The wind carried brown dust into the sky. Herds of horses grazed on the lush green plains. A small stream trickled down from the hills. The villagers tilled their fields and avoided the affairs of the martial world. In this small village, everyone knew each other intimately; they visited and greeted each other from house to house. However, over the past few months, this small village, which was once part of the Ke family's estate, had been transformed into the headquarters of the Virtue Association.
Ever since the Virtue Association was established in this village, the locals had opened their arms to martial artists and the ways of the martial world. A village that once lived simply turned into a battleground for martial artists. Sometimes, it was merely over trivial matters to declare one's dominance; other times, it was a power struggle between sects. The once kind-hearted villagers had now absorbed the ways of the martial world. They learned to form factions and seek power, no longer caring for a peaceful life. The more reckless a man was, the more tales he had to tell. The more impulsive, the more grand exploits he created. The young men of this village all sought the path of the martial world, and these young men perished just as quickly. The path of the martial world was by no means an easy one.
To this day, the Virtue Association was still sustained by leaders bearing the surname Han, despite being situated on the lands of the Young Master of the North Ke Daobing.
Ke Daobing had poured immense effort and vast wealth into founding this association. Even though the other siblings of the Ke family strongly disagreed, and it had turned into a massive feud within the family.
Yet, Ke Daobing was willing to do all of this for the sake of lofty virtue.
Yet, Ke Daobing was willing to do all of this for the sake of righteousness in the martial world.
Or perhaps, in truth, Ke Daobing was willing to do all of this for the sake of a single woman.
All of these were things the relatives of the Ke family would never be able to understand.
The sky turned orange. Night crept in; day was departing. The Young Master of the North, Ke Daobing, sat sipping tea, his gaze cast toward the distant horizon. In his heart, he seemed to be pondering over countless matters. Beside him sat another man whose posture was rather unrefined. In this man's hand was a wine jar, his eyes fixed on the liquid inside that smoothly slid down his throat.
The Drunken Scholar Ou Xiatian was always like this. Whenever others had matters to ponder, he would only drink. Once this night passed, the appointed day for the Defying Heaven Sect to march their forces and decimate this Virtue Association would arrive.
"In less than two hours, the night will fall," Ke Daobing said calmly, his eyes gazing at the horizon slowly dimming into darkness.
Ou Xiatian set the wine jar down on the wooden table. The soft clink resonated far into the cool breeze.
"You seem to have quite a lot on your mind," the Drunken Scholar spoke.
Ke Daobing did not turn around. He simply said flatly,
"How many more days and nights like this... are left?"
Ou Xiatian lifted the wine jar and took a gulp before saying nonchalantly, "No matter what, tomorrow will come."
Ke Daobing gave a faint smile. "What if I told you that I have never once considered tomorrow?"
The wind fluttered the hems of their garments. Ou Xiatian turned to look at Ke Daobing's face with scrutiny.
"In that case, what exactly are you pondering?"
Ke Daobing chuckled softly, though the sound held no joy. "I am thinking, why am I this foolish... and why are you this foolish as well?"
Ou Xiatian paused slightly. He stared at the other man for a long time, then raised his wine and drank again without uttering a word in response.
Ke Daobing continued, "I was foolish to sever ties with my relatives, and you were foolish to abandon your friends. The two of us have done so much, yet she hasn't spared us even a single glance."
Ou Xiatian slowly put down the wine jar. "You are blaming yourself."
"Do I not even have the right to blame myself?"
"You may blame yourself if you wish, but you shouldn't drag me into it. We are not friends; we are rivals in love." Ou Xiatian clarified the relationship between the two of them.
Ke Daobing shook his head. "If it were anyone else, I might see them as a rival in love. But with you... I have never thought that way."
Ou Xiatian chuckled lightly. "Whatever you think doesn't change the truth. You are still you, and I am still me."
Silence claimed the atmosphere once again.
Ke Daobing spoke with a lowered voice, "Before, I suffered because I couldn't be near her. Now, she is resting in my home, and I finally realize... what true torment is."
Ou Xiatian stood up. "Tonight, you can still go find her."
Ke Daobing stared into the creeping darkness. "What if I find her? What if I don't? Nothing has made a difference for a long time."
Ou Xiatian grabbed his wine jar and held it against his chest. "It's fine if you don't go. Tonight, I will go see her myself." Finishing his words, he made his way toward the rear pavilion, leaving Ke Daobing standing there, drowning in the darkness.
Ou Xiatian walked past the grand three-story building, heading straight for the smaller building at the back. This small building was a beautifully decorated two-story pavilion. He did not presume to enter the pavilion; instead, he shouted from the outside, "Lady Han, I, Ou Xiatian, have a few words to speak with you. I apologize for taking up the Young Miss's time."
A long while passed, accompanied only by the howling wind. Finally, a small window slowly pushed open, revealing a beautiful maiden in a yellow dress beneath the moonlight.
"Brother Ou, what words do you have for Yuexin?"
Ou Xiatian cupped his hands in greeting. The moonlight cast his long shadow across the courtyard. "Eldest Young Miss surely knows what will happen tomorrow. I merely wish to know your thoughts on the matter."
He was a scholar and a thinker, often evaluating situations without letting emotions take the lead. Right now, the Virtue Association was at a clear disadvantage. The enemy was advancing; the people's morale was shaken. Yet, the only solution was not necessarily to clash head-on. Sometimes, taking one step back could be the move that paves the way to victory in the future.
The woman's voice drifted down from the window above, as gentle as the night breeze.
"As for the past conflict between the Virtue Association and the Defying Heaven Sect, I do not fully know the entire story. My only concern is that more of our family members will suffer injuries and death. We traveled all the way here solely in the hope of living a peaceful life."
The words of Han Yuexin were soft, yet they concealed a profound exhaustion.
Ou Xiatian pondered in silence for a moment before speaking carefully, "If the Eldest Young Miss is worried about your people, we could still lead everyone away tonight."
The woman at the window fell silent for a brief moment before asking back, "Brother Ou, do you want us to flee?"
"Not just flee, but we should all bid farewell to the martial world together. We have already traveled this far to the northern lands. If we enter the Great Desert, I refuse to believe anyone could ever find us again."
The night wind suddenly stilled. The woman at the window seemed to grow displeased. Her family desired peace, but they could not forsake their reputation and honor in the martial world. Even so, her voice replied, "Brother Ou, you should take these words to my father and my grandfather. I am merely a woman; I have no say in this."
Once Han Yuexin finished speaking, the window simply closed.
Suddenly, a familiar man's voice rang out from the darkness behind the Drunken Scholar.
"Why didn't you just ask her to run away with you alone? Wouldn't bringing so many people along be more of a burden?" Ke Daobing, who had secretly followed and watched the whole exchange, spoke up as he stepped out of the shadows.
"Since she has no intention of fleeing, then when the Defying Heaven Sect arrives tomorrow, all of them will simply have to end their lives right here," Ou Xiatian said with a stern expression.
"That ridiculous Defying Heaven Sect. Let them bring their entire nest. We will use this opportunity to wipe this demonic sect off the face of the martial world once and for all." Ke Daobing spoke with an equally resolute tone, but what truly lay in the depths of his heart, no one could possibly know.
Sunlight pierced through the white clouds, casting a soft, gentle brightness that was not overly intense. The chirping of birds, big and small, sounded exceptionally melodious. Today at the Virtue Association, everything had been fully prepared to face the assault from the Defying Heaven Sect, a sect that was once renowned as the most ruthless and brutal in the martial world.
Over three hundred people all wore white headbands as a symbol. After forming their ranks and thoroughly inspecting their readiness, they dispersed to their assigned positions. They took turns standing guard and rotating to eat breakfast.
However, as noon approached, there was still no sign of the Defying Heaven Sect attacking.
The Young Master of the North, Ke Daobing, dressed in emerald green and also wearing a white headband, ordered another assembly. But this time, the number of people who gathered had dwindled until barely more than one hundred and forty remained.
No one had attacked them. They had simply fled. Seeing a deadly storm about to crash upon them, it was only natural to seek an escape. Those who chose to leave were the ones who would keep their lives. As for those who chose to stay, it might signify bravery, or perhaps they simply had nowhere else to go.
Ke Daobing silently gazed at this sight, yet he spoke no words of condemnation. At this point, he no longer cared about the number of his allies. Whoever wanted to stay, could stay; whoever wanted to flee, could flee. He walked straight toward the Drunken Scholar Ou Xiatian, who was lying down to escape the sun beneath a large umbrella, as if the impending matter of life and death had nothing to do with him.
Nearly two hours after noon, the Defying Heaven Sect's cavalry finally arrived. The entire procession consisted of only eight people on eight horses. Moreover, all eight were women. Leading the group were three middle-aged women, who could be guessed as The Blood Spider Tian Yihui, Azure Squirrel Yang Qianlian, and Verdant Dragonfly Zhou Xingxuan. The remaining five were young women in green dresses, likely just a group of nameless attendants.
"We demand to see Han Zhaoming. Call him out right now." It was The Blood Spider, Tian Yihui, whose voice rang out loud and clear.
The moment Ke Daobing laid eyes on Tian Yihui, a feeling of disgust welled up in him. He immediately barked back, "I demand to see Shi Moyong as well. Call him out immediately."
"Insolent brat, what are you? What gives you the right to call out the name of the Defying Heaven Sect's Patriarch directly? Bring the head of that Han fraud to me right now. We will drop the matter here and spare the lives of all you lowly servants." Today, Tian Yihui seemed to be in an exceptionally good mood, hence her willingness to speak so many words.
"You brought only this much manpower. What kind of place do you think the Virtue Association is?" Ke Daobing said as he waved his hand, signaling his subordinates to reveal themselves and encircle the group.
Suddenly, around thirty men rushed out from their hiding spots, completely surrounding the Defying Heaven Sect's procession.
Thirty men facing a mere eight enemies. It was a massive advantage. Yet, Ke Daobing's face was filled with resentment. Just moments ago, he had counted a force of over a hundred men. How was it that only this many remained?
Even though Ke Daobing had dispatched some of his trusted aides to inform Han Zhaoming of the Defying Heaven Sect's arrival, the remaining forces should have been no less than a hundred lives. It shouldn't have been a mere thirty men like this.
He then roared with fury, "Do not let a single one of them escape!"
Right then, a barrage of glittering, dazzling light filled the sky, rocketing toward the men of the Virtue Association. Ke Daobing instantly recognized them as a flurry of flying daggers and decided to step in to intercept them.
Ke Daobing flicked his sleeves, unleashing his six signature hidden weapons from his hands in the blink of an eye. Cold light flashed brilliantly, spreading mid-air to clash instantly against the enemy's swarm of flying daggers. Six types of hidden weapons, six of each type were thrown. He calculated that this would easily be enough to obliterate those flying daggers.
However, more than half of the flying daggers pierced right through Ke Daobing's hidden weapon defense. They stabbed into the Virtue Association's men, killing over twenty of them. Some short daggers were even capable of taking the lives of more than one man in a single strike.
Short wails of agony rang out continuously before several bodies collapsed to the ground, becoming mere corpses.
Ke Daobing could hardly believe his own eyes. Ever since he had made a name for himself in the martial world, he had never met anyone whose skill with hidden weapons was equal or superior to his own. Yet today, witnessing flying daggers that could curve and change directions multiple times in a single throw—today, he had finally met someone whose mastery far surpassed his own.
The Blood Spider, Tian Yihui, saw Ke Daobing's stubborn resistance. She threw a mocking smile before gripping the whip in her hand tightly, preparing to lash out.
"Heaven-Equaling Peak Han Zhaoming is no longer here." The clear, sharp voice of a woman rang out from behind, accompanied by the appearance of the number one beauty in the martial world, Han Yuexin.
The young woman's shout abruptly halted the impending battle. Ke Daobing was so stunned by the news of Han Zhaoming's departure that his body froze. Meanwhile, the Drunken Scholar Ou Xiatian also stood up and walked out from beneath the large umbrella.
"Did Han Zhaoming truly run away?" Azure Squirrel Yang Qianlian said with an expression of deep sorrow. She felt disappointed in this man time and time again.
"Ha ha ha! So this is the nature of the famous Heaven-Equaling Peak." Tian Yihui said, her laughter laced with mocking sarcasm.
"I, Han Yuexin, have come as my father's representative to inform you. I ask to postpone our scheduled meeting just this once, changing it from today to the fourteenth day of the sixth lunar month. I am willing to accompany you as a hostage to guarantee this." Finishing her words, Han Yuexin stepped forward, offering herself to the Defying Heaven Sect's procession.
Hearing Han Yuexin's words loud and clear, the Drunken Scholar Ou Xiatian leaped gracefully into the air, landing to block the path of The Frostflower Maiden.
"A naive little girl like you, what right do you have to speak as a representative?" Tian Yihui roared in fury before instantly lashing out with the whip in her hand.
The crimson whip was aimed squarely at Han Yuexin. But with Ou Xiatian standing there, he would never allow anyone to harm his beloved woman.
Ou Xiatian snapped open his folding fan to intercept the incoming whip. He then snapped the fan shut and spiraled it forward like a thrusting weapon. The red whip lashed back again, its red tip clashing with the thrusting fan. Despite its fierce and rapid strike, the whip was deflected once more.
Tian Yihui's whip was repelled. The rebounding force left her wrist aching and numb. She glared at Ou Xiatian with intense resentment, preparing to lash out again.
Suddenly, a volley of flying daggers shot toward Ou Xiatian from another direction. Yet, the Drunken Scholar simply twirled his body once, sweeping his open fan in a circle to catch all the daggers. With a flick of his wrist, he hurled them straight back at the enemy.
Most of those rebounding daggers were aimed at Tian Yihui, who was mounted on her horse. The warhorse panicked and reared up on its hind legs. The woman in red nearly tumbled to the ground, but thanks to her superb horsemanship, she managed to steady herself and survive the crisis once again.
Verdant Dragonfly Zhou Xingxuan, who was in charge of leading the assault on the Virtue Association this time, never expected the Drunken Scholar Ou Xiatian to possess such supreme martial skills. She secretly re-evaluated the drunken man before preparing to throw another wave of flying daggers.
Just then, three dark shadows darted into the battlefield. An overwhelming aura of pressure radiated from the trio, spreading clearly across the area, indicating that these arrivals were no ordinary figures. These three shadows consisted of the Descendant of the Stone Fiend Shi Moyong, the supreme Patriarch and supreme leader of the Defying Heaven Sect, flanked by Tiger Frog Huang Sakong and Sword Slave on his left and right.
Upon seeing the Sword Slave, Ke Daobing's face immediately showed significant shock. A conflicting emotion churned within him—a clash between dread and the burning desire to win. He let out a roar before stepping forward to confront them. But before he could even move, Han Yuexin grabbed his wrist. Were it anyone else, Ke Daobing would have mercilessly shaken their hand off. But this was her hand. Ke Daobing's entire body felt instantly powerless to resist.
Han Yuexin stepped toward Shi Moyong and greeted him, "Kang Kang, it really is you." Her words contradicted the feelings in her heart. She had known all along that this Descendant of the Stone Fiend, Shi Moyong, was the Destitute Wanderer Kang Kang. Nevertheless, she intentionally greeted him this way to evoke his memories of their past bond.
Shi Moyong looked surprised and asked, "Yuexin, did your father and grandfather really run away?"
To Shi Moyong, even though he knew well that Han Zhaoming was a fake master—a useless individual—he never expected him to be this useless.
"They did not flee. They simply had an important appointment with my maternal grandfather, so they had to depart in a hurry," Han Yuexin explained the situation within her family.
Shi Moyong pondered for a moment and easily deduced that Han Yuexin's maternal grandfather must be Gao Qingxin. He then said, "Yuexin, we now stand on opposite sides and have become enemies. Regarding your offer to accompany us as a hostage, I advise you to think it through carefully."
"Becoming enemies is for the best!" A voice roared. Alongside a fan's sweeping shadow, the Drunken Scholar Ou Xiatian shifted his stance, spun, and launched himself directly at Shi Moyong.
Seeing Ou Xiatian initiate the attack, Ke Daobing swept his gaze and spotted a large umbrella with a sharp tip resembling a spear. He dashed over, grabbed it to use as a weapon, and coordinated his assault with Ou Xiatian.
The fan's shadow shattered and swayed, its movements shifting with profound unpredictability. It became an overlapping curtain of shadows, dazzling like a wall, expanding its reach far and wide. Some swept upward, others slashed sideways, instantly enveloping Shi Moyong in the center.
Though there was no shortage of martial experts on this battlefield, the sheer power of the sweeping fan's shadow forced everyone around them to retreat another pace.
Ke Daobing's large umbrella thrust forward, synchronizing with the rhythm of Ou Xiatian's fan dance. The sharp tip of the umbrella was as fierce and aggressive as a roaring dragon's head, while the wall of fan shadows morphed into a coiling dragon's body. The combined might was terrifyingly formidable.
Yet, a pair of palm shadows suddenly swept in two swift circles before shooting straight in to firmly grasp the umbrella's tip. With a single, forceful twist upward, Ke Daobing's body, which was hidden within the fan's shadow, was forcefully yanked into the open. He tried to muster all his strength to break free from the grip, but his combined might still could not match Shi Moyong's single left hand.
Ke Daobing was hurled flying away to the left. Even so, the Young Master of the North had managed to stall Shi Moyong for a brief moment.
Ou Xiatian continued his bizarre footwork. Despite being threatened and pushed back by the enemy's sweeping palms, the clash of strength between Shi Moyong and Ke Daobing had created an opening. Relying on his fan's shadow for camouflage, he hid behind Ke Daobing's body before dropping his fan. Using a finger technique in place of a weapon, he darted forward, aiming a thrusting strike straight at both of Shi Moyong's eyes.
Shi Moyong swung his right palm up to block and intercept.
But this played right into Ou Xiatian's hands—the finger strike that was thrust with full force abruptly changed direction. His splayed fingers dipped downward, gathering his qi into a piercing strike aimed directly at the opponent's throat.
Every move ignited and concluded in the mere blink of an eye.
His fingers struck the fatal acupoint—victory should have been well within his grasp.
However, Ou Xiatian felt the finger strike he poured his energy into sinking away, vanishing into a vast, boundless ocean. Everything around him ground to a halt in a bizarre, astonishing stillness.
At that exact same moment, Ke Daobing abandoned his large umbrella. He gathered his internal qi throughout his entire body, smashing his right fist into Shi Moyong's chest and thrusting his left fist into his abdomen simultaneously.
Shi Moyong's body trembled violently. His left hand finally released its grip on the umbrella's tip. He twisted his body to withstand the attacks coming from both sides.
Refusing to let this golden opportunity slip, Ou Xiatian caught the falling umbrella with the tip of his foot. Twisting his ankle, he hooked the umbrella's tip against the ground to act as a pivot. He then sprang back, spinning his body to launch a sweeping strike. The shaft of the umbrella slammed into Shi Moyong with a deafening thud. The sharp tip slashed past with a fierce, aggressive gust of wind.
Shi Moyong's clothes were ripped to shreds, yet his body bore no wounds. It only revealed his chest and abdomen, marked by a single long, red line. Then, rolling his wrist, he brought his palm up to chest level, ready to unleash a counterattack.
Ou Xiatian quickly lunged to suppress and pin down that palm, creating an opening for Ke Daobing to attack from behind once again.
This time, Ke Daobing's emerald green robes billowed. Internal qi swelled and packed densely throughout his entire body. For a master who threw multiple hidden weapons at once, his foundation of qi was bound to be profound and lethal. The twin fists he unleashed were meant to pulverize Shi Moyong's skull into dust.
Yet, that head remained standing tall and unmoving.
Shi Moyong stomped his left foot down, pinning Ou Xiatian's foot to the ground. He twisted his wrist, breaking free from the grip, before slamming a palm strike squarely into the Drunken Scholar's chest.
Ou Xiatian's body was sent flying like a kite with a snapped string.
Though Ke Daobing had exhausted much of his strength, he forcefully pressed on, relentlessly battering vital acupoints across his opponent's body. Yet, the other's body was as tough as steel, completely unharmed and unfazed.
In a flash, Shi Moyong whirled around. One palm rocketed directly into Ke Daobing's face with pinpoint accuracy.
A sickening crack of shattering bone echoed loudly.
Ke Daobing dropped to his knees. Crimson blood poured from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. He collapsed face-first onto the ground but did not perish instantly. His eyes strained to look toward Ou Xiatian, who lay crumpled in the distance—now entirely devoid of breath.
Stubbornness and a burning desire to win flared in Ke Daobing's eyes once more. But as he tried to lift his head, he saw Han Yuexin mount a horse and ride away with Shi Moyong. The last drop of strength he had fought so hard to gather instantly crumbled into nothingness.
The last thing he saw was the two of them riding away together before his soul slipped away from his body.
The slaughter continued. The chaotic sound of galloping hooves and agonizing wails gradually faded and disappeared.
In the end, only mounds of motionless corpses remained amidst the eerie, desolate silence.
The Virtue Association in the northern lands had finally met its ultimate end.
Mid-year rains were often heavy. Drops plummeted from the sky, flooding the earth. The land needed water, but an excess spelled disaster. Just like today. It had poured continuously since nightfall. The rattling wooden roof struck fear, harmonizing with the roar of thunder and the crack of lightning—as if the heavens were enraged, punishing mortals with this storm.
When rain swelled into a storm, the sea naturally turned frenzied. The churning waves crashing against the shore were an intimidating sight. Far down the beach, a small hut stood, stubbornly resisting the violent wind and rain.
When the vast forces of nature met resistance, like this little hut, it became a target for the heavens' wrath. Wind and rain battered it from all directions, threatening to lift and flip it into the air. Yet, it remained unmoving, as though deeply rooted in the shifting sand. The harsher the gale blew and the fiercer the rain lashed, the more miraculously firm the hut stood.
At last, the storm passed. Sunlight struck the hut, casting a long shadow across the vast expanse of sand, like roots buried deep in the earth.
The small door opened, and a young man stepped out. The scent of rain still lingered. Emerging from the hut's long shadow, his dark blue clothes came into view. Though not tall, his back and shoulders were broad, packed with strength. His hair was tied back, revealing long earlobes, thick eyebrows, and large eyes shining with firm determination. But above all, the smile gracing the corner of his mouth was striking.
The young man's long shadow slowly detached from the hut's.
With the storm gone, only the hot wind and warm sun remained. Suddenly, two tall strangers appeared, walking along the endless stretch of sand, heading toward that distant hut.
The first man was middle-aged, his long beard reaching his chest. He carried an authoritative air, resembling a high official or a wealthy city lord. The second was a handsome, rugged youth with the demeanor of a warlord or general. They walked one after the other, spaced exactly two paces apart. Even after thousands of steps along the beach, that distance neither closed nor widened by a fraction. At a glance, it might go unnoticed, but upon closer observation, one would be astonished—the rhythm of their footsteps was perfectly synchronized.
Looking at the exterior of this small hut, it was easy to guess the interior. Given its tiny size, it could only be a cramped single room with sparse furnishings. Perhaps a simple, clean wooden table and chairs, and a flat wooden bed with bedding. That was all. What was more interesting was the bedding—prepared in two sets. A person sleeping on a wooden board had no need for two pillows. Two pillows meant two people lived here. The two tall strangers sat down at the simple table, waiting for the host to return.
They did not have to wait long. The sound of footsteps on the sand drifted over, followed by the opening of the door.
A beautiful young woman in a light blue dress appeared. She had large, light-colored eyes like a foreigner, her hair flowing freely down her back. Startled to find two unrecognizable strangers, she blurted out, "Who are you?"
"Is this my niece-in-law... Haha," the middle-aged man chuckled.
"Who are you?" The woman swept her gaze over them, shifting into a fighting stance.
"This is the leader of the martial world, Patriarch of the Supreme Martial Pavilion, Diao Zhufan. My name is Li Sibei. May I know my sister-in-law's name?" the tall young man answered with a flirtatious smile.
"Jin Tianwang has no relatives or friends. Do not falsely claim ties with him." The woman avoided the younger man's gaze, addressing the middle-aged man instead.
"How can Tianwang have no relatives? We are all family. Little lady, do not speak such piercing words," Li Sibei said, his eyes glinting.
"Lady Fan is correct. I, Jin Tianwang, have no relatives or friends." A voice rang out as the door slowly opened wide, revealing the man in dark blue.
"Tianwang, the Defying Heaven Sect has reappeared. Furthermore, another Stone Fiend has been born. The matters you left unfinished in the past—heaven has now paved the way for you to complete," Diao Zhufan said, his gaze fixed on Jin Tianwang.
"I have no wish to return to the martial world." Jin Tianwang cupped his hands, replying with deep respect.
"Child, do not think otherwise. If I treated you well before, today I will only treat you better," Diao Zhufan said, his voice resonating with power.
Jin Tianwang bowed lower, his cupped hands steady, and affirmed with a firmer tone, "I have no wish to return to the martial world."
"Tianwang... right now I need you by my side. Or do you no longer care for our past bonds?"
"Uncle Diao, my debt to you is immense. But in this life, I must be ungrateful. I only hope to repay you as a horse or an ox in the next." Jin Tianwang spoke these words with great difficulty. Finishing, he looked up, grabbed Lady Fan's arm, and walked away with her.
Diao Zhufan and Li Sibei did not follow.
Jin Tianwang led Lady Fan by the hand, stopping to gaze at the distant sky and the azure sea. His mind was weighed down by countless matters. This Lady Fan was, in fact, Fan Qingqing, the beautiful daughter of the renowned White Jade Dragon Fan Baojian of the Southern Seas.
Jin Tianwang recalled his past. It began as a mere orphan enduring a harsh life with street urchins in the city, having no fixed home. He spent his days surviving on petty theft, until he met Wang Yi, who offered him food. At the time, Jin Tianwang was not the only one adopted by Wang Yi; a whole group of street children was taken in and fed. Yet, as days, months, and years passed, only he remained. The others had mysteriously vanished, one by one. Eventually, Jin Tianwang was taught martial arts.
His training did not follow an ordinary path. Wang Yi needed an heir who possessed the Seven-Star Meridian. Born a street urchin, Jin Tianwang naturally lacked this extraordinary constitution. He had to rely on various herbal medicines Wang Yi scavenged for him—drinking them, bathing in them, and applying them. At times, the medicine burned him, sending a searing pain deep into his bones. At other times, it caused agonizing torment throughout his body. But no matter what, he could neither form the Seven-Star Meridian nor simply die to end the suffering.
Later, Wang Yi took him to the Mystic Valley, a place of danger and desolation. There, Wang Yi found new herbs for him. Until one day, when he felt certain he was about to die, he was saved by Diao Zhufan—a tall stranger who used profound internal qi to pull him back from the clutches of death. From that moment, Wang Yi discovered he had fully developed the Seven-Star Meridian.
With the Seven-Star Meridian formed, Wang Yi began passing down a martial art to him. It was merely a single fist stance. Meanwhile, Diao Zhufan guided him in cultivating internal qi. The two took turns teaching him. But for most of his life then, he lived alone in that cruel valley. He passed the lonely days surviving like a wild beast, dedicating himself solely to mastering that single fist stance.
Yet, this was not the extent of the cruelty. Possessing the Seven-Star Meridian meant facing its inherent curse. On every moonless night, his body ached from head to toe. He sweat and shed tears, unable to sleep. The pain cut deep into every bone and sinew. He suffered repeatedly, until one day, he could no longer shed a tear—and the pain on moonless nights mysteriously faded away.
During those tormented days, he naturally thought of escaping countless times. But without Wang Yi and Diao Zhufan, he knew no one. He had no one left in the world. He refused to lose anyone else. He had no relatives, no friends. Later, Wang Yi and Diao Zhufan revealed the true reason they forced him to practice the fist technique. It was because of a certain fiend—the Stone Fiend Shi Wusha.
In that era, the martial world was plagued by a wicked sect named the Defying Heaven Sect. Within it lived the Stone Fiend, Shi Wusha. He was a ruthless fiend possessing profound martial arts. No one under heaven could defeat him, not even Wang Yi or Diao Zhufan. Thus, the two collaborated to create a supreme martial art: the "Ninefold Heaven-Piercing Fist." It was the fastest, fiercest fist technique in the land, believed capable of shattering the Nine Heavens Armor Art. Across the entire realm, no one else could learn and execute this aside from him—the sole bearer of the Seven-Star Meridian.
Accepting this heavy burden, Wang Yi named him "Tianwang," and Diao Zhufan gave him the surname "Jin." For an orphan who never knew his parents' faces, having a full name brought immense joy. He made a firm vow: "One day, I, Jin Tianwang, will personally kill the Stone Fiend Shi Wusha."
But his resolve could never be realized. Shi Wusha met an untimely death. The unrivaled fiend was no more. His years of grueling, isolated training were reduced to waste. The world no longer needed Jin Tianwang, master of the Ninefold Heaven-Piercing Fist, because the Stone Fiend no longer existed. He could have gone on to build fame and be of use, but Wang Yi and Diao Zhufan did not think so. Without Shi Wusha, there was no need for Jin Tianwang.
Thus, in the year he turned sixteen, Jin Tianwang was permitted to cease his training and return to living as an ordinary person. He no longer needed to endure the desolation of the Mystic Valley.
He became an illiterate youth of sixteen or seventeen, setting out on a wandering life. In reality, he didn't stray far from the Mystic Valley. He merely lived among the local hunter villages. Until one day, he encountered The Drunken Schola—then an unknown figure—who had braved the journey to this desolate land to eliminate a flower-plucking bandit causing trouble in the area.
Jin Tianwang first met Ou Xiatian at a hunter couple's wedding. That night, Ou Xiatian displayed the demeanor of a knowledgeable scholar. He offered elegant blessings, sang joyful songs to enliven the mood, and drank endlessly. The hunters grew fond of him. Without realizing it, Ou Xiatian became a role model in Jin Tianwang's heart. Afterward, Jin Tianwang brought wine to pay his respects, asking Ou Xiatian to teach him to read and write. A man of the wild like him could only pay with wine, but Ou Xiatian gladly befriended him and earnestly taught him.
Ou Xiatian soon discovered the flower-plucking bandit was actually the Shadow Bat, a surviving remnant of the Defying Heaven Sect. The Shadow Bat possessed superb lightfoot skills. Though no match for Ou Xiatian in direct combat, he constantly used his agility to flee into the Mystic Valley. Since the valley was strictly forbidden ground in the martial world, Ou Xiatian dared not trespass. This was likely the very loophole the fiends in the valley used to justify breaking their oaths.
Later, news of the bandit spread. The Virtue Association dispatched men to hunt him down. Finding no suspects, they framed Ou Xiatian and escorted him back to their headquarters. Ou Xiatian had wanted to meet Heaven-Equaling Peak Han Zhaoming anyway, to clarify the truth and discuss breaching the Mystic Valley to capture the Shadow Bat. But upon arriving, he met The Frostflower Maiden Han Yuexin. She took an interest in the case out of youthful curiosity, unaware that Ou Xiatian had fallen in love with her at first sight. Because of this, he deflected and distorted the story.
Hearing the news, Jin Tianwang worried for the Drunken Scholar's safety. He stormed the Virtue Association alone, fought Heaven-Equaling Peak Han Zhaoming, and rescued Ou Xiatian from the encirclement. Thus, Jin Tianwang's name resounded through the martial world for the first time. Yet, after escaping, Ou Xiatian refused to flee with him, willingly returning to the Association because he knew he could explain the truth.
Jin Tianwang did not understand Ou Xiatian's underlying intentions. He headed straight for the Mystic Valley, disregarding how trespassing into forbidden territory could escalate into a major crisis. Upon arriving, he captured the Shadow Bat right in front of the valley's inhabitants. He then dragged the real culprit to the Virtue Association to exchange for Ou Xiatian's freedom.
With the true culprit caught, Ou Xiatian was released. Through the chaos of that event, Jin Tianwang became closely acquainted with the frostflower. Because of Han Yuexin, he turned his back on the wild, choosing instead to follow and look after her.
"Are you thinking of her?" Fan Qingqing turned to look at him. The woman she referred to was undoubtedly The Frostflower Maiden Han Yuexin.
Jin Tianwang did not answer. He simply kept his gaze on the vast sea.
"Can you really not forget her? Even today, you shed tears for her," Fan Qingqing said, her voice tinged with reproach.
"I have no tears left to shed," Jin Tianwang replied with a faint smile.
"Will you ever forget her?"
"I will never forget her, just as I will remember you forever."
Fan Qingqing's expression showed little satisfaction, but deep down, she felt a trace of gladness. At least she knew she meant a great deal to him. Yet, for her, this was not enough. In her heart, there was only Jin Tianwang. Why did he still have space in his heart carved out for another?
Reconsidering his words, Fan Qingqing sensed something wrong. She quickly asked, "Saying that... are you leaving?"
Jin Tianwang gave a slight nod.
"You..." Fan Qingqing's voice trembled as tears welled up in her eyes.
"They managed to find me. I must seek a new hiding place," Jin Tianwang replied, averting his gaze.
"Then why don't we hide together?"
"I cannot drag you into this."
"If you shut me out and leave me behind, wouldn't that hurt me even more?" Tears streamed down her cheeks.
Jin Tianwang kept his gaze forward. He stood up straight, cutting the conversation short. "I must go."
Fan Qingqing dashed over to block his path, crying out, "Why don't you want me? You..." Stopping there, she suddenly realized the hidden meaning.
He had no intention of hiding. If he merely wanted to flee, he could have taken her with him. Refusing to let her follow meant he was walking into grave danger.
She sensed this through intuition. She quickly pressed, "You aren't finding a hiding place. You're going to the Defying Heaven Sect. You can't bear to watch your benefactors die."
A trace of pain flashed across Jin Tianwang's face. Fan Qingqing saw right through him.
Fan Qingqing gripped his shoulders tightly. Locking eyes with him, she warned, "Let me be blunt. Even if you intervene, you can do nothing against the Nine Heavens Armor Art. The Supreme Martial Pavilion will suffer a crushing defeat. No one can defeat Shi Moyong anymore. No martial art is more formidable than his armor."
Jin Tianwang chose not to answer. It wasn't because he arrogantly believed he could defeat Shi Moyong. Rather, he never intended to fight. Since Shi Moyong was once his friend—the Destitute Wanderer Kang Kang—he secretly believed that if he stepped in to negotiate and persuade everyone to stand down, he might just succeed.
"If you face Shi Moyong, you'll be throwing your life away for nothing!" Fan Qingqing shouted, losing her patience.
Jin Tianwang was an orphan. Wang Yi and Diao Zhufan were the only two people he respected and called family. If they were truly going to die, he could never stand by and watch. Forced into this situation, he had to step up and stop Shi Moyong.
Jin Tianwang knew full well that he hadn't even mastered the true essence of the Ninefold Heaven-Piercing Fist before the plan was shelved. And even if he had perfected it, there was no guarantee it could break that invincible armor. In the past, his half-baked fist might have been fierce enough to conquer ordinary masters. But facing an ultimate technique like the Nine Heavens Armor Art, Jin Tianwang had to admit he had no confidence.
The Defying Heaven Sect stood on a plateau atop Howling Wolf Hill, the former stronghold of a bandit gang. When those bandits faced the sect, resistance was futile. They lost their base, and their forces were entirely absorbed into the sect's ranks. This newly established Defying Heaven Sect thus became a terrifying presence in the martial world.
The sect was led by Patriarch Shi Moyong, the Descendant of the Stone Fiend, and Vice Patriarch Ouyang Laoxian, The Carefree Laughing Elder. Assisting them were four Law Enforcers: Verdant Dragonfly Zhou Xingxuan, Tiger Frog Huang Sakong, The Blood Spider Tian Yihui, and Azure Squirrel Yang Qianlian.
Additionally, two vital positions known as the Two Envoys existed: the Right Envoy, One Word Ends Life Ouyang Laobai, and the Left Envoy, Sword Slave. Below them served Branch Leaders, comprised of former sect masters and clan chiefs who had sworn allegiance.
Though its reputation struck fear into martial artists and caused turmoil, the Defying Heaven Sect did not actually pursue wickedness. The sect operated under strict rules and severe punishments originally established by The Demonic Doctor Di Jiao. These laws focused on cultivating good karma, offering a second chance to former criminals and unorthodox martial artists. The harsh regulations kept their behavior in check, ensuring they never reoffended.
In the past, despite absorbing countless unorthodox martial artists, virtually none returned to a life of crime. Back then, The Stone Fiend Shi Wusha, the ultimate master of the unorthodox faction, recognized Di Jiao's vision. He merged his forces into the Defying Heaven Sect, creating an overwhelming power that terrified the orthodox factions. Years passed without incident, until Heaven-Equaling Peak Han Zhaoming infiltrated the sect and exposed a technique that turned people into living corpses. This revelation drove the martial world to unite with the Virtue Association to destroy the sect. Now, the Defying Heaven Sect was rebuilt, but the Virtue Association was gone. Only the Supreme Martial Pavilion remained. A duel between their leaders was set for the fifteenth day of the fifth lunar month to decide the martial world's future.
The Carefree Laughing Elder, Ouyang Laoxian, was once a ruthless demonic lord who rampaged across the Southern Seas. He never could have guessed the historically brutal Defying Heaven Sect would adopt such an orderly structure. Being integrated into this system left him frustrated and stifled. He had originally intended to use this opportunity to plunder the immeasurable wealth of the Central Plains. Instead, he found indiscriminate looting and killing strictly forbidden. Their recent raids targeted only the Virtue Association in the north, sparing mountain bandits and forest outlaws.
Having just emerged from seclusion with a newly mastered supreme technique, Ouyang Laoxian was itching for a fight. Serving as Vice Patriarch, he wanted to represent the sect and test his skills against his old nemesis, the Blood Eagle Diao Zhufan. But with Patriarch Shi Moyong insisting on handling the matter personally, what was left for him to do? Lately, Ouyang Laoxian lived in bitter resentment, complaining of his grievances every night to One Word Ends Life, Ouyang Laobai.
Ouyang Laobai, the most outstanding grandson of the Ouyang family, had shifted his life's path after a single defeat at the hands of Jin Tianwang. Not only had he sworn brotherhood with Shi Moyong, but his once ruthless nature was now governed by reason and strong principles. Day by day, he displayed sharper intellect and deeper prudence. His martial arts had advanced remarkably, nearly matching his grandfather's. Despite enduring Ouyang Laoxian's daily complaints, he constantly urged the Vice Patriarch to act in accordance with the sect's rules.
Yet, Ouyang Laoxian's biggest headache was Verdant Dragonfly, Zhou Xingxuan. This First Law Enforcer seemed specifically assigned to monitor him. Though still retaining much of her beauty, she was fiercely dutiful and rigidly enforced the rules. Furthermore, her martial arts and poison techniques surpassed most. Whenever Ouyang Laoxian even entertained a thought of his usual wicked fun, she promptly reprimanded and suppressed him. What frustrated him most was the lingering sense of awe and apprehension he secretly felt toward her.
Howling Wolf Hill was a lush mountain, abundant with flora. At this time of year, countless flowers bloomed, bursting with color and spreading their fragrance through the forest. Numerous animals roamed the trail leading up the hill. At this hour, the morning mist still lingered as a man walked the path, heading straight toward the Defying Heaven Sect.
The young man wore snug yellow clothes, broken only by his black mid-calf boots. He strode steadily up the hill, his gaze sweeping the surroundings with a faint smile.
Birds chirped, greeting the stranger along the path. A pair of little blue birds seemed particularly fond of him, fluttering after him and singing as if serenading his journey. They followed until a massive fortress bearing the Defying Heaven Sect plaque appeared. The young man met the birds' eyes, as if bidding them farewell. Understanding his intent, they soared back into the green forest. He watched them leave with a peculiar smile, then returned his focus to the sect.
The fortress guards had spotted this early traveler long before his approach, dispatching someone to report inside before he even neared the gates.
He arrived alone, his bright yellow clothes dyed from coarse fabric. The smile on his face conveyed nothing but friendliness. After stating his purpose—claiming to be an old friend of Patriarch Shi Moyong seeking a small favor—he stood politely waiting at the gate.
Suddenly, the gates swung open. Two rows of martial artists marched out in orderly formation, flanking a plump, middle-aged man in vibrant, flashy clothes. Judging by the guards' respectful demeanor, this man held extremely high status within the sect. He scrutinized the young man. No matter how he looked at him, the visitor appeared to be nothing more than a destitute, somewhat foolish youth.
"Paying respects to the senior. This junior seeks an audience with the Patriarch of the Defying Heaven Sect to ask an old friend for a small favor," the young man said, a foolish smile on his lips.
"Get out of my sight," the brightly dressed man snapped, waving his sleeve dismissively.
The young man refused to leave, keeping his head bowed in a gesture of respect.
This middle-aged man was The Carefree Laughing Elder, Ouyang Laoxian. He glared at the youth, whose dull, stubborn demeanor showed no intention of retreating, until annoyance boiled over. He scoffed:
"What do you pay respects to me for? Fine, if you bow, I'll bow back. Now we're even. Get lost!" He haphazardly rolled up his sleeves and gave a perfunctory salute, completely disregarding seniority or manners. This was simply the Carefree Elder's nature—acting on his whims and ignoring formalities.
Ouyang Laoxian spun around, preparing to reenter the fortress with a hint of disappointment in his eyes. He had hoped to use this early morning intruder to stretch his limbs and relieve his boredom. Who would have thought it was just a foolish youth refusing to leave?
"How could that be? This junior, Jin Tianwang, is merely a youth. How could I dare accept a salute from a senior?"
The moment the name "Jin Tianwang" slipped from his lips, Ouyang Laoxian froze. His indifferent gaze sharpened. He realized this seemingly foolish young man was no ordinary person, but the master who had once defeated his grandson, Ouyang Laobai.
His previous annoyance vanished, replaced by a surge of excitement. His blood boiled with battle lust, and a bizarre smile crept onto his face.
In the same instant, he spun around. His sleeves snapped like a whip before his palm lashed out with blinding speed, giving his opponent absolutely no time to brace himself.
Jin Tianwang felt the crushing force of the qi, its pressure making his clothes flutter. He quickly shuffled his feet, retreating several steps in rapid succession. Yet, the middle-aged man transformed into a flashy blur, sticking to him like a shadow.
In the blink of an eye, a profound palm technique was unleashed. Countless overlapping palm shadows formed multiple walls, crashing down relentlessly and cutting off all avenues of retreat.
No matter how far Jin Tianwang retreated, he could not break free from the encirclement. Finally, he gathered his strength and threw a full-force punch directly into the wall of palms.
"Bang!"
The deafening clash echoed through the edge of the forest. The two figures violently broke apart. Nearby birds, startled by the shockwave, scattered into the sky.
Ouyang Laoxian stared at Jin Tianwang as if he had found a priceless treasure. Although he looked middle-aged, Ouyang Laoxian was nearing eighty. Only his overwhelmingly tyrannical internal qi preserved his youth, making him appear no older than fifty or sixty.
Having been relentlessly pursued, Jin Tianwang had countered with a single punch under immense pressure. Feeling the opponent's strength, he realized this elder was a rare supreme master. This frustrated him. He had intended to negotiate peacefully, only to end up offending a supreme master right at the doorstep.
"I hope your martial arts are better than this, kid. Otherwise, I will be terribly bored," Ouyang Laoxian smiled.
"Senior, I did not come to cause trouble with the Defying Heaven Sect. I only wish to ask Patriarch Shi to spare the Supreme Martial Pavilion this once."
"Bold little brat, pleading for the Supreme Martial Pavilion. Let's see if you have the skill to back up that request." As Ouyang Laoxian finished speaking, he spun toward Jin Tianwang and lashed out with his palm once more.
This technique was Ouyang Laoxian's Silk Palm of a Hundred Pounds (法手纱百斤 / Silk Palm of a Hundred Pounds). Its movements were flowing and graceful, but upon impact, one would realize the colossal, crushing weight hidden within.
The palm force drifted like falling leaves, its continuous flow leaving no gaps. Jin Tianwang, specializing in swift and brutal strikes, had no choice but to rely on his expertise to force a break. He stomped his foot and thrust forward.
"Bang!" Another clash erupted, but this time, Ouyang Laoxian was forced to step back.
Ouyang Laoxian revealed a highly satisfied expression. The corners of his mouth curled up, and his narrowed eyes widened slightly.
"That was a solid punch. Fantastic... Let's see if a brat like you can touch me again."
With that, he shifted his footwork into a circle. His plump body spun like a top, his overlapping afterimages surrounding Jin Tianwang from all directions.
Until now, Jin Tianwang still could not guess who he was fighting. The martial skills displayed were far beyond his expectations. He had to reevaluate the Defying Heaven Sect's strength; it seemed Shi Moyong was not the only one capable of defeating Wang Yi and Diao Zhufan.
This thought flashed through his mind in a split second. He threw another punch, but before the force could even reach his knuckles, the spinning afterimage retreated swiftly, dodging half a step away.
Even so, Jin Tianwang did not hesitate. He twisted his ankle, dropped his stance, and lunged forward like a hunting tiger, driving a left hook squarely into Ouyang Laoxian's abdomen.
"Thud!"
A heavy, muffled sound rang out as his fist struck flesh.
Yet, Ouyang Laoxian showed no sign of pain. Instead, his stomach caved in, sucking the fist tight as if Jin Tianwang's hand had sunk into soft dough. His left fist was trapped, unable to be pulled back.
The middle-aged man's eyes glinted fiercely. He clasped both hands above his head, arm muscles bulging, ready to smash his gathered power down onto Jin Tianwang.
Jin Tianwang never expected to find himself in such a predicament, his left fist hopelessly buried in his opponent's stomach. But as Ouyang Laoxian gathered his strength to strike, Jin Tianwang did not hesitate. He channeled his internal qi and drove a right punch into the exact same area.
Ouyang Laoxian could withstand the first punch, but the second was too devastating. Before the power gathered above his head could crash down, his body was sent flying backward, pain radiating through his entire frame.
Ouyang Laoxian cried out in pain, blurting, "Ouch! You vicious little brat! Let's see if your fists can take my old life!"
In his entire life, the Carefree Laughing Elder had only tasted defeat twice. The first time was in his prime, losing to The Magician From the Sky Gao Qingxin. He could not deny Gao Qingxin was a generational genius seen once in fifty years. Conceding defeat, he accepted his place as the second best in the realm.
The second time, he challenged a younger master named The Stone Fiend Shi Wusha and suffered another defeat. He was forced to admit Shi Wusha was a peerless genius seen once in a century. After that loss, Ouyang Laoxian accepted his position as the third best in the land.
However, during that defeat to Shi Wusha, Ouyang Laoxian was severely wounded. Unable to protect his pirate crew when the Blood Eagle Diao Zhufan invaded the South, he fled in disgrace. This birthed a lifelong grudge against Diao Zhufan.
As time passed, Ouyang Laoxian fully healed and invented a technique similar to the Qi family's Nine Heavens Armor Art. He called it the "Eight Heavenly Dragon Scales Technique" believing it could not completely rival the Nine Heavens Armor Art. Yet, facing Jin Tianwang—a young master of his grandson's generation—he felt on the verge of his third defeat.
The more Ouyang Laoxian stared at Jin Tianwang, the more frustrated he grew. This feeling dragged his mind back to the past, making him compare Jin Tianwang's demeanor to Shi Wusha and Gao Qingxin. Finding certain similarities, he blurted out in annoyance, "Why do all you foolish-looking brats possess such terrifying skills!?"
Though Jin Tianwang heard him clearly, he didn't understand the underlying meaning. He simply maintained his stance calmly, in no rush to counterattack.
The similarities between Gao Qingxin, Shi Wusha, and Jin Tianwang might have been perceived as mere foolishness by Ouyang Laoxian. In reality, that foolishness was not deception; it was a sheath hiding their accumulated sharpness. True supreme masters rarely flaunted their prowess. Despite their monumental achievements, they maintained a calm exterior. Ouyang Laoxian styled himself a supreme master, yet he mistook the modest demeanor of other experts for weakness and incompetence.
Suddenly, the sky flashed brightly. A flurry of flying daggers shot toward Jin Tianwang from all directions with blinding speed.
Jin Tianwang flicked his right sleeve once. A burst of internal qi shielded him from the daggers as he retreated. However, a blade still slashed open his left sleeve, exposing his elbow.
A woman's voice followed closely behind. "I heard you have a fist technique called the 'Heaven-Piercing Fist,' kid. Mind testing it against this old woman's Hot and Cold Flying Daggers?" As the voice faded, Zhou Xingxuan appeared at the fortress gates, the other three Law Enforcers standing behind her.
Ouyang Laoxian snapped out of his daze and yelled frantically, "You little brat! Why must you always do something so bizarre and try to steal my thunder?! If this kid has a Heaven-Piercing Fist technique, I must be the one to test it first! It's not your turn! I haven't lost yet! I haven't even used my Eight Heavenly Dragon Scales Technique to its fullest! How dare anyone steal this old man's opponent!" He rambled on, stomping his feet like a spoiled child.
Verdant Dragonfly Zhou Xingxuan was already fifty-six years old. She was no longer a little girl. But standing before the nearly eighty-year-old Ouyang Laoxian, she would forever remain a "little brat" in his eyes.
"Grandfather, please calm your anger."
A young man's voice rang out as he stepped forward to block Ouyang Laoxian. The newcomer was a handsome youth in snug silver attire, his demeanor perfectly composed. He respectfully cupped his hands in greeting to Jin Tianwang. This was none other than Ouyang Laobai, the young man who had once valued victory above all else.
Jin Tianwang hurriedly cupped his hands in return, recalling the past. Once, Ouyang Laobai had been arrogant and impulsive. Now, those traits had vanished, replaced by an unfathomable, profound calmness. Even Jin Tianwang could no longer accurately gauge the depths of his skills.
"Pardon the intrusion, Brother Ouyang. I wish to seek an audience with the Patriarch of the Defying Heaven Sect," Jin Tianwang reiterated.
Ouyang Laobai returned the gesture with honorable courtesy. "I'm afraid I cannot allow Brother Jin to see the Patriarch."
The blunt answer gave Jin Tianwang pause. He hadn't expected that no matter how collected Ouyang Laobai had become, he could still refuse so absolutely.
Ouyang Laobai continued politely, "It is not that the Patriarch ordered me to drive away an old friend like you, Brother Jin. It is simply that... the Patriarch is not in the fortress at this moment."
"Not in the fortress?" Jin Tianwang repeated, as if asking himself.
Ouyang Laoxian interjected loudly, "I told you to get lost from the start, but you wouldn't listen! Since you're here, let's fight until a victor emerges, even if one of us dies!" With that, he rolled up his sleeves, ready to strike again.
Jin Tianwang paid no heed to the challenge. He simply asked slowly, "In that case... where has Patriarch Shi gone?"
Ouyang Laobai shook his head slightly. "No one knows. We only found a letter last night. The Patriarch stated he was leaving alone and forbade anyone from following."
"The fifteenth day of the fifth lunar month is still months away... Why..." Jin Tianwang muttered, trailing off before abruptly turning and leaping away.
Jin Tianwang suddenly thought of Shi Moyong. What kind of person was he? Could they share the same kind of character? Both would never allow others to suffer in their place when facing danger—they would shoulder the burden alone. It was then that Jin Tianwang realized that, in many ways, he and Shi Moyong were quite alike.
The Zenith Martial Pavilion stood in the Qing family village, the former site of the Virtue Association. However, it was not built upon the Association's demolished ruins. Instead, it was relocated from the land bordering the great lake, taking the form of two massive buildings with their backs against a towering mountain.
It was believed that this mountain was sacred, housing a peculiar creature called the "Mouse Bird," with yellow ears and a body as bright as crimson. Anyone who beheld it was said to be blessed with great fortune: men would acquire wealth, and women would wed noble husbands. Yet, for decades—perhaps centuries—no one had actually seen it with their own eyes. It remained merely a legend passed down through the generations.
Along the mountain path, several small pavilions offered rest for travelers admiring the scenery, providing shelter from the sun and rain while they recovered their strength. Among them stood one pavilion with a bright red roof. From afar, it was the only red roof on the entire mountain; the rest were entirely green. This was because it alone had once housed the statue of the Mountain Deity. However, that statue had long been stolen by sinners. Now, aside from an empty altar, the pavilion contained only a large stone table set squarely in the center.
The pavilion was spacious and desolate, yet immaculately clean. Currently, a figure lay stretched out on the stone table, his back to the shining sun. Passersby might have mistaken him for a sculpture replacing the lost Mountain Deity. But this sprawling figure was no god. A closer look revealed a tall, heavily bearded man. Though his eyes remained closed, his demeanor exuded an air of profound destiny. Near his side lay an ancient blade, a bright blood-red hawk etched onto its scabbard. Both the man and the weapon radiated an intimidating aura.
Soon, another man appeared before the red-roofed pavilion. He was a handsome youth dressed in white with blue trim, walking with lazy strides. Every few paces, he would stop to let out a massive yawn. Entering the pavilion and finding nowhere else to sit, he walked straight to the altar, floated upward, and settled quietly upon it, closing his eyes.
Few travelers ever passed by this mid-mountain pavilion. Now, two strange figures occupied it: one sprawling on the table, the other perched upon the altar.
"If you station yourself on the altar like that, doesn't that make me your sacrificial offering?"
"Why is it you? The letter I received was signed by Uncle."
"Wang Yi will never meet you again."
"Old man, you killed my uncle." The only young man in the martial world qualified to call Wang Yi his 'Uncle' was the Descendant of the Stone Fiend, Shi Moyong.
"The Blood Hawk despises betrayal above all else." There was only one person who called himself The Blood Hawk: Diao Zhufan.
"You two were dear friends for so long. To think you could harden your heart and kill him."
"I didn't just kill him. I hacked his body to pieces."
"The letter stated Uncle would bring your head to me."
It appeared a betrayal had taken place within the Zenith Martial Pavilion.
"His moment of hesitation is why I am here today." Saying this, Diao Zhufan pushed himself up from the table, shifting the blade at his waist into a ready stance.
"Having killed Uncle, why did you still come here?" Shi Moyong asked in surprise.
"Because the blade in my hand thirsts for your blood."
"Could you not wait for the scheduled day of our duel?"
"I, the Blood Hawk, have always acted on my whims. Our past grudges must be settled entirely today." With that, Diao Zhufan moved his right hand to grip his blade's hilt.
"You think I bear a grudge against you, old man?" A mocking smile touched the corner of Shi Moyong's mouth.
"You don't bear a grudge against me? The very one who condemned you all to imprisonment in the Mystic Valley?"
"Imprisoned, yet we lived. Back then, if you had decided to execute us all, you could have. Why did you try to save us?" This question seemed to have always lingered in Shi Moyong's mind.
"Save you?!" Diao Zhufan barked. "Me? Trying to save you?"
"Because you considered Silver Serpent Kou Lingsi a dear friend. Aunt Zhou once told me the three of you were actually friends. The Silver Serpent Kou Lingsi, Medicine King Di Yi, and the Blood Hawk Diao Zhufan—three comrades forged through your shared defeat by The Stone Fiend Shi Wusha."
"Did your Aunt Zhou not tell you that Kou Lingsi died under my blade? And now, Wang Yi has met the exact same fate." Saying this, Diao Zhufan drew his blade. The steel glinted with a chilling light.
Shi Moyong, who had kept his eyes shut, slowly opened them. He stepped down from the altar, instantly channeling his internal qi throughout his body. His eyes shone with a bizarre, dark green gleam.
Diao Zhufan also circulated his qi. The blade in his hand radiated a blood-red glow.
Two supreme masters faced off. When speaking of the realm's greatest blade-wielder, the Blood Hawk Diao Zhufan came to mind first. As for the ultimate internal qi art, nothing surpassed the Nine Heavens Armor Art, which Shi Moyong had mastered to its pinnacle.
A blood-red blade arc swept outward, covering a radius of several meters. It was the fiercest blade technique in the land. From the very first strike, Diao Zhufan unleashed his full strength.
Despite mastering the Nine Heavens Armor Art, Shi Moyong did not intend to take the weapon head-on. He rotated his arms in sweeping circles, deflecting multiple currents of blade qi. The blade slashed horizontally, reversed course, and plunged from above. Shi Moyong tracked the steel's movement. As the crushing pressure descended, he clapped both hands together, catching the blade right before him.
Locked in this stance, the two had to clash directly with internal qi. Deep red qi surged from Diao Zhufan's blade, while dark green qi swirled from Shi Moyong's palms. In the time it takes to boil a pot of water, the green qi slowly advanced, suppressing much of the red qi's intensity.
Unwilling to accept a disadvantage that could mean defeat, Diao Zhufan yanked his blade upward and spun mid-air. He generated another dark red arc, slashing at Shi Moyong's torso, only to be met with an even fiercer rebound.
Dark green qi cloaked Shi Moyong's entire body. Even Diao Zhufan's blade force could not pierce it. Shi Moyong clamped both hands around the blade once more. The battle of internal qi resumed.
In that exact moment, a shadow launched from the pavilion entrance, shooting straight at Shi Moyong's back. A series of explosions immediately erupted.
"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Seven punches slammed into Shi Moyong's back like sky-shattering firecrackers. His body trembled violently, yet his hands kept Diao Zhufan's blade clamped tight.
The seven explosions, filled with fist force of immense destructive power, were followed by the eighth.
"Boom!"
Louder than all the rest.
Attacked from front and back, Shi Moyong felt his internal qi churning so violently his body was near bursting. Yet, he endured. With a resounding roar, he blasted his palms outward to both the front and back, purging the invading qi from his body.
The two opponents collapsed simultaneously. Shi Moyong remained standing.
The shadow that delivered the eight punches was actually the Eight-Slayer Fist, Wang Yi—the very man Diao Zhufan claimed to have killed. Now, Wang Yi was down, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.
"This kid is no longer human. I channeled my lifelong qi into those eight punches at his back, and still couldn't defeat this monster," Wang Yi said to Diao Zhufan, who had fallen nearby.
Diao Zhufan spoke with a weak voice. "Why did you return? We didn't both need to sacrifice everything. My fall alone was enough. From now on... let Tianwang handle this monster."
"I have wronged a friend like you all along," Wang Yi whispered, gasping rapidly. "I never believed that giving my all wouldn't break that armor. Ridiculous... how completely ridiculous. Now, having sacrificed both my cultivation and my life force, I still cannot leave a scratch on this Fiend's Descendant."
A smile appeared on Diao Zhufan's face—a smile meant for a comrade, filled with bittersweet joy amidst defeat.
"You fared better than I," he rasped. "At least you got to clash with the kid until your strength gave out. You actually touched him. Me... I didn't even graze his clothes. Yet, you've helped vent some of the resentment in my heart."
With that, he coughed up a mouthful of blood. He struggled to roll over from his stomach onto his back, staring at the sky with waning breaths.
Wang Yi forced himself to continue. "This wicked armor is too formidable. I fear even Tianwang... won't be able to defeat it. It's just—"
Before the sentence could end, Diao Zhufan's breathing stopped. The Blood Hawk had departed the martial world. His face still wore a peaceful smile. Wang Yi's eyes brimmed with tears, seeing his dear friend cross the threshold before him.
Meanwhile, Shi Moyong circulated his qi to heal his internal injuries. Facing the full, combined might of two supreme masters—the Eight-Slayer Fist Wang Yi and the Blood Hawk Diao Zhufan—was no simple feat. Across the entire realm, likely only Shi Moyong could withstand and overcome their combined assault.
After running his qi for two cycles to protect his heart and ease his trauma, Shi Moyong walked toward the two fallen men.
"Uncle, gather your qi to stabilize your heart. I will channel mine to help heal you," he said to Wang Yi. Despite fighting a brutal battle to the death just moments ago, the depth of this Fiend's Descendant's mind was truly unfathomable.
Wang Yi, his breath fading, shook his head. "You don't need to help me. We are not family. Even if I die today, I refuse to be kin to anyone named Shi."
"Uncle resents my father that much." Shi Moyong didn't understand the grudges of the previous generation. Why did true relatives harbor such deep hatred?
"Kou Lingsi's Heavenly Snake Sword couldn't pierce it. Diao Zhufan's Hawk Blade couldn't cut it. My Eight-Slayer Fist couldn't shatter the armor qi. How could the Han father and son defeat Shi Wusha?" Though devoid of strength, Wang Yi continued to lament his fate and that of his comrades.
"Because Shi Wusha befriended a traitor," a voice rang out as a long-bearded old man appeared. His beard was snow-white, and his eyes were as clear as an enlightened sage's.
"You are that traitor," Wang Yi gathered his strength to speak.
"Correct. It is I, the shameless Gao Qingxin. I revealed the secret that Shi Wusha's fatal acupoint shifts to the apex of his body at noon. Furthermore, I held off the Stone Fiend's ultimate technique, creating an opening for my son-in-law and his father to strike my friend's fatal point." Gao Qingxin unveiled the mystery that had long plagued Wang Yi and Diao Zhufan.
"We guessed correctly. Other than you, no one could rival Shi Wusha."
"Wrong. Even I could not fight the Stone Fiend alone. If we hadn't used sheer numbers to win that day, I would have died," Gao Qingxin said, his voice laced with remorse.
"Shi Wusha died at the hands of his own friend. I suppose my end isn't too terrible. In death, I get to meet many friends."
Reaching that point, Wang Yi's weary eyelids slowly closed. His breathing ceased. Thus ended the life of the miraculous doctor who possessed the devastating fist technique.
Gao Qingxin stepped forward slowly, his gaze fixed on Shi Moyong, and spoke in an even tone.
"Child, now you understand who killed your father. This old man sacrificed his friend for his daughter's happiness. Over the past decades, not a single night has passed without regret. Nephew... strike. My life has dragged on long enough."
Shi Moyong's body trembled. He stared at the supreme master—a symbol of virtue in the martial world, who in truth did everything for personal gain, betraying a friend without hesitation. The youth's face turned a pale, purplish hue, his eyes brimming with furious hatred.
Gao Qingxin continued, "Before you strike, purge the poison the Medicine King sneaked into you. I won't run anymore."
"I fear no poison. I possess the Seven-Star Meridian," Shi Moyong replied coldly.
Hearing "Seven-Star Meridian," Gao Qingxin's expression shifted. "One with the Seven-Star Meridian who masters the Nine Heavens Armor Art to the fifth stage no longer has a shifting fatal point. They become truly invincible. You are incredibly blessed, Nephew."
Shi Moyong scoffed coldly. 'It seems my father confided in you more than I thought. You even know the Shi family's secrets.
Gao Qingxin sighed. "Even if I could turn back time, the outcome would be the same. My fragile daughter could only smile when she was with Han Zhaoming. For those smiles, I would sell out a friend like Shi Wusha dozens of times over."
"You committed shameful acts, yet claim remorse. What is true, and what is false?" Shi Moyong rebuked, no longer addressing him as a senior.
"I regret harming a friend, but I am joyous to see my daughter happy. Both are cruel truths," Gao Qingxin answered calmly. "Life is never simple. We don't always get to choose the path we walk."
"Your words are so beautiful," Shi Moyong sneered. "When others err, you hunt them down. When you err, you blame destiny. Is this the way of the righteous?"
Gao Qingxin chuckled lightly. "Righteousness or wickedness are just words people invent. Did the Virtue Association ever truly have virtue? It was actually the Defying Heaven Sect led by the Demonic Doctor Di Jiao that gave wrongdoers a chance to mend their ways. Even today, this old man feels ashamed before that doctor."
"In the past, you helped your son-in-law kill a friend," Shi Moyong said mockingly. "But today, Han Yuexin is my woman. Naturally, I cannot violate the moral code. Not only can I not avenge my father against you, but I must also call you my elder."
The words were not spoken with sincerity; they were meant to pierce the old man's heart.
"Yuexin... foolish granddaughter," Gao Qingxin murmured. He understood perfectly how cruel the cycle of revenge was, and could only softly chide his granddaughter.
"Now the Zenith Martial Pavilion has lost both Diao Zhufan and Wang Yi," Shi Moyong concluded. "Let the duel on the fifteenth of the fifth lunar month be a wedding instead. The two families will end all grievances on that day."
With that, he turned sharply and left.
Gao Qingxin watched the youth's back, sensing a chilling aura radiating from him. With such power, who in the entire martial world could rival him? Especially now, knowing he possessed the Seven-Star Meridian and had mastered the fifth stage of the Nine Heavens Armor Art. This Fiend's Descendant... was truly the single invincible being in the martial world.