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Cloud Mountain is vast, with Cloud Martial Hall, the headquarters of the Five Halls, and the main hall of the sect all situated on the mountain. Many martial artists and their families also reside there.

The unquestionable highest sanctum of the sect is the Cloud Hall.

This is the highest peak of the entire Cloud Mountain, the beginning of the foundation of the Hengyun Sect by the 'Cloud Mountain Grandmaster.'

Starting from the Cloud Hall, the Hengyun Sect has thrived for three hundred years.

Today, inside the Cloud Hall,

"Inform the Supreme, this is the current situation of Wu Yuan." Huan Zidong respectfully knelt on the ground.

With him was Zhao Baifan.

At this moment, Zhao Baifan lowered her head, but her eyes were filled with excitement.

Because she saw the person she admired most in her life.

"Sixteen years old, reaching the Just and Yielding Realm?" A gentle female voice sounded, expressing surprise and delight.

"You may rise."

"Yes."

Huan Zidong and Zhao Baifan quickly stood up, and before them was an extremely spacious hall.

At the end of the hall, on a nine-tiered staircase, there was a massive jade platform.

On the jade platform sat an elderly woman of about fifty or sixty, wearing a red robe.

There were many wrinkles between her eyebrows, but they couldn't conceal the peerless charm she had in her youth.

At first glance, she seemed like a noblewoman, not a martial artist.

But Huan Zidong and Zhao Baifan understood that this seemingly ordinary old woman was the pillar of the Hengyun Sect—Grandmaster Buyu.

With one person and one sword, she had dominated Jiangzhou for thirty years!

"Zidong." The woman in the red robe spoke softly. "I agree to let Wu Yuan descend the mountain. Since he has the strength to protect himself, let him go out and experience the world."

"But Supreme, isn't it too early? Various forces are watching him closely." Huan Zidong couldn't help but say.

In front of Grandmaster Buyu, he was just a junior.

"Young eagles will always want to test the storms outside," the woman in the red robe smiled. "In my twenties, I traveled the world before taking over the sect."

"Xu Hui has been wielding his sword in Jiangzhou for more than a year now, and he has already ranked over two hundred on the list."

"Grandmaster, it can't be cultivated."

"It's not just about strength and combat skills. A Grandmaster must also have a decisive and ruthless heart. Without experiencing storms, no matter how strong you are, you are only a first-rank martial artist, not a Grandmaster." The woman in the red robe said lightly.

"First-rank martial artist? Not a Grandmaster?" Huan Zidong pondered.

"Time waits for no one."

"Whether it's me or your father, we can't delay for too long," the woman in the red robe said softly. "Since Xia Heng's death, for two generations within the sect, no one has shown the aura of a Grandmaster. Going further down, it's Xu Hui and Wu Yuan."

"They must grow up as soon as possible."

"Otherwise."

"The three-hundred-year foundation of the Hengyun Sect will be destroyed in our hands." The woman in the red robe shook her head. "Clear the tail, spread the word outside. Say that Wu Yuan will be in seclusion under my guidance for two months."

"Yes." Huan Zidong agreed.

...

"The Supreme agreed?" Wu Yuan, seeing 'Zhao Baifan' who came to deliver the order, looked pleasantly surprised.

"Yes."

Zhao Baifan nodded. "I went to see Grand Elder Huan together with Elder Huan to meet the Supreme. Despite some objections from Elder Huan, it was ultimately decided by the Supreme to let you descend the mountain."

Wu Yuan nodded.

This Grandmaster Buyu was indeed someone who understood the situation.

Of course, it could also be said that cultivating trust in the juniors by 'letting go' nurtures outstanding talents.

"But Elder Huan has ordered that while you are outside, you must not reveal your identity." Zhao Baifan emphasized. "Once you leave your home after returning from the mountain, the sect will announce that you are personally guided by Elder Yu in seclusion. Do you understand?"

Wu Yuan nodded.

This was a strategy of deception to relax the vigilance and scrutiny of various forces.

Although Wu Yuan didn't care much.

But he had to admit that the arrangement of the Hengyun Sect was quite reasonable.

...

The earth was covered in thick snow, and the cold wind was biting.

Without displaying the Easy Bone technique.

Wu Yuan packed his belongings, carrying only a jade bottle, two war knives, and some gold and silver bills. He descended the mountain overnight.

Following the official road, in less than an hour, he returned to the 'Wu Mansion' located in Cloud Mountain City.

The sound of hoofbeats.

"The young master has returned to the mansion!" Two third-rate experts guarding the entrance, as soon as they saw Wu Yuan's face, showed expressions of surprise.

Almost unbelievable.

"Young Master is back."

"Hurry, inform Madam." The normally quiet Wu Mansion suddenly buzzed with activity. Soon, a large group of people surrounded a well-dressed woman who walked out.

It was Wan Qin.

"Child Wu Yuan, greet your mother." Wu Yuan respectfully bowed.

"Good child, get up quickly, get up quickly." Wan Qin lifted Wu Yuan, her face filled with joy, and she touched Wu Yuan's face. "You've lost some weight."

"But you've also grown stronger." Wu Yuan smiled as he stood up.

Compared to two years ago, Wan Qin looked even better. Now, she had the aura of a titled lady, and at first glance, she seemed to be just over thirty.

This was something Wu Yuan was quite satisfied with.

He never inquired with the sect, but the sect had arranged everything. They brought in a reputable doctor to treat and nourish Wan Qin's body. They even used a gentle and precious natural substance, taken daily to enhance her health.

Not to become a warrior, of course!

But to warm the body, promote longevity, and improve overall well-being.

"Big Brother." A lively young girl in martial attire bounced out and immediately hugged Wu Yuan.

"Little Yijun." Wu Yuan smiled.

This was his younger sister, Wu Yijun, who, compared to over a year ago, had grown taller, become more slender, and had been confirmed by the sect to possess a certain talent in martial arts.

Now, she was training at the 'East City Martial Academy' in Yunshan Mansion.

Although it was a basic martial academy, it was considered the best among all the basic martial academies in the entire Hengyun Sect.

Why?

Even the direct descendants of the masters and elders would come here to study.

It was a genuine 'Martial Merit Academy.'

However, with Wu Yijun's status, she was at the top in the East City Martial Academy.

After all, besides the direct descendants of the elders and guardians, no one could match Wu Yijun.

The entire Yunshan Mansion's large family knew that Wu Yuan had only two close relatives, and they were highly valued by the sect.

"Madam, don't let the Young Master and Miss stand in the snow. Let's go inside." The housekeeper reminded.

"Yes!"

"Yes, let's go inside." Everyone echoed.

The group entered the house.

The whole Wu family was lively and harmonious today. People began buying things, as if preparing for an early New Year or a ceremony honoring the God of War.

Late at night, in a room of the Wu family.

"Clan Leader." Wu Yuan smiled.

"Wu Yuan." Wu Qiming said helplessly, "I've said it before, you take on the role of Clan Leader, and I'll just be an elder in the clan."

"I don't have time to manage things." Wu Yuan shook his head.

"I can manage things for you." Wu Qiming said, "The name is what matters."

"Since you're handling the affairs, then you should take on the role." Wu Yuan smiled. "If the name isn't right, the words won't be smooth. You being the Clan Leader will make the various forces in Yunshan Mansion pay attention to you."

Wu Qiming shook his head, unable to say anything more.

"In the mansion, thank you for your hard work as Clan Leader." Wu Yuan said.

"Where is the talk? The sect has already arranged everything well, and we are just assisting a bit." Wu Qiming sighed. "If anything, we are benefiting from your radiance."

Wu Yuan smiled faintly.

"Wu Yuan, how do you view the matter with the Main Sect?" Wu Qiming couldn't help asking.

"It won't affect." Wu Yuan said indifferently. "Wu Mao is a decisive person. As a second-rate expert and a sect official, he has his own judgments."

"But!"

"No matter what happens in the future, after I leave, you will be the first Clan Leader of the Wu family in Yunshan. If Wu Mao is willing, he can become the Grand Elder when the time comes." Wu Yuan said softly. "Then, after that."

"Yunshan Wu family, there is no distinction between us." Wu Yuan said, "The capable rise, the weak fall. I will protect the family, but how far the family can go still depends on itself."

"I understand." Wu Qiming nodded.

"Clan leader, take this money." Wu Yuan turned his palm, handing over a stack of gold and silver bills.

"This?" Wu Qiming's pupils contracted slightly.

"A total of one hundred thousand taels," Wu Yuan said. "Currently, I haven't set out on my journey, and the offerings from the sect can only cover my mother and sister's expenses."

"Living in the vast Yunshan is not easy!"

"I know it's difficult for the clan. Consider this money as startup funds for the family," Wu Yuan said.

In the past, he didn't dare to offer so much money due to his insufficient status and strength. But now?

Even if Wu Qiming was curious, he had no place to inquire.

"Wu Yuan." Wu Qiming expressed a hint of embarrassment.

"Clan leader, don't be troubled," Wu Yuan smiled. "Back then, the family sacrificed a lot for me. Now it's time for me to repay the family, right?"

"Rest assured."

"This money is nothing to me, and it won't affect my cultivation," Wu Yuan said calmly.

In the end, Wu Qiming accepted the stack of gold and silver bills.

Back at home, Wu Yuan continued his daily cultivation. During the day, he spent his free time with his mother. He knew these days were precious, and while he could live a long time, his mother might not. Moreover, as his strength and status grew, such leisurely days would become increasingly rare. Wu Yuan cherished this family affection.

After more than ten days passed, Wu Yuan bid farewell to his mother and clan leader Wu Qiming at night. He didn't inform anyone else in the house, not even his sister Wu Yijun.

Changing into clothes he had never worn before, packing his belongings and weapons, and undergoing Bone Transformation, Wu Yuan silently left the Wu residence.

Yunshan Mansion had no curfew at night and was exceptionally lively, but only in the west and north of the city. As he headed south, the houses became simpler and more dilapidated, and the atmosphere more desolate.

"Free, unrestrained."

"Don't worry about anything, and don't bear any responsibilities." Wu Yuan walked the streets with a knife on his back, enjoying an unprecedented sense of relaxation.

Having formidable strength but no constraints!

After a full hour, Wu Yuan, strolling leisurely, arrived at a dilapidated courtyard in the south of the city.

The courtyard gate was half open, and only the hanging lanterns indicated someone lived there.

Wearing a pre-prepared mask, he pushed the door.

"Who's there?" a reprimanding voice sounded.

"Three-star assassin, Qianshan, here to complete a mission." Wu Yuan calmly stated, speaking directly.

His voice was light, yet it was as shocking as thunder.

The two guards at the door were startled.

So direct?

They couldn't help but glance around the streets, fortunately, no one was passing by.

"What assassin, what Qianshan," one guard scolded, "Leave quickly, there's nothing you're looking for here."

"Qianshan?" The other guard seemed to realize, "Are you the Qianshan who killed Chen Tangru and Wang Zhushan?"

The guard who was about to scold Wu Yuan also seemed to wake up.

"Of course," Wu Yuan nodded.

The two guards exchanged a glance, both filled with fear. Although they were lower-level employees of the Seven Stars Tower, they had also heard of the name Qianshan.

He was a top-notch expert!

"Please, sir, come into the mansion first. It's crowded outside, and we'll go report." One guard whispered.

Wu Yuan nodded slightly.

He wasn't afraid of any ambush or trap.

Nothing else!

"Great skill requires great courage! When weak, one must be cautious, but with great strength, one can be unrestrained. Of course, the main reason is Wu Yuan's sufficient confidence in his 'divine sense.'

Soon, a steward came out and respectfully led Wu Yuan into the depths of the courtyard.

The walls were high, and rows of houses stood densely packed. Upon entering the not-so-large courtyard, more than ten figures stood, each wearing bronze masks. Despite the masks, Wu Yuan, through divine sense, recognized them by their footsteps and postures – all of them were experts!

"Quite a crowd." Wu Yuan glanced around and said casually, "What, do you plan to detain me when I come to complete the mission?"

"Is this the rule of the Seven Stars Tower?" Wu Yuan's eyes turned cold, and his low voice suddenly became icy, filled with killing intent.

The sound passed, an invisible pressure causing more than ten experts in the courtyard to instinctively shudder. They were startled; what kind of technique was this?

Little did they know that over the past year, Wu Yuan often contemplated the Black Tower. As his spiritual consciousness grew stronger and more sensitive, he gradually developed the application of 'divine' methods, starting with intimidating voices and expressions.

Now, without Wu Yuan making a move, just this technique made everyone in the courtyard hesitant to act recklessly.

"Qianshan, just kidding."

One of the masked men in a red robe finally stepped forward with a smiling mask. His voice was gentle, "I am the master of the 'Jiangzhou branch' of the Seven Stars Tower. You can call me 'Master Ma.' We came out not to cause trouble."

"Just thought someone was impersonating you, Qianshan."

"After all, for more than a year, you've been silent."

Master Ma smiled and said, "We thought you had given up this identity, so we had to be cautious."

"It's hard to get the identity of the Seven Stars Tower. How could I give it up?" Wu Yuan smiled faintly.

"Qianshan, you are too bold. Now, everyone in Jiangzhou is looking for you." Master Ma sighed, "This Yunshan Mansion is the main stronghold of the Hengyun Sect."

"So what if they are looking for me?" Wu Yuan smiled, "Could it be that there are Grandmaster-level experts in your tower?"

"Naturally not." Master Ma smiled awkwardly.

"That's fine." Wu Yuan said casually, "Under Grandmaster, I fear no one. Even if the two Grandmasters of the Hengyun Sect come, whether they can keep me is still uncertain."

A group of Seven Stars Tower experts all had slightly contracted pupils.

Such boldness!

"Qianshan has such courage; I admire it." Master Ma's tone remained unchanged as he smiled, "But I wonder, what brings Qianshan here today?"

"Completing a mission."

Wu Yuan said casually, "Over a year ago, I took on the task of killing 'Xu Shouyi' who left the city. Due to some matters, I went to Minzhou, and now that I'm back, I thought I might as well complete the mission."

"There shouldn't be an expiration date for Seven Stars Tower missions once completed." Wu Yuan calmly said.

"Of course not."

"Please, Qianshan, take out your identity token for verification." Master Ma said.

Wu Yuan flicked his hand, and the token flew out. Master Ma took it, checked it briefly, nodded, and handed it back to Wu Yuan. "The token is correct. What reward would Qianshan like?"

"Convert all into Vitality Pills." Wu Yuan said casually.

"No problem." Master Ma nodded.

In just a few dozen breaths, someone from a dark room in the corner of the courtyard brought all the packaged Vitality Pills.

Wu Yuan took a glance, a total of forty-five pills.

Accepted.

"I wonder if Qianshan has anything else?" Master Ma asked, "Do you want to take on another mission?"

"I just want to ask, are there five-star missions in Jiangzhou?" Wu Yuan smiled, "Would I be able to take them?"

Five-star missions?

Master Ma stared at Wu Yuan in shock, "Qianshan, do you understand what a five-star mission entails?"

"I understand. Generally, it involves assassinating top-notch experts," Wu Yuan nodded.

"There are indeed." Master Ma nodded, "And there are two of them, both old missions that no one in Jiangzhou has been able to complete."

"However, Qianshan, you're only a three-star assassin. To complete the mission, you must prove your strength." Master Ma said.

"Strength?" Wu Yuan grinned.

"Whoosh!"

The blade flashed and disappeared, then was sheathed again.

It was only at this moment that a strand of long hair slowly fell from Master Ma's head.

The courtyard fell into silence!

"Is this strength enough to take on missions?" Wu Yuan's voice echoed softly.

— (End of this chapter)

Chapter 97: Amidst the Myriad Armies

That strand of long hair floated down.

In the courtyard, the silence was so profound that even the fall of a pin could be heard clearly. All the Seven Stars Tower experts stared fixedly at Wu Yuan.

No one dared to move.

Everyone was intimidated by this one strike.

Even Master Ma, who seemed indifferent, saw his own hair falling in front of him. His pupils shrank involuntarily, a trace of fear passing through his eyes.

He might not be a top-notch expert, nor ranked on any lists, but in terms of strength, he held a position within the top two or three hundred on the rankings. How else could he control a group of arrogant and fierce warriors?

But Wu Yuan's strike!

It was unbelievably fast. One could say that if Wu Yuan had intended to kill him just now, his head would have already rolled.

A full breath of time passed.

"Cough, cough."

Master Ma finally regained his composure, laughter concealing his fear. "Qianshan senior, just kidding. Your strength is more than enough for a five-star mission."

"Cang steward, bring the mission roster for Qianshan senior to see." Master Ma involuntarily changed his address to 'senior.'

Obviously, the strength displayed by Wu Yuan was much higher than his ranking in the 'Hidden Blade' identity on the rankings.

He was by no means a top-notch expert at the bottom of the list.

Such figures were scarce, probably only around twenty or thirty in the entire Jiangzhou.

"Yes." A expert in the courtyard spoke in a deep voice.

Whoosh! He flashed into a nearby room, quickly retrieved a folder, and handed it to Wu Yuan.

"Senior, please take a look. On the last page are two five-star missions." Master Ma said softly, "Five-star missions are very rare. First, there are only a limited number of assassination targets qualified for a five-star mission throughout Jiangzhou. Second, the price is very high and not affordable by ordinary forces."

"Plus, there's a time limit."

Wu Yuan nodded slightly and began flipping through the folder, directly turning to the last page.

There were two five-star missions listed.

The first mission.

"Hengyun Sect Yunwu Hall disciple 'Wu Yuan,' ranked first in the 'Jiangzhou Genius List,' aged only sixteen, should already possess the strength of a second-rate expert. Kill him. This mission is a five-star mission.

Mission Reward: Five million taels of silver or two and a half million merit points.

Requirement: It must be completed by September of the year 3226 in the Eastern Wulin calendar. Any means can be employed to kill the target!"

At first glance, it seemed like an easy task.

"Kill Wu Yuan?" Wu Yuan whispered, "Is this Wu Yuan the one who has become famous in Jiangzhou in the past two years?"

"Yes, your senior should already know his name and understand his extraordinary talent," Master Ma nodded. "His personal strength is not worth mentioning."

"However, he has been cultivating on Yunshan Mountain. Yunshan is the stronghold of the Hengyun Sect, and they must be heavily protecting him. If you want to sneak into Yunshan and assassinate him, it naturally involves great risks. First-rate experts can't possibly succeed, so it's designated as a 'five-star mission.'" Master Ma explained.

"I didn't expect this kid to be quite valuable," Wu Yuan said indifferently.

"A five-star mission rewards at least one million taels of silver. This five million taels of silver is indeed very high," Master Ma acknowledged.

"But you guys dare to take on such missions even in Yunshan City. Aren't you afraid that the Hengyun Sect will come knocking?" Wu Yuan glanced at him.

"Not afraid! Not only us, but the Nine Kill Mansion also has this mission, and even some second-rate dark organizations are secretly watching Wu Yuan. The Great Jin Empire, Guiyu Sect, and many other sect forces are also keeping an eye on him." Master Ma smiled, "He's as good as dead!"

"The Hengyun Sect won't be able to find out who did it," Master Ma said, "Just like you, senior. If you take on this mission and someone else completes it, you can still come here to claim the reward. After all, we can't confirm whether it was you who completed it."

"As long as Wu Yuan dies, the mission is considered complete."

Wu Yuan nodded slightly.

Truly crazy!

His gaze shifted down to the second mission.

"In the Hengshan Prefecture of the Great Jin, near Yunshan Prefecture, there is a stationed elite army of ten thousand, the 'Conquering the East Sixth Legion.' The commanding general is named 'Wang Xiaoxi,' possessing top-notch expert strength. Kill him. This mission is a 'five-star mission.'

Mission Reward: Six million taels of silver or three million merit points.

Requirement: It must be completed by June of the year 3226 in the Eastern Wulin calendar. Any means can be employed to kill the target!"

Chapter 97: Amidst the Armies

"That target is quite interesting," Wu Yuan whispered.

The courtyard fell into a hushed silence, and every expert from the Seven Stars Tower stared at Wu Yuan. Not a single person dared to move; they were all frozen by that single stroke.

Even Master Ma, who usually seemed indifferent, saw his hair drifting down and involuntarily showed a trace of fear.

Although not a top-notch expert and not listed on the rankings, Master Ma's strength was roughly in the range of two to three hundred on the rankings. How else could he control a group of proud soldiers?

But Wu Yuan's strike!

Incredibly fast, it could be said that if Wu Yuan had intended to kill him just now, his head would have already fallen to the ground.

A full breath's time passed.

"Cough, cough."

Master Ma regained composure, masking his fear with laughter. "Senior Qianshan is joking. Your strength is more than enough for a five-star mission."

"Cang steward, bring the mission roster for Senior Qianshan to see," Master Ma involuntarily changed his address to 'senior.'

Clearly, Wu Yuan's revealed strength was much higher than his ranking as the 'Hidden Blade' on the rankings.

Definitely not the kind of top-notch expert at the bottom of the list.

Such figures numbered only around thirty or so in the vast Jiangzhou.

"Yes." A master in the courtyard said in a low voice.

Swoosh! With a flash, he darted into a nearby room. Swiftly, he retrieved a scroll and handed it to Wu Yuan.

"Senior, please take a look. The last page contains two five-star missions," Master Ma said softly. "Five-star missions are rare. Firstly, there are only a few assassination targets eligible for five stars in the whole of Jiangzhou. Secondly, the rewards are exceptionally high and beyond the capacity of ordinary forces."

"Plus, there's a time limit."

Wu Yuan nodded slightly and flipped through the scroll directly to the last page.

There were two five-star missions written there.

The first mission.

"Hengyun Sect's Yunwu Hall disciple 'Wu Yuan,' ranked first in the 'Jiangzhou Genius List,' only sixteen years old, expected to have the strength of a second-rate master. Kill him. This mission is a five-star mission.

Mission reward: five million two hundred and fifty thousand silver or two hundred and fifty thousand merit points.

Requirement: Must be killed by September in the Eastern Martial calendar of the year 3226. Any means can be used to kill the target!"

At first glance, it seemed like an easy mission.

"Kill Wu Yuan?" Wu Yuan murmured, "Is this the person who has become famous in Jiangzhou in the past two years?"

"Yes, his name is known to seniors, and you should understand his extraordinary talent," Master Ma nodded, "His personal strength is nothing to speak of."

"However, he has been practicing on Cloud Mountain, which is the main stronghold of the Hengyun Sect. He is undoubtedly heavily protected. If you want to sneak into Cloud Mountain and assassinate him, it naturally involves great risks. Even top-notch experts might easily die once they get entangled in the midst of a large army," Master Ma said.

Wu Yuan nodded gently.

Yunwu Hall?

"I've accepted the task to assassinate Wu Yuan," Wu Yuan said calmly.

"Really accepted?" Master Ma was surprised.

"Otherwise? Every time I, Qianshan, haven't completed a mission?" Wu Yuan said casually, "What, can't I take it on?"

"Haha, of course you can."

Master Ma hesitated and said, "However, Senior Qianshan, regarding missions, more than a year ago, the assassination mission of the Blood Wolf Gang's leader, 'Blood Wolf Wushan,' seems to have been unfulfilled."

Wu Yuan was stunned.

He had forgotten about that.

"I'm not blaming senior." Master Ma said, "But you did not complete the assassination mission on time. According to the rules, you should deduct the corresponding star points."

"Deduct as you like." Wu Yuan said casually.

Star points?

Wu Yuan didn't care. He wasn't aiming to become a Six-Star Assassin or Seven-Star Assassin in the Seven Stars Tower.

Master Ma was taken aback.

"Senior Qianshan, do you want corresponding information?" Master Ma asked, "Because the reward exceeds a million two hundred thousand silver, even if you complete the task, the highest deduction will be one hundred thousand silver."

For internal information within the Seven Stars Tower, deductions were ten percent of the reward for missions below five stars and a flat one hundred thousand for five-star missions and above.

"Okay, give me a copy," Wu Yuan nodded, saying, "But if I feel the information isn't worth it, don't blame me for turning my face."

"Senior will find it worth it once you see it," Master Ma waved his hand.

Immediately.

Both of them flashed into the house at the same time. This time, the wait was longer, a full fifteen minutes.

Finally, someone came out holding a dossier.

Wu Yuan took it.

"Let's discuss the mission first, and then the matter of rewards," Wu Yuan glanced at Master Ma and then swept his gaze over the numerous experts in the courtyard. "Do you have any treasures here that can be exchanged for three million merit points?"

This wasn't a mere two hundred thousand merit points.

Three million merit points!

As a secretive dark organization, would treasures worth millions of silver be casually placed here?

"It depends on what senior needs."

Master Ma said, "Most of the valuable items are usually kept at headquarters. They will only be delivered after the task is completed at an agreed-upon time."

"Fifty drops of Ancient Immortal Dew," Wu Yuan whispered.

Master Ma's pupils contracted slightly.

"Within ten days, I will complete the task," Wu Yuan said calmly. "Within two months, I will come to submit the task."

"I hope that when I come, you will have the treasures ready. Don't disappoint me."

Whoosh!

Wu Yuan shot out like lightning, disappearing from the courtyard.

In just a few flashes, he was gone without a trace.

Leaving behind only the last sentence echoing in the courtyard: "If I'm disappointed, the consequences will be severe."

The sound gradually faded away.

The more than ten experts in the courtyard looked at each other. No one dared to speak first, afraid of angering their tower master.

After a while.

"Everyone, you can leave." Master Ma slowly spoke.

"Yes!"

"Go!" The more than ten Seven Stars Tower experts scattered like they were granted amnesty.

Soon, only Master Ma remained in the courtyard.

At this moment.

A figure slowly walked out of the shadows.

He was stooped, dressed in tattered clothes, not even reaching one meter seventy, like a pitiful old man begging on the side of the road.

"Master uncle," Master Ma respectfully said.

"I am not his match," the hunchbacked old man's voice rasped.

Master Ma was shocked, exclaiming, "How is that possible? Senior, you are a top-ranked sixteenth on the human rankings!"

He couldn't believe it.

This hunchbacked old man was his greatest reliance in this Seven Star Tower, a provincial-level branch.

Without the old man's support, he wouldn't have been able to secure his position as the tower's master.

In Master Ma's eyes,

Unless it was a grandmaster, even a top-ten expert on the human rankings might not survive under his senior's hands.

Because the hunchbacked old man was an assassin!

A terrifying assassin that made countless top-ranked experts in Jiangzhou tremble at his reputation!

"Just now, I hid in the darkness, changing directions twice with the intention of making a move," the hunchbacked old man said softly. "But this Qianshan is incredibly perceptive. His right hand's fingertips constantly moved, always aimed at my direction."

"The moment I was about to make a move, I saw a cold light flash from his fingertips."

"He specializes in throwing knives!"

"As soon as I act, his throwing knife will undoubtedly shoot out first," the hunchbacked old man shook his head slightly. "Just from the one knife he displayed, I'm not confident I can block it."

"That knife."

"Wasn't meant for you to see, but for me."

"It's a warning not to act recklessly; if you do, death is a possibility," the hunchbacked old man glanced at Master Ma. "I might not necessarily die, but you are as good as dead."

At this moment,

Master Ma felt a chilling sensation on his neck.

He never expected that two top-notch experts had already clashed in the shadows, and he had walked on the edge of life and death.

"Senior, what should we do now?" Master Ma asked anxiously.

"The strength of this hidden assassin is incredibly terrifying, significantly different from the information we gathered," the hunchbacked old man shook his head slightly. "Now, we can't confirm whether he progressed rapidly in the past year or has been hiding his strength all along."

"If it's just hiding his strength before, it's manageable!"

"If he improved in the last year? That would be terrifying," the hunchbacked old man said softly. "However, his combat skills should be on par with a grandmaster."

"A grandmaster?" Master Ma was astonished.

"It's hard to say," the hunchbacked old man shook his head. "But one thing is certain; Qianshan is not to be provoked."

"Report to headquarters."

"Wait for the decision of the supreme master; if we want to take the Chujiang Order, send a grandmaster."

"Hehe, various forces want the Chujiang Order, but in the hands of such a master, it won't be easily obtained," the hunchbacked old man shook his head.

Sending a grandmaster?

Master Ma's pupils contracted.

Although the Seven Star Tower is spread across the thirteen provinces, how many grandmasters are there?

Moreover, several of them belong to external towers.

They can't be commanded and their whereabouts are unknown.

True internal grandmasters number only a few.

The crucial point is, how arrogant are grandmasters? Each one is an 'elder.'

Even the supreme master of the Seven Star Tower can't forcefully command the internal grandmasters.

"If the supreme master can't send a grandmaster," the hunchbacked old man glanced at Master Ma. "Then wait for the news."

"Once Wang Xiaoho dies, have the supreme master send fifty drops of Ancient Immortal Dew."

"My old bones."

"I don't want to fight against an almost-grandmaster," the hunchbacked old man said, then stepped into the shadows.

Disappeared without a trace.

...

In a sparsely populated street.

Wu Yuan walked leisurely, using the faint light from the roadside to read the documents in his hands.

Those words were quickly recorded.

"Just now, the top-notch expert hidden in the darkness should be 'Shadow Assassin Mogu,' ranked sixteenth on the human rankings," Wu Yuan pondered while flipping through the documents.

If it were two years ago.

Wu Yuan had just reached the 'Realm Control' level, and it wasn't certain if he could perceive his opponent.

But now?

After over a year of cultivation in Yunshan, he underwent a transformative improvement, able to seamlessly blend into any environment, be it darkness or wind.

Adapting to the changing surroundings.

It could be said that when Wu Yuan extended his senses, the hunchbacked old man's stealth technique was nothing but a joke!

As clear as a lightbulb.

Not moving was fine.

But attacking?

"I would like to spar with the top expert from the human rankings and see how big the gap really is," Wu Yuan thought fearlessly.

Perhaps there would still be a gap in physical fitness, but it was no longer insurmountable.

Wu Yuan proceeded leisurely.

"This Wang Xiaoho must be killed before six months." Wu Yuan pondered, "Was this task issued by my Hengyun Sect or by King Baijiang?"

"Or is it an internal grudge within the Great Jin Empire?"

Setting a specific time must have a reason.

And the reward for the assassin alone was six million taels of silver, indicating the employer likely paid tens of millions of silver behind the scenes!

This was a terrifying fortune.

Usually, only an Earth-ranking Grandmaster had the hope of mobilizing such vast resources.

Why are there fewer Five-Star tasks?

One significant reason is the exorbitant demands of the Nine Kills Manor and the Seven Star Tower.

This made employers who could issue tasks very scarce.

"However, no matter the reason, it doesn't matter." A hint of coldness flashed in Wu Yuan's eyes as he closed the dossier. "Killing him is the most important."

Why?

In the Great Jin Empire, the Sixth Army that went eastward was the main force in the Battle of Hengshan, where Wu Yuan's father died.

Wang Xiaoho has been the commander of the Sixth Army for over ten years.

In short,

Wang Xiaoho and Wu Yuan share the hatred of patricide!

Thinking of his father's death, Wu Yuan felt an uncontrollable impulse and intent to kill, wanting to end it quickly.

He understood.

This was the memory and emotions of the original body.

The two of them, rather than saying it's Wu Yuan's transmigration, it's more like a fusion. It's just that the consciousness of the previous life dominated.

"Hatred of patricide, irreconcilable." Wu Yuan silently said in his heart.

Killing the opponent would also get the blood-colored mist and the exorbitant reward from the Seven Star Tower.

If he could really get fifty drops of Ancient Immortal Dew, for a long time to come, Wu Yuan wouldn't have to worry about resources.

There's also one point.

"The Battle of Hengshan happened ten years ago, and the Great Jin Empire has been preparing for war all this time." Wu Yuan thought, "Only because Yutai Shang and the Great Jin East King fought, did the Great Jin temporarily stop the war and cease the attack."

But this peace couldn't last.

The Great Jin Empire, in its prime, had numerous Grandmaster experts.

While the Hengyun Sect's Grandmasters were getting older, their strength would inevitably weaken.

A short three to five years or a long ten years.

The flames of war would inevitably reignite.

The last major battle took place in Hengshan Prefecture.

The next time, the Great Jin forces would likely target Yunshan Prefecture!

"Killing one of their top experts can disrupt one of their legions," Wu Yuan's fingertip lightly tapped the dossier.

Whoosh~ A strange force swept through.

Causing the entire dossier to shatter into countless tiny shreds, fluttering in the air.

"Weakening the Great Jin Empire's strength a bit at a time increases the chances of victory for my Hengyun Sect in future wars," Wu Yuan quickened his pace.

Heading towards the Seven Star Tower.

Unconsciously, Wu Yuan already felt a sense of belonging to the Hengyun Sect. It was due to the efforts of the sect and also the reasons of family and kin!

...As dawn approached.

Seven Star Tower, Yunshan Branch, Fifth Floor.

"Elder." A black-robed youth spoke softly, "This is the god-level personal armor you customized a year ago. Please give it a try, Elder."

The box opened.

Upon reaching the 'Realm Control' level, Wu Yuan might not necessarily perceive the opponent.

But what about the current Wu Yuan?

After more than a year of cultivation on Yunshan, it was a transformative improvement. He could seamlessly blend into any environment, adapting to the changes in darkness or wind.

Adapting to the surroundings.

It could be said that when Wu Yuan extended his senses, the hiding technique of the hunchbacked old man was nothing but a joke to him!

As clear as a light bulb.

Not attacking was fine.

But if he did?

"I would like to spar with the most elite on the human rankings and see how big the gap really is," Wu Yuan felt fearless.

Perhaps there would still be a gap in physical attributes, but it was no longer insurmountable.

Wu Yuan strolled leisurely.

"This Wang Xiaoho, the task requires him to be killed within six months," Wu Yuan pondered. "Was this task issued by my Hengyun Sect? Or by King Baijiang? Or perhaps an internal grudge within the Great Jin Empire?"

With a specified time, there must be a reason.

And the reward for the assassin alone was six million taels of silver, likely paid by the employer behind, possibly in the range of ten million taels of white silver!

This was a terrifying fortune.

Generally, only a Land List grandmaster would have the hope of mobilizing such vast resources.

Why were there fewer five-star missions?

One significant reason was the high demands of Nine Kill Mansion and Seven Star Tower, making it difficult for potential employers to issue tasks.

"However, no matter the reason, it doesn't matter," Wu Yuan's eyes flashed with a hint of coldness as he closed the dossier. "Killing him is the most important."

Why?

In the Great Jin Empire, the Sixth Army Legion was the main force in the Battle of Hengshan. Wu Yuan's father died in Hengshan.

Wang Xiaoho had been the commander of the Sixth Army Legion for over ten years.

In short,

Wang Xiaoho and Wu Yuan had a vengeance for the father's death!

Thinking of his father's death, Wu Yuan felt an uncontrollable impulse and murderous intent, eager to kill.

He understood.

This was the original memory and emotions.

The two, rather than saying Wu Yuan replaced them through crossing, were more like a fusion. It was just that Wu Yuan's past consciousness dominated.

"Avenge my father, no matter the cost," Wu Yuan silently declared in his heart.

Killing the opponent would also yield blood-colored mist and the astronomical rewards from the Seven Star Tower.

If he could truly obtain fifty drops of Ancient Immortal Dew, Wu Yuan wouldn't have to worry about resources for a long time.

There was one more thing.

"The Battle of Hengshan happened ten years ago, and the Great Jin Empire has been intensifying its military preparations," Wu Yuan's thoughts turned. "Only because of the battle between Rain Supreme and the Eastern King of Great Jin temporarily halted the attack."

But this peace couldn't last.

Great Jin, flourishing with numerous grandmasters.

While Hengyun Sect's grandmasters were aging, their strength inevitably declining.

Short term, three to five years; long term, ten years.

The flames of war would inevitably reignite.

The last major battle took place in Hengshan Prefecture.

The next one, the Great Jin's military might would directly aim at Yunshan Prefecture!

"Killing one top-notch expert will disrupt one of their legions," Wu Yuan's fingertips lightly tapped the dossier.

A strange force swept through.

Causing the entire dossier to shatter into countless tiny shreds, floating in the air.

"Weakening a portion of the Great Jin Empire's strength will increase the chances of victory for Hengyun Sect in future wars," Wu Yuan quickened his pace.

Heading towards the Seven Star Tower.

Unconsciously, Wu Yuan had developed a sense of belonging to Hengyun Sect, partly due to the contributions of the sect and partly because of his family and kin!

...As dawn approached.

Seven Star Tower, Yunshan Branch, the fifth floor.

"Elder," the black-robed youth said softly, "This is the God-tier personal armor you ordered a year ago. Please give it a try, Elder."

The box opened.

A completely black, non-reflective armor revealed itself, simple, yet extraordinary.

Armor.

This was ordered by Wu Yuan a year ago when he was still at home.

He secretly came to the Seven Star Tower and used the 'Ancient Record' left by the 'Ancient Era' to customize this God-tier armor.

A year later, he came to collect it.

"A snap!" Wu Yuan reached into the box, and instantly, the armor flowed like water, dressing him in the blink of an eye.

Where the scales of the armor met, there was slight elasticity.

It fit very well!

The armor only protected vital parts of the torso, weaker in defense compared to full-body heavy armor.

The advantage lay in flexibility.

"Not bad, indeed a God-tier armor." Wu Yuan grasped the edge of the armor, applying a bit of force, and over twenty thousand kilograms of force surged in.

Not a single wrinkle.

Indeed, it was a God-tier material!

"It doesn't affect flexibility during combat." Wu Yuan was very satisfied with this set of armor.

Produced by the Seven Star Tower, it must be a fine product, not an empty boast.

For true experts, protecting vital parts was enough; flexibility was the most important.

"Alright!"

"I'm leaving." Wu Yuan stood up, waving his hand, leaving behind the token and quickly departing from the Seven Star Tower.

As expected by Wu Yuan, the Seven Star Tower sent out 'watchers.'

Unfortunately, he easily shook them off.

As the first light of dawn appeared, rooster crows echoed through the city.

The city guards opened the city gates.

Following the surging crowd, Wu Yuan left Yunshan Prefecture.

...

The evening of the second day after leaving Yunshan City.

Southern Dream Prefecture, outside the city, on a desolate mountain less than ten miles from 'Tianjiadu.'

Here, there were numerous lonely graves.

"Compared to over a year ago, it seems that many more graves have been added," Wu Yuan's memory was exceptional. A sweep of his eyes roughly judged which ones were newly added in the past year and which ones were old.

A brief identification, Wu Yuan arrived at his destination.

Then—he dug up the grave!

With Wu Yuan's terrifying strength, just ten breaths later, the entire burial mound was dug open, revealing the decaying clothes underneath.

Tear it open!

Revealing a shiny silver spear as new as ever! It was the God-tier weapon buried here by Wu Yuan after killing Chen Tangru.

Taken out.

"Good treasure." Wu Yuan gripped it with one hand, pouring in hundreds of thousands of kilograms of force, forcefully swinging it. The long spear shot through the air like an arrow, piercing the long sky!

The spearhead tore through the air.

As fast as lightning, but without the slightest sharp howl, as if completely merged with the wind.

The air formed no resistance.

"A worthy God-tier weapon, easily withstanding the force of hundreds of thousands of kilograms to fight freely." Wu Yuan smiled. "And a God-tier inner armor for protection."

Everything was ready!

"It's time to go to Heng

shan Prefecture." Wu Yuan quickly restored the grave, no longer lingering, checking all the items.

Transforming into a streak of light, he covered a hundred meters in one swift movement.

Taking advantage of the hazy night.

He disappeared into the vast land.

...

Hengyun Sect, established in Yunshan Prefecture.

For a century, it had been recruiting disciples and cultivating influence in both Yunshan Prefecture and Hengshan Prefecture, having a deep foundation.

All of this changed ten years ago.

The Great Jin's military swept through, capturing Hengshan Prefecture. Despite the formidable Rainmaster Grandmaster, it only halted the Great Jin's attack temporarily, not forcing a retreat.

For ten years.

Hengshan Prefecture remained chaotic. With the Great Jin Empire's large army stationed there, how could Hengyun Sect willingly withdraw? They were always preparing for a counterattack.

Both sides had been entangled in secret!

Certainly.

On the nearly thousand-mile border between Hengshan and Yunshan, both sides stationed heavy troops to guard against unforeseen circumstances.

The Great Jin's Sixth Army Legion was stationed at the border.

Elite troops of over ten thousand soldiers camped by the mountains and rivers. The terrain here was advantageous, easy to defend and difficult to attack.

Today, as night fell, around the central tent of the Sixth Army Legion, teams of guards surrounded it, and a large number of soldiers patrolled back and forth.

Inside the tent.

"General, is the Ninth Prince really coming?" A deputy wearing armor asked in a low voice. "Isn't he just the nominal commander while residing in 'Linjiang City'?"

"The Ninth Prince, one of His Majesty's sons with extraordinary talents at a young age." A burly man with a heavy beard, clad in heavy armor, sat in the main seat. "His wrist is equally powerful."

"But isn't the Crown Prince and the Third Prince formidable as well?"

"The Crown Prince is leading a campaign to the north to conquer Yuanzhou, and the Third Prince is governing the southern province," the burly man spoke in a deep voice. "Although the Ninth Prince has the support of the Eastern King, and he's the Empress's eldest son, if he wants to stand out, he must achieve great deeds!"

"In our Great Jin, military merits take precedence."

"Advancing eastward, Hengyun Sect is the first tough nut to crack."

"The Ninth Prince wouldn't want to avoid the challenge, right?" The burly man said, "Although he's only the nominal commander, does His Majesty not know?"

"To become the Crown Prince, he must set an example. If he doesn't dare to personally visit the frontline, how can he enter the Holy Capital in the future and govern the vast territories of our Great Jin?" The burly man continued, "But there's no need to worry. When the Ninth Prince comes, he will only be a burden to the troops, and he'll leave after a few days."

The deputy nodded, "I understand. I will arrange it immediately."

Soon after, the deputy left, leaving only the burly man in the tent. He carefully studied the map, deep in thought.

Suddenly.

"General Wang is indeed devoted." A voice sounded softly.

...

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 98: Able to Battle Against a Grandmaster

"Why is General Yu not staying in his own military accounts? Why come to the main tent?" Wang Xiahe, clad in heavy armor, didn't bother to raise his head and continued contemplating.

This voice, he was too familiar with it.

He didn't want to see the other party at all.

"Humph, General Wang, I am trusted by His Majesty to come as a military supervisor. According to the law, I should visit the main tent every day to hear reports from the army," the voice suddenly turned cold. "What? Does the general want to violate military regulations?"

Wang Xiahe, who was still bowing his head, flashed a hint of cold light in his eyes.

A eunuch!

Dare to talk about military regulations?

Nevertheless, Wang Xiahe put down his pen, raised his head, his expression cold but restored to normal. He said slowly, "Supervisor Yu wants to know something?"

Standing not far in front of him was a young man, about 1.8 meters tall, quite handsome but with a slightly feminine appearance.

Also wearing armor!

The power of the Great Jin was at its peak, and even though there were eunuch military supervisors, they were by no means dispatched to command those who knew nothing about the military and feared death.

This was only the emperor's check and balance.

"Today, I observed signs of movement in the Ninth Battalion. They set out in the morning and only returned in the evening," Supervisor Yu said indifferently. "According to the law, when a legion of ten thousand is stationed in one place, military movements involving a thousand or more must have a command from the General of the Eastern Expeditionary Army; for military movements involving a hundred to a thousand, both the commander and the military supervisor must jointly issue orders."

"Why did I not know about the dispatch of eight hundred people?" Supervisor Yu's gaze was sharp as he stared directly at Wang Xiahe.

"This is a secret order!"

Wang Xiahe said coldly, "It's just the execution of a task. When the monthly report comes, the supervisor will naturally be informed."

"Even if there is a secret order, I, as the military supervisor, should be informed first." Supervisor Yu sneered, "Is the request from the Anping County Prefect also a secret order from above? Does the Field Army need to participate in local bandit suppression? What's the use of the City Guards?"

Wang Xiahe's pupils slightly contracted.

He didn't expect that within half a day, Supervisor Yu would know the reason.

"That Anping County Prefect used to be a counselor under the Ninth Prince's command. When the general was in the Holy Capital, they were once friends, right?" Supervisor Yu looked at Wang Xiahe. "His jurisdiction is in chaos. So, did the general personally deploy troops to quell the chaos?"

Wang Xiahe stared coldly, silent.

"General Wang."

Supervisor Yu's voice suddenly became gentle again. "I know you look down on me, but I came on His Majesty's orders. I'm not an old-fashioned person. I can understand some things, but I hope that from now on, when it comes to troop movements, you can inform me in advance."

"This is the first time, and I won't report it."

"But I hope there won't be a second time." Supervisor Yu said.

"Thank you, Supervisor." Wang Xiahe looked deeply at Supervisor Yu.

He understood that he had underestimated this new eunuch.

Suddenly.

"Hmm?" Wang Xiahe's eyes flashed with anger. Seemingly not very agile in his heavy armor, he suddenly charged forward.

"Boom!"

A dull explosion sounded, and the heavy and large desk shattered, with countless sheets of paper, bamboo slips, and broken wood flying everywhere.

"Whoosh~" A cold light flashed like lightning from where Wang Xiahe had just stood.

"Assassin! Second-rank!"

Wang Xiahe, dodging the fatal blow, roared loudly. The roar was so loud that it instantly spread in all directions.

In fact, even without him being vigilant, the large group of guards and soldiers outside the main tent had already heard the commotion inside.

"Assassin!"

"Quick, someone is assassinating the general." Shouts urgently echoed outside the main tent.

Inside the main tent.

"Assassin?" The previously triumphant Supervisor Yu's face changed suddenly, finding it unbelievable. This was the central military tent!

Mind you, there were many skilled martial artists guarding around.

Could an assassin infiltrate?

In an instant, a thought crossed his mind: Could it be that Wang Xiahe was fed up with him and wanted to find an excuse to get rid of him?

All of this happened extremely fast, even before Supervisor Yu could entertain other thoughts.

He instinctively took two steps back, wanting to escape from the central military tent, only to feel his entire body flying.

Flying?

No! Where was flying? It was Wang Xiahe grabbing his shoulder and tossing him backward.

To serve as a human shield.

"Boom~" A silver spear thrust directly, like piercing through a block of tofu, instantly piercing Supervisor Yu along with his armor.

Blood splattered.

Supervisor Yu, dead!

"Pu chi~" The silver spear trembled, and a terrifying force of hundreds of thousands of pounds erupted. Supervisor Yu's body exploded, turning into countless splatters of flesh and blood. Even his armor turned into fragments, shooting through the main tent.

Outside the tent, came cries of agony!

For martial artists capable of unleashing hundreds of thousands of pounds of force at will, even a small piece of gravel or a fragment of iron could unleash terrifying power.

It wasn't about the number of people.

Inside the tent, the thick scent of blood had completely permeated.

"General Wang, you're decisive, using a colleague as a shield," Wu Yuan, wearing a ghost-faced mask, black clothes, and wielding a silver spear, stood in the tent.

The spear pointed menacingly at the startled Wang Xiahe.

At this moment, Wang Xiahe had a heavy broadsword in his hand, glaring at Wu Yuan. "Who are you, and why did you come to assassinate me?"

"Somebody paid me, so I came to kill," Wu Yuan's voice remained calm.

"So, you're a master from the Seven-Star Tower. Your stealth skills are indeed formidable, silently infiltrating my central military tent." Wang Xiahe's face looked ferocious. "In my nearly twenty years of military career, you are the most formidable assassin I've encountered. It's a pity."

"What's the pity?" Wu Yuan asked softly.

"It's a pity you didn't seize the opportunity to strike. You left me room to breathe." Wang Xiahe grinned ferociously. "From the moment I got hold of the knife, you were already doomed."

"Is that so?" Wu Yuan's voice was cold, as if echoing from the depths of the abyss. "Who knows, maybe it's because you dodged my spear. I hope you can play with me a little longer."

"After all, skilled opponents are hard to come by."

Before the word 'come' left his mouth, Wu Yuan suddenly rushed forward. The ground under his feet instantly cracked open, revealing dozens of cracks.

Both sides.

Within three yards.

For high-level experts like them, it was considered close!

"Hoo!" The spear thrust, infused with a terrifying force of three hundred thousand pounds, accompanied by a thunderous whistling sound, unparalleled in power, aimed directly at Wang Xiahe!

"Hissing!" Blade shadows flickered. Wang Xiahe retreated violently, simultaneously exerting all his strength to strike at Wu Yuan's silver spear.

The weapons clashed.

"His strength? Doesn't seem too strong!" Wang Xiahe just noticed.

Soon after, he felt a strange force transmitting from the spear handle. It made his expression change dramatically, and he could barely hold onto the battle knife.

"Retreat!" Wang Xiahe tried to step back.

"Retreat? Can you?" Wu Yuan's eyes were icy.

"Swoosh!" The spear retracted, suddenly raised high, spearhead connected to the spear shaft. It looked like a steel rod, smashing down fiercely towards Wang Xiahe.

Too fast.

"Boom!" The long knife blocked it. Even though Wang Xiahe resisted with all his might, he still heard a loud roar, and the ground under his feet exploded.

Countless stones flew.

"His attack speed is so fast!" Shocked and angered, Wang Xiahe, enduring the numbness in his arms, leaped backward with all his strength.

He dared not withstand it.

"Let's see how many of my shots you can block." Wu Yuan casually advanced, a spear strike failing to connect, followed by a charge, another spear thrust.

Incredibly fast.

"Die!" Wang Xiahe saw no way to escape and had to unleash the brilliance of his blade, a glimmer of light appearing.

"Clang! Clang!" Blade light and spear shadows intertwined. The two top experts instantly clashed more than ten times. Drops of sweat appeared on Wang Xiahe's forehead.

Too fast, too furious.

Although Wu Yuan exhibited great strength, the speed at which he unleashed his spear techniques exceeded Wang Xiahe's imagination. Even at full strength, Wang Xiahe could barely sustain it.

"Boom~" The terrifying pressure generated by the clash of the two top-notch experts spread in all directions. The entire central military tent, unable to bear the strain, collapsed with a resounding crash.

All settled.

Broken wood and torn cloth scattered, revealing two figures standing in the center of the ruined tent—one wielded a heavy battle knife, and the other only revealed a pair of eyes, holding a silver spear!

The gazes of the two clashed.

"Well done, a general in charge can indeed amass many subordinates." Wu Yuan glanced around, seeing hundreds of soldiers surrounding them from all sides.

Further away, more soldiers were rushing over.

The military formation has already taken shape! A large number of skilled archers have aimed at Wu Yuan, while a large number of ordinary soldiers are armed with powerful crossbows.

This is the most effective way for the army to deal with martial arts experts.

"Your strength is formidable. In the entire Jiangzhou, there aren't many experts like you," Wang Xiahe stared at Wu Yuan. "Tell me your name, or else, when you die, your family won't know where you died."

"My name? I don't even know it myself," Wu Yuan's voice remained cold. "But, people generally call me 'Dark Blade.'"

"Dark Blade?" Wang Xiahe just pondered when he suddenly realized, "You are the Dark Blade from the Human Ranking? But how can your strength..."

"Why so many questions?" Wu Yuan's eyes turned cold. "I'm sending you on your way!"

In the meantime, more than five hundred soldiers have gathered.

Almost there.

"Swish!" Wu Yuan's figure dashed.

"Release!" A loud shout.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Suddenly, a terrifying barrage of arrows, like flowing light, shot straight at Wu Yuan. The arrows' speed was equally frightening.

"I don't believe you can dodge them," Wang Xiahe, holding a long knife, confidently stood in front of the army, closely watching Wu Yuan.

The army's arrow rain, relying on quantity!

But soon, Wang Xiahe's face changed, almost losing his voice, "How is this possible?"

Swish~

Wu Yuan's body, strangely twisted, instantly returned to normal, as if able to predict the direction of each arrow in advance.

Dodging like lightning.

"Clang!" "Clang!" "Clang!" Accompanied by several stabs of the long spear, precise enough to deflect two arrows in front of him.

Wu Yuan, in the blink of an eye, traversed the arrow rain.

Unharmed!

Even his speed only slightly diminished.

"Army's arrow rain! Is that all?" Wu Yuan let out a long roar, ghost-like, instantly leaped dozens of feet away, closing in on Wang Xiahe once again.

A spear thrust.

Silent and deadly, seemingly similar strength exploding, but as the long spear completely integrated with the air, the air almost ceased to be an obstruction, and the speed of the spear instantly soared by fifty percent.

Directly aiming for the opponent's head!

"No!" Wang Xiahe's eyes flashed with fear. It was too terrifying.

The spear technique just now was already fast, and now it became even more dreadful.

"This Dark Blade? How can he be just the 50th or 60th on the Jiangzhou Human Ranking?"

"At least in the top twenty! Maybe even the top ten!"

"Silent spear strikes. Could this be the legendary 'harmony of man and nature'? Even if it's slightly inferior, it's almost indistinguishable." Wang Xiahe's eyes reddened.

At this moment, he was truly anxious!

He finally understood why Wu Yuan was so confident. Such a terrifying expert wouldn't care about being surrounded by the army!

Wang Xiahe knew that if he didn't go all out, it would be difficult for him to survive today.

"Boom!"

Wang Xiahe's entire aura changed instantly. His speed also soared, his figure retreated violently, and at the same time, he swung the long knife towards the long spear.

"Clang!" "Clang!" "Clang!" A series of weapon clashes, countless stone fragments on the ground scattered, splashing in all directions.

"Explosive manual technique? Although stronger, what difference does it make?" Wu Yuan's fighting spirit soared.

Just now, he was just interested in hunting, not having fought against a fellow expert for a long time. Now, he wouldn't give the opponent a chance anymore.

The two fought frantically, like a conjoined entity. Wu Yuan did not give Wang Xiahe the opportunity to widen the gap between them.

"Whoosh!" "Whoosh!" "Whoosh!" Long spears came forth, and long knives were swung towards Wu Yuan.

A large number of soldiers along the way, realizing they couldn't use crossbows anymore.

They began to desperately approach.

They were all Wang Xiahe's personal guards.

According to military law, if Wang Xiahe died, they would face severe punishment even if they didn't die.

Naturally, each one fought desperately.

These soldiers, at least, all had a strength of over ten thousand jin, and many skilled martial artists possessed strengths of tens of thousands of jin.

Once they erupted, they were equally formidable!

"Blockers, die!" Wu Yuan's eyes burst forth with terrifying killing intent as he wielded the silver spear.

A sea of spear shadows swept in all directions.

"Spurt!" "Spurt!" "Spurt!" "Spurt!" A series of spear shadows flashed by, and in the blink of an eye, more than twenty soldiers fell.

Either their throats were pierced, or their necks were cut open.

All dead!

Wang Xiahe, like a slippery loach, took the opportunity to widen the distance from Wu Yuan and desperately fled.

But he hadn't had a chance to breathe.

Whoosh!

Wu Yuan audaciously leaped from the ground, stepping on the heads and shoulders of numerous loyal soldiers, swiftly darting towards Wang Xiahe like lightning.

"Swoosh!" "Swoosh!" Countless long spears and blades thrust violently along the way.

Yet, he skillfully avoided each one.

Walking among a myriad of soldiers, untouched! At this moment, the bizarre agility displayed by Wu Yuan made Wang Xiahe and all the soldiers shiver.

"Splurt!" "Splurt!"

It was the spear shadows that swept through; soldiers along the way fell like wheat, whether third-rate martial artists or second-rate ones!

Even the only two first-rate martial artists who joined the fight.

None could stop Wu Yuan's spear!

In the blink of an eye, more than a hundred soldiers lay dead, and Wu Yuan had finally caught up with Wang Xiahe again.

Both of them had now broken out of the encirclement.

"Kill!" Wang Xiahe gritted his teeth, suddenly turning around with a fierce slash, intending to fight Wu Yuan to the death.

Escape? Certain death!

Fighting to the death might offer a slim chance.

"Die!" Wu Yuan had just landed, a hint of madness flashing in his eyes. Like a gust of wind, the long spear transformed into a myriad of spear shadows.

Silent and deadly, it was even faster than before, by fifty percent!

Secret technique "Thousand Mountains"!

Fully unleashed!

In the blink of an eye, dozens, even hundreds of spear shadows completely enveloped Wang Xiahe, instantly confusing him.

"His spear can get even faster? What kind of strength is this?" Wang Xiahe couldn't believe it, his face turning red as he struggled to resist.

Prolonged defense leads to defeat.

When Wu Yuan executed "Thousand Mountains," the forty-sixth spear thrust, Wang Xiahe couldn't resist any longer. The spear tip, skimming the edge of the blade, instantly broke through his defense.

"Splurch!" The throat was pierced.

"Bang~" Wu Yuan suddenly exerted force again, the spear tip rotated, and the corpse instantly split apart. There was no possibility of survival.

Wang Xiahe, dead!

Blood splattered, some staining Wu Yuan's boots, but would Wu Yuan care about such trivial matters?

"Phew!" Wu Yuan lifted the long spear off the ground, the divine blade that had just fallen to the ground was flicked into the air.

Wu Yuan grabbed it.

"The general is dead!"

"Deputy General Yuan is also dead."

"Kill, kill the assassin!" From various military tents, thousands of soldiers surged towards Wu Yuan like a tide.

One person against a large army?

As an Earth-ranked Grandmaster, Wu Yuan could face tens of thousands, eliminating fatigue with the continuous consumption of the blood mist in his upper dantian palace.

He absolutely had the ability to annihilate this army.

However, it wasn't meaningful!

"In a national battle, the most crucial aspect is the confrontation between top experts," Wu Yuan's eyes were icy. "Killing some generals is enough; there's no need to slaughter these low-level soldiers."

It should be noted that after the recent massacre, the blood mist was saturated, and not a trace of the blood mist emerged from the black tower in his upper dantian palace.

Whoosh!

Wu Yuan randomly chose a direction, immediately using "Ghostly Advance." His figure moved like lightning, the long spear swung, and in the blink of an eye, another pile of soldiers' corpses was left behind.

He directly broke out of the siege.

Swiftly disappearing into the darkness.

...

A legion of ten thousand, both the commander and deputy commander dead, three of the five vice-commanders dead, and numerous soldiers killed and injured. Naturally, chaos ensued.

However, with the efforts of the two remaining vice-commanders, the chaotic army gradually settled down, beginning to clean up the aftermath.

When the sky was about to dawn.

"Answer!" "Answer!" Outside the large camp, the sound of galloping hooves echoed.

A group of people was rapidly approaching.

"Ninth Prince is here. Where is General Wang Xiahe? Come and receive His Highness!" A long howl, penetrating and powerful, resounded from outside the military camp and reached its center.

For a long time, there was no response.

... "What?"

"Wang Xiahe is dead, tonight? Assassinated by a formidable expert," a large group of experts surrounded a young man in a black robe, angrily entered the military camp, ready to inquire about Wang Xiahe.

However, they received such shocking news.

"How is that possible?"

"A month ago, General Wang bid farewell to me in Linjiang City, and he was still well!" The black-robed young man of about twenty years old had red eyes, his facial muscles twitching, almost growling, "I don't believe it. I want to see General Wang's body."

He walked directly towards the collapsed main tent.

"Your Highness." A nearby adjutant, seeing this, tried to intercept, "General Wang's body has..."

"Get lost!"

The black-robed young man roared, kicking him with such terrifying force that he was sent flying nearly ten meters away, spitting out blood.

It's worth noting that the adjutant was also a first-rate martial artist, indicating the Ninth Prince's strength.

The black-robed young man, accompanied by a group of people, quickly reached the front of the main tent.

The scene was chaotic, blood everywhere.

Rows of hundreds of bodies lay horizontally, a horrifying sight.

The smell of blood was strong.

However, the arriving group consisted of seasoned warriors, who would not be bothered by such scenes.

Whoosh!

The black-robed young man moved several steps away, arriving at the corpse of Wang Xiahe lying on a white cloth.

The body was split in two, barely pieced together.

The face was unrecognizable.

"Senior Brother! Senior Brother!" The black-robed young man couldn't hold back, kneeling beside the corpse, howling in grief.

The more than ten experts who followed him remained silent.

They all knew that although the Ninth Prince was nearly twenty years younger than Wang Xiahe, they both worshipped the same Grandmaster.

In their early years, before the Ninth Prince demonstrated talent, Wang Xiahe, as the "Senior Brother," had guided him in place of their master for a long time.

The two had an excellent relationship.

Later on, one became a high-ranking general.

The other, rising unexpectedly among the imperial princes, became one of the three princes most valued by the current Emperor, with hopes of ascending the throne!

After a while.

The Ninth Prince suddenly looked up. Tear streaks remained on his face, wiped away, leaving only endless killing intent.

"You, come over!" The Ninth Prince stared at the adjutant he had kicked moments ago.

"Your Highness." The adjutant was terrified.

"What exactly happened?" The Ninth Prince glared at him. "Don't leave anything out, tell me everything."

"Yes, tonight, I..." The adjutant, not daring to delay, quickly recounted everything he knew.

Shortly after.

Under the Ninth Prince's command, someone quickly found three more bodyguards.

Summoned, each one was interrogated.

Their testimonies were gathered, forming a complete account, giving the Ninth Prince and the accompanying experts a clear understanding.

"Dark Blade?"

The Ninth Prince's eyes were cold as he growled, "Is it the rumored Dark Blade who obtained the Chujiang Order? Jin Shu, is it him?"

"Your Highness, it's hard to say; it could be an impostor." A white-robed elder who followed them whispered, "Dark Blade is skilled in knife techniques and throwing knives. But according to the current descriptions, this mysterious expert is proficient in spear techniques."

"Moreover!"

"According to the information gathered by the Star Tower, Dark Blade is ranked around sixty or seventy on the Jiangzhou Ranking, let alone killing General Wang in the midst of a vast army."

"Even in a one-on-one situation, it's not certain he could kill General Wang." The white-robed elder shook his head slightly. "Ninety percent probability, it's an impostor."

At this moment.

A middle-aged man in a red robe, who had been walking back and forth in the collapsed tent, returned. He carried two short guns on his back and had a cold demeanor.

"Master Li?" The Ninth Prince asked tentatively.

The attitude was completely different from that towards others.

"I investigated the traces of their confrontation and combined it with the accounts of the soldiers." The middle-aged man in the red robe said coldly, "This person should have the strength to be in the top ten of the Jiangzhou Ranking."

Top ten on the Ranking?

Everyone's heart sank; this was already a terrifying level.

In terms of strength, it was very close to a Grandmaster.

"I am confident in killing him," the middle-aged man in the red robe said six words.

Everyone present was shocked!

Don't mention those deputy commanders and guards who were captured for interrogation.

The entourage of the Ninth Prince exchanged glances. They only knew that the middle-aged man in the red robe was powerful, but as he had been with the Ninth Prince for a short time, they were unaware of his background.

Top ten on the ranking list! Can he kill them with confidence?

"Good!" The Ninth Prince's eyes steadied, emitting a terrifying cold light.

He suddenly turned, gazing at a black-robed middle-aged man among his followers. "Nan Wei? Take out your 'Blood-Seeking Spirit Worm'; I want to hunt down the assassin."

The black-robed middle-aged man's face changed. "Your Highness, there are only two 'Blood-Seeking Spirit Worms' left."

"Moreover, it's unclear whether the assassin's body is tainted with blood. Adding that several hours have passed, I cannot guarantee successful tracking," the black-robed man explained.

Implicitly, he suggested the Ninth Prince to give up!

"I want you to track. If you fail, I won't blame you," the Ninth Prince stared at the black-robed middle-aged man, suppressing his anger, trying to keep his tone calm.

Everyone looked at the black-robed man, some with curiosity in their eyes.

Spirit Worms.

It's extremely rare! Many of them had only heard about it in ancient texts, and few had seen it.

"Yes, Your Highness," the black-robed middle-aged man reluctantly nodded.

Quickly, he carefully collected some blood from the corpses and even took a little blood from the 'Wang Xiahe' corpse.

Numerous blood samples mixed into a small bottle.

At this point, the black-robed man carefully opened a jade bottle from his package, then poured one worm egg into the small bottle filled with blood.

A visible to the naked eye, the worm egg devoured all the blood in the jade bottle and quickly hatched.

A thumb-sized blood-colored flying insect flew out.

Everyone stared.

The flying insect circled around a pile of corpses for a while, then changed direction, emitting a 'buzzing' sound, seemingly flying towards another direction.

"Your Highness," the black-robed middle-aged man caught the spirit worm in his palm, excitedly said, "the spirit worm says there's a familiar blood scent going southwest."

"Southwest?"

The Ninth Prince's gaze turned cold, scanning his subordinates. "Jin Shu, Li Shi, Jiu Huo, Nan Wei, you four follow me to hunt down the killer."

"Your Highness, it's not advisable!"

Jin Shu, the 'white-robed elder,' changed his face. "The son of a rich man should not personally venture into danger. While it's natural to kill the audacious assassin who dared to attack our Great Jin general, it's sufficient for us to go. Why risk yourself, Your Highness?"

"Yes! Your Highness, stay in the army, and we'll go."

"Your Highness," others chimed in.

They entrusted their whole lives to the Ninth Prince, naturally not wanting him to take risks.

"Father, after more than ten years of warfare in the western region, I treaded between life and death, only stepping into the Grandmaster realm, bringing numerous military exploits to enter the capital." The Ninth Prince glanced over his attendants. "Without reaching Grandmaster, one cannot become Emperor!"

"This is the rule set by the founding ancestor."

"Today, with Li Shi, you all here, if I don't dare to capture even one assassin, how can I hope to become a Grandmaster? An Emperor?"

"Moreover, I must personally kill him!" The Ninth Prince almost roared.

"But..." the white-robed elder wanted to say something.

"No need to discuss it further," the Ninth Prince said coldly. "Jin Shu, if you're afraid, stay here."

"Nan Wei, release the spirit worm."

"Yes," Nan Wei did not dare to object and released the spirit worm from his hand.

The spirit worm flew out swiftly but not too fast.

"Li Shi, Nan Wei, Fire Spirit, let's go." The Ninth Prince roared lowly, taking a step and catching up to the spirit worm.

Several high-ranking experts quickly followed suit.

"Ah," the white-robed elder sighed softly, turned to a black-robed man among the attendants, and said solemnly, "Wu Xi."

"Master Jin," the black-robed man respectfully responded.

"Immediately go back and report to Master Chen Luo, the Grandmaster. Leave marks along the way. Make sure Master Chen hurries."

"Remember, don't delay. Go quickly!"

"Yes," the black-robed man nodded and quickly left along the original path.

After giving the order, the white-robed elder also leaped dozens of meters and quickly caught up with the group led by the Ninth Prince.

...

After a battle that killed Wang Xiahe.

Wu Yuan left directly to escape, and even though he slowed down slightly to avoid leaving traces, his speed was still astonishing.

He sprinted in the southeast direction for several hours until he reached a big river.

"Surprisingly, I managed to escape over six hundred miles in one go, all the way to the edge of Yun River. This should be the border between Hengshan Prefecture and Baihu Lake," Wu Yuan was familiar with the terrain of the entire Jiangzhou, although he had not truly traveled throughout the region.

Where his gaze reached, there were only deserted riverbanks.

Across the river were undulating hills.

"Bang!" He plunged his divine war blade into the ground and casually dropped the long spear.

Wu Yuan directly took off his clothes.

"Escaped over six hundred miles in one go."

"All the way without leaving a trace, avoiding towns and villages. Even a skilled tracker would probably not be able to find me," Wu Yuan smiled faintly.

He considered himself very cautious.

After all, the other party was a border general of the Great Jin Empire. Once killed, the shock might be considerable, and extra caution was justified.

Feeling relaxed, countless previously tightened pores opened, and immediately numerous drops of sweat emerged. Wu Yuan also felt a hint of fatigue.

After a short break.

"A bath." Wu Yuan jumped into the Yun River. Although the river water was clear and icy, he enjoyed a refreshing bath.

After half a day, he came ashore.

"Comfortable." Wu Yuan put on his clothes again, feeling refreshed. As he looked around, the vast river flowed gently to the east.

The winter sunlight wasn't warm, but it was pleasant.

"Killing Wang Xiahe, completing the mission, is a revenge, and it has caused some trouble for the Great Jin Empire," Wu Yuan was in a good mood. "And I also obtained a large amount of blood-colored mist."

Thinking of this.

"Blood-colored mist." Wu Yuan immediately sat cross-legged. His consciousness gathered, and in the mid-dantian palace, countless blood-colored mists surrounded the black tower.

Wu Yuan's body seemed to be cheering and jumping for joy.

Craving for the blood-colored mist.

"Haven't fused with the blood-colored mist for almost half a year. This time, I hope the blood-colored mist from the Black Tower is enough."

"Where isn't suitable for cultivation?"

"Right here, let's begin." Wu Yuan didn't hesitate, quickly guiding the blood-colored mist in the mid-dantian palace.

Immediately.

"Boom!" Like a tide, the blood-colored mist surged out from the mid-dantian palace, rapidly reaching every part of his body.

Integration!

Wu Yuan instantly sensed subtle changes in muscles and bones. His entire body trembled faintly, and even his spiritual consciousness seemed to be jubilant.

"Evolution! Enhancement!" Wu Yuan marveled inwardly.

In terms of miracles, even the Yigu Immortal Dew couldn't compare to the blood-colored mist.

One is an enhancement to the limit of the body, and the other breaks the limit.

Can they be compared?

Muscles, bones, skin, membranes, internal organs, and even blood, all evolved and improved under the fusion of the blood-colored mist.

Of course, the originally dense blood-colored mist surrounding the black tower was also rapidly depleting at a visible speed.

"Killing top experts yields more blood-colored mist."

Wu Yuan pondered, "Killing over a hundred soldiers might only yield a comparable amount of blood-colored mist to killing Wang Xiahe."

The deeper he thought, the more Wu Yuan felt the profound secrets hidden within the Black Tower.

Where does the blood-colored mist originate?

Is it intrinsic to the Black Tower, serving as a reward for killing enemies? How does the Black Tower clearly judge the strength of enemies killed?

Does it consume some mysterious substance from the deceased? Why can it only devour enemies killed by oneself?

Can't figure it out!

As time passed, when the sun was about to set.

When the blood-colored mist in the mid-dantian palace was about to be depleted, Wu Yuan finally felt that his body had reached the limit of absorbing the blood-colored mist.

"Absorbed a full ninety percent!"

"Only ten percent left?" Wu Yuan murmured to himself, "Do I have to find a place to kill again?"

Deep down, Wu Yuan didn't particularly like killing.

"Never mind, I'll think about it later. Let's strive to elevate the physical quality to the limit for now," Wu Yuan's eyes held a hint of anticipation. "I wonder, what level can my physical quality reach this time?"

His single-arm fist strength had already reached a hundred and ten thousand catties.

Sensing his body, Wu Yuan faintly felt that the extent of this improvement might exceed his own imagination.

He took out a jade bottle from the package on the ground.

Opening it, a fragrance permeated the air, making one instinctively want to swallow it.

The bottle contained the precious Ancient Essence.

In the past three years, the sect had granted him a total of thirty drops of Ancient Essence. Adding the ten he originally possessed and deducting what he had used over the past year, he had around thirty-six drops.

Ancient Essence, containing immense energy in a small volume, was convenient to carry.

Therefore, during his cultivation in the Cloud Mountains, Wu Yuan rarely used Ancient Essence to strengthen his body. Instead, he mostly relied on Qi-Enhancing Pills and Cloud Spring Water.

He had reserved these Ancient Essences for when he ventured outside.

"Now, I can enhance my physical qualities in one go without any hindrance. I wonder if these Ancient Essences will be enough." Wu Yuan smiled slightly.

Directly opening his mouth, he ingested a whole drop of Ancient Essence without dilution.

Instantly, a surge of energy erupted from his mouth to his stomach.

With Wu Yuan's powerful current physical condition, he could easily withstand it.

"Whew!"

Wu Yuan leaped out and began practicing the Tiger-Leopard Bone Refining Technique, stimulating his body deeply with each move.

Suddenly, the overwhelming energy released by the Ancient Essence rushed into every corner of his body.

As the saying goes, after a long drought comes a sweet rain!

Wu Yuan's muscles and bones all over his body began to crazily absorb and assimilate the energy from the Ancient Essence, strengthening himself.

The Blood Mist had already elevated his body to an extremely high level.

Moreover, Ancient Essence contained not a trace of impurities.

His physical qualities began to improve at a speed unprecedented.

Drop by drop, Ancient Essence was swallowed by Wu Yuan.

His physical qualities, starting from a single-arm strength of one hundred and ten thousand pounds... to one hundred and twenty thousand pounds... to one hundred and thirty thousand pounds...

Rising all the way!

The sun set.

Then it rose again!

When the sun was once again overhead, Wu Yuan finally stopped his cultivation, standing still, completely calm.

"One day and one night."

"Finally reached the limit!"

"To alleviate the fatigue caused by continuous cultivation and the exhaustion of Blood Mist, the consumption of Ancient Essence has almost run out."

"And only three drops of Ancient Essence remain," Wu Yuan calmly thought. More than thirty drops of Ancient Essence were used up overnight.

Equivalent to spending millions of silver coins overnight.

However, Wu Yuan did not feel regret. Everything he worked hard to acquire was for the purpose of improving his strength.

If strength cannot be improved, what use are treasures?

"Whew!" Wu Yuan slowly opened his eyes, looked down at his palms, gently clenched them, feeling a surging force ready to burst out at any moment.

Much stronger than before.

Two days ago, his single-arm strength was one hundred and ten thousand pounds, and his overall physical qualities were at the bottom among 'Second-Rank Martial Artists'.

And now.

Wu Yuan threw a punch that was extremely fast, leaving behind residual images, and it was several times faster than before!

"Boom!" Another punch, without deliberately merging with the surrounding environment, caused the air to explode.

"Single-arm strength."

"Approximately... one hundred and sixty thousand pounds!" Wu Yuan's mouth revealed a smile. "Even compared to Grandmaster experts, the gap is very small."

For a Grandmaster on the Earth List, the minimum requirement for physical qualities is two hundred thousand pounds!

During his time in the Cloud Mountains.

Wu Yuan had read many classics, including essays from several martial arts masters (not personal experiences), giving him some understanding of Earth List Martial Artists.

Why, three thousand years ago, did the Martial Emperor set the first-tier physical fitness at two hundred thousand kilograms?

This was a limit.

It represented the universal standard for reaching the human body's limit in the Zhongtu world.

Just like in Wu Yuan's past life, the physical fitness of martial arts masters in the Human Federation ranged from twenty-five thousand to thirty thousand kilograms for single-arm strength.

In the Zhongtu world, the single-arm strength of martial arts masters typically ranged from two hundred thousand to two hundred and fifty thousand kilograms.

Higher than that?

Yes!

But it was extremely rare, mostly achieved by those with exceptionally high innate physical talent and the best upbringing from a young age, eventually becoming martial arts masters.

"My combat skills, even an ordinary martial arts master might not match."

"Two days ago, I considered myself nearly invincible as a martial arts master." Wu Yuan remained calm: "But now?"

"I should be able to compete with other martial arts masters."

At least, he had the ability to withstand a battle, not as helpless as before.

It could be said that, looking across the entire Zhongtu world, aside from the almost unseen legendary experts of the Heavenly List, Wu Yuan had almost reached the peak of martial arts.

At this moment, Wu Yuan felt a bit relieved. In just two years, he had reached this level.

It could be said that, in the whole world now, there were fewer and fewer threats against him.

Strength brought freedom, enabling true ease.

Just like this, Wu Yuan lay quietly by the riverbank, his mind slowly relaxing, extending in all directions to sense the world.

A quarter of an hour, half an hour, an hour.

As the sun gradually shifted westward.

"Hmm?" Wu Yuan, who was initially relaxing, suddenly opened his eyes, a cold light flashing in them.

He stood up.

The divine war knife was already in his hand.

His gaze focused on the nearby mountains and forests. With his powerful perception and hearing, he had sensed several figures rushing towards him in the mountains.

Not making him wait too long!

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Several figures leaped into the air, cutting through the sky, quickly landing on the barren woods less than a hundred meters away from him.

In the center of both sides was a shallow river.

"These people?" Wu Yuan furrowed his brows slightly, his gaze sweeping over the five figures, ultimately landing on the black-robed youth with a murderous aura.

This person seemed to be the leader.

However, after just a glance, Wu Yuan's gaze settled on the indifferent-looking middle-aged man in the red robe.

This person posed the greatest threat!

"Are you Dark Blade? Did you kill Senior Brother Wang?" The black-robed youth stared at Wu Yuan, his eyes also fixed on the large knife in Wu Yuan's hand.

This was Senior Brother Wang Xiaoho's divine war knife.

"Senior Brother Wang? Wang Xiaoho?" Wu Yuan squinted, calmly asking, "Are you a disciple of 'Master Sun Dongning'?"

Regarding Wang Xiaoho's information.

Wu Yuan was naturally clear.

Unfortunately, being a master's disciple, so what? He would kill without hesitation!

"Indeed, it's you!" The black-robed youth's eyes contained endless fury, as if wanting to devour Wu Yuan completely.

"Here for revenge?" Wu Yuan spoke softly.

"Although I don't know how you found us so quickly."

"But, I presume you must be experts from the Great Jin Empire." Wu Yuan's voice wasn't loud, but it had a penetrating quality, echoing along the riverbank.

"Are you truly Dark Blade?" The white-robed old man suddenly spoke.

(End of this chapter)