The wealthy landlord of the village finally met his end on the spot, his head severed from his body.

Seeing that Li Jie could effortlessly dodge his father’s attack, Yung Fei immediately lunged at the handsome young man, gripping the sword tightly in his hand. Even though he hadn't seen Li Jie for over a year, Yung Fei still believed that the young man he used to beat up with ease would be just as easy to defeat now.

However, his confidence was completely misplaced. Not a single one of his attacks managed to land on Li Jie.

"There’s something you need to understand, Yung Fei. You’re nothing but a weakling who relies solely on your father’s power. But today, I will make your father suffer by watching you die!" Li Jie parried Yung Fei’s strike with such force that the young man's sword was knocked from his grip.

Yung Fei let out a loud cry, clutching his right wrist in pain. Even after losing his sword, the shock still reverberated through his arm. He couldn't believe it—after just one year apart, the boy who had once been his punching bag had changed so drastically.

"But I won’t kill you just yet. I’ll make you suffer first!" Li Jie continued, driving his fist into Yung Fei’s solar plexus.

Despite being the son of a renowned martial arts master, Yung Fei lacked true skill. He only trained when forced by his father and spent most of his days playing around with his three lackeys.

Li Jie’s punch landed squarely, sending Yung Fei crashing to the ground. He curled up, clutching his stomach in agony as fresh blood spewed from his mouth.

Li Jie then delivered a powerful kick to Yung Fei’s abdomen, sending him skidding backward. The young man, son of Cheng Xi, could not withstand the pain and let out a piercing scream, catching Cheng Xi’s attention. The master of the Sacred Sword Sect had been frozen in place, staring at the lifeless body of Pratama in his arms.

"My son!" Cheng Xi roared, rushing toward Yung Fei and intercepting Li Jie’s next kick just before it could land.

The handsome young man leaped back a few steps, feeling a slight pain in his shin from the impact. He silently regretted not using more of his inner strength when attacking Yung Fei. Had he known Cheng Xi would intervene, he would have struck with greater force.

"Don't be a coward, Yung Fei! You are my son and my successor!" Cheng Xi scolded, trying to console his son, who was already on the verge of tears.

His gaze then shifted to the dozens of disciples and followers who stood idly by, watching the scene unfold.

"Why are you all just standing there like statues? Kill that damn brat now!" he barked.

The disciples exchanged hesitant glances but remained frozen in place. Disillusionment was evident on their faces as they witnessed their master’s disgraceful actions.

"If you don’t attack him, I’ll kill you all myself!" Cheng Xi's furious roar echoed through the air, but still, none of his disciples moved.

"Are you so afraid of me that you have to order your men to fight for you?" Li Jie mocked.

"I fear no one, especially not an arrogant brat like you!" Cheng Xi shot back. Without hesitation, he launched himself at Li Jie.

His fist flew toward Li Jie’s head with immense force, but instead of dodging, Li Jie met the attack with an equally powerful block. Seizing the opening, he immediately struck at Cheng Xi’s exposed ribs with his claw-like fingers.

The old master swiftly twisted his body to the side, evading the attack while simultaneously launching a counterstrike.

Li Jie was slightly taken aback by Cheng Xi’s ability to attack while dodging. He hadn’t expected the old man to be so skilled. However, his rigorous training with Cheng Xi had prepared him well. He quickly dropped low, allowing Cheng Xi’s punch to whizz harmlessly over his head.

But Cheng Xi’s maneuver had a flaw—it left a large opening in his defense. Li Jie didn’t waste the opportunity. He unleashed the Holy Dragon Palm Strike, landing a clean hit on Cheng Xi’s stomach.

Cheng Xi grunted in pain. Fortunately, his strong inner energy protected him from more severe injury. The master of the Sacred Sword Sect immediately channeled his internal energy to heal some of the internal damage.

"So, this is the extent of your power? How pathetic," Li Jie sneered, a mocking smile forming on his lips. "Your skills don’t live up to your big words."

Cheng Xi seethed with rage. As both the village chief and the master of the Sacred Sword Sect, his pride had been utterly shattered. He had been completely humiliated in front of the villagers and his own disciples.

Enraged, he drew his sword and pointed it at Li Jie. "I swear I will end your life here and now!"

"You talk too much, old man. Prove it if you can!" Li Jie unsheathed the sword strapped to his back. He took a moment to admire the blade, which shimmered in a dazzling array of colors. The faces of his parents flashed through his mind.

"Father, Mother… I will avenge you. After this, you can rest in peace," he murmured in his heart.

He then focused on Cheng Xi, who was already charging toward him. Without hesitation, Li Jie surged forward to meet his opponent’s strike.

A fierce battle erupted before hundreds of onlookers. The villagers and Cheng Xi’s disciples backed away, unwilling to get caught in the deadly clash.

Cheng Xi relentlessly unleashed his most formidable techniques. His speed and swordsmanship forced Li Jie into a purely defensive stance, waiting for the right moment to counterattack.

As the fight progressed, Cheng Xi’s movements became faster and more aggressive. Frustrated by his failed attempts to land a hit, he increased his speed. Though Li Jie was now on the defensive, none of Cheng Xi’s strikes had yet drawn blood.

Realizing he couldn't keep up in a conventional fight, Li Jie activated his lightness skill, allowing him to move with supernatural agility. He knew that without it, he would eventually fall victim to Cheng Xi’s blade.

Li Jie’s sudden increase in speed caught Cheng Xi off guard. In mere moments, the young man turned the tide of battle, forcing Cheng Xi onto the defensive. The old master had no choice but to retreat, leaping several paces backward.

Li Jie did not pursue him. He watched, waiting to see what the old master would do next while preparing his Sacred Thousand-Light Sword Technique.

Cheng Xi took deep breaths, steadying himself before channeling his inner energy into his sword. In an instant, a massive aura erupted from the blade, accompanied by a loud buzzing noise, like a swarm of thousands of bees.

Then, without warning, he lunged forward once more, executing his ultimate technique.

"King Swarm Sword!" Cheng Xi roared as he swung his blade.