Even though the old man had already fallen to the ground and could barely get up, Evelyn Benson did not dare to be careless as he approached. He first explained his intentions, then cautiously moved closer to the old man, took out the only keepsake his father had left him, and, without the slightest hesitation, placed it into the old man's mouth.

While the old man was swallowing the Huayu Grass, Evelyn Benson spoke rapidly: “Senior, please don’t be suspicious. I have a mortal enmity with that villainous senior who was gravely injured just now. I tracked him here and unexpectedly witnessed this scene. This Huayu Grass is a treasured heirloom of my family. I only ask that you help me take revenge and tear that man to pieces.”

The “Huayu Grass” was something William Benson had chanced upon years ago while mining. It was a highly effective healing medicine. Although the old man’s injuries were severe, they were not fatal. After swallowing the Huayu Grass, he immediately felt reinvigorated.

By nature, as soon as his condition improved, he would have slapped Evelyn Benson—this suddenly-appearing, flattering youngster—to death. However, after hearing the latter’s explanation, he hesitated for a moment. But faced with the temptation of a heaven-sent treasure, once the old man stood up, he still raised his palm.

“Spare me, senior! I am only at the first stage of Martial Refinement and pose no threat to you in seizing the treasure. Besides, I also know the origin of this heaven-sent treasure…”

The old man’s palm still came down, but with much less force. Evelyn Benson felt as if his whole body was thrown into a furnace, even his blood boiling.

“You’ve been struck by my ‘Burning Blood Force.’ Only I in this world can cure it. Wait here obediently. After I deal with that little brat, I’ll come back to settle accounts with you. If you try to run, you’ll be dead within three days, without a doubt.”

With a flash, the old man was already dozens of yards away, while Evelyn Benson felt as if his insides were burning, a bitter smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

“Since I’ve already gone all in… even if it costs me my life… I will never give up…”

Forcing himself to endure the excruciating pain caused by the “Burning Blood Force,” Evelyn Benson staggered forward in the direction Logan Benson had gone, coughing up blood every few steps and stumbling every five.

“They must both end up badly hurt!”

He could no longer remember whether he was crawling or rolling. With great difficulty, Evelyn Benson pushed aside some bushes and once again saw the two figures locked in fierce combat.

“Phase two of the plan…”

Chapter Five: The Threat of Deadly Poison

Even though his body had reached its limit, Evelyn Benson forced himself to hold on. At some point, he fished out a dagger from his chest and stabbed it half an inch into the fleshy part of his own leg. Blood flowed down, but the pain helped clear his fading consciousness.

“You old bastard, you’re already at the end of your rope. Are you really thinking of dying together?”

Logan Benson, at the eighth stage of Martial Refinement, seemed only slightly weaker than the old man, but in reality, that was far from the case. The old man’s blows were more than twice as powerful. If not for Logan Benson using a “Thick Earth Talisman,” he would have fallen long ago. But now, the talisman’s earthen-yellow defensive barrier was fading and about to be depleted.

“If you want to die with me, you need the ability. Or do you, you treacherous little man, still have a hidden thunder talisman…? Go ahead and use it if you do…”

The old man’s punches were like thunder, unleashing the full power of the ninth stage, “Body Tempered Like a Dragon,” giving Logan Benson no chance to catch his breath.

Of course, Logan Benson had no more thunder talismans. While such things weren’t rare in the cultivation world, they were very useful for those just entering the Pill Refinement stage. For disciples like them, who had only joined the sect for half a year and hadn’t even reached the Pill Refinement stage, if not for the The Benson Family’s years of tribute, his master wouldn’t have given him even half a thunder talisman.

“Bang!”

A flash of fiery red appeared on the old man’s fist, finally shattering the earthen-yellow barrier of the “Thick Earth Talisman.”

In just a few breaths, Logan Benson had already suffered several heavy blows. The old man’s “Burning Blood Force” was extremely fierce, not a technique found in the mundane world, and it came with a surge of rage and ruthless attacks. Logan Benson, with little experience in desperate combat, had no chance of survival.

In a direct clash, Logan Benson let out a miserable scream as his entire arm was smashed to pulp by the old man’s punch. But his suffering didn’t last long, for the old man struck again, his claw piercing through Logan Benson’s chest, not only penetrating it but also tearing out a bloody, still-beating heart.

Watching from the side, Evelyn Benson grew anxious at the sight, but things had progressed beyond his control.

After finishing off Logan Benson, the old man gasped for breath and spat out a mouthful of blood mist. Although the “Huayu Grass” was effective, his injuries were truly severe. It was only by sheer rage that he managed to kill the former, worsening his wounds. It was already remarkable that he could remain standing.

Suppressing the surging blood within him, the old man rummaged through Logan Benson’s corpse and found a deep, dark blue crystal, a look of wild joy appearing at the corner of his mouth.

“Next, I’ll question that mysterious brat about the origin of this treasure, then kill him. After that, I’ll flee a thousand miles to a secluded place to study this artifact. In my lifetime, I might just reach the Pill Refinement stage…”

Just as the old man was about to turn back, a black shadow descended from the sky—it was Logan Benson’s giant black eagle swooping down.