Chapter 998: Zhang Xuan Invincible (Part 1)

"Elder Huang?"

Recognizing the figure who had spoken, Hall Master Ming hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

As a dignified deputy hall master and a七星 poison master, personally dealing with a guest of an elder would indeed invite accusations of bullying the weak. It was naturally best that Elder Huang was willing to act on his behalf.

This Elder Huang was no weaker than Xu You, with cultivation at the peak of Saint Realm Level 1 and understanding of poison at the peak of Six-Star. With such strength, teaching this fellow a lesson would be more than sufficient.

"You're called Sun Qiang, right? With so many of us here, you don't even open your eyes—truly arrogant! But arrogant people usually die quickly. I'll give you three breaths to kneel and apologize to Hall Master Ming, and you might still have a chance to live. Otherwise, don't blame me for being rude..."

With permission granted, Elder Huang stepped forward, squinting at the 'Sun Qiang' before him.

After three breaths, the other's eyes remained closed, as if dead.

"You refuse to appreciate the face I've given you. Let's see if your strength matches your arrogance!" Seeing that the other paid him no attention, making him feel like a clown talking to a mirror, Elder Huang grew furious. He opened his palm and suddenly grabbed forward.

Boom!

True energy shot out from his five fingers like scattered flowers, and countless poison powders instantly enveloped the middle-aged man before him.

Sizzle sizzle sizzle!

Before the poison powder even reached him, the flowers and grass in the courtyard visibly withered, turning black like charcoal.

"Is that... the Smile and Scatter Powder?"

An elder exclaimed in surprise.

The Smile and Scatter Powder was a drug specially developed by Elder Huang. A peak Saint Realm Level 1 expert would die within a smile after just one sniff—extremely deadly, notorious and feared among the elders.

"Indeed..."

Seeing someone recognize it, Elder Huang nodded proudly.

This powder was his greatest masterpiece. Since the other was so ungrateful, he would first poison him until he lost control of his own life and death!

Rustle!

In the midst of speaking, the powder fell all over 'Sun Qiang' before him, like a layer of frost.

"The Smile and Scatter Powder can penetrate the skin and enter the body; holding one's breath is useless. With so much on him, this guy is finished—beyond saving even by immortals..."

Seeing the scene, an elder couldn't help shaking his head.

Such a potent poison—even if one didn't breathe, just touching it from a distance would be lethal. Elder Huang had thrown so much and used true energy to drive it; the poison must have already seeped into the other's skin. He was surely dead.

"No, look..."

Just as they were lamenting, another elder suddenly frowned and pointed forward: "It seems... this guy doesn't feel anything..."

Hearing his words, everyone looked over in unison.

The fellow sitting cross-legged ahead remained on the ground, motionless, eyes tightly shut as if asleep, showing no reaction at all—exactly the same as before, as if Elder Huang's Smile and Scatter Powder had no effect.

"Normally, after being poisoned by Smile and Scatter Powder, one would convulse all over and laugh uncontrollably... This guy seems stiff, with no expression at all... Elder Huang, could your medicine have expired?"

Another elder couldn't help saying.

"This..."

Elder Huang blinked and quickly looked forward.

Although the other was motionless, as a Six-Star peak poison master, he could easily tell whether he was poisoned.

His skin was smooth and tender, as if it would break with a touch... Not only did he show no signs of poisoning, but he seemed to have taken some tonic, radiating vitality...

Damn... Could you at least show some sign of being poisoned? Even a little blush would do...

Otherwise, I'll be very embarrassed...

"No wonder this guy is so arrogant and insolent—he must have taken an antidote in advance..."

Growing angrier, Elder Huang gritted his teeth: "Since he's not afraid of poison, let's see if a mere Saint can withstand my狂暴 power!"

With that, he raised his eyebrows and punched directly at Zhang Xuan, who was sitting on the ground!

This fellow had taken some unknown antidote, rendering his strongest Smile and Scatter Powder useless. Continuing with poison would only bring humiliation; it was better to crush him with pure strength.

Let him know the price of arrogance!

Boom!

With the狂暴 unleashing of peak Saint Realm Level 1 power, the entire courtyard seemed to be swept by a gale. The bluestone pavement emitted cracking sounds, as if it could not bear the force and might collapse at any moment.

"This guy... still won't open his eyes?"

Seeing Elder Huang strike with his most powerful attack, the pressure of his true energy making even them breathe heavily... the 'Sun Qiang' in the direct line of fire still hadn't opened his eyes, nor did he even dodge, remaining motionless...

Wasn't this going too far?

Bang!

The狂暴 punch landed on the face of this 'Sun Qiang'.

Crack!

The sound of bones breaking was heard, and everyone then saw Elder Huang clutching his wrist, jumping up. The intense pain made his face twitch uncontrollably, as if he was about to cry.

"This..."

Everyone blinked, dumbfounded.

Elder Huang had struck with all his might, landing a solid blow on the other's face. The other's skin wasn't even broken, but his own wrist had been shattered by the recoil...

It can't be real, can it?

"Damn it, I want you dead..."

Seeing the expressions of the crowd, Elder Huang was so ashamed he wished he could die. With a long cry, he produced a longsword and thrust it straight at the fellow before him.

"Elder Huang, don't be rash..."

Seeing his move, everyone was startled.

Using poison—if an accident occurred, one could claim loss of control over the toxicity... But using a sword to kill was an outright intent to murder; once done, there was no turning back.

Swish!

However, it was too late to say anything now. Elder Huang struck out in fury, the sharp sword light slashing down at the fellow sitting on the ground. Just as it was about to land on his head, Sun Qiang, who had not opened his eyes all along, suddenly flipped his palm and pressed down fiercely.

Boom!

A thunderous muffled sound rang out, and then everyone saw Elder Huang's sword aura shatter inch by inch, followed by his head being slapped into his chest!

Thud!

The corpse fell stiffly to the ground.

"What?"

"Elder Huang was slapped to death?"

"That palm not only shattered his attack but also rebounded the force back... Is this guy really just a Saint Ascendant?"

...

Seeing Elder Huang dead on the ground, everyone's bodies stiffened.

This was an elder, a peak Saint Domain First Layer, on par with them in strength, yet... he was slapped to death by this guy...

How strong must his power be?

"It seems he hasn't moved at all, and his eyes still aren't open..."

A slightly trembling voice came from the crowd.

Only then did everyone recall the scene just now: this Sun Qiang, just like before, sat motionless on the ground, and most crucially... his eyes still weren't open!

In other words... he had killed Elder Huang with just a casual strike.

"This guy is eerie. Killing Elder Huang is a heinous crime. Let's all attack together and not let him escape..."

With a roar, the remaining nineteen elders shouted in unison, surrounding Zhang Xuan in a circle.

If earlier their attack could be seen as bullying the weak, making it hard to explain to Elder Xu, now that this guy had killed Elder Huang, he was beyond redemption, and no one could say anything.

"Right, let's attack together!"

"Let's see if he can withstand my Yan Wang Nai He San!"

...

Whoosh!

The nineteen elders struck simultaneously, and in an instant, various poisonous mists and venomous insects flew toward Zhang Xuan, landing densely on his body.

With so much poison, even a Saint Domain Second Layer initial expert might have fallen on the spot, poisoned to death, let alone a Saint Ascendant. But after using the poison, everyone strangely found... he remained motionless, as if unaware of the poison around him.

"This guy's antidote is powerful... Our poison has no effect. Let's stop using poison and just attack directly!"

Someone shouted, and the others nodded in agreement.

After applying so much poison, this guy wasn't injured at all, and his complexion hadn't even changed—that said enough.

It seemed the poison had no effect on him. In that case... they would resort to brute force!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

With shouts, the attacks of the nineteen elders all rushed toward the fellow in the middle.

Feeling the violent pressure around him, "Sun Qiang," who had been sitting on the ground, seemed to finally realize the threat to his survival. He stood up and, like a flash of lightning, darted into the crowd.

His movements were nothing like those of a Saint Ascendant; instead, he resembled a Saint Domain Second Layer expert, his speed as swift as lightning. Although his punches were straightforward, they seemed to embody the Dao, making them impossible to evade.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

With each punch, an elder was hit and sent flying, the fierce force surging through their bodies, impossible to withstand.

Not only were his punches powerful, but his legwork was also extraordinary. His kicks were like shadows and illusions, hard to defend against.

"He... he... still has his eyes closed!"

The more they fought, the more their hearts chilled. Nineteen peak Saint Domain First Layer elders besieging a Saint Ascendant, yet not only was he unharmed and growing stronger, but most crucially... his eyes were still closed!

It was as if he were sleepwalking, and all his attacks and movements... seemed to be instinctive reactions to battle!

Relying on instinct, he had rendered the combined efforts of the nineteen elders unable to counterattack...

Vice Hall Master Ming and the others felt they were going mad.

"Attack quickly, the elders can't hold on..."

One of the three vice hall masters could no longer restrain himself and shouted.

Earlier, they had held back due to their status, unwilling to act against a mere Saint Ascendant... Now they realized that if they didn't act, all nineteen elders might die on the spot like Elder Huang, so they could no longer hold back.

"Alright, let's attack together..."

Raising his eyebrows, Vice Hall Master Ming suddenly reached out his hand and grabbed forward.