Enraged and flustered, Yin Dongkai and his two companions stopped talking and lunged at Fang Hao with weapons drawn.

Back when they had just been named among the Five Elites of Qilan City, all three were only at the second tier of the Dharma Realm. Afterward, they soaked in the pool infused with celestial beast blood in a secret realm, allowing them all to break through to the third tier. Four years later, they had advanced once more.

Fang Hao had always concealed his cultivation. As far as they knew, when he first became one of the Five Elites, he had only been at the sixth tier of the Heavenly Place Realm. Even if he'd soaked in that same pool, at most he might have reached the ninth tier of Heavenly Place. After another four years of cultivation, they figured he'd just barely stepped into the first tier of the Dharma Realm.

With the three of them now at the fourth tier of Dharma Realm, facing someone they believed only at the first tier, it was natural for them to think they had the upper hand.

So when the Guan Clan approached them and offered a generous reward, they barely hesitated before agreeing.

What they hadn't expected was that after witnessing the celestial dynasty's geniuses on the top floor of Ruyi Pavilion, their Dao hearts crumbled.

They had even considered giving up entering the micro-world entirely.

But they feared Fang Hao might do the same. If he didn't enter, they couldn't complete their task or claim the reward.

Luckily, Fang Hao was bold enough to go in, and they had followed, nervous yet excited.

The departure of Wu Yuqi had delighted them even more—everything was going according to plan.

"As long as we kill Fang Hao, we can hide somewhere, and when the micro-world opens again, we'll just leave."

That was the thought running through all three minds.

Seeing Fang Hao within arm's reach, bright smiles appeared on their faces.

Just then, Fang Hao smiled too.

"Hmm?"

The three were taken aback.

"Why is he smiling?"

"What right does he have to smile?"

"Just because he once used a secret technique to overcome someone a level higher, defeating a first-tier Dharma expert while at Heavenly Place sixth-tier? We're three people, all three tiers above him, and we have our own secret techniques! What's he got to be so calm about?"

They soon found out.

Fang Hao made his move.

With a calm swing of his green long sword, his cultivation burst forth—clearly at the third tier of the Dharma Realm.

"Whoosh! Whoosh!!"

A barrage of sword shadows erupted, forming three jade dragons that roared toward the trio.

The sword intent was so powerful and sharp it felt solid, as though the world itself had been reduced to nothing but blades.

"What!!!"

Yin Dongkai and the others were horrified.

Fang Hao's actual strength was nothing like what they'd imagined. He wasn't at the first tier—he was already at the third!

If he were just an ordinary Dharma third-tier cultivator, three against one would still give them the advantage.

But everyone had seen it at the martial arena—Fang Hao had slaughtered enemies four tiers above him.

If there was only a one-tier gap now...

That thought alone made all three tremble in fear.

But it was already too late. The jade dragons of sword light were nearly upon them.

Desperately, they pulled out their life-saving treasures to block the attack.

"Puff!!"

"Clang!!"

Two of them were swallowed whole by the jade dragons. A storm of sword shadows tore them apart, slicing their bodies into countless fragments.

Yin Dongkai barely managed to survive by shielding himself with a crude bronze bell, but he was shaking and completely terrified, unable to fight back.

It had all happened in a flash.

"You're still alive? Then take another strike!"

Fang Hao raised his sword again.

Yin Dongkai panicked and shouted in terror.

"Brother Fang, spare me! I'll give you everything I have! Please—"

He hadn't even finished speaking. He didn't get to plead, let alone beg for mercy.

Fang Hao's sword cut him down instantly.

It didn't matter if they were at the fourth, fifth, or even sixth tier of Dharma Realm—Fang Hao could cut them down with ease.

After dispatching all three, Fang Hao collected their storage rings. Instead of obliterating their corpses on the spot, he wrapped them with special talisman seals and stored them in a ring. He would deal with them after returning to Tianyuan Realm. It was the most cautious approach.

He picked a direction and swiftly departed.

Before long, five young cultivators arrived at the canyon. The leader was thin, dressed in gray combat gear, with a brooding look in his eyes.

These were the five followers sent by the City Lord of Wangcheng. Before their departure, the City Lord had specifically instructed them to "look after" Qilan City's elites, so they had used various methods to track them.

After casting a tracking spell, the gray-robed cultivator said, "No doubt about it. The Qilan City group was definitely here, and they got into a fight. No idea how it ended though."

"After him!"

With another spell, the gray-robed man led the group in the direction Fang Hao had gone.

This was a complete world, governed by the laws of nature, though smaller than most.

It had been discovered long ago by the Mingyue Celestial Dynasty. At the time, it was inhabited by many natives—all of whom were eventually slaughtered by the dynasty's powerhouses. Since then, the micro-world had become the dynasty's private property, later used to host the Hundred City Battle.

Even so, to the young talents who had yet to reach their peak, it was still a vast and mysterious land.

Whether it was good luck, or a sign of the land's abundance, Fang Hao had only flown for about an hour when he came upon a rare spirit herb.

"This is... Blue Moon Grass! Judging by its age, it's at least nine thousand years old!"

This herb had incredible effects. Just refining and consuming it could likely help Fang Hao break through. And if it were turned into a pill, it could greatly benefit any average cultivator.

Fang Hao was ecstatic, but he remained cautious. He summoned a puppet and kept his distance, carefully maneuvering the puppet to pick the herb.

Just as the puppet was about to grab the Blue Moon Grass, an angry shout rang out from nearby.

"Stop right there!!"

Fang Hao ignored it. But the newcomer was close and quick. With a single punch, he sent the puppet flying—just a breath away from snatching the herb.

"You deaf or what? I told you to stop!"

The newcomer was short, squat like a potato, but brimming with power. His cultivation had reached the sixth tier of the Dharma Realm.

Fang Hao didn't waste time arguing. He just wanted the herb and to be on his way. Without a word, he drew his sword and struck.

Zing!!

A blinding white flash—sword light shot straight toward the short cultivator. The man couldn't dodge in time.

Clang!!

Just before the blade struck him, a dazzling protective robe flared to life, blocking the sword.

The robe merely dimmed slightly, shimmering unsteadily.

Still, this was a huge shock to the short cultivator. Fang Hao had damaged his precious treasure, filling him with both fury and distress.

"You bastard! You dare sneak attack me?!"

He pulled out a massive iron war hammer and charged like a wild beast, loud and intimidating.

Though small in stature, his strength was monstrous. With raw aggression, he forced Fang Hao onto the defensive for a while.

Only occasionally could Fang Hao find an opening to counterattack—and even then, the protective robe absorbed the blows.

Because of that robe, Fang Hao couldn't land a killing blow, but his opponent also couldn't subdue him.

The fight was at a stalemate.

"DIE!!"

The short man roared, eyes twisted with rage. Gripping his hammer with both hands, he summoned a terrifying surge of energy and brought it crashing down from above.

BOOOOM!!!

A thunderous roar split the heavens—it was as if the sky itself was falling.

The massive war hammer came down with world-shattering force.

Before it, Fang Hao looked tiny—like a lone leaf in a stormy sea.

BANG!!

But he remained calm. He pulled out a talisman, which immediately turned into a stream of light and formed a giant shield in front of him.

The hammer crashed into the shield, and a violent shockwave burst outward like a tsunami, eventually dissipating harmlessly.

Fortunately, their battle took place in midair. Otherwise, the Blue Moon Grass would have been destroyed.

Fang Hao had many ways to counter the blow, but he had deliberately chosen the method that kept his other trump cards hidden.

His steady and cautious mindset—something he'd inherited from Fang Chu—was fully on display.