Soul-Slaying Maiden: Master Of Ancient Divine Weapons

"Eight Locks Fist?"

When Li Changhao attacked again, Han Zhan instinctively blurted out.

In the battlefield, Yi Fan only heard a buzzing sound.

Something had surpassed a certain speed, compressing the air into a sonic boom.

And then he saw Li Changhao appear in front of him.

'It's him!'

Li Changhao's face carried a slightly crazed smile. Fighting someone in close combat was his favorite thing to do.

"Brute."

"Thanks, that's a fitting description."

Li Changhao laughed loudly, his fist already swinging again.

This time, his fist was surrounded by a layer of white aura. In the first unlocked stage of the Eight Locks Fist, if his earlier attacks were like a speeding car, now his strength was akin to a speeding train.

Yi Fan fully activated his [Immortal] talent, the golden aura enveloping his entire body.

Li Changhao's fist smashed into his abdomen again, producing a crisp metallic clang.

"Hahaha, this feels amazing!"

Li Changhao's punches became faster and faster. Each punch landed on Yi Fan, causing the golden light on his body to ripple outward in waves. The ripples grew denser, like a downpour, and soon, the golden aura began to "peel off".

His speed and strength had increased more than tenfold.

'What is this white aura? A talent?'

Yi Fan defended himself while occasionally counterattacking, delivering heavy punches that landed on Li Changhao—but they seemed to have no effect.

Li Changhao didn't even pause.

Under the relentless tide of attacks, Yi Fan quickly fell into a disadvantage.

"Li Changhao is the first among the younger generation of the Li family to unlock the second stage of the Eight Locks Fist."

"Yi Fan can't match him. You..."

Li Lingzhen, who was focused on the battle, turned her head, only to find that Han Zhan had disappeared.

Yi Fan endured successive blows to his abdomen. Even with his [Immortal] talent, he was on the verge of having it shattered by this terrifying close-combat fighter.

'So this is the strength of the Li family?'

The only thought in Yi Fan's mind was this.

'Li Shutong, as the War God of Daxia, had made the Li family this powerful?'

Li Changhao became more and more excited as he fought, the white aura surrounding him growing thicker. He had never fought someone so durable before.

"Hahaha, as expected, fighting outside is more interesting. Compared to those useless ones in the family who collapse after one punch, you're much stronger."

"But that's all there is to it."

"The next punch will send you flying."

As Li Changhao spoke, he took a deep breath, moving closer and throwing an uppercut aimed at Yi Fan's chin.

But in the next second, his smile froze.

The uppercut he was so confident in was stopped—by another hand.

A young man about his age stood beside Yi Fan.

'When did he appear?'

Li Changhao was startled. He squinted his eyes, carefully observing his opponent.

"I recognize you. You're Han Zhan. That guy taken in as a disciple by the War God of our Li family."

"No, you don't deserve to be his disciple."

When Li Changhao said this, Han Zhan could clearly hear the jealousy in his tone.

"Whether I deserve it or not is not up to you."

"If you have a problem with it, you should take it up with your War God grandfather, not waste your breath here with me."

Han Zhan's words made Li Changhao choke on his frustration.

"What's your relationship with Li Lingzhen?" One of the background lackeys couldn't help but ask.

"What relationship?" Han Zhan heard the question and smirked slightly. "We're as close as Guan Zhong and Bao Shuya[1]."

'What does that mean?'

The two lackeys exchanged confused looks, but the sharp Li Changhao understood immediately, and his face turned pale.

"Impossible, absolutely impossible! Just you?"

"Yes, just me."

Looking at Han Zhan's smug expression, Li Changhao said nothing more. He directly unlocked the second stage of the Eight Locks Fist and charged forward.

Behind him, the white aura extended in a streak.

The air let out a low wail. Li Changhao wanted to end this in one punch and restore his and the Li family's honor.

"I've unlocked the second stage. With this punch, how much of a chance do you have to survive?"

"I think... ten out of ten."

On the other side, Han Zhan stood still, and suddenly, a white aura began to flow out from behind him as well.

But his white aura was even thicker and denser than Li Changhao's.

Li Changhao's white aura still had traces of thinness, while Han Zhan's had already completely enveloped his body, forming a finely crafted armor.

'This...'

Seeing this, Li Changhao was too stunned to speak.

But his punch was already in motion, and it was too late to pull back.

Before it landed, Han Zhan, moving even faster than him, turned into a blur, grabbed Li Changhao by the head, and slammed him into the ground.

As Han Zhan pinned him down, Li Changhao had only one thought in his mind:

'How could he have unlocked the third stage? He's only been a disciple for three months? Four months? How could he?'

The only response he got was the cold, hard ground against the back of his head and the endless darkness that followed.

Han Zhan, like a war god, raised his head and looked at the two remaining men.

"Now, tell me, you noble scions from the capital—why have you come to this little city of Deep Blue? Surely it wasn't just to pay a visit to a nobody like me."

Seeing Li Changhao pinned to the ground in a single move, motionless, the two lackeys couldn't help but swallow nervously.

"W-We came to deliver a letter to the War God."

———

"Second Uncle, this letter was entrusted to me by the family elders."

Standing behind Li Shutong was a middle-aged man who bore a strong resemblance to him.

"Second Uncle, you've been away from the Li family for many years. Now that the situation is ever-changing, the elders wish for you to return, to take charge of the family and lead us through these difficulties."

Li Shutong said nothing.

But under his gaze, the middle-aged man across from him was already shifting uneasily.

"Fengchun, how many stages of the Eight Locks Fist have you unlocked?"

"Three stages," the man replied honestly.

"Did I not teach the Eight Locks Fist to the Li family, down to the most detailed insights?"

"You did. And they were extremely thorough."

"In the past hundred years, how has the Li family fared in Jinghai, using my name?"

"The Li family has prospered greatly in Jinghai over the last hundred years, becoming the number one family in Daxia. No one dares to cross the War God, and everyone flocks to curry favor."

After asking his three questions, Li Shutong looked up at the man before him and said:

"I owe the Li family nothing. So why do those old folks want me back to take charge?"

"No family can prosper forever. If the younger generation doesn't work hard and relies solely on the shadow of their ancestors, how long can they last?"

"If the Li family is destined to fall, let it fall."

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[[1]: The metaphor "We are as close as Guan Zhong and Bao Shuya" refers to an ideal friendship characterized by deep trust, loyalty, and understanding, derived from the historical relationship between two ancient Chinese officials during the Spring and Autumn period. Bao Shuya's unwavering faith in Guan Zhong's character and abilities, even after Guan had served their rivals and once shot at Bao's ruler in battle, exemplifies true friendship that sees beyond surface circumstances. Bao's recommendation helped Guan become the successful prime minister of Qi, leading Guan to famously declare that while his parents gave him life, it was Bao Shuya who truly understood him. This metaphor continues to represent the pinnacle of friendship in Chinese culture.]