Chapter 46: This old man's life is tougher than yours!

Wan Hong… dead?

That Helmsman of the Wan Family, at Body Refining Ninth Layer Peak, who treated Luo Bay County like his own backyard, who moments ago had been so imposing and nearly wiped out the Wang Family entirely—just like that… had his head stomped to a pulp?

Everyone was stunned.

The remaining four Wan Family experts, including that Body Refining Eighth Layer Offering, all had ashen faces, mouths gaping wide enough to fit a fist, their bodies trembling uncontrollably as if they'd seen a ghost.

Their pillar of strength, their greatest reliance, the nearly invincible Hong Ye in their eyes… gone?

How could that be?!

This old bastard… this old farmer of the Wang Family, what right did he have?!

On a distant treetop, Chen Tianfeng nearly stumbled and fell. He blinked hard, rubbed his eyes, but the bloody scene before him remained crystal clear.

Not an illusion!

Wan Hong had really been killed in a counterattack!

Killed by an old man who had just broken through to Body Refining Eighth Layer and was severely wounded, using a nearly brutal method to exhaust him to death!

This… what the hell! Could the script really play out like this?

The Wang Family's trump cards were each more outrageous than the last! First that strange Array, then the golden Talisman that countered evil arts, and now this old man's suicidal fighting style…

This wasn't a surprise anymore—it was a shock! It felt as absurd as Jia Baoyu warming wine to slay Hua Xiong! No, even more ridiculous than that!

The surviving Wang Family members, including the blood-soaked Wang Zhitao, stood frozen in place.

One moment it was hell, the next… the greatest enemy was a headless corpse?

The reversal came too fast, too violent, leaving their nearly overloaded minds unable to process the sheer volume of information.

Only Wang Shan.

That old man, standing on Wan Hong's corpse, his body shaking violently as if it might fall apart at any moment, had no trace of confusion in his eyes.

Only bone-chilling killing intent and a near-collapse exhaustion.

He gasped for breath, each inhale and exhale pulling at the sharp pain in his chest and arms, his lungs burning as if on fire.

His arms hung limply, the stabbing pain of broken bones nearly making him faint, and his internal organs felt as if countless steel needles were churning inside them, every heartbeat bringing a tearing agony.

The Spiritual Power within him had long since been drained to the last drop, completely exhausted.

Only by relying on the tough physique tempered by the Duant Body Art and an unyielding will did he barely manage to stay standing.

The price was too great.

To kill Wan Hong, he had staked almost everything he had.

Injuries, Spiritual Power, trump cards… he had even burned a sliver of his newly stabilized Body Refining Eighth Layer origin.

But it was worth it!

Looking at Wan Hong's corpse beneath his feet, its eyes still wide open in death, Wang Shan's eyes blazed with fierce flames.

Flames of vengeance!

Flames of victory!

Zhitao… and the clansmen who died… do you see?

Father (Grandfather) has avenged you!

This battle had never been a simple matter of overwhelming strength from the start.

Wan Hong was strong, at Body Refining Ninth Layer Peak, a top-tier existence in Luo Bay County and even the surrounding areas.

But he was too arrogant, too conceited!

He thought he had the Wang Family cornered, never expecting that the Wang Family had a system, enhanced Arrays, various Talismans, and even that Righteous Qi Talisman specifically designed to counter his evil arts!

Information gap! That damned information gap!

More importantly, he, Wang Shan, was not afraid to die!

From the moment he decided to make a last stand at the Wang Family, he never expected to survive intact!

Trading wounds for a life? This old man can play that game!

You, Wan Hong, are precious and fear death; this old man has a worthless life—the barefoot aren't afraid of the shod!

The facts proved that his, Wang Shan's, life was tougher than that old dog Wan Hong's!

Didn't you want to wipe out my Wang Family?

Come on!

Now, it's this old man's turn!

His icy gaze slowly swept over the four Wan Family experts who had completely lost their nerve.

Killing intent, like tangible frost, instantly froze the air.

"Gulp."

Someone swallowed hard, breaking the suffocating silence.

Wan Hong's death was like an invisible heavy hammer, smashing their last psychological defense to pieces.

Even Hong Ye, at Body Refining Ninth Layer Peak, had been ground down to death by this old man's desperate fight—what the hell were they supposed to do?!

Fear! Boundless fear flooded over them like a tidal wave!

They looked at that old man standing on Wan Hong's corpse, drenched in blood, his aura weak yet his killing intent soaring to the heavens, and felt as if he were a demon crawling out of the Nine Nether Hell!

"Run!"

"Get out of here!!"

That Body Refining Eighth Layer Wan Family Offering reacted first, letting out a shrill scream, and without a second thought, turned and shot toward the courtyard wall like a black shadow, fleeing for his life!

With the master dead, why stay here to die?

His move was like lighting a fuse.

The other three Body Refining Seventh Layer experts snapped out of their daze, their faces drained of color, and with strange cries scattered in all directions, wishing they had two more legs!

This Wang Family Courtyard, now for them, is a dragon‑pool tiger‑den, a Shura Hell! Staying even one more second could make them follow Wan Hong's footsteps!

"Want to escape?"

A flash of cold light flickered in Wang Shan's eyes, and a hoarse low growl issued from his throat.

"Dream on!"

"Stay where you are!!!"

Cut the grass but not the roots; the spring wind makes it grow again!

If we let these few escape, when they return to report, the Wan Family's greater power will descend, and then the Wang Family will truly be beyond redemption!

Today, these remaining scum of the Wan Family must die! Not a single one can be spared!

He forced a breath, suppressed the blood‑soaked churn in his throat, and prepared to give chase.

"Kill! Avenge the dead clan members!"

At that moment, the Wang Family youths, who had been passively beaten and suffered heavy casualties, finally snapped out of their shock!

The Family Head slew Wan Hong!

The greatest enemy is dead!

Suppressed despair instantly gave way to ecstatic joy and vengeful fury!

Morale, at this moment, surged to its peak!

"Father!"

Wang Zhize's eyes burned red as he stared at his father's staggering figure, then glanced at the cold corpse of his brother Zhitao on the ground, a mix of sorrow and fury!

He let out a roar, disregarding his wounds, and was the first to brandish a blade, lunging fiercely at the nearest Body Refining Seventh Layer Wan Family master!

"Kill all these Wan Family mongrel dogs!"

"Avenge Third Elder!"

"Avenge our brothers!"

The remaining dozen or so Wang Family youths, though all wounded—some even missing arms or legs—now seemed as if injected with adrenaline, howling, they fearlessly charged at the other two fleeing Body Refining Seventh Layer masters!

They are few and of low cultivation, yet they fear no death!

They will stake their lives to keep these invaders forever on this blood‑stained land!

Seeing his clan's fighting spirit reignite, Wang Shan felt a slight calm.

But he knew that these youths alone could not stop that Body Refining Eighth Layer!

He must quickly restore some combat power!

A thought flickered, and a faint glow shimmered in the system's storage.

A few round, faintly fragrant Return Spring Pills materialized in his hand.

These are Healing Pills he had crafted in his spare time; though low grade, they are abundant!

Without caring about the pain, Wang Shan greedily popped three or four Return Spring Pills into his mouth like candy!

The pills dissolved instantly, turning into gentle warm currents that surged into his dried Meridians and damaged internal organs.

The intense pain eased a bit, and his depleted dantian again felt a faint trickle of Spiritual Power.

Though merely a drop in the bucket, it at least gave him the strength to act again!

Enough!

Wang Shan gritted his teeth against the searing pain in his arms, stamped his foot hard, and his form darted out like a phantom!

His target was the fastest escaping Body Refining Eighth Layer Offering!

"Stop him!"

Wang Shan roared hoarsely.

Wang Zhize was at this moment grappling with a Body Refining Seventh Layer Late Stage master, and upon hearing his father's command and spotting the Body Refining Eighth Layer Offering about to flee the courtyard wall, his heart burned with urgency!

He clenched his teeth hard, took a palm strike from his opponent, spurted a mouthful of blood, used the force to fling himself backward, and simultaneously drew a Talisman from his coat!

It was the Sharp Gold Talisman Wang Shan had given him earlier!

"Apply!"

Wang Zhize shouted sharply, activated the Talisman, and a golden aura a few inches long shot like lightning toward the Body Refining Eighth Layer Offering's rear heart!

The Body Refining Eighth Layer Offering was intent on escaping, yet constantly vigilant behind, felt the sharp gust strike, and was terrified to the point of soul fleeing the body!

He flailed like a lazy donkey, clumsily dodging the lethal strike, but his speed inevitably slowed.

Now!

Wang Shan's figure had already appeared like a phantom before him, blocking his path!

"Want to leave? Did you ask this old man?" Wang Shan's voice was icy, laced with unabashed murderous intent.

The Body Refining Eighth Layer Offering stared at the blood‑soaked, oddly dangling‑armed old man before him, exuding a terrifying aura, and his heart suddenly clenched!

Fear! Fear emanating from the depths of his soul!

Even Uncle Hong was killed by him, and I...

"Wang Shan! Don't push me too far! Let me go, I can treat today's incident as if it never happened! Otherwise, the Wan Family will never spare you!" The Offering shouted with a fierce yet cowardly tone, attempting to threaten.

"Heh..." Wang Shan seemed to hear a cosmic joke, a grim smile curling his lips, "Wan Family? This old man has already slain Wan Hong; do you think I care about you as well?"

"Enough talk! Give me your life!"

Before the words finished, Wang Shan had already moved!

He forcibly summoned the faint Spiritual Power just restored within, and again condensed the Pishan Palm!

This time's palm imprint was even more ethereal than when he killed Wan Hong, almost invisible, yet the resolute killing intent it contained was unchanged!

At the same time, Wang Zhize lunged from the side, his long blade whistling with wind, slashing at the Offering's waist and ribs!

Father and son, united!

The Body Refining Eightfold Offering realized that today there was no longer any luck, and a flash of frantic desperation crossed its eyes!

"Since you won't let me live! Then let's die together!!"

He let out a beast‑like roar, neither dodging nor evading, abandoning all defense, pouring every remaining Spiritual Power in his body into his fists, forming a dense black light that slammed fiercely toward Wang Shan's face!

A death‑blow counterattack! Mutual annihilation!

He aimed at the moment when Wang Shan's arms were useless and his Spiritual Power depleted, the weakest instant!

With this strike, he was confident he could grievously wound Wang Shan, even kill him outright!

But would Wang Shan fear this?

Exchange injury for life? I am the Patriarch!

Facing this ferocious blow, Wang Shan did not retreat but advanced!

He didn't even make a blocking motion!

Because he knew he simply couldn't block it!

What he needed to do was use his own body to hard‑resist the blow! Then, with his final attack, trade his life for the opponent's!

Ruthless!

Ruthless to himself! Even more ruthless to the enemy!

"Poof!"

That fist, which had gathered all the dying strength of the Body Refining Eightfold master, hammered solidly onto Wang Shan's chest!

"Crack!"

The already injured sternum cracked again!

Wang Shan was struck as if by lightning, his body jolted violently, a spray of fresh blood erupted, and he was flung backward!

Yet a ferocious grin appeared on his face!

While hard‑resisting the opponent's attack, his illusory Pishan Palm finally imprinted on the foe's chest!

At the same time!

"Pop!"

The Sharp Gold Talisman in Wang Zhize's hand seized the split‑second opening; a flash of golden light pierced the Offering's throat with pinpoint precision!

"Uhh…"

The frenzy on the Body Refining Eightfold Offering's face instantly froze, replaced by endless astonishment and resentment.

He lowered his head to glance at his collapsing chest, then touched the bleeding hole in his neck, and finally stared in disbelief at the flung Wang Shan.

This undying old man… how… so… ruthless…

Vitality swiftly drained from his eyes.

"Boom!"

His body crashed heavily to the ground, silent thereafter.

Another Body Refining Eightfold falls!

"Dad!" Wang Zhize, seeing this, rushed toward the fallen Wang Shan, his voice trembling with tears.

"Cough… cough cough…" Wang Shan struggled to rise, aggravating his wounds, coughing up frothy blood, "I… I'm fine…"

He glanced toward the other battlefields.

The three Body Refining Seventh‑rank Wan Family masters were now tightly entangled by the fearless Wang Family youths.

Although Wang Family youths kept falling, the remaining ones fought like maddened demons, biting, ramming with their bodies, sacrificing lives, stubbornly halting the enemies' retreat!

"Not a single one… let none escape!" Wang Shan gritted his teeth, his hoarse voice issuing an undeniable command.

"Yes!" Wang Zhize wiped away his tears, picked up the knife on the ground, and lunged again at the nearest enemy.

The battle still raged on.

But the scales of victory had already tipped completely toward the Wang Family.

The rest was only a matter of time.