Chapter 141: Human Skin Mask

Deep within the dense forest.

"Duan Anyu, you cannot escape. Why bother struggling in vain?"

Lu Shaoyou's body moved like a nimble swallow, continuously shuttling through the woods.

Ahead of him was a slightly disheveled figure.

It was none of other than Duan Anyu, the foremost figure among the younger generation of the Tianhe Sect and one of its Four Prodigies.

Logically speaking, Lu Shaoyou was no match for Duan Anyu whatsoever. However, Duan Anyu had sustained internal injuries, and after fleeing for two full nights, his current strength had plummeted to less than thirty percent of his prime.

A burning ambition raged in Lu Shaoyou's heart.

With Duan Anyu heavily wounded and his combat prowess severely diminished, this was a heaven-sent opportunity.

Among the Four Branches, Lu Shaoyou had always been the most unremarkable existence.

If a big fish like Duan Anyu died by his hands, it would undoubtedly catapult him to great fame.

Lu Shaoyou desired to prove himself far too much.

The two sped through the forest. Although Duan Anyu's strength was impaired, he was familiar with the terrain, making it difficult for Lu Shaoyou to catch up immediately.

Whoosh, whoosh—!

As they passed through a rocky area, Duan Anyu's vital energy surged. With a fierce stomp of his foot, his speed skyrocketed instantly, and he vanished ahead.

"Oh!?"

Lu Shaoyou hurriedly gave chase. Several corpses lay scattered across the rocks, blood flowing freely—evidently, a fierce battle had just taken place here. A burly man with a bushy beard was leaning against a boulder not far away, clearly severely wounded.

"Which way did that person go just now?"

Lu Shaoyou strode up to the bearded man and demanded sharply.

The bearded man pointed in a certain direction, gasping, "South... southward..."

Lu Shaoyou leaped forward, speeding off toward the south.

After bypassing several boulders, a ragged gasp that could no longer be suppressed reached his ears.

There was Duan Anyu, his face pale, leaning against a large rock and breathing heavily.

At this moment, the vital energy within his body was completely exhausted, and his injuries had fully erupted.

Lu Shaoyou smiled faintly. "Brother Duan, you truly are tenacious."

"Lu Shaoyou—!"

Duan Anyu usually possessed the refined appearance of a scholarly gentleman, but at this moment, his facial features were distorted with rage, as if he wanted to devour the person before him alive.

Had Lu Shaoyou not pursued him so relentlessly, he might have already escaped down the mountain.

Lu Shaoyou sighed with emotion. "We have known each other for four full years, haven't we? Time truly flies. Back then, when you and I first stepped into the martial world, we were both completely unremarkable figures within the sect..."

Duan Anyu panted heavily, remaining silent.

"The Tianhe Sect colluded with the Huanyuan Cult, committing heinous crimes. The Sect Master gave orders to eradicate the roots completely."

Lu Shaoyou stroked the long sword in his hand and said, "I will send you on your way now. Make sure to be reincarnated into a good family in your next life."

Swish!

A sword beam pierced through the air, swift as lightning.

Duan Anyu wanted to dodge, but his physical strength had long since been depleted, leaving him with no choice but to close his eyes.

Splat!

The sound of a sharp blade piercing flesh rang out. Duan Anyu felt no pain, and instinctively opened his eyes.

He saw Lu Shaoyou's face frozen in utter astonishment. Lowering his head, Lu Shaoyou stared at a crimson blood sword that had pierced straight through his chest.

With a thud, Lu Shaoyou's body collapsed to the ground, revealing the bearded man standing behind him.

Duan Anyu stammered in disbelief, "You... you..."

"It is me!"

The 'bearded man' ripped off the facial mask, revealing a slightly aged visage.

"Uncle-Master Ziyun!?"

Upon seeing the newcomer, Duan Anyu felt a mixture of shock and joy.

This person was none other than Bai Ziyun.

Bai Ziyun produced a small knife, walked over to Lu Shaoyou's corpse, and proceeded to peel the facial skin right off.

A short moment later, an intact human face skin lay resting in his palm.

Duan Anyu looked on in dumbfounded amazement. "This... this......"

Bai Ziyun applied Lu Shaoyou's facial skin onto his own face, picked up the identity token, and looked at Duan Anyu. "Well? Any flaws?"

Duan Anyu shook his head, astonished. "It is utterly miraculous. Unless someone is extremely familiar with Lu Shaoyou, it is completely impossible to detect the slightest flaw."

In merely a brief moment, Bai Ziyun had transformed into 'Lu Shaoyou'—it was simply astonishing.

"Walking the pugilistic world, learning a few extra skills is never a mistake."

Bai Ziyun said in a deep voice, "In a moment, I will help you change your skin and clothing as well, and then we will descend the mountain."

Duan Anyu breathed a sigh of relief. "Then I must trouble you, Uncle-Master."

Line of Sky.

Lin Ao said with great excitement, "Young Master, now that Bai Ziyun is dead and the Tianhe Sect has been destroyed, the vengeance of the Xiao family has finally been avenged."

Bai Ziyun and Chou Xiaochi had both plunged off the cliff to their deaths, witnessed by many.

In particular, Chou Xiaochi's corpse had even been recovered.

Therefore, many people believed that Bai Ziyun had perished as well.

"I originally wanted to hack Bai Ziyun into a thousand pieces; dying this way let him off too lightly."

Xiao Zifang narrowed his eyes and said, "Forget it, let us leave this place of right and wrong as quickly as possible."

Lin Ao calmed his emotions and asked, "Young Master, what are our next steps..."

"Come out!"

Xiao Zifang frowned, looking toward the cliff on the left side of the Line of Sky.

A short while later, a figure slowly emerged.

Lin Ao's pupils contracted sharply, and he blurted out, "It is him! That brat from the Four Absolute Sects—Fifth Brother died at his hands."

Xiao Zifang smiled. "I really do not know whether the martial world of River Prefecture is too small, or if we are simply destined to cross paths."

"Truly, where do we not meet in this life."

Yang Xing stroked the ghost-head saber in his hand, a hint of sentimentality rising in his heart.

Lin Ao raised his spear and shouted coldly, "Young Master, I will go and kill him."

Xiao Zifang held out a hand. "You are no match for him."

Hearing this, Lin Ao furrowed his brow, clearly unconvinced by Xiao Zifang's words.

Xiao Zifang raised his head to look upward, while Yang Xing lowered his head to gaze downward.

One stood at the bottom of the cliff, while the other stood atop it.

The air seemed to congeal.

Vital energy rippled outward from both men's bodies, producing a series of humming vibrations.

Yang Xing made the first move, shaking his ghost-head saber.

Swish, swish!

A chilling blade beam slashed downward from the edge, accompanied by a howling gale that sounded faintly like weeping ghosts and wailing wolves.

Xiao Zifang extended two fingers, gently pinching the blade beam before flicking it away with a subtle snap of his wrist.

Clang!

The flick seemed casual, but it carried an explosive force.

Illusionary Heart Finger!

Surging vital energy erupted from within Yang Xing's body as he delivered a fierce palm strike.

Bang!

The finger force and palm force collided in mid-air, generating a chain of sonic booms that shattered stone fragments and kicked up billows of dust.

Yang Xing's body jolted, forcing him to take several steps back as the blood within his chest began to roar.

Xiao Zifang had opened up eight primary meridians, and his vital energy had undergone repeated purification; he was fully capable of fighting against masters of the Dan-realm.

Had he not spent years lying low, he would undoubtedly have claimed a spot among the Four Prodigies today.

Suppressed the churning blood in his chest, Yang Xing channeled both his Xuanwu and Qinglong vital energies together. His fingers shifted rapidly as he unleashed a strike known as the 'Seal of Departing Heavens'.

Rumble!

The hand seal struck forth, causing the air to shudder and roar in a deafening display.

The 'Seal of Departing Heavens' was not only immensely powerful, but it also generated terrifying soundwaves capable of assaulting an opponent's mind.

Xiao Zifang's internal energy surged, sealing his own ears as his body transformed into a stream of light. His fingertips pierced forward like a striking spear.

Crack, crack! Snap, snap!

The finger light struck directly against the 'Seal of Departing Heavens', instantly locking the two forces in a stalemate.