To the west of the highway entrance in Jinling District, there's a not-so-wide river called the Flowing Sand River.

Don't get it wrong, this isn't the hometown of the Sha Monk. It's called the Flowing Sand River because originally, the people here relied on this river to sift sand for a living. However, as Bird City gradually rose and expanded, the sand and stone in the river became less and less. Eventually, the relevant authorities banned sand collection, leading to the once-busy banks of the Flowing Sand River growing increasingly desolate.

Ye Xiao was standing by the river, watching the flowing water. The water's color was somewhat dark, a clear sign of the current overdevelopment of industry. The rapid development of humanity inevitably caused rapid pollution to nature.

Ye Xiao didn't really mind the pollution of nature because, for him, having so much of a protective instinct was unnecessary. He only needed to protect the girls he cared for, and that was enough.

However, today, he felt somewhat shaken.

Not that his resolve to protect the girls wavered, but he couldn't determine whether he'd be able to protect them well in the future.

Ye Xiao's phone rang again and again. Initially, he answered; it was Jiang Miaoke calling. But afterward, Xia Mingyue and Fang Jing also called him.

It turned out Jiang Miaoke had told them that Ye Xiao got into a fight.

Ye Xiao consoled the three of them gently, but they seemed unwilling to take heed of his words and insisted on coming over. So, Ye Xiao didn't say where he was, and when the phone kept ringing, he didn't answer.

"Ye Xiao!"

Who knows how long had passed when suddenly, a vigorous voice came from behind Ye Xiao. The voice was loud as if it wanted to resonate through heaven and earth.

Ye Xiao didn't turn around but continued to stand by the river, gazing at the already-polluted stream, lost in thought.

He's here!

This person was naturally the one Ye Xiao had been waiting for, someone with great influence in Bird City, Zhao Guangyi.

The Zhao family had been rising in Bird City for many years. By the time Zhao Guangyi was born, the Zhao family was already a Martial Artist family in Bird City, and in the Martial Arts World of Bird City, it could be regarded as a prominent clan.

Zhao Guangyi looked at the frail young man standing by the river not far away.

He didn't know Ye Xiao nor had he seen him. Upon arrival, apart from the corpses of the Divine Snake Eight Demons, there was just the young man standing by the river.

When Zhao Guangyi came over, he indeed saw the corpses of the Divine Snake Eight Demons and was extremely shocked because each of their lethal blows seemed as if they'd been struck by a thousand pounds of steel. It was truly terrifying. Such power couldn't possibly have been dealt by an ordinary person.

"Are you Ye Xiao?" Zhao Guangyi continued in a cold, stern voice.

Only then did Ye Xiao slowly move his body but still didn't turn around. He spoke slowly, "I suppose, senior, you must be Mr. Zhao."

When Ye Xiao's voice reached, Zhao Guangyi understood; this person must be Ye Xiao.

"You really dare to wait here." Zhao Guangyi glared fiercely at Ye Xiao.

Ye Xiao flung a stone he'd picked up at some point into the river, instantly making ten or more skims rush across the surface. The casual manner of it was as if Ye Xiao was not preparing for a great confrontation but rather as if nothing had happened.

Ye Xiao's actions also surprised Zhao Guangyi. His two grandsons, though not extraordinarily outstanding among aristocratic descendants, weren't inferior to others. Yet Ye Xiao's courage was something his two grandsons couldn't possibly match.

Nonetheless, although somewhat admiring, Zhao Guangyi understood his purpose for coming and said, "I want to know where Zhao Yang is right now."

"Zhao Yang? Haha, yes, speaking of which, he's your grandson too." Ye Xiao chuckled softly, then slowly turned his gaze toward Zhao Guangyi, who was about ten meters away, and continued, "But, I'm not familiar with him; how could I possibly know where he is? Haha, Mr. Zhao, you've asked the wrong person."

"Seems like you won't shed a tear until you see the coffin." Zhao Guangyi saw the relaxed expression on Ye Xiao's face, and it made him feel even more vexed.

Ye Xiao's nonchalance was perceived by Zhao Guangyi as blatant contempt, a kind of disdain directed at him, Zhao Guangyi.

Ye Xiao said, "I wouldn't dare. I know very well that I may not be a match for you, senior. However, since you keep causing me trouble, I just want to say, I do have a temper."

"Haha, what a temper." Zhao Guangyi was so incensed that he laughed, then loudly declared, "Today, I'll make you pay for that temper."

As soon as Zhao Guangyi finished speaking, his entire form transformed into a shadow, swiftly leaping toward Ye Xiao.

Ye Xiao saw it clearly, and at the same time, was secretly taken aback. Just as expected, Zhao Guangyi's strength was indeed at the Earth Rank.

Without entering the Mad God State, Ye Xiao's power was merely at the Peak of Xuan Rank.

A Peak of Xuan Rank and an Earth Rank expert; such a disparity in strength was significant.

When Zhao Guangyi darted to Ye Xiao like lightning, he switched his hand to a palm technique, fiercely striking at Ye Xiao's forehead.

This time, Zhao Guangyi came with just one goal—to kill Ye Xiao.

Regardless of whether Zhao Yang is dead, Ye Xiao must die.

Ye Xiao did not dare to be careless. Are you kidding me? This is an Earth Rank master—a Peak Xuan Rank Martial Artist going head-to-head with an Earth Rank master could be obliterated in an instant.

Ye Xiao isn't a fool; on the contrary, this guy is quite clever. His feet started moving erratically; the Fu family's Wind Shadow Steps always have unimaginable uses when Ye Xiao is in trouble. Particularly when Ye Xiao practiced the fifth layer of Nine Yang Divine Skill, Panlong as Yue, various martial arts skills have been greatly enhanced, even the Wind Shadow Steps have been strengthened.

Ye Xiao narrowly dodged Zhao Guangyi's fierce palm technique, his body leaping backward over twenty meters up the riverbank.

However, although Ye Xiao's speed was fast, Zhao Guangyi's speed was even faster. When Ye Xiao narrowly evaded his palm technique and bolted away, Zhao Guangyi truly followed as closely as a shadow.

Just as Ye Xiao stabilized himself, Zhao Guangyi arrived before him once again, striking him with another palm.

While evading, Ye Xiao quickly activated the Fire Dragon Claw.

The Fire Dragon Claw is Ye Xiao's ace among martial arts skills; generally, Ye Xiao does not use the Fire Dragon Claw, but at this moment, Ye Xiao understood that continuing to conceal his strength would be courting death!

'Bang!'

'Bang!'

'Bang!'

Sounds of explosions continuously erupted between Ye Xiao and Zhao Guangyi.

Whether it was Ye Xiao or Zhao Guangyi, the speed of these two was absolutely shockingly fast; not to mention the ordinary people several hundred meters away, even those standing nearby only felt bursts of muffled sounds, unable to see anything.

Because they were indeed too fast, so fast that the reaction speed of an ordinary person's eyes could not capture it.

Boom!

With a loud crash, Zhao Guangyi slowly landed, but Ye Xiao was like a kite with broken strings, directly knocked over ten meters away, colliding with the ground, and then skidding for another seven or eight meters.

Only then did Ye Xiao raise his head, his face cold, exhaling a mouthful of turbid air.

"Peak Xuan Rank, who would've thought that someone so young could reach such heights? It's just a pity; what difference is there between Peak Xuan Rank and Early Xuan Rank? No matter what kind of peerless talent you are, today you are destined to die at my hands," Zhao Guangyi laughed heartily.

No matter how hard a child tries, it's difficult to defeat an adult, because a child is ultimately still a child, just as Ye Xiao challenged those Divine Snake Eight Demons before; the Divine Snake Eight Demons are akin to eight children.

But at this moment, Ye Xiao? Without entering the Mad God State, isn't Ye Xiao with just Peak Xuan Rank strength also but a child?

"Senior's strength is indeed formidable; it seems to be close to the Middle Stage of Earth Rank," Ye Xiao said with a cold smile.

Looking at Ye Xiao lying on the ground, Zhao Guangyi sneered at him and said, "You're not worthy to know. However, there's one thing I find truly strange—a kid at Peak Xuan Rank can actually fight me for so long. It seems you've been cultivating some special cultivation technique."

Ye Xiao simply did not stand up but half-lain on the ground, looking up at Zhao Guangyi, said, "No matter what cultivation technique I've practiced, you might not be able to kill me unless your strength reaches Earth Rank Middle Stage or later."

Earth Rank Middle Stage?

Upon hearing Ye Xiao's words and seeing Ye Xiao looking quite disheveled at the moment, Zhao Guangyi immediately felt Ye Xiao's mind must have been dazed by the fall.

Martial Artists who haven't reached Earth Rank would never know just how difficult it is to improve once you've reached Earth Rank. Some people spend their entire lives only lingering at Early Earth Rank.

But even at Early Earth Rank, it's a level above, a god-like figure in the eyes of ordinary Martial Artists.

"Haha, it seems you are quite persistent, aren't you? I'll just tell you, my strength is indeed close to Earth Rank Middle Stage but hasn't truly reached it. However, I still want to kill you, this arrogant kid even at your death," Zhao Guangyi said as his eyes turned cold, and he started walking towards Ye Xiao.

Ye Xiao watched Zhao Guangyi walk toward him, secretly grinning bitterly; he hadn't entered the Mad God State precisely for this moment when Zhao Guangyi would say these words. If Zhao Guangyi's strength reached Earth Rank Middle Stage or later, Ye Xiao would be doomed no matter what. However, if he hasn't even reached Earth Rank Middle Stage, Ye Xiao has a fighting chance.

So, Ye Xiao was already ready to enter the Mad God State at any moment as Zhao Guangyi approached—which is his ultimate secret move.

However, by chance, at this moment, a loud shout seemed to approach rapidly from afar, arriving in the blink of an eye.

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