"Do not let her go upstairs to save that girl, stop her."
Seeing Shen Lang about to block everyone alone and let Shi Wu Xie sneak upstairs to rescue her, Tang Jiu Tian's face turned grim. He uttered the order with an irrefutable tone.
"Yes—"
As Tang Jiu Tian's words fell, forty Tang Sect disciples shouted in unison. They then split into three groups. The central group advanced towards Shen Lang, while the left and right groups skirted around him to intercept Shi Wu Xie.
"Hmph—"
Shen Lang saw through the Tang Sect disciples' intentions at a glance.
"I once shattered seven armies with a single sword, I once decided the fate of the world with a single sword. Today, with one sword, I shall crush all who foolishly stand in my way."
Facing the assault of forty Tang Sect disciples, Shen Lang smiled, accumulating immense power in his sword before unleashing it with a fierce swing.
This sword, named Po Qi Jun, was created by him ten years ago.
The old man was a good master. He not only taught his disciples according to their aptitude but also took them out to practice what they had learned.
Ten years ago, Shen Lang comprehended a sword strike, named Po Qi Jun.
To verify its power, the old man took him to the war-torn Black State.
At that time, there was an extremely brutal criminal organization leader in the Black State, known as General Black Shark.
Black Shark commanded tens of thousands of mercenaries. They had no bottom line, engaging in arson, murder, and robbery, committing all sorts of unscrupulous crimes, and even resorting to cannibalism.
The old man knew this was the perfect target for Shen Lang to test his sword.
Thus, the old man gave Shen Lang a mission: to kill Black Shark within a single day.
At that time, Shen Lang was only fifteen, his face radiating confidence, and his sword was even more confident it could pierce through anything in the world.
Shen Lang did not attempt a silent assassination. Instead, before the assassination, he sent a letter to Black Shark, openly informing him of the date, time, and minute he would personally arrive at his stronghold with his sword to assassinate him.
Black Shark was enraged upon receiving the letter, but he did not underestimate Shen Lang. He immediately mobilized tens of thousands of mercenaries to guard his stronghold. In Black Shark's own words, not even a fly could get in.
At the appointed time, Shen Lang arrived. Facing over ten thousand men blocking his path, Shen Lang swung his sword.
This sword possessed the power to cleanse the heavens and earth. With a single swing, it tore a path through the midst of tens of thousands of mercenaries.
Shen Lang crossed this opening, easily reached General Black Shark, and with one sword, decapitated him before departing.
At times, Shen Lang felt that if he had only practiced the sword and done nothing else, he would have long ago become the foremost sword master.
This was because he possessed exceptional talent for the way of the sword.
"What?"
Seeing Shen Lang unleash a sword strike that carried the terrifying momentum of thousands of troops charging simultaneously, Tang Jiu Tian's face changed drastically.
In the next second, Tang Jiu Tian witnessed the forty Tang Sect disciples being swept away like fallen leaves by a gale, flying over ten meters and crashing heavily into the tall buildings and rockeries, scattered everywhere, their screams filling the air.
"What a terrifying sword strike."
Even though the strike had ended, Tang Jiu Tian could still feel the lingering, dreadful sword intent. His expression was solemn as he uttered the words.
Tang Hong Yao wholeheartedly agreed. She could not believe Shen Lang's strength was so formidable.
Tang Hong Yao had initially thought Shen Lang's strength would not be much different from hers. Now, she realized how naive she had been. Shen Lang's strength was at least a realm higher than hers.
She was at the Half-step Profound Realm. A realm higher than hers would mean he was at the Earth Realm?
Tang Hong Yao could not fathom how a young man of twenty-five could break through to the Earth Realm. What a peerless prodigy he was!
Meanwhile, taking advantage of Shen Lang's momentary incapacitation of the forty Tang Sect disciples, Shi Wu Xie had already charged upstairs to rescue the girl.
"Shen Lang, I initially thought that Nalan Wushuang and Tang Zixuan's downfall at your hands was purely due to luck. Now, it seems it was due to your strength."
Tang Jiu Tian's eyes were like a falcon's as he looked at Shen Lang and said coldly, "I must admit your current strength. Among my generation, none can compare to you."
"Thank you, Sect Master Tang, for your praise."
Upon hearing this, Shen Lang cupped his hands and said, "I've heard that Sect Master Tang is a hero of his generation, never yielding to anyone. Though you may not have the title of Grandmaster, you possess the substance of one. My meager abilities are likely beneath your notice."
"You wish to fight me?"
Hearing Shen Lang's words, Tang Jiu Tian smiled faintly and asked.
"I do not wish to, but I am not afraid to."
Shen Lang looked at Tang Jiu Tian and said with a smile, "With my strength, coupled with the hidden means I possess, if you do not act personally, countless Tang Sect disciples will perish. Therefore, I advise you to fight me yourself."
"Arrogant! You think you're worthy of fighting the Sect Master?"
As soon as Shen Lang finished speaking, seven young men and women, all around twenty-five or twenty-six years old, walked up behind Tang Jiu Tian and exclaimed in unison, "Sect Master, please allow us to handle this brat."
"Oh... judging by your appearance, you must be the other members of the Tang Sect Eight Talents, correct?"
The Tang Sect Eight Talents were the eight youngest individuals in each generation of the Tang Sect. Each of them was a genius, an outstanding individual among men.
Shen Lang had already encountered Tang Hong Yao. He wondered what abilities the others possessed.
"Shen Lang, these are our Tang Sect Eight Talents. Not a single one of them is inferior to you."
Tang Hong Yao glanced at the seven individuals and then said to Shen Lang, "If you wish to leave Tang Family Fortress alive, I can give you an opportunity: accept the challenges of the Tang Sect Eight Talents one by one. If you can survive them, I will let you go."
Shen Lang was strong, but the Tang Sect Eight Talents were no ordinary individuals. Tang Jiu Tian was confident that the Tang Sect Eight Talents could eliminate Shen Lang.
"Sect Master Tang, in truth, I still suggest you handle this yourself, old man."
Shen Lang cast a contemptuous glance at the seven members of the Tang Sect Eight Talents, excluding Tang Hong Yao, and said disdainfully, "With them, I can beat them all with one hand tied behind my back and one foot missing. They are not capable. You should fight me yourself."
"This way, you can avoid losing them and then refusing to let us go, ultimately damaging your own reputation."
Tang Jiu Tian knew Shen Lang was using a provocation tactic, but he did not care. He laughed heartily, "Shen Lang, you underestimate me greatly. Although you caused the death of my son and crippled another, I will not stoop to destroying my own reputation to kill you."
"As I said, I have confidence in the strength of the Tang Sect Eight Talents. If you can defeat all of them, I will grant you, Shi Wu Xie, and her sister safe passage out of the Tang Sect."
"Very well..."
Hearing Tang Jiu Tian's words, Shen Lang raised his right hand, gently flicked two fingers on the sword's body, and declared, "Since that is the case, it is decided."
Shen Lang looked at the Tang Sect Eight Talents and sternly commanded, "I invite the first challenger."