Duel and Assassination

The training headquarters was vast, without barriers, just an open floor. It had a special charm due to the presence of a plum tree and the sparkling stars in the night sky.

The fifth elder looked at Farkan with mocking eyes and an arrogant smile on his face, while Farkan showed no expression, his menacing eyes conveying indifference.

"You look scared, fourth! Hahaha,"

he laughed, but returned to normal after Farkan attacked without hesitation.

Bam…

Farkan landed a powerful punch on his face, "What's wrong? Answer me!"

Farkan's features were furious. The fifth elder jumped toward Farkan to return the punch.

Bam…

Farkan blocked the fifth elder's punch, "Is that all you've got?"

The fifth elder shouted and aimed a kick at his face, "He didn't block it!"

Farkan turned his cold gaze toward him. Unable to bear it, the fifth elder retreated.

"Hmm, he's started using martial arts—not bad," Yan Yue thought internally.

Enraged, the fifth elder activated his ability, "Strangling Root Threads."

Roots sprouted from his palm and he threw them at Farkan, grabbing and pinning his hand.

"Hahaha, you won't escape," he said. Farkan looked at the sticky ability on his hand.

Physically strong and arrogant, Farkan grabbed the rest of the thread and swung his arm, sending the fifth elder flying with it.

"He lifted me with that hand?" the fifth elder said, shocked.

Farkan pulled him closer to punch him, "Dig into him!" the fifth elder shouted.

Bam bam…

Farkan's hand became covered in thorns, extending up to his forearm.

Blood poured out heavily, "You think I'll let you go??"

Farkan dragged the fifth elder toward him again, punched his stomach, and threw him away. Drawing his sword, Farkan cut the sticky threads from his hand.

"Savage Piercing Fist." Farkan still had some fourth-rank abilities from the previous body's owner, keeping them for moments like this.

Farkan grabbed the fifth elder, channeling all his energy into his uninjured left hand, which turned pitch black.

The fifth elder couldn't stand or resist as Farkan approached.

Farkan flashed an arrogant smile.

Bam bam bam…

Punch after punch after punch—this strike was utterly savage against fourth-rank opponents.

The fifth elder struck Farkan's sensitive area and threw him back.

"Damn you, ugh!" Farkan screamed internally.

The fifth elder stood quickly, a sinister smile on his face. His goal in this duel was to kill Farkan.

"Garden of Death."

It was a lethal, deadly, and toxic move. Farkan stood as well.

He saw the area around the fifth elder turn black and green, emitting a foul stench.

"Beast's Melody."

Farkan charged at the fifth elder. This was a lethal move from the previous body's owner, emitting invisible waves of deadly energy.

It didn't strike externally but attacked the opponent's spirit from within, causing complete collapse.

As Farkan closed in on the fifth elder, the air filled with toxic germs.

Farkan couldn't breathe well but didn't stop, knowing his lethal move would be more effective the closer he got to his opponent.

Not satisfied with just toxic germs, the fifth elder unleashed sharp thorns from all directions.

Bam bam…

The thorns pierced Farkan's body. The fifth elder lost consciousness due to the deadly energy from Farkan's move.

The fifth elder's move dissipated seconds later, the air around him becoming pure again, and even the thorns vanished from Farkan's body, though they left it riddled with multiple holes.

Farkan remained standing tall, then turned his gaze to Yan Yue.

"Well done for not interfering."

"I didn't hear the word 'surrender,' so I didn't step in."

Farkan turned and walked toward Yan Yue.

"I can say this was planned, wasn't it?"

"What do you mean?"

Yan Yue was slightly confused, but with Farkan's experience and deep understanding of human nature,

"The duel was to test my strength."

"Heh heh heh, you're right. I planned this, of course. I spoke to the fifth elder to make him arrogant toward you and reduce his respect for you."

"Let me guess, you're at the peak stage, aren't you?"

Farkan didn't respond, ignoring him, and headed toward the training headquarters' exit.

The third elder patted Farkan's shoulder, telling him his fight was impressive. He glanced at the holes in Farkan's body.

"Should I call Miss Yu Xin?"

"No need, she'll come to my palace."

"See you tomorrow." With that, he vanished from the third elder's sight.

Yan Yue knelt to examine the injuries the fifth elder sustained during his fight with the fourth.

"Three broken ribs, his right jaw shattered, most of his teeth gone, and even his spirit was nearly destroyed if the fourth hadn't stopped at the last moment."

When Farkan stood before the fifth elder, he knew his spirit would collapse entirely, so he halted his lethal move.

"Heh heh heh, interesting."

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"You picked a random palace?"

"Yes."

After saying this, he pointed at Farkan's palace.

"The leader told us to choose randomly, heh heh heh."

"Look, he's coming."

Farkan had reached his palace, but he felt an odd sensation.

"Why do I feel like I'm about to die suddenly?"

He shook his head slightly.

He knocked on the palace door for the head servant to open it, but no one came…

Yu Xin rushed toward Farkan, "Fourth elder!"

He turned and looked at her, "Miss Yu Xin?"

"You have wounds. I need to treat the elder."

"Hmm, should I let her into the palace again or just here?" he thought internally.

"Treat me here."

Yu Xin looked at him, then agreed spontaneously, using her ability to heal him quickly.

His body returned to its healthy state, "I thank Miss Yu Xin for her kindness."

"See you later." After saying this, she leapt away with large strides toward her headquarters.

"Wait, what's that smell?"

The scent of blood was emanating from his palace.

"My followers!!!"

Bam…

He broke the palace door and entered directly.

"Blow it up."

"Not yet—his followers' bodies are in his room anyway."

With quick steps, Farkan searched for the source of the blood smell.

His room was a few steps away. He opened the door and found the corpses of his servants, even the head servant, dead and chopped into pieces.

"Now," said the person wearing a demon mask.

He spoke to his companion, "Let's get out of here first."

They moved about 500 meters away from Farkan's palace, then activated his explosive ability.

Boom boom…

Farkan's entire palace exploded while he was inside, and then fierce flames erupted.

"Heh heh heh, let's go."

After a few minutes…

Farkan emerged from a large pile of rubble, his body suffering fourth-degree burns.

"Damn you!" he shouted loudly.

He closed his eyes and breathed calmly to locate the assassins.

"There!!!"

He leapt from the large pile of rubble and ran.

"Leopard Movement."

This ability allowed him to use the speed of a cheetah.

"Savage Piercing Fist."

He channeled his energy into his right hand and struck the ground.

Bam bam…

They jumped and looked at him.

"Hmm, good. I admit you're strong for surviving my companion's flames and my destructive ability."

"Who are you two?" Farkan asked them.

"Hahaha, do you really think we'll tell you?"

"They're both fifth rank. The one on my left is at the intermediate stage, the other at the advanced stage," Farkan thought internally, then cursed.

"Chen Wang, he's still at the fourth rank. Kill him quickly and let's escape."

Chen Wang was on the fire path, while Lu Xian was on the calamity path.

"Heh heh, let's have some fun. Maybe he used an ability to get here so fast. You've got good instincts."

"Should we start with martial arts or go straight—"

Farkan stabbed Chen Wang in the stomach, cutting a large gash on the left side of his abdomen.

"Blazing Fire."

He burned the spot where Farkan stood, "He disappeared?"

Farkan had jumped above him, grabbed his head, and struck it with his knee.

Chen Wang used his ability again, burning half of Farkan's body.

His ribs became visible, "Damn—"

Lu Xian struck Farkan's chest, breaking about nine ribs.

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The End

(What will Farkan do? Will he die or stay alive?)