"Gu Sha?" Xue Wuqing, who was leading the group, shifted his gaze towards the two beside him, a murderous intent slowly rising.

"What's with Fatty Xue's stance? Does he want to fight us?" Vulture stood in front of Gu Sha, his eyes cold and sinister.

"Fire Cloud Sect's business, you'd better stay far away, or I'll deal with you too!" Xue Wuqing said coldly.

Although he didn't understand why Gu Sha and his companion were here, if they were tactless enough to interfere, he wouldn't mind taking them down as well.

Vulture's face darkened, his claws slightly curved, ready to make a move, but Gu Sha quickly stopped him.

"Fire Cloud Sect, such arrogance. We won't fight you today, farewell!"

With that, Gu Sha gave Huang Mao a meaningful look and drifted away.

"Lord Xiao, if you need help, just call, and I'll be there." A voice, infused with True Qi, reached Huang Mao's ears.

After the two left, they didn't go far but stopped nearby, taking out a surveillance array disk. The mirror on the disk displayed the area they had just left.

"Didn't expect Fire Cloud Sect to really show up. The young master planned this well!" Vulture's lips curled into a cold smile, as if everything was within expectations.

"Heh, these foolish disciples of Fire Cloud Sect dare to claim themselves as one of the four great sects. Today, we'll remove them from the list!"

"As for that third-grade alchemist named Xiao..." A sinister look flashed in Gu Sha's eyes, "Submit or die!"

This was Huang Mao's first time facing such a formidable force, with over twenty high-level Qi Condensing Realm cultivators, each no weaker than him. The oppressive aura made him break out in a cold sweat, almost suffocating.

But there was no fear in his eyes; he knew the boss would make them pay dearly.

The elders of Fire Cloud Sect descended in front of Huang Mao, forming a semi-circle formation, ready for battle. Xue Wuqing's icy eyes were fixed on Huang Mao, as if trying to see through him.

"Little thief, I know you have some tricks. I advise you to surrender, or I'll make you wish for death!" Xue Wuqing said harshly.

"Your nonsense is as plentiful as ever," Huang Mao sneered.

"Sharp-tongued! Once I capture you and take you back to Fire Cloud Sect, I'll cut out your tongue and see if you can still be so arrogant!" Xue Wuqing had long despised him, wishing to flay him alive, but recalling Huang Mao's previous tactics, he still felt uneasy.

"Yan Steward, go!" Xue Wuqing glanced at the man beside him.

"Yes!"

The man called Yan Steward drew a crimson longsword and leaped forward, charging at Huang Mao with a gust of scorching wind.

Yan Jing was the weakest among them, at the fifth level of the Qi Condensing Realm, yet still not someone a first-level could withstand. Normally, he could kill with a single strike.

Xue Wuqing sent him to test Huang Mao's methods.

That strange flame, he had seen it twice: once it turned the young master to ashes before his eyes, and another time it severely wounded the sect master’s soul.

But he hadn't been attacked by the flame, so he wanted to confirm whether the opponent could still use it.

"Huang Mao, I'll go modify the array. This weakling is yours to handle."

The appearance of the Hidden Poison Sect gave Xiao Long more ideas. Since they were going to reap, why not reap big? After all, fools with experience shouldn't go to waste.

Hearing Xiao Long's voice, Huang Mao showed no fear; instead, he seemed eager, grinning, "Just what I wanted!"

"Die!"@@novelbin@@

A chilling gleam burst from the sword's edge. Yan Jing's eyes were sharp, his body swift as the wind, thrusting straight at Huang Mao's neck.

"A mere first-level Qi Condensing Realm, watch me kill you in one move!" Yan Jing hadn't witnessed Huang Mao's methods firsthand and was disdainful. To him, true strength was king, and those tricks might fool others but not him.

"Perfect timing!"

Huang Mao's eyes were filled with excitement. He raised a black stick, no extra movements, simply swinging it forward.

"Courting death!" Seeing Huang Mao's action, the elders of Fire Cloud Sect wore mocking expressions. They thought Huang Mao would use some strange tactics, but he dared to clash head-on.

Xue Wuqing was also surprised. He dared to go head-to-head? A first-level against a fifth-level, wasn't that suicide?

To everyone, Huang Mao's swing seemed ordinary, but in Yan Jing's eyes, it was as if a mountain was bearing down on him!

"Clang!"

A deafening clash of iron rang out, sword and stick separated instantly. Yan Jing staggered back several steps, nearly dropping his sword, while Huang Mao was flung back, stopping over ten meters away.

"Haha! That was exhilarating!" Feeling the slight numbness in his arm, Huang Mao licked his lips, growing more excited.

Huang Mao had thought, without going berserk, he could at most match a third-level Qi Condensing Realm. But unexpectedly, he withstood a full-force strike from a fifth-level.

He glanced at the black stick in his hand.

Since obtaining the stick, Huang Mao felt his blood boiling, as if filled with endless strength. It was this feeling that allowed him to withstand a fifth-level strike.

To read the uncut version, go to ].

Unbeknownst to him, Yan Jing's heart was in turmoil.

A first-level Qi Condensing Realm had forced him back. Previously, not even a fourth-level could make him retreat a step.

This meant the masked man's strength was nearly equal to his.

A first-level clashing with a fifth-level wasn't just a simple challenge; it was surpassing half a realm!

"Bastard! Take my Tidal Sword Technique!" Yan Jing charged again, his sword dancing wildly, the sword light like ocean waves, continuous and unending, enveloping Huang Mao's vital points.

"Sigh, boring!"

Huang Mao shook his head, his bones crackling, his body growing several feet taller, reaching nearly five meters in an instant! This was his true height!

Then, everyone felt a terrifying aura rapidly rising. Huang Mao's power surged from a first-level Demon General to the peak of a third-level, entering berserk mode!

Xue Wuqing and the others were stunned. A third-level?

"Trash! Take my strike!" Huang Mao roared, swinging his stick fiercely at the incoming tidal sword light. With one strike, it seemed as if the heavens roared, the air exploding with crackling sounds.

Yan Jing was shocked!