The weight in Chen Shanhe’s hands grew heavy, and his expression changed...

’...This Physique is a bit much, isn’t it?’

Qin Fang winced in pain, but he felt Chen Shanhe freeze for an instant behind him.

He seized on his opponent’s momentary pause, whipping his leg around in a scorpion kick aimed straight at his abdomen.

But a Huajin Martial Artist’s reflexes were too sharp.

The moment Qin Fang’s waist moved, Chen Shanhe had already reacted. With a flicker of his body, he dodged the kick.

Qin Fang hadn’t expected to land the blow anyway and suddenly dashed forward.

"You can’t escape!"

Chen Shanhe’s expression darkened. ’I even used my saber, and I still can’t do anything to him?’

’What kind of damn Physique is this? Could the Treasure Fish he ate really be that effective?’

’And... could he have had other fortuitous encounters?’

As the thoughts raced through his mind, his feet moved as if flying, relentlessly giving chase.

"Xile!"

Qin Fang roared.

When it came to a straight-out sprint, their speeds were about the same.

In truth, it wasn’t that Chen Shanhe was that much faster than Qin Fang...

Their speeds had always been comparable.

...A speed so fast that a normal person wouldn’t even have time to react after seeing the movement.

That was why anticipation was necessary.

One needed to use the state of ’Reflecting Oneself’ to predict the opponent’s next move in advance.

Only then could one react in time.

But when Qin Fang attacked, Chen Shanhe could predict it.

And when Chen Shanhe attacked, Qin Fang was completely unable to predict it...

In a duel between Huajin Powerhouses, this single disadvantage was instantly magnified countless times.

It was what allowed Chen Shanhe to completely suppress Qin Fang!

...That was the power of the Leaf Skill!

In terms of pure physical attributes, after this round of combat, Qin Fang could clearly feel it... whether it was Strength, speed, or Physique, he was significantly superior to Chen Shanhe.

But because of that one thing... he was being beaten like a punching bag!

It was so damn frustrating!

’It seems that unless I solve this problem of my techniques being read, even if I were several times stronger, I’d still just be led around by the nose!’

’...Without leaves, having only roots is like being a brute ox. You can’t use your full strength, you don’t know how to apply it, and you’ll be played to death by others...’

The words his master spoke when he first passed on the Cultivation Technique echoed in his mind at this moment.

’The value of Master’s words just keeps increasing!’

Frustrated to the extreme, Qin Fang sprinted away, putting some distance between them.

Chen Shanhe’s face was ashen. He had obviously noticed it too... ’If he wants to escape, I actually can’t catch him?’

’Because in terms of absolute speed... he seems to be just as fast as I am?’

Just then, a massive black shadow entered his vision. He whipped his head around to look.

He saw a huge figure on the mountaintop rapidly approaching.

He immediately realized... it was the man’s Exotic Species!

That Exotic Species was even faster!

If he let the man get on the Exotic Species, he would probably make a clean escape!

"You came to kill me, only to run away yourself?!"

Chen Shanhe jeered.

Qin Fang didn’t even turn his head, his body charging forward like a galloping steed as he ran like mad.

’...Such an obvious taunt. Does he think I’ll fall for it?’

He had also spotted Xile, who was cutting in from the front and to the side, about to meet him.

A light flashed in Chen Shanhe’s eyes like electricity. The next moment, he raised his long saber, aimed at Xile, and threw it in an instant!

The blade’s glint was like lightning as it shot straight for Xile’s head!

Qin Fang’s expression changed drastically.

"Xile, dodge!"

Chen Shanhe was indeed inferior to him in all aspects of power.

But...

He was still a bona fide Huajin Martial Artist!

No matter how big or strong Xile was, at best, it was on par with an Anjin Martial Artist.

It was even debatable whether it could win in a life-or-death battle.

Let alone facing a Huajin?!

Its speed was only fast because it was a dog, and Chen Shanhe was a man!

This was determined by their physical structures.

It didn’t mean Xile was stronger than Chen Shanhe or that it could exchange a few blows with him!

Qin Fang was frantic, but the saber flew much faster than he could run. He was powerless to stop it and could only watch with wide eyes as it hurtled toward Xile.

Just as Xile was about to be struck, its running form suddenly braced its four limbs and let out a howl.

Its speeding body actually came to a dead stop, as if nailed to the spot.

WHOOSH!

The long saber stabbed viciously into the ground in front of it... striking sparks against the mountain rock as it plunged straight in.

A testament to its terrifying Force!

But Qin Fang let out a long sigh of relief...

’It dodged!’

Chen Shanhe’s face fell.

Because after dodging that attack, Xile resumed its frantic sprint.

Chen Shanhe broke into a desperate run, trying to catch up to Qin Fang.

But exerting his strength to throw the long saber had slowed him down just a bit, and now he had no hope of catching up.

A short while later, Qin Fang leaped into the air and successfully landed on the back of Xile, who had come to meet him.

Xile’s speed exploded once more, and with a howl, it galloped farther and farther away.

Chen Shanhe suddenly shouted, "For the next three months, I’ll be in this valley! If you want to find the way of Breaking Through to the Divine Domain, then come kill me!"

Hearing this, Qin Fang, seated on Xile’s back, turned his head to look at Chen Shanhe.

Their gazes met in mid-air—one cold and severe, the other full of provocation...

’...As expected of a Huajin Powerhouse. Terrifyingly strong in every aspect.’

The deeper meaning hidden in Qin Fang’s last question ultimately hadn’t escaped Chen Shanhe.

...Chen Shanhe understood his true purpose for trying to kill him.

Qin Fang didn’t answer. After one last look at Chen Shanhe, he turned his head away.

Chen Shanhe watched as Xile’s massive yet incredibly agile form disappeared into the dark mountains in just a few bounds...

He stood there, silent for a long time.

"What a terrifying Physique..."

he murmured.

...

Back at the shelter, Qin Fang’s expression was grim.

He swirled his tongue around his mouth and spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva.

"I never thought Chen Shanhe would be that strong... After that whole fight, I couldn’t even scratch him..."

Qin Fang’s brows furrowed tightly.

’So, what should I do now?’

He fell into thought.