Immortal Among Mortals

Chapter 5: He Cannot Be Killed

​"What are you doing here? You are no match for him!"

​Zhou Xue said through clenched teeth. Seven days after her rebirth, apart from her adoptive parents, she had also developed a touch of affection for Fang Wang and did not want to watch the young man get buried here tonight.

​Fang Wang cradled Zhou Xue in one arm and executed the Shadowless Step, constantly shifting his position to dodge the incoming beams of golden light. He did not flee directly, instead dodging back and forth across the area.

​"Maybe not, but are you sure about that now?"

​Fang Wang did not look down at Zhou Xue in his arms; he replied calmly, keeping his gaze locked on Daoist Qingyi hovering in mid-air.

​Zhou Xue fell silent, unable to retort.

​At that moment, Daoist Qingyi's attack ceased, and Fang Wang landed on a shattered wall. Zhou Xue naturally pulled away from his embrace, keeping a very measured distance from him.

​"Is this magic? The lowest tier of the Cultivation World is this strong—you aren't tricking me, are you?"

​Fang Wang asked in a low voice, staring at Daoist Qingyi.

​The lethal power of those golden rays was terrifying. While dodging just now, Fang Wang had sensed an unprecedented danger and remained constantly on edge, not daring to be careless.

​Zhou Xue took a deep breath and said, "His realm is indeed the lowest in the Cultivation World, but with two magical artifacts, he is considered a first-rate expert within his realm. However, given his Spiritual Energy, he cannot continuously unleash that kind of attack you just saw."

​Upon hearing this, Fang Wang immediately formed a clear picture of the situation.

​Under his close observation, the lofty and mighty Daoist Qingyi descended, which seemed to indicate that standing in mid-air, though cool, consumed a massive amount of energy.

​"Who are you?"

​Daoist Qingyi glared fiercely at Fang Wang and asked in a deep voice.

​Fang Wang's swordplay differed from any martial arts expert he had seen before, even surpassing most cultivators in the Qi Cultivation Realm. He could not discern Fang Wang's true identity, but Zhou Xue's poison convinced him that he was a cultivator.

​Fang Wang raised his sword and said, "Shouldn't one introduce themselves first before asking about someone else's identity?"

​Hearing this, Daoist Qingyi flashed a cold smile and said, "Then let me see what gives you the courage to fight back!"

​He suddenly charged toward Fang Wang and Zhou Xue, his speed vastly outstripping that of the men in black from earlier.

Fang Wang did not retreat; instead, he advanced, lowering his blade toward Daoist Qingyi.

​The two moved as swiftly as arrows, and in the blink of an eye, they were within seven paces of each other. Fang Wang swung his sword to strike, while Daoist Qingyi tilted his body and whipped his horsetail whisk outward.

​So fast!

​Both thought the exact same thing at the same time. Fang Wang was amazed by the cultivator's lightning-fast bodily reactions, while Daoist Qingyi marveled at his footwork. What level of the Qi Cultivation Realm was this young man at?

​Evading each other's techniques, they initiated a fierce, rapid duel, exchanging blows across the courtyard and stirring up dust and debris. In a short span of time, neither could injure the other.

​Seeing Fang Wang and Daoist Qingyi fighting to a standstill, Zhou Xue was deeply moved; she realized she had underestimated this young man.

​So powerful—he can rival cultivators at the seventh or eighth tier of the Qi Cultivation Realm, yet he is merely a mortal warrior. Could it be that he has reached the mythical realm of martial arts?

​Zhou Xue was secretly shocked, acutely aware of Fang Wang's age.

​To be this powerful at just sixteen...

​Such comprehension and talent were simply too exorbitant!

​Although the paths of martial arts and cultivation differed, there were similarities, and a genius in martial arts would never lack talent for cultivation, especially in terms of comprehension.

​Zhou Xue's appreciation for Fang Wang grew, and at that very moment, several core experts of the Fang Residence rapidly rushed over. As they witnessed the battle between Fang Wang and Daoist Qingyi, they instinctively halted their steps.

​Fang Wang, clad in white, was as swift as a ghost with his sword flashing a cold glint beneath the night sky, while Daoist Qingyi, like a crane, seemed slower than Fang Wang yet always managed to evade his attacks effortlessly.

​"So fast!"

​"Is this kind of speed even manageable for humans? Is that Thirteenth Young Master Fang Wang?"

​"Who would have thought our Thirteenth Young Master's combat prowess is so advanced? I heard from Ah Hu that many experts were slain by the Thirteenth Young Master."

​"Is he human or ghost? It looks like he's floating!"

​"Let's not act rashly so as not to disrupt Young Master Fang Wang!"

​The experts of the Fang Residence chattered among themselves, including Fang Wang's own kinsmen. Those who were the most shocked had never imagined Fang Wang was so formidable.

​Daoist Qingyi gripped his horsetail whisk, striking Fang Wang's treasured blade and unleashing an overwhelming force that drove Fang Wang backward.

​"Without a trace of Spiritual Energy, could it be that you are merely proficient in martial arts and specialize in techniques?" Daoist Qingyi said in an icy voice.

Fang Wang had not used True Qi yet, relying entirely on his swordplay and footwork to fight. This was the first time he had engaged in such an arduous battle, his body and mind stretched taut.

​He had underestimated cultivators, assuming they spent most of their time in meditation and likely possessed weaker physical attributes than warriors. Now, however, after trading blows, he had gained a solid grasp of Daoist Qingyi's strength.

​Daoist Qingyi raised his left hand, and the Yellow Talisman unleashed streaks of golden light toward Fang Wang, who dodged swiftly.

​More and more core experts from the Fang Residence arrived, including the previously injured Fang Hanyu.

​They were all shocked as they watched Daoist Qingyi wield a magical artifact, and now, observing the miraculous effects of the Yellow Talisman up close, they grew even more terrified.

​"A sorcerer..."

​A middle-aged servant holding a long staff said in a trembling voice, filled with dread.

​Fang Hanyu wanted to go forward and support Fang Wang, but he was stopped by his father, Fang Zhe. Fang Zhe, with a grim expression, said, "You cannot interfere in their battle."

​Shockwaves washed over him. He had traveled far and wide over the years, visiting many major sects in the martial arts world, but he had never witnessed such demonic arts.

​He suddenly recalled a legend he had heard long ago.

​Legends spoke of cultivators living deep within the mountains and the five sacred peaks—the very creators of the martial arts practiced by the mortal world.

​Fang Hanyu watched as Fang Wang continually dodged the golden beams, his footwork and posture filling his heart with complex emotions, awe mixed with a reluctant sense of inadequacy.

​Since childhood, he had held an admiration for his younger cousin because Fang Wang knew so much, always saying things that left him in awe. Even though he left to train in martial arts for many years, Fang Hanyu often thought of his cousin, always feeling that Fang Wang would grow into an extraordinary person. Yet he had never imagined that Fang Wang would reach such an incredible height in martial arts.

​What made him feel dissatisfied was not that Fang Wang was stronger than him, but that he could not help Fang Wang.

​Fang Wang rapidly dodged the golden beams, closing in on Daoist Qingyi. Seeing that the Yellow Talisman could not harm Fang Wang, Daoist Qingyi did not panic and maintained his stern expression.

​When Fang Wang was less than eight paces from Daoist Qingyi, he hurled his treasured sword.

​The throw was so powerful that the sword nearly pierced straight through Daoist Qingyi, forcing him out of his stance; however, with a clang, the blade was deflected.

​A flash of yellow light appeared before Fang Wang's eyes. He saw Daoist Qingyi's body burst into golden light, like a suit of armor made of light that parried his blade.

​Looking closer, Fang Wang saw the edges of the yellow talisman on Daoist Qingyi's chest burning, with light visibly radiating from it and blanketing his entire body.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

​A series of roaring sounds filled the air as six silver arrows zipped past Fang Wang's ears, flying straight toward Daoist Qingyi.

​This time, Daoist Qingyi did not attempt to stand his ground and instead dodged with a flash of movement.

​Before he even touched the ground, he rapidly chanted a spell, conjuring serpent-shaped lightning out of thin air that relentlessly struck toward Fang Wang.

​Fang Wang leaped to evade as the lightning shattered the silver arrows and slammed into the ground, piercing the earth with terrifying destructive power.

​He turned his head to see that Zhou Xue had joined the fray, now engaging Daoist Qingyi at close quarters and swinging a dagger. Her agile movements prevented Daoist Qingyi from breaking away.

​She has such skills after being reborn for only seven days... Fang Wang was secretly astonished.

​Before her rebirth, Zhou Xue was merely a fragile woman confined to her estate, but now her skills surpassed those of most leading experts.

​Could it be that Zhou Xue, just like him, had secretly practiced martial arts since youth?

​Daoist Qingyi cast his spell again, and due to their close proximity, Zhou Xue—whose agility could not match Fang Wang's—was struck in the back as she dodged, blood spraying out. Then, with a wave of her sleeve, light green powder spread, instantly enveloping Daoist Qingyi.

​As Zhou Xue collapsed to the ground, she immediately looked up at Fang Wang.

​Understanding her intent, Fang Wang executed the Shadowless Step and advanced rapidly. He raised his palm and struck forward, his surging True Qi carrying the roar of a dragon as it unleashed a dragon-shaped True Qi with immense force that sent Daoist Qingyi flying like a snapped kite, soaring dozens of meters before crashing into the rubble.

​"Is that... the True Dragon Palm once famous in the martial arts world?"

​Fang Zhe's eyes widened in an incredulous gasp, while Fang Hanyu beside him was equally moved.

​The True Dragon Palm was not an exceptionally rare technique, easily obtainable for those willing to spend money, yet it was extremely difficult to master. In the current martial arts world, no one had ever mastered the True Dragon Palm to Great Completion.

​Fang Wang retracted his palm and quickly moved to Zhou Xue's side. Beneath her, a pool of blood formed—a deeply tragic sight.

​Without waiting for Fang Wang to speak, Zhou Xue propped up her upper body and pulled out a small paper package from her bosom, her voice trembling, "A warrior's True Qi cannot kill him. Use the special poison I made, sprinkle it on his wounds, and it can continuously erode the Spiritual Energy within his body..."

​Fang Wang did not take the poison and instead replied, "Of course it can. He is merely a cultivator of the Qi Cultivation Realm—it's just that, right now, it's quite difficult for me..."

​Boom!

​Before he could finish his sentence, a loud roar came from behind, followed by a raging wind.

​Fang Wang narrowed his eyes toward the sound, and Zhou Xue also turned her head, only to see Black Qi rolling out from the rubble as a black flag rose, surrounded by floating rock shards and debris with the faint shapes of ghost souls.

As the black flag soared into the sky, Daoist Qingyi staggered to his feet. His hair was disheveled, his body covered in blood, and his robes torn to shreds, making him look utterly wretched. His wounds, now oozing black blood, refused to stop bleeding. His gaze fixed on Fang Wang as he roared furiously, "Mortal, how dare you injure me!"

​Having been struck by the True Dragon Palm, he had fully realized that Fang Wang was not a cultivator but merely a warrior after all.

​The fact that he had been injured by a mortal warrior filled Daoist Qingyi with profound humiliation. Consumed by rage, he stepped forward with the black flag hovering above his head. Waves of ghostly wails filled the air, shrouding the Fang Residence in a night of terror.

​"That is a Soul-Burning Flag; you must not touch its Ghost Qi, or it will seize your mind and soul under its control!"

​Zhou Xue gritted her teeth and spoke urgently, racking her brain for a strategy.

​"And you, poisonous girl, what poison did you sprinkle on me? Very well, I'll return it a hundredfold!" Daoist Qingyi stared at Zhou Xue with hatred in his eyes. His body trembled as toxic blood poured from his wounds, looking as though he were enduring pain beyond ordinary imagination.

​Fang Wang watched as the other man swayed more intensely and his expression grew more dangerous. He slowly raised his right hand.

​"If you can be injured by an ordinary mortal, it proves that you are nothing more than a mortal yourself."

​Fang Wang mocked, his voice ringing out clearly and stoking the intent to kill in Daoist Qingyi's eyes.

​Daoist Qingyi said coldly, "Very well, I won't let you die easily. I'll skin you alive, pull your tendons, and torture your soul until..."

​As he spoke, he moved closer to Fang Wang and Zhou Xue, but before he could finish, Fang Wang's right hand suddenly raised his index and middle fingers together, using them as a sword, and pointed at Daoist Qingyi from afar.

​Daoist Qingyi flashed a mocking smile, but then his pupils suddenly constricted, and he instinctively turned his head to see the treasured sword that had been deflected earlier suddenly rise from the ground, transforming into a streak of cold light moving at a speed undetectable to the naked eye.

​The heavily injured Daoist Qingyi had no time to dodge.

​Bang!

​The treasured sword struck from behind Daoist Qingyi, shattering his skull. The sword light flashed, then hovered in front of Fang Wang to a halt, suspended in mid-air. Then, the blade swiftly spun around, its hilt facing Fang Wang's right hand as if it were a living entity.

​This scene left Zhou Xue speechless, and Fang Wang's kinsmen in the distance gazed at the treasured sword, all wearing expressions as if they had seen a ghost, completely dumbfounded.

​The Fang Residence fell into utter silence!