“I must retreat!”

  In the blink of an eye, the Nine-Headed Monster saw the spear tip almost touching him and immediately made a hasty retreat!

  The Nine-Headed clan descended from the legendary Nine Infants, one of the ten great demon saints from the ancient war, were masters of aerial combat, and their strength was diminished by at least thirty percent in the water!

  If he stayed in the East Sea any longer, he might end up dying at the hands of this mere early-stage True Immortal!

  “You brat, if you have the guts, come out and face me!”

  The Nine-Headed Monster bellowed defiantly, glancing back to provoke Xu Fang!

  In his mind, once he left the East Sea, he could unleash his full power and would surely slaughter this insignificant early-stage True Immortal!

  Little did he know that while his strength was reduced by thirty percent in the water, Xu Fang, with his fire affinity, had his powers reduced by over eighty percent!

  Once he left the East Sea…

  A smile flickered across Xu Fang's face as he let out a loud roar and charged after him with his spear raised!

  Boom!

  As he leaped above the surface, he spotted a bizarre bird-like creature with nine heads and a feathery body!

  “Hahaha! You actually dared to chase me out!”

  The Nine-Headed Monster howled into the sky, his face contorted with rage. “Now that I can unleash my full power, your time of death is here!”

  His voice echoed across the waters of the East Sea, sending ripples of terror through the air!

  Yet Xu Fang merely smiled, a confident smirk playing on his lips as he thrust the spear forward with all his might!

  With this strike, he poured all his energy into the attack!

  The surrounding space seemed to tremble as his spear pierced through the air!

  Swish—

  The spear struck directly at the center of the Nine-Headed Monster's forehead, quicker than he could react!

  Clang—

  To Xu Fang's surprise, instead of piercing through, the bright silver spear met a solid resistance, ringing out like metal colliding!

  “Ha! Now that my true form has manifested, do you think you can pierce me?”

  The Nine-Headed Monster laughed mockingly, his voice booming.

  Xu Fang's expression darkened. Earlier, when they were underwater, the spear had pierced through the Nine-Headed Monster's ear without issue, but now that they were above water, he had regained his full strength, and Xu Fang found himself unable to harm him!

  It seemed the spear's grade was still too low!

  But Xu Fang would never give up so easily.

  “Come!”

  He shouted, extending his fingers as if summoning something. Suddenly, the East Sea surged with towering waves!

  The water roared and rolled toward him!

  From the depths of the East Sea, a colossal pillar shot up, radiating joy as it flew directly toward Xu Fang!

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  Whoosh—

  The pillar transformed into a one-zhang-long black iron rod, crashing into Xu Fang's hands!

  It was the Ruyi Jingu Bang!

  The Ruyi Jingu Bang had been eager to leave the spring since the moment it sensed Xu Fang, but the young man had chosen to leave it behind for various reasons.

  However, the system’s rewards for weapon mastery and artifact proficiency granted the Ruyi Jingu Bang an innate affinity for Xu Fang.

  Now, responding to his call, the Ruyi Jingu Bang leaped into his grasp, unable to contain itself any longer.

  Standing atop the clouds, Xu Fang gripped the Ruyi Jingu Bang tightly, letting out a fierce roar as he swung it down toward the Nine-Headed Monster’s central head!

  All of this transpired in an instant!

  The next moment!

  With a thunderous boom!

  The Nine-Headed Monster's central head was smashed like a watermelon, blood gushing forth and instantly staining the water below him crimson.

  “Ah—”

  The other eight heads howled in agony, their voices filled with despair!

  “Human cultivator, I merely came to propose! Why treat me so cruelly?”

  The Nine-Headed Monster cried out in anguish, realizing that although he could regenerate his lost head after countless years of training, his cultivation level would undoubtedly suffer a massive blow.

  His heart filled with hatred for Xu Fang, he howled to the sky, glaring furiously at him.

  But Xu Fang paid no heed to the Nine-Headed Monster’s words. Raising the Ruyi Jingu Bang again, he swung it down once more!

  Boom!

  The golden rod grew longer in the wind, encircled by flames and sparks that could ignite the world!

  Above the East Sea, the Ruyi Jingu Bang resembled a blazing pillar of fire, tearing through the air and shaking the heavens!

  Xu Fang seemed born for battle!

  Facing the impending strike, the Nine-Headed Monster was flooded with dread and dared not withstand the blow. Instead, he retreated with all his might!

  Yet Xu Fang let out a cold laugh, the Ruyi Jingu Bang following him relentlessly!

  Boom!

  Another head was crushed!

  “Ah—”

  The Nine-Headed Monster let out a mournful scream, the pain causing his entire body to convulse. The fear in his heart had now grown immeasurable.

  From just this single exchange, he understood that he was no match for this human cultivator!

  If he continued to engage in this fight, he was certain to face annihilation!

  Just then, the sea churned as Ao Tingxin emerged from the Dragon Palace.

  She sensed the commotion above the East Sea and, worried about Xu Fang, rushed to assess the situation.

  At that moment, the Nine-Headed Monster seized the opportunity, crying out to Ao Tingxin for help: “Fourth Princess, save me! I only came to propose! If I die, who will marry you…”

  Her expression soured at his words. Did he think she was desperate for a husband?

  This remark only deepened her disdain for the Nine-Headed Monster. Initially, she had only intended to have Xu Fang drive him away, but now she was filled with a murderous intent!

  “This scoundrel has repeatedly harassed me; he is utterly despicable! Noble immortal, I implore you to slay this vile creature!”

  Ao Tingxin's words made the Nine-Headed Monster’s heart race with fear!

  Xu Fang remained silent, raising the Ruyi Jingu Bang for another strike, flames bursting forth as if to scorch the skies!

  Boom! Boom! Boom!

  The sound of the impacts echoed continuously!

  The Nine-Headed Monster was incredibly fast, yet he could not escape Xu Fang’s grip!

  His cloud-riding technique, passed down from Master Subhuti, allowed Xu Fang to easily close the distance, leaving the Nine-Headed Monster far behind!

  Moreover, with the Ruyi Jingu Bang in hand, no matter how fast the Nine-Headed Monster was, a single swing was enough to catch up!

  With each resounding thud, one head after another was pulverized!

  “I can't go on like this; I must find a way to escape!”

  The Nine-Headed Monster felt a surge of panic. As Xu Fang's Ruyi Jingu Bang came crashing down once more, he couldn't afford to hesitate any longer and invoked a spell!

  Boom!

  A cloud of blood mist erupted from the Nine-Headed Monster, and the Ruyi Jingu Bang struck down, landing with a thud!

  “Blood Escape Technique?”

  Xu Fang was momentarily taken aback, not expecting the Nine-Headed Monster to resort to such a desperate measure.

  The Blood Escape Technique, which he had heard about from Master Subhuti, was a self-harming technique that consumed one's lifespan for a chance at survival.

  Now, the Nine-Headed Monster had likely teleported thousands of miles away in an instant.

  However, using such a technique would severely deplete the Nine-Headed Monster’s lifespan, making him less of a concern.

  “Human cultivator, this grudge will not be forgotten! Do you dare reveal your identity? One day, my clan, the Nine Infants, will ensure your entire family pays for this!”

  Though the Nine-Headed Monster had fled, his voice still echoed, reverberating for miles.

  Xu Fang couldn’t help but smile. If he couldn’t defeat him, he thought he could call on reinforcements? Did he think Xu Fang was afraid?

  “I am Xu Fang, disciple of Master Subhuti from Mount Fangcun! If you have the guts, bring the Nine Infants here, and I will slay them all!”

  Xu Fang’s voice traveled far and wide, directly reaching the Nine-Headed Monster’s ears.

  In that moment, the Nine-Headed Monster fell silent, his heart filled with regret.

  No wonder this brat dared to be so bold; he was a disciple of the esteemed Master Subhuti!

  Not even the strongest Nine Infants during their prime would dare to confront him head-on!