!"

"Not here to lecture." Fang Lie shrugged. "Your last words?"

"Spare me!" Xiao Xuanzi threatened weakly. "I’m Sword God’s great-grandson! Kill me and face endless consequences!"

"I’m Fang Family’s heir!" Fang Lie sneered. "When your clan framed my father to death, we became eternal enemies. I show no mercy – accept your fate."

"Curse you…" Xiao Xuanzi sighed. "One question – still want Bai First Young Master dead?"

"Desperately!" Fang Lie’s eyes sharpened. "You know where he is?"

"We knew your Earth Eye Divine Skill scans thousand-mile ground but not skies. Our ambush nearly succeeded because we hid in clouds. Now he’s cloud-hidden – finding him’s impossible!"

"True enough." Fang Lie nodded. "Your solution?"

"A faint Sword Energy mark I left on him." Xiao Xuanzi smirked. "Give my life-bound Flying Sword to you. Track him through the energy link. Just promise me one thing."

"Name it. No pardons."

"Send my corpse to my clan elders. Let me rest at home."

"Done." Fang Lie agreed instantly.

Xiao Xuanzi blinked. "Aren’t you afraid they’ll know you killed me?"

"I’ll deliver your body myself!" Fang Lie laughed coldly. "Tell them exactly who ended you!"

"Bold!" The defeated man raised a thumb. "Take this Chifeng Sword and sword talisman then."

He tossed his life-bound Flying Sword and Sumeru Bag forward. With final resolve, he struck his own forehead, shattering his celestial spirit.