<h4>Chapter 113: Tian Sha''s Frustration</h4>


    Tian Sha showed no mercy. Although the eight Golden Core experts were formidable, they were no match for Tian Sha''s extraordinary talent and his formidable sword technique, the Heaven-Severing Sword Art. In a matter of moments, he had in four of them without suffering a single scratch. The remaining four felt a chill in their hearts and hastily retreated.


    Tian Sha flew towards the distant cier.


    Along the way, he was unstoppable. Two more Golden Core experts attempted to block him, but with a single, effortless strike from Tian Sha, they were both cut down.


    The onlookers retreated in fear.


    At this moment, Tian Sha''s formidable power was on full disy. These were Golden Core experts—each one was supposed to be immensely powerful, yet they fell to a single strike from him?


    Bei Qingsi frowned, while Zhongshan, standing beneath the distant cier, let out a coldugh. Zhao Suoxiang, standing nearby, also frowned and nced at Zhongshan.


    Tian Sha approached slowly, his imposing presence deterring any Golden Core expert from stepping forward. Bei Qingsi''s overwhelming strength had already instilled fear in the Golden Core experts, who could only watch the Iron Spear Sect disciples in the center with clenched teeth. They harbored resentment towards Tian Sha for killing their fellow disciples, but fear overpowered their hatred.


    Tian Shanded nearby, ncing at Bei Qingsi, then at Zhongshan, before casting a cold gaze around.


    So this is the strength of the Kaiyang Sect?


    "Boom!"


    A deafening explosion echoed from the sky above.


    High above, a brilliant light erupted, followed by an onught of sword energy, de energy, and spear energy raining down in all directions. Each st of energy was significantlyrger than that produced by Golden Core experts, measuring at least a hundred zhang in size.


    "Boom, boom, boom..."


    A series of devastating impacts followed, sting massive holes in the mountains and shattering giant boulders. Fortunately, these immense energies did not strike any people directly.


    As the brilliant light in the sky dissipated, a scene gradually emerged.


    Gun Wudi stood alone, facing four opponents. After a fierce battle, he hovered in mid-air, his face slightly flushed, eyes wide with intensity. His upper garment was in tatters, his chest stained with blood, but his fighting spirit remained undiminished. His spear pointed at the four opponents, blood dripping from its tip, a testament to the brutal fight that had just urred.


    The four opponents each wore expressions of shock. They had not anticipated Gun Wudi''s strength. The leaders of Tianyou Valley and Wanmo Sect each had a gaping wound in their shoulders, blood gushing out, with blood also trickling from the corners of their mouths, indicating severe internal injuries.


    The leader of Mingjian Tower, though not pierced by the spear, seemed gravely injured, blood seeping from his mouth as he red at Gun Wudi with fierce hatred.


    General Thunderp appeared to be in better condition, perhaps having held back during the battle, with only some damage to his ck robes, and otherwise unscathed.


    The leader of Tianyou Valley gripped his de, a look of shock in his eyes as he stared at Gun Wudi. Finally, with a slight tremble, he issued an order, "Disciples of Tianyou Valley, heed mymand."


    "Yes," came the response from the disciples below.


    "Retreat to the valley," the leadermanded softly, turning swiftly and flying towards the southwest.


    Seeing their leader depart, the disciples of Tianyou Valley quickly followed suit, gathering the bodies of their fallenrades and retreating southwest.


    "Wanmo Sect disciples, heed mymand," the leader of Wanmo Sect called out, clutching his shoulder.


    "Yes," the disciples responded immediately.


    "Retreat to the mountain," the leader of the Wanmo Sectmanded, immediately turning to fly away.


    Arge number of Wanmo Sect disciples followed closely behind.


    This left only the leader of Mingjian Tower and General Thunderp.


    Gun Wudi surveyed the scene below, then slowly descended to the cier. Although he wasn''t sure what had transpired, seeing the two protect the Iron Spear Sect members suggested they meant no harm.


    The leader of Mingjian Tower and General Thunderp also descended, followed by numerous disciples of Mingjian Tower. They quickly gathered around their leader, whether in the Golden Core or Innate stages. A disciple swiftly recounted the recent events to the leader. General Thunderp, on the other hand, red at Zhongshan from a distance.


    "You''re not dead?" General Thunderp eximed in surprise.


    Standing at the center of the group, Zhongshan met his gaze with a cold look and replied softly, "No, I''m not dead."


    No, I''m not dead! The words seemed to mock General Thunderp, as if to remind him that he should have crushed this insignificant ant thest time. The thought of having to report back to his emperor with this failure was intolerable. Zhongshan had to be eliminated.


    "Luo Mu, Gun Wudi is at his limit. We can kill him now," General Thunderp dered.


    Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, the leader of Mingjian Tower, Luo Mu, looked ahead with a serious expression. Bei Qingsi? Tian Sha? From his disciples'' ounts, both disyed strength akin to the Nascent Soul stage.


    Regardless of whether these two were truly in the Nascent Soul stage, their power was undeniable. But was Gun Wudi really at his limit?


    Turning slightly, Luo Mu nced at General Thunderp, who was fixated on the young man in the center.


    "Hahaha, Luo Mu, Thunderp,e at me!" Gun Wudiughed heartily, his eyes gleaming with a wild intensity. It was as if he would charge at them if they didn''t make a move.


    Luo Mu''s brows furrowed with anger. "At his limit? If he were truly at his limit, why didn''t you go all out earlier? Hmph, you just want to kill that young man."


    "Indeed, I only need to kill that boy now," General Thunderp admitted, ring at Zhongshan with murderous intent.


    Hearing General Thunderp''s words, Bei Qingsi stepped forward, transforming the ice beneath her feet into water, andnded in front of Zhongshan. Tian Sha, unable to stay aloft alone, quickly followed suit.


    Seeing Bei Qingsi and Tian Shand near Zhongshan, General Thunderp''s eyes grew colder. "Well, well, I didn''t expect someone in the Innate stage to have such influence."


    Clearly, General Thunderp saw their actions as a deliberate move to protect Zhongshan.


    Bei Qingsi indeed intended to protect Zhongshan, but Tian Sha wished Zhongshan would die immediately. Hended out of necessity and now red at General Thunderp, internally screaming that he wasn''t there to protect Zhongshan. If General Thunderp attempted to kill Zhongshan, Tian Sha might even help restrain Bei Qingsi.


    But these thoughts remained unspoken. Tian Sha''s intense gaze at General Thunderp gave the impression he was very concerned for Zhongshan, making General Thunderp cautious. Someone who couldmand such protection in the Innate stage would be a significant threat in the future. He had to be eliminated to avoid future repercussions for himself and the emperor.


    Murderous intent flickered in General Thunderp''s eyes. Despite Tian Sha''s "protective" stance, he resolved to kill Zhongshan immediately.


    "Disciples of Mingjian Tower, heed mymand," Luo Mu suddenly called out.


    "Yes," the disciples responded in unison.


    "Return to the mountain," Luo Mu ordered.


    In Luo Mu''s view, facing three opponents with Nascent Soul-level strength, he couldn''t afford to take risks. Although Gun Wudi was clearly injured, the extent of his injuries was uncertain. Luo Mu couldn''t bet on this uncertain situation, especially with his own severe injuries and General Thunderp''s previous half-hearted efforts, showing they weren''t on the same side. Given the circumstances, he decided to retreat immediately.


    Without a word to General Thunderp, Luo Mu turned and swiftly led his disciples away.


    Seeing Luo Mu leave, General Thunderp''s eyes widened with frustration. He had hoped Luo Mu would stay and fight alongside him, but Luo Mu had made it clear he had no intention of doing so.


    As the Mingjian Tower disciples departed, Gun Wudi pointed his spear at General Thunderp.


    General Thunderp knew all too well how powerful Gun Wudi was. During their earlier battle, Gun Wudi had overwhelmed his three Nascent Soul-level opponents. The im that Gun Wudi was at his limit was just to convince Luo Mu. However, General Thunderp wasn''t certain about the true extent of Gun Wudi''s injuries.


    Facing Bei Qingsi and Tian Sha alone might not pose a significant threat to him, but if Gun Wudi focused his full strength on him, it would be a different story. With Luo Mu gone, he was left to deal with this formidable foe alone.


    What to do? Fight one against three?


    General Thunderp shot a cold, resentful nce at Zhongshan before leaping into the air and fleeing. He decided to temporarily abandon his n to kill Zhongshan.


    Watching General Thunderp''s retreating figure, Tian Sha felt a surge of frustration. Couldn''t he have held out a little longer?


    As the enemies retreated, Bei Qingsi waved her hand, and the hundred-zhang cier behind her suddenly melted, transforming back into a mighty river flowing downstream.


    Victory. They were saved.


    The Iron Spear Sect disciples were overjoyed, their eyes filled with the relief of surviving a near-death experience.


    "Poof!"


    Gun Wudi, his face already flushed, suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood. His body trembled and he copsed.


    "Master!"


    An Iron Spear Sect disciple cried out, rushing forward to catch the falling Gun Wudi. The others also hurried over in rm.


    "Master! Master!" The Iron Spear Sect disciples were frantic, quickly trying to feed him a pill.


    Gun Wudi waved his hand weakly, pushing the pill away. With difficulty, he said, "It''s no use. To defeat the four of them, I forcibly shattered my Nascent Soul. My energy is in chaos. There''s no saving me."


    "No, it can''t be, Master," a disciple cried, refusing to believe it, still trying to give him the pill.


    Closing his eyes, Gun Wudi shook his head, listening to his iron-blooded disciples weeping beside him. He sighed softly.


    "Zhao Suoxiang, kneel," Gun Wudi suddenlymanded.


    Zhao Suoxiang immediately moved in front of Gun Wudi, kneeling down before his master. His swollen eyes were filled with panic. Was his master really dying?