Pierced By An Arrow! The Ancestor Of Wenjian Explodes!

"My friend, there's no offense intended towards the Sword Sect. What happened earlier might have been just a misunderstanding," said Ancestor Wenjian, raising his hands in a gesture of respect as he glanced at Luo Yi. "Please allow us safe passage through the canyon."

Ling Yunfeng, standing beside him, swallowed his pride and reluctantly lowered his head. Though frustrated, he knew that strength ruled this world. Across from them stood a Half-Emperor with over a dozen peak Martial Saints—far more powerful than he or his just-awakened ancestor. In such circumstances, it was wiser to submit.

"Misunderstanding?" Luo Yi sneered, his tone dripping with mockery.

In truth, Luo Yi didn't know the specifics of what had transpired earlier, nor did he recognize the two figures before him. But that didn't matter. There was no misunderstanding as far as he was concerned—if his Lord wanted them dead, they would die.

"Brothers, prepare to strike!" Luo Yi ordered, paying no heed to Ancestor Wenjian's plea.

"Understood!" came the thunderous response from the seventeen Yanyun Eighteen Riders behind him, their bodies brimming with a ferocious fighting spirit as they moved forward.

Ancestor Wenjian's expression darkened as he felt the sheer force of their aura. Shocked by their disregard, he clenched his trembling hands. Despite being a Half-Emperor, his confidence wavered.

"Don't push us too far! I'm not someone to be trifled with!" Ancestor Wenjian forced a smile, though it lacked conviction.

Luo Yi snorted in disdain, his silver spear gleaming in his hand. "Enough talk. Let's settle this with our strength!"

Ancestor Wenjian's face grew even grimmer. He hadn't expected Luo Yi to be so decisive, leaving no room for negotiation. As his eyes wavered, only he knew the desperation he felt.

Having lived for over 8,000 years, his lifespan was nearly at its end. After over three centuries in seclusion, his vitality had declined drastically. Even though he had reached the Half-Emperor stage, his strength hadn't yet fully recovered—it needed time. But the Half-Emperor before him was in his prime, with vitality as strong as a dragon and strength at its peak.

The difference was too great.

"In that case..." Ancestor Wenjian thought, a sudden decision forming in his mind. Without another word, he turned and fled, vanishing in an instant, leaving Ling Yunfeng behind in utter confusion.

"Ancestor... just ran away? Without even a fight?" Ling Yunfeng stood there, stunned and disoriented. At the very least, he could have given me a heads-up!

"Run? Do you think you can escape?" Luo Yi said calmly, a smirk playing on his lips as he watched the distant figure grow smaller.

With a swift motion, a large purple-gold bow appeared in Luo Yi's hand. The bow, glowing faintly with treasure light, exuded a lethal aura that could chill anyone to the bone. It had accompanied Luo Yi through countless battles, and by now, it had become a top-tier spiritual treasure of immense power.

With the bow in hand, Luo Yi's eyes sharpened. Though his martial arts were formidable, his archery skills were even more terrifying. He drew an arrow from behind, bent the bow into a full moon, and released.

Whoosh!

The arrow shot through the air.

Far ahead, Ancestor Wenjian, still fleeing, suddenly felt a chilling presence behind him before he could even catch his breath. The sharpness of it stung his skin.

"Not good!" Ancestor Wenjian's heart raced as a sense of imminent danger overwhelmed him. He tried to dodge, but Luo Yi's arrow was too fast.

Thud!

The arrow pierced through his chest, leaving a gaping, bowl-sized wound. But that wasn't the end.

"Explode!" Luo Yi shouted coldly.

Boom!

The arrow embedded in Ancestor Wenjian's chest detonated, creating a mushroom cloud in the sky. The explosion flung him into a cliffside, leaving his broken body embedded in the rock. The two successive blows had severely injured him, leaving him on the brink of death.

"You're much weaker than I expected," Luo Yi remarked, standing before the gravely injured Ancestor Wenjian.

"How... how are you this strong? We're both Half-Emperors..." Ancestor Wenjian stammered in disbelief. He never imagined he could be defeated so easily. Both were Half-Emperors, yet he couldn't withstand a single attack. One arrow had nearly killed him. The repeated blows shattered the pride he had held for so long.

With his hopes of becoming an Emperor dashed and his strength obliterated, Ancestor Wenjian's mentality broke completely. If things were already this bad, why not take it all down with him?

"Curse you all!" Ancestor Wenjian spat blood, his face twisted in madness. "Do you really want to push me this far? If you're going to kill me, I won't make it easy for you!"

Luo Yi remained calm. "A defeated man dares to speak so boldly? But if you die by my hands, you can rest in peace."

Luo Yi's words struck at the core of Ancestor Wenjian's shattered pride. He had crushed his peers to reach the Half-Emperor stage, yet now he was humiliated beyond endurance. Knowing he couldn't escape, anger flared in his eyes.

"Hahaha!" Ancestor Wenjian laughed maniacally. "You're strong, I admit it! But if I use this technique... how will you deal with it?"

At that moment, Luo Yi's expression changed. He sensed a surge of destructive energy building within Ancestor Wenjian.

"You madman! You're going to self-destruct!" Luo Yi exclaimed, fury flashing in his eyes.

The power of a Half-Emperor's self-destruction was terrifying beyond measure, capable of annihilating everything within its radius. The devastation would be immense.

"Everyone retreat! He's going to take us all down with him!" Luo Yi shouted, turning to run back toward his Lord. He couldn't let his Lord be harmed, no matter what.