Chapter 33: Zhang San San — Battle Against Tu Mian (Part 2)

It wasn't merely that Tu Congwen lacked confidence in defeating Tu Mian; he knew, in truth, that his defeat was inevitable.

However, just moments ago in the ancestral hall, Guest Elder Zhao had suddenly whispered to him, commanding him to fight Tu Mian no matter the cost.

In truth, even if she hadn't spoken, he would have stepped onto this martial stage today. With Zuo Tu advancing aggressively, how could he allow the Family Head to face them alone?

If death could settle today's matter, he was willing to let his blood splatter the stage to block the path of others!

How could Tu Mian fail to see through his intentions? Smiling inwardly, he thought: *You want to use your death to crown me with the reputation of being a kin-slayer? Then let's see if you actually have the ability. Dying is easy; it is only through living a life worse than death that you will truly know my prowess.*

Both Tu Congwen and Tu Mian wielded banners.

The Tu family was renowned for their banner arts, using white banners as support and black banners for combat. Both men held black banners, but the one in Tu Mian's hand featured a handle made of lustrous, bone-like material, possessing far more spiritual radiance than Tu Congwen's dark jade handle.

Seeking to seize the initiative, Tu Mian raised his hand and unleashed a Repelling Spell, striking Tu Congwen in the right ribs and forcing him back three steps.

Following this, Tu Mian closed the distance to engage in melee combat. Using both hands and legs, he struck Tu Congwen so relentlessly that the latter could not resist, blood streaming from his ears, nose, and mouth.

Tu Congwen knew there was a gap between them, but he had not realized the disparity was so vast. Before he could even react, the next blow was already upon him.

Seeing his wretched state, the members of the Main Line watching the match felt a pang of pity, but since the combatants themselves had not called for a halt, no one could concede on Tu Congwen's behalf.

"This is going too far!" Tu Cunchan, watching from below, shouted through gritted teeth, his eyes bloodshot with rage.

With banner arts at his disposal, Tu Mian chose instead to fight Tu Congwen with raw physical strength. It was as if a mortal had voluntarily discarded their weapon to fight barehanded—a move intended to demonstrate his own overwhelming power and to humiliate his opponent.

Even if Tu Congwen survived, this incident would damage his Dao Heart. Unless he could find his own way out, he would likely never progress again.

As Zhao Chun watched them fight, her conviction only grew. Just as Tu Mian's heavy fist was about to slam into Tu Congwen's face, she gripped the Crimson Edge Dagger, kicked off the ground, and shot toward the high platform like an arrow!

With this strike, she directly employed a sword-swinging form, slashing down toward Tu Mian!

No one expected Zhao Chun to launch a sudden attack, and the entire arena fell into instant silence.

Tu Mian was also greatly startled. He hurriedly turned to evade, rapidly putting distance between them. The speed of his retreat was far beyond what a third-level Qi Refinement cultivator should be capable of!

"Guest Elder Zhao! What do you think you are doing!" he roared in fury.

Yet Zhao Chun did not stop for a moment, employing the Rapid Movement Sword Technique to press her attack relentlessly!

The members of Zuo Tu also reacted, reprimanding the Main Line's Guest Elder for breaking the rules and disrupting the fairness of the duel. However, Tu Cunchan's eyes flashed with successive realizations as he whispered, "So that's it... so that's it!"

Tu Mian dodged left and right in a state of disarray. Seeing Zhao Chun's sword strike coming again, he actually used his bare hand to swat the sword light aside!

"Have you had enough?" He finally forced Zhao Chun to stop, his gaze venomous. "To think you actually saw through it. I truly underestimated you!"

"You thought you were seamless, but in reality, you are riddled with flaws," Zhao Chun said bluntly. She swung her sword again, saying, "You are Tu Cunzhi's grandson, yet he shows no affection toward you; instead, he shows only fear. You are a member of the Tu family, yet you fight barehanded to intentionally humiliate him. The humiliation is just a front; the truth is you are hiding the fact that you cannot use banner arts!"

"Why do you not use banner arts to fight me now?"

"Why can a third-level Qi Refinement cultivator like you block my sword techniques?"

"Why are you so desperate to succeed the Family Head?"

"Do you dare to answer?" Zhao Chun pressed closer, her voice a low hiss in his ear. "How long have you been practicing that Repelling Spell? Why does it feel like a child's first attempt—all form and no substance?"

"I'll kill you!" Unable to endure any longer, Tu Mian erupted in a sudden rage, his hands clawing forward to snap Zhao Chun's neck!

Zhao Chun was prepared. With the aid of the Serpent Step, she evaded him by five paces in the blink of an eye. Yet Tu Mian refused to let it go; he drew two crimson centipedes from his sleeve, which grew to the size of civets and lunged toward Zhao Chun!

"Male and Female Centipede Gu! You really are a follower of the Renyang Sect!" Zhao Chun might not have recognized them, but Tu Cunchan certainly did. His fury reached a boiling point as he bellowed, "Tu Cunzhi! How dare you! To betray the main sect and attempt to hand the Tu family legacy over to outsiders!"

Having been exposed, Tu Cunzhi was consumed by shame and rage. He intended to charge at Tu Cunchan, but before he could move, a tiny blade, barely an inch long, flew from the distance and severed his head. Blood erupted into the air!

"The traitor is dead!" Zhao Chun shouted. "As for the rest, I leave it to the Tu Family Head to clean his own house!"

She dared not allow herself any more distractions. That Tu Mian was actually a fifth-level Qi Refinement cultivator, and with the two centipede Gu insects, defending herself was proving to be extremely difficult!