"Has he also reached the half-step Saint Domain?" Wei Xiaowen thought to herself, and at the same time, she developed a genuine interest in Zhang Fan.
Before, she had come to find trouble with Zhang Fan simply because she believed that if her Wei family members made a mistake, it was up to the Wei family to discipline them, and outsiders had no right to interfere. That was why she had intended to teach Zhang Fan a lesson.
But now, Zhang Fan had spoken of her strength, making her realize that perhaps this young man truly possessed strength comparable to hers.
However, this did not instill any fear in her. Instead, it ignited her desire for battle. Ever since her strength reached the half-step Saint Domain, her goal had been to truly step into the Saint Domain realm.
How difficult it was to achieve such a state was something only martial artists at her level understood.
Therefore, her primary purpose in descending the mountain this time was to challenge the top experts of various sects and factions in the Chinese martial arts world, hoping to gain insights into deeper realms through extensive combat.
At her level, it was exceedingly difficult to find martial artists with strength close to hers. After all, officially, there were no more than a handful of invincible Grandmasters in the entire Chinese martial arts world.
As for experts at the half-step Saint Domain level, they were even rarer than phoenix feathers, likely even fewer than true Saint Domain experts.
And today, Zhang Fan had given her an unexpected surprise.
An opponent at the half-step Saint Domain realm was not easy to find.
"It seems you do have some substance to be the chief instructor of the Dark Division. However, you are also too arrogant," Wei Xiaowen finally regarded Zhang Fan seriously, treating him as a martial artist of the same level.
But Zhang Fan's arrogance made her somewhat exasperated.
With her current strength, combined with the sect's ultimate techniques she practiced, she was confident of holding her own against even a true Saint Domain expert for a few rounds. Yet, Zhang Fan's previous words had completely disregarded her.
Before that, in her eyes, Zhang Fan had been mere soft clay, easily molded at her will.
"It's not that I'm too arrogant; it's that you think too highly of yourself," Zhang Fan said, shaking his head. "I've killed plenty of true Saint Domain experts, let alone a half-baked one like you?"
"Fine. Seeing your unconvincing look, there's no point in saying more. Come on, show me your best moves, or you might not have a chance to once I start." Zhang Fan provocatively beckoned to Wei Xiaowen.
"Hmph!" Even with Wei Xiaowen's extraordinary temperament, being belittled by Zhang Fan repeatedly was something she could no longer tolerate.
Without regard for where this battlefield was, she prepared to make her move.
As Wei Xiaowen circulated her internal energy, even before she attacked, an invisible wave of true qi spread out from her, surging outwards.
Instantly, the onlookers were forced back several steps before they could stabilize themselves.
At the same time, many champagne flutes at the banquet were struck by this surge of energy, scattering onto the floor with a crisp shattering sound.
After a long while, the crowd finally recovered and looked at Wei Xiaowen with eyes full of shock. Before she even moved, her mere circulation of true qi had caused such an effect. What kind of world-destroying power would she unleash once she attacked?
In fact, once one's strength reached the Saint Domain, they could no longer be called mortals. Not only did their lifespan increase significantly, but they also possessed divine abilities incomprehensible to ordinary people, such as aerial flight.
Although Wei Xiaowen had not reached the Saint Domain, she was not far off. Her internal true qi was far more abundant than that of ordinary Innate Grandmasters, and its mere dissipation was something ordinary people could not withstand.
At this moment, a vacuum had formed in the center of the banquet hall. Besides Wei Xiaowen and Zhang Fan, Yan Wanqing and Qin Luoshui stood calmly beside Zhang Fan, unaffected.
Yan Wanqing was Wei Xiaowen's junior sister, so her ability to resist and remain unaffected was understandable to the crowd.
However, Qin Luoshui, whom many regarded as an ordinary person, was calmly facing the situation, which surprised and astonished many.
They did not know that with Zhang Fan's help, Qin Luoshui's strength now far surpassed that of ordinary Innate Grandmasters, and she was not far from being an invincible Grandmaster.
To her, Wei Xiaowen's dissipating true qi felt like a gentle breeze.
"Have your little girlfriend step aside. I'm afraid she might get hurt if I accidentally injure her when I make my move," Wei Xiaowen said, thinking Zhang Fan had protected her, and offered a kind reminder.
"No need. I'll be responsible for my girlfriend's safety," Zhang Fan said with a slight smile and nod to Qin Luoshui.
After taking the Hundred Spirits Pill, Qin Luoshui's physique had become even more ethereal. When she wasn't actively using her powers, she appeared like an ordinary person, making it difficult for most to discern her true strength.
"Hmph!" Zhang Fan's arrogance had become somewhat numbing to Wei Xiaowen, so she said no more. With a light tap of her toes on the plush carpet, she instantly turned into a blurred black shadow and lunged towards Zhang Fan.
Wei Xiaowen's speed was so astonishing that ordinary people couldn't even see her clearly. They only saw a black shadow flash by, and then Wei Xiaowen extended her delicate fingers, aiming for Zhang Fan's chest.
"Ephemeral Finger? Although Senior Sister usually doesn't take anyone seriously, she's directly using the Ephemeral Finger now," Yan Wanqing, standing beside Zhang Fan, said in surprise upon seeing this move.
Though it seemed slow, in the instant Wei Xiaowen's figure moved, her slender fingers had already reached Zhang Fan's chest, moving faster than a bullet.
Everyone felt a chill run down their spines. They had always known Wei Xiaowen was powerful, but they hadn't realized she was this strong.
If she were to attack ordinary people like them, they would likely be dead before they could even see her move.
"With such speed, who can possibly block it?" everyone thought to themselves, silently lamenting Zhang Fan's fate.
"Is this the power of a half-step Saint Domain? So strong!" Qi Xiangyu stared intently at Wei Xiaowen. His own strength had reached the Innate Grandmaster realm, and he was considered a top genius in the Extreme Fire Sect. However, compared to Wei Xiaowen, the gap was immense.
If Wei Xiaowen were to deal with him, this one move would be enough to leave him with no chance of resistance.
However, facing Wei Xiaowen's swift, lightning-like finger strike, Zhang Fan did not react with the seriousness everyone expected. Instead, he shook his head with a somewhat lazy and listless air, appearing unenthusiastic. Just as Wei Xiaowen's finger was about to touch his chest, he casually swung a palm.
Without any apparent technique or form, it was like swatting a fly, yet it perfectly struck Wei Xiaowen's fair, jade-like palm.
*Slap.*
The moment their palms made contact, Wei Xiaowen's icy expression, which had held a hint of ferocity, instantly changed dramatically. Her body involuntarily froze, then she immediately retreated.
Sharp-eyed individuals in the crowd noticed that faint red marks had appeared on the back of Wei Xiaowen's fair hand. However, Wei Xiaowen paid it no mind. Her deep, dark eyes fixed on Zhang Fan, and her heart could no longer remain calm.
...