Chapter 1017: Zhang Xuan Invincible (Part 1)

"Elder Huang?" Hall Master Ming hesitated for a moment upon recognizing the speaker, then nodded.

As a dignified Deputy Hall Master and a Seven-Star Poison Master, it would indeed appear like bullying if he personally dealt with an elder's guest, taking advantage of his position and power. It was therefore ideal if Elder Huang was willing to step in for him.

Elder Huang's strength was comparable to Xu You's, having reached the peak of Saint Realm 1-dan. His understanding of poison was also at the peak of Six-Star. With such formidable power, it would certainly be more than enough to teach this fellow a lesson.

"You're Sun Qiang, aren't you? So many of us are here, and you don't even open your eyes—that's truly arrogant! But arrogant people usually die faster. I'll give you three breaths to immediately kneel and apologize to Hall Master Ming. You'll have a chance to live; otherwise, don't blame me for being impolite..."

Receiving permission, Elder Huang stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he looked at "Sun Qiang" before him.

After three breaths, the person's eyes remained closed, as if dead.

"You're asking for trouble! I want to see if your strength matches your arrogance!" Seeing that the other person completely ignored him, making him feel like a clown talking to himself in a mirror, Elder Huang became enraged. He spread his palm and violently lunged forward.

*Boom!* True Qi shot out from his five fingers like a celestial maiden scattering flowers, and countless poisonous powders instantly enveloped the middle-aged man in front.

*Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle!* Before the poisonous powder even reached him, the flowers and plants in the courtyard visibly withered, turning black like charcoal.

"Is that... the 'Carefree Laughter Powder'?" an elder exclaimed in surprise.

The Carefree Laughter Powder was a specific concoction developed by Elder Huang. A peak Saint Realm 1-dan expert would die with a smile on their face just by inhaling a tiny bit, making it incredibly terrifying and infamous among the elders.

"Indeed..." Elder Huang nodded proudly, seeing that someone recognized it.

This powder was his most potent masterpiece. Since the other party was so uncooperative, he would first poison him until his life and death were no longer his own!

*Swish!* As he spoke, the powder fell all over "Sun Qiang" like a layer of white frost.

"The Carefree Laughter Powder can seep into the body through the skin, making holding your breath useless. With so much on him, this guy is finished; even gods couldn't save him..." Seeing the scene before him, an elder couldn't help but shake his head.

Such a potent poison, even if one only got a small amount on them from a distance, would easily be fatal, let alone breathing it in. Elder Huang had thrown out so much and propelled it with True Qi; the poison must have already seeped into the opponent's skin, ensuring certain death.

"Wait, look!" While they were lamenting, another elder suddenly frowned and pointed forward: "It seems... this fellow isn't reacting at all..."

Hearing his words, everyone simultaneously looked over.

The person sitting cross-legged in front remained still on the ground, eyes tightly closed, as if asleep. There was no movement at all, no difference from before, as if the Carefree Laughter Powder released by Elder Huang had no effect whatsoever.

"Normally, after being poisoned by the Carefree Laughter Powder, one would convulse all over and laugh uncontrollably... This guy seems rigid, without any expression... Elder Huang, your medicine hasn't lost its potency, has it?" Another elder couldn't help but ask.

"This..." Elder Huang blinked and quickly looked forward.

Although the other person was motionless, whether he was poisoned or not was something Elder Huang, as a peak Six-Star Poison Master, could easily discern.

His skin was smooth and supple, seemingly flawless... Not only did he show no signs of poisoning, but he looked vibrant, as if he had taken some powerful tonic...

Damn it... Can't you at least *look* poisoned? Or at least blush a little, just for show... Otherwise, I'm going to look ridiculous...

"No wonder this guy is so arrogant and disrespectful; he must have taken an antidote in advance..." The more he thought, the angrier Elder Huang became. Gritting his teeth, he declared, "Since he's not afraid of poison, I want to see if a mere Half-Saint can withstand my berserk power!"

With a raised eyebrow, he delivered a punch straight at Zhang Xuan, who was still sitting on the ground!

This fellow must have taken some unknown antidote, rendering his most potent Carefree Laughter Powder completely useless. Continuing to use poison would only bring further humiliation; it was better to crush him with sheer power.

He would make the other party realize the price of arrogance!

*Boom!* As the full power of a Saint Realm 1-dan peak expert was unleashed, the entire courtyard seemed to be swept by a fierce wind. The bluestone-paved ground groaned loudly, as if it could not withstand his strike and would collapse at any moment.

"This guy actually... still isn't opening his eyes?" Seeing Elder Huang unleash his most powerful attack, their True Qi pressure made even them short of breath... Yet, "Sun Qiang," who bore the brunt of the attack, still hadn't opened his eyes, didn't even try to dodge, remaining completely motionless...

Isn't this going a bit too far?

The incredibly violent fist landed on "Sun Qiang's" face.

*Crack!* The sound of bones breaking echoed, and everyone immediately saw Elder Huang clutching his wrist and jumping up, his face twitching uncontrollably from the intense pain, as if he was about to cry.

"What..." Everyone blinked, utterly bewildered.

Elder Huang had unleashed a full-power strike directly to the other person's face, yet the opponent's skin wasn't even scratched, while his own wrist was shattered... This couldn't be real, could it?

"Damn you, I'll kill you!" Seeing the expressions on everyone's faces, Elder Huang was mortified with shame and fury. With a long cry, he produced a long sword and thrust it straight at the person in front of him!

"Elder Huang, don't be reckless..." Everyone was startled by his action.

If something went wrong with poison, he could claim he didn't control the potency well enough... But directly stabbing with a sword meant an intent to kill, and there would be no turning back.

*Whoosh!* However, it was too late to say anything now. Elder Huang struck in a fit of rage, and the sharp sword energy immediately slashed down towards the person sitting on the ground. Just as it was about to land on his head, "Sun Qiang," who still hadn't opened his eyes, suddenly flipped his palm and slammed it downwards.

*Rumble!* A thunderous thud resounded, and then everyone watched as Elder Huang's sword energy shattered inch by inch, followed by his head being slammed into his chest with a single slap!

*Thud!* The body fell stiffly to the ground.

"What?" "Elder Huang was killed with a single slap?" "That slap not only shattered his attack but also forcefully sent the power back... Is this guy really just a Half-Saint?" Seeing Elder Huang lying dead on the ground, everyone froze.

This was an elder, a peak Saint Realm 1-dan expert, someone with comparable strength to them. Yet... he was killed with a single slap by this person... How powerful must that strength be?

"It seems his body didn't move, and his eyes still haven't opened..." A slightly trembling voice emerged from the crowd.

Only then did everyone recall the earlier scene: "Sun Qiang" was still sitting motionless on the ground, just as before. The most crucial detail was... his eyes were still closed!

In other words... the opponent had killed Elder Huang with just a casual strike.

"This guy is strange, and killing Elder Huang is a heinous crime! Everyone, attack together, don't let him escape..." With a roar, the remaining nineteen elders shouted simultaneously, circling Zhang Xuan in the center.

Earlier, if they had attacked, it would have been seen as bullying the weaker, making it difficult to explain to Elder Xu later. But now that this person had killed Elder Huang, his crime was unforgivable, and no one could say anything against them.

"Alright, attack together!" "I'd like to see if he can withstand my 'King of Hell's Helpless Powder'!"

*Whoosh!* Nineteen elders attacked simultaneously. Instantly, various poisonous mists and insects flew towards Zhang Xuan, covering him densely.

With so much potent poison, let alone a Half-Saint, even an early-stage Saint Realm 2-dan expert might have died on the spot, poisoned to death. Yet, after unleashing their poisons, everyone strangely discovered... the person remained motionless, as if completely unaware of the surrounding toxins.

"This guy's antidote is powerful... Our poisons aren't working, so let's stop using them and just attack directly!" Someone shouted, and the others nodded in agreement.

They had used so much poison, yet this guy showed no injuries and his complexion hadn't changed, which was proof enough. It seemed that potent poisons had no effect on him whatsoever. In that case... a violent solution was necessary!

*Boom! Boom! Boom!* Along with shouts, the attacks of the nineteen elders simultaneously surged towards the person in the center.

Feeling the overwhelming pressure around him, "Sun Qiang," who had been sitting on the ground, finally seemed to realize the threat to his survival. He stood up, moved with lightning speed, and directly darted into the crowd.

His movements were nothing like a Half-Saint's; instead, they resembled those of a Saint Realm 2-dan expert. His speed was like a flash of lightning, and although his punches were straightforward, they gave off an inescapable feeling, as if they contained the very Dao of Heaven.

*Bang, bang, bang, bang!* With every punch, an elder was inevitably struck, sent flying backward, a fierce power surging from within them, making resistance utterly impossible.

Not only were his punches powerful, but his leg techniques were also exceptional. His kicks were like fleeting shadows, making them impossible to guard against.

"He... he's still closing his eyes!" The more they fought, the more dismayed they became. Nineteen peak Saint Realm 1-dan experts were besieging a Half-Saint, yet not only was the opponent unharmed and growing stronger with each blow, but most crucially... he was still fighting with his eyes closed!

It was as if he was sleepwalking, and all his attacks and movements... seemed to be purely instinctive reactions to the fight!

With mere instinctive reactions, he was rendering their combined forces of nineteen elders utterly incapable of retaliation... Deputy Hall Master Ming and the others felt as if they were going mad.

"Quick, attack! The elders can't hold on much longer..." One of the three Deputy Hall Masters could no longer contain himself and shouted.

Previously, they had refrained from acting out of concern for their status, unwilling to deal with a mere Half-Saint. But now, they realized that if they didn't intervene, the nineteen elders might end up like Elder Huang, dead on the spot. They could no longer hold back.

"Alright, let's attack together..." With a raised eyebrow, Deputy Hall Master Ming suddenly lunged forward with his palm.