Top-tier Unruly Master

Lu Meiqi was utterly dumbfounded. To repel those flying hidden weapons like rain with Inner Strength, how potent must one's Inner Strength be to manage that?

Lu Meiqi was only at the Human Level Seventh Grade, far too distant from that level of prowess.

By now, even someone as naive as Lu Meiqi understood that Ding Fan could not possibly be an ordinary person. The reason she couldn't sense any fluctuations of Inner Strength from him was likely because he was using a Magic Artifact to conceal his cultivation.

While Lu Meiqi was still shocked by Ding Fan's cultivation, the dozen or so individuals lying in ambush around them came out of hiding, taking their positions and firmly surrounding both Lu Meiqi and Ding Fan.

"I didn't expect to encounter such formidable figures today..." The girl of about eleven or twelve stood up, a smile on her lips as she looked straight at Ding Fan.

"I don't know you. If you know what's good for you, scram!" Ding Fan said to the girl.

The girl acted as if she had heard the funniest joke in the world. "Haha... Do you think you're so impressive just because you see through us?"

Those who surrounded Ding Fan and Lu Meiqi all laughed uproariously.

"Let me down," Lu Meiqi whispered in Ding Fan's arms.

Lu Meiqi was grateful to Ding Fan in her heart because if he hadn't seen through the enemy's ruse, she would have likely already been killed by them.

However, as a woman, being held sideways in Ding Fan's arms was still somewhat improper.

Ding Fan immediately let Lu Meiqi down.

"Kid, since you're young and your cultivation isn't weak, I'll give you a way out. Leave behind all the treasures you possess, then you can scram," said the little girl to Ding Fan.

When Lu Meiqi heard this, she realized that these people were nothing more than bandits.

Since the Qiu Mountain Iron Tree had appeared, many Ancient Martial Artists had come to this place, and these bandits had set traps specifically to ambush these treasure-seeking Ancient Martial Artists.

"If you want our treasures, you'll have to see if you've got the skill," said Ding Fan, his tone calm and demeanor composed.

It was as if Ding Fan was conversing with a friend, utterly ignoring the people who surrounded them.

"Kid, it seems you really were given too much respect!" The girl's expression turned grim. "Everyone, at my command. Attack together and slay this brat!"

"Yes!"...

A dozen people in the forest simultaneously acknowledged the command and drew their weapons—longswords—and charged towards Ding Fan, slashing without hesitation.

"Just don't hurt that beautiful girl by mistake. After killing the brat, we can still enjoy her properly," one of them said.

"A beauty to be enjoyed by everyone…" The surrounding people mixed in a series of indecent remarks.

At that moment, Lu Meiqi's face turned extremely unsightly. With so many people launching an assault, the chances of escaping unscathed were virtually nil.

Lu Meiqi didn't believe Ding Fan had high enough cultivation to overcome so many by himself.

Although the cultivation of those attacking her wasn't particularly impressive, they all had higher cultivation than Lu Meiqi did, and she feared Ding Fan truly wouldn't be able to protect her in a drawn-out battle.

At that moment, Ding Fan felt the urge to kill.

Those who ambushed them came with the intent to kill, and if Ding Fan were to show mercy, he would be the one to suffer.

Mercy to enemies is cruelty to oneself.

Ding Fan's right hand flicked, and the Selfless Sword appeared in his hand. He then gave a loud shout.

Next, Ding Fan's longsword slashed through the air, and a strong wind howled forth.

Whoosh... In an instant, a spray of blood rained around them, and Lu Meiqi stared in astonishment.

With that single strike from Ding Fan, seven or eight individuals were slain, their limbs and innards scattered across the ground, creating a horrifying sight...

"How... how is this possible..."

Lu Meiqi was stupefied. Earlier, she thought her own killing of four people would scare him, but now she realized how ridiculous she was.

Ding Fan had eliminated seven or eight people in one move. He was the true Killer Weapon, cold and merciless; she was leagues behind him.

It wasn't just Lu Meiqi who was astonished; even the eleven or twelve-year-old girl furrowed her brows tightly.

To slay seven or eight enemies in one move—something even she herself couldn't achieve—suddenly made her feel that she had underestimated her opponent today.

After executing one strike, Ding Fan stood with his sword.

The Martial Artists who had assaulted Ding Fan were now reduced by almost half in one blow, and the survivors stood far away, not daring to advance a step closer.

Ding Fan had displayed such ferocity that all the assailants were cowed by that single move.

"If you thought such tricks were enough to take my life, you underestimated me by far," said Ding Fan with a faint snort.

"Insolent brat!"

Just then, that teenage girl dashed forward, and in the blink of an eye, she was already in front of Ding Fan.

The girl's cultivation was not weak. She had been standing in the distance a moment ago, but in the blink of an eye, she was before Ding Fan. Lu Meiqi frowned deeply upon seeing this.

Putting aside everything else, given the girl's agility, she was no match for her; she probably wouldn't even be able to react by the time the girl's knife was plunged into her.

The girl brandished a dagger and aimed straight for Ding Fan's throat.

The little girl's attack was very strange and came from a tricky angle. She had great confidence in her move, believing that even if the dagger didn't seriously injure Ding Fan, it would at least force him to take several steps back.

By then, as long as she gained the upper hand, her subordinates could look for an opportunity to take Ding Fan down with a hidden weapon.

The girl had a good plan, but her thinking was still too naive.

Her cultivation was merely at the Earth Level Fifth Grade, far too inferior to Ding Fan, who was at the Ninth Level of Qi Cultivation.

Just as the girl's dagger was about to reach Ding Fan's throat, Ding Fan suddenly lifted his foot and, without a second word, kicked straight at the girl's abdomen.

The girl let out a muffled groan, and in a sudden burst, she flew backward as if she were an arrow shot from a bow.

...

Finally, after crashing into and breaking a large tree trunk, the girl managed to stabilize herself.

Pfft...

As soon as the girl landed, a mouthful of fresh blood spewed out.

Ding Fan had infused his kick with True Qi. The fact that the girl wasn't kicked to death on the spot meant her cultivation was not weak. Nevertheless, she still suffered a serious internal injury.

The martial artists surrounding Ding Fan looked at each other in disbelief.

The girl was their leader, with a cultivation of Earth Level Fifth Grade, a truly exceptional existence in their eyes. They believed that their leader could surely hold Ding Fan off.

However, what they didn't expect was that their leader, after joining the fight, hadn't even withstood a single move before being kicked half to death by the other side.

"Anyone else who isn't afraid to die is welcome to try..." Ding Fan said indifferently to the martial artists who surrounded him.

Although it seemed like they were surrounding Ding Fan, their hearts were already shaken by the overwhelming force he had demonstrated.

First, he killed seven or eight men with a single sword strike, and then he crippled their leader with a kick. After these two incidents, there was nothing left for them to feel dissatisfied about.

Scram scramble scramble...

No one knew who took the lead in running away, but soon after, all of those who had surrounded him scattered.

For a moment, only Ding Fan, Lu Meiqi, and the severely injured twelve- or thirteen-year-old girl were left in the forest.

Ding Fan then sheathed his Selfless Sword and slowly walked over to the young girl.

"It seems you can't take my life..." Ding Fan glanced at the girl.

Clutching her abdomen, the girl looked up at Ding Fan and gasped for air.

"Senior... I was blind before... Please let me go, and I am willing to give you all the treasures I've looted during this time..."

The twelve-year-old girl said.

Ding Fan smiled faintly. "By killing you, all your treasures will be mine anyway." Ding Fan had already noticed a Storage Pouch on the girl's chest, evidently containing the treasures they had looted.

Ding Fan was so sure because, firstly, it was difficult to find a place in the forest to hide these treasures, and secondly, the girl had been constantly clutching her chest. It seemed like she could have an injury, but in fact, she was protecting the Storage Pouch near her heart.

Seeing Ding Fan's reaction, the girl's expression became solemn.

"Take off your mask, I have a question for you," Ding Fan said.

Lu Meiqi was startled and then turned her attention to the girl.

The girl hesitated, but ultimately complied with Ding Fan's request and slowly removed the mask from her face.

After removing the mask, the visage of a middle-aged woman in her forties was revealed.

Although the woman's appearance was decent and her stature petite, if she used a mysterious disguise technique, her true age would indeed be difficult to discern.

Lu Meiqi was shocked. She had never seen such a skilled disguise technique before.

"Senior, please let me go. I was just greedy momentarily, thinking that with most of the Ancient Martial World coming to Qiu Mountain Iron Tree, I led a group to ambush here. I just wanted to snatch more treasures..." the woman pleaded. "As long as you spare me, I'm willing to do anything."

As she spoke, the woman lifted her head and began to tug at her collar, revealing a large expanse of her snowy neck.

Lu Meiqi frowned upon seeing this.

"If you don't want to die, then dress properly," Ding Fan said coldly.

Seeing Ding Fan's reaction, the woman's corner of the mouth showed a subtle, sinister smile. Then abruptly, she yanked her collar down further, exposing half of her breast.

At that moment, a faint hissing sound shot out.

This was a micro Poison Needle hidden in the woman's chest, a small, potent killer weapon. Once hit by this Poison Needle, no one, regardless of who they were, could escape certain death!

The woman believed herself close enough that Ding Fan couldn't evade, and he wouldn't dare to look at her breasts, making it the perfect opportunity to take him out.

However, she miscalculated once again.

The moment her Silver Needle was fired, Ding Fan vanished from in front of her as if by magic.

"How... how is that possible..." the woman gaped in disbelief at the impossibility of evasion at such a close range.

Whoosh... And before the woman could react, Ding Fan was already behind her, his sword piercing through her chest...