Chapter 234: Underestimating the Enemy Is a Grave Mistake

Zhang Xuemou, who heard these words from afar, was startled and exclaimed, "Is he insane? Boasting in front of us is one thing, but how dare he brag so brazenly in front of Black Lotus? Can't he see Black Lotus is out of control?"

Several female disciples were also extremely nervous. "Senior Sister Zhang, what should we do?" one asked. "Are we just going to stand by and watch her kill Jiang Fan? If our Master finds out we didn't help, she definitely won't let us off lightly."

Zhang Xuemou was fuming internally! She slammed her fist on the ground. "Go! Let's go back and stop Black Lotus!" As that junior sister had said, their Master was so fond of Jiang Fan; if she found out they had stood by and watched Jiang Fan die at Black Lotus's hands, she would surely punish them. As she got up, she said fiercely, "If any junior sister dies trying to save him, I... I won't forgive him!"

At the same time, Black Lotus was also shocked by Jiang Fan's words. Her eyes, filled with murderous intent, glared at him. "You? Get out of the way, and let that person come out!" She would rather believe it was Qin Caihe and Chu Xingmeng, both at Foundation Establishment Layer 5, who did it. There was no way she'd believe that so many of her brothers could have been killed by someone with no spiritual root.

Jiang Fan took a deep breath and said, "Senior Sister Qin, Junior Sister Chu, step back; there's going to be a fierce battle shortly." Though both were at the Core Formation stage, Black Lotus, who had lived a life of danger, was definitely a cut above Hua Xiangchen in terms of strength. To kill her, he would need to use all his strength. Once the battle began, he wouldn't be able to control the surrounding situation.

Qin Caihe's eyes showed reluctance, and she gritted her teeth slightly, "I'll help you too! Anyway, if Jiang Fan died, Black Lotus was unlikely to spare her either. It was better to assist Jiang Fan; perhaps there would still be a glimmer of hope."

Chu Xingmeng also perceived that Black Lotus's strength was definitely superior to Hua Xiangchen's. At that time, Jiang Fan had defeated Hua Xiangchen only after more than two hundred moves, and it hadn't been an easy victory. Now, facing Black Lotus, how much chance did he have? She immediately pulled out her elegant, snow-white longsword and stood shoulder to shoulder with Jiang Fan.

Meanwhile, Black Lotus, who had been waiting for the hidden expert to appear but received no response, finally grew impatient. Her eyes glowed with fierce killing intent. "Alright, so you're not coming out, are you? Then I'll kill one first! Let's see if you'll show yourself then!"

Her gaze swept casually before settling on Jiang Fan in the center. She roared, "You like to show off? Then you're it!" *Whoosh*. A pitch-black, ink-like curved blade appeared in her palm, incredibly sharp. Tapping her toe, she leaped towards Jiang Fan.

Zhang Xuemou, leading the others, was still halfway there. Seeing Black Lotus attack Jiang Fan from a distance, her face changed dramatically, and she shouted from afar, "Stop!" Black Lotus completely ignored her. The black curved blade in her hand ruthlessly slashed towards Jiang Fan's neck. This sight made Zhang Xuemou and the many female disciples' pupils contract sharply. They thought to themselves, *It's over! Just wait for Gong Caiyi to unleash her fury!*

However, what stunned them next was this: Jiang Fan's skill was extraordinary. The blade, which seemed like a black lightning bolt, did not, as they had imagined, easily cut off Jiang Fan's neck. On the contrary, Jiang Fan gripped his black sword with both hands, easily blocking the attack. The two metals collided, emitting a clear, ringing sound.

Black Lotus immediately showed surprise. Although she was furious, she still knew the limits of her strikes. That last strike, while not her full power, was not something a mere spiritual-rootless disciple could block. She couldn't help but feel annoyed. She wanted to establish her authority by killing, but she couldn't even kill someone without a spiritual root? How preposterous!

"Let's see how many more times you can block!" She leaned forward with the momentum, thrusting the tip of her curved blade fiercely towards Jiang Fan's face. Jiang Fan remained incredibly calm. He lowered his head to dodge the blade tip, while simultaneously, his black sword, held in his palm, slanted upwards, thrusting towards her jaw. This forced Black Lotus to retreat.

Zhang Xuemou came back to her senses, then excitedly exclaimed, "Quick! Hurry over there! Jiang Fan can't hold out for many rounds." She never expected Jiang Fan to actually have some skill. He could even contend with Black Lotus for two or three moves. If he held on a little longer, they could arrive in time to help.

Black Lotus's expression shifted slightly. The exchange just now, though not formal moves, was a genuine combat reaction! Jiang Fan's seemingly simple acts of lowering his head and thrusting his sword could not be achieved without extremely rich combat experience! Now, Black Lotus began to take Jiang Fan seriously, examining him up and down as she said, "You've got some tricks! But this is as far as you go!"

She swung her black curved blade, suddenly channeling her spiritual energy. However, before she could even cast her technique, Jiang Fan preempted her. "Sword of Sundered Light!" Since the opponent underestimated him, how could Jiang Fan let such an opportunity pass? His strike was like a thunderclap! Feeling the immense power of this sword strike, capable of slaying any Foundation Establishment Layer 9 cultivator, Black Lotus's face changed dramatically. Only then did she realize she had committed a grave error! Underestimating her opponent!!! That damned Lu Xinghe, didn't he say this male disciple from Qingyun Sect was a spiritual-rootless good-for-nothing? Without time to think further, she quickly raised her blade to parry.

*Clang—* The sound of metal colliding was accompanied by the thunderous roar of the sword technique. Black Lotus was knocked back two steps. She was about to strike back, intending to seize the moment her opponent's sword move ended. However, Jiang Fan showed no signs of stopping. The second move followed immediately: "Sunrise Over the Azure Sea!" And then, the third move came: "Stars Falling from Heaven and Earth!" One powerful sword move after another numbed Black Lotus's hand, and her curved blade was almost slipping from her grasp!

But Black Lotus, as a bandit leader, was no easy opponent. Seeing that she would be passively beaten if this continued, she wriggled her tongue, and a small iron bead hidden at the base of her tongue was suddenly spat out, flying straight towards Jiang Fan's face. The hidden weapon came without any warning; it was swift and urgent. By the time Jiang Fan noticed it, the iron bead was already dangerously close. There was no avoiding it! In this critical moment, he decisively pointed a finger. "Purple Qi from the East!" An incomparably powerful purple beam of light burst forth from his two fingers. It instantly pierced through the iron bead. *Bang—* The iron bead exploded on impact, scattering countless tiny iron hooks. If they had exploded against a person, these hooks would have embedded themselves in the flesh, causing agonizing pain. The purple beam, its momentum undiminished, grazed past Black Lotus's shoulder! The immense power startled Black Lotus.

At this very moment, she finally understood that the expert she had been searching for was none other than Jiang Fan, right in front of her! What pleased her was that she had finally found the culprit. What worried her was that she might not be able to get her revenge. And just as she dodged that strike, Jiang Fan pressed forward again. Black Lotus grew furious, "Enough! You still want to suppress me?" How could a dignified Core Formation expert be suppressed by a martial artist at Foundation Establishment Layer 7? Seizing the only available opening, she decisively struck. "Black Shark Submerging the Sea!" "Stars Falling from Heaven and Earth!" Jiang Fan countered with a sword slash. One was a Profound-tier high-grade technique, the other an Earth-tier technique. Upon collision, they were surprisingly evenly matched. Black Lotus was utterly shocked. Even with her own moves, she couldn't gain an advantage over her opponent! However, as a bandit, she was most skilled in murderous arts; techniques were only one part of her repertoire. In the instant they exchanged blows, she lifted her toe and fiercely kicked towards Jiang Fan's thigh. Beneath her boot, a one-inch-long steel needle emerged, covered in a purplish-black sheen. It was clearly coated with potent poison!