Chapter Seventy-Three: Slaying the Northern Dipper

"The gravest mistake you made was not unleashing your full strength at the very first moment!"

As Po Jun remained alert to Qi Sha and Shadow, Lin Fan's voice, soft as a whisper, drifted to his ear, startling him into sudden clarity. He turned sharply to look at Lin Fan.

Clang!

A blade, white as snow and seemingly forged from ice, had its tip embedded in the ground, its edge pressed firmly against his sweeping greatsword.

Lin Fan was crouched on the ground. Though his arm trembled, and his waist and abdomen bore a deep wound from the greatsword, a victorious smile played across his lips.

At that instant, Po Jun's face changed dramatically. An overwhelming sense of crisis surged forth, his hair stood on end, icy dread pierced his bones like needles, as if he had fallen into the depths of the underworld.

Before he could react, Lin Fan had already darted beneath his guard, reversing his grip on Thousandfold Snow to block the greatsword, dragging it along. The friction between the blade and sword produced a shrill, grating sound.

"Die—!"

With a furious roar, Lin Fan straightened his body, left arm gripping Thousandfold Snow, swinging it upward. The snow-white blade traced a beautiful yet tragic arc through the air.

Squelch!

Po Jun's right side, from below the ribs up through his chest, neck, and left ear, was split open, exposing his pulsing blood-red heart and his entrails.

Blood sprayed in all directions, drenching Lin Fan's face and body, turning him into a figure soaked in blood. The snowy ground was speckled crimson.

In that moment, Lin Fan's body, just slightly twisted, snapped upright like an indomitable javelin. His head tilted to the right, left arm raised with Thousandfold Snow, as Po Jun's blood gushed before him.

The world seemed to freeze, transformed into a scene both tragic and beautiful. All sounds vanished, all movement ceased, and everyone stared, mouths agape, silently witnessing this moment.

Even Shadow and Qi Sha forgot to make a move, stunned as they gazed at the tableau.

Only Po Jun's massive form remained standing before Lin Fan. His right hand held the greatsword horizontally, his left arm slightly bent, as if poised for action but unable to complete it.

"Negative emotion value from Po Jun: +2000!"

The system's icy voice echoed.

Boom!

Po Jun's gaze dimmed completely, all vitality lost. He toppled backward, lifeless, blood flooding the ground, staining and melting the snow in an instant.

"Even a child with a sharp blade can kill a Pulse Channel expert if he's caught off guard and stabbed in the neck, isn't that so?"

Lin Fan turned slowly, a cold smile on his lips as he looked at Qi Sha and Shadow, no longer showing his earlier mocking bravado toward Po Jun.

He had calculated this long ago. All three were Pulse Channel experts. Without soul attacks, he could not kill any of them. But this situation was special.

Because the three of them restrained each other. When one attacked, just as they were about to kill him, they would be wary of the other two and would never use their full strength.

No one knew that after consuming the initial witch bloodline, Lin Fan possessed nine million catties of brute force. Those who did, like Old Zhang, were dead, or like Zhang Yi, had his soul imprint planted.

This was his opportunity!

Yet even a Pulse Channel expert remained formidable. Po Jun used less than thirty percent of his strength, but combined with his cultivation, his power still surpassed Lin Fan.

That was why Lin Fan was wounded, though fortunately only superficially.

At that vital moment, seeing he had not killed Lin Fan in one strike, Po Jun hesitated. Lin Fan seized the fleeting opportunity to end Po Jun's life.

This was unlike his battle with Old Zhang, where he began at full force, using everything except soul attacks—Wind and Thunder Force, movement techniques, blade skills, and intent. He sought to test his limits, only resorting to soul attacks at the end.

But now, he dared not confront Po Jun that way. If he did, Po Jun would shed his contempt and become wary, eliminating Lin Fan's chance for a deadly strike. Qi Sha and Shadow would likewise be alert to Lin Fan's intent. All three would attack simultaneously to guard against any hidden tricks, however unlikely. Lin Fan dared not gamble.

Even if Qi Sha and Shadow did not act, Lin Fan would have no chance to kill in one blow. He would be forced to reveal his soul attack and then be slaughtered.

Now, he had bet and won. He exploited Po Jun's carelessness and killed him. Though Qi Sha and Shadow remained, he still had his soul attack and could take down one more.

If he could find a way to deal with the last, today would not be a fatal situation.

Meanwhile, he calculated that he was less than eighty li from the territory of the fourth-tier ferocious beast, the Snowstorm Bear. If he risked severe injury to escape there, perhaps he could find a sliver of hope.

This was why he took down Po Jun first. When he tried to flee, Po Jun was the fastest and blocked him first, followed by Shadow, then Qi Sha.

If he wanted to escape into the Snowstorm Bear's territory, Po Jun had to be eliminated first.

He had bet and won! But only the first step.

Now, it was time for the second step...

"Even a child with a sharp blade can kill a Pulse Channel expert if he's caught off guard and stabbed in the neck, isn't that so?"

Lin Fan's voice quietly reached Qi Sha and Shadow, waking them. They exchanged glances and saw the same look in each other's eyes—

Caution, vigilance, no more contempt, and a hint of cooperation.

"You're exceptional, managing to kill Po Jun by surprise. You've made me see you in a new light, even instilled a trace of fear," Qi Sha suddenly said, licking his dry lips.

"If either I or Shadow had struck first, we'd likely share the same fate. I'm fortunate. But this will only hasten your death. I will not let you escape today. If someone like you survives, I'd never sleep easy," Shadow continued, eyes blazing with murderous intent. "That's right, I won't let you live, absolutely not!"

Previously, they acted for the bounty and feared the Jiang family's reprisal. Now, they feared Lin Fan's escape, and that one day he would rise and hunt them down relentlessly.

They knew full well—if either of them attacked with full strength, Lin Fan would not escape, for they no longer underestimated him.

Yet, for some reason, they still spoke these words to him.

Perhaps, when Lin Fan killed Po Jun so stunningly, they already regarded him as an equal.

"You are afraid."

Lin Fan calmly watched as the two approached, one ahead and one behind, his gaze unruffled, like still water, quietly observing them.

Qi Sha and Shadow gave no answer.

Shadow slowly drew his blade, while Qi Sha raised his two short swords.

"To deal with a mere Qi Channel cultivator, you two Pulse Channel experts act with such caution. If word gets out, what face will you have left?"

Lin Fan sneered at their wary demeanor.

But Qi Sha and Shadow did not anger at his mockery. After all, Po Jun's bloody demise stood as a warning.

Suddenly, Lin Fan's expression hardened. From nowhere, he produced a black object and hurled it at Qi Sha, now close, his face fierce with killing intent, shouting, "Die—!"

"Boss, be careful!"

Qi Sha's subordinates, shaken from their daze by Lin Fan's slaying of Po Jun, shouted warnings.

But with his cultivation, Qi Sha noticed immediately—even faster than his men. He dodged sideways, leaping dozens of yards away.

Even Shadow behind Lin Fan retreated several steps.

At that instant, Lin Fan shot forward like lightning through the gap left by Qi Sha's dodge, his arrogant laughter resounding in their ears.

"In ancient times, there were birds startled by every bowstring; now there is Qi Sha, broken in courage, and Shadow, equally useless, like rotten fish—ha ha..."

Bang!

The black object Lin Fan threw at Qi Sha fell to the ground. Qi Sha and his men looked closely—it was merely a piece of flint. Hearing Lin Fan's laughter, their faces turned livid with rage, and they bellowed:

"After him! I want him torn to pieces—!"

With this roar, Qi Sha and Shadow were already in pursuit, their speed astonishing, exerting their full power. As they chased, they exchanged glances, each resolved.

Once they caught Lin Fan, they would attack with all their strength, giving him no chance to speak or resist, killing him instantly.

Moreover, after Lin Fan was dead, all their subordinates must die as well!

If word of today's events spread, they would become a laughingstock. Within days, this story would circulate through dozens of counties.

How could they stand tall afterward...

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