Overnight, the Shengyuan Fu Family’s estate was burned to the ground.

Under the cover of the hazy night, Fu Zheng drove an ox-cart, setting out with the few remaining children of the family.

"A hundred years ago, besides our ancestor Fu Xuan, there was another astonishingly talented and remarkable figure in the Martial World."

"He was known as the Demon Saber!"

"He wielded a strange long saber, said to have the power to control men’s minds, and roamed the Martial World undefeated."

Fu Zheng flicked the reins, urging the cart along the mountain path as he spoke:

"His endless evil deeds provoked public outrage, and in the end, our ancestor took action and struck him down. With his death, his legacy was severed."

"The Demon Saber?" Zhu Ju, riding his horse alongside, turned his head and asked:

"That saber..."

"Destroyed!" Fu Zheng shook his head.

"It was indeed destroyed, or at least that’s what the family records say. But who can tell the truth from the lies of what happened a hundred years ago?"

"There are even rumors that our ancestor and that man were the closest of friends, and that they only rose to prominence after a certain fateful encounter..."

His voice was filled with emotion, his expression complex.

Even though Fu Zheng had been a merchant for many years and seen the rise and fall of many fortunes, the previous night’s catastrophe had still left him in a daze.

"Brother Fu, my condolences."

Zhu Ju advised:

"Once you’re in the Martial World, your fate is not your own. Perhaps this was destined. After a hundred years, it is time for the Shengyuan Fu Family to return to the main branch."

"Heh..." Fu Zheng gave a bitter smile.

"If not for our ancestral precepts, I would rather have been a true merchant. The Fu name... for us descendants, it feels like a heavy mountain on our backs!"

From their conversation, Zhu Ju could sense that the other man was purely a merchant at heart, who just happened to conceal his Martial Arts.

In fact, Fu Zheng was the weakest Grandmaster Gui Cang he had ever met; his strength was likely inferior even to Shenn Hu of the Body Tempering Realm.

It wasn’t just his strength. Fu Zheng also rigidly adhered to his ancestral precepts and was completely ignorant of the happenings in the Martial World.

Perhaps,

he really just wanted to be a merchant.

"Our ancestor was from Dingzhou, born of humble origins. According to rumors in the Martial World, he witnessed a miracle, and his skills were a gift from the heavens, which is how he became an Unparalleled Grandmaster."

Fu Zheng continued:

"The same was said of the Demon Saber..."

"Brother Fu," Zhu Ju interrupted him.

"You don’t actually have to tell me all this."

"Heh..." Fu Zheng shook his head.

"None of this is a secret. Besides, now that they’ve come knocking on our door, there’s no point in hiding it any longer."

"Our ancestor did have a fateful encounter, but which Limit-Breaking Grandmaster hasn’t had their own unique opportunities?"

"True enough," Zhu Ju nodded.

"There was an encounter, but the idea of a heaven-sent Divine Skill is nonsense." Fu Zheng took a deep breath and went on:

"My ancestor’s Fist Technique has a clear and proper origin. It was the Ping Mountain Five Beasts Skill. Later, after observing the Three Mountains and Five Peaks, he innovated and created the Five Elements Fist."

"Others refused to believe in our ancestor’s exceptional Talent and claimed his skills were heaven-sent, but that’s only because they couldn’t stand being inferior to him!"

Zhu Ju stroked his chin. As a legend of his generation, Fu Xuan’s story was known to everyone in the Martial World, and it was true that there was nothing particularly strange about it.

If anything was to be called strange, it would have to be his unbelievable Martial Arts Talent.

"Whoa..."

Zhu Ju suddenly yanked the reins, halting his horse with a grave expression:

"Stop!"

"What is it?"

"The smell of blood." Sniffing the air, Zhu Ju said in a low voice:

"Such a strong smell of blood!"

"Ah?" Fu Zheng’s face changed drastically.

"Yanyun Temple!"

...

The once peaceful and serene Daoist Temple had become a living hell, with corpses littering the path all the way up.

Blood, not yet dry, flowed in the gutters, and the thick stench of it filled the air.

"This..."

"What happened here?"

Fu Zheng’s face was deathly pale. He shielded the children tightly behind him, his eyes wide with terror as he stared at the scene:

"Daoist Guk, Temple Master Yiyi..."

"They’re all dead!"

"Not just the people from the Daoist Temple," Zhu Ju said, shaking his head. His eyes swept over the bodies, a thoughtful look on his face.

"There are other members of the Martial World here, too. Both sides took casualties. Hmm..."

"The Red Blood Divine Claw!"

He turned over a corpse, and a familiar type of wound met his eyes.

"The Red Blood Sect!"

BANG!

The noise from above made Zhu Ju look up. He tilted his head to listen and could faintly hear the sounds of fighting.

"I’m going up to take a look."

"I’ll help you," Fu Zheng said, taking a step forward.

"No," Zhu Ju shook his head.

"You watch the children. Find a safe place to settle them first. I’m just going up for a look and will be right back."

’With my current strength, I can protect myself even if I encounter a Limit-Breaking Grandmaster.’

’Even if I’m besieged by multiple experts, I can just retreat to the Main World at worst. I’ll face almost no real danger, which is why I can wander this world so freely.’

*

*

*

The battle was raging.

Hundreds of people from the Martial World were scattered throughout the dense forest surrounding the Daoist Temple, fighting in groups of three or five or in one-on-one duels. Flashes of sabers and swords were accompanied by the thuds of falling bodies.

BANG!

Fu Huanlian executed the Seven-Star Step, her stance as steady as the Plum Blossom Stance. Her fists struck out in all directions, swift as lightning, as she seamlessly executed the Five Elements Fist.

Chopping, Drilling, Crossing, Bursting, Cannon...

The five simple fist forms transformed into the variations of the Five Elements, her attacks flowing with continuous momentum, a perfect blend of hard and soft.

"What a fine Fist Technique!"

Her opponent was dressed in black, his face like a mask of dead muscle, unchanging from start to finish.

"Worthy of an Unparalleled Grandmaster, to be able to turn such a common Fist Technique into something miraculous. A pity... his descendants haven’t improved."

Blood Tribulation Claw!

Blood Fire Evil Gang!

An sinister, fiery Gang Force erupted, violently shattering Fu Huanlian’s Fist Momentum and pressing forward.

CLANG!

Just as the attack was about to land, a sharp sword suddenly appeared from the side, its Sword Light aimed directly at the core of the erupting Gang Force.

Wind and Cloud Sword!

The Ye Family’s Sword Technique!

BOOM...

With a roar of Powerful Qi, the three figures were all forced back.

"Liuyun," Fu Huanlian said, her expression grave.

"Be careful. Black Impermanence’s Qi Blood is infused with a tribulation fire Gang Force. Whatever you do, don’t face him head-on."

"Understood." Ye Liuyun nodded in agreement. His sword form initiated, sweeping up the fallen leaves on the ground as his body transformed into a streak of light and shot forward.

Flying Star Chasing the Sun!

"Ye Family junior, for the sake of my past relationship with your ancestor, I had intended to spare your life." Black Impermanence tilted his head to dodge the longsword, his hands shifting between claws, fists, and finger strikes as he attacked:

"But since you’re so determined to die, don’t blame this old man for being ruthless!"

SCREEECH...

His fingers closed over the masterfully forged blade, creating a sound like metal striking metal and sending sparks flying.

At that moment, Fu Huanlian also charged forward with her fists.

Her Five Elements Fist’s momentum shifted, her body grinding forward and back like a millstone, pivoting at the waist, her Fist Force changing at will.

Although she was only at the Gui Cang realm, she was actually able to tie down a Limit-Breaking Grandmaster with her Fist Technique.

With the addition of Ye Liuyun’s sublime Sword Technique and the Treasure Sword in his hand that could cut through iron as if it were mud, the two sides were surprisingly evenly matched for a moment, and the situation reached a stalemate.

"Excellent!"

Black Impermanence threw his head back and let out a long cry, his Powerful Qi surging.

"I haven’t been active in the Martial World for ten years, and to think the younger generation has produced such talents. In another ten years, I fear you would become a great threat."

"A pity..."

"You won’t get that chance!"

His figure moved like lightning, flickering like a phantom as a piercing sound echoed in their eardrums, causing their Qi Blood to churn violently.

Demon Sound Piercing Ears!

Fu Huanlian’s expression flickered, and a slight hesitation appeared in her movements, but Ye Liuyun was completely unaffected.

"Strange?"

Seeing this, Black Impermanence Du Zai raised an eyebrow.

"The Five Elements Fist Scripture can suppress foreign energies, yet she was still affected by my sound waves. Ye family brat, why are you unharmed?"

"Hmph!"

Ye Liuyun snorted coldly.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to answer, but that he couldn’t.

Facing a Limit-Breaking Grandmaster who had been famous for decades, he was already using his full strength and didn’t dare to be distracted for even a moment.

The fact that Black Impermanence Du Zai could talk so ceaselessly proved he still had strength to spare.

"It doesn’t matter..."

With a low laugh, a vicious look appeared in Black Impermanence’s eyes. His two-handed assault suddenly intensified, and his Powerful Qi surged.

Evil Fire Asura Finger!

Tribulation Destruction Palm!

...

Faced with unprecedented pressure and the imminent threat of death, Fu Huanlian and Ye Liuyun also erupted with shocking potential.

A fist and a sword, displaying their full brilliance.

But it was a pity.

The chasm between the Gui Cang and Breaking Limit realms was not so easily crossed.

If they were given a few more years, or even just a few months, they might have had a chance to break through his assault.

But now...

As time went on, their disadvantage gradually became apparent, and a hint of despair appeared in their eyes.

WHOOSH...

Suddenly, a violent gust of wind rose from behind, and a figure shot straight toward Black Impermanence Du Zai at an astonishing speed.

"Hm?"

Du Zai raised an eyebrow, turned, and threw a palm strike.

BANG!

The terrifying Strength made his expression change drastically. For a dazed moment, he instinctively thought a Limit-Breaking Grandmaster was launching a sneak attack.

SWOOSH!

After the Palm Force passed, the sky was filled with claw shadows that rained down on him.

"Red Blood Divine Claw?"

Du Zai roared furiously.

"Who are you?"

Zhu Ju remained silent, simply launching a frenzied assault. He switched between fists and claws, relying on his Thirteen Body Refinement to protect himself as he attacked relentlessly.

BANG!

CRACKLE... POP...

The two collided head-on, their Powerful Qi roaring. Everywhere they passed, walls crumbled and buildings collapsed, leaving a trail of destruction.

"What are you standing there gawking for?" Zhu Ju roared at Fu and Ye. "Help me!"

’Black Impermanence Du Zai’s strength isn’t on par with the Whale Rider, Mui Beiting, but he’s still not someone I can handle alone.’

But to see someone at the Gui Cang realm stand firm against a Breaking Limit Grandmaster, not losing ground in a direct confrontation, had left the two of them momentarily stunned.

CLANG!

Ye Liuyun unleashed his sword, and Sword Qi crisscrossed the air.

Fu Huanlian stomped her foot, arriving behind Du Zai in a flash, her Fist Momentum crashing down as if the heavens themselves were falling.

BOOM!

Following a roar of Powerful Qi, a figure shot out from the chaos and vanished after a few flickers.

"He escaped!"

Zhu Ju shook his head.

"It seems that even with the three of us working together, we still couldn’t keep a Breaking Limit expert from leaving."