"Old thing, you dare challenge Island Lord Ming Yue's authority? Hand over your life!" From far away, an angry shout rang out. At the end of the street, a figure was charging toward Sha Hu with aggressive momentum, shouting loudly as he rushed forward — clearly trying to earn merit.
Youhun Island's management was extremely strict, and riots or uncontrolled incidents were rare. So these warriors who followed Ming Yue seldom had the chance to prove themselves. Today was undoubtedly a golden opportunity, and the newcomer had spotted it, planning to use Sha Hu as his stepping stone.
If he could win Ming Yue's favor, a bottle of top-grade Pill of Heavenly Harmony would certainly be his.
So the moment he heard Sha Hu's roar, he immediately rushed over.
Halfway there, a heavy blade-type Artifact was already conjured and gripped in his palm. It cut an imposing figure, and combined with his burly frame, he truly had the air of someone who would cut down anyone who stood in his way — man or Buddha — charging forward without hesitation.
Sha Hu simply stood in place, his gaze fixed on the tallest building at the island's center.
From there, a sinister gaze seemed to watch from afar, meeting Sha Hu's eyes. The two locked gazes across the air, and invisible sparks flew between them. An invisible force caused the temperature across the entire Youhun Island to drop considerably, and many people couldn't help but shiver.
The burly man charging with his blade remained oblivious. He charged all the way to within thirty feet of Sha Hu before leaping high into the air. His long blade traced a bright arc as a cold smirk played on his lips: "Old thing, I'll be taking your head."
Sha Hu slowly turned his head to regard the newcomer.
At that single glance, the man actually gasped, his face filling with extreme terror. His unstoppable momentum melted like snow under the blazing sun, vanishing in an instant. Strange gurgling sounds escaped his throat.
He exhaled sharply and plummeted straight down from midair, his feet sinking deep into the earth. He stared at Sha Hu with wide eyes, his voice trembling: "Island… Island Lord Sha?"
The burly man clearly recognized Sha Hu.
Sha Hu smiled coldly. "Zhou An! A hundred years, and you still haven't improved at all."
The burly man named Zhou An's face flushed with embarrassment, then twisted with anger: "Whether or not I've improved isn't for you to say. But Island Lord Sha — how are you still alive?"
"Ming Yue told you I was dead?" Sha Hu let out a soft, cold laugh, looking at Zhou An as if at an idiot. "And you believed him? Not only am I not dead, I've been living quite well. I'm here today to take Ming Yue's head — to vent the hatred in my heart!"
Zhou An's expression flickered. Despite his fear, he maintained a hard tone: "Sha Hu, stop dreaming. Island Lord Ming Yue's power has advanced enormously over this past century. You weren't his match back then, and you still aren't today. Surrender quietly and come with me to see the Island Lord. Perhaps you can still escape with your life. Otherwise…"
"Otherwise what?"
"The Island Lord defeated you a hundred years ago, and a hundred years later you're still no match!" Zhou An barked.
Sha Hu laughed heartily. "Fool! Did Ming Yue never tell you that the reason he barely won back then was because he used poison? Now that I've returned, I won't give him that chance again."
He couldn't be bothered with Zhou An any longer. Instead, he looked toward the tallest building and let out a long howl: "Ming Yue! If you don't have the guts to come down and fight me, then I'll come up to you!"
The moment the words left his mouth, Sha Hu's figure shot upward, leaping dozens of feet into the air, soaring toward the island's center like a great roc spreading its wings.
"Dream on!" Furious shouts suddenly erupted from every direction. At least a dozen warriors, each wrapped in a crimson glow, burst from the crowd and moved to intercept Sha Hu.
The crimson light surrounding these warriors was a clear sign of vigorous blood essence, and its intensity revealed the abundance or deficiency of that essence. The Youhun Island warriors Yang Kai had encountered before had either been too weak or hadn't fought seriously, so this sign had never appeared. But now, upon learning Sha Hu's true identity, these dozen or so powerhouses of Youhun Island could no longer hold back, each unleashing their full strength.
Sha Hu paid no attention to the dozen attackers closing in from all sides. His cold eyes remained fixed ahead — no sorrow, no joy, no shock, no fear. His killing intent surged like a tide.
The dozen fighters' faces lit up with joy. Each one pushed their internal power to the limit, unleashing their killing techniques and launching them toward Sha Hu.
But before their attacks could land, a young man appeared strangely behind Sha Hu, floating quietly in midair as if he were simply flying.
Facing the fierce combined assault of a dozen warriors, this young man smiled with perfect composure. Only when they had closed to within striking distance did he suddenly unleash both fists.
In midair, fist shadows cascaded outward like a tempestuous storm, blasting in every direction.
The dozen figures' crimson glows shattered like bubbles one after another. Each was sent flying backward in screams and cries of shock, and several of their bodies burst apart in midair.
Boom, boom, boom…
The survivors crashed into nearby houses, punching hole after hole through the structures. They coughed up blood — blood laced with fragments of internal organs — and collapsed, their life force fading.
Several thousand onlookers erupted in commotion, their eyes filled with terror as they stared at the young man still hovering in midair.