Hearing Tang Jiutian’s words, Tang Hongyao and the others fell silent.
As the proud scions of the younger generation of the Tang Sect, the Tang Sect Eight Steeds had always been in the spotlight, showered with admiration and praise since childhood.
Thinking about it, many of them had never even left Shu, nor had they encountered such formidable opponents.
Shen Lang’s appearance was like a fierce tiger charging into a pack of wolves. If they couldn’t tear the tiger apart, they would be devoured. There was no other choice.
“Sect Leader, let me do it.”
Ten seconds later, Tang Hongyao stepped forward and said to Tang Jiutian, “I lost to Shen Lang once at the hotel. This time, I will win back.”
“Good—”
Seeing Tang Hongyao volunteer, Tang Jiutian’s face broke into a satisfied smile. “Hongyao, I believe you won’t disappoint me. Go.”
“Sect Leader, rest assured, Hongyao will not fail you. Those who dare to offend will witness the fighting spirit of the Tang Sect.”
With that, Tang Hongyao leaped up and directly appeared before Shen Lang.
“Sister Hongyao, you are no match for me. Go home.”
Looking at Tang Hongyao before him, Shen Lang smiled and said.
“Shen Lang, I know your martial arts cultivation is superior to mine, and your swordsmanship is divine. But, are you truly confident of defeating me one hundred percent?”
Facing Shen Lang’s condescension, Tang Hongyao was not enraged like Tang Fenghuang had been earlier. Instead, she smiled and said, “You can kill Tang Fenghuang, but you may not be able to kill me. I am betting that I will not lose to you.”
“Sister Hongyao, it’s not that I’m looking down on you. With your strength, even if I let you have two hands, you would still be no match for me.”
Shen Lang sighed, “Most of the time, I speak the truth, but people always refuse to believe me. I hope you can believe me.”
“I don’t believe it.”
Tang Hongyao said with confidence, “I don’t believe I cannot defeat you.”
“Since you are so confident, there’s no need to say more. Make your move.”
Hearing this, Shen Lang flicked his wrist, and the black sword in his hand let out a resonant hum. He looked at Tang Hongyao and said, “At the hotel, I’ve seen your Tang saber and your hidden weapons. Feel free to use whatever other means you have.”
“However, I guarantee that no matter what you use, it will be ineffective before me.”
“Damn it, how arrogant!”
Seeing Shen Lang’s arrogant and dismissive demeanor, Tang Wan’er and the other Tang Sect Eight Steeds glared with anger, cursing aloud.
“What? Have you forgotten so quickly how Tang Fenghuang died?”
Tang Jiutian said calmly as he looked at the furious Tang Wan’er and the others. “To achieve great things, impetuousness is a taboo. Even if your sworn enemy, the one who killed your father and crippled your brother, is right before you, you must remain absolutely calm.”
“Alas…”
Having said that, Tang Jiutian looked at Shen Lang, who was composed and unfazed, and could not help but feel immense satisfaction.
Although Shen Lang was an enemy of the Tang Sect, having caused his son to die and another to be crippled, he had to admit that this brat was unparalleled among the younger generation in terms of bearing, magnanimity, and even scheming.
Frankly, if not for the irreconcilable feud between Tang Zixuan and Tang Qubing, Tang Jiutian would have agreed to Shen Lang’s proposal to become a sworn son. Even if Shen Lang harbored wolfish ambitions, he would have welcomed him into the Tang Sect.
Such an outstanding young man was beyond the reach of even Qi Tuojiang and Kong Wudao.
Tang Jiutian truly admired this young man. A son should be like this.
“Father, can Sister Hongyao really defeat Shen Lang?”
Unlike Tang Jiutian, Tang Wan’er was only worried about Tang Hongyao, after all, she had grown up with her as a close friend.
Shen Lang was ruthless, as evident from the way he killed Tang Fenghuang with a single sword strike earlier.
Therefore, Tang Wan’er was afraid that her best friend would die at Shen Lang’s hands.
“In terms of martial arts cultivation, even if Hongyao trained for another ten years, she would absolutely not be able to defeat Shen Lang. However, if she were to use all her hidden weapons and poisons, it’s hard to say.”
Tang Jiutian looked at Tang Hongyao and said calmly, “Hongyao’s skill in using hidden weapons and poisons is second to none, even among some of the elders of the Tang Sect. I have considerable confidence in her.”
“Shen Lang, I will kill you, the provocateur, on behalf of the Tang Sect.”
As Tang Jiutian finished speaking, Tang Hongyao drew the red Tang saber from her waist and rushed out swiftly. She lunged forward to Shen Lang and slashed down with her saber.
Tang Hongyao knew that Shen Lang’s martial arts cultivation was far superior to hers, so she used her full strength from the very first move, not holding back any power.
“This saber strike has speed, ferocity, and accuracy. It’s a pity that the power is a little weak.”
Facing Tang Hongyao’s full-strength saber strike, Shen Lang remained unhurried. After making a comment, he swung his sword and directly blocked the incoming blow.
Seeing Shen Lang easily block Tang Hongyao’s full-strength saber strike, Tang Wan’er and the other Tang Sect Eight Steeds were all greatly alarmed.
This brat was terrifying, truly terrifying.
Such formidable strength clearly put him on a different level from them.
After all, the strength of the Tang Sect Eight Steeds was generally on the same level. Even if there were occasional fluctuations, the gaps would not be so vast.
Tang Hongyao’s strength was, at the very least, within the top three among the Tang Sect Eight Steeds. Yet, her full-strength saber strike was effortlessly blocked by Shen Lang’s sword. How could they not be shocked?
However, just as Tang Wan’er and the other Tang Sect Eight Steeds were stunned, Tang Hongyao displayed a subtle, enigmatic smile.
Tang Hongyao gripped the saber hilt with both hands, clashing her Tang saber against Shen Lang’s sword. By all logic, there should be no further opportunity to attack.
But with a cold laugh from Tang Hongyao, in the next moment, dozens of Dragon Whisker Needles, as fine as a single strand of hair, shot out from Tang Hongyao’s long ponytail.
“Swish swish swish—”
Shen Lang and Tang Hongyao were almost chest to chest. Upon seeing dozens of Dragon Whisker Needles erupt, his expression instantly changed drastically.
Shen Lang knew the deadliness of the Tang Sect’s hidden weapons and had heard of Dragon Whisker Needles. But no matter how he calculated, he could never have predicted that Tang Hongyao would hide them in her ponytail.
He couldn't help but recall how beautiful he had found her ponytail earlier, and lamented that the ancients were indeed not wrong: the more beautiful something is, the more dangerous it is.
“Perfect, absolutely perfect.”
Tang Wan’er and the remaining Tang Sect Eight Steeds also hadn’t expected Tang Hongyao to hide the Dragon Whisker Needles in her hair. Tang Hongyao had used the saber strike to close the distance with Shen Lang, and at the moment they were pressed together, she unleashed dozens of Dragon Whisker Needles.
Looking back now, it was all a meticulously planned scheme by Tang Hongyao. The crowd, while shocked, could not help but admire her.
Dragon Whisker Needles were one of the Tang Sect’s most formidable hidden weapons. Each needle was as fine as a strand of hair, but if just one struck a person, it would enter their bloodstream, flow with it, and eventually lodge in the heart, claiming their life.
At such close range, Shen Lang had no chance to dodge so many Dragon Whisker Needles. He was surely doomed.