Zhu Bufan was still not at ease; he cautiously approached Zhu Wu's body, and seeing Zhu Wu's chest that still had a slight rise and fall, a flicker of killing intent flashed in his eyes. He clenched his fist once again, aiming to smash Zhu Wu's head with a punch.

"Young one, dare you?"

At this moment, amidst a light call, accompanied by the voice of an enraged man, a man in his thirties appeared in Zhu Bufan's sight. His appearance was surprisingly similar to Zhu Wu's by five parts. He was none other than Zhu Wu's biological father, Zhu Xing, whose Martial Arts cultivation had already reached the early stage of the Eighth Rank.

"Why wouldn't I dare?"

Zhu Bufan was not one to give up easily. His fist slammed down fiercely, producing a cracking sound. Blood instantly splattered, and brain matter burst out as Zhu Wu's head turned into a pulverized watermelon under the heavy blow.

"You... ah... Xiao Wu..."

Witnessing Zhu Bufan extinguishing Zhu Wu right before his eyes, Zhu Xing was dumbstruck with shock, tears rolling down his cheeks. His whole body trembled violently with intense grief.

Zhu Wu was his only son!

However, being a person accustomed to life and death, after the initial grief came a fierce killing intent. He quickly regained the terrifying calm he had before, as if Zhu Wu, who had been beaten to death, had nothing to do with him.

"Zhu Bufan, I must say I admire your courage and wit. It seems our whole Zhu Family underestimated you before!"

Zhu Xing's expression was calm, yet his pupils were bloodshot. "I will crush your body inch by inch, using your helpless cries to honor Xiao Wu's spirit in heaven!"

As he finished speaking, Zhu Xing raised his single palm, causing the air around Zhu Bufan to seemingly solidify in an instant. At the same time, faint red halos emanated from his hand, which gradually turned crimson.

"Fiery Fire Technique!"

Zhu Bufan recognized this cultivation technique well; it was one of better Fire Attribute techniques, on par with his Cold Ice Technique.

Generally, cultivation techniques were divided into three classes with nine ranks. Most people trained in first to third rank low-grade techniques, while only some descendants of prestigious families or sects could access fourth to ninth rank medium-grade techniques. High-grade techniques above the seventh rank were thought to exist in legends, almost as if they didn't exist.

As a direct descendant of the Zhu Family, Zhu Bufan naturally trained in medium-grade techniques. However, due to his awkward status in the Zhu Family, training in a fourth-rank technique like the Cold Ice Technique was already considered generous. Anything better was beyond hope.

In the Zhu Family, only direct line descendants with permission could train in fifth-rank techniques, and such people were rare among the thousands in the Zhu Family.

"What to do? Should I reveal my true strength?"

Facing Zhu Xing, Zhu Bufan dared not be careless. Though his true strength was not lesser than Zhu Xing's, his public strength was only at the peak of the Fifth Rank. He'd already shown powerful energy in public, which would soon reach the entire Zhu Family. Showing too much could pose a huge risk to Zhu Bufan.

With this thought, Zhu Bufan's eyes focused. He decided to continue suppressing his cultivation, still showing the strength of the Fifth Rank Peak.

His Inner Qi circulated, gradually rising to the peak state of the Fifth Rank.

Taking a deep breath, his form blurred as he promptly unfolded the original Floating Snow Step Technique, transforming into a blue phantom, trying to dash past Zhu Xing's blockade to evade.

Bang!

Zhu Bufan was fast, but Zhu Xing was faster.

The hand blade, like fierce flames, chopped down suddenly. Even as Zhu Bufan passed by, he could distinctly feel the scorching heat.

When the palm's wind passed, the flames cut a not-so-small pit into the firm mountain road, and the scattered rocks flew, bombarding Zhu Bufan, who was trying to forcefully break through, back, leaving him bruised and battered.

The searing flames nearly set his poor-quality cloth robe alight, sizzling loudly.

Zhu Bufan failed to escape. Though he wasn't struck by the palm wind, he only narrowly missed it.

Looking at the pit carved out by the palm wind, the stones were charred black, and the painstakingly nurtured grass had turned to ash!

"Hiss~~~ How formidable!"

Zhu Bufan involuntarily drew a sharp breath; if that palm had struck him, he would have been gravely injured, if not killed.

...

Zhu Bufan was wary of his opponent, yet the opponent didn't regard him as a threat—this was the current power imbalance between the two sides.

"Truly formidable! Humph, if not for... I'd smash you with one palm..." Zhu Bufan discreetly glanced in a particular direction, bitterly thinking.

He took several deep breaths to gradually calm his emotions.

Zhu Xing raised his palm once more, and the crimson hand began gathering powerful Fire Element Inner Qi. The aura of the gathered Qi was perceptible to Zhu Bufan even from afar—he knew Zhu Xing intended to deliver a lethal blow this time, no longer toying with him as before.

"Die!"

Zhu Xing, having coiled his strength, lashed out with the crimson hand enveloped with fiery energy, aiming at the solemn-faced Zhu Bufan.

Witnessing this, Zhu Bufan's pupils shrank to pinpoints, seemingly awed by Zhu Xing's relentless momentum, he stepped aside with a shudder.

Yet, it was this very step that inadvertently closed the distance between them, reducing Zhu Xing's palm strike's adaptability and causing Zhu Bufan to meet the blow with his chest, avoiding vital organs!

Boom...

As the two collided, a low thud resounded.

Poof...

Zhu Bufan's body flew backward, blood spurting from his mouth, forming an arc.

The clothes on his chest were scorched with a complete handprint, revealing a clear hand imprint on his chest, the palm pattern distinctly visible. Soon, the handprint rapidly turned red, then black, finally becoming charred black, even emitting wisps of black smoke.

"Young Master Zhu!"

Not far away, Aunt Rong, seeing this scene, felt as if her heart was gripped by an invisible hand, the intense pain unbearable, and she couldn't help but cry out in anguish.

"Boy, surrender your life!"

Zhu Xing, however, had no intention of stopping his assault, his hands weaving a blurred mass of palm shadows, enveloping Zhu Bufan.

"Are you still not intervening?"

Feeling the palm wind that felt like knives against his skin and the scorching heat, Zhu Bufan couldn't help but think to himself. His Inner Qi began to gather momentum rapidly; if he miscalculated, he decided to disregard the consequences and reveal his true strength.

However, just when he was about to act, an elderly, authoritative voice came from all directions.

"Stop..."

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