Chapter 363 - Unable to Withstand a Single Blow

Chen Fan looked at Zhao Tianjue with a vague smile, his expression tinged with mockery, betraying no hint of fear.

Zhao Tianjue’s illusory core used to be forty to fifty percent solid. However, in his pursuit of Chen Fan, he had ignited his illusory core, albeit only a fraction of it. This action, however slight, had undone years of bitter cultivation.

His illusory core was only twenty to thirty percent solid now, so he was no threat to Chen Fan.

Chen Fan’s words only made Zhao Tianjue angrier.

He was an Illusory Core realm expert. Even in the imperial city, he could strike fear into others’ hearts with a simple foot stomp.

Yet, a brat was mocking and humiliating him in front of countless people. His lungs were on the verge of blowing up from all the anger.

Humiliation!

Utter humiliation!

“Snot-nosed brat," Zhao Tianjue spat, his voice dripping with disdain, "you've grown bold since your fortunate escape last time, thinking you can disregard me. Truly an ignorant child, you are. Fine, you'll soon learn the folly of your words and pay dearly for your ignorance. And not just you; your entire clan will suffer for your foolishness!”

Those icy cold words exited Zhao Tianjue’s mouth and resounded in the crowd’s eardrums. Everyone could hear the cold killing intent in that voice, capable of freezing people.

Naturally, the tension weighed heavily on the Chen Clan members. Even Chen Zhengqing, with all his confidence in Chen Fan, could feel his heart drumming heavily.

Chen Fan did not acknowledge or refute Zhao Tianjue’s statements. He pursed his lips, pointed at Zhao Hong—lying on the ground like a dead dog—and said, “Do you know why I didn’t kill him?”

Zhao Tianjue’s gaze narrowed.

“Because I want him to see your death at my hands," Chen Fan continued, his tone laced with arrogance. “Did you think you’re invincible just because you’re in the Illusory Core realm? What a joke! I can tell you outright that you will die today, even if you ignited your entire illusory core! You will die even if you advance to the Core Formation realm.”

Many people felt doubtful inside regarding his declaration.

Although Chen Fan had displayed unrivaled strength earlier and killed the Zhao Clan members like ants, the person standing before him right now was Zhao Tianjue, an Illusory Core realm expert!

The murmurs swirled among the onlookers, their gazes fixated on Chen Fan, laden with speculation and doubt.

“So, there’s still an Illusory Core realm between the Yuanfu and the Core Formation realms...”

“The Illusory Core realm, where the golden core within the dantian remains in a semi-solid state, possessing a fraction of the power of a Core Formation realm expert. Yuanfu realm experts can’t resist experts at that level.”

"True, it's baffling where Chen Fan draws his confidence from. Even though he can crush ninth-level Yuanfu realm experts like Zhao Hong, he can’t possibly be a match for an Illusory Core realm expert.”

"Perhaps he's withholding some powerful techniques..."

“Hopefully so. Otherwise, not even the Buddha can save the Chen Clan from the impending disaster.”

“......”

“This guy, I’m not even sure if he really has the strength to resist an Illusory Core realm expert or...” Nangong Baxiong couldn’t help but shake his head, unable to see through Chen Fan.

Chen Fan’s arrogant words had thoroughly enraged Zhao Tianjue.

Zhao Tianjue’s aura surged like boiling water as the formidable pressure of an Illusory Core realm expert permeated the surroundings.

The air currents churned violently, emitting mournful wails.

Woo, woo, woo. Woo, woo, woo...

Under Zhao Tianjue’s cultivation pressure, the already dilapidated buildings of the Chen Clan crumbled into ruins.

Ka, ka, ka...

Chen Zhengqing, Chen Tianxiong, and the others felt suffocated under this pressure. Their complexions turned ghastly pale, feeling a huge pressure.

Chen Fan’s clothing clattered fiercely as the wind blew.

Clatter!

However, he was like the reef at the bottom of the sea, unmoving despite the winds blowing and the waves crashing. It was as if the pressure had no effect on Chen Fan.

Seeing Chen Fan unaffected by the pressure, a stern light flashed across Zhao Tianjue’s eyes.

“Hmph, little bastard, meet your death!” Zhao Tianjue unleashed his cultivation, his qi reaching the clouds. The space trembled violently.

With a flip of his palm, the primeval qi in the air collapsed.

He unleashed a palm strike that rushed toward Chen Fan, setting off a chain of explosions.

“What terrifying power!”

“Heavens, so, this is the strength of an Illusory Core realm expert? That palm strike feels like the heavens are collapsing and the earth is splitting open. Like I can do nothing but await my demise, powerless to resist."

“I wonder if Chen Fan can withstand it?”

“......”

The spectators' pupils contracted violently as Zhao Tianjue unleashed his attack, their faces contorted with horror.

The sheer force of the palm strike evoked surreal imagery—a testament to the terrifying prowess of an Illusory Core realm expert.

Chen Zhengqing and everyone else from the Chen Clan felt their hearts tighten.

If they were the ones facing Zhao Tianjue’s palm strike, they could only resign themselves to their fate, feeling utterly powerless.

“Hahahaha, little bastard, die! Die! Die! You have to die. Your whole clan has to die!” said Zhao Hong, laughing loudly despite looking like a dead dog.

His eyes were filled with endless pleasure as he envisioned Chen Fan being smashed into meat paste.

“You have the face to bring out such a weak attack? Didn’t I tell you? Your fate is sealed even if you become a Core Formation realm expert right now, right here. Break!” Chen Fan let out a roar, channeling his cultivation. His attack darted out like a meteor, striking that oncoming palm seal.

Rumble!

A loud noise rang out like a meteorite had crashed onto the earth. The space trembled and churned for a while.

Swish!

Chen Fan ignored the ripples of that terrifying impact. He moved over, crushing the space and instantly returning the area into a state of calmness. He appeared in front of Zhao Tianjue and punched him.

“Die!” Chen Fan spat out a single icy note.

It was a simple punch, but Zhao Tianjue felt like the punch contained a universe. He felt like a universe was hurtling toward him.

Zhao Tianjue’s expression immediately morphed into one of horror.

“Impossible!”

He hadn’t anticipated Chen Fan to be this powerful. He felt like the god of death had grabbed his soul and was about to harvest his life.

“Illusory core, ignite!” Zhao Tianjue promptly ignited his illusory core.

He didn’t ignite a portion of it—he ignited the entire thing. His aura skyrocketed; with a boom, it generated a powerful and terrifying storm.

However, Chen Fan’s punch neutralized the storm easily; the storm failed to provide the least bit of resistance.

“You ignited your entire illusory core, huh? It's too bad that you’re still trash. It won’t change your fate!”

Chen Fan was unfazed. His fist was unstoppable, crushing everything.

Zhao Tianjue shuddered, feeling as though he were trapped, his very soul paralyzed by terror.

Even though he had ignited his illusory core, the deathly aura remained as thick as ever under Chen Fan’s fist.

In the blink of an eye, Chen Fan's fist engulfed his entire field of vision.

All he could perceive was an overwhelming, inexplicable force crashing into him like a flood, obliterating flesh, blood, tendons, bones, and organs alike in its merciless wake.

“You...”

Even in death, Zhao Tianjue could not believe that Chen Fan—the man he had once nearly driven to the end of the road—would end his life with a single punch a few months later.

“Weakling!”

Chen Fan pursed his lips, retracting his fist as he looked at Zhao Tianjue, who had already lost all signs of life.