Rebirth of a Stunning Beauty (Complete) - 12

page views:1 Publication date:2023-03-24

~Chapter Nine, Every Wrong Has Its Root, Every Debt Has Its Responsibility, Section Six~

"Ximen Wudi, reveal your true colors!" Tie Kongshan roared. "Could it be that the world-renowned number one expert in the underworld is nothing more than a cowardly villain?"

"Hahahaha..." Ximen Wudi laughed wildly, and amidst his laughter, his body slowly floated up, hovering in mid-air with a single breath of true energy. His arrogant laughter, so unpleasant it sounded like hundreds of boulders colliding, caused visible ripples in the air, like waves of water!

These ripples swept across the platform like a gale, causing it to shake violently before collapsing into fragments with a deafening roar, sending up clouds of dust.

The Third Young Master looked at Ximen Wudi hovering in mid-air, then with a whoosh, unfolded his folding fan. While fanning

himself, he muttered, "Hmm… if I could capture Ximen Wudi and take him home, nailing him to the wall, I could use him as a fan. Wouldn't that be much cooler than my folding fan in the summer?" He thought for a moment, then shook his head. "No, he needs to laugh loudly to generate a strong wind. If he laughs all day long, wouldn't that be incredibly noisy? Besides, the wind he generates from his laughter is too powerful; probably only reinforced concrete buildings could withstand it… Sigh, what a waste, what a waste!"

"Damn it, another one who likes to laugh for no reason!" Lei Daoshen spat and picked at his ear.

It took Ximen Wudi a while to stop laughing. He floated through the air to within twenty feet of Qin Xiaoyao and Tie Kongshan before slowly landing. He shouted, "Qin Xiaoyao, Tie Kongshan, if you want to see my true face, you'll have to see if you have the ability! This True Energy Mask requires one-tenth of my power to maintain. You only need to force me to use all twelve-tenths of my power, and the mask will disappear on its own. Then you can see my true face!"

Qin Xiaoyao snorted coldly, "You think you can beat me with only eleven-tenths of your power?" "A duel with Xiaoyao? Ximen Wudi, you're far too arrogant!"

Ximen Wudi said, "You're wrong! A duel with you, Qin Xiaoyao, wouldn't even require eleven percent of my power! I mean, using eleven percent of my power to fight you and Tie Kongshan simultaneously. You two would need to join forces to be worthy of my using eleven percent of my power!"

Tie Kongshan laughed angrily, "Ximen Wudi, you're too arrogant! Since Xiaoyao and I defeated the Baiyue Sect, we've never joined forces against an enemy! In this Great Qin Empire, there's not a single enemy that requires the two of us to join forces!"

"Really?" Ximen Wudi smiled calmly, "A frog in a well, how can it know how vast the sky is? Tie Kongshan, since you're so arrogant, then try taking my sword!" As he spoke, there was no visible movement of his limbs, only a slight lift of his head, as if gazing at the sky.

"The Immortal Execution Sword!" Several cries rang out simultaneously. The Third Young Master and the others, who had witnessed Ximen Wudi's killing methods, warned in unison, while Tie Jian and Tie Xuanxuan were already pale with fright!

The "Immortal Execution Sword" was said to be an invisible sword aura that even a Great Luo Golden Immortal could not withstand. When it attacked, there was no trace to follow. No one knew which direction the sword aura would come from, and it did not even make the slightest sound of cutting

through the air. How could one defend against it? However, Tie Kongshan practiced the Iron-Transforming Hand Divine Art. When the Iron-Transforming Hand Divine Art was cultivated to the thirty-third level of the Great Circulation Realm, the entire body could be melted into gold to refine the body. Even if one stood still, any weapon that struck any part of the body would only melt it!

It can be said that a person who has cultivated the Iron-Transforming Hand Divine Art to the Great Circulation Realm will have no flaws or vital points on their body!

And Tie Kongshan had already cultivated this Iron-Transforming Hand Divine Art to the thirtieth level ten years ago!

The moment Ximen Wudi looked up at the sky, Tie Kongshan heard the warning from the Third Young Master and the others.

With his vast knowledge, he naturally knew what the "Immortal Execution Sword" technique was.

Therefore, he made no attempt to dodge or defend; he simply roared and instantly unleashed his "Iron Hand Divine Skill" to its full power! A

blinding red light suddenly erupted from his body, instantly turning pure white. The intense heat scorched the ground beneath his feet, causing it to crack and shimmer with thick smoke.

Pure white flames are not the hottest; flames that are almost completely transparent are the most intense.

Therefore, the white light on Tie Kongshan's body only appeared for a moment before vanishing without a trace, leaving only a faint, almost completely transparent glow.

But that light was impossible to look directly at; everyone who saw Tie Kongshan felt as if they were staring at the blazing sun at its most intense moment! Even those with profound skill, like Qiao Wei and Uncle Li, could only channel their energy into their eyes to resist the light.

And after the white light became transparent, the ground beneath Tie Kongshan's feet began to melt, turning into a glassy substance.

All of this happened in the blink of an eye, so fast that it didn't even take a second!

Tie Kongshan's "Iron Hand Divine Skill" had now reached the thirty-third level of the Great Circulation Realm, leaving his entire body without a single flaw!

"Whoosh..." A sound like a bagpipe whistle rang out on Tie Kongshan's forehead. A small indentation suddenly appeared on Tie Kongshan's left temple, slowly expanding as if a sharp needle was slowly pricking his temple.

Tie Kongshan's forehead was drenched in sweat, and a tiny drop of blood slowly seeped from the indentation on his left temple, instantly evaporating from the heat of his body.

Tie Kongshan roared again, throwing a punch towards his temple. The fist didn't hit his temple, but instead struck empty air, producing a crisp sound like metal clashing.

After this punch, the indentation on his temple disappeared without a trace.

Tie Kongshan took a deep breath, swayed twice, and suddenly groaned, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, and two streams of blood slowly flowing from his nose.

"Father!" Tie Jian and Tie Xuanxuan exclaimed in alarm.

"Uncle!" the Third Young Master and the others called out with concern.

If it weren't for the heat emanating from Tie Kongshan that kept them at bay, they probably would have rushed over to check on his injuries.

"I'm fine!" Tie Kongshan waved his hand, wiping the blood from his mouth and nose with his sleeve. His voice was still deep, but upon closer listening, it sounded somewhat weak, indicating internal injuries.

Ximen Wudi was shocked and exclaimed, "Good! What a 'Iron-Melting Hand'! You actually managed to catch my 'Immortal-Slaying Sword' in this way! Your vital point was pierced, yet you withstood it with your own true strength, severing the connection between me and the Immortal-Slaying Sword Qi, causing the Immortal-Slaying Sword Qi to lose control and disappear on its own... Since the Immortal-Slaying Sword was born, you are the first person in history to use this method to deal with the Immortal-Slaying Sword Qi!"

Tie Kongshan chuckled and said, "You flatter me! Ximen Wudi truly lives up to his name of invincibility. I, Tie Kongshan... am no match for you!" After saying the last sentence, Tie Kongshan shook his head somewhat dejectedly, "I, Tie Kongshan, am truly a frog in a well, unaware of how vast the sky is..."

Ximen Wudi said, "That's not true! Lord Tie, do you know that this Immortal-Slaying Sword Qi is said to be able to kill even a Great Luo Golden Immortal, and that it is powerful throughout the world..." No one could survive the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Qi, yet the Iron Fortress Lord managed to withstand one of my sword qi without being seriously injured. This skill is truly astonishing! The Iron Fortress Lord should know that with Ximen's current skill, he can only unleash four Immortal Slaughtering Sword Qi in five days, and judging from the Iron Fortress Lord's performance just now, he can at most block three Immortal Slaughtering Sword Qi! If Ximen were to attempt to kill the Iron Fortress Lord with the Immortal Slaughtering Sword today, he would inevitably suffer excessive losses and would no longer be a match for Master Qin!

Qin Xiaoyao glanced at Tie Kongshan and said, "Brother-in-law, Ximen Wudi is right. He is indeed stronger than us, but you don't need to be discouraged. How many Ximen Wudis are there in the world today? I'm afraid that in the entire world, there is only one person who can defeat you and me in a one-on-one fight."

Tie Kongshan nodded and said, "Judging from the current situation, perhaps the two of us really need to join forces..."

Qin Xiaoyao smiled slightly and said, "Let's join forces then. Are we afraid of losing face? When we were young, didn't we often fight side by side? The current situation is no different from when we were young; we've encountered an enemy that neither of us can defeat alone. Compared to life, face... isn't really important."

Tie Kongshan's eyes widened, as if he didn't recognize Qin Xiaoyao, and he said, "You... how could you say such a thing? I remember you were very concerned about face when you were young!"

Qin Xiaoyao shook his head and said, "When I was young, I cared about face, so I often joined forces with you. Now that I'm old, I don't care about face, so I'm embarrassed to join forces... Brother-in-law, don't forget, when I was young, I was the most handsome young hero in the martial arts world. In front of beautiful women, of course I had to save face. But..." "Now..."

He glanced back at the Third Young Master and the others, saying, "Now I am just a husband with a good wife and a father with three good sons. I no longer need to care about what others think of me. As long as my wife and sons see me as a qualified husband and father, that's enough. If we are defeated by Ximen Wudi today, do you think he will let our children go? Do you think they are qualified to fight Ximen Wudi with their current strength?"

Tie Kongshan laughed loudly, glanced back at his two children, and said, "You're right. We are no longer children. We can throw away our pride!"

Qin Xiaoyao and Tie Kongshan looked at each other and laughed. The two of them walked towards Ximen Wudi, their momentum increasing with each step.

Tie Kongshan's skill had already reached its peak, but reaching the peak of skill did not mean that his momentum had reached its peak.

Momentum is very important in battle. When two armies clash, the side with higher morale naturally has an invincible momentum. When your forces outnumber the enemy, they can overwhelm you with sheer force and easily rout them; even when outnumbered, you can often

achieve victory against overwhelming odds. In duels between martial arts masters, momentum often plays a decisive role.

Using one's own momentum to overcome the enemy's momentum can even achieve the effect of subduing the enemy without a fight.

For example, in the most classic battle of the Third Young Master, his first encounter with Majin Buu after descending the mountain, the Third Young Master, completely ignorant of martial arts, relied solely on his unparalleled confidence and composure to naturally generate a wondrous momentum that threw Majin Buu into disarray, leading to his defeat without a fight.

Using momentum to intimidate someone to death is not a myth. During the Three Kingdoms period, Zhang Fei's roar was like a thunderclap, terrifying Xiahou Jie to death and frightening away 800,000 Cao Cao's troops, becoming a legendary tale.

Even in street brawls, the one with the stronger momentum often emerges victorious.

Therefore, in a fight, you must first overwhelm your opponent with momentum, then physically defeat them, and finally mentally torment them!

Show no mercy!

Iron Sky Mountain had transformed into a volcano about to erupt, and Qin Xiaoyao had become a majestic demon standing between heaven and earth, looking down upon the common people as mere ants.

Ximen Wudi, facing these two formidable masters, was like a wisp of drifting smoke.

This wasn't to say that Ximen Wudi was moving; in fact, he stood motionless, quietly waiting for the two masters to reach their peak, without budging an inch.

Yet, despite his stillness, he exuded an ethereal, intangible aura, like smoke—visible yet utterly unattainable.

It was an utterly absurd feeling.

“‘Transformation into the Void’…” Qiao Wei, who had temporarily switched to being a battle commentator, said solemnly, “Ximen Wudi has already used ‘Transformation into the Void’! This supreme movement technique of the Demonic Sect is said to allow one to transform into a god or demon, and move freely through the void. The movement is elusive and unpredictable, leaving no trace, and no one can fathom it. Even if Master and Uncle launch a thunderous attack, I'm afraid it will mostly land on empty air!”

The Third Young Master clenched his fists, his palms already sweating profusely: “Brother Wei, Ximen Wudi’s movement technique is elusive and unpredictable, coming and going without a trace. Doesn’t that mean he can not only easily evade the attacks of my old man and Uncle, but also attack from any angle…” "Launching a counterattack?"

Qiao Wei nodded and said, "That's right. If we're fighting Ximen Wudi, offense will mostly be useless. Fortunately, my uncle has no weaknesses, so he can defend without attacking and exhaust Ximen Wudi's strength. But my master's methods are all offense and no defense. Facing Ximen Wudi... I'm afraid he has no chance of winning!"

The Third Young Master exclaimed, "What if Ximen Wudi doesn't attack my uncle but targets my old man instead? My old man isn't good at defense. His 'Covering the Sky Hand' is all about desperate offense. Then... then..."

The Third Young Master practiced the Covering the Sky Hand, so he naturally knew its characteristics best. He was extremely anxious.

Qin Feng chuckled coldly, saying, "Third brother, you don't need to worry. Father... is no longer what he used to be! Hmph, no matter how powerful Ximen Wudi's movement technique is, he still has to move. As long as he moves, there will be wind, and as long as there is wind, Father's hand can catch him!"

No one knew better than Qin Feng what Qin Xiaoyao had realized. The scene of Qin Xiaoyao shattering an entire tree into its most basic wood fibers with a single palm strike was constantly replaying in Qin Feng's mind.

"Power doesn't determine everything!" Qin Feng suddenly declared.

Just as he said this, Qin Xiaoyao and Tie Kongshan simultaneously roared, and the two peerless masters attacked at the same time. This decisive battle between the three strongest masters of the era, a battle that could shake the ages, had begun!

~Prologue: The Trapped Dragon Ascends to Heaven, Chapter One~

Heroes rise and fall with the times, once you enter the martial world, time flies.

Grand ambitions and hegemony are discussed in laughter, unlike life's fleeting moments.

Sword in hand, riding through the rain of ghosts, white bones piled high, birds startled into flight.

The world is like a tide, people like water, only alas, how many return from the martial world?

※ ※ ※ ※

"I once wondered if there would be retribution for doing too many bad things. But as I did more and more bad things, I simply stopped thinking about it." The oncoming wind whipped his long hair and blue robe, the weightlessness of his rapidly falling body giving him a feeling of floating on air.

The wind howled in his ears, piercing through layers of floating clouds, the cliff shrouded in mist seeming like a hidden hell in the depths of hell, bottomless.

His strong arms tightly embraced a delicate body stiffened by the fear of this high-speed fall and not knowing when it would end. A faint smile played on his handsome face as he stared at the direction of the fall, while the beautiful woman in his arms had closed her eyes, her face pale, tears glistening on her long eyelashes.

"Every wrong has its perpetrator, every debt its debtor, good and evil will eventually be rewarded. I understood this principle a long time ago." He rambled on about incomprehensible things, seemingly unconcerned about his impending fall to the bottom of the cliff and being smashed to pieces.

"But it wasn't until I died that I realized good doesn't always bring good fortune. A person who has never done anything wrong was struck dead by lightning, simply because the god in charge of punishment got drunk on his birthday. Isn't that ridiculous? So I decided that if I could live again, I would definitely be a bad person and see what so-called retribution looks like.

"Now it seems that retribution may really be coming. You should be happy, why are you closing your eyes in fear? Your revenge is almost halfway successful. Once you fall to the bottom of the cliff, your revenge will be complete.

"Why are you crying? Are you afraid of the approaching death? Or do you still have something to live for, unwilling to leave this beautiful world? Or have you suddenly had a change of heart and realized that you don't want me to die at all?

"You didn't need to be afraid. Revenge always comes at a price." Heaven is fair to everyone, even me. After causing my wrongful death, it gave me a wonderful new life.

"And we might not die this time. Perhaps we'll get caught on a giant tree jutting out of the cliff, and discover an ancient cave containing a peerless martial arts manual from ancient times. Perhaps we'll encounter a monster, accidentally kill it, and obtain its inner core cultivated for thousands of years, gaining a surge of millennia of power. Perhaps we'll even find the last peerless elixir in the world, becoming immortal and possessing invincible divine power after consuming it.

'Nothing is impossible in this world,' the saying goes."

The mountain wind howled, and the sheer cliff face, as if carved by a knife and axe, though not smooth as a mirror, was remarkably flat.

This was a cliff that defied the creation of heaven and earth, barren of soil and vegetation, with no giant trees extending outwards.

The cliff lay just outside the back wall of Tianping Manor.

※ ※ ※ Time flies like

an arrow; three years have passed quietly like flowing water, swift yet peaceful.

Time hasn't brought much enlightenment; wrinkles have etched themselves onto brows and around the eyes, and gray hairs have appeared at the temples.

Yet, wrinkles and gray hair couldn't stop the bloodshed of the martial world, nor could they stop the struggle for power and profit. Galloping across the land, conquering the land, blood flowed for miles, and corpses piled high.

Heroic men on the battlefield used mountains of bones to build their thrones, wielding the power of life and death over countless lives.

Time may add to their heroism, it may... Adding wisdom can also diminish physical strength and rob one of fighting spirit.

When the once-renowned emperor, a figure of unparalleled power, became a hedonistic and confused old man, when his tyrannical rule drove the people to desperation, when evil prevailed and righteousness vanished, the world finally descended into chaos.

A thunderclap on the fifth day of the fifth month of the 782nd year of the Qin calendar shocked the entire Qin Empire. The rain and thunder of the plum season could not drown out the roar of a short man from Lingnan standing on a high platform made of wood: "Why are Wang Ben and Hou Meng appointed as generals and prime ministers? Were they born with land to cultivate?"

Wang Ben, the Grand General of the Qin Empire, held the military power of the entire country and was directly under the command of Emperor Ying Sheng. Hou Meng

, the Prime Minister of the Qin Empire, held sole administrative power.

Below the wooden platform, thousands of ragged, beggar-like people from Lingnan roared in unison: "No! They were just tenant farmers, they didn't own a single plot of land!" "They earned their status by following the King of Qin in his rebellion and conquering the world! Their land was also distributed to them by the King of Qin after he unified the world!"

The short man waved his arms wildly and roared, "Then let's rebel! Let's turn all the land of the Great Qin Empire into our own private plots, knock the Great Qin Emperor Ying Sheng off his pedestal, and drag Wang Ben and Hou Meng off their thrones!"

"If we have no land, we'll seize it ourselves! If we have no status, we'll risk our lives!" A roar like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami crashed through the heavens and earth, turning gentle breezes and drizzle into a raging storm. Even the rolling thunder couldn't drown out the frantic cries of the impoverished people who had lost their land, their freedom, and everything else.

After this roar, a glorious name was etched into history. Even though his brilliance shone only briefly, like a shooting star, the light he displayed in that instant, illuminating the entire world and shaking the very foundations of the Qin Empire, was enough to ensure that the world would remember him forever.

For he was the first peasant to rally a rebellion.

His name was Xiang Qi.

"Do your best, and leave the rest to fate!" "The current head of the Song family of Lingnan, a valiant general who fought alongside King Ying and was enfeoffed as a duke, yet resigned his post and returned to Lingnan, possessed martial arts skills that should have shaken the world. However, because he vowed never to set foot in the martial world, he was never considered a martial arts master." Upon receiving the secret report , Song Wu sighed deeply.

Although he had been away from the court for decades, he had always silently assisted the Qin Empire in maintaining its rule in Lingnan, a region known for its unruly people and chaotic security. If it weren't for the prestigious reputation of the Song family of Lingnan, the uprising in Lingnan would have occurred at least five years earlier!

"Send the message to the Lingnan Garrison Commander and tell him to prepare early. Alas, the refugees are powerful..." Song Wu looked up at the continuous drizzle outside the window and sighed with endless melancholy, "Who says the common people are like ants? When ants unite, even a mountain can be hollowed out!" "Holy Emperor, Holy Emperor, you've become senile..."

At midnight on May 29th, it was raining.

A troop of black-armored cavalry charged into Tianjing City like a whirlwind, their hooves thundering as they rushed towards the Tiansheng Palace. None of the imperial guards along the way dared to stop them.

For leading them was General Meng Qi, the most renowned general of the Qin Empire, who was supposed to be building walls in the northern frontier to defend against the barbarian invasions!

In terms of military skill, Meng Qi was far superior to the current Grand General Wang Ben, who commanded the entire nation's army.

He commanded a 200,000-strong border defense force in the north. Although the northern frontier army was small in number, it was constantly at war with... In battles against the barbarians, their fighting strength was second to none in the Qin Empire. Some even asserted that the 200,000 troops on the northern frontier possessed the combined fighting power of the Qin Empire's million-strong army of 800,000.

Yet Meng Qi was now rampaging through the capital city in the dead of night, not because of his military achievements or prestige.

Qin law stipulated that once the city gates closed, no one except the imperial guards and messengers was allowed to ride wildly; violators would be executed.

Furthermore, Qin law stipulated that generals guarding the frontiers could not leave their posts without an audience with the emperor, nor could they return to the capital without authorization; important matters must be reported by messengers. Those who disobeyed ... Depending on the severity of the offense, punishments ranged from demotion to execution.

Meng Qi's return to the capital was without the Emperor's permission; by any measure, he had committed a capital offense.

Yet, not a single imperial guard dared to stop him. Even when he stormed into the Tiansheng Palace, the palace guards, initially intending to intercept and question him, all cowered and stepped aside upon seeing the golden sword in his hand, allowing him to enter.

This golden sword was a "heaven-sent treasure," personally bestowed by the Emperor as a reward for his military achievements, capable of slaying both tyrannical rulers and treacherous officials.

No one... He was willing to risk his own neck to test the sharpness of the Heavenly Gift Sword.

Meng Qi, leading eighteen black-clad imperial guards, galloped through the palace, the Heavenly Gift Sword held high, charging towards the Qin Emperor's bedchamber. The crisp, rapid sound of hooves shattered the palace's tranquility, drowning out the patter of rain. Riding a horse

within the palace walls was a capital offense.

Outside the Qin Emperor's bedchamber, the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Ning Zhaohao, the plump and impeccably clean-cut Grand Eunuch, stood under the eaves, holding a whisk. Upon hearing a report from a galloping imperial guard, he frowned, thinking to himself, "That Meng Qi fellow actually survived?" He

then whispered a few words to the guard, who responded and quickly ran off.

Ning Zhaohao straightened his clothes, coughed lightly at the two eunuchs standing by the gate, and the two eunuchs immediately opened the palace door. Ning Zhaohao humbly bowed and walked in, passing through the main hall, and bowed obsequiously to a vermilion door behind a screen, saying, "Your Majesty, are you resting? I have important matters to report."

A hoarse, aged voice came from behind the door: "It's Zhaohao! What is it so late?"

Ning Zhaohao said, "I have disturbed Your Majesty's rest, I deserve death. But this matter is of utmost importance, so I have no choice but to do it. Your Majesty, General Meng Qi of the Northern Frontier has rushed back to Tianjing City overnight and has now broken into the Tiansheng Palace, heading towards the Yangxin Hall."

"Oh? Meng Qi has returned to the capital? I don't recall issuing an order to summon him!" "Did he walk or ride?"

"Your Majesty, Meng Qi led eighteen imperial guards, charging wildly from the city gate, wielding a divinely bestowed sword. Neither the Imperial Guards nor the Imperial Bodyguards dared to stop him."

"How dare he!" Qin Shi Huang's voice became urgent: "He actually dares to violate the law and order by taking advantage of the power of the precious sword bestowed upon him by me! Meng Qi is becoming more and more arrogant! Does he really think that just because I am old, he can act lawlessly... cough cough..." Qin Shi Huang couldn't catch his breath and coughed loudly.

A soft, feminine voice rang out: "Your Majesty, please don't be angry. Meng Qi must have gotten used to being arrogant and domineering in the Northern Frontier, treating this capital as his playground."

The Qin Emperor said, "Minister Li's words are very true. Xiao Haozi, convey my decree: retrieve the Heavenly Gift Sword, have Meng Qi flogged thirty times, and banish him from the capital to return to the Northern Frontier immediately! As for his eighteen Black Rider guards, kill them all!"

Ning Zhaohao revealed a sly smile and respectfully asked, "Your Majesty, will you still see Meng Qi?"

"No!" The Qin Emperor's voice carried a hint of impatience. "I'm tired and need to rest. Consort Li, come and soothe me..."

A soft moan followed by several gasps escaped Ning Zhaohao's lips as he listened to the sounds coming from inside the hall, a sly smile on his face as he withdrew from the hall.

"Hmph, with Consort Li by His Majesty's side, as long as His Majesty lives, won't this power be firmly in our lord's grasp?" Ning Zhaohao thought smugly. "Speaking of which, Consort Li is truly a born femme fatale. Even I, a castrated man, can't help but feel my heart flutter when I see her..."

Just as he was chuckling lewdly, a rapid sound of hooves approached. Ning Zhaohao looked up and saw nineteen riders tearing through the rain and charging towards them in the night. The leader, a general clad in black armor and a scarlet cloak, with a majestic and resolute appearance, wielding a five-foot-long golden sword, was none other than Meng Qi. From a distance, Meng Qi

called out, "Which eunuch is on duty outside the palace? Meng Qi, the General Who Destroys the Barbarians of the Northern Frontier and the Northern Garrison Commander, has urgent business to report to His Majesty! Please inform him!"

As he spoke, the nineteen riders had already rushed to the front of the palace like a whirlwind.

Meng Qi dismounted, while the eighteen black-clad guards remained seated, their mounts silent and unmoving, as steady as mountains.

Meng Qi strode towards the front of the hall, and upon seeing Ning Zhaohao, his leopard-like eyes narrowed slightly, a flash of disgust crossing them.

"Eunuch Ning, please inform His Majesty that Meng Qi has urgent business to discuss!"

Ning Zhaohao smiled slightly, flicked his whisk, and called out in a shrill voice, "His Majesty has decreed! Meng Qi, the General Who Destroys the Barbarians in the Northern Frontier and the Garrison Commander, has abandoned his post and returned to the capital without being summoned. Furthermore, he stormed the city in the dead of night, threatening the Imperial Guards and the Imperial Bodyguards with the Heavenly Gift Sword, and even rode his horse in the palace. This is a capital offense! However, His Majesty is benevolent and considers General Meng's numerous military achievements and meritorious service in resisting the barbarians in the Northern Frontier. Therefore, he is spared the death penalty, but he cannot escape punishment. He is to have the Heavenly Gift Sword confiscated, receive thirty strokes of the cane, and be expelled from Tianjing City. Meng Qi's personal guards acted recklessly, incurring His Majesty's wrath. They have all been beheaded and their heads displayed to the public! Guards!"

At Ning Zhaohao's command, nearly a hundred imperial guards rushed out from behind the Hall of Mental Cultivation and surrounded Meng Qi and his eighteen black-clad guards. The imperial guards were all clad in armor, swords drawn, and fifty repeating crossbows with gleaming arrows were aimed at Meng Qi and his group. The leader was none other than the guard who had just reported to Ning Zhaohao.

Meng Qi flew into a rage, shouting, "Eunuch Ning, what do you mean by this?"

Ning Zhaohao sneered, "General Meng, didn't you hear me clearly? Should I repeat the imperial edict?"

Meng Qi replied, "I haven't even had an audience with the Emperor, how can I speak of an imperial edict? Eunuch Ning, falsely conveying an imperial edict is a capital offense punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family!"

Ning Zhaohao coldly laughed, "General Meng, do you think this Tianjing City is the Northern Frontier? And this Tiansheng Palace is your Northern Frontier camp? The Emperor is right behind me in the Hall of Mental Cultivation. With His Majesty's unparalleled martial arts skills, will he listen to what I say?" "Not seeing him? If I, General, were to falsely convey the imperial edict, His Majesty would have already taken my life immediately! General Meng, what arrogance you have! How dare you doubt the authenticity of the imperial edict! Have you become so accustomed to ruling the northern frontier that you've forgotten the rules of Qin?"

Meng Qi roared, "I, Meng Qi, have a clear conscience before Heaven and Earth. How dare you, a petty person, speak ill of me? Get out of my way! I must see His Majesty! This is a matter of national importance, concerning the safety of our country. If I delay, can you bear the consequences?" With that, he brandished his sword and prepared to storm into the palace.

"How dare you! You enter the palace with a sword; do you intend to assassinate the emperor? Prepare to fire arrows!" Ning Zhaohao gave the order, and the imperial guards carrying repeating crossbows cocked their triggers, ready to fire at any moment.

"Clang, clang, clang..." A series of weapons rang out as the eighteen black-clad riders drew their swords, their faces contorted with rage, a chilling killing intent emanating from them.

These guards were all seasoned veterans, hardened by countless battles, ruthless killers who only recognized Meng Qi and no one else!

"How dare you!" Ning Zhaohao's expression changed. "Dare to draw your sword before the Emperor's court? Fire!" *Whoosh!

* A chorus of arrows pierced the air as fifty repeating crossbows fired simultaneously, each loaded with nine arrows. Four hundred and fifty crossbow bolts hurtled towards the eighteen black-clad guards.

Crossbow bolts are more powerful than bows at close range, and the repeating crossbows were even faster. Four hundred and fifty bolts aimed at eighteen men was too much for the battle-hardened, armored black-clad guards to withstand.

With a muffled groan, all eighteen black-clad guards tumbled from their horses, dead. Their vital organs were riddled with arrows, blood gushing out and mingling with the rainwater on the ground.

Meng Qi, his eyes blazing with fury, roared, "You eunuch, I'll take your life!" He leaped into the air, slashing down at Ning Zhaohao with his blade. The golden aura of the blade, like the blazing sun, illuminated half the hall.

Ning Zhaohao, facing the violent blow, neither dodged nor flinched, showing no fear. He shouted sharply, "Meng Qi attempted to storm the palace with a knife and assassinate the Emperor! He will be executed without mercy!"

Suddenly, five figures shot out from the imperial guards, five streaks of azure sword light striking Meng Qi like lightning. The tips of the swords emitted three-foot-long azure sword energy!

"Swoosh!" The five sword energies simultaneously pierced through his armor and into his flesh. Five sounds of sharp weapons breaking through flesh rang out at the same time. Meng Qi's left and right waists, heart, liver, and lungs were all pierced by the swords, and blood rained down.

The five imperial guards, clearly near-top-tier martial arts masters, quickly withdrew their swords after stabbing Meng Qi and retreated back into the group of guards.

They moved like the wind, their movements and swordsmanship executed in perfect unison, so fast that onlookers couldn't even make out their faces. As for their clothing, all the imperial guards wore identical attire; once they returned to the group of guards, who could distinguish them?

Meng Qi's blade vanished, the golden saber slipped from his hand and fell to the ground, a gushing stream of blood spurting from his mouth. His imposing body swayed twice before collapsing to the ground with a thud.

"Your Majesty... this treacherous minister has ruined the country..." Meng Qi lay on the ground, writhing and uttering barely audible, indistinct words: "Prince Su... has seized... military power in the northern frontier... colluded with the barbarians... and declared himself king... soon... he will... invade... the Central Plains... I... am unwilling..."

Ning Zhaohao squatted down, patted Meng Qi's cheek, and whispered in Meng Qi's ear, in a voice only Meng Qi could hear: "I know. I know everything you're saying. It's just... Prince Su is dead. The current Prince Su, though still the same as before, is no longer the real Prince Su. There's nothing I can do; after all, Prince Su was the son of all the princes..." "The most wronged among them, yet the most popular? He's trained in the northern frontier for years, building a strong foundation in the army; the soldiers all obey him! If he were to declare rebellion, wouldn't all the soldiers and generals follow suit? Only you, Meng Qi, are the most foolish. You think you're the most loyal? Idiot! Since you weren't killed by the current Prince Su, why didn't you escape to some remote mountain village and live in seclusion? Instead, you came to Tianjing to die! So, it's better if you're dead!"

Meng Qi's eyes widened, gurgling sounds emanating from his throat. His pupils contracted and dilated violently, and finally, his legs kicked, his head lolled to the side, and he died.

This number one warrior of the Qin Empire died so mysteriously, and another pillar of the Qin Empire collapsed.

Ning Zhaohao gestured to the imperial guards to dispose of the nineteen corpses, then picked up the Heavenly Gift Sword and bowed as he walked into the hall.

“Your Majesty,” he said, “Meng Qi, wielding the Heavenly Gift Sword, forced his way into the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Fearing he might plot against Your Majesty and inadvertently harm your precious body, I presumptuously ordered the execution of Meng Qi and the eighteen Black Riders! Now the Heavenly Gift Sword is in my hands; I beg Your Majesty to grant me this sword to commit suicide…”

"I know everything, and I forgive you. The world is at peace now, and all within the four seas is filled with song and dance. Even the northern barbarians fear the might of my Great Qin and dare not provoke me. A warrior like Meng Qi, who only knows how to conquer but not how to rule, is of little use. It's better that he's dead. Issue my decree: posthumously confer upon Meng Qi the title of General of Anguo and Marquis of Zhongwu Weilie, and bury him with the honors due to a marquis. Hmm, state the cause of death as fighting off an assassin, dying while shielding me from a blade." The Qin Emperor's voice was very calm. "Little Hao, place the Heavenly Gift Sword on the table, and you may leave!"

Ning Zhaohao shouted "Long live the Emperor!" repeatedly thanking the Emperor for his great favor, and after placing the sword down, he retreated step by step out of the hall.

Standing before the hall's entrance, looking at the gloomy sky, a strange smile suddenly appeared on his lips.

"It's time for the world to be in chaos! It's time for my Demonic Sect to dominate the world!"

~Prologue: The Trapped Dragon Ascends to Heaven, Chapter Two~

With a deafening roar, the city gates of Lingnan Prefecture collapsed under the onslaught of battering rams. Rebels, dressed in a motley collection of clothing and wielding a chaotic array of weapons, swarmed into Lingnan Prefecture.

The Lingnan Garrison Commander was hacked to pieces, and the black flag of the Great Qin Empire with its double dragons, hanging atop the city walls, was ripped down and replaced with a yellowish-brown battle flag bearing a large "Xiang" character.

Inside a seemingly unremarkable house in Lingnan Prefecture, Song Wuzheng, the head of the Song family, sat upright in his study, gently stroking a dusty, antique-looking rectangular box on his desk.

"Father, Father!" A clear, melodious female voice, like a silver bell, suddenly rang out from outside the door. "Are you in?"

Song Wu frowned, placed the rectangular box under the desk, and said, "Come in, the door isn't locked."

The study door was gently pushed open, and a girl, no more than sixteen or seventeen years old, dressed in a pale yellow dress, as pure and lovely as a pool of clear water without a trace of impurity, gracefully walked in.

"Qing'er, is something the matter?" Song Wu looked at his only daughter, a rare tenderness appearing in his usually solemn expression. But within that tenderness, there was a faint, seemingly concealed sorrow.

Song Wu was sixty-three years old this year, and besides his legal wife, he had three concubines, but they had never had children. Until he was forty-six years old, his forty-two-year-old legal wife, Song Zhangshi, suddenly became pregnant and finally gave birth to this only daughter.

Song Wu, having a daughter in his old age, naturally cherished Song Qing immensely. He was a man of military background, but he didn't want his only daughter to follow in his footsteps and become a tomboy who only knew how to wield weapons

. Therefore, from a young age, he hired renowned teachers to instruct Song Qing in classics, history, philosophy, governance, and politics, hoping to cultivate her into a unique and talented woman. Song Qing was exceptionally intelligent from a young age, grasping things quickly and often able to extrapolate from them, offering seemingly plausible but profound arguments that left even the most learned and erudite scholars in awe and humbly

admitting their inferiority. Even the most difficult and often disliked subjects—governance and politics—Song Qing learned with great interest and frequently offered insightful observations.

As for music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and prose, Song Qing was exceptionally accomplished. Some of her original poems even put to shame some renowned scholars and intellectuals in the Lingnan region.

Song Qing, however, disdained needlework and kitchen duties, often saying those were things only young women did, and that she, a woman of great talent, naturally had no need to learn them.

Since the age of thirteen, Song Qing had been renowned for her talent in the Lingnan region, and in recent years, suitors had practically worn down the Song family's doorstep, but none had met her standards.

Song Wu was quite troubled by this daughter. For a young lady of a prominent family, it would be a great loss of face if she was still unmarried after turning fifteen. However, Song Wu was unwilling to hastily marry off his only precious daughter. Normally, choosing a husband only required the parents' approval, but Song Wu, unusually, allowed Song Qing to choose her own husband. Therefore, even now, as Song Qing was over seventeen and about to turn eighteen, she was still unmarried.

An even more important reason was that after Song Qing suffered from typhoid fever as a child, Song Wu personally took her pulse, intending to use his profound internal energy to expel the cold, but unexpectedly discovered that Song Qing was born with a "three-yin meridian deficiency."

The *Huitian Medical Classic*, passed down by the former Grand Priest Taigong Wang, records a condition called "Three Yin Meridians," a rare occurrence, affecting only one in millions. Those possessing this meridian suffer from the decline of Heaven, Earth, and Man, their bodies permeated with Yin cold. Men, relying on their inherent Yang energy, might barely live past thirty; women, being inherently Yin, would certainly not live past twenty.

What drove Song Wu to despair was that, despite searching the *Huitian Medical Classic*, he found no cure for Three Yin Meridians!

For years, Song Wu secretly sought out renowned physicians throughout the land, hoping

for a cure, but to no avail. Heartbroken and desperate, Song Wu, though not giving up the search, shifted his focus to showering his daughter with unconditional love. It was better that she remained unmarried; at least his daughter had the strength to live, allowing him to fulfill his responsibilities as a loving father. Raising his daughter for life was merely a joke, for Song Wu knew clearly that the tragic end of a parent outliving their child was inevitable.

This is why Song Qing possessed a right to choose her own husband that no other young lady of her generation could enjoy.

Song Qing was naturally unaware of this; in fact, Song Wu hadn't told anyone, not even Song Qing's mother.

Watching her daughter approach the crucial age of twenty, Song Wu felt an overwhelming sadness welling up within him every time he saw her.

The hearts of parents are truly compassionate!

Now Song Qing entered the study and slowly walked to Song Wu's desk. His eyes, seemingly capable of speech, looked at his father and said calmly, "Father, Xiang Qi's army has breached Lingnan Prefecture. The last garrison in Lingnan has been defeated by the rebels, and the garrison commander, Lord Lu Yao, has died in battle. The rebels are now ransacking the city, exterminating all wealthy families and distributing their property and grain to the poor. They expect to reach us in about three quarters of an hour."

Song Wu nodded and said, "I'm not worried about what the rebels will do to our Song family. After all, our Song family has always sent large sums of silver and grain to disaster-stricken people. Although the people resent the rich, they have eyes."

Song Qing continued calmly, "Father, the entire family of Wang Dashan in the south of the city has been killed by the rioters, and their wealth and grain have been looted."

"Oh?" Song Wu's expression gradually became serious. "The good deeds that Wang Dashanren has done are no less than those of our Song family! It seems that the people who are determined to rebel have been blinded by victory and can no longer distinguish right from wrong."

After pondering for a while, Song Wu asked, "How are things arranged at home?"

Song Qing replied, "All the servants, slaves, and household servants have been given silver and dismissed. They are all dressed as poor people, so the rebels will not harm them. All the valuables at home have been packed, and Mother and Second Mother are already in the carriage, ready to leave through the back door at any time." "Several of Father's old friends, Uncle Qi and the others, have arrived at home. One hundred and twenty-three guards are fully armed and ready for battle."

Song Wudao said, "Old Monster Qi and the others have arrived? That's excellent. Go and disperse the guards. Give each of them some silver and have them disguise themselves as poor civilians and blend into the rioters. One hundred and twenty-three guards won't last long against a large army; why let them die needlessly? With your father and Old Monster Qi, protecting you and your mother is more than enough."

Song Qing nodded and asked, "Father, do you have any other instructions?"

Song Wu said, "No, you can go out and prepare now. I'll be there shortly."

Song Qing was about to turn and leave when Song Wu asked from behind, "Qing'er, are you afraid of this situation?"

Song Qing turned around and smiled sweetly at Song Wu, "With Father protecting Qing'er, what is there for Qing'er to be afraid of?"

Song Wu nodded vigorously and laughed heartily, "Well said! If I can't even protect my own daughter, I, Song Wu, am unworthy of being called the greatest general of the seven kingdoms!"

After Song Qing left, Song Wu moved the long box to the desk, stroked the surface of the box affectionately, and said slowly, "I thought I would never need you in this life, but who knew... Hehe, circumstances are stronger than people! Do you still remember those glorious days when you and I fought side by side with the Holy Emperor?" Do you still remember those peerless generals who fell one by one at our hands? The world was divided into seven kingdoms, and besides my Great Qin, the other six kingdoms also produced many famous generals... It's just a pity that they encountered a wise ruler, and you and me! And today, the wise ruler has ruined his own world, forcing you and me to join forces again! You've been thirsting for so many years, you must be itching for more, right? Very well... Today, I'll let you see the light of day again, to drink human blood and feast on human souls!

Song Wu suddenly pressed a round button on the box, and the lid popped open with a clang. A dazzling and intense light burst forth from the box, so strong that it instantly engulfed Song Wu's figure. A long roar, like a dragon's cry, echoed in the study, shaking the entire room!

In the courtyard outside the small building where the study was located, Song Qing was talking with Song Wu's close friends, the "Five Friends of Lingnan," who were the most renowned masters in the Lingnan region besides Song Wu. Almost simultaneously, they looked up at the small building. The eldest among them, "Old Man Qingzhu" Qi Yunshan, exclaimed, "The Heavenly Weapon 'Dragon's Roar' has reappeared in the world! Taigong Wang's prophecy has come true!"

The world's top weapons are divided into three grades. The third

grade is the Sacred Weapon, capable of cutting through iron like mud. The second grade is the Divine Weapon, which not only cuts through iron like mud but also possesses sentience, able to communicate with its master. The stronger the master, the greater its power.

The first grade is the Heavenly Weapon, the strongest of all weapons. The weapon itself is almost an independent life form with its own thoughts and emotions. It has extremely demanding requirements when choosing a master, requiring not only that the master be strong enough but also that they be compatible in temperament and taste, much like humans choosing friends and mates. This makes it infinitely superior to the merely sentient Divine Weapon!

Countless sacred weapons exist in the world, forged by skilled blacksmiths.

Divine weapons, however, cannot be crafted by anyone other than a top-tier blacksmith. During the Rebellion of the Seven Kingdoms, there were twenty or thirty divine weapons, but in the chaos, they were either lost or destroyed. By the time of the Qin Dynasty, only seven remained. The "Seven Stars Slanting Moon Sword" was personally destroyed by the Star River Sword Saint Qin Feng, leaving only six divine weapons in the world.

As for celestial weapons, only two have ever existed. It is said that those who can forge celestial weapons are not human, as humans are simply incapable of creating such weapons!

The two celestial weapons are "Dragon's Roar" and "Tiger's Howl." "Dragon's Roar" was the weapon of the former Grand Priest Taigong Wang, which disappeared after his death.

"Tiger's Howl" was the weapon of the former founding emperor, King Wu, Ji Xuanyuan, and also vanished after his death.

Only after the collapse of the previous dynasty and the division of the world into seven kingdoms did the "Dragon's Roar" and "Tiger's Howl" reappear, acquired by Song Wu and Ying Shengjun respectively.

After pacifying the world, Song Wu sealed away the "Dragon's Roar," never using it for decades.

Ying Shengjun also built the "Tiger's Howl Palace," sealing the "Tiger's Howl" within the Tiger's Howl Hall of the Heavenly Saint Palace.

But today, in this turbulent time, with rebel armies rising like a tide, Song Wu has finally reactivated the "Dragon's Roar," bringing a new generation of celestial warriors back into the world!

After hearing Qi Yunshan's exclamation, Song Qing asked curiously, "Uncle Qi, why is Father's 'Dragon's Roar' reappearing related to Taigong Wang's prophecy?"

Qi Yunshan shook his head, his voice dry, and said, "Taigong Wang once wrote a prophecy: 'Black water patterns are chaotic, a trapped dragon ascends to heaven. Demonic eyes appear in the world, slaughtering humanity. Dragon's roar and tiger's howl, a battle between heaven and earth. Corpses pile up like mountains, blood flows like a sea. The stars shift, the earth changes!'

"Our Great Qin Empire rose based on the virtue of water, and its court robes and flags are all black. The phrase 'Black water patterns are chaotic,' considering the current situation, should mean that the Great Qin Empire is about to enter a chaotic world. The 'trapped dragon' mentioned in the prophecy should refer to the sealed 'Dragon's Roar.' And the demonic eyes should refer to the 'Asura Demonic Eye.' Now that the 'trapped dragon' has reappeared, the 'demonic eyes'... may also be ready to slaughter humanity!"

Song Qing thought for a moment and said, "The prophecy contains the line 'Dragon's roar and tiger's howl, a battle between heaven and earth.'" "Does this mean there will be a battle between 'Dragon's Roar' and 'Tiger's Howl'?" Qing'er was completely baffled. 'Dragon's Roar' belonged to her father, while 'Tiger's Howl' was in the Emperor's hands. It seemed highly unlikely that her father would fight the Emperor. Could it be... that 'Demon Eye' would eventually obtain 'Tiger's Howl' and fight her father?"

Qi Yunshan shook his head. "This... no one knows. Only one thing is certain: when the Asura Demon Eye appears in the world, chaos will ensue! And those last two lines, 'The stars shift, the earth changes,' don't look like a good omen at all."

Song Qing nodded thoughtfully and said, "Could it be that the Great Qin Empire will be destroyed because of 'Demon Eye'...?"

"Qing'er, what nonsense are you spouting? How dare you say such treasonous things?" "Song Wu's powerful voice suddenly rang out, but his voice sounded somewhat strange now, carrying a trembling tone like the roar of a dragon. "Fortunately, there are no outsiders here, otherwise, if someone with ulterior motives heard this and spread rumors before the Emperor, how could I, as his father, face the Emperor?"

Song Qing, Qi Yunshan, and the other five friends from Lingnan turned to look in the direction from which Song Wu's voice came. Upon seeing it, everyone was immediately stunned!

Especially Song Qing, in her imagination, "Dragon's Roar," being a weapon, no matter how strange, should not deviate from the form of swords, spears, halberds, whips, and hammers. But now, upon seeing it, she completely overturned her previous thoughts...

~Prologue: The Trapped Dragon Ascends to Heaven, Chapter 3~

"My dear brother, I want to hear a song." "

The abyss was bottomless, with sheer cliffs on both sides, revealing only a thin line of sky overhead. Below, a woman, her upper body wrapped in a fiery red animal skin and her lower body in a short yellow animal skin skirt, revealing two long, slender, well-proportioned, and shapely legs, was pulling on a man who was gazing at the sky, greedily basking in the midday sun that could only reach the valley floor. She was playfully shaking his arm.

The woman's hair reached her hips, casually draped, appearing somewhat disheveled but not very dirty, indicating that she washed it frequently.

Her face was clean, without a trace of grime. Her features were exceptionally beautiful, with two long, sword-like eyebrows that hinted at a wildness. The overall impression was..." A rare strength in a woman.

Her age was impossible to discern from her appearance; though she should have been twenty-five or twenty-six, her expression was that of a five or six-year-old girl, innocent and naive.

The man she was shaking was eight feet tall, haphazardly draped in animal skins, his long hair disheveled like a pile of straw.

His full beard, like steel needles, obscured half his face, making it difficult to discern his true features, let alone determine his age.

However, his eyes were clear; his dark pupils were so pure they seemed to reflect the tiny clouds drifting in the sky.

His eyes were brimming with laughter, radiating a warmth that made one feel cozy, like the spring sunshine. He coaxed her like a child, saying repeatedly, "Alright, alright, stop fooling around, your sweetheart will sing you a song... Ah, it's been raining for so many days, everyone's practically moldy, it's rare for the sun to show its face! This is the only time of day we can bask in the sun. Come, stand over here, soak up some sun, and listen to your sweetheart sing you a song!"

The woman obeyed, standing in a small, sunlit area only about five feet wide, and sat down with the man on a sun-drenched rock, quietly listening to her "sweetheart" sing a beautiful song.

Do not ask about infatuation, for rain-soaked flowers ask if they have sorrow; do not ask

about hatred, for swords flash and shadows ask if they have ever felt sorrow; do not ask about love

, for fear of turning a young man's head white overnight ; do not ask if the love between swordsmen is unbearable to recall or linger on. The woman listened intently, her expression deeply absorbed in the song. Although her face still held a naive and childlike quality, her eyes occasionally flashed with a deep sorrow. Of course, she did not know that this song was not a tune from the Qin Empire. In fact, no one in the Qin Empire knew how to sing this song except for her "love brother." And this song was not her "love brother's" original composition; he had simply picked it up from his memory and sang it on a whim. She had perhaps already forgotten that her "love brother" was actually a boy seven or eight years younger than her, whose name was actually "Qin Ren." She had even completely forgotten why she and her "love brother" had come to this cliff, trapped here for three whole years at the bottom of this insurmountable precipice. In truth, it was she who pushed him off the cliff, she who, caught him completely off guard, plunged him down the precipice, and they fell together into the abyss. "My beloved brother" was Qin Ren, the third young master of the Qin family. And she was Ye Yingxue, the head of the Snowstorm Hall, who had been drugged and defiled by him, harboring resentment and plotting revenge. " I laugh at the wind, treading the land, the land is in my hands; I laugh at the clouds, wandering the world, the world is in my little tower; I laugh at you, willing to wait for you until death; I laugh at the hero, drawing his bow to shoot the eagle, tears welling up in his eyes. " The third young master looked up at the sky, singing the theme song of a game from his past life. A warm smile shone in his eyes as he looked at the sliver of sky above, the sun still hanging high beyond it, and his heart seemed to warm. He only had half an hour a day to bask in the sunlight, and on rainy days, he wouldn't see the sun for several days in a row. Three years of living a primitive life, without seeing the sun, had already turned his temples gray. And he, this year, is only an eighteen-year-old boy, not old yet, but already with white hair. Don't ask about infatuation, for infatuation never ceases; don't ask about hatred, for hatred is fleeting and love lingers; I laugh at the wind, as the wind rises and the water flows back; I laugh at the clouds, for the clouds are my heart's boat; I don't ask about life or death, but pledge my love for love and destiny, to stay together forever. The song ended, and the Third Young Master smiled at Ye Yingxue, who was listening intently, and asked, "Was it good?" Ye Yingxue clapped her hands and laughed, "It was good, so good! Everything my lover sings is good!" Looking at Ye Yingxue's childish face, the Third Young Master shook his head helplessly with a wry smile. He raised his head again, gazing at the sliver of sky, his thoughts surging, his mind drifting back to three years ago, to that scene at Tianping Manor. Although three years had passed, the scenes of his father, Qin Xiaoyao, the Heaven-Covering Hand, joining forces with his uncle, Tie Kongshan, the Iron Hand, to fight the Demon Sect leader, Ximen Wudi, were still vivid in his mind, each scene still so lifelike, not forgotten in the slightest. Because it was a decisive battle representing the strongest individual martial arts of the era! Ximen Wudi's elusive and unpredictable movements, combined with the miraculous power of the "Destroying God Heart Sutra" and the "Immortal Slaughtering Treasure Scroll," unleashed unparalleled might. "Immortal Path Smoke and Dust," "Destroying God Finger," "Heavenly Extreme Yin Thunder," "Myth of Destruction," "Flying Immortal from Beyond the Heavens," "Mysterious Clouds of the Lost Realm"... every move Ximen Wudi unleashed was breathtaking. Qin Xiaoyao and Tie Kongshan were equally impressive. These two top-tier righteous martial arts masters unleashed their life's learning and insights with unrestrained passion. Tie Kongshan focused solely on defense, while Qin Xiaoyao focused solely on offense; yet their combined attack and defense were seamless! The battlefield stretched from the center of the Tianping Manor's training ground to its backyard, all the way to the bottomless cliff behind the manor! Wherever the three masters passed, all buildings were razed to the ground, leaving countless cracks and craters in the earth. The Third Young Master and his companions, unwilling to miss this decisive battle, followed the three masters, constantly shifting their viewing positions. Finally, the Third Young Master and his group reached the edge of the cliff. Just as Ximen Wudi, after a long and arduous battle, failed to defeat Qin Xiaoyao and Tie Kongshan and was preparing to unleash his second "Immortal Execution Sword," a shocking turn of events occurred. Ye Yingxue, who had disappeared after Ximen Wudi gave the signal to the demonic sect disciples to detonate the explosives buried beneath the training ground, suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Like a ghost, she approached the Third Young Master, who was completely absorbed in the battle and utterly unprepared, and together they leaped into the abyss! Before falling off the cliff, the last thing the Third Young Master saw was Qin Xiaoyao and Tie Kongshan abandoning their duel with Ximen Wudi and rushing to the edge of the cliff at their fastest speed ever. Ximen Wudi, meanwhile, abruptly withdrew his "Immortal Execution Sword," glanced in the Third Young Master's direction, and sighed with what seemed like endless regret. Qiao Wei and Uncle Li, who were closest to the Third Young Master, were just a step away from grabbing his clothes, but they were still a step too slow. They screamed the Third Young Master's name in despair, their eyes filled with undisguised pain and sorrow. Qin Feng, Qin Lei, and the three killing gods also rushed to the side where the Third Young Master had fallen, but by the time they arrived, he had already fallen more than ten feet, and no one could catch up with him. For the first time in his life, the Third Young Master saw his two elder brothers shed tears. Tie Jian took off his belt and threw it out, but the belt was only about five feet long, purely comical. Du Xiaoyan, in an extreme move, leaped off the cliff, but was caught by Uncle Li around the waist. Her heart-wrenching cries pierced the little conscience the Third Young Master had left, causing a strange pang. Then, Uncle Li knocked her unconscious with a single blow. Li Xiaoye covered her mouth, staring blankly at the Third Young Master, tears streaming down her face. The Third Young Master didn't understand why she was crying. He even wondered if she had always disliked him. Was she sad because he had fallen and she would no longer be able to give her flowers? Zhen Luo's expression at that moment was strange, complex, a mixture of sadness and disappointment. To this day, the Third Young Master still couldn't figure out what emotion she was trying to express. Lian Zhou Luo'er remained silent, her face pale and tears streaming down her face. She swayed precariously, as if she might fall off the cliff at any moment, but Qin Lei pulled her back with all his might. Qin Ni'er stood on the edge of the cliff, jumping up and down and cursing, "You heartless bastard, how could you just leave like that? You still owe me a beating! Come back here! Aren't you good at light footwork? Fly back here!" At that moment, the Third Young Master could only smile bitterly to himself, thinking that even light footwork requires leverage! What could he possibly leverage at this time? Ye Yingxue? It was at that moment that the Third Young Master truly realized that his heart wasn't actually that vicious after all.

Tie Xuanxuan was the most composed of all the girls. She didn't shed a single tear; in fact, she was smiling, a happy and sweet smile.

She too had leaped off the cliff, and successfully at that; no one could stop her in time.

The Third Young Master would never forget the look of joy on her face as she soared off the cliff, arms outstretched, like a phoenix taking flight.

However, Tie Xuanxuan's plan to accompany the Third Young Master failed. She had barely jumped two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters) when Qin Xiaoyao and Tie Kongshan combined their true energy to pull her back.

By the time Tie Xuanxuan was pulled back, the Third Young Master had already fallen forty or fifty zhang (approximately 33-40 meters), so he couldn't see what Tie Xuanxuan's final expression was.

But at that moment, a drop of scalding liquid landed on the Third Young Master's face and rolled into his mouth.

The Third Young Master clearly remembered the taste of that liquid: salty, with a hint of bitterness.

In that brief moment, everyone's final expressions and movements, their cries, shouts, and screams, were deeply etched into the Third Young Master's mind. Every single expression was engraved into his soul. At that moment, the Third Young Master suddenly understood.

He realized that the world wasn't entirely corrupt, that not everyone was drunk.

He realized there were still many things in this world worth cherishing, that his previous self-destructive behavior was wrong.

He realized that his previous self-righteousness was actually extremely irresponsible. He realized that for a man, the most important thing in life wasn't achieving great deeds, but taking responsibility for everyone who had expectations of him.

He realized that responsibility was everything for a man.

Even without love, one should still take responsibility.

The Third Young Master despised himself. He had come to this realization at the brink of death. So he held tightly to Ye Yingxue, who had led both him and Ye Yingxue to their deaths, facing the approaching death with a detached attitude, and babbling on and on, his only purpose being to dispel Ye Yingxue's fear of death.

After all, being afraid before death is no pleasant experience; in the underworld, one becomes a coward.

He even replayed the battle between Qin Xiaoyao, Tie Kongshan, and Ximen Wudi in a flash, inexplicably gaining some new insights into martial arts.

The weightlessness during the fall gave him an unreal sense of emptiness, and that emptiness gave him an inexplicable understanding of Ximen Wudi's so-called "Transformation into the Void" movement technique.

But what use is such enlightenment when one is about to fall off a cliff and die?

As it turns out, insights into martial arts can play a crucial role in life-or-death situations.

After an unknown amount of time, as the Third Young Master approached the ground, he unleashed all his potential, striking the ground with the most perfect palm strike of his life.

A single palm strike, "Overlord's Decree!"

The palm force completely enveloped the ground within a ten-foot radius of where the Third Young Master and Ye Yingxue had landed, the strange force shattering the solid earth five feet deep into soft dust. The force of his palm strike propelled a recoil, which the Third Young Master used to his advantage, employing a sliver of his newfound lightness skill to slow his descent, carrying Ye Yingxue as they landed on the dust-covered ground.

However, falling while carrying a completely immobile, unconscious person was entirely different from falling alone using lightness skill. The Third Young Master and Ye Yingxue crashed onto the ground with a loud thud, kicking up a cloud of dust, and sank five zhang below the surface before finally hitting solid ground that hadn't turned to dust.

Because the Third Young Master had Ye Yingxue in his arms, landing as if she were his cushion, despite wearing indestructible golden silk armor and having the recoil and the five-zhang-thick layer of dust significantly reducing the force of his fall, he still coughed up blood and fainted upon hitting his back.

Before losing consciousness, the Third Young Master had already given up any hope of survival. The reason was simple: although they hadn't died from the fall, they were deeply embedded in the earth, and the surrounding dust would suffocate them while they were unconscious.

However, the Third Young Master hadn't anticipated that the mouthful of blood he spat out would land directly on Ye Yingxue's face, waking her from her unconsciousness.

~Prologue: The Trapped Dragon Ascends to Heaven, Chapter Four~

When the Third Young Master awoke, he found himself still in this mortal world he so deeply loved.

He hadn't died, and neither had Ye Yingxue. Ye Yingxue, now awake, dragged the Third Young Master through the dust to crawl back to the ground, then, exhausted, fell into a deep sleep.

When the Third Young Master awoke, Ye Yingxue was still unconscious. Only after the Third Young Master took some healing pills he carried, regulated his breathing, and managed to somewhat heal his injuries did Ye Yingxue finally wake up.

Upon waking, the Third Young Master sadly discovered that Ye Yingxue had become mentally impaired.

To be precise, she wasn't stupid; she just seemed to have forgotten everything, not knowing who she was or who the Third Young Master was, living in a daze like a newborn infant.

From then on, the Third Young Master took this newborn infant with him, teaching her to speak and read, while embarking on a long journey to find a way out of the precipice.

Half a year later, the Third Young Master sadly discovered that although there were many wild beasts at the bottom of the cliff, there were no monsters that had cultivated for a thousand years, and naturally, no inner cores that could instantly grant a thousand years of power. There were also many plants, but none that could grant immortality. There were no caves where ancient masters were buried, and therefore, no extraordinary martial arts manuals.

Fortunately, there was water, beasts, and wild fruit trees at the top of the cliff, so the Third Young Master and Ye Yingxue didn't freeze or starve to death.

At first, when the Third Young Master still had a tinderbox, the two could eat some roasted fruit and game. But when the tinderbox ran out, they had to eat raw meat and blood.

Making fire by friction was impossible; the valley floor was far too damp, and there was simply no dry firewood to be found. When they had a tinderbox, they still used animal hides to start a fire, scorching the leaves until they were dry.

As winter approached in the first year, the Third Young Master hunted a bear and a red fox, skinning them to make animal hide coats for himself and Ye Yingxue.

By the following spring, due to the lack of sunlight and extreme dampness in the valley, both the Third Young Master and Ye Yingxue's clothes had rotted away. The Third Young Master had nothing left but a folding fan, a belt, and an indestructible golden armor; he didn't even have underwear.

Ye Yingxue, on the other hand, was completely naked, with nothing left.

Fortunately, the place was deserted, so even though Ye Yingxue was only wearing animal hides and could be exposed at any moment, it didn't matter.

As for the Third Young Master, he bathed and washed Ye Yingxue's hair every day, and was already very familiar with every inch of her skin. Although the Third Young Master was reluctant to be intimate with a girl whose mental age was only around five or six, whenever his energy was so high he had nowhere to release it, he had no choice but to have sex with Ye Yingxue in the valley.

Although Ye Yingxue's mental age was only around five or six, her figure was superb, and her physical reactions were completely in the standard state of an adult woman.

At first, the Third Young Master would actively tease Ye Yingxue, and only when Ye Yingxue was aroused would he have sex with her. But later, after Ye Yingxue had tasted the sweetness, if the Third Young Master did not touch her for a while, she would be impatient, her face flushed, and she would grab the Third Young Master's hand and ask, "My dear brother, why don't you play 'pupu' with Xiaoxue anymore? Xiaoxue really wants to play 'pupu' with my dear brother!"

The so-called "pupu" was, of course, the Third Young Master's disgusting act of imitating the sound of flesh hitting flesh during intercourse, using this onomatopoeia to describe the act of lovemaking. You can't just tell a little girl with the mental age of five or six, "Come on, let's make love!" That would set a bad example for the child.

For three years, they lived a life of hunting and gathering, and the Third Young Master kept track of the days, so he knew exactly how much time had passed.

The aphrodisiacs and sleeping potions he carried had been lost during their long time in the wild. In this place, those medicines were completely useless. Most of his healing medicine had been used, and a small portion was lost.

Finding a way out of the valley was an incredibly difficult task.

This cliff was actually a fissure in the earth, with the valley floor unknown below the horizon. Combined with the continuous mountain ranges on both sides, what appeared to be a straight valley path at the bottom was actually riddled with countless forks.

The Third Young Master couldn't determine which path led out of the valley, so he had to try them one by one with Ye Yingxue.

These forks ranged from hundreds to over a thousand miles long. The valley paths were rugged and uneven, often leading them into the territory of ferocious beasts and venomous snakes, inevitably resulting in battles with the guarding animals.

The Third Young Master had tried climbing the cliff, but setting aside the fact that the sheer cliffs offered little foothold, and considering how long it would take to climb such a towering cliff, the mere thought of carrying Ye Yingxue alone made him lose all hope of reaching the top.

"I will never abandon any woman who has any expectations of me," was the vow he made after his near-death experience. "Even if I don't love her, I must be responsible and have a sense of duty!" This addition to the vow only showed that the Third Young Master was unwilling to force his feelings. Three years

flew by as they explored the path out of the valley, three bitterly cold winters passing silently beneath their feet. Their

shoes were long worn out; now they wore soft, thick, and durable animal hide boots made by the Third Young Master, which were quite convenient for traversing the rugged paths at the bottom of the valley.

Most of the side paths in the valley had been explored by the Third Young Master and Ye Yingxue. At the bottom of each path, an impassable cliff marked a sign: "This road is blocked. Please find another way." They

repeatedly encountered obstacles, repeatedly turned back, and searched for new paths. Each side path they traversed was equivalent to walking back and forth twice. They had walked countless miles.

Through this constant walking, the Third Young Master's body became stronger, and he grew considerably taller, though his skin had become somewhat pale due to lack of sunlight. Ye Yingxue's figure also became more slender and graceful, every muscle becoming more proportionate, her waist and abdomen without an ounce of excess fat, and her full buttocks becoming more elastic from years of exercise.

The Third Young Master's face also bore the marks of time, his hair now streaked with gray, not to mention his youthful face.

And during these three years, the Third Young Master never ceased his exploration of martial arts.

At his current level, practicing martial arts no longer required stances, horse stances, or cross-legged meditation.

His daily martial arts training boils down to one word: enlightenment.

Once he's enlightened, he's enlightened; mastering one method leads to mastering all methods.

No one knows how far the Third Young Master has progressed. In these three years, he has never seriously unleashed a single palm strike.

No matter how powerful the beast, it's not worthy of his serious attack.

Today, the Third Young Master and Ye Yingxue are walking in a valley heading southwest, taking a break in the midday sun.

Looking at the distant sun overhead, the Third Young Master squinted and said, "Little Xue, we're almost out! We've explored most of the side paths at the bottom of the valley. I estimate it will take at most a year, at least a month, for us to get out of this valley."

As he said this, the Third Young Master didn't consider what if there was no way out of the valley at all? What if all the valley paths were dead ends? Of course, with his optimistic nature, he wouldn't make such a pessimistic assumption.

Ye Yingxue looked at the Third Young Master and said, "My dear brother, we've been walking for so long, but you still haven't told me why we have to keep walking like this!"

"Because we want to get out!" The Third Young Master chuckled and patted Ye Yingxue's head. "The outside world is beautiful. Do you really want to live here forever?"

"But why do we have to get out? Isn't it good to stay here? We walk all day, rest when we're tired, eat fruit and meat when we're hungry, and play 'boo boo' at night if we're energetic, and sleep when we're not. I think this is great! Is the outside world as good as this?"

Looking at Ye Yingxue's innocent face, the Third Young Master felt helpless. He couldn't explain the wonders of the outside world to her; she would only understand its benefits after seeing it with her own eyes.

"Alright, let's go!" After the sun escaped the valley floor, the Third Young Master stood up, stretched his limbs that had been baking in the sun, and pulled Ye Yingxue along, striding southwest. "We need to make the most of our time before dark! Hopefully we can find a dry cave to spend the night, and maybe even run into a hapless bear, hehe..."

※ ※ ※ ※

On the bumpy mountain path, three carriages raced as fast as they could.

Behind the last carriage were three riders, one of whom had a full head of silver hair and carried a rectangular box on his back.

Song Qing sat in the last carriage, the bumpy road causing the carriage to jolt violently.

Song Qing looked quite uncomfortable; her hands were tightly clenched together, her knuckles white, and her hands trembling slightly. Her face was pale, and her lips were blue from being bitten so hard.

But her current discomfort wasn't due to the carriage's jolting, but rather to the scene seven days ago when her father, clad in "Dragon's Roar," fought his way through the chaotic army of Lingnan Prefecture.

"Dragon's Roar" was a Heavenly Soldier-level weapon, but no one stipulated that weapons had to be the eighteen kinds of weapons like swords, spears, and halberds.

In fact, "Dragon's Roar" was a suit of armor.

A golden suit, its design incredibly bizarre, yet it exuded a perfect harmony.

That perfect harmony was like gazing at the heavens, where the rising sun and blue sky reflected each other—

glorious, magnificent, perfect, and harmonious.

But this very suit of armor, on the battlefield, became a killing machine.

That day, three of the Five Friends of Lingnan drove a carriage carrying Song Qing, Song Wu's wife, and three concubines out of the Song residence, while Song Wu and the other two of the Five Friends of Lingnan provided protection.

Song Wu led the way, with Qi Yunshan and Lian Xinyu of the Five Friends of Lingnan providing support, heading straight for the outskirts of Lingnan Prefecture.

Song Qing sat in the carriage, the curtains initially drawn, not glancing outside. She was incredibly calm, knowing that her father truly possessed the spirit and strength of a peerless general. As long as her father was by her side, she had nothing to fear.

Upon leaving the Song residence, they only encountered refugees fleeing the ravages of war, but as they approached the other gate of Lingnan Prefecture, they were overtaken by a large force of rebels.

The rebel cavalry instantly trampled the displaced people in the streets, seizing control of the city gate. Song Wu and his companions, however, were unable to escape before the rebels took control of the gate due to the refugees' obstruction.

After a large number of refugees were slaughtered and dispersed by the rebel army, the rebels targeted Song Wu's three carriages. Approximately a thousand rebels surrounded them. Several newly joined residents of Lingnan Prefecture recognized Song Wu and immediately shouted, "He's Song Wu! The greatest general of the Qin Dynasty, the 'Dragon Roar Saint General' Song Wu! We can't let him escape! If he reaches Tianjing and asks the Holy Emperor Ying for troops, things will get complicated!"

Then Song Qing heard her father's powerful and majestic voice, tinged with a dragon-like tremor, say: "You are all subjects of Great Qin, just like me, Song Wu. Why do you force me so relentlessly? I, Song Wu, have long since retired to the countryside, no longer concerned with state affairs. Today, I only wish to leave this place of trouble. Why must you try to kill me?"

"Enough nonsense!" someone immediately retorted. "Who doesn't know that you, Song Wu, are Great Qin's number one general, a notorious lackey of the Qin Emperor? If we let you go, what will become of us if you return with an army? Brothers, charge! Kill Song Wu!"

The low, frenzied shouts of over a thousand men rang out simultaneously, the sound of footsteps and horses' hooves shaking the ground.

Even then, Song Qing remained calm and composed. She believed that a mere thousand men could not possibly restrain her father.

Then Song Qing heard a roar like a dragon's cry: "Heaven's sins may be forgiven, but self-inflicted sins are unforgivable! Those who block my way shall die!"

The arrogant and ferocious dragon's roar shook the heavens, the sound of sharp weapons slicing through the air was like a mournful storm, the sound of flesh being cut was relentless and without pause, the sound of blood gushing from arteries was like a high-pressure water jet, and the shrill screams of agony blended together, the screams of the dying were incredibly terrifying, making Song Qing's scalp tingle.

After the screams, Song Qing felt the carriage start moving forward again, and at a rapid speed.

Song Qing felt very strange, because among all the sounds, she did not hear a single sound of weapons clashing.

Could it be that her father's "Dragon's Roar" armor was not an invulnerable treasure? Could it be that her father did not rely on the armor's sturdiness to withstand the rebels' weapons and arrows, but instead used other means to kill?

"Qing'er, if there is war, never go to watch." This was Song Wu's parting advice to her.

But out of curiosity, Song Qingwu forgot her father's warning and peeked out from behind the curtains. That one glance was unforgettable!

Her face turned pale instantly, her eyes widened, her pupils contracted, her lips parted slightly, her hands unconsciously twisted together, desperately clenching, and her body began to tremble.

She had finally witnessed the cruelty and bloodshed of the era of cold weapons warfare, and what she saw was a cruelty rarely seen even in battles involving hundreds of thousands of people!

It was a masterpiece of the world's bloodshed and cruelty!

No one knows exactly what Song Qing saw, but since that day, Song Qing has become the person she is now.

She never wants to recall what she saw; she deliberately tries to forget what she saw that day, but the more she tries not to think about it, the more those things haunt her mind like a nightmare.

Since fleeing Lingnan Prefecture and traveling north for the past seven days, Song Qing has rarely spoken, remaining silent all day, which has greatly worried Song Wu and his wives. Song Wu's

principal wife, Madam Song Zhang, sitting opposite Song Qing, secretly wept as she watched her daughter's distraught state.

She had asked her daughter more than once what had happened, but Song Qing remained silent, leaving her helpless.

Seeing her daughter grow so haggard in these seven days, Madam Song Zhang was heartbroken.

Meanwhile, Song Wu, outside the carriage, was racking his brains, trying to figure out what had caused his daughter to become like this. He remembered that after fleeing Lingnan Prefecture and traveling nearly a hundred miles, he had summoned "Dragon's Roar" and rushed to see his daughter.

When he saw her pale face and trembling body, he assumed she was uncomfortable from the bumpy ride of the high-speed carriage and wanted to pat her head to comfort her. However, at his touch, she shrank back like a startled rabbit.

She even slightly turned her head, as if trying to avoid Song Wu's hand.

This greatly surprised Song Wu. Song Qing was usually very attached to him, so why had she become like this? He didn't know what had happened to his daughter, so he asked his wife to inquire carefully, and even asked her himself, but his daughter remained silent.

Song Wu felt a great headache coming on. Seeing his daughter's silence and growing thinner day by day, Song Wu felt a pang of heartache.

They were currently traveling on a mountain road towards the northern capital. Although they had been out of Lingnan Prefecture for seven days, Lingnan was mostly mountainous and hilly, and the roads were rugged. Therefore, they hadn't completely left Lingnan in seven days.

Song Wu looked up at the sky and saw that the sun was already hanging over the mountains, half-submerged, and it was getting dark. Looking around, they realized they were in the mountains, and there was no way to find someone to stay with before dark. They would have to spend the night in the carriage.

Seeing the rugged road and the carriage bumping so badly, Song Wu, worried about his daughter, shouted, "Old Di, everyone slow down! It's getting dark, no need to rush!"

No sooner had Song Wu finished speaking than a scream of pain came from ahead, and then all three carriages stopped abruptly.

Song Wu was puzzled; he hadn't told them to stop. Why were they all stopping now? Being the last to arrive, he couldn't see the situation ahead clearly, so he spurred his horse forward, asking, "Old Di, what happened?"

Di Wugong, one of the Five Friends of Lingnan, known as "The Upright and Unyielding," cried out, "Old Song, disaster! I've knocked down two savages!"

URL 1:https://www.sexlove5.com/htmlBlog/15491.html

URL 2:/Blog.aspx?id=15491&aspx=1

Last access time:

Previous Page : Rebirth of a Stunning Beauty (Complete) - 11

Next Page : Love and Sword [Complete] - 10

增加

comment Open a new window to view comments

Contact Information

Rebirth of a Stunning Beauty (Complete) - 12

comment Open a new window to view comments