"You two go first, I'll cover the rear!" Lu Fan said, his voice filled with caution.
"No, I'm staying with you!" Lin Ke said solemnly. "We're in this together, and the Snow Mountain Sect's actions are all because of me!"
"If you stay, I'll be distracted!" Lu Fan stated directly. "If you're not here, I have ways to escape!"
"I think you should stop arguing!" The Snow Mountain Sect Leader sneered. "None of you will get away!"
As soon as the words fell, the Snow Mountain Sect Leader surged into the sky, exuding a powerful aura as he moved towards Lu Fan and the others.
"Be careful!" Lu Fan shouted, stepping forward to intercept. His internal energy churned, carrying an unstoppable momentum. He knew very well that if such an aura was not blocked, it would cause chaos.
Boom...
A massive sound erupted, and Lu Fan was sent flying backward, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. Even though he was no longer the same as before, he was still heavily wounded.
"You're no match for me!" The Snow Mountain Sect Leader's expression was icy. "With just you lot, you dare to cause trouble at the Snow Mountain Sect. You truly don't know your place!"
Lu Fan's face turned ashen. He had never imagined the Snow Mountain Sect Leader's aura to be so profound. He was likely not just a quasi-Emperor, but perhaps even a true War Emperor.
"He is a descendant of the Nine Dragon Mountain. If you kill him, you will surely offend Nine Dragon Mountain!" Long Yi stepped forward, threatening the Snow Mountain Sect Leader.
"Nine Dragon Mountain?" The Snow Mountain Sect Leader narrowed his eyes. "I have roamed the martial world for so many years, but I have never heard of Nine Dragon Mountain!"
"How is that possible!" Long Yi's expression shifted. He knew very well that Ancestor Huoshan was quite wary of Nine Dragon Mountain, yet the Snow Mountain Sect Leader seemed completely unfazed.
"Deal with them!" The Snow Mountain Sect Leader said coldly, with a hint of amusement. Lu Fan was already heavily injured, and as for the other two, even if he didn't act, the elders of the Snow Mountain Sect could handle them.
"Your subordinates obey!" The numerous elders of the Snow Mountain Sect clasped their fists and soared into the sky, pursuing Long Yi and the others. The actions Lu Fan and his companions had taken at the Snow Mountain Sect back then would now be returned in kind.
Long Yi resisted with all his might, his face also turning grim. He had never expected the Snow Mountain Sect to be so troublesome.
"Eat my blade!" The First Elder was imposing as he swung his blade towards Long Yi, his eyes filled with cold intent. Sensing such killing intent, Long Yi dared not be careless. He knew the strength of the Snow Mountain Sect's First Elder. If this blade strike landed, even he could not withstand it.
Meanwhile, Lin Ke was also being besieged. Lu Fan forcefully intervened, but he gained no advantage against the elders. More importantly, the Snow Mountain Sect Leader watched with predatory intent. If he were to personally intervene, Lu Fan and the others would have no power to resist.
"How is it? Does it hurt now?" the First Elder chuckled. "When you broke into the Snow Mountain Sect, did you ever consider others?"
"We took the items. Since you insist, then it's a fight to the death!" Lu Fan said coldly. He was already heavily injured, and a slight misstep could spell his demise. Yet, facing such an onslaught, he was helpless.
"If the three of you kneel and beg for forgiveness, and admit your mistakes, perhaps there's a sliver of hope!" the Snow Mountain Sect Leader said coldly.
"A nice thought!" Lu Fan sneered. "But we will not kneel to you, nor to heaven and earth!"
"Then don't blame me for being ruthless!" The Snow Mountain Sect Leader immediately sneered. He would show no mercy to stubborn individuals like Lu Fan.
In that instant, the Snow Mountain Sect Leader's palm, imbued with supreme internal energy, blurred into an afterimage as it lunged towards the three of them. Lu Fan and the others had refused to yield, and he would not waste any more time here.
Sensing the terrifying aura, the three were startled. They retreated rapidly. The Snow Mountain Sect Leader's power was immense, and with such formidable strength, they were no match for him. In that instant, the three retreated, and even as powerful as they were, they had to yield before such a superior force.
"His strength is even greater than Instructor Hua's!" Long Yi exclaimed, his words laced with pain as blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, his face pale. He had clearly sustained internal injuries. "We won't gain any advantage fighting him!"
"Since we cannot escape, then let's fight them to the death!" Lu Fan's expression turned cold. They had not wished for this, but now that it had come to this, they had no choice but to fight with all their might.
"Truly ignorant of your own limits!" The Snow Mountain Sect Leader sneered, exuding a sky-shattering aura. He clearly did not consider the people before him a threat. At least in his eyes, Lu Fan and the other two were incapable of threatening him.
With another resounding impact, Lu Fan and the other two joined forces to confront the Snow Mountain Sect Leader, yet they were still defeated. Their bodies trembled, unable to hold on.
"Today, I will make you die. Who can stop me?" The Snow Mountain Sect Leader sneered. Just as he was about to strike, a fierce wind whipped through the forest. No one knew what had happened, but it instilled a sense of apprehension in everyone.
"Who is it that dares to disrupt my vision!" The Snow Mountain Sect Leader said coldly. "Come out quickly and accept your death!"
"It is better to forgive than to punish. Sect Leader Snow Mountain, why the need for such slaughter!" A cold voice rang out, and a figure clad in black appeared, arriving beside Lu Fan. His gaze was fixed directly on the Snow Mountain Sect Leader.
Lu Fan looked at the black-clothed figure with surprise. He was certain he had never met this person before, but why would the black-clothed man save him, at such a risk?
"Since when does the Snow Mountain Sect require others to speak out of turn?" the Snow Mountain Sect Leader said coldly. "I would very much like to see who you are!"
Without a moment's hesitation, the Snow Mountain Sect Leader strode towards the black-clothed man, his aura vast and powerful. He was infinitely close to the War Emperor, and his actual combat strength was extraordinary. How could he tolerate such provocation from this black-clothed man?
After only a few exchanges, he had not managed to harm the black-clothed man in the slightest, nor could he even get close to his figure. Lu Fan watched this scene, his heart filled with shock. He knew the Snow Mountain Sect Leader's strength intimately, yet he had never imagined the black-clothed man would possess such power.
After halting the fight, the Snow Mountain Sect Leader looked at the black-clothed man again. "I am very curious, who are you? And how do you possess such movement techniques?"
"There are things you should not know, nor do you need to know them!" the black-clothed man said directly. "You only need to know that you cannot touch these people, and that is enough!"
"Arrogant, truly arrogant!" The many elders exclaimed coldly, their discontent evident. After all, the black-clothed man's words were too pointed, making it difficult to accept.
"I have lived for so many years, yet I have never seen such an arrogant person!" the Snow Mountain Sect Leader's expression turned icy.
"You are not my match!" the black-clothed man shrugged. "I advise you not to attack!"