Chapter 1110: You Also Deserve to Use a Sword?

Han Fengqiu also felt a chill run down his spine. Seeing Hu Xin approaching him, he almost blurted out, "Stay away from me!"

However, he was, after all, a master who had cultivated for many years, and his resolve was already exceptionally firm. He knew he couldn't panic at this moment.

The long sword in his hand transformed into a streak of sword qi, attacking Zu An's vital points. If Zu An didn't abandon his pursuit of Hu Xin, he would certainly be severely wounded by this strike.

As long as Hu Xin was rescued, even though his front claws had been severed, he was still a top-tier ninth-rank master. Together, they would still have a chance to fight.

Seeing the sharp sword flying towards him, Zu An took a step forward. It was as if that single step transcended space and time, and he appeared directly in front of Hu Xin. Before Hu Xin's disbelieving eyes, Zu An instantly decapitated him with a single stroke of his sword.

Zu An's face was as calm as water. "This strike," he stated, "is for the thirty-six innocent, wronged souls of that village."

At that moment, Han Fengqiu's long sword leisurely arrived. Zu An flicked it casually, deflecting the flying sword aside.

Han Fengqiu summoned his flying sword back to his side, his expression grim.

He had never imagined Zu An's cultivation would be so profound, to the point of killing a master of equal rank right before his eyes.

The other deathsworn warriors on the field were also terrified. Although they were fearless in the face of death, that courage usually applied only when facing enemies of comparable strength. If the disparity between the two sides was vast, then being unafraid was simply inviting death.

Seeing that Zu An's attention was fully focused on Han Fengqiu, the group frantically fled outwards.

Han Fengqiu's expression turned cold. The flying sword in his hand transformed into a cold light, weaving directly through the crowd, causing bursts of blood mist to erupt. In the blink of an eye, none of the deathsworn survived.

Zu An frowned. "You even kill your own men?"

Han Fengqiu sneered. "Deserting in battle is punishable by death according to law!"

"You don't seem as afraid as you were just now?" Zu An was somewhat surprised, as the opponent's aura was growing stronger and stronger, visibly increasing at an astonishing rate.

"Why should I be afraid? The reason you killed Hu Xin so easily just now was mainly because his innate abilities were precisely countered by yours. You must possess some method of mental attack, combined with your strange movement technique. Hu Xin was utterly terrified, which allowed you to take advantage of him."

Han Fengqiu analyzed. As one of the Grand Preceptors under Prince Qi, and having traveled far to escort the Crown Prince this time, Prince Qi had naturally bestowed many magical treasures upon him.

For example, the heart-protecting mirror that had just saved his life, and a jade pendant specifically designed to counter mental attacks.

Therefore, once he understood how Zu An had defeated Hu Xin, he calmed down.

As a top-tier swordsman, he had ample confidence in his swordsmanship.

Furthermore, his treasured sword, named Abhiloha, possessed a demonic nature. Previously, out of concern for its influence, he had suppressed it, not daring to let its true power manifest.

Now, in a life-or-death struggle, he naturally had fewer reservations. The reason he used his flying sword to kill those deathsworn just now was not to enforce military law, but to allow Abhiloha to fully drink the blood of masters.

The higher the cultivation of those killed, and the more blood it drank, the greater the sword's power would become.

Zu An clearly noticed the sword, which was gradually emitting a reddish glow. "So that's it," he remarked. "To refine it to this extent, you must have killed countless people over the years."

He had not been in this world for a short time, and had already witnessed many malevolent cultivation methods. Thus, he could largely guess the sword's nature simply by observing its state.

Han Fengqiu said proudly, "The law of the jungle is the natural order of this world. It is their honor to become the nourishment for my Abhiloha."

"And you, will be the one-thousandth master to die by Abhiloha. Your cultivation and your blood will be enough to completely elevate it. From now on, even if I face a grandmaster, I will no longer fear them, hahahaha."

No sooner had he finished speaking, he brandished the sword in his hand, conjuring countless streaks of sword qi that shot towards Zu An.

The demonic nature of Abhiloha's blade could distort the enemy's vision and confuse their minds. As he merged with his sword amidst the overwhelming sword light, he was confident he could severely injure his opponent with a single move.

The strength Zu An had displayed was truly astonishing. The last time in the capital, he had thought Zu An merely relied on trickery, and that taking his life would be as easy as flipping a hand.

How much time had passed since then? He actually couldn't see through his opponent anymore.

If Zu An was given more time to grow, and they met again, wouldn't he be utterly crushed?

Thinking of this, he no longer held back his attacks. He absolutely had to nip Zu An in the bud with this strike.

However, his eyes suddenly widened. He sensed an even more powerful and formidable sword qi descending from the sky, enveloping his entire body.

His own sword qi, encountering the descending sword qi, quickly dissipated, like residual snow meeting the blazing sun.

Just then, he noticed Zu An swinging his sword and attacking.

Instead of being alarmed, he felt joy. Although he was at a disadvantage in the sword qi clash, if it came to a direct confrontation with swords in hand, he would have a significant advantage.

Abhiloha was a Heaven-grade treasured sword. Having just fully absorbed blood, its state was at its peak. It could be said to cut through metal like mud.

"You ignore the path to heaven but barge into the gate of hell!" Han Fengqiu sneered, and directly swung his sword to strike.

CRACK!

A crisp sound. The smile had not yet vanished from Han Fengqiu's face, and his eyes were filled with astonishment.

He looked at Abhiloha in his hand, which was now only half a blade, then lowered his gaze to the sword blade embedded in a major vital point on his chest, his face a mask of disbelief.

"Do you even deserve to wield a sword?"

Zu An slowly withdrew the Tai'a Sword.

Han Fengqiu was furious and distraught. He spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, and collapsed weakly to the ground.

Although Zu An's sword strike had not taken his life, it had crippled most of his cultivation. The little cultivation he had left was only enough to keep him alive despite such severe injuries.

"How is that possible? Is your sword a Celestial-grade weapon?" He stared intently at the ancient, unadorned long sword in Zu An's hand. He had never imagined his own Abhiloha would be cleaved in two.

"I ask, you answer." Zu An had no interest in answering his questions. Instead, he directly asked, "Where is Zhao Zhi?"

Han Fengqiu turned his face away, indicating his stance with silence.

Zu An sneered. "Oh, still trying to play tough? Do you think I don't know how to torture people?"

"I've fallen into your hands, and my cultivation is crippled. If you want to kill me, then kill me. Why so much talk?" Han Fengqiu's heart was like dead ash; he naturally no longer feared death.

Zu An said indifferently, "You should know that there are many things in this world more terrifying than death." As he spoke, he began to gesture with the Tai'a Sword over Han Fengqiu's fingers.

Han Fengqiu's eyelids twitched. But he still hardened his resolve and said, "Do you want to cut off my fingers? I'm already a cripple anyway; whether I have fingers or not makes no difference. Go ahead and cut! Even if you chop them off one by one, I won't flinch!"

"Chop them off one by one? You wish!" Zu An chuckled. "In my hometown, there's a saying to describe a bully: he'd slap dogs as he walked past, and cut earthworms vertically in half. I've always been curious about that vertical cutting technique. How about we try it with your fingers today? Don't worry, besides your ten fingers, you also have ten toes. I can take my time and see how many you can endure."

As he spoke, he held up Han Fengqiu's finger, and poised the sword's edge at the tip of it, as if to cut.

Han Fengqiu's scalp tingled from what he heard. If his fingers were simply cut off, it would be a quick, sharp pain and then it would be over. But cutting them vertically... just thinking about it made him feel agonizing pain.

The crucial point was that he knew very well, even if he could endure the first few fingers with immense willpower, he would still break down later. He would still end up confessing, so why subject himself to such physical torment?

Thinking of this, he sighed resignedly. "You win," he said. "I'll talk."

Zu An looked at him coldly, but did not withdraw his sword.

Han Fengqiu quickly said, "The matter here is concluded. The Crown Prince has already returned ahead of schedule."

"He left so early?" Zu An was somewhat disbelieving.

"Cloud-Mid Commandery is harsh and cold, incomparable to the capital's prosperity. Furthermore, this area is on the chaotic frontier. The Crown Prince naturally didn't want to stay long."

"You think everything is settled just by eliminating Jian Taiding and the Flying Horse Merchant Guild?" Zu An frowned. "What exactly is your plan?!"