A Thousand Years of Elegance Discussed in Laughter (Complete) - 36

Volume 41, Chapter 23: The Death of Dugu.

I'm going to sweep the grave tomorrow morning, so I'll update at midnight first!!!
She's lost weight.
That was Ren Xiaoyao's first impression.
Xuan Qingqiu sat in the corner of the carriage, dressed in a white silk robe, like a delicate peony, frail and delicate, her skin as white as snow, highlighting her pristine beauty. Her pretty face was unadorned, slightly thinner, her eyes melancholy, her brows furrowed with sorrow, conveying a heartbreaking grief.
"Qingqiu, Qingqiu..." Ren Xiaoyao called twice, but Xuan Qingqiu didn't respond.
Su Hanbi, however, nodded slightly, a half-smile on her face, and said, "I heard that after you were injured, she's been like this, her worry and anxiety written all over her face, it's heartbreaking to see. But it's alright, since you're safe and sound, her worries can naturally disappear." She patted Xuan Qingqiu's chiseled shoulder and whispered a few words in her ear.
Su Hanbi wore a pale yellow palace dress. Her pretty face was elegant and refined, with delicate eyebrows and star-like eyes. A lustrous, emerald green jade hairpin was inserted into her glossy black hair at the back of her head. When she spoke, she revealed two rows of fine white teeth like braided shells. Her pale red lips were slightly upturned, shaped like water chestnuts, making people want to take a bite.
"Ah, Brother Ren!" Xuan Qingqiu's delicate body trembled, and she suddenly came to her senses. Her dim eyes instantly shot out beams of joy, and she covered her mouth and exclaimed, "You...you're alright!?"
Looking at her elegant and refined, bright and beautiful face, Ren Xiaoyao's heart fluttered, and he smiled and said, "Of course, even for you, I can't let anything happen to me."
"That's good..." A smile appeared on Xuan Qingqiu's beautiful face, which could take anyone's breath away, but it was quickly replaced by a sad expression. She sighed softly, "We heard you were injured, and we were so worried. Sister Shui drove the carriage at breakneck speed, wanting to get back to the main altar as soon as possible, and Xiuxiu even cried."
"No, no, I didn't cry." Lin Yuxiu's face turned red, and she shook her head frantically like a drum. Even though Ren Xiaoyao had told her she was still a child, she didn't want to show her childish side.
"Yes, yes, Xiuxiu didn't cry, my Xiuxiu didn't cry." Ren Xiaoyao chuckled, reaching out to stroke Lin Yuxiu's delicate, flushed cheeks, and said with amusement, "But Furong was driving her carriage recklessly through the city, making it seem like..." Suddenly, he felt a gaze fixed on him. His eyes darted around, and he saw Shui Furong had stopped the carriage, turned around, and was staring intently at him. Her pearly teeth were biting her pink lips, her full breasts heaving slightly, and her large, clear eyes were blinking, seemingly focused on him.
"They thought that because Leader Ren was injured and unable to manage affairs, he needed his exceptionally knowledgeable wife to handle the affairs of the sect." Ren Xiaoyao's tone shifted, and he surprisingly flattered Shui Furong without batting an eye.
"Hmph, that's more like it." Shui Furong twisted her waist and turned back to continue driving.
Xuan Qingqiu, observing this, pursed her lips, unable to suppress a smile. Realizing everyone in the carriage was staring at her, she quickly composed herself, covering her mouth with the back of her hand. Her slender, jade-like fingers, like peeled scallions, loosely grasped her snow-white palm. Her fingers, like hooks, were as white as warm, lustrous mutton-fat jade. Her bangs swayed slightly, adding to her
elegant charm. A woman of unparalleled beauty is truly unparalleled; even her mischievous smile possessed a touch of elegance.
Lin Yuxiu, her slender arm linked with Ren Xiaoyao's, asked in a coquettish voice, "Big brother, did you really defeat the Ghostly Lord?
Grandpa was so worried; he said that even if the old man himself were to fight, the outcome would only be fifty-fifty." Her voice was filled with intense sincerity and sweetness, possessing an endearing quality.
"In that battle... I had no chance of winning." Ren Xiaoyao's voice suddenly lowered, his sword-like eyebrows furrowed, and he slowly said, word by word, "In terms of the exquisiteness of his martial arts and the sophistication of his experience, Ghost Netherworld Lord is the strongest opponent I have ever encountered in my life. Whether it is Kato Taka, Nan Jia, Kubo Kosuke, or Aoki Toshishi, they are all slightly inferior to him. And my proud and invincible innate supreme qi is no match for the ninth level of his Wuwang Blood Curse, 'Heavenly Calamity Fire'..."
At this point, Ren Xiaoyao showed a distressed expression, his face full of sighs and lamentations, completely unaware of the strange glint that flashed in Xuan Qingqiu's eyes in the corner.
"Fortunately, I never used the Nine Revolutions Returning to Origin Force taught by my master. Ghost Netherworld Lord, however, was terrified by his inner demons and used every move with all his might, trying to kill me in one blow. That's how I managed to seize the last opportunity and turn the tide of battle." Ren Xiaoyao sighed again, filled with emotion. "The ferocity of this battle was unparalleled, something I've never experienced in my life. Compared to it, facing Mutou Ran's 'Corpse Demon Sealing' and Aizen Sosuke's 'Mirror Flower Water Moon' is like child's play, utterly insignificant. Fortunately, I had the unique skill created by my master to protect me, otherwise I would have surely died."
Xuan Qingqiu's delicate body trembled slightly, her face turning pale instantly, and a few beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.
"It's good that you won. The process isn't important." Su Hanbi raised her eyebrows slightly, her gentleness hiding a cunning look. "It's just a pity that I couldn't kill Ghost Netherworld Lord and rid the martial world of a great scourge." She sighed softly, unable to hide her disappointment.
"According to the oath sworn to the Great God Mani, the Asura Cult will no longer be an enemy of the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance. The Ghostly Lord has already led his followers back north. I suppose… Hey, Qingqiu, what's wrong? You're covered in sweat."
"Nothing, I'm fine. I've been busy traveling these past few days and haven't had enough sleep." Xuan Qingqiu bit her lip, answering in a voice barely audible. She truly lived up to her reputation as a peerless beauty; even though she was trying to hide her feelings, her voice was still soft and delicate, captivating all who heard it. Her pretty face was flushed, a few strands of hair clung to her cheeks, her bosom exuded a sweet fragrance from the warmth of her clothes, and a fine layer of sweat covered her soft, snow-white breasts. Every part of her exuded a captivating allure: if Ren Xiaoyao hadn't been burdened by a heavy weight in his heart, who knows what he might have done. "
When we arrive at the main altar, I'll arrange accommodations for you. A good night's sleep will make you feel better. " Hearing Ren Xiaoyao's caring words, Xuan Qingqiu's eyes became misty, like a pair of captivating cat eyes, radiating a burning passion. Her graceful movements made her even more radiant, and she thought with longing, "
Now that we are no longer enemies with the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance, I can stay peacefully by Brother Ren's side, right..."
The
speeding carriage raced along the imperial road, soon approaching Mingde Gate, which connected to Yunlong Street.
This was the entrance to the main altar, the gateway to the Tianji Sect, heavily guarded at all times. Even following Ren Xiaoyao's principle of "tight inside, loose outside," a full thirty elite members were stationed there.
However, looking into the distance, half the guards on both sides of the gate were gone.
What happened? Had something gone wrong?!
Ren Xiaoyao's heart skipped a beat. The Tianji Sect had strict rules; desertion was a serious crime, especially during this crucial period when the main altar was under the highest level of security. Leaving their post even for a moment would result in demotion and investigation, unless there were other compelling reasons to transfer them. But… he was in Xunfeng City, and… Even Qin Huaiyu and Zhang Jinghong, if they wanted to mobilize troops at such an important location as the main gate, had to submit a written report and obtain his seal for approval.
Why had such an unpredictable change occurred in just a few hours? Could it be...
that troops were being mobilized without the leader's permission? The only possibility was that the vice leader and the five hall masters who issued the order had all agreed—what could be so serious that even the usually cautious Fei Yun had agreed to
mobilize troops, without even having time to inform him from Yunlong Street, which was just a stone's throw away, before issuing the order without authorization?! The carriage was still several dozen feet away from Mingde Gate when the leading captain... no, Zhang Feng, the dignified commander of the Tiger Wing Army, actually came to guard the gate. With a shout, more than a dozen followers grabbed their weapons and rushed over without saying a word. Rows of crossbows were set up on the city wall, and as soon as he gave the order, the entire carriage would be riddled with arrows!
"What's going on?" Ren Xiaoyao poked his head out and shouted sharply.
"Master!" Zhang Feng exclaimed in surprise, rushing over, his body trembling as he ran, unable to even control his legs. His once spirited face was now filled with fear and shock.
"Senior Dugu... Senior Dugu was assassinated by Hentian and is dead..."
"What!?"
"Ah, Grandpa!" Lin Yuxiu's vision went black, and she fainted on the spot.

Volume 41, Chapter 24: The Art of Returning to the Soul? No Way to Save Him?

Weekend updates continue, a full effort to repay readers.
Chaos reigns, utter chaos.
When Ren Xiaoyao arrived at the Qilin Hall, the closest to the scene of the incident, everything was already in disarray.
Dugu Yu, the number one expert in the world and the top figure of the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance, had been assassinated by Hentian in broad daylight.
The news had barely spread when not only the heroes of the Central Plains temporarily residing at the headquarters, but even the usually well-trained members of the Tianji Sect were thrown into chaos.
If the deaths of Tang Tianying and Yu Kong were like a pebble dropped into a calm lake, then the calamity of Dugu Yu overturned the entire lake.
The chaos in the outer altars was beyond description; even the Qilin Hall, which had been immediately and strictly sealed off after the incident, was now immersed in fear and sorrow.
Ren Xiaoyao rushed into the Mingguang Pavilion, only to find not Dugu Yu's corpse, but a group of experts seated around the center—Liu Yuxu, Xiaochen, Lin Feifan, Meng Lei, Xiaoming, Nangong Bubai, Xiong Xiaotian, and Ye Zhiqiu—each pushing forward with their hands, continuously channeling their true energy towards Dugu Yu in the center.
The Hengshan Sect members and other heroes allowed inside stood at a distance, their faces filled with grief, especially Dugu Hong and Wei Sihan. Although their grief wasn't overt, it was clearly suppressed; their bodies trembled slightly, and their hearts were filled with boundless sorrow and indignation!
“Heal…heal!?” Ren Xiaoyao was stunned.
“No, it’s prolonging life.” Dugu Hong said with tears in her eyes, “Half an hour ago, Father went to the Lizheng Pavilion to discuss matters with Vice Leader Qin, but was found by Young Hero Xiao lying on the side of the passageway not far from Mingguang Pavilion. He had been hit hard in the back, and all his meridians were broken. According to Chief Ye, it was the power of the twelfth level of the Heavenly Demon Heart Sutra, Yama’s Exhaustion…”
What, the Heavenly Demon Heart Sutra!?
Ren Xiaoyao froze on the spot, speechless for a long time. As far as he knew, only Hentian and Yelü Changsheng knew the Heavenly Demon Heart Sutra. The latter was the King of Nanyuan of Liao. There was no way he would condescend to come here to assassinate Dugu Yu. In other words…the murderer must be Hentian.
Hentian!?
When the murder occurred, he was staring at the Three Elders of Mount Tai. Even if he had misjudged for a moment, there was still his master and the two seniors, Yi and Fu—Long Feiyun had come to see him before he left the main altar. The possibility of disguise was absolutely zero.
So, he and Zhuge Wenjie were wrong again. There was no Hentian among the Three Elders of Mount Tai!
It wasn't a mistake, it was a trap!
Hentian deliberately set up a scheme to deceive him, tricking him into taking the three Grandmasters away to monitor the Three Elders of Mount Tai, and then suddenly launched an attack on Senior Dugu!
"Father had already breathed his last, but Alliance Leader Dugu risked greatly to use the Rising Sun Divine Skill to save him. Now..." Dugu Hong covered her face with her sleeve, tears streaming down her face, "Alliance Leader and Master Xiaochen are doing their best, hoping... hoping to use their internal energy to prolong... prolong Father's life, even if only for a moment... just a moment, at least they can tell us who attacked him..."
Ren Xiaoyao looked at Liu Yuxu, who was sitting closest to Dugu Yu, his palms pressed against the Mingmen acupoint on his back and waist, beads of sweat dripping from his forehead, wisps of white steam rising from his head, his face flushed as if on fire, clearly having pushed the internal energy of the Rising Sun Divine Skill to its limit.
Ren Xiaoyao wanted to help, but he couldn't bring himself to do it.
It was too late, absolutely too late. If he had arrived a moment earlier, perhaps he could have saved Dugu Yu's life with his unparalleled innate qi, a supreme divine power rarely seen in the world. But now… even if all the world's top experts were gathered here, all they could do was exert their utmost to prolong his life for a moment.
He had experienced the pain of severed meridians before. Was it really necessary to subject the doomed Senior Dugu to such inhuman torment just to expose Hentian?
But he couldn't bring himself to tell everyone to stop this futile effort.
So he could only stand there, dumbfounded, watching helplessly as Dugu Yu, who had been so kind to him, passed away, leaving this world destined for bloodshed.
A man doesn't easily shed tears, but this time, Ren Xiaoyao cried, his whole body convulsing, tears streaming from his eyes.
Possessing unparalleled inner strength yet unable to save the dying Dugu Yu—this feeling was far more devastating than facing a cold corpse!
"Xiaoyao..." Shinguji Mina approached, wanting to comfort him, but the words wouldn't come. Her understanding of Dugu Yu was limited to what her sisters, Lin Yuxiu and the others, had told her, but judging from the respect and admiration shown to him by the heroes of the Central Plains, Dugu Yu's high status in the martial arts world was no less than that of Kishimoto Masashi.
—If Kishimoto Masashi were to be assassinated, what would happen to those sect leaders, masters, and elites who had received favors from the Taiko? It was easy to imagine, so she remained silent, lest she further upset Ren Xiaoyao.
"Your sect's Resurrection Technique, Miss Shinguji, haven't you learned it?" Hesitant and sorrowful, a thick Kansai dialect suddenly sounded behind her.
"Sakaguchi-senpai!" Shinguji Mina turned around in surprise, seeing Sakaguchi Daisuke... and of course, his inseparable companion, Ogata Yoshiyori. After receiving the letter, they intended to return to Japan immediately, but that very night, Tang Tianying was murdered. Ren Xiaoyao, knowing their exceptional martial arts skills and expertise in assassination, deliberately asked them to stay a few more days to assist in dealing with Juesha. Ogata Yoshiyori,
with a solemn expression, interjected, "The ultimate healing technique of the Hokushin Itto-ryu school, the Resurrection Technique, was created by Tsunade, the former captain of the 4th Division of the 13th Guardian Division. It's said to be a heaven-defying ninjutsu that can revive even those with destroyed internal organs and severed meridians, as long as there's still a breath left. Tsunade used it to shine brightly during the Third Shinobi World War, saving countless lives and contributing greatly to the Hokushin Itto-ryu's dominance in the ninjutsu world."
Upon hearing this, everyone's eyes turned to him, except for the few masters who were using their internal energy to prolong Dugu Yu's life.
"There... there's such a ninjutsu!?" Ren Xiaoyao was also taken aback. He exclaimed in surprise.
He had been in the position of sect leader for two years, yet he knew nothing about this!
"Well, there is one, but..." Mina Shinguji nodded, her expression somber, "However, the Resurrection Technique is extremely difficult to master. In the past forty years, apart from Tsunade, who developed it, and her direct disciple, Captain Unohana, no one else has been able to use it."
"You mean you don't know it either?" Ren Xiaoyao's slightly softened expression instantly darkened again.
"Don't even mention me, even Father..."
A bolt from the blue! The hope that had just arisen was instantly shattered. If Ren Xiaoyao hadn't been leaning against the wall, he probably would have collapsed to the ground from sheer despair.
"I do!" Just as he was heartbroken, a soft and melodious female voice suddenly rang out from the doorway.
"Qingqiu!!! " Ren Xiaoyao was already overjoyed before he even turned around.
The
rising sun illuminated the earth, cleansed by the night.
Outside the warm pavilion of Qilin Hall, everyone waited anxiously.
Five full hours had passed since Su Hanbi, along with Zhen Gongji Mina and Nangong Fengyi, entered to see Dugu Yu; each hour felt like an entire day.
The leaders of all sects and factions were gathered here, none of them leaving without permission. Grandmaster-level experts like Ren Xiaoyao, Liu Yuxu, Xiaochen, Yi Tianhan, Fu Longyuan, Meng Fei, Meng Lei, and Tang Yunhe, along with countless first-rate fighters, surrounded the warm pavilion so tightly that even if Hentian, Guiming Shenjun, and Xukong came together, they wouldn't be able to get close.
But if Dugu Yu were to awaken, Hentian's true identity would be revealed, and the nightmarish two days would soon be over.
Everyone knew that Liu Yuxu had done everything in his power to preserve Dugu Yu's last breath, and Su Hanbi possessed the life-saving resurrection technique mentioned by Shinguji Mina; the plan to kill him was destined to fail. Hentian's only chance to reverse the situation was to launch another attack and kill Dugu Yu, or to destroy the Central Plains martial arts world while he was unconscious.
With countless masters stationed outside, attacking Dugu Yu was no longer an option. To prevent Jue Sha from taking advantage of the faction's concentration of experts to create chaos in various branches and massacre the heroes of the Central Plains, Ren Xiaoyao displayed the extraordinary courage of a sect leader and champion marquis. With a wave of his tiger tally, 100,000 Heavenly Extreme Army soldiers rushed into the main altar overnight.
These were all veterans of countless battles, having experienced the baptism of the great war three years prior. Their admiration and respect for Ren Xiaoyao were boundless, and their loyalty was unquestionable. In terms of martial arts alone, they might not be as skilled as the masters of Shaolin, the Beggars' Sect, the Four Great Families, the Five Great Sword Sects, or the Tang Clan of Sichuan, but in terms of their tacit cooperation, absolute obedience, and unwavering will and determination to protect their leader, no team in the world could compare.
Sure enough, the long night passed peacefully, and no place was attacked. As
soon as dawn broke, all attention was focused on this place.
When would Dugu Yu awaken and become the only hope to eliminate Jue Sha—the greatest enemy of the Central Plains martial arts alliance?
"Creak." The door opened, and Su Hanbi emerged, supported by Zhen Gongji Mina and Nangong Fengyi.
Ren Xiaoyao rushed forward, anxiously asking, "How is he? Senior Dugu, he..."
"Xiaoyao... I'm so sorry... I..." Su Hanbi's face was deathly pale, clearly greatly weakened by the Soul-Returning Technique. Before she could finish her sentence, her delicate body collapsed limply.
Ren Xiaoyao caught her in his arms. Her face was pale and ashen, her beautiful eyes tightly closed, her long eyelashes trembling slightly. His arms around her were damp with sweat. His heart was breaking. Just as he was about to speak, Nangong Fengyi softly said, "Hanbi did everything in her power to save Senior Dugu, but..."

Volume 41, Chapter 25: Healing and Horrifying Experience!

"But what? What happened? Tell me quickly!" Ren Xiaoyao was frantic, his voice hoarse.
"His life... is saved." Su Hanbi whimpered, struggling to lift her eyes.
"Really? That's wonderful!" Not only Ren Xiaoyao, but everyone breathed a sigh of relief. The news spread like wildfire, quickly reaching the entire branch and evolving into cheers that resounded throughout the headquarters.
"But..." Su Hanbi's voice choked, her eyes filled with endless regret, "I only managed to preserve Senior Dugu's heart meridian, the rest..." Her body suddenly tensed, her breathing became rapid and shallow, her beautiful eyes closed tightly, her delicate body chillingly cold, trembling slightly in Ren Xiaoyao's arms.
"Senior Dugu's life force had long since died. It was only thanks to the internal strength of all the seniors that he was able to hold on until Hanbi began her treatment. Therefore, the last bit of true energy he had was not from his own body. In theory... he couldn't have been saved." Nangong Fengyi said with a sorrowful expression and bitterness, "Hanbi combined the Soul Returning Technique with the Seventeen Warm Needle Techniques recorded in the Qingnang Medical Classic. She spent an entire night working on it, exhausting all her strength, and finally managed to reconnect the severed heart meridian..."
Dugu Hong rushed forward and asked, "Only the heart meridian was reconnected, what about the others!?"
"Xiaoyao, I... I tried my best... really." Su Hanbi groaned, her breath coming in rapid, weak gasps, her eyes glistening with tears.
Ren Xiaoyao knew all too well, and his heart ached as he watched. He suppressed his own immense pain, carrying his beloved wife into the house and helping her lie down on a soft couch.
Liu Yuxu, Xiaochen, Xiaoming, Xiong Xiaotian, Yi Tianhan, Fu Longyuan, Meng Fei, Meng Lei, Lin Feifan, and Nangong Bubai followed them in, while everyone else was kept outside.
Su Hanbi sat up, wrapped in the quilt, her delicate features slightly furrowed. Her once radiant and elegant face now looked even more haggard than Xuan Qingqiu when she was afflicted with the Five Absolute King Gu.
"Miss Su, how is Senior Dugu?" Liu Yuxu, as the alliance leader, spoke first.
"Currently... still... still unconscious..." Su Hanbi paused three times before finishing her sentence. Ren Xiaoyao felt increasingly heartbroken. He suppressed the urge to pull his beloved wife into his arms again, silently taking her cold hands and continuously channeling his innate supreme qi into them.
The innate supreme qi proved miraculous; Su Hanbi's beautiful eyes gradually brightened, and a warm feeling rose from her lower abdomen, instantly spreading throughout her body. She comfortably tilted her head back, her breath trembling slightly, emitting soft, cat-like panting.
"When will he wake up?" Liu Yuxu asked anxiously, his concern evident in his words.
"He...he won't wake up." Su Hanbi lowered her head sadly, her eyes filled with sorrow.
"What!?" Everyone exclaimed in unison.
"This time we reconnected his heart meridian, but next time..."
"There...there won't be a next time." Su Hanbi sighed softly, her beautiful eyes filled with a desolate and lonely look, and murmured, "Senior Dugu's meridians were all severed. It was only thanks to everyone's full strength that the last thread of connection was maintained, and that his heart meridian was able to be reconnected. But this was the only chance and the last chance. If we couldn't restore all the broken meridians in one go, then...neither the Resurrection Technique nor the Seventeen Warm Needle Methods will be possible again."
"Is this true!?" Ren Xiaoyao's voice trembled.
Su Hanbi showed a look of disappointment that pierced his heart. Leaning weakly against him, she said sadly, "Xiaoyao, since I met you, have I ever told a lie?" Her eyes were filled with self-pity and loss, making her look incredibly pitiful.
Ren Xiaoyao's body trembled violently, and he stood frozen in place.
"What a joke! You mean Senior Dugu has to lie there forever, never to wake up?" Fu Longyuan exclaimed in shock, "This...this is no different from being a living dead!"
"Godfather—" Su Hanbi's beautiful eyes rose with a hazy, gentle glow, like the soft moonlight, and she gently shook her head, saying, "If we can't find hope, how can I face you?"
"You have a way? Then tell me quickly, tell me now!" Liu Yuxu urged impatiently.
Su Hanbi nodded in agreement, her beautiful eyes sweeping over Ren Xiaoyao with a meaningful glance, and she said tenderly, "We have someone here who possesses a skill that can unblock completely severed meridians."
"Innate Supreme Qi!"
"Xiaoyao!"
Xiaochen, Xiaoming, Yi Tianhan, Fu Longyuan, Meng Fei, and Meng Lei all exclaimed in unison.
"Yes, it's the Innate Supreme Qi!" Su Hanbi's eyes were focused as she slowly and deliberately spoke, "Although Xiaoyao hasn't reached the highest level, he can only open eight of the nine acupoints. It's more than enough for his own use, but it's still a bit lacking in helping others. Fortunately, Senior Dugu has profound internal strength and still retains more than ninety years of profound cultivation within his body. Xiaoyao is well-versed in the method of borrowing and attracting force, and the Innate Supreme Qi can freely travel through severed meridians. He can use Senior Dugu's righteous and profound Xuanmen divine skill to work together to open up all the meridians damaged by Beihentian." She spoke softly and gently, which was very touching. Ren Xiaoyao looked up at her and saw that her brows were slightly furrowed, her demeanor was delicate, but her large, expressive eyes gradually revealed their brilliance, radiating a dazzling light, showing that she was full of confidence.
Su Hanbi turned slightly to the side, resting her head against Ren Xiaoyao's broad chest, and gently instructed, "To ensure everything goes smoothly, don't touch your Ren and Du meridians for now. This will reduce the danger of practicing your skills by at least 70%. In this way, although Senior Dugu will not be able to use martial arts for the time being, as long as he points out Hentian's true form after waking up, the mission will be accomplished. If Hentian leaves, the martial world will be at peace, and there will be plenty of time to help Senior Dugu slowly recover and heal."
"Alright, it's settled then!" Liu Yuxu, who harbored a deep-seated hatred for Xiao Yusun, was even more excited than Ren Xiaoyao, the only one with decision-making power, upon hearing there was a way to eliminate him.
"Arrange it immediately! The situation is critical; we can't afford to delay any longer!" Hearing there was a way to revive Dugu Yu, Ren Xiaoyao naturally wouldn't refuse and made the decision decisively.
Looking at her lover's calm, resolute face, Su Hanbi suddenly felt a strange sense of satisfaction, instantly filling her entire heart. Her long, curved eyelashes didn't blink as she softly said, "The process of opening the meridians is extremely dangerous. If there's even the slightest mistake, not only will Senior Dugu not be able to be saved, but you might also lose your life. I've estimated that it will take three days to reconnect Senior Dugu's meridians. Beforehand, we need to arrange all the affairs of the sect and the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance to prevent further trouble, and we must pay even more attention to the defense of the treatment location..."
“Miss Su is right. A small mistake can lead to an immeasurable loss, especially since our opponent is Juesha. The tragic deaths of Protector Tang and Junior Brother Yu Kong are right before our eyes. If they succeed again, I, as the leader of the martial arts alliance, will be guilty of a thousand deaths.” Liu Yuxu nodded in deep agreement, then turned to Xiaochen, Yi Tianhan, Fu Longyuan, and the others, and said in a deep voice, “How about this, we will take it upon ourselves to work hard and take turns guarding the entrance while we are healing, cooperating with the Tianji Sect’s guards to ensure that this place is absolutely safe. In addition, we will also bring all eighteen Arhats from Shaolin Temple to guard this place continuously for twelve hours, closely monitoring the surrounding movements, and not giving Juesha even the slightest chance—Hentian will not give up his last chance, and similarly, we must not let him succeed!”
××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××
To ensure absolute safety, the location for healing was chosen to be the Qiande Treasure Vault.
This is the forbidden area of the Heavenly Extreme Sect. There is no other entrance besides the main gate. Guarding that massive door, which may require all the keys and the strength of several people to open, will ensure that the healing process is not disturbed by the assassins.
Even disregarding external influences, the process of opening Dugu Yu's meridians is still fraught with danger.
Before all meridians are opened, Ren Xiaoyao cannot eat or drink, and the healing process is extremely taxing on his mind and body. Any problems caused by hunger and dehydration could have immeasurable consequences.
This is only secondary; more seriously, his hands cannot leave Dugu Yu's body from beginning to end. Otherwise, if the flow of internal energy is interrupted or any other mishap occurs, they will both perish.
Ren Xiaoyao had no choice. To save his respected senior Dugu, to his wife who was weeping because of her grandfather's serious injury, to expose Hentian hidden within the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance, and to uphold the justice and fairness of the martial world, he unhesitatingly chose to heal Dugu Yu—even at the risk of his reputation.
Inside the third level of the Qiande Treasure Vault, Ren Xiaoyao sat upright behind Dugu Yu, his hands pressed tightly against Dugu Yu's shoulders. All eight of his major acupoints were activated, and he was fully activating his innate
supreme qi to reconnect the completely severed meridians. His progress on the first day was slow; in a full twelve hours, he had only managed to reconnect the Hand Jueyin Pericardium Meridian and the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian. These two were the most vital pathways for survival, and the heart meridian was only a small part of them. Ren Xiaoyao used his innate, incredibly pure internal meridians to reconstruct and heal the shattered meridians one by one. Although it took a long time, with the assistance of these two meridians, he could borrow Dugu Yu's profound internal energy, which had reached the highest level of Xuanmen internal cultivation, to assist his innate supreme qi in reconnecting the remaining ten meridians.
The next day, the Lung Meridian of Hand-Taiyin, the Large Intestine Meridian of Hand-Yangming, the Triple Energizer Meridian of Hand-Shaoyang , and
the Small Intestine Meridian of Hand-Taiyang were successively opened. Although Dugu Yu did not wake up, his stiff body gradually returned to normal. At the same time, Ren Xiaoyao could borrow more and more internal energy, and the speed of repairing the meridians became faster and faster. Another day passed in the blink of an eye, and the healing reached the most critical moment.
Both of them had layers of white steam rising from their heads, and large beads of sweat slid down their cheeks, turning into steam before they even dripped onto their clothes. Under the guidance of Ren Xiaoyao, the innate supreme internal energy flowed through the shattered meridians, through every piece of flesh, and through every cell, slowly cleansing every impurity in his body.
He only needed to open the three Yang meridians of the foot (Stomach Meridian of Foot-Yangming, Gallbladder Meridian of Foot-Shaoyang, Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang) and the three Yin meridians of the foot (Spleen Meridian of Foot-Taiyin, Liver Meridian of Foot-Jueyin, Kidney
Meridian of Foot-Shaoyin) to complete the task. However, after two days of continuous and high-energy output, the innate supreme qi of only opening eight acupoints was far from sufficient. Ren Xiaoyao made a decisive decision to take a gamble—to open the "Shanzhong" acupoint on Dugu Yu's Ren Meridian!
The "Shanzhong" acupoint is 1.6 inches below the "Yutang" acupoint, right on the chest. In ancient medical texts, it is called the "Sea of Qi," the place where all the qi in the human body resides. It is of utmost importance. Dugu Yu's entire life's cultivation is stored here. If it can be opened, more than ninety years of profound cultivation will be at Ren Xiaoyao's command. At that time, he can complete the opening of all twelve broken meridians in one fell swoop, bringing a perfect end to the three days of all-out effort.
Su Hanbi had said that the Ren and Du meridians should not be touched, otherwise there would be unexpected and enormous dangers. Unfortunately, the situation was already dire, and they had no choice but to act.
Opening the "Shanzhong" acupoint was the only possibility to save Dugu Yu!
Ren Xiaoyao concentrated intently on channeling his true energy, daring not to be negligent in the slightest. White steam rose from his head, and his clothes were soaked with sweat countless times.
His innate supreme energy gathered at the "Zigong," "Huagai," and "Yutang" acupoints below his neck, constantly trying to flow downwards. Dugu Yu's true energy gradually condensed at the "Jiuwei" and "Zhongting" acupoints above his navel, trying to pull down a surge of heat from his neck. This heat rushed to the "Shanzhong" acupoint but was blocked, unable to pass through.
Once Ren Xiaoyao's mind and body were connected, the Tanzhong Qi Sea would open, and Dugu Yu's injuries would be 80% healed. However, the timing was not yet right, and he could not force it in the slightest.
During healing, one must avoid haste and impatience. Ren Xiaoyao, having mastered the innate supreme qi that even Situ Ning, Zhao Kuangyin, and Long Yinxiao had failed to grasp in their lifetimes, was certainly aware of this principle. Therefore, his internal energy flowed smoothly and intermittently, without the slightest agitation, perfectly aligning with the cultivation techniques of internal martial arts masters.
In the endless tranquility, a faint "tap" was suddenly heard in the distance. The sound was extremely soft, separated by two layers of doors (Ren Xiaoyao and Dugu Yu were healing on the third layer). If Ren Xiaoyao hadn't possessed a sixth sense and was currently focused on cultivating his qi, his mind reaching a state of perfect stillness, he would never have heard it.
What's going on? Did someone bump into the door?
Ren Xiaoyao's thoughts stirred slightly, and a moment later, he heard another "tap," this time from within the treasure vault.
Who came in!
Ren Xiaoyao was secretly startled, but knew that at this critical moment, he could not afford to be distracted. Otherwise, if his internal energy went astray, he and Dugu Yu would instantly die on the spot. He forcibly suppressed his shock and doubt, maintaining the smooth flow of his internal energy.
Unexpectedly, after a short while, there was another soft "click," the sound getting closer.
He was certain that someone had passed through the heavily guarded gate and quietly entered the Qiande Treasure Vault.
Hentian!? Could it be him!?
In his shock and doubt, he suddenly heard two soft creaking sounds, followed by two more creaking sounds after a slight pause.
The second layer of the interlocking lock had been opened so easily! Even Ren Xiaoyao, with his firm will and composure, panicked at this moment. It was impossible to open the Tanzhong Qi Sea and reconnect

the three Yang and three Yin meridians of the foot before that person entered. He tried to stop his internal energy flow, but his hands could not leave Dugu Yu's body. In other words, he was now in a bind, no different from a helpless cripple. Wrong. Even a cripple could dodge, but he could only sit there motionless. The footsteps grew closer, mixed with the sounds of hidden weapons missing their mark—this was a mechanism set up on the second level of the treasure vault, the final protection and barrier of the third level.

Ren Xiaoyao was at a loss for words, his heart pounding in his chest, utterly unsure of what to do. Suddenly, he felt a tremor in his palm as the Xuanmen True Energy in his Jiuwei and Zhongting acupoints was forced back—although Dugu Yu had not yet awakened, his six meridians had been opened, and his consciousness had recovered considerably; he had only just realized this.
Ren Xiaoyao hurriedly activated his innate supreme Qi to push Dugu Yu's Xuanmen Internal Energy back, and said in a deep voice, "The mind follows the thoughts, demons arise from the heart; to ignore them is the true meaning." When one's internal energy cultivation reaches a certain level, hallucinations often occur during practice, such as hearing thunder or experiencing intense pain and itching. Only by treating them all as illusions, seeing nothing and hearing nothing, can one avoid going astray. Ren Xiaoyao possessed a sixth sense, able to discern even the approaching figure's route, confirming it wasn't a deception. However, Dugu Yu was at a critical juncture, her life hanging by a thread. If she knew someone was attacking, her mind would be thrown into turmoil, with unimaginable consequences. Only by deceiving her that the attacker was a demon born from her own heart could she temporarily stabilize the precarious situation.
Dugu Yu's power hadn't fully recovered, and her spiritual sense fluctuated. Hearing these words, she immediately calmed down.
In truth, it was midday; outside the Qiande Treasure Vault, the sun blazed, but inside, it was as dark as midnight.
With each footstep, Ren Xiaoyao heard it move closer, his heart pounding ever tighter.
The mechanisms on the second level were personally set up by the two masters, Meng Lei and Tang Yunhe, on the day they entered the treasure vault; apart from Hentian, no one else could possibly overcome them.
With his current level of martial arts cultivation, he feared no one in the world. Yet, at this crucial juncture of his healing, he encountered Hentian. Despite possessing divine skills and a wealth of wisdom, he couldn't even devise a way to defend himself.
The slower Hentian arrived, the deeper his anxiety grew. He could only helplessly watch as danger approached, forced to await his fate, enduring immense mental torment.
Beads of sweat dripped from his forehead, and Ren Xiaoyao's mood plummeted: "Back when I was cultivating the Supreme Innate Qi on Chiwei Island, all my meridians were severed, and I suffered excruciating pain for over ten days, feeling like I was dying. But compared to this endless mental anguish before me, it was still much better."
After a while, Dugu also heard it clearly, knowing that what he heard was not a hallucination, but a real impending disaster.
Ren Xiaoyao sensed the turmoil in his heart and knew that persuasion was futile. He intensified his internal energy, trying to break through the "Shanzhong" acupoint, hoping that the two of them could combine their strength to barely manage a single move, hoping to strike first before Hentian entered. However, his mind was in disarray, and the slightest relaxation caused his internal energy to fluctuate wildly, almost surging erratically in his chest.
Just then, two sharp creaking sounds were heard, and the third-level door was pushed open.
Ren Xiaoyao focused his gaze and saw...
Liu Yuxu!?
The Alliance Leader!? No wonder he was able to pass through the second-level mechanism.
Ren Xiaoyao breathed a long sigh of relief, his heart finally settling down, his body almost completely exhausted.
But then, a thought struck him, and his heart suddenly pounded, even more tightly than before.
Something had happened; something must have happened outside.
Otherwise, why would Alliance Leader Liu have forced his way through the mechanism to get here?
"Master Ren, the situation is dire!" Liu Yuxu, drenched in sweat, rushed to the front. "Vice Master Qin received an urgent report: the Liao Kingdom has launched an invasion, directly targeting Guanzhong. Yelü Xiuge is leading 100,000 infantry to attack Qingzhou, Jinzhou, and Weizhou; Han Derang is leading 100,000 infantry to attack Qinzhou and Hezhong; Yelü Changsheng is leading 60,000 Tiger and Leopard Cavalry straight towards Xunfeng City!"
Ren Xiaoyao was shocked and exclaimed, "What? The Liao Kingdom has invaded?"
"Hall Master Long said, 'The Liao army has changed its usual strategy of attacking from both east and west, defeating them one by one. They are now launching a full-scale attack on Guanzhong, aiming to take the entire Qin River Valley in one fell swoop and swallow up the northwest of our Great Song Dynasty. The court is not prepared for this, and there are Liao spies interfering. Waiting for reinforcements is no longer possible. Only by sending our Tianji Sect troops to reinforce the various routes can we protect the passes. Xunfeng City is located in a strategically important position, with imposing gates. One man can hold the pass against ten thousand. Leaving 20,000 troops to guard it is sufficient. The rest should be deployed immediately.'" "In each city, troops stationed in the interior must be dispatched to provide immediate reinforcements—speed is of the essence in war, and not a moment's delay is permissible. Therefore, I have asked this humble Taoist to retrieve the Taiqing Tiger Tally so that I can promptly command the troops in all directions."
Upon hearing of the Liao army's attack, Ren Xiaoyao had already made the same arrangement. Long Feiyun had also thought of this, and decisively asked Liu Yuxu to break down the door and retrieve the military tally to command the entire nation's troops.
Her heroic spirit was undeniable, truly embodying the saying, "A meeting of minds is a meeting of hearts." With a wife like this, what more could a husband ask for! "Alliance Leader Liu, the Taiqing Tiger Tally..." His mind was at peace, and his speech was naturally unimpeded, "The Taiqing Tiger Tally is hidden in my inner robe. I need to transfer my true energy, so retrieving it myself is inconvenient. You should come and retrieve it."
"Hmm." Liu Yuxu nodded slightly.
Ren Xiaoyao slowed down the flow of his internal energy to avoid injuring Liu Yuxu. Liu Yuxu also knew that during his healing process, his internal energy was waning, and if an outsider were to touch him, it would be like opening a breach in a dam overflowing with floodwaters. Although his Rising Sun Divine Skill was formidable, he dared not intrude between the two. Gathering his strength, he walked step by step behind the bed, reaching out to try and retrieve the Taiqing Tiger Seal from Ren Xiaoyao.
Just as he was about to act, Liu Yuxu suddenly pressed down on Ren Xiaoyao's back, and an extremely cold stream of internal energy shot into his meridians like an arrow, instantly invading his entire body, as if his meridians had been frozen.
Ren Xiaoyao frowned in surprise: "Alliance Leader Liu, you..."
Liu Yuxu's kind face changed, a chilling smile appearing on his lips, his eyes flashing with a sharp light, his gaze cold and devoid of any emotion.
Ren Xiaoyao's body trembled violently as he suddenly recalled the battle with Juesha outside the Qiande Treasure Vault that day, the scene of Hentian's sneak attack on Long Yinxiao, the ferocious face behind the mask, the murderous intent emanating from those eyes…
“You…you are…”
Liu Yuxu remained silent, raising his palm to strike Ren Xiaoyao's crown.
Incredibly cold true energy instantly surged into his head.
Caught off guard, Ren Xiaoyao was about to retaliate when his mind suddenly froze.
Taking advantage of his momentary lapse in thought, Liu Yuxu coldly snorted, his hands moving like a torrential rain, lightning-fast striking dozens of acupoints on Ren Xiaoyao's back with more than ten fingers, each finger injecting a bone-chilling true energy that pierced straight into his heart and lungs, causing him to feel as if his internal organs were being torn apart.
Ren Xiaoyao possessed supreme innate qi of unparalleled strength and yang energy, and had also "borrowed" the profound qi of the Xuanmen sect, cultivated by Dugu Yu for over forty years. If he had acted swiftly, he could have not only blocked the invading qi but even launched a counterattack. Unfortunately, Liu Yuxu's attack was too sudden; Ren Xiaoyao was completely unprepared and caught off guard.
The initial chilling qi slowed his body's reaction, while the qi sent from above temporarily sealed his thoughts. He felt an irresistible chill gather in his lower abdomen in the blink of an eye, then spread with astonishing speed to every meridian, freezing him almost to death.
Ren Xiaoyao had used all his internal energy to help Dugu Yu reconnect his meridians; now, sealed by the cold, he couldn't even turn around. It was like being in a nightmare, knowing a ferocious beast or venomous snake was attacking him, yet unable to move.
He couldn't even feel his body; it was as if only his soul remained!
"You, you...you are Hentian!?" Ren Xiaoyao was filled with shock and anger, but couldn't utter a sound. His desperate cry turned into a muffled groan.
"Only now do you realize? Isn't it too late?" Liu Yuxu's eyes flashed with intense killing intent, and a cruel smile filled with resentment appeared on his cold face.

Volume 41, Chapter 26: Recalling the Past

The leader of the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance was actually Hentian, the leader of Juesha, who was determined to destroy the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance!
If one hadn't seen and heard it with their own eyes, who would dare to imagine what was happening before their eyes?
—That kind-faced, ethereal, and profoundly knowledgeable Daoist Yuxu, who was irreconcilably opposed to Juesha, was actually Hentian himself.
External forces invaded, and his mind was in turmoil. Under the double pressure, his innate supreme qi completely collapsed. Even if Hentian left now, and Su Hanbi arrived to heal him, he would still lose all his martial arts skills and be even weaker and sicker than an ordinary person.
Hentian was indeed vicious, a hundred times more ruthless than a flood or a ferocious beast. He wasn't in a hurry to kill him, but rather to allow the invading true energy to slowly torture him and Dugu Yu to death, leaving him defenseless.
"Why...why...it's you?"
Ren Xiaoyao cried out hoarsely.
The icy true energy assaulted every acupoint in his body; the excruciating pain was worse than being burned or cut by knives. His whole body was stiff, his blood felt like it was freezing, and his hands were stuck to Dugu Yu's back, unable to be pulled away. His once freely wielded innate supreme qi was completely out of control, and even his words became fragmented.
"Let me tell you a story, and you'll understand," Hentian said, taking two steps back and smiling at him instead of making any further moves.
"Of course, there's also Old Man Dugu. Your body can't move, but your hearing and thinking should have recovered by now. I want you to know, to know clearly, how you brought the Central Plains martial arts world to its doom."
As Hentian spoke, a look of reminiscence and remembrance appeared on his face. He murmured, "Sixty years ago, a child was born in Kaifeng, the capital of the Later Han Dynasty. His father was the adopted son of a eunuch. Although his family was well-off, he suffered the scorn of his neighbors from a young age because he had no illustrious birth or glorious background. He lived a life far richer than others entirely because of his adoptive grandfather—a eunuch who had no offspring and could not carry on the family line."
"So he was ruthless, ruthless towards those so-called noble families and scions of famous clans. Some of them were spoiled brats, some were fat and ignorant, and some were utter scum, ignorant, lustful, and greedy, yet they could rightfully enjoy the envy and admiration of others."
"At the age of eleven, Emperor Taizu of Zhou, Guo Wei, led his army into Kaifeng, the Later Han Dynasty fell, and his entire family perished in the chaos. He was forced to abandon his peaceful life and wander the streets alone.
Initially, he begged for a living, but because he was unfamiliar with the ways of the beggars, he offended them and suffered endless humiliation and beatings. After escaping, he dared not beg again, so he resorted to stealing and robbing. However, he was caught by two scions of powerful families and given the same beating, nearly having his tendons severed." Hentian gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with resentment.
"Only then did the young man realize that in a turbulent world, being powerless meant certain humiliation and torment; only by learning martial arts could he change his fate!" "
He dared not join the Beggars' Sect; he couldn't bear to be a monk at Shaolin; he didn't even dare enter the gates of the Four Great Families; and the Tang Clan of Sichuan and the Meng Family Fortress of Henan never accepted disciples from outside their clans… The young man had no choice but to join one of the Five Great Sword Sects, but unexpectedly, due to his advanced age and poor aptitude, he was rejected by the Huashan, Songshan, and Huangshan Sects in succession."
"At that time, the Hengshan Sect, apart from the renowned Dugu Yu, whose fame resounded throughout the land, was a formidable force. Knowing his lowly status, the young man didn't even have the courage to visit and ask for a master, and silently went to Mount Tai—his only hope, his last aspiration!" Liu Yuxu slowly closed his eyes, his tone filled with endless sighs.
"When he passed through Tai'an Town, he met Xiao Yusun, a young man who had also come to the Mount Tai Sect to seek a master, whom he would later respect for the rest of his life, yet who would also be ruthless throughout his life. The two young men became fast friends, and before going up the mountain, they used soil as incense and swore brotherhood. In terms of age, Xiao Yusun was one day older, naturally becoming the young man's elder brother."
"The boy at the time had no idea that this mere one-day difference would create a lifetime of tragedy for him!" "
The day the two went up the mountain to become disciples was the very day that Master Huangshi, the eldest disciple of the Taishan Sect, succeeded as sect leader. Seeing Xiao Yusun and the boy in tattered clothes and pale faces, he was moved by compassion and took them both under his wing."
"Master Huangshi had taken in five disciples in his early years; two died in battle, two died of illness, and one was left disabled. Xiao Yusun, upon joining the sect, immediately became the new chief disciple!"
"Chief disciple! What an honor in the Taishan Sect! Just because Xiao Yusun was one day older than the boy, the position was given to him for nothing!"
"In the days that followed, the two brothers practiced martial arts diligently day and night, each aiming to defeat the other, chasing each other relentlessly, making rapid progress." As the chief disciple, Xiao Yusun received the attention and spotlight of the entire sect. His every word and action was used by his master, Daoist Huangshi, to educate the other disciples. Meanwhile, his close junior brother, whose martial arts were no less than his and whose intelligence surpassed even his, remained unknown. "
My junior brother doesn't care about these empty titles, because he has something more important in his heart than himself."
"No, not something, but a person, a woman." Liu Yuxu's sharp gaze suddenly softened with tenderness and affection as he reminisced, "Xiuning, Zhu Xiuning, the daughter of our master, Daoist Huangshi. She is gentle, skillful, charming, and obedient, the object of every disciple's affection in the Taishan Sect. The young man was naturally no exception, and his feelings for Zhu Xiuning, his love for her, absolutely surpassed anyone else in the world."
"Xiao Yusun also loved Zhu Xiuning. The two brothers, as close as brothers, silently competed. In comparison, the eloquent and silver-tongued junior brother naturally won his junior sister's heart more." He had many opportunities to win over his junior sister. Once things were consummated, his master would have no choice but to marry her off. But he didn't do that. He wanted to rely on his diligent training to defeat Xiao Yusun fair and square, and win Zhu Xiuning's heart in front of the entire sect.
"At the age of twenty, the two brothers officially graduated. Master Huangshi publicly announced that the brothers' achievements in the martial world would determine the husbands of their wives." "
The junior brother saw hope and was determined to seize the opportunity to fulfill his long-cherished wish. The so-called achievements were nothing more than killing corrupt officials, punishing scoundrels, robbing the rich to help the poor, and eliminating harm for the people. To surpass his senior brother, simply killing lecherous thieves, bullies, and bandits was definitely not enough. He had to do something big, shock the world, and become famous throughout the land!" "
After much deliberation, my junior brother decided to take the head of Ye Zhenhua, the chief of the Twelve Linked Forts in the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River. This man is the undisputed king of the Jianghu waterways, his power spanning the north and south. He commands a group of masters, including the 'Three Heroes, Four Staffs, Five Swords, Six Palms, and Two Divine Lords.' On the surface, he is ruthless and opportunistic, but in reality, he secretly colludes with the Khitan, intending to cooperate with the Liao Dynasty to invade our Central Plains.
He is an absolute traitor!" "After much planning and scheming, my junior brother finally stormed into the headquarters of the Twelve Linked Forts alone and killed the heinous Ye Zhenhua, but he himself was seriously injured."
"When my junior brother woke up, it was two months later. The first thing he saw was his junior sister, whom he had longed for day and night. However, her attire had changed from a young girl to a young woman." At this point, Liu Yuxu's eyes widened in fury, as if he wanted to breathe fire. "A month ago, Master Huangshi had already formally betrothed his daughter to Xiao Yusun!"
"Furious, he confronted his master, only to learn that his senior brother, Xiao Yusun, had actually killed Yelü Daxi, the Southern King of Liao, within six months!" " The
junior brother was shocked, so shocked he couldn't believe his ears. Yelü Daxi was a master of martial arts, hailed as one of the three great masters of the Khitan, holding a position second only to the king, surrounded by countless experts—far beyond Ye Zhenhua's reach. Even their master, Daoist Huangshi, would have struggled to defeat him. How could Xiao Yusun have achieved such a feat so easily?"
"The master revealed the truth: Xiao Yusun, after being taught by him, had independently comprehended the Three Forms of Heavenly Annihilation!"
"The Three Forms of Heavenly Annihilation is the supreme martial art of the Taishan Sect, possessing immense power, yet its difficulty in mastering far exceeds imagination. For generations, apart from the founding patriarch, Daoist Chenxin, no one in the Taishan Sect had mastered it; countless others had died from qi deviation. Therefore, a rule was established that it could not be passed on to anyone other than the sect leader or his successor." "
Before, he had never even heard of the Three Heavenly Annihilation Techniques (too many people died during its practice, making it a taboo subject of the Mount Tai Sect until Xiao Yusun mastered it and earned the title of Sword Saint of Mount Dongyue, thus gaining widespread fame and prestige in the martial world today). He couldn't imagine that Xiao Yusun could master it in one fell swoop—this competition didn't even put them on the same starting line; he was destined to lose from the beginning, destined to hand over his beloved junior sister to someone else."
"At this moment, the junior brother's emotions were completely out of control: he hated, hated that his master deliberately concealed the truth, keeping him in the dark from beginning to end; he was angry, angry that he was born a day too late, giving up the title of chief disciple and the opportunity to learn the Three Heavenly Annihilation Techniques to Xiao Yusun; he was angry; angry that he hadn't defiled Zhu Xiuning's body back then."
"If he had lied about the number of days, I would have been the chief disciple; his talent surpasses that of my senior brother, and if he were granted the sword manual, he would surely have mastered the Heavenly Annihilation Three Forms even better and faster; if he had already made it a done deal, my junior sister would already be in his arms!"
"My junior brother has gone mad. Ignoring the objections of Xiao Yusun and his fellow disciples, he forcibly left the Taishan Sect, went to the north alone, and made an utterly absurd decision—to assassinate Emperor Shizong of Liao, Yelü Ruan. Driven mad, he desperately needs to prove that he is stronger than his senior brother, even without mastering the Heavenly Annihilation Three Forms. Master, you should marry Xiuning to me instead of betrothing her to him!!!"
"The assassination attempt failed without a doubt. My junior brother didn't even manage to break into Yelü Ruan's palace before being caught red-handed by the swarming Khitan guards. He was certain of death and resorted to cursing, but unexpectedly, his curses brought forth a woman who would change his destiny—Empress Dowager Xiao Chuo of Liao!" (

Volume 42, Martial Arts Myth Shakes the Jianghu, Chapter 1, Boundless Hatred)

"She didn't kill my junior brother, but instead took him to the inner palace. My junior brother was determined to kill Yelü Ruan, so he naturally seized the opportunity to resist. However, his exquisite swordsmanship, honed over many years and a source of great pride, couldn't even withstand a single move from the still-attractive, middle-aged Empress Dowager of Liao!"
"My junior brother was shocked. He couldn't believe that such wondrous martial arts existed in the world, even more powerful than the Heavenly Annihilation Three Forms he had witnessed Xiao Yusun use."
"What my junior brother couldn't have imagined was that after Xiao Chuo subdued him, she casually revealed his origins, background, history, and even his grudges, love, and hatred with Xiao Yusun and Zhu Xiuning. She even offered to teach him a peerless martial art called the 'Heavenly Demon Heart Sutra'—to someone determined to kill his son."
"My junior brother couldn't understand, but Xiao Chuo made it clear. She said her son had died at Xiao Yusun's hands, and someone needed to avenge him. My junior brother asked why she didn't go herself—with her martial arts skills, defeating Xiao Yusun wouldn't be difficult. Xiao Chuo said she had an agreement with the Song emperor that she would never set foot in the Central Plains again, so she had to use someone else to kill her enemy, and my junior brother was the best candidate she had carefully chosen!" "My junior
brother refused without hesitation. Although he was angry that Xiao Yusun had taken his lover, their sworn brotherhood still existed. Besides, he was a Han Chinese, a true Han Chinese; what reason did he have to work for the Liao dogs?"
"Xiao Chuo didn't force him to agree. She left behind a copy of the 'Heavenly Demon Heart Sutra' manual and left, seemingly not caring whether her junior brother practiced it or not. Now it seems that it was all a trap. Xiao Chuo must have planned to support her junior brother as her agent in the Central Plains, which is why she knew so much about her situation. On the surface, she didn't force him, but she gave him the manual of the Heavenly Demon Heart Sutra. Junior brother was determined to surpass Xiao Yusun and had witnessed the power of the Heavenly Demon Heart Sutra with his own eyes. Could he resist learning it?"
"Junior brother resisted. Although he didn't know the secrets of it at the time, he still resisted. He just kept the manual with him and didn't look at a single word."
"After several months of separation, my junior brother returned to the Mount Tai Sect. By then, Master Huangshi had died, and Xiao Yusun had taken over as sect leader. At a young age, he had become the head of one of the five major sword sects, full of vigor and ambition, with a beautiful wife by his side. He had everything he needed: fame, status, and honor. Meanwhile, my junior brother had left the mountain without permission and had not returned for a long time, which was a serious violation of the sect's rules. As sect leader, Xiao Yusun was quick to act, not only removing him from his position as an elder but also revoking his right to accept disciples."
"My junior brother was all alone. He stayed in the Mount Tai Sect for several more months, sometimes seeing Xiao Yusun and his wife in perfect harmony, and hearing the great reputation of the 'Eastern Peak Sword Saint' from the foot of the mountain every day... My junior brother still restrained himself. He refrained from practicing the Heavenly Demon Heart Sutra. He knew that this was a path of no return, a path from which there was no turning back once one embarked on it."
"But an unexpected event shattered my junior brother's resolve. That year, during the Qingming Festival, a group of lecherous thieves nicknamed 'Yellow Flower Bees' appeared in the martial arts world. They specialized in raping and defiling the daughters of wealthy merchants and noble families, committing countless heinous crimes. Upon hearing this news, Xiao Yusun was moved by chivalry and went down the mountain alone with his sword to capture them. He even forgot to go home to sweep his parents' graves. Xiu Ning, a gentle and virtuous woman, did not want her husband to feel ashamed of his ancestors, so she took a maid with her and went alone. This departure was not a big deal, as the 'Yellow Flower Bees' received the news and kidnapped her."
"These lecherous thieves, intimidated by Xiao Yusun's reputation, dared not harm Xiuning in the slightest. They sent word that they wanted to exchange her for Xiao Yusun's cessation of his pursuit of 'Yellow Flower Bees.' Xiao Yusun, however, refused. For the sake of the Taishan Sect's reputation and his own personal prestige, he refused their demands, actually offering his beautiful wife to these heinous lecherous men! If he wouldn't go, someone else would. For the sake of his beloved, Junior Brother once again violated the sect rules, secretly leaving Taishan to rescue his married junior sister."
"Unexpectedly, Junior Brother not only failed to rescue Xiuning but also fell into 'Yellow Flower Bees' trap and was captured. The second-best expert of the Taishan Sect, who was poised to become a protector, was powerless against a group of cowardly lecherous thieves!"
"He and his junior sister were imprisoned together, forced to watch helplessly as his beloved was coerced and threatened by lecherous villains. His grief and resentment were unimaginable. He was powerless to help, and could only hope that Xiao Yusun would change his mind and come to rescue her. However, half a month passed without a single word. During this time, 'Yellow Flower Bee' led him and Zhu Xiuning in hiding, escaping the pursuit and assassination attempts of countless prestigious sects, including Shaolin, the Beggars' Sect, Tingyuxuan, the Tang Clan of Sichuan, Hengshan Sect, and even the newly rising Tianji Sect… Another half month passed, and the lecherous villains finally lost patience. They announced that if Xiao Yusun did not agree within three days, they would defile his wife." "
The junior brother knew that his stubborn senior brother would not agree, would not abandon his principles for personal feelings. He knew that the only way to save Xiuning was to rely on himself. However, he had been forced to take a 'softening powder' by the villains, leaving him weak and powerless. He couldn't even save his own life, let alone save his junior sister."
"His death is nothing to regret, but we must not allow Xiuning, the fairy-like girl in our hearts, to suffer even the slightest humiliation from those lecherous villains! In desperation, my junior brother chose to cultivate the Heavenly Demon Heart Sutra, the very sutra he had always resisted—only this unparalleled divine skill could help him protect his beloved junior sister." "
Three days, just three days. My junior brother only practiced the Heavenly Demon Heart Sutra for three days, and he broke through the meridians blocked by the medicine, killing the 'Yellow Flower Bee,' who had plagued the martial world and committed countless evils, whom countless righteous sects had failed to catch. Of course, he also preserved his junior sister's purity. After this battle, my junior brother's reputation soared. Although he still couldn't match his senior brother's world-renowned fame, he received praise and commendation from his fellow martial artists. In particular, Xiuning's simple 'thank you' made his months of hard work vanish, and filled his heart with endless warmth."
"To hear his beloved's praise more often, the junior brother began his rise to fame in the martial world. To surpass his senior brother, he targeted notorious and powerful underworld figures. Unable to defeat them with the martial arts of the Mount Tai Sect, he naturally resorted to the Heavenly Demon Heart Sutra. At first, he only used it once or twice in crucial moments, but he became more and more proficient with it, unable to do without it—not because he didn't want to restrain himself, but because his junior sister's faint 'thank you' after each act of chivalry pushed him onto this path of no return."
"In just half a year, the junior brother's reputation in the martial world soared, even earning him the title of 'One Sword to Sever Souls'—to conceal his use of the Heavenly Demon Heart Sutra, he had to kill all enemies present, and his targets were all heinous criminals deserving of death. The more they died, the more his martial fame would be highlighted."
"However, when people in the martial arts world mention him, they don't refer to him as Liu Yuxu, but rather as 'Xiao Yusun's junior brother,' as if it were his due. His beloved junior sister, in a drunken moment, unintentionally revealed that she wanted her senior brother to roam the martial world and gain great fame, to highlight her husband's skill in employing people and his discerning eye for talent."
"At that moment, the junior brother broke down. His boundless love instantly transformed into rage, his brotherly affection into resentment, and the oppression he suffered at the hands of the four great families and the humiliation inflicted by the Beggar Clan members surged into his heart." Liu Yuxu's eyes burned with intense hatred and humiliation as he roared, "He wants revenge! He wants revenge on everyone who has wronged him! He wants to surpass his senior brother! He wants to reclaim everything that rightfully belongs to him!"
"The Heavenly Annihilation Three Forms, when mastered to their highest level, are no less powerful than the Heavenly Demon Heart Sutra. And he has the Taishan Sect and the Central Plains martial arts world as his powerful backers. I alone have no chance of defeating him. I must establish a massive organization to shake Xiao Yusun's position in the martial world." Liu Yuxu changed to using "I" in his narration, his hatred growing even stronger. "Learning from the lessons of the 'Yellow Flower Bee' rampage, with Empress Dowager Xiao's support, I founded Absolute Kill—an extremely secretive assassin organization dedicated to assassinating those self-righteous, fame-seeking righteous people. We have also secretly collected evidence of the leaders' misdeeds and moral failings as leverage to coerce them into submission and becoming my lackeys."
"Xiao Yusun's reputation in the martial arts world grew louder day by day, and the power of Juesha also grew stronger. They were more than capable of confronting the Taishan Sect head-on, but they might not be able to deal with the five major sword sects under Dugu Yu's command, let alone shake the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance. Just then, the Shura Sect launched a large-scale invasion, which gave Juesha and me a golden opportunity. I volunteered to stay and guard Taishan, but in reality, I led the five assassins through two extremely brutal bloody battles against the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance at Wuyun Mountain."
"Because of that damned Ren Qiaocui, we lost, we lost miserably. Our years of hard work were destroyed in an instant, and the Absolute Killing Sect, which I founded, is almost extinct... I know that it is impossible to surpass my senior brother in a short time, and my beloved junior sister has been weak and frail since giving birth. She endured four years of hardship and finally left this world half a year after the decisive battle at Wuyun Mountain..." Liu Yuxu's voice choked, and a tear rolled down from the corner of his eye. Then, the tears disappeared, and he regained his icy calmness and said coldly, "With Xiuning dead, there is no longer any buffer between my senior brother and me. I will kill him, kill this enemy who stole my wife and ruined my life!"
"Xiao... Sect Leader Xiao, you killed him!?" Ren Xiaoyao's whole body was ice cold. The true energy generated in his acupoints was all attracted to the true energy flowing in Dugu Yu's body, leaving not a drop. The cold air that followed surged into his body's meridians in countless strands, and his blood almost froze into frost. The pain was indescribable to outsiders. "
That's right, I killed Xiao Yusun with my own hands. After that, I naturally took over as the sect leader and re-established the new Absolute Killing Sect. Twenty years later, I joined forces with the Ghostly Netherworld Lord. I wanted to prove to the world that I was stronger than 'Eastern Mountain Sword Saint' Xiao Yusun. I wanted to unify the martial arts world and bring the Central Plains martial arts world under my control."
"Remember the battle that decided who would become the leader of the martial arts alliance? Xiao Chen's Lion's Roar technique was absolutely unstoppable with the Mount Tai Sect's Rising Sun Divine Skill. It was because I practiced the Heavenly Demon Heart Sutra that I was able to defeat him. The leader of the martial arts alliance? Hahaha, the highest leader of the Central Plains martial arts alliance is actually me—Hentian."
"So...so we rushed to Xunfeng City to rescue the Dragon Sect Leader. The originally flawless plan actually failed because...because you are the leader, and all actions must be approved by you before they can be carried out..."
"Yes, from the beginning, Absolute Killing Sect knew your plan inside and out. If it weren't for Long Yinxiao's 'Reign Over the World' technique, not to mention the Central Plains martial arts alliance, even the Great Song Dynasty would no longer exist at this time." "
After the Battle of Xunfeng City, you...you disappeared for half a year, not to chase after Hentian, but...to hide away and secretly heal your wounds..."
"Smart. If I didn't do it this way, wouldn't I have wasted all my efforts and failed completely?"
Ren Xiaoyao suppressed the pain that made him want to end his life and said in a trembling voice, "I understand, it was you, it was you who put the Bone-Dissolving Powder in the banquet, causing...all the heroes to lose their fighting power...it was you!?"
"That's right, it was me. I first publicly agreed to the duel, and then poisoned all the masters at once, so that I could force them to their deaths without bloodshed and completely subdue the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance. This plan was foolproof, but unexpectedly, Xingchen volunteered to fight and won the most crucial fourth match with his 'Sun Wheel Breaking the Archer' technique." "
It's true he's Xiao Yusun's son, but he also carries the blood of my beloved woman. For years, I've treated him like my own son, outwardly designating him as the heir to the Taishan Sect, cultivating him with all my might, even sending countless subordinates to kill for him, to solidify 'Iron Sword Autumn Frost's' reputation in the martial world. Secretly, I've also planned that once I've achieved my ambition of unifying the martial world, I'll reveal everything to him and hand over the creation of the Absolute Killing Technique. I never expected, I never imagined, that it would be him who started it all, ruining my entire plan."
"Afterwards, you and those old fogies like Yi Tianhan, Fu Longyuan, and Meng Fei arrived. If we had fought one battle at a time, we might not have lost. But that guy Hentian was obsessed with his deep-seated hatred for Ren Qiaocui, insisting on a decisive battle with you. If he could have been calm, if he could have focused on success or failure, he definitely wouldn't have lost. But he insisted on killing you, insisted on taking revenge on Ren Qiaocui in front of all the heroes of the world, and ended up with a crushing defeat." "
In the extreme cold, Ren Xiaoyao's body began to go numb, frozen to the point of losing all sensation, leaving only a mind gradually approaching death.
'The Asura Sect is gone, and I think I can only rely on myself to succeed. Ghost Lord of the Underworld failed because he couldn't let go of past grudges, always remembering Mei Ruoxue, and always ruthlessly targeting Ren Qiaocui. But I have already cast aside my hatred for Xiao Yusun, cast aside my longing for Xiuning, and only want to reclaim the entire martial arts world.'
'That very night, I killed Tang Tianying, that treacherous and shameless traitor who sought personal gain. I will create endless panic in Xunfeng City; I will let every hero in the Central Plains know that even in the headquarters of the so-called number one defensive sect in the world, Juesha can still run rampant and come and go as he pleases; I will completely crush their spirit and fighting will, making everyone bow down to Juesha.'" "
Tang the Great Protector is one thing, but why...why did you kill Yu Kong...he...he was your most capable subordinate in the Taishan Sect, your fellow disciple for decades..."
"'He also said that we should wait until you are capable of standing on your own in the future,' this was Xiao Yusun's last message to Xingchen, entrusted to Yu Kong. Before he died, he was very likely to have guessed my identity. What if there was some hidden meaning in his words, and Xingchen knew that I was Hentian? What would we do then? Xingchen defeated Yunyu Envoy, saved the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance, and proved to the world his ability to stand on his own. Once the assassination was over, Yu Kong would surely speak. I cannot allow any mistakes in the plan, not even the slightest one, so I had to kill him to silence him!"
"Because...you are the Alliance Leader, so...Ogata Yoshiyori and Sakaguchi Daisuke saw...you entering and leaving Tianlu Pavilion without finding it...strange, and did not report it to me...As a result, I suspected that the Three Elders of Taishan...along with Senior Yi and Senior Fu...went out to monitor, giving you...an opportunity to assassinate Senior Dugu." Ren Xiaoyao's words grew slower and slower, each step a step closer to death. "
Dugu Yu never dreamed I was Hentian. Caught completely off guard, I struck him in the back with a palm strike. Despite being the world's number one expert, he survived the Heavenly Demon Heart Sutra's blow. So I gathered various experts, using the pretense of prolonging their lives to trick them into greatly depleting their inner strength. If I deliberately created a slight mishap at the end, not only would Dugu Yu be certain to die, but they would also exhaust their power… Tonight, I'll unleash a massacre and eliminate these obstacles in one fell swoop."
"I never expected your woman to possess some kind of soul-returning technique, actually pulling old man Dugu back from the underworld. I was almost terrified, fearing she would heal old man Dugu." Later, upon hearing that only his heart meridian had been opened and he remained unconscious, he breathed a sigh of relief and decided to play along, deliberately instigating you to heal him so he could take advantage of the situation…” Liu Yuxu’s eyes were bloodshot, revealing a ferocious and chilling killing intent. He slowly raised his hand, his solemn expression containing surging hidden strength. “With the death of you and Dugu Laoer, I will be the sole ruler of the Central Plains martial arts world. At that time, eliminating Xiaoming, Xiong Xiaotian, Nangong Bubai, Ye Zhi Qiu, and Tang Yunhe will be a piece of cake. Hahaha, hahaha, even without the cooperation of the Shura Sect, I can still destroy the Central Plains martial arts world. Xiao Yusun, you are ultimately inferior to me, ultimately inferior to me! Leader Ren, may you rest in peace.” The word "Good" was uttered, and a powerful force followed instantly, slamming heavily onto Ren Xiaoyao's forehead with the force of a landslide. (

Volume 42, Martial Arts Myth Shakes the Jianghu, Chapter 2: Heaven's Will!)

An immense force yanked him and Dugu Yu from the bed, making them stand up like puppets on strings. Then, their ears were filled with the whistling sound of energy piercing the air. The palm strike from Hentianyin on his forehead unleashed a vast and unparalleled surge of powerful true energy, like a raging flood bursting through a breach, pouring into his completely numb meridians.
Boom! Ren Xiaoyao's body trembled violently, as if struck by lightning. His explosive, ferocious true energy surged forth like a torrent, overflowing his meridians like a broken dam, rampaging through his body like a wild horse, causing his blood and qi to churn and his internal organs to feel as if they were being torn apart.
The cultivation method of the Innate Supreme Qi was different from other internal arts; the modified meridians had a tolerance far exceeding that of any other Qi cultivator, thus allowing him to withstand the "Corpse Demon Seal" unscathed.
But at this moment, his internal energy system had been completely destroyed by his opponent. Hentian's palm force, like a raging flood, instantly breached his defenses, which could no longer withstand any pressure, and invaded his body.
In an instant, his meridians felt as if they had exploded; the unbearable, violent sensation was beyond description.
The palm force crushed his body, then surged into Dugu Yu's body, pulling his life away with it.
Ren Xiaoyao felt a sharp, earth-shattering pain, as if his life was about to end, when suddenly a surge of internal energy struck him back.
"Before I die, must I endure this excruciating pain?"
Ren Xiaoyao couldn't bear it any longer and was about to use his barely conscious strength to sever his own heart meridian when he suddenly felt this internal energy was incredibly pure and powerful, surpassing all the internal energy he had ever encountered before, instantly circulating throughout his body.
"Boom!" All his meridians trembled and then expanded. Just as he thought his life was about to end, Hentian struck again with his palm. Both of their bodies shuddered violently, their vital essence and energy gushing out like a flood finding a breach.
With a deafening crash, smoke and waves rose from the ground.
Ren Xiaoyao and Dugu Yu fell heavily to the ground, lying in a pool of blood.
××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××
"Ugh... Ah..."
"Hot, so hot, it feels like my body is on fire... My body... My throat..."
"Water... Water... Can someone give me water..."
"Water... Water..." In a daze, Ren Xiaoyao seemed to regain his senses, but waves of intense pain and fatigue washed over him, making him almost faint.
"Xiaoyao, it's alright now." Xuan Qingqiu's gentle and pure voice, like an angel's, rang in his ears.
"Pain... Ah—" Ren Xiaoyao tried to clean his body, but he was completely powerless, and a painful wail escaped his throat.
"Hanbi, how could this happen, Xiaoyao, he..."
"Let me do it." In the old and kind voice, a large hand pressed on his shoulder and back, transmitting a surge of internal energy.
In an instant, Ren Xiaoyao felt a force emanating from his palm, vast and boundless, seemingly endless. Throughout history, only figures like Bodhidharma of Shaolin, Feng Renqiu who created the innate supreme qi, and Emperor Taizu Zhao Kuangyin possessed such cultivation. As for contemporary masters, besides himself, only the Ghostly Lord who mastered the Heavenly Calamity Fire, the Ninja Grandmaster, the Martial Arts Grandmaster Kishimoto Masashi, and Dugu Yu possessed such cultivation.
Countless doubts raced through Ren Xiaoyao's mind; he couldn't recall anyone else reaching this level.
Could it be his third brother? Had his Heavenly Dao Divine Art reached the seventh level, the Saintly Path of Overlord?
Impossible. Emperor Taizu, with his extraordinary talent and inherited the achievements of his predecessors, had to dedicate his entire life to creating the Heavenly Dao Divine Art. His third brother was still young; even if Emperor Taizong had used his internal energy to guide him, it would be impossible.
Could it be that several masters joined forces to heal me with their internal energy?
No, that can't be right. The internal energy is so abundant and powerful, flowing without interruption; it must have been the work of one person…
and genuine Xuanmen true energy at that!
Senior Dugu!!!
Ren Xiaoyao was startled and abruptly opened his eyes. Sure enough,
what came into view was Dugu Yu's dragon-browed, white-haired, gentle and kind face, and of course, his many wives beside him, their expressions tense, tears welling in their eyes, their eyes full of concern.
"Senior Dugu, how…"
This shock was immense. Dugu Yu's meridians were clearly severed, he was unconscious, and before he could fully unblock them, he was attacked by Hentian, his efforts thwarted. How could he be unharmed now?
And himself, he had clearly had his innate supreme qi disrupted by Hentian, his internal organs completely destroyed, how could he not die, but survive?
"Ah—" Ren Xiaoyao was about to ask a question when a sudden, excruciating pain shot through him. Fortunately, Dugu Yu channeled his inner energy to protect his internal organs, preventing the injury from worsening.
"Xiaoyao, don't move." Su Hanbi quickly moved closer and applied acupuncture needles to his kidney meridian acupoints, including "Shiguan," "Yindu," "Tonggu," "Youmen," "Bulang," "Shenfeng," and "Lingxu." Only then did the pain subside slightly.
"Hanbi, this... what exactly... what is this..."
"Let me explain," Dugu Yu said.
"Senior..."
"Although I was unconscious that day, I was fortunate enough to still be conscious. I heard every word Liu Yuxu... no, Hentian said clearly. He used his cold energy to force every last bit of the Innate Supreme Qi into my body, completely destroying your internal organs and meridians, but it also gave me a golden opportunity to recover my strength—others cannot control the Innate Supreme Qi, but I, who have read the Innate Supreme Qi manual, can."
"Senior opened up all your meridians on your own!?" Ren Xiaoyao was shocked to hear this.
“No, during the time he tortured you, I only had time to open the ‘Tanzhong’ acupoint and gather back my Xuanmen true energy accumulated over ninety years. It was his palm strike that caused the true energy to flow into my body through yours, and I guided it to reconnect all the damaged meridians in one fell swoop…” Dugu Yu sighed deeply, “If it weren’t for the combined profound internal energy of three great masters accumulated over hundreds of years, how could they have pulled me back from the underworld in an instant?”
“So, Hentian’s powerful attack not only failed to injure you, senior, but also…”
“It even accidentally saved you!”
“And then… did you, Senior Dugu, defeat Hentian?” Ren Xiaoyao asked urgently.
Dugu Yu shook his head and said with a bitter smile, "Once the meridians are restored, the flow of true qi will be unimpeded. Even if I practice for another ninety years, I still cannot simultaneously restrain the power of the Innate Supreme Qi and the Heavenly Demon Heart Sutra."
"I... I remember now." Ren Xiaoyao suddenly realized and exclaimed, "At that time, an irresistible force surged back into my body, and then..."
"Yes, it was fate, it was fate!" Dugu Yu sighed repeatedly, deeply moved, "Originally, if the three streams of internal energy had flowed into your body, even if your internal strength was still intact and your meridians were not damaged, you would have been blown to pieces. But Hentian wanted you to die quickly, and then he added another palm strike, which conveniently diverted the surging internal energy, turning it into a huge explosion."
"Hentian's elaborate scheme backfired."
"Explosion? Then... did Hentian die?"
“No, all three of us were knocked unconscious by the explosion. You, who lost all your internal energy, were the most seriously injured.” Dugu Yu’s expression was solemn as he pondered, “Hentian and I woke up around the same time. We were prepared to risk our lives to prevent him from escaping, but at that time you were bleeding from all seven orifices and your life was hanging by a thread. It didn’t matter if I, an old man, gave up my life, but you absolutely could not die. So I didn’t stop him. Instead, I sat down to heal you and watched him run away.”
Long Feiyun looked apologetic and choked up as she said, “At that time, Liu Meng… Hentian and Senior Yi were guarding the gate. Hentian tricked Senior Yi away and, under the pretense of helping you with your cultivation, tricked Uncle Zhang, Uncle Qin, and me into giving him the key. That’s how he was able to open the three secret doors and easily get to the last level…”
“Feiyun, it’s not your fault. Who would have thought it would be Hentian?” Seeing his beloved wife’s swollen eyes, Ren Xiaoyao knew she must have cried, and cried very hard, so he quickly comforted her gently.
Long Feiyun wiped her eyes with her sleeve and said fiercely, "When Hentian came out, the guards saw that he was covered in blood and rushed over to ask him what was wrong. Hentian said that someone from the Absolute Killing Sect had infiltrated the treasure vault and was fighting with you, and that he had come out to ask for help. This explanation was full of loopholes, but Senior Yi, who was guarding outside, was very concerned and immediately led his men out, which allowed him to slip away—you've been unconscious for ten days, and the sisters were worried sick."
"Ten days?" Ren Xiaoyao was shocked, thinking to himself that this time he had been injured and unconscious for quite a long time.
"How's it going outside? Have the remnants of the Assassins been wiped out?"
"Only Hentian left. The rest are all still there. It seems the five assassins are still secretly infiltrating the headquarters under various identities. However, after this incident, they've all wisely gone into hiding, no longer daring to make any rash moves. The panic among the various heroes has gradually subsided, and life has returned to normal."
"What? Hentian's identity has been exposed, and the Assassins' conspiracy has been completely exposed. Are they still at the headquarters?" Ren Xiaoyao was taken aback upon hearing this, slightly surprised.
"Of course, there's a huge matter waiting to be dealt with." A captivating smile appeared on Long Feiyun's lips.
"Ah, what is it?"

Volume 42 Martial Arts Myth Shakes the Jianghu Chapter 3 Helpless Starry Sky Azure

Dragon Hall, Tianlu Pavilion.
Xiao Xingchen, dressed in mourning clothes, sat with his head bowed, his eyes filled with sorrow and grief.
Hentian, his dearest and most respected mentor was actually Hentian, the great enemy who killed his father!
Upon hearing this news, he could hardly believe his ears. How could his kind and gentle master be the wicked and utterly evil Hentian?!
But these words came from Dugu Yu, a grandmaster of the Central Plains martial arts world, a figure of unquestionable authority. Moreover, there was his fourth brother, severely injured and on the verge of death, as evidence (after ten days of being unable to speak, he serves as temporary evidence, haha). Even with a thousand doubts and countless speculations, he had no choice but to believe it.
Why? Why did he create the Absolute Killing Sect? Why did he wipe out the Central Plains martial arts alliance? Why did he kill his father, and even harm his elderly and reclusive Uncle Yukong? Why?!
Dugu Yu deliberately pulled him aside to a quiet place and explained the reasons in detail. Only then did Xiao Xingchen understand. It
was all about love. His master's downfall was all about "love"!
He didn't know how to explain this to his disciples, how to face the world.
This was a secret, a secret that could never be told. To protect his father's and the Taishan Sect's reputation and dignity, he could only choose boundless silence.
Yes, silence—not a single word except an apology.
But would that work? The moment
the news spread that his master was Hentian, he, Hentian's closest and most beloved disciple, whom he had personally raised, was destined to bear all the pressure from all sides.
Hentian had fled; to whom could the heroes of the Central Plains turn for their grievances and resentment?
Him!!!
Less than an hour after the news spread, at least two thousand people had gathered outside Tianlu Pavilion, all wanting to settle scores with him and demanding an explanation from the heroes of the Central Plains.
Especially the Tang Clan of Sichuan, who had suffered the most, almost stormed in.
Yes, things had come to this point; who didn't consider the Taishan Sect a den of iniquity, who didn't think that he—Hentian's hand-chosen successor—was also a member of the assassination squad?
The crowd was filled with fervor and their voices were deafening, all clamoring for Xiao Xingchen to atone with his death. The scene was no less impressive than the rallying cry of 100,000 followers during the Battle of Xunfeng.
It was his eldest brother and third brother who, at this crucial moment, led all their men to stand by his side, steadfastly resisting pressure from both the gang and the alliance, doing their utmost to vouch for him and defend his innocence. Even his fourth brother, though unconscious, was fulfilling the vow made by his sworn brotherhood with his beloved wife, Long Feiyun.
To share life and death, to endure hardship together, to never abandon each other, to be each other's eternal support—
this was brotherhood!
Long Feiyun mobilized half of the inner guards, ordering Jing Si to personally lead them to guard outside Tianlu Pavilion, and declared that anyone who dared to make things difficult for Sect Leader Xiao would be an enemy of the Tianji Sect and the Great Song Dynasty.
Sect Leader?
That's right, Liu Yuxu is Hentian. How could he possibly take over as the leader of the Taishan Sect? The day after the incident was exposed, Xiao Xingchen officially took over as the leader of the Taishan Sect with the strong support of Yu Ling, Yu Xuan, and Yu Feng.
"Uncle-Master, Xingchen's body is already... bestowed by Hentian. How can he be worthy of the position of sect leader? Moreover, many heroes in the martial world resent Xingchen for recognizing a traitor as his master, and he is despised by all. I beg you three uncles to choose... choose another worthy person..." "
The fact that Senior Brother Liu is Hentian is unknown to the world. If you want to blame someone, you should include all the heroes who hailed him as the leader of the martial arts alliance at the martial arts conference!"
"You have learned genuine Taishan martial arts. You are the only one in the entire sect who knows the Three Forms of Heavenly Annihilation, and you have also comprehended the Sun Wheel Breaking the Archer. Not to mention that Wei Liang, Jian Xiong, and Hong Zhou's martial arts are far inferior to yours, even our three masters would have to admit defeat. If you are not the one to succeed as sect leader, who else can we entrust the position to?"
"But... but..."
"How have Sect Leader Xiao and his wife treated you?"
"My parents gave me life and raised me. Their kindness is as deep as the sea and as solid as the mountain."
"That's it. If you want to repay your parents' kindness, you must take on the heavy responsibility of the Mount Tai Sect and preserve the 'Eastern Peak Sword Saint's' reputation in the martial arts world."
"As the sect leader, you only need to remember two things: first, appoint people based on merit; second, lead by example. You are naturally kind, humble, and respectful, and all the disciples in the sect trust you. With the strong support of the three elders, the sect's actions will not be hindered in any way. As for external affairs..."
"Because of this incident, many heroes from all walks of life have criticized our sect. It's impossible to restore the Mount Tai Sect's prestige and status in the martial arts world in a short time. But we must not be afraid of this and dare not do anything. You must remember, even if the whole world doubts you and our Mount Tai Sect, there are at least three people you can trust—Chief Xiong, Chief Ye, and Master Ren. Your three sworn brothers who have shared joys and sorrows, life and death, are the strongest and most powerful support behind the Mount Tai Sect right now!"
"Nephew...Nephew has learned a great deal!"
The following day, the Taishan Sect held its inauguration ceremony at the Wangyue Pavilion.
Xiao Xingchen, only twenty-seven years old, officially assumed the position of sect leader, becoming the youngest leader in the century-long history of the five major sword sects.
The solemn and grand inauguration ceremony was desolate; apart from the Beggars' Sect, the Tianji Sect, the Hengshan Sect, and the Thirteen Provinces Green Forest Alliance, none of the other powerful figures were present.
Young as he was, he shouldered an unbearable burden!
Xiao Xingchen showed no fear, no hesitation, for he was the son of "Eastern Mountain Sword Saint" Xiao Yusun!
"Xingchen..." a gentle voice called from beside him.
She wore a white silk robe, pure and clear like a lotus flower in still water. The robe had narrow sleeves, a short, open front, and underneath was a soft, fitted silk blouse with wide sleeves. A matching belt tightly cinched her slender yet shapely waist, creating a captivatingly delicate curve. Though unadorned, it still made her appear incredibly alluring. Bathed in sunlight streaming through the window, she resembled a bright, clear moon, elegant yet possessing a refined and ethereal beauty.
"Qianyun, what brings you here?"
"I heard you were feeling down, so I came to see you," Liu Qianyun replied softly.
"No, I...I'm not..."
"Stop pretending. I've known you for so long, do you think I can't see through this?" Liu Qianyun sighed softly. Her beautiful hair was gathered into a bunch and placed in front of her bulging left chest, like a black and shiny stream flowing across a undulating snowfield. Her snow-white clothes accentuated her delicate face, and her cherry lips were as translucent as freshly peeled lychee flesh, with only a light blush. She was charming and pure, making people want to swallow her whole.
Xiao Xingchen was not a womanizer, unlike Ren Xiaoyao who lingered over beautiful women, yet he could not resist the strong allure of Liu Qianyun's soft, cherry-like lips. Ever since that drunken, uncontrollable kiss, he could no longer restrain himself. Whenever he had the chance, he would embrace Liu Qianyun and give her a passionate kiss, and he would often reach out and caress her breasts wantonly, making the inexperienced Liu Qianyun pant and blush before he would let go...
But now he could not muster any enthusiasm, and he did not even feel like saying a few sweet words.
“Xingchen, I know you feel deeply guilty because of what happened to Sect Leader Liu, and you feel ashamed to face the heroes, but…” Liu Qianyun calmly met his listless gaze, looked at him deeply, and sighed softly, “You are no longer the ‘Iron Sword Autumn Frost’ of yesteryear, who only considered himself and didn’t care too much about other details. As the new sect leader of the Taishan Sect, your every move and every word represents the entire sect and hundreds of disciples. If you are listless, how can you save the Taishan Sect from its precarious state, how can you face your parents in the afterlife and the recently lost Master Yukong?”
“I am not listless. Now that I have taken over as sect leader, I have confidence…”
“Is that so? Then why are you sitting here instead of going to the training ground to attend the conference?”
“Ah, the conference? What conference?”
Liu Qianyun’s beautiful eyes flashed with unfathomable light as she said casually, “The Central Plains martial arts world cannot be without a leader for a day. The position of the alliance leader must be decided today.”
“You, you mean…”
"The question of who will be the supreme commander of the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance is about to be settled!"
Hehe, the battle with Xuan Qingqiu will definitely not be ignored, so please stay tuned.

Volume 42 Martial Arts Legend Shakes the Jianghu Chapter 4 Why Bother with Disputes?

Xiao Xingchen and Liu Qianyun arrived at the venue, only to find not the solemn and dignified election of the alliance leader they had expected, but a full-blown war of words.
Without the "alliance leader" sitting in the center to oversee things, and without Dugu Yu and Ren Xiaoyao to keep the scene in check, the entire venue was in chaos. Every time a leader spoke, hundreds of people around him echoed or suppressed him, eventually turning into abusive language, completely lacking the proper demeanor and composure.
Amidst the chaos, a sinister voice suddenly rang out: "The decision on who should become the leader of the martial arts alliance should be made by the leaders of all sects, sects, and gangs. The three great heroes, Yi, Fu, and Meng, as well as Lord Meng, Sect Leader Nangong, and Sect Leader Lin, haven't spoken yet. When did it become your
place, Tang Li'ang, to interfere?" These words, though spoken in a sarcastic tone, were still clearly audible to the assembled heroes. Everyone looked towards the source of the voice, but could not see who it was. Clearly, the person was short, and since he didn't stand up while speaking, he remained seated within the crowd, invisible to everyone.
Tang Li'ang sneered, "Hmph, 'Short Lion' Hu Bin, this conference only invited people from Shaolin, the Beggars' Sect, the Heavenly Extreme Sect, the Four Great Families, the Five Great Sword Sects, the Tang Clan of Sichuan, and the Green Forest Alliance of thirteen provinces. Your Fuhu Sect is located in Fujian, and your entire sect only has a few dozen people. What are you doing here?"
"Hmph, the Fuhu Sect originated from Shaolin, why can't it come here? Besides, the leader of the martial arts alliance..."
"Good, good 'originating from Shaolin,' you, Hu Bin, are just hoping that the position of alliance leader will fall to Shaolin Temple, so that the Fuhu Sect can rely on this huge backer to run rampant in Fujian and become your local emperor, right?"
Everyone burst into laughter upon hearing the last sentence.
Hu Bin, unfazed, gave a sinister smile and said, "I'm doing this for the sect's sake, but what makes you, Tang Li'ang, any better? With Tang Tianying dead, the position of Grand Protector is vacant. You want to reclaim the Alliance Leader position from the Tang Sect, to suppress others and become your Grand Protector, right? Tang Sect's Third Young Master, Tang Tianying, died tragically at the hands of Jue Sha. The Tang Sect wants revenge but fears it's too weak to deal with Jue Sha, so it's trying to drag everyone down with it, isn't that right?"
These words immediately stirred up a commotion among the crowd.
"The Asura Sect retreated to the Western Regions, and Hentian's identity has been exposed. No matter how powerful Jue Sha is, what trouble can he cause? The Tang Sect of Sichuan is just looking for trouble, trying to drag everyone down with them."
"Exactly! We've finally found peace; we don't want to fight anymore."
"If the Tang Sect wants revenge, let the Tang Sect take it. Don't drag everyone else into it."
"Don't believe him, everyone! The Tang Clan of Sichuan has ulterior motives; they want us to go and die!"
Liu Qianyun, her large eyes filled with astonishment, murmured, "How can he be like this? He keeps spouting nonsense, as if he wants to stir up trouble."
Xiao Xingchen whispered, "'Dwarf Lion' Hu Bin, a lay disciple of Shaolin Temple, graduated seven years ago and returned to his hometown in Fujian to establish the Fuhu Sect, where he is quite influential. Although he comes from Shaolin, he is cynical and arrogant, thinking he has Shaolin backing him up. He never takes anyone seriously, and when he speaks..." "His sarcastic remarks are often spot-on."
Liu Qianyun's eyebrows arched, and she said coldly, "He really has audacity, daring to offend even the Tang Clan of Sichuan. He might die on the street without even knowing it."
Xiao Xingchen said with a wry smile, "If he said that in private, he would definitely die, but Tang Li'ang really wouldn't dare to do anything to her for spouting nonsense in front of everyone."
Tang Li'ang was speechless, feeling embarrassed. Tang Wanruo interjected, "As for the leader of the martial arts alliance, anyone can be the leader, except for Shaolin Temple."
"What did you say!" There were already many Shaolin disciples, plus the disciples from various branches and factions present, so this shout came from hundreds of people.
Tang Wanruo's beautiful eyes flashed with a cold light as she swept her gaze around, then smiled and said, "May I ask everyone, among the tens of thousands of heroes of the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance, who bears the responsibility for recognizing a traitor as their master and casting pearls before swine?"
"This...everyone bears some responsibility , right
?" "Hmph, then who bears the main responsibility?"
"..."
"If Master Xiaochen hadn't lost to Hentian, we would have pledged allegiance to him!"
The words had barely left her lips when the entire arena erupted in uproar.
"Tang, don't throw mud at me like this."
"Throw mud? If Master Xiaochen had won, what would Hentian have to do with it?"
"That sounds nice, but if you're so capable, send someone from your Tang Clan to take down Hentian."
"Heh, I wonder what the relationship is between Shaolin Temple and Juesha."
...
"What's going on? How did things get so chaotic?" Liu Qianyun stared in astonishment at the scene, her pretty face unable to conceal her surprise.
"Alas, with the external enemies gone, the internal conflicts naturally surfaced." Xiao Xingchen sighed, looking up at the sky, and said helplessly, "The Tang Clan is vying for the title of martial arts alliance leader because they want to use the power of various sects to avenge the deceased Tang Clan Third Young Master and Tang Tianying; Master Xiaochen is a high-ranking monk of this era, indifferent to fame and fortune, but many of the Shaolin Temple's branch vassals are eager for him to become the alliance leader, so that they will have more support when they travel the martial arts world in the future, and..."
"And what?" Liu Qianyun asked anxiously when her lover suddenly stopped halfway through his sentence.
Xiao Xingchen's expression was solemn, his eyes flashing with a sharp light, and he said in a deep voice, "Did you notice that Hu Bin, Tang Li'ang, and Tang Wanruo's words were not malicious, but they were instigated by someone and turned into an argument?"
Liu Qianyun looked up and saw that in the noisy crowd, there were people here and there, some short, with indistinct faces but particularly loud voices, shouting loudly, as if they wanted to stir up trouble.
"These...these are..."
"The henchmen of Jue Sha, infiltrating various sects and factions, waiting for an opportunity to cause trouble." Xiao Xingchen focused his eyes and said coldly.
"What? There's more! Wasn't it all removed?" Liu Qianyun was startled upon hearing this. She covered her mouth with the back of her hand, her slender, jade-like fingers, as delicate as peeling scallions, loosely grasping her snow-white palm. Her fingers were like hooks, as white as warm and lustrous mutton fat jade.
"If my master can be Hentian, what else is impossible?"
"Then... let's act quickly and capture them all."
"Words are meaningless. What good will it do if we catch them and they deny it?" Xiao Xingchen let out a long breath to vent his pent-up resentment, and sighed, "Besides... what's more... sigh, my current position is delicate. Let alone taking action to capture them, I'd probably face countless accusations just by opening my mouth."
"In that case, what... what should we do!?" "
Senior Dugu has just recovered from serious injuries and still needs recuperation; Fourth Brother is severely injured and still unconscious; Senior Yi, Senior Fu, Senior Meng, and Lord Meng are all absent, and Master Xiaochen has also been caught red-handed. Among the heroes present, no one has the courage and power to control the situation."
Liu Qianyun was anxious and stamped her foot, saying, "Are we just going to let them cause trouble and turn a blind eye?"
"I have no way, but he... might not be without one." Xiao Xingchen smiled mysteriously.
"Him, which him!?"
"Of course it's..."
"Amitabha, well done, well done." A Buddhist chant resounded in all directions, silencing all the shouts, curses, and yells, and cutting off Xiao Xingchen's words.
Seeing Xiao Chen stand up and slowly walk towards the center of the arena, everyone wisely shut their mouths, and thousands of eyes turned to look at him.
Xiao Chen stood solemnly, his appearance dignified, and his face radiant with holy light as he calmly said, "The external troubles have been quelled, but internal strife has arisen again. You all argue endlessly over who should be the leader of the alliance. How can you face the heroes who died heroically in the Five Clouds Mountain battle to uphold the justice and morality of the martial world? How can you face the heroes who have fought bravely and relentlessly against the Absolute Kill and Asura cults over the past few years, risking their lives to maintain the martial world of the Central Plains?"
Everyone was speechless, unable to utter a word.
Xiao Chen clasped his hands together, a string of sandalwood prayer beads hanging down. In his deep, hoarse yet clear and resounding voice, he declared, "Hen Tian has deceived all the heroes of the world, taking the position of Martial Arts Alliance Leader. This old monk bears the guilt of failing to investigate, and is inescapably responsible. I hereby solemnly announce my withdrawal from the selection for the position of Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance Leader!"
Hu Bin panicked upon hearing this, exclaiming, "Uncle-Master, you can't..."
"If Master withdraws, the position of Alliance Leader will belong to Sect Leader Tang."
"Oh dear, this is unacceptable! We don't want to provoke the plague god of Jue Sha."
"Jue Sha and Tang Clan are irreconcilable enemies; I'm afraid another bloody storm is about to break out."
A malicious clamor immediately erupted, drowning out his shouts.
"I, Tang, also announce my withdrawal!" Tang Yunhe rose with a flick of his sleeve, his face cold as he roared.
The Tang Clan erupted in uproar. The three protectors, Tang Li'ang, Tang Xiaozhong, and Tang Wanruo, along with the six elders—Tang Zhaohui, Tang Yanxiang, Tang Zhonglin, Tang Ruiqing, Tang Peizhuo, and Tang Maolin—were all dumbfounded. Last night, they had meticulously planned to contact various sects to secure the position of Alliance Leader for Tang Yunhe, hoping to use the power of the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance to exact revenge. Why had their sect leader given up after only a few words?
Tang Yunhe abruptly stood up, his gaze first sweeping to the left of the arena, a cold smile playing on his lips. He slowly moved his gaze to the right, his deep, abyss-like eyes flashing with a sharp light, and said in a chilling voice, "A gentleman's revenge is never too late. Yunhe would rather postpone seeking justice for his disciples than give treacherous villains an opportunity to disrupt the Central Plains martial arts world!"
Wherever his gaze fell, people trembled and shrank back. Clearly, this "King of Hidden Weapons" had already discerned the locations of some of the troublemakers amidst the chaotic arguments.
Sure enough, the unbridled shouts subsided considerably, especially those who were being watched, fearing that a single word would result in a hidden weapon being shoved into their mouths, and obediently fell silent.
Liu Qianyun revealed a delighted expression and softly said, "What a clever move of retreating to advance! No wonder you've fought against Juesha for so many years, Master Tang. It seems things will be resolved soon."
"Not necessarily," Xiao Xingchen shook his head.
Murong Tianfeng stepped forward from the crowd and solemnly said, "Since Master Xiaochen and Master Tang have withdrawn from the competition, then I recommend someone—Sect Leader Nangong of Tingyuxuan."
Nangong Bubai is renowned for his righteousness and loyalty, his manor boasts thousands of extraordinary talents, and he has the world's greatest strategist, Zhuge Wenjie, as his chief advisor. He is indeed an excellent candidate for the position of alliance leader. As soon as Murong Tianfeng spoke, he immediately drew the approval of countless heroes, especially the four great families, who shouted the loudest and clearest.
Deng Tao pondered, "In terms of prestige and status, Sect Leader Nangong is indeed the best candidate. However, Tingyuxuan is the wealthiest family in the world, overseeing the nation's commerce. Sect Leader Nangong is responsible for the national economy and people's livelihood, bearing a heavy responsibility. If he were to become the alliance leader, he would be unable to manage both, which would be a great loss."
Qin Huaiyu chimed in, "Yes, to be honest, the border is tense, and war could break out at any time. The south is a major tax-paying region for the court, and it also produces two-thirds of the nation's grain. Sect Leader Nangong is indispensable in overseeing the situation. In my opinion, the position of alliance leader should be..."
"It should be given to Chief Xiong, shouldn't it?" "
The Tianji Sect has a good idea. The number one gang and the number one sect in the world joining forces would be perfect for dominating the martial arts world. Besides, he is not worthy of this position."
"Nonsense! Chief Xiong is young and promising, with superb martial arts skills. Why shouldn't he be the alliance leader?"
"Youwei? Youwei is a mole in the Yingchang branch, inside and out, and more than half of them are Juesha's spies."
Their attempt to sow discord failed, and they ended up singing in unison, saying the truth, which was impossible to refute or punish.
Even the gentle and virtuous Liu Qianqian was so angry she almost vomited blood. With a twist of her slender waist, she took a step forward, ready to rush over and accuse him. Xiao Xingchen, quick as a flash, grabbed her soft, plump pink arm and whispered, "What are you trying to do? Rushing out now will not only do no good but will only make things worse."
Liu Qianyun pouted, looking aggrieved like a child, and said anxiously, "Oh dear, Xingchen, if we keep picking one and rejecting another, when will this arguing end? If it gets any worse, it might even cause a conflict between the various factions, and then... sigh, Hentian is truly vicious, such a cruel plan..."
Midway through her sentence, she suddenly remembered that Hentian was her lover's most respected mentor, and quickly shut her mouth.
Xiao Xingchen's eyes dimmed, a bitter expression appearing on his handsome face. He sighed, "Qianyun, you don't need to hide it. Yes, he was once my most respected mentor, but now he is the enemy of the entire martial arts world, and even more so, my father's killer. Our past friendship... is long, long gone." He took a deep breath, and as his sorrowful emotions seemed to subside, tears suddenly welled up in his tiger-like eyes.
Liu Qianyun watched with deep regret, yet dared not offer any words of comfort, fearing that the more she spoke, the more distressed her lover would become.
After a long silence, Xiao Xingchen finally stopped crying and choked out, "There is only one way to break Hentian's scheme: to choose a leader whose martial arts are unparalleled, who is awe-inspiring, righteous, and benevolent, and whom no one in the Shaolin, Beggars' Sect, Tianji Sect, the Four Great Sword Sects, the Five Great Families, or even the entire martial arts world can question."
"Unparalleled martial arts, awe-inspiring, righteous, and benevolent... Ah, you mean..."
Just then, a thunderous shout that shook the heavens and the earth and resounded throughout the entire arena suddenly rang out in the sky: "The position of leader has already been decided, why do you need to argue anymore?"
Everyone turned their heads and exclaimed in unison, "Senior Dugu!"

Volume 42 Martial Arts Myth Shakes the Jianghu Chapter 5 The Leader is Decided

The former leader of the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance, the former head of the Hengshan Sect, a martial arts elder, and a grandmaster of his generation, Dugu Yu, holding his world-renowned giant sword, strode towards the center of the square.
The entire arena fell silent instantly. Not only the various heroes who had long admired him, but even the members of the Assassins' Clan mixed in among them all shut their mouths.
No one dared to be presumptuous in front of Dugu Yu. Even if Ghost Netherworld Lord and Hentian were present, they would still show him some respect. Because he was the undisputed supreme martial arts master of the Central Plains martial arts world, and even the entire martial arts world. His words were worth a thousand or ten thousand words from any sect leader or head, and his suggestion was enough to overturn everyone's discussions and agreements.
For seventy years, he was ranked among the top ten martial arts masters in the Central Plains. In the Battle of Bianliang, he single-handedly repelled Yelü Deguang, protecting the Central Plains martial arts from the ravages of the Khitan iron hooves. After the war, the top ten masters either died, were wounded, or retired from the martial arts world. It was he who, alone and tirelessly, maintained the stability of the martial arts world. He also had the foresight to recognize, promote, and assist the brothers Zhao Kuangyin and Zhao Guangyi, who founded the Tianji Sect, quelled the chaos of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, and established the unified Song Dynasty. When the Shura Sect and the Absolute Killing Sect invaded the Central Plains, he, over eighty years old, resolutely took on the heavy responsibility of protecting the martial arts world. Now, the martial arts world is in turmoil again, and despite his advanced age, he once again stands at the forefront...
His life has been dedicated to the martial arts world, and his life has been a contribution to the martial arts community. Who dares to question his absolute authority?
Dugu Yu strode over, and the crowd of heroes automatically parted to make way for him as he reached the center of the arena.
Xiaoming clasped his hands together and proclaimed loudly, "Senior Dugu's eyes are bright and his spirit is profound and vigorous. His internal injuries must have fully healed. This is a blessing for the martial world, a blessing for the entire martial arts community!"
Dugu Yu smiled and nodded, and the entire audience immediately erupted in cheers.
The pillar of the Central Plains martial arts community had not arrived, the backbone of the Central Plains martial arts community had not bent, and the martial arts community was not at peace yet. His premature death was destined to be a fatal blow, a scheme that Hentian could not accomplish.
"Now that Senior Dugu has recovered, why not take over as the leader of the alliance?" Liu Zhenxin, the leader of the Huashan Sect, was the first to shout.
"Yes, only when you, sir, lead the heroes will everyone be convinced."
"That's right, Senior Dugu's appearance will surely deter the fatal blow." Zheng Guanshou, the leader of the Songshan Sect, and Huang Wu, the leader of the Huangshan Sect, stood up together and loudly agreed. Many senior figures from other groups, such as the four great families, the five great sword sects, and the Green Forest Alliance of the thirteen provinces, also echoed the proposal, hoping that Dugu Yu would take over as the leader of the alliance.
Nangong Bubai, Xiaochen, Xiong Xiaotian, Ye Zhiqi, and others remained silent. They were either close friends with Dugu Yu or knew his character well. They knew that his strong refusal to become the leader at the Shaolin Assembly, citing old age and declining health, was actually an attempt to mentor younger generations. If he acted this way then, he naturally wouldn't agree now. Sure enough,
Dugu Yu waved his hand and said in a deep voice, "New talents emerge in every generation, replacing the old. I am getting old; the position of leader should rightfully be held by a rising star in the martial world."
Xiaoming pondered, "Sect Leader Tang has already declared his retirement; Sect Leader Nangong is too busy with affairs to attend to… How about Sect Leader Lin taking the position? What do you all think?"
"Excellent! Sect Leader Lin, as one of the eight great masters, possesses superb martial arts skills and a far-reaching reputation. Furthermore, he is Senior Dugu's son-in-law; he is the perfect leader."
"After the Battle of Wuyun Mountain, Brother Lin took over as sect leader. He devoted himself wholeheartedly to governing the sect, and for over a decade, the Hengshan Sect has enjoyed a stellar reputation, no less than when Senior Dugu was in charge. Therefore..."
Dugu Yu interrupted, "I know his extraordinary abilities. He is more than capable of leading the Hengshan Sect, and he can barely lead the five major sword sects. However, if he were to command all the masters and order the heroes of the Central Plains, I'm afraid he would be out of his depth." Nangong
Bubai said in a long voice, "Inner recommendations do not avoid relatives. Senior Dugu, why are you so modest?"
Dugu Yu smiled but did not answer.
Xiao Chen put his hands together and chanted a Buddhist prayer, "Have you all forgotten that when Senior Dugu came, he said that 'the position of alliance leader has already been decided'? He already has the best candidate in his heart."
"Oh, may I ask who Senior Dugu prefers?" Tang Yunhe said, revealing the thoughts of everyone present.
Dugu Yu stroked his beard and smiled, a glint of light flashing in his aged eyes. His gaze fell upon the white clouds in the sky, radiating longing and hope. With utmost solemnity, he slowly and deliberately spoke, each word distinct: "This person..." His voice suddenly rose, carrying far and wide, shaking the entire area and resonating throughout the surrounding wilderness. "This person's martial arts are unparalleled in this world, certainly no less than mine. A few days ago, he decisively defeated the number one evil master of the world, Ghost Netherworld God, single-handedly saving the martial arts world of the Central Plains."
"This person is resourceful and wise, possessing both literary and martial prowess. In the battle of Xunfeng City, facing the 400,000-strong army personally commanded by Yelü Xiezhen, the God of War of the Liao Kingdom, he commanded with composure and skill, defeating the entire Khitan army with a mere tens of thousands of soldiers, forcing Yelü Xiezhen to his death, and being ennobled as a marquis in a single battle, his name resounding throughout the nine provinces."
"Not only that, he is also the Grand Master of the Martial Arts in Fusang, in charge of the ninja world. His influence is unparalleled, and he can recruit a large number of ninjas for the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance at any time to help us fight against the final blow."
"This man is righteous and chivalrous, and his name of 'Romantic Thief' is known throughout the world. He has saved the people from dire straits, saved the Tianji Sect from fire and water, punished corrupt officials, eliminated corrupt bureaucrats, protected the country, and safeguarded the plan. He truly deserves the title of the greatest hero."
"This man has a wide circle of friends, all over the world. Chief Xiong of the Beggars' Sect, Headmaster Xiao of the Taishan Sect, and Chief Ye of the Thirteen Provinces Green Forest Alliance are his sworn brothers; Sect Master Nangong of Tingyuxuan, Headmaster Lin of Hengshan Sect, and 'Hero Fu' of Xiaoxiang Sword Immortal are his father-in-law; 'Silver Wing Iron Palm' Hero Meng is his mentor, and 'Thousand Hands Gentleman' Fort Master Meng is his uncle; 'Defying Heaven' Hero Yi, Sect Master Murong Tianfeng of Yaoyuelou, Sect Master Shangguan Qingyun of Fengmingge, and Sect Master Situ Changkong of Shenhuotang are all close friends with him..." As soon as
Dugu Yu uttered the first sentence, everyone knew that he was talking about Ren Xiaoyao. So he continued to talk about Ren Xiaoyao's merits and achievements. He wanted to explain these well-known things clearly from beginning to end in front of all the heroes, so that if he revealed them to others, there would be no loopholes that would be exploited by those villains with ulterior motives who would try to stir up trouble.
No one is perfect, and even Ren Xiaoyao, with his many virtues, inevitably has a few flaws. For example, he's too much of a womanizer, leaving countless young women heartbroken and alone; his actions are eccentric, having clashed with the four great families early in his career; and his miscalculation during the operation to capture Hentian nearly led to an irreversible disaster… In short, the undeniable facts, spoken by Dugu Yu, left the hidden assassins present with no way to refute, oppose, disrupt, or create trouble. In other words, the moment Dugu Yu appeared and uttered those words, Hentian's treacherous scheme to disrupt the meeting and create conflict was doomed to failure.
Listening to Dugu Yu's solemn narration, and recalling the magnificent scene of Ren Xiaoyao's defeat of Hentian a few days prior, the emotions of the assembled heroes were ignited.
Yes, just as they had felt when Ren Xiaoyao defeated Hentian.
Ren Xiaoyao is now not only a pillar of the martial arts world, but also a pillar of the nation, the hope of the people, and the guardian of the country and its people!
Dugu Yu approves, the Hengshan Sect naturally approves, and the Shaolin Temple, which follows his lead, naturally approves.
The Beggars' Sect, the Taishan Sect, the Four Great Families, and the Green Forest Alliance of the Thirteen Provinces will undoubtedly support him.
The Tang Clan of Sichuan, the Songshan Sect, the Huashan Sect, and the Huangshan Sect will not oppose him either.
Who else but him is the leader of the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance?!
"Master Ren is a young hero, talented and virtuous, truly the best candidate for leader of the martial arts alliance. However..." Xiaoming looked troubled and said with concern, "Master Ren was attacked by Hentian and seriously injured. He has been unconscious for more than ten days. If he is not fully recovered, how can he lead us..."
Dugu Yu smiled slightly and said loudly, "Back then, Feng Renqiu was imprisoned in Tianshan. His meridians were severed, his internal organs were burning, and his whole body was subjected to various restrictions by us ten masters. Once he comprehended the supreme innate qi, his internal injuries were completely healed, he was reborn, and he single-handedly rushed to Bianliang, defeated Yelü Deguang in one fell swoop, and saved the world."
"Senior Dugu means..." "
Xiaoyao's injuries have healed, and he is in good health, even better than before. Thank you all for your concern." A long roar rose, resounding through the sky, each word shaking heaven and earth.

Volume 42 Martial Arts Myth Shakes the Jianghu Chapter 6 Martial Arts Myth

It was still that face, that flawlessly handsome face sculpted like marble, with jet-black hair tied back in a towering crown. He was exceptionally handsome, with an imposing presence. Beneath his thick, clear eyebrows were a pair of jewel-like, sparkling eyes, always radiating a calm, profound, and confident light.
His gaze was so sharp it seemed to pierce through any opponent's defenses. The skin exposed outside his clothes gleamed with an unusual sheen, a sign of his mastered internal energy cultivation. Even as he moved, his majestic physique remained ramrod straight, displaying extraordinary spirit and determination.
Ren Xiaoyao was dressed in magnificent attire, wearing a brocade robe made of kesi (silk tapestry) embroidered with dragon patterns. This was the formal robe worn by the leader of the Tianji Sect for celebrations and important occasions. Except for its black base color, it was identical to the emperor's dragon robe, with three dragons on the front and back, one on each shoulder, and one hidden inside the lapel. It also featured twelve auspicious symbols: sun, moon, stars, mountains, dragons, pheasants, sacrificial vessels, waterweed, fire, rice grains, axe, and embroidered dragon. These symbols accentuated his regal bearing, making him appear incomparably magnificent and exuding
an aura of supreme power. On his left arm was Long Feiyun, equally elegant and beautiful, her radiant beauty shining in the sunlight. She moved with light, graceful steps, like a goddess descended from heaven, her elegance and nobility like that of a celestial being. Especially her wide sleeves, swaying gently in the wind as she moved, accentuated her unparalleled grace and charm. Her allure and unique beauty defied description; her captivating gaze stole everyone's attention, leaving them mesmerized.
"Gentlemen..." Dugu Yu raised his voice, his cold gaze sweeping across the entire hall, and declared loudly, "Now that Leader Ren has recovered from his injuries and returned to the fold, who has any objections to the position of Alliance Leader?"
"No one from the Beggars' Sect!" "
Our entire temple wholeheartedly supports Leader Ren!"
"Tingyu Pavilion follows our son-in-law's lead!"
"The Green Forest Alliance of thirteen provinces all obey Leader Ren's command!"
Amidst the resounding cheers, Ren Xiaoyao slowly ascended the high platform, his bearing imposing and elegant. Beside him, Long Feiyun was like a peony shrouded in mist, a goddess descended to earth—truly a perfect couple.
"The rise and fall of the nation is the responsibility of every citizen!" Ren Xiaoyao displayed an unprecedented solemnity, his deep eyes gleaming brightly as he slowly uttered eight words.
Knowing he was about to say something shocking, the assembled heroes stopped talking and listened intently.
"Today we are here to elect a martial arts leader, not only for the stability of the martial world and the peace of the Jianghu, but also for our families, our country, the nation, and the common people."
Hearing this, most of the heroes were taken aback. The martial world was the martial world, the Jianghu was the Jianghu—how could it be related to the nation and its people?
Ren Xiaoyao stood firmly as a mountain, his eyes, shining like the brightest star in the darkest night sky, gleaming with an unusual light. "Our dynasty has been established for over forty years, governing with benevolence and virtue, rarely engaging in warfare. Yet, five kingdoms—Dali, Liao, Western Xia, Tubo, and Goryeo—are eyeing us covetously, always eager to conquer the Central Plains. Our Great Song Dynasty boasts a million soldiers and a vast territory. How dare such a small, insignificant country harbor such ambitions? What do they rely on—the martial world!"
These words shocked everyone present.
To annex the Great Song Dynasty and invade the Central Plains, they actually rely on the martial world?!
"Hentian is an agent cultivated by Empress Dowager Xiao, meaning that all of Juesha's actions are under the command of the Liao Kingdom; the leader of the Maitreya Sect, Xukong, is the national teacher of Tibet, and the Maitreya Sect is also the state religion of Tibet, so his purpose in disrupting the conference last time is self-evident; the Tangut Society, which has been making many moves in the northwest recently, was originally an organization established by the King of Western Xia, and its current leader, Li Daolin, is his younger brother; as for the Shura Sect, it plays both sides, maintaining good relations with all three countries at the same time."
He paused, glanced around the room, and emphasized, "Think about it, why would these countries support or establish such martial arts organizations?" "Is their goal merely to unify the martial world?"
Before anyone could answer, he declared sternly, "No, their goal is to seize the martial world, using it as an internal force and base for their conquest of the Central Plains, to undermine the order of our Great Song Dynasty, to disrupt the livelihood of our people, and even to conspire with those martial world forces with rebellious intentions to rebel and coordinate an attack from within... If we compare the country to a towering tree, then the loss of the martial world is like the tree beginning to rot from within. How can it withstand the onslaught of storms in the long run!"
This statement was reasonable and the metaphors were vivid. Many of the heroes present felt enlightened after hearing it.
"The founding emperor once said, 'The rise and fall of the martial arts world is related to the rise and fall of the nation.' Our sect's former leader, the Loyal and Brave King, the former leader of the Tang Clan, Tang Jue, and the former leader of the Listening Rain Pavilion, Nangong Feichen, all took this saying as their motto. They devoted half their lives to diligence and a lifetime to hard work, sacrificing their lives for the martial arts world and serving their country with utmost loyalty." Ren Xiaoyao, with a solemn expression, raised his arms and shouted, "Shouldn't we, the younger generation, emulate our predecessors and sages, unite as one, and fight against foreign enemies together?"
"Unite as one, fight against foreign enemies!"
"Unite as one, fight against foreign enemies!"
The heroes, inspired by him, echoed in unison.
Ye Zhiqiu stood up, first bowing to the four directions before solemnly saying, "Before Emperor Taizong passed away, he left behind the words, 'As long as the martial arts world of the Central Plains exists, the Song Dynasty will surely endure forever.' This shows his high regard for us martial arts heroes, and it also reflects his hopes and entrustment for the well-being of the people and the well-being of the nation."
Xiong Xiaotian stood up abruptly and replied, "Although the Asura Sect has retreated to the Western Regions, the Absolute Killer still commits evil deeds. The Maitreya Sect, the Tangut Society, and the Ghost Sorrow Mansion are still lurking around. We, the people of the martial arts world, must not be complacent or careless. Only by sweeping away these evil forces and treacherous villains can we bring stability to the nation." Xiao Xingchen, deeply moved, couldn't help but reply, "
We bear not only the future of our various gangs, sects, and factions, but also the fate of the Song Dynasty and its people. Every drop of blood we shed today, every life we sacrifice, will ensure a happy and peaceful life for countless others in the future!"
Among the assembled heroes were both burly warriors and literate individuals skilled in literature. Simply preaching loyalty and filial piety was insufficient; only by addressing the survival of the people and their safety could they resonate with everyone, ignite the fire of chivalry within them, and inspire their ambition to annihilate and fight against foreign enemies.
Brothers united, their strength could break metal. Though they hadn't discussed it beforehand, their words flowed seamlessly, creating a powerful and infectious fervor that completely stirred the emotions of everyone present.
Ren Xiaoyao's eyes flashed with unwavering determination, his handsome face turning as cold as iron: "Senior Dugu proposed that I be appointed as the leader of the martial arts alliance, and most of the heroes agreed. Logically, I should have exchanged a few polite words of humility before accepting the position. However, in my view, looking across the Central Plains martial arts world today, there is truly no one better than me for the position of leader. In other words, the leader of the Central Plains martial arts alliance is none other than me!"
While these words were undeniably true, they carried a hint of arrogance and self-satisfaction. With the slightest instigation, they could easily be interpreted as disdain for all others. But looking at his deep and resolute expression… With his imposing posture and sharp, lightning-like gaze, and hearing his unwavering, confident voice, everyone present was deeply moved. They felt that Ren Xiaoyao was not only an invincible master but also an unbeatable commander. Any difficulty could be easily resolved by him, and no matter how dangerous the situation, as long as Ren Xiaoyao was there, there was hope for survival. From this moment on, he established absolute prestige in the hearts of the heroes, no less than Dugu Yu's decades of accumulation and achievements. He was respected and worshipped like a god of war.
Ren Xiaoyao stood tall, his right hand resting on the Ice Soul Frost Sword at his waist. His flawless face radiated an extremely captivating aura. His voice was firm and resolute as he spoke, each word powerful: "Listen to me! I will not only become the leader of the martial arts alliance, but also a saint of heroes who commands the submission of all barbarians and the homage of all nations, the supreme ruler of the martial arts world. I will not only annihilate the Extinction Clan, subdue the Maitreya Sect, the Tangut Society, and the Ghost Sorrow Mansion, but also make the Liao Kingdom, Western Xia, Tibet, Dali, and Goryeo fear my name, Ren Xiaoyao, and retreat in fear, so that no one in the world dares to covet the Song Dynasty or spy on the Central Plains!"
"Saint of heroes, supreme ruler of the martial arts world!" Xiong Xiaotian, Xiao Xingchen, and Ye Zhiqi shouted in unison.
"The saint of heroes, the supreme ruler of the martial world!" Dugu Yu, Xiao Xingchen, Lin Feifan, Nangong Bubai, Tang Yunhe, and others echoed in unison.
"The saint of heroes, the supreme ruler of the martial world!"
More and more heroes roared in response, and then more and more joined in the shouting. In the end, almost everyone present was shouting wildly. His heart was pounding, his blood was boiling, and he was willing to submit to Ren Xiaoyao, to be driven by him, and to go through fire and water without hesitation.
Ren Xiaoyao drew his Ice Soul Frost Sword with a "whoosh," pointed the blade to the sky, and roared: "Heaven above, earth below, I, Ren Xiaoyao, the leader of the Central Plains martial arts alliance, the leader of the Heavenly Extreme Sect, the champion of the Great Song Dynasty, and the grand master of the Fusang martial arts world, hereby swear: within one year, I will quell the extermination; within two years, I will bring peace to the martial world; within three years, I will eliminate the border troubles!"
Seeing this awe-inspiring and inspiring scene, tears welled up in Dugu Yu's eyes.
Once upon a time, he witnessed Feng Renqiu subdue Yelü Deguang with astonishing martial arts, believing that the prosperity of the martial arts world was finally within reach. Little did he know that Feng Renqiu would retire from the martial world after the battle, leaving him to shoulder the heavy responsibility of maintaining it.
Once upon a time, he recognized talent and promoted the Zhao brothers, Zhao Kuangyin and Zhao Guangyi, helping them establish the Tianji Sect, thinking he could entrust them with a heavy responsibility. Little did he know that the brothers would establish a kingdom and become emperors, shouldering an even greater burden.
Once upon a time, he saw Long Yinxiao, skilled in both literature and martial arts, having mastered Zhao Kuangyin's teachings, and thought he could entrust the martial arts world to him. Unexpectedly, war broke out, the country lacked capable generals, and Long Yinxiao was forced to fight, unable to attend to other matters.
Once upon a time, he met the exceptionally talented and skilled Ren Qiaocui, believing he had found a better candidate for the leader of the martial arts alliance. Unexpectedly, fate was cruel; before the battle at Wuyun Mountain, Ren Qiaocui fell into a trap and died with resentment.
Once upon a time, he discovered that Liu Yuxu was capable of shouldering heavy responsibilities, and resolutely abandoned fame and fortune to help him ascend to the throne, retiring from the limelight. However, he never expected Liu Yuxu to be a villain, and his relinquishment of the alliance leader brought endless disaster to the Central Plains martial arts world.
Now, after waiting for eighty years, he has finally, finally welcomed Ren Xiaoyao, whose martial arts are unparalleled in the world, whose cultivation is unmatched throughout history, whose civil and military achievements are flawless. Finally, finally, he can unload the burden he has carried his entire life, completely entrusting it to him.
At eighteen, he became famous throughout the martial arts world, achieving fame at an unprecedented speed; at twenty, he inherited the most powerful sect in the world, earning merit and being ennobled; at twenty-three, he succeeded as the alliance leader, creating a martial arts legend etched in history and immortalized forever.
And there will be many more miracles and legends to create.
Peace in the martial arts world is just around the corner, and the prosperity of the nation is just around the corner!

Volume 42, "Martial Arts Legend Shakes the Jianghu," Chapter 7: A Secret Plot for a Deadly Kill

. "The Song Dynasty's territory spans thousands of miles, a vast expanse. The Deadly Killer is elusive and unpredictable. If only Xiaoyao issues orders, it will be difficult to seize the opportunity to wipe them out in one fell swoop. Therefore, this Alliance Leader believes that branch alliances should be established in six locations: Jiangnan, Jiangbei, Hedong, Hexi, Jinghu, and Shuzhong. Respected and highly skilled individuals should be selected to oversee these locations to respond to any unforeseen circumstances. Do you all agree?" "It's
entirely up to the Alliance Leader!"
"Very well, Xiaoyao hereby appoints: The Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance shall be immediately divided into six sub-alliances. The Jiangnan Sub-alliance shall be managed by my father-in-law, Sect Master Nangong of Tingyuxuan; the Jiangbei Sub-alliance shall be managed by my eldest brother, Chief Xiong of the Beggars' Sect; the Hedong Sub-alliance shall be managed by my second brother, Sect Master Xiao of the Taishan Sect; the Hexi Sub-alliance shall be entrusted to my third brother, Chief Ye of the Thirteen Provinces Green Forest Alliance; the Jinghu area shall be under the care of my father-in-law, the Sect Masters of the Hengshan Sect; and the Shuzhong Sub-alliance shall be overseen by Tang Yunhe, Sect Master of the Tang Clan!"
"We have no objection to the other appointments, but the position of the Hedong Sub-alliance leader still needs consideration."
"Yes, Sect Master Xiao has a close relationship with Hentian, what if this..."
"No need, I dare to guarantee with my life that my third brother is not a member of Hentian's faction, the position of Hedong Sub-alliance leader is rightfully his! Does anyone have any objections?"
"We..."
"We all obey the Alliance Master's orders!"
"The six sub-alliance leaders shall accompany me to the Lizheng Pavilion for a meeting, the rest of you may disperse." " Respectfully
bidding farewell to the Alliance Leader!" Inside the Governing Hall, a dozen chairs were arranged in a row. Fu Longyuan, Meng Fei, and Meng Lei were all seated, while Yi Tianhan paced anxiously, waiting for something. "I say..." he suddenly stopped, his eyes wide with anger, "Has Xiaoyao gone mad? He insisted on splitting the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance into six pieces. What kind of Alliance Leader is that?" "Heh, why can't he be the Alliance Leader?" Fu Longyuan laughed and scolded. "Of course, with the six alliances established, power is divided, and the martial arts alliance leader is just an empty shell." "Others might be like that as alliance leader, but Xiaoyao... hahaha, with his current power and prestige, who in the Central Plains martial arts world, inside and out, doesn't bow down and obey his every command!" Meng Fei stroked his beard and laughed leisurely, "Besides, Xiaoyao isn't the kind of person who craves power. Establishing six major alliances is not only beneficial for resisting Juesha, but also avoids the danger of him monopolizing power in the martial arts world and being slandered and framed by treacherous officials in the court." Yi Tianhan laughed, "If Meng Family Fort were still alive, the leader of the Hexi branch alliance would definitely be Brother Meng." Meng Lei shook his head, his eyes revealing a look of nostalgia and sadness, and murmured, "Fame and fortune are fleeting clouds, I, Meng Lei, have long since stopped caring about these things." "Nangong Bubai, Xiong Xiaotian, Xiao Xingchen, Ye Zhi Qiu, Lin Feifan—it's truly remarkable that Xiaoyao could find five branch leaders with profound cultivation, top-notch reputation, influence, and status, and close ties to him." " Not five, but six. Brother Yunhe risked his life to save me and Xiaoyao from the pursuit of Juesha back then. Such kindness and affection..." Meng Fei sighed deeply, filled with emotion, "Alas, how to put it? Brother Yunhe sees Xiaoyao as if he's raised a child himself. He would do everything in his power to assist him." "With the six alliances working together to resist Juesha, the day Hentian is beheaded will be the day we retire from the martial world." Fu Longyuan's tiger-like eyes gleamed, and he let out a long breath. "Then... how long will we have to wait for that day?" Meng Fei closed his eyes, muttering to himself. "Didn't Xiaoyao say it would be one year?" "Wrong, not one year, it's one month. Within one month, I will wipe out all the forces of Juesha in the Central Plains. Hentian will either be killed on the spot by me, or he'll obediently roll back to Liao with his tail between his legs." Amidst a thunderous laugh, Ren Xiaoyao pushed open the door and entered, followed closely by Nangong Bubai, Xiong Xiaotian, and others. Yi Tianhan strode forward and laughed heartily, "Not bad, brat. You've only been out of the woods for a few years and you've already become the leader of the martial arts alliance. Now even I, an old man, have to obey your orders." He slapped Ren Xiaoyao's shoulder with great force. Normally, with Ren Xiaoyao's skill, he could withstand not only such a slap but also several heaven-defying palm strikes without batting an eye. But this time... "Ugh!" The moment Yi Tianhan touched Ren Xiaoyao, his body trembled violently, and he spat out a large pool of blood, collapsing like a mountain of gold and a jade pillar. "Xiaoyao—" Long Feiyun hurriedly helped him up from behind, and Su Hanbi and Nangong Fengyi also rushed in from outside the hall, their pretty faces filled with urgency and anxiety. "This...this...what happened? Xiaoyao, he..." Yi Tianhan was completely stunned, having no idea what had happened. Could it be that he had seriously injured Xiaoyao with just a light tap?! "Alliance Leader!" "Fourth Brother!" "Son-in-law!" Everyone surrounded him.

"I...I'm fine, no need for you all to worry." Just moments before, Ren Xiaoyao had been delivering a passionate and impassioned speech, commanding the assembled heroes with an imposing and domineering aura. Now, he was a completely different person—blood trickling from the corner of his lips, his face ashen white, one side of his body burning hot, the other ice-cold. He still stubbornly insisted he was alright. Those present were all experts, top-tier experts; how could they not see the seriousness of the situation?
"Hanbi, why hasn't Xiaoyao's injury healed yet?" Fu Longyuan asked sternly.
"Father, Xiaoyao isn't unhealed, but..." Su Hanbi's voice was filled with sorrow, two lines of tears streaming down her smooth, alabaster cheeks, "...but he hasn't healed at all."
"What!? Not healed at all!?" Everyone exclaimed in shock.
"Hmm." Su Hanbi lowered her head slightly, her face streaked with tears, looking utterly pitiful. "This time, Xiaoyao's injuries are far more severe than before. All his meridians were severed by the Hentian Strike. The reason he didn't die is because his innate supreme qi can flow and circulate within his shattered meridians. With Xiaoyao's high level of martial arts, if he takes good care of himself, he might recover within a month. But he... but in order to boost morale and stabilize the situation, he insisted on choosing the alliance leader early, even attending the meeting while ill..."
"The six branch leaders naturally knew what happened at the time, and my adoptive father and several seniors, who were secretly monitoring from the sidelines, must have seen it all. Xiaoyao's every word was full of energy, projecting his inner strength far and wide, shaking the surrounding area, with the effect of thunder, deterring and killing the wicked. However, it was also an extremely cruel injury and torment to himself."
Su Hanbi's beautiful eyes welled up with tears as she wiped them away with her sleeve, and she said sadly, "Xiaoyao endured the excruciating pain and spoke eloquently. Every word he spoke affected the flow of his qi and blood, triggering internal injuries, and even affecting his severely damaged internal organs, causing irreparable serious consequences. Xiaoyao endured countless torments of his spirit and body, just to inspire the determination of us heroes of the Central Plains to unite and fight against the foreign enemy."
"Knowing he was in unbearable pain, Xiaoyao gritted his teeth and endured it, pretending to be perfectly fine, without revealing any flaws. This dispelled the doubts and worries of the assembled heroes and stabilized the situation in the martial arts world." Even the usually resolute Long Feiyun was now in tears, sobbing as she said, "He was able to persevere until now entirely because of his unwavering belief—to stabilize the martial arts world, to uphold the nation, and to never allow the barbarians to invade our Great Song and annex the Central Plains!"
Everyone present was a pillar of the martial arts world, and upon hearing this, their eyes also welled up with tears.
"Everyone, I...I'm fine, everyone sit down and continue talking, continue..." Ren Xiaoyao, supported by Long Feiyun and Su Hanbi, sat down in the central seat, the dragon pattern embroidered on his robe now stained crimson. Nangong Fengyi hurriedly closed the main door and all the other doors and windows.
"Fourth... Alliance Leader, you should go back and rest for a while. We can discuss dealing with Juesha tomorrow." Ye Zhi Qiu was concerned, and almost blurted out "Fourth Brother."
"Third Brother, there are no outsiders here... cough cough... don't call me 'Alliance Leader' anymore... there are several seniors here... eldest brother, third brother too..." Ren Xiaoyao lowered his eyes and gasped for breath.
Nangong Bubai gently advised, "Xiaoyao, you have just taken office, you must not overwork yourself. You should follow what General Ye said and go back to your room to rest."
Ren Xiaoyao shook his head, blood still seeping from the corner of his lips, and said intermittently, "Father-in-law, you are... you don't know, I have publicly declared that I will wipe out Juesha within a year, and just now I said one month... it is not because I am lying or because I am seriously injured... not thinking clearly, but because I have already thought of a plan, and I am confident... confident in my mind."
"Oh, what do you mean?" Tang Yunhe asked urgently.
"Hentian is ruthless and vindictive. He failed to kill me this time but instead managed to save Senior Dugu. He must be furious. I declared that I would wipe out Juesha within a year. If this gets back to Heentian, it will only make him angrier and more determined to take revenge on the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance. He might even strike first and give the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance a warning before the regional alliances can act."
Lin Feifan exclaimed in surprise, "My son-in-law means to deliberately set a trap by taking advantage of Heentian's desire for revenge, to lure Juesha into action, and wipe them all out in one fell swoop."
“No…that’s right.” Ren Xiaoyao took the bowl of medicinal soup handed to him by Su Hanbi, and drank the dark, bitter, and pungent medicine in one gulp. Only then did the chaotic and turbulent internal energy within his body subside somewhat. “I invited everyone here to discuss…discuss how to ‘create’ an opportunity to lure out all the forces that Juesha has planted in various places, and uproot them completely, so as to completely eliminate this scourge for the martial arts world…for the Jianghu.”
“Judging from Fourth Brother’s words, you must already have a plan,” Xiao Xingchen asked tentatively.
Ren Xiaoyao smiled slightly, bloodstains visible between his teeth, and looked at Meng Fei, saying, "Master, regarding the matter I entrusted to you, Third Uncle, and Senior Yi Fu..."
"Hahaha, since we met on Yanxia Island, when have I ever disappointed you?" Before Meng Fei could speak, Yi Tianhan laughed heartily, patting his chest, "Don't worry, we saw clearly those who were hiding in the shadows, deliberately stirring up trouble. Once
we investigate, none of them will escape." "Oh, so that's why you gentlemen aren't here. It turns out Leader Ren deliberately held back." Tang Yunhe was overjoyed and said happily, "Hero Yi, quickly tell me who the traitors who are behind the Absolute Killing Alliance are, and I'll order them all arrested and severely tortured to eradicate all of Absolute Killing Alliance's influence within the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance.
" Ren Xiaoyao, holding onto the armrest of his chair, shook his head and smiled, "You're wrong... cough cough... Alliance Leader Tang, these people can't be arrested... not a single one."
"Oh, why is that?" "
The reason... cough cough, the reason is very simple, we must uproot Juesha completely, eliminate it from the inside out, and now... now we can't alert them, absolutely not!"

Volume 42 Martial Arts Myth Shaking the Jianghu Chapter 8 Heavenly Net

"Fourth brother means..." Xiong Xiaotian pondered for a moment, then suddenly realized, "Play the long line to catch the big fish!?"
"That's right!" Ren Xiaoyao slammed his hand on the armrest of his chair, his eyes flashing with light, and said coldly, "We'll set a trap, use these people's mouths to leak the information, and then... catch them like turtles in a jar!"
"How do we catch them? Do we have to discuss it now?" Xiong Xiaotian and Ye Zhiqiu asked in unison.
Ren Xiaoyao didn't answer directly, but said to himself, "The various sects, factions, gangs, and associations have already undergone a purge. Most of the remaining traitors are in high positions, and their status in Juesha is not low either. Most importantly, Hentian has no idea that we already have a list of these treacherous villains!" "
So, Fourth Brother, what do you plan to do..."
"When you all return to your lodgings later, please subtly reveal my true condition to your trusted confidants, including the traitors being watched by several seniors."
"What? Tell them! If Hentian finds out, he'll send someone..." "Even
a centipede with a hundred legs doesn't fall down when dead. No matter how badly I'm injured, I'm still Ren Xiaoyao. Even if Hentian had the guts, he wouldn't dare send someone to kill me." Ren Xiaoyao said confidently and leisurely.
"Then why are you releasing this information?"
"Tomorrow, I'll use the excuse that the imperial court has sent someone to inspect the affairs of the martial world to keep you all in Xunfeng City, while the various heroes will return to their respective territories one after another. On the surface, this is a perfectly normal reason and won't arouse any suspicion at any time. However, Hentian's spies planted in various sects will simultaneously send back news that I am still seriously injured."
"Put yourself in Hentian's shoes and think about how you would view this matter." “
I might not believe it if only one or two people say it, but if all the inside agents are speaking with one voice, I have no room for doubt,” Xiong Xiaotian said in a deep voice.
Nangong Bubai nodded in agreement and said solemnly, “I would believe that the so-called ‘the imperial court sent people to inspect the affairs of the martial world’ is a fabricated reason. The real reason is that you are too badly injured to handle affairs and you must leave the leaders of the various alliances behind. We will discuss the details of countering the Absolute Killer with them after your injuries have improved.”
“Yes, as long as Hentian thinks this way, Juesha’s fate of destruction is sealed.”
“What makes you say that?”
Ren Xiaoyao, enduring the excruciating pain throughout his body, his eyes gleaming with a strange light of wisdom, said in a dry, hoarse voice, “Think about it, everyone, if Hentian wants to strike first, would he let this golden opportunity of ‘the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance leader being seriously injured and unable to manage affairs, and the leaders of various branch alliances being stranded in Xunfeng City’ go to waste?”
“Brilliant, brilliant!” Yi Tianhan clapped his hands and laughed, “Since we can foresee Juesha’s actions in advance, we can secretly ambush them at the locations where they launch their attacks, waiting for them to walk right into our trap.”
Xiong Xiaotian, Xiao Xingchen, and Ye Zhiqi exchanged ecstatic glances and exclaimed in unison, “With such coordinated actions from all directions, annihilating Juesha will be a piece of cake!”
"The problem is..." Meng Fei frowned, his expression filled with worry. "Hentian is cunning and calculating; they would never do anything without certainty. Juesha, on the other hand, has suffered heavy losses and its strength is greatly diminished, making it impossible for them to launch attacks on all six major alliances simultaneously. In other words, their targets are uncertain, and as for the intensity of their attacks... Hentian wouldn't do anything without certainty. Clearing out only one or two alliances wouldn't be enough to deter them, so Juesha's operation will be limited to clearing out three or four alliances. Moreover, the intensity and manpower of their attacks will be stronger than we anticipated."
Fu Longyuan nodded in agreement, his face showing difficulty. "Although it's an ambush, we have to be on guard and defend everywhere. Jiangnan, Jiangbei, and Hexi are still manageable, but Hedong, Jinghu, and Shuzhong... without the leaders of each alliance in charge to direct and coordinate from the center, I'm afraid we won't be able to handle it."
"Who said the leaders of each alliance can't be in charge from the center?" Ren Xiaoyao smiled mysteriously.
"Ah, weren't we stranded in Xunfeng City? How come..." Tang Yunhe was completely bewildered, asking with utter confusion.
"Yes, you were stranded in Xunfeng City, but you all secretly returned the day after your public appearance."
"Hentian is cunning; there are even spies planted by Juesha in Xunfeng City... Your sect's headquarters. A single public appearance wouldn't be enough to hide it..."
"Hahaha, I understand now, so that's how it is!" Yi Tianhan suddenly slapped his thigh, laughing so hard he could barely breathe, drawing stares from everyone.
"Old ghost Yi, are you crazy?"
"Hero Yi, what's wrong with you..."
Yi Tianhan waved his hand, laughing loudly, "It's understandable that Sect Leader Tang didn't go to Fusang and didn't know this, but Fu boy, you traveled with us, how could you forget so completely?" Fu Longyuan
was stunned for a moment, then realized what he meant and exclaimed, "Disguise! Fei Yun's disguise!"
"That's right. All you branch leaders need to do is make a public appearance, settle your subordinates back to their respective territories, and then you can quietly return. Leave the rest to Fei Yun and me," Ren Xiaoyao said with a smile that gradually widened until he laughed heartily. "I dare not claim that I can be exactly the same without any flaws, but I can guarantee that no one except your closest family members will be able to tell the difference between my disguise as your branch leaders' 'doubles'."
Tang Yunhe pondered, "Disguising appearance is easy, but martial arts..."
Meng Lei stroked his beard and smiled, "What's wrong, Brother Tang? The secret hidden weapon techniques of the Tang Clan in Sichuan are something others can't use. I can easily show off a couple of moves."
"Oh, I really have to trouble you, Brother Meng."
"Not only Third Uncle, but also Seniors Yi and Fu." Ren Xiaoyao's eyes shone brightly, his previous pale and listless appearance completely transformed. "Senior Yi has known Chief Xiong for many years, so imitating the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms is no difficult task for him. Senior Fu and my father-in-law are both master swordsmen; only Hentian and the five assassins could tell the Flaming Sky-Piercing Sword was fake. Fei Yun is well-versed in all martial arts; as long as it's not the Three Heavenly Annihilation Forms, no one can tell she's Third Brother. Even if my father-in-law doesn't return, the Hengshan Sect and the Jinghu area..." With Senior Dugu overseeing things, and Third Brother's territory being the closest, I can reach him in half a day on my Thousand-Mile Chasing Wind mount. Even if Hentian knew, it would be too late to change the plan.
Xiong Xiaotian slammed his hand on the table in admiration, abandoning his usual calm and composed demeanor: "Fourth Brother's plan is indeed brilliant! If we don't act now, it's fine; but if we do, we're digging our own graves!"
Ren Xiaoyao's eyes flashed with a sharp light, his expression shifting from one of excitement and fervor, as he arrogantly declared: "I want not only the complete annihilation of Hentian, but also the heads of Hentian and the five great assassins!"
××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××
Several days passed, and Ren Xiaoyao's grand plan of "annihilation" proceeded smoothly.
On the first day, Ren Xiaoyao, along with the six branch alliance leaders, saw off the various heroes. That evening, he secretly made arrangements, sending people to escort Nangong Bubai, Tang Yunhe, Xiao Xingchen, and Xiong Xiaotian away, replacing them with four imposters.
The disappearances of Yi Tianhan, Fu Longyuan, and Meng Lei went unnoticed. After
all, Ren Xiaoyao had vowed to wipe out Juesha, and the three grandmasters were indispensable and powerful allies. Their dispatching to various places to provide support and assistance was both reasonable and justifiable. On the third day, Ren Xiaoyao held a grand review of the Longxiang and Huyi armies. Xiong Xiaotian, Xiao Xingchen, and Ye Zhiqiu, at the "enthusiastic" invitation of Qin Huaiyu, the commander of the Longxiang army, each displayed their martial arts skills, winning cheers from the entire army.
On the fifth day, Ren Xiaoyao attended the performance review ceremony of the newly formed special force "Feiyu," which was based on ninja training methods. The leader of "Feiyu," Zhen Gongji Mina, and Tang Yunhe sparred with each other, demonstrating the vastly different hidden weapon techniques of Japan and the Central Plains. Tang Yunhe slightly won with "Nine Palaces Flying Stars," one of the three great skills.
On the seventh day, Imperial Envoy Kou Zhun arrived in Xunfeng City, ostensibly to "inspect the affairs of the martial world on behalf of Heaven," but in reality, he was discussing trade and the opening of ports with the Song Dynasty's Prime Minister and most important official with the tightly sealed Lizheng Pavilion.
Ren Xiaoyao attended every single event, but deliberately made a fool of himself twice, seemingly lacking in martial arts skills. Meanwhile, the inner altar was heavily guarded, ostensibly to "protect the leaders of the various alliances," but anyone with discerning eyes could see that Ren Xiaoyao's own palace, the Taiji Hall, was the true target of the tight security.
In short, everything subtly suggests that "the branch alliance leader is the real deal, while Ren Xiaoyao is an imposter," and this is cleverly concealed. Without long-term observation and inside information, it would be impossible to uncover this. If Hentian received the news, he would undoubtedly conclude that "Ren Xiaoyao is still seriously injured and deliberately sent someone to impersonate him to reassure the army; the branch alliance leaders are staying in the city for extended periods because their injuries have worsened and they urgently need treatment, leaving them with neither the time nor the strength to discuss matters."
Furthermore, Tingyuxuan has been secretly sending numerous extremely valuable medicinal herbs, specifically for treating internal injuries, from its branches across the country. The entire process was airtight, with only a tiny hint intentionally revealed at the last moment to the spies embedded within Tingyuxuan. Kou Zhun is also rushing back to the capital, as if he has an urgent matter to report to the emperor.
In short, the net has been cast, waiting for Juesha to stumble upon it. Night
deepened
, and the Taiji Hall, symbolizing the highest authority of the Tianji Sect, grew considerably dimmer.
The inner guards surrounding the hall were significantly strengthened, not in terms of manpower, but in the presence of the guards themselves.
Four teams rotated guards in each of the four cardinal directions, each team consisting of twelve elite members of the sect, led by a captain and vice-captain. Two teams remained stationary, while two patrolled outside the hall, making the Taiji Hall impenetrable.
This was the standard guard duty; under the highest level of security, the number of guards at the sect leader's residence quadrupled, reaching sixteen teams and one hundred and ninety-two men in each direction.
It's not that Ren Xiaoyao, the current leader of the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance, Zhao Kuangyin, the number one master in the world back then, or Long Yinxiao, who subdued 130,000 troops without a fight in the battle to destroy Shu, couldn't protect themselves and had to rely on their followers to guard outside the hall. Rather, it's because the state religion of the Song Dynasty and the number one religion in the world must adhere to the standards and dignity required.
Ren Xiaoyao, being exceptionally intelligent, would not directly send additional manpower, putting on such an obvious charade for the cunning Hentian. Instead, he secretly replaced all the inner guards with elite captains, with the difference made up by military officers of the rank of lieutenant colonel and above. The defensive strength was no weaker than at the highest level of alert.
The Tianji Sect had 100,000 followers, a large number. Apart from the guards protecting the main altar, there were as many as 8,000, including 4,000 imperial guards, 2,000 inner guards, and 2,000 palace guards. The imperial guards guarded the outer altar. As for the inner altar, the guards of the Qilin Hall had all been replaced by Qilin Hall followers selected by Long Feiyun after she took over as hall master. Therefore, the inner guards and palace guards only needed to guard the three halls and five pavilions. The palace guards strictly guarded the Lizheng Pavilion, Chengqing Pavilion, Guangtian Pavilion, Ganlu Pavilion, Yanjia Pavilion, and Yeting Hall, while the most elite inner guards were responsible for guarding the Taiji and Wude Halls.
These two thousand inner guards were commanded by the Inner Guard Chief, 'Golden Armor Heavenly King' Jing Si. They were not affiliated with any particular branch and reported directly to Ren Xiaoyao. Jing Si's loyalty was beyond question, and his four commanders were all battle-hardened and loyal men. Therefore, the replacement of the inner guards appeared to be a airtight operation, with no outsider able to know a thing. However, two of the replaced commanders were secretly in league with Jue Sha, making a leak inevitable.
Ren Xiaoyao's plan was ingenious, killing two birds with one stone. First, it "confirmed" his serious injuries and inability to manage affairs; second, it made Jue Sha wary, preventing him from sending assassins to infiltrate the headquarters.
But…
was this truly foolproof?
Besides the Shura Sect that had retreated to the Western Regions and Jue Sha, were there really no other opponents for him?
Even the wisest can make a mistake; even Zhuge Liang made a miscalculation, let alone Ren Xiaoyao.

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