Chapter 64: Nangong Xiong’s Lethal Intent

A middle-aged man in his forties stepped out from the shadows. Clad in black nightwear and aided by a special aura-concealing artifact, he had escaped Jun Wushuang’s notice until now.

“The Nangong Clan!”

Jun Wushuang halted, his Violet Demonic Eyes activated, clearly discerning the man's features. The newcomer bore a resemblance to Nangong Lei and Nangong Tianxuan, though his face was more weathered by time.

“Allow me to introduce myself. I am Nangong Xiong. Nangong Lei and Nangong Tianxuan are my sons.”

Nangong Xiong’s eyes were sharp and predatory, like a wolf in the night, locking onto Jun Wushuang with deadly intent. An invisible aura of murderous intent radiated from him, sealing Jun Wushuang in its grasp.

Nangong Xiong, a high-ranking official of the current dynasty, was not only a formidable warrior of the Marquis Realm but also the future patriarch of the Nangong Clan. Nangong Qing had two sons and a daughter; Xiong was the eldest legitimate son.

Jun Wushuang narrowed his eyes, recalling that earlier in the day, this man had stood by Nangong Qing’s side. The Nangong Clan again—relentless specters, never resting until one side perished.

As for Zhao Qiming, it was clear he had been used as a pawn, a fool played by others.

Jun Wushuang instantly grasped the truth. Ever since Zhao Qiming’s expulsion from the Imperial Martial Academy, Nangong Xiong had actively sought him out. For days, Jun Wushuang had secluded himself within Qingyun Martial Academy, refining pills, giving his enemies no opportunity. Tonight, at the pill auction, they finally found their chance. Especially after Jun Wushuang had slain Nangong Hao in public, wounded Nangong Qing, and thoroughly humiliated the Nangong Clan, Nangong Xiong’s rage only grew.

Thus, as soon as the auction ended, he brought Zhao Qiming here to lie in wait. Yet, shrewdly, Nangong Xiong did not act himself at first, intending to let Zhao Qiming take the blame. Unfortunately, he had underestimated Jun Wushuang’s strength and was forced to reveal himself.

“Zhao Qiming truly was useless—a Celestial Realm warrior against a Myriad Phenomena Realm, yet he was killed instead.”

Nangong Xiong glanced disdainfully at Zhao Qiming’s corpse, angry at his incompetence. But with Zhao Qiming dead, his fury could only be vented on Jun Wushuang.

“Jun Wushuang, you country bumpkin, so many paths you could have taken—why choose one that leads to your own death?”

Nangong Xiong advanced on Jun Wushuang.

Invisible tendrils of spiritual power, fine as hair, wove out from him, seeking to envelop and immobilize Jun Wushuang, to capture and torment him alive.

“My Nangong Clan stands among the Four Great Clans, wielding boundless power. Crushing you would be as effortless as snapping a twig.”

“You think possession of the Command of the South Suppressing King allows you to challenge my clan? Laughable.”

“Nangong Lei died because of you, Nangong Tianxuan was punished for your sake, Nangong Hao was also slain by your hand, and even my father was wounded and humiliated by you in public. Tell me, how should I repay such a debt?”

Nangong Xiong’s voice grew ever colder, his killing intent intensifying. His eyes brimmed with viciousness and malice, as though intent on tearing Jun Wushuang limb from limb.

A father’s grief for a lost son demands retribution. Nangong Hao’s death could perhaps be tolerated, but Nangong Lei was his own flesh and blood. For this, Nangong Xiong harbored a hatred for Jun Wushuang that penetrated to his very marrow.

Now, with this opportunity finally before him, how could he possibly let Jun Wushuang escape? Tonight, not only would he kill him, but he would do so with the utmost cruelty—making Jun Wushuang endure agony and despair before death, to appease the spirit of Nangong Lei.

“The Nangong Clan truly is a den of scoundrels. When open rivalry fails, you resort to assassination. With the likes of Nangong Qing at its head, it’s no wonder the whole clan is rotten.”

“I killed Nangong Lei, and I’ll kill Nangong Tianxuan as well. I’ll see to it that your clan is wiped from this world,” Jun Wushuang sneered coldly, stalling for time.

Casting the divine forbidden technique had left him in a weakened state. Now, his strength had plummeted to its lowest ebb, beneath even the Body Forging Realm. The sword talisman Mo Xingyun had given him was spent; otherwise, it could have been used against Nangong Xiong.

Secretly, he activated the Devouring Heaven Demon Art, attempting to absorb spiritual energy from the world to regain a trace of his strength.

“Trying to buy time?” Nangong Xiong immediately saw through his intentions.

“Zhao Qiming was a waste, but he served his purpose. Now your trump cards are all spent—what do you have left to resist me?”

Nangong Xiong sneered. In the next instant, hundreds and thousands of spiritual threads lashed out, binding Jun Wushuang.

Jun Wushuang had yet to open his Sea of Consciousness and could not defend with spiritual force. The divine forbidden technique that transformed him into an Asura had already been used; he could no longer gather killing aura and blood light. Worse, in his current weakness, against a Marquis Realm powerhouse like Nangong Xiong, the gap was insurmountable.

In a flash, Jun Wushuang was ensnared, his body stiffening, limbs unresponsive, as if frozen into a statue.

“Jun Wushuang, your head will serve as an offering. I’m certain Lei’er’s spirit will rejoice to see it!”

Nangong Xiong stepped in front of Jun Wushuang, a chilling grin splitting his face to reveal a mouthful of white teeth—enough to send a shiver down anyone’s spine.

Swish!

Nangong Xiong reached out, claws poised to seize Jun Wushuang.

“Innate Divine Power: Heavenly Thunder and Earthly Fire!”

Just as Nangong Xiong was certain of his victory, a surge of wild lightning fused with black demonic flames erupted forth.

Jun Wushuang had devoured Jun Yanming’s Flame Python Spirit Body, acquiring the innate power of the Ten Thousand Demon Magma. Later, he had also consumed Nangong Lei’s Thundercloud Sovereign Physique and gained the innate power of World-Destroying Thunder.

But Jun Wushuang’s methods surpassed them both. He fused the two innate abilities into one, creating the Heavenly Thunder and Earthly Fire—an even more formidable fusion.

Boom!

A deafening explosion resounded. Caught off-guard, Nangong Xiong was blasted away, while Jun Wushuang too was sent flying by the blast—yet the force shredded the spiritual threads binding him, granting him freedom once more.

“Asura Blade Slash!”

Rather than retreat, Jun Wushuang pressed forward—gritting his teeth, he gripped his blade and lunged.

Slash!

A deep, bloody gash appeared on Nangong Xiong’s arm, nearly severing it to the bone.

“You little beast, I’ll kill you!”

Nangong Xiong’s fury erupted, violent spiritual energy surging forth, the power of a Marquis Realm master on full display.

Bang!

Jun Wushuang was struck and sent flying by a single palm.

Now, with a grimace, Nangong Xiong rose and charged again, intent on slaughtering this country upstart.

Whoosh!

Just then—a cold gleam appeared out of nowhere. Emerging from the darkness, it struck from a cunning angle, ruthless and merciless.

A chill as sharp as autumn water flooded Nangong Xiong’s heart—a cold that seemed to freeze heaven and earth, to chill not only the body but the very spark of life.

A fierce sense of impending doom welled up within Nangong Xiong. Instinctively, he struggled to dodge, but he was still a heartbeat too slow.

A flash of cold light—a blood-soaked severed arm arced high through the air and crashed heavily to the ground.

One stroke—an arm cut clean off, merciless and absolute!