Beaten to a pulp
San Cha mountain was once a quiet meeting ground between Che clan and Zuo clan, but the opened inheritance has filled its forests with traffic and disputes, growing worst whenever the entry pillar opens; the strongest Gu Masters have claimed the ground nearest the peak to gain an edge when that happens. The cave Fang Yuan picks on the mountain’s midpoint is already occupied by a squatter, Mang Kuang, who threatens death from inside before he has even seen who stands outside. ch. 340
Mang Kuang steps out ready to fight, but freezes on recognizing the black and white twin demons. His bluster collapses into groveling flattery, and he yields the cave and hurries off. Fang Yuan and Bai Ning Bing move into the already-furnished cave and agree to keep watch through the night in turns for the eight days ahead, wary of the mountain’s dangers. Fang Yuan expects Hu Mei Er to keep sending trouble their way and welcomes it as a chance to build their reputation further. ch. 340
Tyrant Heng Mei, boss of the Ten Tyrants, arrives outside the cave asking to pay his respects; Bai Ning Bing recalls his reputation as a cruel strength path cultivator said to eat children’s flesh, who has spread terror across Nan mountain. Eight Ten Tyrants members gather outside, Heng Mei foremost among them, and he speaks loudly enough to draw a crowd, greeting the pair with unexpected courtesy despite his savage name. Fang Yuan, who had already meant to pick a fight with Heng Mei, tells him it is good he came since he was just about to pay a visit himself; Heng Mei’s smile deepens at what he takes for courtesy, then stiffens as Fang Yuan abruptly challenges him to a duel to the death over which of them is the true master of the strength path, attacking the moment he finishes speaking, a brown bear phantom rising behind him through his All-out Effort Gu. ch. 340
Heng Mei, who commands nine other Ten Tyrants members and has ruled Nan mountain for years, meets the blow head-on and answers with his own Violent Strength Gu, his body swelling with sudden power; the collision throws him back five steps while Fang Yuan himself rebounds from the force. Judging that his rank four middle stage still outranks Fang Yuan’s initial stage, Heng Mei holds back rather than press the advantage, wary that Bai Ning Bing stands ready to join if he does. Fang Yuan sends her instead to pin down the rest of the Ten Tyrants, and Bai Ning Bing mockingly gives him five minutes to finish Heng Mei before she takes over herself, which finally provokes Heng Mei into unleashing his full murderous intent. ch. 340
The two strength path fighters collide across a battlefield of smashed boulders and dried-up creeks while Bai Ning Bing holds down the rest of the gang. Heng Mei’s confidence erodes as the fight wears on: Fang Yuan’s Bitter Strength Gu makes him grow stronger with every wound he takes, and when six beast phantoms burst from him at once, Heng Mei’s face drains of color. Certain now that Fang Yuan has fought for far longer than his youth suggests, Heng Mei looks for a chance to disengage, but his hesitation costs him every opening, and Fang Yuan’s attacks come without pause. ch. 340
Battered and finally trying to flee, Heng Mei finds Bai Ning Bing has already sealed off his men, so no rescue reaches him. Six beast phantoms fall solid from the sky and bury him. The blow leaves him beaten to a pulp, organs and bone fragments scattered over the ground, while the watching crowd draws one collective, horrified breath. ch. 340
