Fang Shuwen’s words weren’t just an arrogant boast.

Actually, he was an extremely cautious person.

He said it mainly because he was worried that after killing four of them, he would scare Feng Mantian and his group into retreating.

Rather than leave a lingering threat, he’d rather go for broke.

He would enrage the remaining three and finish them all off right here in Zhuji Pavilion.

That way, he could completely resolve the danger to Zhou Qingmei.

It was unclear whether Fang Shuwen’s words had worked or if the remaining three were truly confident in their plan.

Feng Mantian roared in anger:

"Good, good, good! Today, either you die or I do!!"

He abruptly channeled the Black Death Demon Technique, and black qi billowed from his body. With a push of his feet, his form became like a dark cloud, pouncing directly at Fang Shuwen.

Guan Tianyue charged alongside him.

The two charged at him, one from the front and one from the back. But just as their fists and palms were about to land on Fang Shuwen, their feet suddenly pivoted. They split to his left and right and began to circle him.

Fang Shuwen raised an eyebrow and stood his ground.

He just watched the two figures, shrouded in black qi, as they spun ceaselessly. They feinted attacks, threatening to strike but never committing, as if to provoke him.

Honestly, it was a ridiculous sight.

Zuo Qingshuang burst out cursing:

"Feng Mantian, have you no shame?

"You call yourself a renowned master of the Jianghu, yet you’re not only ganging up on a junior, you’re also using these shameless tactics because you don’t dare to fight him head-on.

"If that’s all the courage you have, you might as well go home and have babies!!"

Xu Chongshan coughed.

"Qingshuang... you’re a young woman, after all. You should be more careful with your words."

"To hell with being careful! Who bullies people like this?"

Zuo Qingshuang was enraged. Even her Senior Brother, with whom she had been willing to face life and death just moments ago, now looked utterly detestable to her.

Xu Chongshan was speechless...

’In his heart, he knew the Black Death Sect was a Demon Sect.’

’But to say *they* were the ones doing the bullying... that was a bit of a stretch.’

Qing Yangzi, the Ghost Scholar, Li Nanchen, and Monk Jile had all died at Fang Shuwen’s hands, one after another.

It had forced these veteran demons from the Black Death Sect to abandon all dignity and resort to these tactics of feints and bluffs, all to distract Fang Shuwen.

If they hadn’t been backed into a corner, would they really have stooped so low?

The Black Death Sect used to be known throughout the Jianghu for their cruelty. After word of today’s events spread, they would be known for their shamelessness instead.

Of course, this was just an assessment of the power dynamics; Xu Chongshan held no ill will toward Fang Shuwen.

In fact, he was incredibly grateful that at this critical moment for Zhuji Pavilion, a young man like this had appeared out of nowhere to pull the pavilion back from the brink of collapse.

He couldn’t help but worry that Fang Shuwen, being so young and inexperienced, would fall for the Black Death Sect’s shameless tactics.

He knew that, in a situation like this, shouting curses like Qingshuang was useless.

It was better to stay silent and not distract Fang Shuwen.

But just then, a flicker of shadow in the corner of his eye made his heart lurch.

"This is bad!!

"Young man, watch out!!!"

Four of the people who had come to Zhuji Pavilion today were already dead.

The only ones left were Feng Mantian, Guan Tianyue, and the mysterious man in black who had never shown his face.

In everyone’s eyes, Feng Mantian was the leader of the group.

After all, he was the Sect Leader of the Black Death Sect.

So when he and Guan Tianyue used a tactic that could only be described as shameless against a junior, no one could have imagined that they were merely a decoy.

The shadow Xu Chongshan caught a glimpse of was none other than the man in black who had stayed hidden the entire time.

This person’s Body Technique was far faster than Feng Mantian’s.

He waited until Fang Shuwen’s attention was fixed on Feng Mantian and Guan Tianyue, and then he finally struck.

In the blink of an eye, he had slipped through the gap between Feng Mantian and Guan Tianyue and was right beside Fang Shuwen.

By the time Xu Chongshan’s warning shout came, it was already too late.

The man’s movements were too fast, and his Martial Arts were exceptionally vicious.

Without creating the slightest gust of wind, a single finger was already aimed at the vital point of Fang Shuwen’s Qi Sea.

If his Qi Sea were pierced by that finger, then even with his unparalleled Divine Technique, Fang Shuwen would undoubtedly suffer a devastating blow.

The tables would turn once more... Zhuji Pavilion, which Fang Shuwen had just pulled back from the brink, would again be plunged into a state beyond salvation.

But the attack was too fast, too stealthy. Even if Fang Shuwen heard Xu Chongshan’s warning and reacted instantly, it would have been too late!

Despair filled Xu Chongshan’s heart, but at the same time, he resolved to fight to the death.

He absolutely could not let a young man like Fang Shuwen die a horrible death in Zhuji Pavilion.

The Life-Ending Powder might make circulating his energy a fate worse than death... but it didn’t make it completely impossible to use his techniques.

Just like before, he would give it his all. Even if it meant his own death, he had to fight for a glimmer of hope for Fang Shuwen, Zhou Qingmei, and Lu Xiaoqing.

All of these thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant.

Yet in the next moment... Xu Chongshan’s eyes suddenly widened.

A hand, without any warning—or rather, before anyone even noticed—was already in position.

Just as the finger was about to strike Fang Shuwen’s Qi Sea, that hand suddenly clamped down on it.

"Gotcha."

A smile played on Fang Shuwen’s lips, the joyous glint in his eyes undiminished.

Xu Chongshan was injured, after all. His body was not at its peak, and his observational skills were nowhere near what they once were...

In truth, much earlier—back when his Vajra Tower Throwing had missed and Feng Mantian was rescued by the black-robed man—Fang Shuwen already knew that this person’s Lightweight Technique was exceptional.

His speed was simply incomparable to Fang Shuwen’s own.

So, when Feng Mantian and Guan Tianyue began their little game of circling without attacking, he only appeared to focus all his attention on them.

In reality, most of his concentration was on the hidden man.

The Great Perfection of the Muscle Strengthening Scripture had drastically elevated Fang Shuwen’s Martial Arts foundation, as well as his perception and skills.

The man was fast, but not so fast that he could escape Fang Shuwen’s sight.

If it was just a contest of Lightweight Technique, he couldn’t catch the man... but that didn’t mean he couldn’t *beat* him!

He was prepared, while his opponent was not. The catch was a sure thing!

The black-robed man’s heart dropped. He was a ruthless person himself; he had seen Fang Shuwen attack several times, and each strike had been a decisive, fatal blow.

So, without a shred of wishful thinking, he prepared to shatter his own finger to break free.

But would Fang Shuwen give him the chance?

Would he let his prey, already in his grasp, escape?

Without warning, a surge of True Qi shot up from the man’s finger and through his meridians...

POP POP POP! POP POP POP! The sound of his acupoints and meridians being shattered by the True Qi echoed in rapid succession.

The black-robed man shuddered violently. A sharp pressure seized his mind, and then Fang Shuwen’s hand was upon him. Fang Shuwen hoisted him up, swung him around, and shouted:

"Are you two done spinning around?"