THE HUNTER OF DARKNESS

Challenge

Fang An thought that facing the king directly would be better than wasting energy on the unending troops. If he could defeat the king, their morale would likely collapse.

But reality often defies hope. The genie soldiers seemed to anticipate his move. They blocked all paths, cutting off his access to the king.

“Damn it! If this keeps up, I’ll die for nothing!” Fang An channeled his remaining inner energy into the celestial blade. He had to cut down as many enemies as possible.

One thing was clear in his mind: if he must die, he would take as many genie lives with him as possible.

After unleashing an energy wave that killed dozens, Fang An raised his sword to the sky. A bright blue light shot upward, piercing the clouds. A loud explosion echoed in the heavens, followed by a thunderous roar.

Dark clouds gathered and quickly formed a heavy storm. Lightning flashed repeatedly from within the darkened skies.

The moment Fang An had been waiting for arrived. A massive lightning bolt struck the celestial blade. The young man strained to resist the force now surging through his weapon.

His veins bulged as he screamed with all his might.

“Sky-Rending Blade!”

An immense energy burst from the celestial sword, creating a shockwave that hurled hundreds of soldiers away.

The bodies of those struck turned black, as if burned. They convulsed on the ground before dying with their skin completely peeled.

Fang An’s breathing was labored. His wild eyes stared at the remaining soldiers. Fear was etched across their faces. Slaughtering hundreds in one strike proved this human was no mere mortal—he was the God of Death.

Fang An stabbed his sword into the ground for support. As he gathered the last remnants of his strength, he flashed an intimidating grin to mask his weakness.

If the soldiers knew he had no energy left, a single attack could finish him. But they were paralyzed by fear.

The Genie King could not deny Fang An’s terrifying power. But he also realized the youth was drained after his ultimate attack.

“Stand aside!” the king’s booming voice echoed.

The soldiers parted, forming a path for their ruler. The towering yet calm-faced king stepped through the fallen bodies until he stood before Fang An.

“If your soldiers hadn’t tried to capture or kill me, their deaths wouldn’t have happened,” Fang An said coldly.

“You talk too much. I will kill you myself!”

Fang An sneered. He slowly drew on the natural energies of the realm to replenish his strength. He needed more time.

“I don’t get you people. Do you only have courage in your own world? I’ve proven I’m not afraid to fight here. Do you dare to face me in mine?”

The King of the Genie stared intently at Fang An, examining him from head to toe. Of all the humans who had ever entered his kingdom, only this one had dared to trample his pride so blatantly.

"Why so silent? Do you lack the guts to fight in the human realm?" Fang An mocked. He continued to subtly draw the natural elements from around him, careful not to be too obvious, lest the King notice.

The King’s expression turned fierce as he sensed the human’s inner energy growing stronger. He noticed it only when a faint green glow slipped into Fang An’s body.

"You bastard! You tricked me!" roared the ruler of the Genie Kingdom on Mount Tianmen.

"I'll kill you now!" he bellowed.

The Genie King shot forward at lightning speed, launching an attack too swift for Fang An’s eyes to track.

Aaaargh!

Fang An was hurled back, crashing into dozens of soldiers and killing those crushed beneath his body instantly.

He struggled to his feet, his chest aching from the blow. Though he could still stand, pain surged through him.

The Genie King wasn’t bluffing. He struck again, sending Fang An tumbling across the ground. A small cough escaped Fang An’s lips, followed by a spurt of fresh blood.

The King advanced, but suddenly stopped. His brow furrowed deeply as he saw a red aura begin to emanate from the young man’s body—a powerful energy radiating from within.

"Who is he, really?" the King wondered.

Fang An rose again. His hair had grown, now reaching past his waist—not ordinary hair, but flames, learned from the Whip of Fire scroll.

He no longer cared about his life. He knew using an incomplete technique would drain all his inner energy, but there was no other choice. He had to unleash the Whip of Fire.

"Let’s fight!" Fang An’s voice was cold and flat. His pupils turned a fiery red, with sparks flickering every time he blinked.

The Genie King snarled. Suddenly, a weapon appeared in his hand—a trident-like spear with three sharp blades and an unusually long shaft.

"I accept your challenge, human!" he thundered.

A slight smirk curved Fang An’s lips as he grabbed his flaming hair, transforming it into a whip of fire that now crackled in his hand.

Hundreds of soldiers backed away from the battlefield. None wanted to become collateral damage in the clash of such powerful forces. They knew their bodies would be reduced to ash if struck by either of the sacred weapons about to clash.

The King of the Genie frowned. He suddenly sensed a massive energy—not from his opponent, but from someone else.

"Why is he here?" he muttered in confusion.