Volcanic Age

"…"

Distancing herself from Zhang Du, Luo Xiaoyue adjusted her grip on her sword.

I'll get hit if I try to attack recklessly.

For the most part, the bandits weren't particularly skilled. However, every so often, there were experts like Zhang Du.

Not only was his natural strength extraordinary, but his qi and martial arts were formidable.

Vroom, vroom, vroom.

Zhang Du's arm spun in place. Following his movements, the Black Iron Ball moved fiercely, drawing a circle mid-air.

Because his body was so big, it looked almost like a gorilla was swinging the iron ball, not a person.

"Ughhh-ah!"

The iron ball, which had been spinning above Zhang Du's head, shot forward, aimed directly at Luo Xiaoyue.

Its sheer size and speed would make most freeze in fear, leaving little chance to dodge

However, Luo Xiaoyue didn't hesitate. She used her footwork technique, swiftly dodging to the left and then dashing forward.

"Where do you think you're going?!"

The corners of Zhang Du's mouth rose slightly. Then, the muscles in his forearm holding the chain bulged.

Woosh!

The chain rippled like waves. Force traveled through the chain, changing the direction of the Black Iron Ball.

The Black Iron Ball, which had been traveling in a straight line, suddenly veered sharply to the right.

"Look out!"

"Eeek!"

Her disciple siblings, who were watching, screamed.

Oops!

Although he was the one who had attacked, Zhang Du was also surprised. He had unintentionally used all his strength. The way things were going, that beautiful face would be completely crushed.

While his personal regret was one thing, his greater concern was how furious the Stockade Boss would be, considering it was a beauty he had just crushed.

Well, it was too late to change direction or pull the ball back now.

"Heup!"

Without even turning to look, Luo Xiaoyue bent backward at the waist, dropping to her knees as if she were lying flat on the ground.

Woosh!

A gust of wind brushed past her as the Black Iron Ball flew over her head, ruffling her hair.

"Whew!"

The onlookers let out a collective sigh of relief.

She had narrowly avoided being crushed beyond recognition.

She dodged that?!

Zhang Du blinked in disbelief.

Before he could fully process what had happened, Luo Xiaoyue sprang back to her feet and launched herself forward.

"Huh!"

Zhang Du gasped in surprise. Still, as if proving he wasn't a novice, he prepared to counterattack.

Luo Xiaoyue's sword strike shot out with a dazzling light—a straight, pristine attack, unwavering and precise.

It's dangerous!

Sensing the danger, Zhang Du raised his qi. He realized he may have exerted too much strength, as his dantian was tingling and sore.

Clang, clang!

Generating a gravitational force with his qi, he summoned the Black Iron Ball to him. This was his secret to getting the Black Iron Ball return instantly even after throwing it with all his might.

"Ha!"

For the first time, a shout escaped Luo Xiaoyue's lips, but it wasn't to add force to her strike. Instead, she cut off the flow of qi toward her sword.

This wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision. It was as if she had been waiting for this exact moment, her response precise and calculated, as if every move had been foreseen.

Her transition was seamless, her balance kept centered rather than leaning forward, allowing her to turn instantly to the right.

Luo Xiaoyue, who had been charging forward like a wild boar, once again made a half-turn, drawing a curve with graceful movements.

"D-damn it!" Zhang Du swore.

He had tried his best to redirect the Black Iron Ball. However, Luo Xiaoyue had changed direction again.

Even Zhang Du, who had the ability to handle the Black Iron Ball as freely as he handled his own hands, wasn't able to change it again in time.

Theoretically, he could have tried harder, but that risked causing his qi to flow backward, potentially leading to qi deviation.

In the end, Zhang Du had no choice but to let Luo Xiaoyue's attack land.

Despite despairing at that reality, Zhang Du tried to minimize the damage from the sword strike that was coming for him, putting all his strength into fortifying his body and focusing on defense.

Squelch!

Luo Xiaoyue's sword caught the sunlight as it sliced into Zhang Du's side, blood spraying as the blade continued through.

"Ugh!"

Zhang Du's face twisted in pain.

Despite the intense pain, Zhang Du endured. After all, he had suffered worse to reach this point in life.

However, the issue now was that his ability to move his upper body was temporarily slowed when his side was cut.

In the meantime, Luo Xiaoyue displayed her quick stabs while she spun her body like a top, using her left foot as the axis.

Squelch!

"Ugh!"

Her stab landed near his spine. Though it didn't reach the bone thanks to his thick muscles.

Still, what was concerning was the nerve. If she severed the wrong nerve, his future would become difficult, let alone the Black Iron Ball Art he was so proud of.

"This damned bitch—!"

Zhang Du's eyes turned bloodshot as rage overtook him, his bloodlust boiling like lava.

"Agh!!" he screamed.

It wasn't a scream of pain. Anger surged from his chest and burst out of his throat.

Zhang Du swung the Black Iron Ball, using all of his qi, no longer holding anything back.

Boom! Boom! BOOM!

It didn't end with one swing.

He gripped the chain tightly, spinning himself around like a top.

It wasn't simply spinning like a top. He had actually turned into one.

"What?!"

"H-hyungnim! We're here too!"

The warriors fighting nearby were also surprised. Both allies and enemies distanced themselves from Zhang Du.

He had become one with the Black Iron Ball, spinning continuously and making it impossible for him to distinguish between friend and foe.

Zhang Du's determination to destroy the surroundings was evident.

"I can't get close!"

Luo Xiaoyue stamped her feet helplessly as her eyes filled with despair.

No one would be able to even pick up her bones if she walked up to him. Even if she dug herself in and attacked, she wondered if she would be able to stop him.

"ROAR!"

Zhang Du continued spinning.

While his field of vision was extremely narrow, it didn't matter. He was so angry that he couldn't see ahead anyway.

Even though he must have been dizzy, he held on well.

BOOM!

The wind created by the Black Iron Ball blew viciously. The wind pressure itself was so strong that Luo Xiaoyue couldn't approach rashly.

"Huh?"

One of the nearby Red Forest bandits lost his balance due to the wind pressure and was sucked in backward.

BANG!

The Black Iron Ball smashed into him, and he died instantly, without even a scream.

WOOSH!

The most terrifying part about it was its power.

The moment one was hit, their upper body would shatter and get torn apart.

As if that wasn't enough, the bandit was flung across the battlefield, crashing into a distant watchtower.

Crack!!

The impact shattered the watchtower's supporting pillars, sending up a massive dust cloud that spread out like a blanket over the ground.

"E-eek!"

"Gasp!"

Frightened voices rose around him as everyone's faces paled.

Both members of the punitive force and the Red Forest tried to keep their distance as much as possible.

Even Luo Xiaoyue tried to retreat. However, her proximity to Zhang Du left her with few options.

As if bent on revenge, Zhang Du pursued her, swinging the Black Iron Ball wildly.

As if a whirlwind was passing by, everything Zhang Du's Black Iron Ball passed turned into scorched earth. The mountain, where weeds grew wildly, became barren, and even ancient trees that were decades old were uprooted.

"Junior Sister!"

Zhang Xuen stamped her feet, unable to even approach.

While her face was full of worry, there was no way for her to save Luo Xiaoyue.

"Above!"

Tang Hui gave an order and threw her hidden weapon.

The Tang Family warriors immediately understood her command and threw something above Zhang Du's head.

Thwip!

While it wasn't the Sichuan Tang Family's legendary Torrential Flower Rain, the rain of hidden weapons was impressive.

Ting! Ting, ting!

However, the force of the hidden weapons wasn't that great. If even one properly landed, it would have taken effect and been helpful. However, they all bounced off Zhang Du.

While Zhang Du had no protection on the top of his head, the wind pressure of the gale he artificially created made it impossible for any of the hidden weapons to reach him.

At this rate, Zhang Du would hit her before he collapsed from exhaustion.

No!

Luo Xiaoyue closed her eyes tightly, unable to do anything.

Even though she was a genius, Luo Xiaoyue was no different from a rookie in the gangho. Since she lacked actual combat experience, she didn't know how to deal with such unexpected situations.

"Junior Sister Luo!"

"…!"

In that critical moment, a voice rang out above her. It was a voice Luo Xiaoyue knew well, needing no second thought to identify it..

When she raised her head, she saw Zhou Xuchuan dashing over the outer gate, swift as the wind..

"Senior Brother!"

Despite the crisis, Luo Xiaoyue's face brightened.

"Block him!"

"You dare?!"

Two Red Forest bandits blocked Zhou Xuchuan's path. One had an arrow nocked on his bow, while the other had a sword.

Twang!

The arrow shot out of the bow. It seemed as though the bandit's archery skills weren't ordinary, as he calculated the speed and aimed for Zhou Xuchuan's temple.

But Zhou Xuchuan's eyes remained fixed on Luo Xiaoyue, and without even glancing ahead, he swung his sword upward.

"Ha-a-eup!"

Without hesitation, the Red Forest Bandit swung his sword diagonally. Zhou Xuchuan's gaze remained steady, not even his pupils shifting.

As if he had eyes on the side of his head, he dodged the attack and countered, swinging his sword forcefully..

"Ugh!!"

He passed the bandit, blood spurting from his chest, and immediately turned to strike the other Red Forest bandit, who was preparing a second arrow.

"Ugh!"

The Red Forest bandit grabbed his neck and staggered, groaning.

He fell over the outer wall helplessly.

Zhou Xuchuan injected more qi into his Yongquan acupoint to increase his speed.

As his Junior Sister was the one in danger, his qi circulation also accelerated.

"Hmph!"

Zhou Xuchuan let out a shout as he kicked off the ground, launching himself from the outer wall.

He heard a faint scream from Luo Xiaoyue below but he paid no attention and just applied strength to the sword in his hand.

The whirlwind surged up from below. While it tried to push Zhou Xuchuan's body away, his body didn't move.

The power of qi drawn from the dantian, including the power coming down from above, combined to eliminate the wind pressure.

Zhou Xuchuan screamed.

Although he wasn't using the Twenty-four Sword Forms of the Plum Blossom, his blade glowed with a fierce sword aura.

VROOM!

The spinning Black Iron Ball withstood any attacks from above. It felt as though if anyone tried, it would smash their body.

The iron ball loomed closer. Zhou Xuchuan spun his sword, bracing himself.

The iron ball barreled forward again. Zhou Xuchuan struck, his blade cutting through the air.

On impact, the iron ball crashed against his sword, and the aura surrounding the blade cleaved through the force pressing against it.

"Huh?"

Zhang Du, who had been spinning for a while, let out a stunned gasp. His spinning finally stopped.

Even the Black Iron, which was several times harder than steel, couldn't withstand the aura.

The iron ball split cleanly in two.

Thwip!

Yet the momentum within the ball remained. Split in half, each piece shot off in opposite directions.

Zhou Xuchuan's eyes darted back and forth.

One half flew harmlessly toward the empty outer wall, but the other careened toward a mixed group of punitive forces and Red Forest bandits.

Moreover, the Black Iron Ball moved faster than one could even notice.

You dare!

His sleeves with plum blossoms drawn on them billowed, and the daggers hidden inside them shot out like lightning.

It wasn't just one, but four daggers, each infused with qi using the Hidden Nether Flying Dagger Art.

Clang! Clang, clang!

The daggers clashed with the half of the Black Iron Ball, sparks flying. While the daggers only left shallow marks, Zhou Xuchuan's intent was successful. The dagger had forced the boulder to the side, making it change directions.

Clang, clang, clang!

The last three daggers struck in quick succession. Instead of focusing on a single spot, he hit the boulder in several places so he could direct it to one area.

"Agk!"

The martial artists realized it too late and screamed.

Boom!

The remaining half of the Black Iron Ball slammed into an empty outer wall on the other side. Fortunately, members of the punitive force and the Red Forest were able to avoid being crushed to pieces like tteok.[1]

"..."

1. Rice cakes are made by getting pounded into mush. ☜