Pearl Order [Complete] - 21

Chapter Twenty-Six: Enemy and Friend Unpredictable.

Ling Junyi, seeing the stone gate wide open, was overjoyed and about to step forward when he suddenly felt a palm strike rushing towards him, aiming for his chest. Ling Junyi had already anticipated a sneak attack. Even the most skilled person, capable of seeing in the dark, could only do so with the help of starlight; in the pitch-black depths of the mountain, they would be completely unable to discern anything. While pushing the stone figures, they had extinguished their tinderboxes, so after the stone gate opened, neither side could see the other. Ling Junyi, with his superb internal strength, had already identified the attacker, who was standing at the gate. Not daring to be careless, he swiftly raised his left hand, striking out with a palm strike in retaliation. As the palm struck, he suddenly realized the opponent's palm strike possessed immense internal force, thinking to himself, "The Flying Dragon Hall is indeed full of experts."

The collision of the two forces immediately stirred up a whistling whirlwind, and Ling Junyi involuntarily took a step back. Just then, a cold laugh rang out, and another surge of hidden force came rushing in from outside the door. Ling Junyi was furious and laughed loudly, "Well done!" He pushed forward with his right palm. He felt the opponent's hidden force strike his palm, its power as strong as the previous strike, but this time Ling Junyi used all his strength and was not forced to retreat. After the two strikes, Ling Junyi didn't even see who his opponent was. Just as he was about to reach into his robes to retrieve the pearl, a flash of light appeared, and Ding Qiao had already picked up a tinderbox. At the same time, two Kongming lanterns lit up outside the door, and two elderly men in blue robes stepped in from outside the stone door. Both of them were over sixty years old.

A tall, thin old man in front chuckled, "You were able to withstand a palm strike from both of us; you truly deserve to be called a disciple of the Buddha of Reversal."

A middle-aged old man behind him chimed in, "If you want to fight, come inside. If you want to leave, you'll have to defeat us two old men first."

Since they had already entered, Ling Junyi had no choice but to retreat a few steps, coldly saying, "If you two want to spar with me, I will gladly oblige."

After the two entered the stone gate, the tall, thin old man raised his palm to his chest, glancing at the middle-aged old man. This was clearly a signal to the other man; the two were preparing to join forces to kill Ling Junyi in one fell swoop, and then deal with Gongsun Xiang and Ding Qiao. Ling Junyi remained standing there nonchalantly, turning back to say, "Brother Gongsun, Brother Ding, please step back a few steps." The tall,

thin old man chuckled, "That's right, you want them to move aside, lest they be hit by my palm wind." With a whoosh, he struck straight at Ling Junyi's chest. The middle-aged old man remained silent, simultaneously raising his hand and striking at Ling Junyi's back.

Gongsun Xiang pulled the Heaven-Slaying Sword from the ground and sneered, "The Two Monsters of Loushan, renowned for years, resort to such despicable tactics."

The middle-aged elder struck out with a palm, his gleaming eyes suddenly turning to Gongsun Xiang, and he chuckled sinisterly, "Then let's include you too." His left palm unleashed a "Thousand Miles of Horizontal Waves," swiftly striking towards Gongsun Xiang.

Although Ling Junyi didn't know who the two were, seeing them attacking together, he couldn't help but laugh heartily. He quickly separated his palms, one blocking the thin elder and the other the middle-aged elder, saying, "Brother Gongsun, please retreat. I can still withstand this."

Gongsun Xiang had intended to gather his strength to take the middle-aged elder's palm strike head-on, but upon hearing Ling Junyi's words, he had no choice but to dodge to the side. The Two Monsters of Loushan originally thought that with their combined power, attacking from both sides, Ling Junyi, being only so young, would have no chance of withstanding it. Unexpectedly, the two powerful, hidden forces, attacking Ling Junyi from both sides, were suddenly neutralized by an invisible force, rebounding slightly before vanishing instantly. This move startled both of them! The thin elder stared at Ling Junyi and said, "Among the masters of this era, there are very few who can withstand the combined attack of the two of us. What technique did you use, young man, to remain unharmed under our combined assault?"

Ling Junyi had naturally heard of the "Two Eccentrics of Loushan," and these two were indeed among the top masters in the underworld. If he didn't defeat them tonight, it seemed he wouldn't be able to escape. He said, "All martial arts have their strengths, and even if I had revealed them, how could you possibly know them?"

The thin elder's face darkened, and he said sternly, "You brat, how arrogant you are!" His right hand shot out, his five fingers like steel hooks, grabbing fiercely.

Ling Junyi was already on guard. He spun slightly, his right hand extending diagonally, fingers half-curled, aiming for the opponent's wrist. His "Dragon-Capturing Hand" move was incredibly swift; with a slight turn, he combined evasion and counterattack. The medium-sized elder, seeing an opportunity, darted forward, closing in on Ling Junyi's left side and slashing down at his waist. The tall, thin elder, grabbing at the same spot, noticed Ling Junyi's Dragon-Capturing Hand and countered. Seeing the difficulty of blocking or parrying, he tightened his grip, swiftly withdrawing his right hand and thrusting out with his left.

Ling Junyi's grab missed, and realizing the medium-sized elder's palm aimed at his left waist, he was furious at the sneak attack. He sneered and swung his left hand to strike. Just then, the tall, thin elder's left palm came at him; without hesitation, he met it with his right hand. Two sharp "snap" sounds rang out as the two palms struck simultaneously, the sound

like tearing silk, sending shivers down one's spine. Ling Junyi, a disciple of the "Reverse Hand Tathagata," was left-handed and, having twice been ambushed by the medium-sized elder, held him in contempt, naturally unleashing his full power in this strike. This "Reverse Hand Cloud Sweep" had no fierce whirlwind beforehand; only upon impact did a surge of true energy erupt from his palms. By the time the medium-sized elder realized the immense shockwave within the opponent's palm strike and tried to retreat, it was too late. The force of the blow caused a severe internal shock! Although he could maintain an outward composure, the shock to his heart and the turmoil in his blood forced him to leap backward, using the opportunity to circulate his qi and regulate his breathing. Seeing that Ling Junyi and he had exchanged blows to a draw, the tall, thin elder was enraged. He roared and pressed forward, unleashing a series of palm strikes at Ling Junyi. Ling Junyi unleashed a flurry of palm strikes, parrying and blocking, managing to withstand four of the twelve palm attacks before finally managing to withstand this rapid onslaught.

The thin elder had already used all his strength in this rapid attack. He thought that while his "Twelve Consecutive Palms" wouldn't kill Ling Junyi instantly, landing just one or two strikes would severely injure him. However, Ling Junyi's palms danced back and forth, directly countering his attacks, managing to parry four strikes while the remaining eight were blocked. Ling Junyi was even more astonished, thinking, "How can someone so young possess such formidable martial arts?" During the twelve palm attacks, Ling Junyi withstood four of his blows, and both men were forced to take two steps back. The medium

-sized elder suddenly opened his eyes wide and coldly shouted, "This brat cannot be allowed to live!" He suddenly lunged forward, attacking Ling Junyi with both hands simultaneously, his fists and feet striking with equal ferocity.

Ling Junyi, relentlessly attacked, grew enraged. He laughed loudly and said, "Even if you two attack together, I, Ling, can handle it all." With a shout, his palm techniques suddenly became fierce, his left palm and right fist striking out in unison.

The two monsters of Loushan had already planned to join forces to eliminate Ling Junyi when they entered. Therefore, upon hearing the call from the medium-sized elder, the thin elder immediately chuckled, "Boy, it's good that you can handle it." His figure flashed, and he struck with both palms.

Ling Junyi used both palms simultaneously, a surprising move that forced the medium-sized elder back. He then turned and brought his palms together, pushing them horizontally towards the thin elder's chest. This forceful combination of palms unleashed a powerful and fierce energy, a gust of wind that swept across five feet, accompanied by a whistling sound, crashing straight towards the thin elder like a tidal wave. The thin elder had encountered countless masters in his life, but he had never seen a palm strike like Ling Junyi's. He knew the other's martial arts were high, but he hadn't expected Ling Junyi's internal strength to be so profound. If he were to clash head-on with this palm, the strong would prevail and the weak would be defeated, their fates decided instantly! Naturally, he didn't want to gamble everything on Ling Junyi, so he immediately gathered his inner energy and flew into the air, dodging Ling Junyi's palm wind.

The medium-sized elder, who had been forced back by Ling Junyi, saw Ling Junyi push out with both hands flat on his chest, unleashing a powerful palm wind that crashed directly into the thin elder. Regardless of whether his elder brother would take it head-on, in that instant, Ling Junyi's palms were not yet withdrawn, and he absolutely couldn't defend himself. Overjoyed, he rushed forward without a word, striking at Ling Junyi's back with a palm strike. Unexpectedly, the thin elder refused to clash head-on with Ling Junyi. His body flew into the air, and Ling Junyi's strike missed. Suddenly, he spun around like a top, turning himself around. With this turn, the force of the strike was transferred by both palms, and the palm wind swept across like surging waves.

This move was completely unexpected by the middle-aged elder, and the sweeping palm wind was incredibly fast. It was too late to retreat; he could only concentrate his energy, protecting his chest with both palms to take the blow head-on. With a loud "thud," the middle-aged elder was swept away by the palm wind, flying more than two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters) away, tumbling and rolling to the ground, clearly badly injured. In the blink of an eye

, the tall, thin elder leaped two zhang high, barely dodging Ling Junyi's palm wind, and glimpsed that his second brother had been swept away by the palm wind carried by Ling Junyi. At this moment, he spread his sleeves from two zhang high, landing about one zhang below. A fierce thought flashed through his mind, and with the momentum of his descent, he unleashed a "Mount Tai Pressing Down" move with his right palm, slashing down at Ling Junyi's head.

Ling Junyi already knew that the two strange men of Loushan were extremely skilled in martial arts. The thin elder, leaping into the air, certainly wouldn't just dodge his palm strike; after shifting his palms, he immediately took a half-step back, his right palm raised straight up, striking upwards. His anger was burning fiercely, and this strike unleashed the Buddhist ultimate technique, the "Muni Mudra." He figured that if he didn't injure a few of them, they would be trapped in this hall tonight, with no chance of escaping.

The "Muni Mudra" had neither a powerful palm strike nor a sharp palm force; it was merely a seemingly effortless raised arm gesture, yet it was the supreme martial art of Buddhism—the Subduing Demonic Treasure. The thin elder's body followed the palm strike downwards, when suddenly he saw Ling Junyi's palm rise, as if an invisible force was supporting his strike, causing his falling body to encounter strong resistance. In that flash, he suddenly felt the force of his strike being countered by that invisible force, his true energy instantly scattered, making it difficult to even breathe. A man suddenly sprang upwards, crashing into the dome with a loud bang, before plummeting to the ground, already dead.

The middle-aged man, also injured and seriously so, was shocked to see his leader fall to the ground. He rushed over, asking, "Boss, you…" Before he could finish, he saw the tall, thin man clutching his chest, his eyes bulging, black blood slowly trickling from his mouth.

"He clearly died from a broken heart." The middle-aged man's heart clenched, and tears streamed down his face. He turned back, glaring at Ling Junyi, and gritted his teeth, saying, "Boy, your methods are ruthless."

Ling Junyi sneered, "Why blame me? If I had been struck by your palm, wouldn't I be lying on the ground like this?"

The middle-aged man remained silent, lifting the tall, thin man's body with both hands, draping it over his shoulder, and walking towards the door. The two Kongming lanterns suddenly went out, plunging the hall back into darkness. Just then, a soft creaking sound came from the west wall, as if a door had cracked open. Gongsun Xiang had already handed the Yitian Sword back to Ling Junyi and whispered, "Brother, go take a look."

Ling Junyi said, "Brother Gongsun, be careful." Gongsun Xiang took a step forward and leaped out. In two quick leaps, just as he was about to reach the west wall, he heard two "whoosh" sounds and heard his clothes fluttering in the wind, as if two people had darted in. Gongsun Xiang used the wind to pinpoint their location, and with a swift movement of his sword, he thrust forward. The

two men who had leaped into the hall were highly skilled in martial arts. In the darkness, they swung their swords and with a "clang," deflected Gongsun Xiang's thrust. The other man was not to be outdone; his sword whistled as he slashed at Gongsun Xiang. As the other man deflected his sword, Gongsun Xiang had already taken a step forward and darted to the side, causing the other man's slash to miss its mark.

In the darkness, one relies entirely on keen hearing. Because both men had unleashed their swords, Ling Junyi, though five or six zhang away, was acutely aware of their movements. When he was trapped under the iron net, about a dozen barbs had caught on his sleeves and shoulders. He never used concealed weapons, but considering he was venturing into the lion's den, he only carried two swords, one long and one short. Enemies further away couldn't be reached with a long sword, so he had kept the steel barbs for emergencies. Hearing the sound of their swords striking, he immediately took two barbs and flicked them out. A scream rang out; one man, caught off guard, was struck by a barb, but the other, quick-witted, knocked it away with a clang.

Ling Junyi was secretly startled, thinking, "This man's swordsmanship is quite superb." Just as he was pondering this, a soft rustling sound came from the eastern stone gate—someone had leaped in! Ding Qiao stood guard by the door, shouting, "Take this!" A flicker of his fan aimed straight at the man's right shoulder. The man raised his longsword, deflecting Ding Qiao's iron-boned fan.

Ding Qiao shouted, "Good!" He had already launched four attacks with his iron fan. The man remained silent, relying on his sense of the wind to deflect Ding Qiao's rapid attacks, and swung his longsword repeatedly to block the fan's momentum. A clang of metal rang out, and all four of Ding Qiao's attacks were blocked by the man's longsword. But just as the two were fighting, another rustling sound of clothes being swept in came from inside, and two figures swiftly leaped into the hall.

At the same time, a rustling sound of clothes being swept in also came from the stone door at the west end, and about four figures swept in. These people who leaped into the hall did not immediately attack, but remained hidden all around. Yu Meiren and the flower maids also rushed out, wanting to join Ling Junyi, but it was already impossible. Suddenly, four men carrying lanterns emerged from the east and west stone gates and quickly positioned themselves at the four corners of the hall. Instantly, the hall was illuminated, turning the surrounding scenery as if it were daytime! Around the hall stood ten men in blue robes. These ten men varied in age, the oldest with flowing white beards, the youngest no more than twenty-five or twenty-six. However, their clothing was identical: blue close-fitting outfits, embroidered with flying dragons on their chests, and each carrying the same weapon—a long, dull black sword. Among these ten men was only one woman, her head wrapped in blue cloth, appearing to be in her early forties, with a naturally stern face. If it weren't for the light makeup on her face and a pair of small gold earrings, she would hardly be considered a woman. The ten men formed a circle, with one man standing in the center, seemingly their leader. This man was none other than Tong Tianxi, the deputy leader of the Flying Dragon Hall, standing opposite them, holding a broadsword. His brother, Tong Tianlai, the chief inspector of the Flying Dragon Hall, was among the ten. It seemed that the Flying Dragon Hall had sent out all its experts to deal with Ling Junyi and the other two, but strangely, neither the Flying Dragon Hall Master, Jin Jiaojian Rao Sancun, nor the Yellow Dragon Hall Master, Hao Feipeng, was there.

Ling Junyi used telepathy to instruct Yu Meiren not to act rashly. Before the lights came on, he had already ordered Gongsun Xiang and Ding Qiao to retreat behind him and stand in a triangular formation. Ling Junyi was facing Tong Tianxi, and after a slight glance, he said coldly, "I thought they had set up some kind of formation, but it turns out that my friend Tong is leading the charge."

Tong Tianxi said, "Ling, do you recognize what kind of formation this is?"

Ling Junyi smiled arrogantly, "I don't need to recognize formations, as long as I can break them."

Tong Tianxi shouted sharply, "Arrogant brat, you think you can break the 'Ten Absolute Sword Formation'? Once the formation is activated, it will be your death. Not only will you die, but your bones will probably be torn to shreds by the sword wind. " "He's already said it, this is the 'Ten Absolute Sword Formation.' While that's an exaggeration, it shows that the 'Ten Absolute Sword Formation' they've set up is not to be underestimated. Just look at the ten people surrounding them; each one possesses restrained inner strength, sharp eyes, and stands as still as a mountain, each wielding a long sword. It's clear they are all masters of the sword. Especially Tong Tianlai, as the Chief Inspector of the Flying Dragon Hall, his status is naturally not low, but he is merely one of the ten, not superior to the other nine simply because of his position. That means the other nine are not inferior to the Chief Inspector either. The martial world is not like being an official, where you can rise through the ranks by flattery and sycophancy. To stand out in the martial world, you need real skill. Therefore, those participating in the 'Ten Absolute Sword Formation' are undoubtedly top-tier masters of the Flying Dragon Hall.

" Tong Tianxi shouted, "Ling, it's not too late for you to surrender now." He still wanted Ling Junyi to surrender.

Ling Junyi looked up at Tong Tianxi and said, "You are probably the leader of the 'Ten Absolute Sword Formation.' We don't need to say much more; please activate it."

Tong Tianxi sneered, "Once the formation is activated, even if you have wings, you won't be able to escape."

Ling Junyi laughed loudly, "If I wanted to escape, I wouldn't have entered your Flying Dragon Hall." Tong Tianxi sneered, raised his broadsword, and slashed at Ling Junyi.

As he swung his sword, the sword formation immediately activated. Ten jet-black longswords attacked from ten different directions simultaneously. In an instant, the sword energy blazed, and a cold wind arose! Ling Junyi shouted, "Everyone, be careful!" His movements were incredibly fast. He swiftly switched the Heaven-Slaying Sword to his left hand, his body suddenly tilting to the left, unleashing a "Rainbow Spitting Flames" sweeping horizontally from right to left. His right hand had already drawn a giant short sword from beside him, executing a "Remotely Knocking on the Heavenly Palace." The tip of the sword touched the broadsword that Tong Tianxi was slashing at. In that instant, Gongsun Xiang and Ding Qiao also unfolded their swords and fans, but Ling Junyi swept out a streak of sword light to the left, blocking at least five longswords on his left.

Tong Tianxi seemed unwilling to engage Ling Junyi in a direct confrontation. His broadsword suddenly changed its move midway, striking again, aiming for Ling Junyi's left rib. Ling Junyi deflected the attacks of the five men on his left with a single move. His Yitian Sword flashed and gleamed, unleashing a "Dragon Turns Back" strike, the sword's momentum slashing downwards with a clang as it parried Tong Tianxi's broadsword. He then moved from left to right, his right hand wielding a short sword, "Dragon Claw Parts the Clouds," creating a burst of azure light as he attacked the three men on his right. His sword strike was dazzling and incredibly powerful, forcing the three men on the right to retract their swords and leap back. Ling Junyi's simultaneous use of two swords, attacking from both sides, allowed him to parry the attacks of the five men on his left with one sword, while simultaneously forcing back the three men on his right. Although the sword strikes were executed at different times, they appeared to be almost simultaneous! The "Ten Absolute Sword Formation" had instantly forced back three of them.

Then, a white-bearded old man on the right snorted angrily, "This kid is fast!" With that shout, he suddenly leaped forward, his sword flashing, launching two more attacks at Ling Junyi. Another man simultaneously brandished his longsword and charged forward, thrusting out a sword.

Ling Junyi's short sword, which had attacked to the left, flashed back to him, deflecting both attacks simultaneously. Seeing Ling Junyi's powerful sword strikes from both hands, Tong Tianxi was enraged. He roared, raised his right arm, and drew a circle in the air with his broadsword. He leaped forward, a dark sword flashing down like lightning towards Ling Junyi's head. As he circled his broadsword, the ten men in blue from the "Ten Absolute Sword Formation" suddenly shifted positions, each time launching a thrust.

The ten men constantly moved and attacked, drastically changing the situation! Each time they shifted positions, they thrust, targeting a vital acupoint that was crucial to save. By the time you parried, they had already leaped away, and another man's longsword had struck another vital point. Moreover, these ten individuals were all masters of swordsmanship, each wielding a unique sword technique. Some were light and agile, others powerful and heavy, while still others were venomous, vicious, bizarre, and fantastical. Regardless of their style—light, heavy, venomous, or fantastical—each strike was capable of killing. The interplay of the sword formation's figures, their coordinated attacks, was truly divine! Anyone caught in the sword formation, no matter how skilled, would be caught off guard and unable to defend themselves. Although there were four dimly lit lamps in the "hall," at this moment, only the flickering figures and the hissing of swords made it impossible to distinguish faces. The wind howled, yet the sound of clashing blades was inaudible, which only amplified the danger.

Tong Tianxi was the pivot of the "Ten Absolute Sword Formation." He moved with the ten, shifting positions and leaping about, but he did not mingle among them. His movements were solely to facilitate the other ten's attacks, without hindering their swordplay. Regardless of his movements, whether left, right, front, or back, his entire focus remained on Ling Junyi. His broadsword techniques were simple and unadorned, each strike coordinated with the other ten longswords, aimed at Ling Junyi's vital points. Because his "Tianshan Sword Technique" was so straightforward, each strike was a single, solid blow, forcing Ling Junyi to divert some of his attention from the surrounding attacks to deal with his broadsword onslaught.

This was truly a breathtaking battle; Ling Junyi had never encountered such a dangerous and fierce fight since his debut! Eleven dark, lusterless longswords rained down on the center relentlessly. Ling Junyi mustered his strength, wielding two swords, one long and one short, drawing dazzling streaks of light to repel the powerful enemy. He not only had to be wary of the changing sword techniques and shifting positions, adapting to the different sword strikes coming from all directions, but also had to keep an eye on Tong Tianxi, who was fixated on attacking him alone. This man was treacherous and ruthless, especially since his swordsmanship appeared simple on the surface but concealed cunning within. His swordplay, while steady, possessed a unique lightness and unpredictability, almost reaching the pinnacle of the "Tianshan Swordplay."

Of course, what worried Ling Junyi even more were Gongsun Xiang and Ding Qiao. In a one-on-one fight, their martial arts were more than enough to handle the situation, but in this elusive and unpredictable sword formation, Ling Junyi had to constantly watch out and provide support, deflecting and parrying their attacks. Therefore, Ling Junyi wielded both swords, one long on the left and one short on the right, constantly attacking not only Tong Tianxi but also engaging in close combat and long-range defense, continuously dealing with the attacks of ten people. This battle raged until the sky darkened; the mere swirling sword winds in the hall created a dense killing intent, making it difficult to distinguish friend from foe within a five-zhang radius. The four burly men wielding the "breathless lanterns" had already been forced into a corner seven or eight zhang away.

Ling Junyi, wielding both swords with overwhelming force, used all his skills, but after only a dozen or so moves, he sensed impending doom. He possessed several martial arts techniques that could be combined with his swordplay, but with both hands occupied using the swords to defend, he was unable to execute them. For example, the "Dragon Fights in the Wild" move from the "Flying Dragon Three Swords" was specifically designed to counter attacks from multiple opponents, but with Gongsun Xiang and Ding Qiao present, it was rendered useless. He was confident that if he could free one hand, he could at least injure one or two of his opponents, but with both swords, neither could be spared. At this moment, his left sword protected him, while his right sword could support Ding Qiao; conversely, if he switched swords, his right sword would protect him, while his left sword would support Gongsun Xiang. By this point, Gongsun Xiang and Ding Qiao were completely dependent on his support; if Ling Junyi hadn't been constantly blocking more than half of their attacks, they would have already collapsed.

Ding Qiao, wielding a broken iron fan, parried left and right, but was stretched thin, forced into a defensive posture. He was also filled with inexplicable anxiety, for his fan ribs concealed poisoned needles. If he could regain his footing and open the fan, a volley of needles would surely injure several of them, but he had no opportunity to strike. The further this situation progressed, the more disadvantageous it became for them. Ling Junyi understood this, as did Gongsun Xiang and Ding Qiao, but how could they reverse this tide? No one could say.

After another ten or so exchanges, Ling Junyi felt he had exhausted all his resourcefulness, but the enemy's sword formation grew increasingly dense, and their attacks increasingly fierce. Originally, the three of them had occupied about ten feet of ground in a triangular formation, but now, under the pressure of the sword formation, they had retreated to a distance of five feet, relying entirely on him for support. If he were to make the slightest mistake, one of the three would surely fall. This situation clearly could not be sustained indefinitely. Yu Meiren and the other flower maids were terrified and were about to attack without hesitation when Ding Qiao suddenly shouted, "Commander, shield me!" Before they could hear him, Ding Qiao had already retreated two steps.

Ling Junyi was startled. With a swift movement of his right hand, he unleashed the "Thousand Miles of Across Waves" technique with his Giant Sword, a streak of azure light sweeping horizontally to the right. He asked, "Brother Ding, are you injured?" His sword strike was incredibly powerful, blocking at least four longswords aimed at Ding Qiao.

Hearing Ding Qiao's shout, Tong Tianxi saw an opportunity. As Ling Junyi swept his right sword out, Tong Tianxi flashed forward, already facing Ling Junyi directly. His broadsword whistled through the air, thrusting straight at his chest—a move as fast as lightning! Ling Junyi's right hand, wielding a short sword, barely managed to deflect four longswords aimed at Ding Qiao. But then Ding Jiao let out a sharp laugh: "Your subordinate is very good." The laughter had barely faded when a metal-boned fan snapped open with a bang, unleashing a barrage of fine, hair-like flying needles that shot towards the group.

Ling Junyi hadn't expected Tong Tianxi to launch such a swift attack. By the time he could return his sword to defend himself, the opponent's broadsword was already a foot away. Even the Heaven-Slaying Sword, let alone the four-foot-long Heaven-Slaying Sword, was over two feet long; a return strike was far too slow! A chill ran through him, and a risky gait arose within him. His right hand, gripping the hilt, thumb hooked around his middle finger, and he suddenly flicked it towards the opponent's broadsword. He was using the "One-Finger Zen" technique; a powerful gust of wind shot out from his finger, striking the broadsword with a clang! Just then, a series of sharp laughs, angry shouts, and screams erupted! The one laughing fiercely was Ding Qiao, who shot out a fan-shaped spray of flying needles. The angry shouts and screams came from the four men in blue robes who had been replaced by Ling Junyi after he had blocked four of their swords. Two of them, seeing the needles, roared angrily, their swords flashing as they blocked the attack, leaping backward hastily. The next two shifted positions, barely managing to leap forward, but by the time they saw the needles, it was too late to dodge; they screamed and fell to the ground, struck by the needles.

Tong Tianxi, suddenly hearing these angry shouts and screams, was startled. His broadsword was simultaneously knocked several feet away by Ling Junyi's "One-Finger Zen," almost slipping from his grasp and flying out of his hand! Ling Junyi, having just regained his grip, suddenly spread his arms, executing a "Great Roc Spreads Its Wings" move, sweeping two sword beams to the left and right, his right foot following with a "Kui Xing Kicks the Dipper," launching himself into the air.

Meanwhile, Yu Meiren and the flower maidens had already taken their positions around the perimeter. Tong Tianxi's broadsword was flung open by the force of the finger strike, and the two were extremely close. There was no time to dodge. With a loud "bang," Ling Junyi's kick landed squarely on Tong Tianxi's chest. Tong Tianxi groaned and flew off the ground, soaring over the heads of the crowd and flying out of the formation. A flower maiden spotted him and pierced him with her sword, leaving a gaping hole. Tong Tianxi fell to the ground, dead on the spot.

Two members of the "Ten Absolute Sword Formation" were struck by needles and fell to the ground. Even the leader of the formation, the deputy hall master Tong Tianxi, was kicked away by Ling Junyi. Although they didn't know Tong Tianxi was seriously injured and dead, this sudden turn of events, occurring just as the battle was becoming increasingly intense, threw their formation into chaos. Seeing the opportunity, Yu Meiren immediately commanded, "Sisters, attack!"

The flower maidens, in groups of three, each found a target and charged forward. Their sudden arrival caught the enemy off guard, throwing them into disarray. Within a few dozen rounds, screams filled the air as several men in blue were killed. Ling Junyi and his companions were roused; the "Ten Absolute Sword Formation" was broken, each fighting their own battles.

Seeing the formation broken, Ling Junyi was filled with righteous indignation and shouted, "Trap them! Don't let a single one escape!"

With the help of the flower maidens, Gongsun Xiang and Ding Qiao also swiftly and decisively dispatched several men in blue, including Tong Tianlai, the chief inspector of the Flying Dragon Hall. Tong Tianlai wielded a four-foot-long, palm-wide sword, wielding the "Tianshan Sword Technique." While lacking the skill of his brother Tong Tianxi, it was simple yet unpredictable, possessing a domineering and fierce power. Seeing the situation was unfavorable, he forced back Ding Qiao and several flower girls, then with a stomp of his feet, he shot off like lightning towards the western stone gate. Ding Qiao, not wanting him to escape, shouted, "You, surnamed Tong, where do you think you're going?" With a move called "Rainbow Spitting Flames," he gave chase.

Hearing Ding Qiao's shout, Ling Junyi hurriedly looked up and cried, "Brother Ding, don't pursue a desperate enemy!" Ding Qiao had already chased him out the door; there was no trace of him. Even the four men holding lanterns in the corner quietly extinguished their lights and disappeared.

The most difficult situation was still for Gongsun Xiang. His two opponents included a man in his early forties with short sideburns and a sharp beard. His swordsmanship was most likely based on saber techniques, emphasizing slashing and chopping. His sword strikes were like waves, pushing and surging forward—a formidable opponent. The other was the only woman in the "Ten Deadly Sword Formation," a woman in her early forties with a face painted with rouge and powder, and a pair of gold earrings dangling from her ears. Aside from these two features, she exuded no feminine scent, but her swordsmanship was truly remarkable—nimble, swift, ruthless, and vicious.

Gongsun Xiang found these two quite a challenge. Despite the help of Yu Meiren and several flower maids, they fought fiercely for dozens of rounds. While Gongsun Xiang hadn't been defeated, he hadn't gained the slightest advantage. The man in blue, wielding a knife, was enraged. With a roar, he tightened his grip on his longsword, and a row of dark sword shadows surged forward like a raging torrent. Although Gongsun Xiang tried to avoid direct combat, at this point, even if he didn't want to, he couldn't avoid it. A series of clashes rang out, the metallic clang of metal echoing. Gongsun Xiang parried several of his opponent's sword strikes, his wrists numbing from the impact, and he staggered back two steps. A shout rang out, and the woman in green, her sword flashing like a whirlwind, attacked.

Ling Junyi sheathed his short sword and shouted, "Brother Gongsun, step back!"

Gongsun Xiang, however, refused to listen. With a roar, he abandoned the woman in green and whirled around, lunging at the bearded man wielding a sword. His Heavenly Wolf Sword tightened in his hand, and he unleashed seven consecutive thrusts. Seeing that the "Ten Deadly Sword Formation" was broken and that Gongsun Xiang had abandoned himself to attack the bearded man, the woman in green didn't pursue him. Instead, she swayed her shoulders and dodged towards the right-hand stone gate.

Ling Junyi was faster than her, blocking her path and shouting, "Show me your skills before you leave, young lady!"

Seeing that his sword was already sheathed and he stood empty-handed in front of her, the woman in green sneered, "You'll know who I am when you see this." Suddenly, she flicked her left hand, revealing a deerskin glove and a handful of poisoned sand, which she then threw at Ling Junyi.

Ling Junyi's sword-like eyebrows arched sharply, and he laughed heartily, "Soul-Severing Poison Sand, you really don't need to state your name anymore." With a flick of his wrists, his sleeves suddenly billowed up, deflecting the cloud of "Soul-Severing Poison Sand" that the woman in green had thrown at him. Caught off guard by Ling

Junyi's move, the woman in green cried out in alarm. The poison sand had already struck, and countless plumes of black smoke immediately rose from her body as she collapsed to the ground. Seeing the situation was dire, the bearded man with sideburns turned and dashed out the door like lightning. Ling Junyi chased after him outside, but he had already disappeared, so he didn't pursue him and returned to the main hall. Gongsun Xiang asked, "Brother Ling..." Before he could finish speaking, a faint rumbling sound came from the ground.

Ling Junyi's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly said, "They've probably already activated the mechanism. Let's go!"

So the group rushed towards the nearest stone gate on the east side. Outside the door was a narrow, blue stone path. The stone figure was embedded in the right wall, like a gatekeeper, standing motionless. The group hadn't walked far when they heard a loud bang behind them as the stone door slammed shut. Even though the door was closed, the rumbling sound from the ground continued faintly. Ling Junyi felt a sense of unease and strained his eyes to look around. The stone walls remained unchanged. Looking up unintentionally, he was startled to see that the stone ceiling of the passageway was slowly collapsing! Ling Junyi was truly shocked. Although he had faced many formidable enemies, he had never encountered such a situation. Without hesitation, he led the group forward. This narrow path was still about ten zhang long, and the stone ceiling was collapsing simultaneously, not just from one point. No matter how fast you were, it was useless, because the stone ceiling in front of you was also collapsing in the same way.

Ling Junyi ran to the end of the path, only to find a stone wall blocking his way, leaving him nowhere to go. The stone ceiling of the passageway seemed to be lowering further and lower, almost touching his head

. His heart filled with panic, and he sighed sadly, saying, "I'm afraid we can't escape our fate tonight." Yu Meiren strained her eyes to look at the stone wall, then suddenly stretched out her left foot and stomped hard on a corner at the bottom. What she stepped on turned out to be a movable stone slab; with her stomp, it suddenly sank a foot deep, but then immediately rose back to its original position. This all happened in an instant; the stone ceiling above them had already pressed lower and lower, making it impossible for the two of them to stand upright. But at that moment, a door suddenly and silently opened on the left side of the wall at the end. Yu Meiren exclaimed joyfully, "Brother, the way out is here!"

Ling Junyi asked in surprise, "Sister, how did you find it?"

Yu Meiren giggled, "By sheer chance, I stumbled upon it."

A flower girl smiled sweetly, "This is because you are blessed by good fortune, young master."

Ling Junyi, holding the "Li Long Pearl," walked ahead, with Yu Meiren closely following, followed by Gongsun Xiang and the flower girl. The narrow path was completely dark, without a single person in sight, but they proceeded with extreme caution, walking for several dozen feet! Suddenly, from the shadows at the corner of the path, a sword flashed, a jet-black longsword shooting out with lightning speed, thrusting horizontally towards Ling Junyi's waist. This sword strike was not only fast and fierce, but also came suddenly, making it extremely difficult to defend against. However, Ling Junyi had been using both his ears and eyes, already on high alert, but his opponent was hiding and hadn't heard his breathing, unaware that someone was attacking from the shadows. Suddenly seeing the sword thrusting towards him, he swung his right hand, striking the blade. The tip was only five inches from his right waist, but the force of his palm strike pushed it back a foot. The attacker was no weakling either; he abruptly withdrew his sword and, using the darkness as cover, leaped backward swiftly. At the same time, two points of cold light met Ling Junyi's attack. Ling Junyi sneered, his right sleeve flicking outward. The two points of cold light were caught by his "Qiankun Sleeve," and with a slight shake, fell to the ground. In that instant, Ling Junyi had already shouted and leaped after him.

Rounding the bend, he stared intently and saw a figure rushing into the passageway. He immediately shouted, "Where do you think you're going?" and swung his right palm straight down.

In this narrow passageway, it was difficult to dodge except by striking head-on. Ling Junyi's palm strike followed, its power almost filling the passageway, crashing towards the man's back like a tidal wave. The man was running wildly when he suddenly sensed an unusual wind behind him. Having faced many formidable enemies, he immediately recognized the immense power of Ling Junyi's attack. He knew that only by taking the blow head-on could he deflect some of the force and avoid being instantly killed. In a flash, he turned around and shouted, "I'll fight you to the death!"

He thrust both palms forward at chest level. The man who turned around was none other than the bearded man with sideburns who had just escaped from the hall. His eyes flashed with ferocity, and his expression was savage. Although Ling Junyi's palm strike was not the "Muni Mudra," it still used eight or nine tenths of his power. Even though the bearded man reacted quickly, he couldn't withstand it! He felt a tremendous force strike his chest and palms, causing him to lose his footing and stagger back seven or eight steps before his back slammed against the stone wall with a thud. He felt his internal organs churning, his head spinning, and stars flashing before his eyes. He gasped for breath. Ling Junyi looked at him coldly and said, "So it's you."

The bearded man, though fierce, was actually weak. His eyes were fixed on the "Dragon Pearl" in Ling Junyi's left hand, a look of horror on his face. He shouted, "Stop! Cease! I have something to ask you!" He held his longsword to his chest, pointing it directly at Ling Junyi's chest, intending to prevent him from charging again.

At this moment, Ling Junyi had stopped five feet away from him and asked, "What else do you have to say?" Yu Meiren stood guard beside him, sword in hand, wary of the bearded man's attack. The

bearded man said, "Is that the 'Pearl Token' in your palm?"

Ling Junyi replied, "That's right, it's the 'Pearl Token'."

The bearded man's expression suddenly changed drastically, and a slight twitch appeared at the corner of his mouth. He stammered, "You... your surname is Ling." Ling

Junyi found this strange and said, "That's right, my surname is Ling."

The bearded man suddenly turned around and darted towards the corner on the right. His two questions were unusual, arousing Ling Junyi's suspicion. He shouted, "Stop!" With a flick of his right hand, he swiftly struck out with a palm. The powerful palm wind he unleashed did not strike the bearded man directly, but rather struck four or five feet in front of him. This was naturally timed perfectly, executed just as the bearded man leaped back, the palm wind striking simultaneously, blocking his path.

The bearded man's martial arts were also extremely high. Seeing that the person who had dodged was about to collide with Ling Junyi's palm force, he immediately stopped and shouted sharply, "What do you want?"

Ling Junyi spread his left palm, holding the "Dragon Pearl," and asked, "Do you recognize this pearl?" The

bearded man with sideburns replied, "The 'Pearl Token,' everyone knows it."

Ling Junyi continued, "You are one of the Thirty-Six Generals, aren't you?"

Seeing Ling Junyi standing before him, his gaze fixed on him as if awaiting his answer, the bearded man's fierce heart suddenly stirred, and he said in a deep voice, "That's right." "As soon as he finished speaking, he extended the index and middle fingers of his left hand, drawing Ling Junyi's attention, while his right hand swiftly thrust the sword towards his lower abdomen. This attack was vicious; he thought that with this sudden attack, the sword flashing like a spark, and Ling Junyi right in front of him, no matter how high his martial arts were, he would surely be injured by his sword. But the reality was quite different. Ling Junyi's right hand suddenly sank, his five fingers incredibly subtle, instantly gripping his right wrist that was holding the sword. Such a superior and wondrous technique was truly a rare skill in the martial arts world! The man with the sideburns felt a numbness in his wrist, already gripped. He panicked and tried to struggle, but the other's five fingers were like iron hoops, gripping his pulse point. How could he break free? He shouted sharply, "Don't force me." Ling

Junyi said, "I have something to ask you..."

Before he could finish, the man with the sideburns shouted, "You don't need to ask any more questions. I'll give you my life." "

Ling Junyi said, 'You seem to have some unspeakable secret…'

His gaze fixed on the bearded man with sideburns, who was clenching his teeth and remaining silent. Ling Junyi felt even more suspicious and gripped the man's wrist tightly, about to speak again. In that instant, the bearded man's face gradually changed, and black blood suddenly flowed from the corner of his mouth. He slowly fell to the ground! Yu Meiren said, 'Brother, he committed suicide by poisoning himself.'

Ling Junyi released his wrist, frowned, and said, 'If he had the courage to commit suicide by poisoning himself, why didn't he have the courage to speak?'

Gongsun Xiang said, 'Brother, I have something to say, but I don't know if I should.'

Ling Junyi said, 'We are like brothers, what can't we say?'

Gongsun Xiang said, 'Then please forgive my bluntness. I think that his sudden suicide by poisoning himself is certainly due to the Black Dragon Society's strict control over its subordinates, preventing them from revealing their secrets; but from his tone, it also seems to be related to Brother Ling's 'Pearl Token'."

Ling Junyi was moved and said, "Brother Gongsun, I quite agree with what you said. When he saw the pearl in your hand, his expression seemed slightly different." Gongsun

Xiang said, "I heard him suddenly say, 'Your surname is Ling.' I think he wouldn't say that without a reason, especially at such a critical moment."

Ling Junyi nodded and said, "Brother Gongsun's analysis is very accurate. But even if he had taken poison

and died, we wouldn't have been able to get a single word out of him." Gongsun Xiang said, "He also said, 'I'll compensate you with my life.' He died by poison himself, so why would he need to compensate you?"

Ling Junyi hummed and said, "That's right. Upon closer examination, his words do indeed have many suspicious points."

Gongsun Xiang said, "Therefore, I think this matter might be related to the 'Pearl Token' in Brother Ling's hand." He paused slightly and then asked, "I just wonder where Brother Ling obtained this 'Pearl Token'?" Ling Junyi said, "

This bead is a family heirloom of the Han family. It was originally called the 'Dragon Poison-Repelling Bead,' capable of dispelling all kinds of poisons in the world. It wasn't called the 'Pearl Token.'"

Gongsun Xiang said, "That's strange. How could it be the same as the Black Dragon Society's token, the 'Pearl Token'?"

Ling Junyi said, "I don't know about that. I was ordered by my master to travel the world to investigate the 'Pearl Token'..." Just then, a very faint groan was heard. The group followed the sound forward, and the groan grew closer and closer. As they turned a corner in the passageway, they saw a person lying on the ground.

Ling Junyi's eyes were sharp, and with one glance, he recognized the person lying on the ground as none other than the Right Protector, Three-Eyed Cai Liang. He was startled and quickly bent down, asking, "Elder Cai, where are you injured?" He reached out and turned him over. Cai Liang had been stabbed in the left chest and right abdomen, his clothes soaked in dark blood. His wounds were deep, and it seemed there was no hope of saving him. He was only clinging to life thanks to decades of arduous training and his refined internal energy. Hearing Ling Junyi's voice, his listless eyes looked at Ling Junyi, and he opened his mouth as if to speak.

Ling Junyi asked, "Elder Cai, do you have something to say to me?" "Three-Eyed Cai Liang nodded with difficulty.

Ling Junyi frowned slightly. Seeing that Cai Liang's life was hanging by a thread, especially with the deep sword wounds in his chest and abdomen, if he were to channel his inner energy into him, the wounds would bleed profusely; if he didn't, Cai Liang would be on the verge of death and probably wouldn't be able to say what he wanted to say. He hesitated for a moment. Cai Liang stared at Ling Junyi with his lifeless eyes, looking at him with great anxiety! Ling Junyi asked, "Does Elder Cai want me to help you channel your inner energy so that you can say what's on your mind?" Cai Liang nodded stiffly.

Ling Junyi's heart sank, and he could only slowly reach out and place his hand on Cai Liang's Baihui acupoint on the top of his head, while very slowly channeling his inner energy into it.

Cai Liang was only still alive because of his profound skill. Now, with Ling Junyi slowly channeling his inner energy into him, he managed to take a deep breath. His eyes could move again, and his right hand trembled as he pointed towards the tunnel. He opened his mouth and struggled to say, "Master…..." He only managed two words before black blood suddenly gushed from his lower abdomen like an arrow. A soft gurgling sound came from his throat, and his head slowly tilted to the side. He had only uttered two words before he breathed his last! Ling Junyi sadly withdrew his hand, straightened up, and thought to himself, "So the man in black I saw on the hill in Guazhou that night was Three-Eyed Cai Liang. I just don't know who his 'master' is, or why he infiltrated the Hundred Flowers Gang. He pointed to the tunnel and said 'master,' obviously betraying me. His master went towards the tunnel; why would he tell me that?" Could it be that his master was in danger, which is why he used his last breath to utter the word "master" to him, his purpose being to urge him to come to his rescue? Thinking of this, he unconsciously bowed deeply to Cai Liang, the Three-Eyed One, and said, "Don't worry, Elder Cai, I'll go right away." After saying that, he immediately started walking towards the south road.

The "master" that Cai Liang, the Three-Eyed One, mentioned was naturally the leader of a gang or sect in the martial arts world, and his martial arts skills were undoubtedly superb. However, judging from Cai Liang's anxious expression before his death, it was clear that his "master" must have encountered a very powerful opponent on this road. Ling Junyi did not dare to be careless. In order to deal with the strong enemy that Cui Ran encountered, he naturally had to free up both hands. So he hung the "Li Long Pearl" that he was holding in his left palm on his belt, held his left hand to his chest, took out his short sword with his right hand, and inserted it into his waistband before following the path.

The passageway seemed quite winding; after walking about a hundred steps, it had already turned three corners. Ling Junyi led the way, proceeding cautiously with his eyes and ears constantly alert. Suddenly, they heard extremely light footsteps approaching! The sound alone revealed the person's incredible speed; in the dark, winding passageway, they moved as fast as a galloping horse! In the brief moment Ling Junyi hesitated, the person appeared at a bend in the passageway—a man dressed entirely in black, wielding a dark short sword. Ling Junyi wore the "Li Long Pearl" at his waist; when he saw the man, the man naturally saw him too. The two sides were initially a few feet apart, but in an instant, the man in black was within five feet of Ling Junyi, raising his sword and shouting, "Who are you?"

Ling Junyi arrogantly replied, "And you?"

The man in black glanced at the "Dragon Pearl" at Ling Junyi's waist and said coldly, "You wear the Pearl Token, so you should know that no one is allowed to enter this place without permission. Anyone who enters Black Dragon Pool without the leader's permission will be killed without exception." He assumed Ling Junyi was a member of the Black Dragon Society. Ling Junyi

was unaware that he had stumbled upon Black Dragon Pool from Flying Dragon Hall! This place was called "Black Dragon Pool," which, as the name suggests, must have a pool. The Black Dragon Society's name probably originated from Black Dragon Pool, so it can be inferred that Black Dragon Pool must be the location of the Black Dragon Society's headquarters. Thinking of this, Ling Junyi couldn't help but ask, "Is this the headquarters of the Black Dragon Society?"

Hearing Ling Junyi's tone, the man in black asked in surprise, "You're not a member of the Black Dragon Society?"

Ling Junyi replied, "I never said I was a member of the Black Dragon Society."

The man in black pointed his short sword and shouted, "What's your name? Where did you come from?"

Ling Junyi said, "I am Ling Junyi, and I naturally came in from outside."

The man in black said, "No matter who you are, once you're here, you're doomed." He then raised his sword to stab.

Ling Junyi shouted, "Wait!" The man in black stopped, coldly saying, "What else do you want?"

Ling Junyi said, "Could you tell me if Black Dragon Pool is the headquarters of the Black Dragon Society?"

The man in black sneered, "Go ask the King of Hell for that." He thrust his sword forward. Ling Junyi's right hand swiftly parried; his Giant Sword flashed a blue arc, clanging as he deflected the man's short sword.

The man in black sneered, "It seems your skills are quite formidable." He thrust his sword forward again.

Ling Junyi thought to himself, "This man in black's swordsmanship is extremely fast. His martial arts are far from ordinary. He must be the guardian of Black Dragon Pool. It seems I must subdue him first." The man in black moved swiftly, his short sword flashing repeatedly, black light like lightning, too fast to follow. His lightning-fast swordsmanship was not only fast, but also imbued with a strong internal force, advancing with the momentum of the sword! The man in black seemed extremely angry, shouting repeatedly, his short sword swinging faster and faster. But he overlooked one thing: such rapid attacks were all brute force techniques, while Ling Junyi wielded a weapon capable of cutting through metal! After a series of metallic clangs, the short sword in his hand was sliced in half inch by inch, leaving only the hilt. The man in black was startled, about to leap backward! Ling Junyi was even faster. He suddenly stepped forward, the tip of his sword already pointing at the black-clad man's chest, and

shouted, "If you move an inch, I can take your life instantly!" The black-clad man, seeing the gleaming blue sword tip pressed against his chest, dared not move. His face was ferocious as he roared, "What do you want?"

Ling Junyi suddenly smiled slightly and said, "I only want to ask you a few questions. You'd better answer truthfully."

The black-clad man asked, "What do you want to ask?"

Ling Junyi said, "I'll repeat myself: Is Black Dragon Pool the location of your headquarters?"

The black-clad man said, "I don't know."

Ling Junyi said, "Friend, you really don't know?"

The man in black said, "I am ordered to patrol the passageway. Anyone who enters without the leader's permission will be killed without exception. I don't know anything else."

Ling Junyi said, "Then this passageway leads to Black Dragon Pool, right?"

The man in black said, "That's right."

Ling Junyi said, "Then let me ask you another question. Did anyone enter from here just now?"

The man in black said, "We patrol here in shifts. I just started my shift and haven't heard of anyone sneaking in."

Ling Junyi was secretly puzzled: "Three-Eyed Cai Liang, with two sword wounds, said on his deathbed that his 'master' came this way. How could they not have noticed?" After thinking for a moment, he asked again, "Friend, you came from Black Dragon Pool. Then I'll trouble you to lead the way for me." Before

the man in black could speak, a clear, cold voice suddenly interrupted, "Let him go. He doesn't know how to get to Black Dragon Pool." "This person arrived silently; even Ling Junyi hadn't heard a sound of footsteps beforehand.

Ling Junyi stared intently and saw an old man in a green robe standing not far behind the man in black. In the darkness, he could only see that the newcomer was tall and slender, with a cold and solemn expression, piercing eyes, and a long, white beard. Just by looking at his bearing, one could tell that this man was not only exceptionally skilled in martial arts but also of a much higher status than the man in black. Ling Junyi slowly sheathed his short sword and smiled nonchalantly, saying, 'In that case, I should ask you, sir.'" The man in black quickly stepped aside and bowed to the man in green.

The man in green glanced at the "Li Long Shu" sword hanging from Ling Junyi's waist, then looked up at Ling Junyi and the crowd behind him, slowly saying, "It is no easy feat for you to find this place. May I ask your name?"

Ling Junyi replied, "My name is Ling Junyi."

A hint of joy flashed in the man in green's eyes, and he nodded, saying, "Very good." Suddenly, he swung his hand and struck the man in black beside him in the chest. The man in black, bowing, naturally had no chance to dodge, as his superior was about to launch a sudden attack. The man in green's palm strike landed easily and solidly on his chest, and the man in black groaned as he fell to the ground. The man in the green robe turned his gaze to Ling Junyi and said, "Finish him off with another sword strike."

Taken aback, Ling Junyi was momentarily stunned. The man in black had already been struck by a palm and fallen to the ground, dead. Why should he be finished off with another sword strike? He looked at the man in the green robe and said, "You..."

The man in the green robe urged, "Time flies. Finish him off with another sword strike. We must leave this place in time."

Ling Junyi was even more astonished. He looked at the man in the green robe and said, "You..." The man in the green robe shook his hand, stopping him. His voice suddenly became very calm as he continued, "This is not the place to talk. Do as I say, and you won't go wrong." Ling Junyi didn't know if he was telling the truth. Anyway, the man in black was already dead, and finishing him off with another sword wouldn't increase his suffering. He could use this opportunity to hear what the man in the green robe had to say. With a thought, he immediately swung his sword and plunged it into the man in black's chest.

The man in the green robe nodded and said, "Come with me. They'll stay here for now." After saying that, he turned and walked into the passage.

Yu Meiren had just called out, "Brother..." Ling Junyi gestured to her and exchanged a glance with Gongsun Xiang, reaching a tacit understanding. The man in the green robe walked slowly, without even turning his head once, seemingly not taking Ling Junyi seriously at all. Ling Junyi couldn't tell whether the man in the green robe was friend or foe, only sensing his somewhat mysterious behavior, but he followed him without hesitation. The path was still very winding, with a turn every few steps. The man in the green robe carried no fire, yet walked with remarkable speed, as if he knew the way well. After walking about twenty or thirty paces, suddenly a voice called out from the darkness, "Who goes there?" The man

in the green robe replied, "It's me."

In the blink of an eye, Ling Junyi had already followed the man in the green robe around the bend, where he saw another man in black. He stood respectfully, cupped his fists towards the man in the green robe, and said, "This subordinate greets the chief steward." The man in the green robe nodded in greeting and uttered a sound of greeting. At this moment, he had already slowly walked up to the man in black and suddenly struck him in the chest. His attack was lightning fast, and the man in black, caught completely off guard, naturally received the blow. The man in black groaned, his body trembled, and he collapsed to the ground. Ling Junyi thought to himself, "These black-clad men patrolling the road are no ordinary fighters. He managed to kill him in a single move; the man in green is clearly very skilled."

The man in green remained unperturbed, continuing to walk forward, muttering, "Quickly finish him off with another sword strike." Ling Junyi watched him kill two black-clad men, feeling puzzled. It seemed he was killing them to silence them in order to help him. Why would he help him? He must have mistaken him for someone else, thinking Ling Junyi was part of the "master" of Cai Liang, the Three-Eyed God. Therefore, he deduced that the man in green must be an undercover agent sent by that "master" into the Black Dragon Society. Ling Junyi remained silent, and with a flick of his right hand, finished off the black-clad man. The man in green shouted, "Go!" and suddenly quickened his pace, leaping forward. Ling Junyi followed closely behind.

After turning two corners, the man in the green robe stopped, pressed his hand against the wall twice, and turned around, saying, "Come in quickly." Before the words were even finished, he vanished in a flash. Ling Junyi rushed closer and saw that a narrow doorway had opened in the stone wall, with the man in the green robe waiting a few feet away. Without hesitation, he stepped inside. After taking three or four steps, he heard a loud "bang" behind him; the stone door had closed.

This passageway resembled an uncarved natural crevice, extremely narrow, barely allowing a person to pass sideways. The stone walls on both sides were uneven, and a slight misstep could result in a fall. The man in the green robe was moving very quickly, but with the pearl-like light illuminating his path, Ling Junyi naturally wouldn't fall behind. The two walked along the winding path for about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, until they seemed to have reached the end. A stone wall blocked their way. The man in the green robe pressed his hand against the wall, and a slight creaking sound filled the air. Sure enough, a small door had opened in the wall. The man in the green robe turned and smiled slightly, saying, "Please." He stepped inside.

Ling Junyi thought to himself, "The Black Dragon Society's lair is entirely inside the mountain, with secret passages connecting them. How massive must this project have been back then? There are many gangs in the martial world that occupy mountains and establish strongholds. Why would the Black Dragon Society go to such lengths to build their lair inside a mountain? Could they have some other secret?" Thinking this, he stepped inside.

Inside the stone gate was a small stone chamber. Apart from a few stone chairs and a stone couch, there was nothing else in the chamber. However, the stone chairs and the stone couch were polished to a very smooth finish. On the stone table was a white copper lamp holder, which was very shiny, as it was lit with some kind of oil. The man in the green robe ushered Ling Junyi into the stone chamber. He gently pressed on the stone wall again, and the stone door immediately closed slowly. Then he turned around, raised his hand, and said, "Please sit, young master."

Ling Junyi did not sit down, but clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Old man

, you have brought me here, surely you have something to teach me." The man in the green robe smiled and said, "Please sit down, young master. Indeed, I have something to tell you, but this is not the right time."

Ling Junyi sat down on the stone chair without hesitation, and asked, "What do you mean by 'not the right time'?"

The man in the green robe smiled and said, "Outsiders are not allowed to enter here. Please wait here for a moment, young master. I will be right back." Without waiting for Ling Junyi's reply, he walked towards a stone wall on the right. When he approached the stone wall, he suddenly turned back and smiled, "Young master, please do not doubt me. My actions will be of no benefit to you." After saying that, he reached out and pushed, and the stone wall opened with a sound.

There was a stone door in the wall, which, like a flip-top, turned and closed silently as the man in the green robe stepped out. Ling Junyi, suspicious of his mysterious actions, immediately leaped to the right wall and pushed the stone door, but it remained firmly shut. Just like the stone door Gongsun Xiang had entered through, once closed, it couldn't be opened without some method.

Ling Junyi returned to the stone chair and sat down, pondering that the man in the green robe seemed to have no ill intentions towards him. He wondered why the man had led him to this stone chamber and then suddenly left. Since the man had told him that outsiders were not allowed to enter and that his actions were beneficial, he decided to wait for the man's return. He remembered his master's repeated admonitions to remain calm in dangerous situations. He had spent the entire night navigating perilous paths, and now that he was here, he should remain composed.

A full quarter of an hour passed after the man in the green robe left, and he still hadn't returned! Ling Junyi had been traveling for most of the night, and he took this opportunity to sit on a stone chair and rest with his eyes closed. Suddenly, he heard a series of light footsteps approaching! Ling Junyi was startled. He had only closed his eyes to rest; this stone chamber was surrounded by stone walls, and even if there were hidden doors, he should have heard the sound of the stone door opening first! Since he hadn't heard the stone door open, how could someone have entered? A thought flashed through his mind, and he opened his eyes at the same time. He saw a young girl in green, carrying a food box, gracefully walking in through a doorway in the right-hand stone wall.

That stone door was the one the man in the green robe had gone out through. It was originally a movable door, but it had clearly been closed when the man in the green robe left, and he had even tried to push it, but it wouldn't budge. Now, this girl in green had entered silently, and the stone door, still so flexible, flipped open like a flip-top as she stepped in, slowly closing.

Entering the stone chamber, her bright eyes widened as she saw a handsome young man sitting inside. Her face flushed, and she quickly lowered her head. She hurried to the stone bed, took out four delicacies, a pot of fine wine, and a plate of fried noodles from a food box, and placed them on the low table on the bed. She set out a set of cups and chopsticks, then bowed slightly to Ling Junyi, saying sweetly, "The steward just instructed that you, young master, are probably hungry, and specially ordered me to bring you wine, dishes, and noodles. Please help yourself."

Ling Junyi bowed and smiled, "Thank you, young lady."

The girl in green said shyly, "You flatter me, young master. I dare not accept such praise." She then seemed to be about to leave.

Ling Junyi said, "Please wait, young lady."

The girl in green stopped and bowed, saying, "Is there anything else you need, young master?"

Ling Junyi said, "I would like to ask you something, young lady. Would you be willing to tell me?"

The girl in green raised her beautiful eyes and said, "What do you want to ask, young master?"

Ling Junyi said, "The steward you mentioned earlier, is that the man in the green robe with the long white beard?"

The girl in green said, "Of course."

Ling Junyi said, "Could you tell me, young lady, what is your steward's name?"

The girl in green said in surprise, "Young master is a friend of the steward. Don't you know who the steward is?"

Ling Junyi said, "If I knew, why would I need to ask you, young lady?"

The girl in green blinked and said, "Since the steward hasn't told you, young master, I dare not say. It would be better for you to ask the steward directly."

Ling Junyi thought to himself, "What a cunning girl." He smiled and said, "If you won't tell me, then so be it..."

Before he could finish, the girl in green interrupted, "This servant will take her leave then."

Ling Junyi said, "Wait a moment, young lady. I have another question for you."

The girl in green seemed anxious and said, "What else does the young master want to ask this servant?"

Ling Junyi said, "Then, can you at least tell me where this place is?"

The girl in green countered, "Young master has already arrived here, and you still don't know where this place is?"

Ling Junyi said, "I do know a little, but I haven't been able to verify it."

The girl in green chuckled lightly and said, "It's good that the young master knows. Why ask further? Alright, please have some wine and food. This servant is leaving now." With that, she turned and left.

Ling Junyi hadn't gotten a single question out of her. Watching her turn and leave, he thought to himself, "If I were to suddenly make a move, I could stop her and get the answers." But because the girl in green looked so young, he couldn't rashly attack a woman. The girl in green quickly reached the wall, gently pushed it open with her slender hand, and the stone door opened on its own. She suddenly turned around, smiling brightly, and said, "Please forgive me, young master. Without permission, I dare not say anything."

The stone wall turned and then nimbly closed again. Ling Junyi did feel hungry, but in this treacherous and mysterious environment, he naturally did not eat until he understood the other party's origins and intentions. Not long after the girl in green left, the stone door opened, and the old man in green robes slowly entered, carrying a small black bottle, which he placed on a table.

His gaze swept over the untouched food and wine on the low table. He asked with surprise, "This old man, having endured countless battles since Young Master Ling's last night, must be quite hungry. That's why I had Xiao Tao prepare this food and wine for you. What? Are you afraid I've tampered with it?" He then stroked his beard and chuckled, adding, "There is absolutely no poison in the food and wine. Please feel free to eat."

Ling Junyi coldly replied, "Even if there were deadly poison in the food and wine, I wouldn't care." A

glint flashed in the green-robed man's eyes. He asked, "Then why won't you eat, Young Master?"

Ling Junyi said, "I met you in the passageway, but we didn't exchange names, nor did we distinguish friend from foe. Therefore, I dared not disturb you."

The green-robed man suddenly laughed loudly, "Well said, 'We didn't exchange names, nor did we distinguish friend from foe.' I am Rong Jingzong, and I should..." "We're friends, not enemies, is that enough?"

Ling Junyi said, "Old Master Rong, can you tell me now what you have to teach me after you brought me here?"

Rong Jingzong shook his head slightly and said, "It's not the right time yet. Please have some food and wine first, and I will tell you slowly."

Ling Junyi said, "Why must you tell me after I've eaten and drunk the food?"

Rong Jingzong said, "You have a difficult task to complete, and without some food and drinks, how can your body withstand it?"

Ling Junyi asked curiously, "You said I have another matter to attend to?"

Rong Jingzong said, "Indeed, indeed, please come quickly, young master."

Ling Junyi suddenly felt suspicious, but since he said he would only tell him after he had eaten and drunk the food, there was no point in asking anymore, and besides, he was indeed hungry. So he stood up and said, "Alright, I'll trouble you then." He walked to the stone couch, sat down, picked up his chopsticks, and began to eat and drink alone.

Rong Jingzong sat down opposite him at the low table. Ling Junyi, already hungry, ate and drank heartily, quickly finishing four plates of delicacies and a plate of fried noodles. However, he only drank two small cups of the wine before refusing to drink any more. Rong Jingzong smiled slightly and clapped his hands three times after watching him finish eating. The girl in green immediately pushed open the door and entered, cleared away the bowls and plates, and then left. She then brought two plates of fragrant tea, placed them on the stone table, and said softly, "Please have some tea, young master."

Rong Jingzong said, "I have important matters to discuss privately with you. You may stay in the outer room and do not allow anyone to enter without my permission." The girl in green agreed, turned and left, and the stone door slammed shut behind her.

Rong Jingzong took two trays of fragrant tea from the table and placed them on the low table in the middle of the stone couch, saying, "Young Master, please sit on the couch." Ling Junyi knew he must have something important to say, so he went over and sat down opposite him on the couch.

Rong Jingzong said, "Young Master, may I take a look at this pearl at your waist?"

Ling Junyi said, "Of course." He casually untied the "Lilong Pearl" and handed it over.

Rong Jingzong examined it repeatedly for a while, then suddenly his eyes welled up with tears, and he asked in a trembling voice, "This is the Black Dragon Society's 'Pearl Token.' I wonder where Young Master Ling obtained it?"

Ling Junyi's heart grew more and more suspicious as he looked at it, and he said, "This pearl is a family heirloom, not an item of the Black Dragon Society."

Rong Jingzong's gaze sharpened, and he asked, "Young Master, do you know the name of this pearl?" Ling

Junyi said, "Lilong Poison-Repelling Pearl."

Rong Jingzong said, "Poison-Repelling Pearl, as the name suggests, can ward off poison."

Ling Junyi said, "That's right."

Rong Jingzong suddenly stood up, picked up a small black bottle from the table, then an empty bottle and an empty bowl, and said, "I wonder if this pearl, young master, can neutralize the poison in the bottle?" As he spoke, he uncorked the bottle and poured a stream of inky black water into the bowl. Ling

Junyi's eyes lit up, and he said, "Poison." Without even asking Ling Junyi's permission, Rong Jingzong raised the "Dragon Poison-Repelling Pearl" and quickly dipped it into the "poison." A soft "hiss" was heard from the bowl, and a wisp of smoke immediately rose. Needless to say, the poison in the bowl, upon contact with the "Poison-Repelling Pearl," naturally thinned and then disappeared, turning into a bowl of clear water! Rong Jingzong held the bowl of water, transformed from "poison," in both hands, his expression one of intense emotion, tears welling in his eyes. He murmured, "It really is the 'Dragon Pearl,' it really is the 'Pearl Token'..." Suddenly, he put down the bowl, holding the "Dragon Pearl," and knelt down, looking up at the ground, saying, "If the spirit of the leader is aware, I have endured twenty years of humiliation and survival, and finally, my day has come!" At this point, tears streamed down his face, and he sighed repeatedly. Ling Junyi watched, his heart filled with increasing doubt. Could his family's heirloom "Dragon Pearl" be related to the Black Dragon Society?

Just as everyone was wondering what was going on, Rong Jingzong suddenly wiped away his tears, stood up abruptly, handed back the "Dragon Pearl," and fixed his eyes on Ling Junyi's face with a cold, piercing light. His expression was serious as he coldly asked, "Your name is Ling Junyi?"

Ling Junyi took the "Dragon Pearl" and replied, "That's right, I am indeed Ling Junyi."

Rong Jingzong nodded and said in a deep voice, "Very well, I have waited for you for many years. Now your only chance of survival is to draw your sword and fight me to the death." He raised his right hand, and with a clang, a short, black sword appeared in his hand. His actions, shifting between friend and foe, were truly bewildering and left everyone bewildered. Ling Junyi asked in astonishment,
"
Do you have a grudge against me, sir?"

Rong Jingzong seemed hesitant to answer, and his expression darkened. "You don't need to ask any more questions. First, defeat this sword in my hand, and then we can talk."

Ling Junyi asked hesitantly, "Did you lure me here just to fight me?"

Rong Jingzong said, "Words are useless. Draw your sword."

Ling Junyi said, "So, we have no choice but to fight?"

Rong Jingzong said, "That's right. If you want to leave this room alive, you have to fight me."

Ling Junyi slowly drew the Juque sword from his waist, held it horizontally against his chest, and said, "Then please make your move, sir."

Rong Jingzong seemed impatient and coldly said, "Be careful." With that, his short sword flashed, and a dark sword shadow suddenly appeared, slashing horizontally.

Ling Junyi sensed an overwhelming sword aura emanating from his opponent's seemingly casual sword strike. The force of the strike was already incredibly sharp, and he was secretly startled, thinking, "This person's swordsmanship is truly extraordinary." In a flash, his short sword flashed, its tip pointing downwards to block the attack. Rong Jingzong's sword momentum hadn't subsided; he unleashed three consecutive attacks with his short sword. These three sword strikes were shrouded in sword light, and the dense sword energy emanating from the swords actually swept in from three directions, their power unparalleled. Ling Junyi shouted, suddenly transferring the Giant Sword to his left hand, thrusting and slashing, unleashing the Shaolin's signature technique, the "Bodhidharma Swordplay." However, he used his left hand, and the swordplay was the opposite of the Shaolin "Bodhidharma Swordplay." It was precisely because it was used with a reverse hand that it became even more mysterious and unpredictable.

Rong Jingzong was slightly taken aback, and asked in surprise, "You are a disciple of the Reverse-Hand Tathagata?"

Ling Junyi replied, "Old man, you do have some insight." As they spoke, their swordplay continued like lightning and thunder, each displaying their full power without showing any sign of relaxation. The small stone chamber was filled with sword energy, and the cold pickaxes whirled around, truly a place fraught with danger. In the blink of an eye, they had already exchanged more than fifty blows. In the midst of the fierce battle, Rong Jingzong shouted loudly, "Ling Junyi, have you not learned any family martial arts other than the 'Bodhidharma Reverse-Hand Sword' taught to you by the Reverse-Hand Tathagata?"

Hearing this, Ling Junyi's heart suddenly stirred, and he thought to himself, "Family martial arts? He must be referring to the 'Flying Dragon Three Swords'." "A thought flashed through his mind, and without hesitation, he uttered a cry of emotion, his sword transforming into a streak of azure light, leaping two zhang into the air. His left hand suddenly switched to his right with a flick of his wrist, unleashing a shower of sword light, a dazzling display of azure energy, the sword shadows swirling and raining down upon Rong Jingzong.

Rong Jingzong's eyes blazed, his right hand flashing with his short sword, executing in quick succession the 'Jade Tablet Facing the Sky' from the Kunlun Swordplay, the 'Three Flowers Gathering at the Top' from the Wudang Swordplay, and the 'Eight Heavenly Dragons' from the Bodhidharma Swordplay. Though named as three moves, he executed them in one fluid motion; the first two were specifically designed to protect the head, while the last was a defensive breakout move. A rapid, rain-like clang of swords rang out! Rong Jingzong's short sword was cleaved inch by inch by Ling Junyi's giant smoke sword!" But at that moment, he stepped out of the sword's shadow, tossed aside the hilt, chuckled, and said, "Young Master Ling, please stop..."

Ling Junyi stopped upon hearing this, only to see Rong Jingzong's face filled with joy. Rong Jingzong clasped his hands repeatedly, tears welling in his eyes, and said, "Indeed, it is 'Divine Dragon Emerging from the Clouds,' indeed Brother Ling! Please forgive my earlier rudeness."

Ling Junyi was greatly surprised and asked, "How did you know I used 'Divine Dragon Emerging from the Clouds'?"

Rong Jingzong smiled and said, "The Flying Dragon Three Swords is our sect's signature sword technique. How could I not recognize it? It's just that I haven't seen it for twenty years." This was increasingly strange.

The "Flying Dragon Three Swords" was originally Ling Junyi's family's sword technique, which the Hundred Flowers Gang considered their "Three Signature Swords." Now, Rong Jingzong was saying it was the Black Dragon Society's "Signature Sword Technique"—what was going on? Ling Junyi thought about it more and more, feeling there must be a reason for this, and his questions grew more and more numerous. He frowned and said, "Old man..."

Before he could answer, Rong Jingzong bowed repeatedly and said, "Young master, please take a seat. When the fog rises over Black Dragon Pool, I will lead you there."

Ling Junyi was completely confused and couldn't help but ask, "Why would you lead me to Black Dragon Pool, old man?"

Rong Jingzong looked at him in surprise and asked, "Didn't your mother tell you when you came here, young master?"

Ling Junyi said, "Do you know my mother, old man?"

Rong Jingzong said, "Your mother is the wife of the head of the association. Of course I know her."

The words "the leader's wife" sent a jolt through Ling Junyi's mind. He opened his eyes wide and asked, "What did you say, Elder Rong?"

Rong Jingzong said "Oh," and then replied, "Young master, please don't misunderstand. The leader I'm referring to is the leader of our organization twenty years ago, not this traitor who sold out his master for personal gain."

Ling Junyi thought to himself, "Judging from his tone, my father was the leader of the Black Dragon Society twenty years ago, but my mother has never mentioned a word of this to me." Thinking of this, he unconsciously focused his gaze on Rong Jingzong and asked, "Elder Rong, could you have mistaken me for someone else?"

Rong Jingzong stroked his white beard and smiled, "Young master possesses the 'Dragon Pearl,' knows the 'Three Flying Dragon Swords,' and is surnamed Ling. How could I have mistaken you for someone else?"

Ling Junyi said, "But how could my mother have never mentioned this to me?" Rong Jingzong thought for a moment, then sighed and said, "

It's no wonder. Back then, when your mother escaped the clutches of evil, countless heartless villains pursued and searched everywhere. Though the world is vast, there was nowhere for her to hide. She endured hardship and gave birth to your son, but the villains were rampant, and your mother was fierce. She was just a woman, and one hand cannot clap. Besides, your son is still young, so naturally, I cannot tell you about this blood feud."

"A blood feud!" Ling Junyi's body trembled violently, and he said excitedly

, "Father-in-law, are you saying that my late father was the leader of the Black Dragon Society, and was later murdered?" Rong Jingzong's face darkened, and he said, "The leader's death can be considered a heroic sacrifice. I should have followed the leader to the underworld. For the past twenty years, I have endured humiliation and lived in hiding, all so that when my wife escaped, she was already six months pregnant, and there would always be a day for revenge. If I were to die for my master, no one would ever know the truth." "At this point, he couldn't help but shed tears and sigh.

Ling Junyi also had tears streaming down his face, and with a thud, he knelt down and said, 'Old man, you have put in a lot of effort. You must be a close friend of my late father. Could you please tell me the details?'

Rong Jingzong wiped away his tears and hurriedly helped Ling Junyi up, saying, 'Young master, please get up. This is too much for me. For twenty years, I have been waiting for this day, but it's a long story. We have another time, so I can only give you a general outline. We can discuss it in detail after you retrieve the item.' Ling Junyi thought to himself, 'He only has one more time. What is he going to retrieve? It must be something very important.' He thought to himself but did not ask any further questions.

The two sat down again, and Rong Jingzong picked up his teacup, took a sip of tea, and said, 'This story should begin with the fall of our country and the martyrdom of the late Emperor [Yizong].'" The righteous armies that came to the aid of the emperor failed one after another, and the eldest princess, being of noble birth, retreated to a life of seclusion. But she never forgot the hatred for her nation and her people, and remained determined to restore the dynasty. For decades, she traveled the martial world, gathering like-minded individuals from all over. He paused slightly here, then continued, "At that time, there was a military officer surnamed Tie. After his defeat, he gathered a group of like-minded martial artists and established the Black Dragon Society, an organization dedicated to overthrowing the Qing and restoring the Ming, in Kunyu Mountain." Ling Junyi thought of his mother's surname, Tie, and also of the old man surnamed Tie in the portrait when the Grand Master taught him two moves of the "Flying Dragon Three Swords." Although he hadn't opened it, many questions welled up in his mind.

Rong Jingzong continued, "This military officer surnamed Tie founded the Black Dragon Society. He chose Kunyu Mountain as his base because it has many natural caves, winding and deep, interconnected. With a little renovation, they could become extremely secluded places, unlikely to be discovered by outsiders."

Ling Junyi said, "So these caves were all built back then."

Rong Jingzong said, "Although this place is half natural and half man-made, the society leader has been managing it for almost thirty years." He continued, "When the old society leader was carving a grotto in the mountainside, he accidentally discovered a cave with several images of swordsmen carved on the stone walls. It is said that these were left by the Quanzhen Sect leader, Master Chongyang. The old society leader comprehended three sword techniques, which are the 'Flying Dragon Three Swords.'"

Ling Junyi asked, "Is this old society leader Tie from the Upper, Middle, or Lower Peak?" Rong Jingzong

nodded repeatedly, "So you've heard about him before, young master?" He didn't press further, continuing, "

I once heard the old master say that the 'Wall Martial Arts' originally had more than just these three sword techniques, but because he was middle-aged and limited by his natural talent, he could no longer strive for improvement... Alas, we've digressed." He then changed the subject, saying, "When the old master was building the tunnel inside the mountain, he also discovered a poisonous spring. The water that gushed out was thicker than ink; anyone touched by it would die instantly..."

Ling Junyi exclaimed, "Poison!"

Rong Jingzong nodded and said, "That's right, we all call it 'Poison Juice.'" He continued, "Later, the old leader dug a small stream and channeled the poisonous spring into a pool, which is now the Black Dragon Pool." Ling Junyi felt a growing anxiety as he watched Rong Jingzong talk for a long time without mentioning his father.

Rong Jingzong took another sip of tea and said, "Old Leader Tie was approaching forty and had no children. That year, there was a famine, and the old leader passed by the foot of the mountain and brought back a baby girl, whom he adopted as his goddaughter, naming her Ruyu. Old Madam Tie also treated her as her own daughter and loved her dearly. The following year, Old Madam Tie also gave birth to a son, named Ruhua. Twenty years have passed in the blink of an eye, and these two sisters have truly blossomed into beautiful young women. The old leader treated them the same way, teaching the two girls martial arts every day when he had nothing else to do..." Hearing this, Ling Junyi understood somewhat. One of these sisters was his mother, and the other must be the elder sister of the Hundred Flowers Gang.

Rong Jingzong continued, "At that time, the Eldest Princess was in the Jiangnan region, presiding over the restoration plan. Although the major sects did not officially join on the surface, they all secretly did their best to support her and encouraged their disciples to participate in anti-Qing organizations in various places as Jianghu people. That spring, Abbot Kaibang of Shaolin recommended a young man to the Black Dragon Society to the old leader. This man's name was Ling Changfeng, and he was Abbot Kaibang's only lay disciple."

Ling Junyi said, "Is he my late father? My mother told me that my late father's name was Ruitu."

Rong Jingzong said, "Young master is still young. Since your mother did not tell you this story, she naturally would not tell you your father's real name." He looked at Ling Junyi and continued, "Your father was only in his early twenties at that time, and he was very handsome. I remember when he first came to the Black Dragon Society, the leader of the society assigned him a patrol chief position. It seems that your father was the patrol chief of the twenty-first group, and I was the patrol chief of the twentieth group. We often patrolled together and..." "We supported each other, and that's why my father and I had the best personal relationship."

Ling Junyi stood up solemnly, bowed respectfully, and said, "So you were my father's close friend, please forgive my rudeness."

Rong Jingzong smiled and said, "Young master, please don't be so polite. I am just a subordinate under your father, how dare I be called a close friend?" He continued, "Your father was mature beyond his years and handled matters steadily. In just a few years in the society, through the Yellow Dragon Hall's patrol leader, he rose through the ranks to become the leader of the Flying Dragon Hall. The old leader relied on him as his right-hand man. Not only had he long intended to marry his daughter to him, but he also intended for him to succeed as the leader of the Black Dragon Society..." At this point, he picked up his teacup again, took a sip to moisten his throat, and continued, "That was in the third year your father came to the Black Dragon Society. That autumn, the old leader betrothed his adopted daughter, Ruyu, to your father. But on the night of their wedding, Ruyu suddenly left..." He seemed to have something left to say, but suddenly stopped. Ling Junyi naturally understood that Rong Jingzong's words seemed somewhat ambiguous at this point, implying that Ruhua's departure was likely related to the wedding.

Rong Jingzong continued, "The old leader is over sixty years old and has only one daughter. Ruhua's sudden departure naturally caused the old leader and his wife great sorrow. Especially the old lady, who missed her daughter terribly and soon fell ill. At this time, the Qing court also heard rumors of the Black Dragon Society's treacherous plot and sent a group of imperial guards to search Kunyu Mountain. However, our society had already received the news, and the Black Dragon Society's headquarters is deep within the mountains, so these henchmen naturally couldn't find it."

Ling Junyi couldn't help but ask, "Does the Black Dragon Society just let these henchmen come to our door without giving them a good beating?"

Rong Jingzong replied, "This is what the old leader valued most. At that time, the Qing court was at its peak, and many patriots from all over the country had already sacrificed themselves. In order to preserve our strength, we strongly advocated against rash action." He then sighed and continued... "But unexpectedly, among these henchmen, there was a guard who was actually a disciple of the Divine Calculator. The layout of this mountain's trap was originally the work of the Divine Calculator, so his disciples naturally knew it at a glance. Under his guidance, they attacked from Huanglong Cave. Since the mountain's trap had been exposed, the old master couldn't let any of these Qing court henchmen escape, otherwise there would be endless trouble. That night, we all went out and wiped out all eighteen imperial guards who had invaded Kunyu Mountain. In this battle, the old master killed five of their henchmen, but was injured by one of their poisoned hidden weapons..."

Ling Junyi said, "The Lilong Pearl can cure all the world's most poisonous poisons, the old master..."

Rong Jingzong interrupted him before he could finish, "No, the Lilong Pearl can cure all the world's most poisonous poisons, but the old master was injured by a poisoned blow needle used by the Miao people." The needle was as fine as a hair, striking a person without them even noticing. At that time, the old leader was fighting a powerful enemy and didn't know he had been ambushed. Only after the enemy was wiped out and he returned to the main hall did he realize the poison had attacked his internal organs, and he suddenly fell into a coma. At the time, no one knew the old leader had been poisoned; they thought he was just old and weak. Even after emergency treatment, he remained unconscious. A careful examination revealed a very thin black shadow on his left shoulder, leading them to conclude that he had been hit by a small, hidden weapon. They tried to use the "Dragon Pearl" to absorb the poison, but it was too late. He passed away before dawn, without leaving a single last word.

Ling Junyi asked, "And then?"

Rong Jingzong replied, "The society cannot be without a leader for even a day, otherwise it will be like a group of dragons without a head. Everyone elected your father as the new leader before the old leader's spirit."

Ling Junyi asked, "Then how did my father get killed?" Rong Jingzong suddenly sighed deeply and said, "

Your father was only in his twenties at the time. He had only been with the Black Dragon Society for four years. Thanks to the old leader's appreciation and support, he rose from a patrol leader in the Yellow Dragon Hall to the leader of the Flying Dragon Hall. Before his death, the old leader had repeatedly expressed that he favored your father as his successor. Therefore, he received everyone's support before the old leader's memorial. However, the Black Dragon Society had been established for thirty years. Although your father possessed great talent and ambition, he was ultimately young and inexperienced, and could not live up to everyone's expectations..."

Ling Junyi said, "So you mean everyone was dissatisfied with my late father?"

Rong Jingzong said, "That's not the case. The elders who co-founded the Black Dragon Society with the old leader initially felt that your father was too young and inexperienced. However, after the old leader's death, your father deliberately reorganized the society for a year. The reputation of the Black Dragon Society in the martial arts world can be said to have created an unprecedented situation." The elders also deeply felt that the old leader was indeed good at recognizing talent, and naturally gave their full support. Even Han Zhankui, the leader of the Azure Dragon Hall who had always been at odds with your father, turned to your father and pledged his loyalty. This year can truly be called the golden age of the Black Dragon Society..."

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