A journey through the world of martial arts

Chapter 166 The Power of the Sword
That night, the Imperial Sword Manor was brightly lit. In a tall pavilion, Yin Hao sat in the main seat, with Yin Jun and Yin Tianqi sitting beside him, along with several elders of the family. They had come out of seclusion specifically to witness the birth of the new manor lord.

Yin Jun stood up and, seeing that the guests below had almost all arrived, nodded to Yin Hao, who nodded in acknowledgment. Yin Jun then went to the railing of the pavilion, clasped his hands in a salute to the guests below, gathered his inner energy, and said loudly, "Thank you all for traveling a long way to attend the enthronement ceremony of the Lord of Yujian Manor. Yin Jun thanks you."

The sound reached everyone's ears at the same time, regardless of distance, which shocked everyone present. Only a handful of people present could match this level of skill. If the Second Master was like this, then what level of skill did Yin Hao possess?
The few people hidden in the crowd exchanged glances, all seeing the solemnity on each other's faces. They had come to disrupt the succession ceremony of the Imperial Sword Manor, and if they could take the opportunity to destroy the Blood Ruyi, that would be even better.

Although they knew of the reputation of the Imperial Sword Manor before, they had never actually faced them, so they inevitably underestimated them. In addition, the employer offered extremely generous compensation, which is why they accepted the job.

Now it seems that the Imperial Sword Manor is very complex. They have repeatedly verified Yin Hao's moves and created a way to counter them. Even if they face him, they will not be easily defeated. However, Yin Jun is not well-known. They only know him as Yin Hao's right-hand man. They did not expect him to be so capable.

"Let the three heroes of Lingxi deal with Yin Jun. The four of us should keep Yin Hao occupied as soon as possible, and let the other two take down Yin Tianqi. Yin Hao will be hesitant to act rashly, so we should leave immediately after obtaining the Blood Ruyi."

The white-haired old man at the head of the group transmitted his voice to everyone, and the others all nodded, their eyes fixed on the person in the pavilion.

A moment later, Yin Jun stepped down, and Yin Hao and Yin Tianqi stepped forward together. Just as Yin Hao was about to pass the Blood Ruyi to Yin Tianqi, a loud bang was heard and the ground shook. Before anyone knew what was happening, several figures flew towards the pavilion.

As the loud noise rang out, Yin Hao and the others were already prepared for battle. Seeing the several figures flying towards them, Yin Jun's face turned frosty. With a clang, he drew his sword and his figure flashed, already engaging the three heroes of Lingxi. The three heroes were no match for Yin Jun. After three moves, the three were already at a disadvantage. However, the three relied on a set of exquisite formations to entangle Yin Jun tightly, not giving him a chance to escape.

"If we can hold off Yin Jun for just a quarter of an hour, we can get the 'Wisdom Jade Pill'. We must not let our efforts go to waste."

Upon hearing this, the other two's eyes immediately lit up with excitement. This "Wisdom Jade Pill" was a top-grade elixir with the effect of refining true qi. If a martial artist took one, their foundation would be incredibly solid, and their future path in martial arts would be far broader than that of others.

Yin Jun's longsword gleamed coldly, unleashing six sword shadows with each strike. Every strike hit its mark, and the three heroes of Lingxi were already covered in bloodstains. Had it not been for their exquisite combined attack technique, they would have already perished under his sword.

Just as Yin Jun was facing off against the Three Heroes of Lingxi, Yin Hao was also confronting four masters whose faces were covered with black cloths. These four men were very skilled and precise in their attacks, and their timing was impeccable.

After exchanging a few blows with the four of them, Yin Hao already knew that their skills were no less than those of the leaders of the various sects in the world.

As soon as the two sides opened up the battlefield, the other accomplices hidden among the crowd immediately sprang out. More than ten figures attacked Yin Tianqi with a purpose. However, they knew that there would be obstacles. But as long as one of them could capture Yin Tianqi, their goal would be achieved.

The martial arts practitioners who were supposed to be attending the ceremony were shocked. They hadn't expected anyone to come and obstruct them. Most people quickly moved aside, not wanting to cause any more trouble. However, a small number of sects that were on good terms with the Imperial Sword Manor confronted the attackers.

In an instant, the entire courtyard was filled with the sounds of fighting and roaring.

The elders on either side of Yin Tianqi remained expressionless as they watched the enemy make their move, each seeking out their opponent. The remaining elder, however, went up to the pavilion without any hindrance. Upon seeing Yin Tianqi, he reached out and grabbed him without saying a word.

The claws hissed and whistled, carrying a faint fishy smell. Yin Tianqi knew that this claw technique must be highly poisonous, so he dared not be careless. As he retreated, he gathered his energy and threw a punch.

The fist was fierce and extremely powerful, neutralizing the opponent's claw attack. Both men were jolted and staggered back a few steps.

"I thought that apart from Yin Hao and Yin Jun, there were no other experts in Yujian Manor. I didn't expect that the young master has already reached the Xiantian realm at such a young age. He is truly a tiger father and a dog son. However, it would be better for the young master to surrender, otherwise he might suffer some physical pain."

The masked man in blue robes spoke as he launched three attacks, each faster than the last. Yin Tianqi sensed the aura emanating from his opponent, his expression growing more serious. While this man's skill was inferior to his father's and second uncle's, he was still a formidable expert. Although Yin Tianqi was of similar skill level, his opponent undoubtedly possessed extensive combat experience, which would put him at a disadvantage. However…

In a flash, a palm strike came and snapped a wooden pillar in the pavilion with a crack. Yin Tianqi moved swiftly, grabbed the long sword on the table, and a bright sword light flashed like a star. The blue-robed masked man narrowed his eyes slightly. At that moment, several sword lights attacked from above, middle and below.

"Excellent swordsmanship!" Upon seeing the dazzling sword light, the blue-robed masked man felt his hair stand on end. These three sword lights were enough to threaten him, forcing him to retreat. Just as the blue-robed masked man retreated, Yin Tianqi's longsword was delivered, as brilliant as starlight and as swift as lightning. The hissing sound of it cutting through the air startled the blue-robed masked man.

"Star-Pointing Sword!"

The masked man in blue robes cried out in shock, his expression changing several times. He swallowed the pill from his throat, and a thin layer of energy shield immediately appeared on his body. The Star Point Sword light pierced the opponent's protective energy shield, but could not advance even an inch further. Moreover, the sword was constantly sinking into the energy shield, like a clump of mud.

Seeing that Yin Tianqi's longsword had failed, the blue-robed masked man shouted, and his aura suddenly expanded. With a crisp sound, Yin Tianqi's longsword broke in two, and he staggered back a few steps.

Before Yin Tianqi could react, the man in blue robes pointed several fingers, sending bursts of finger energy flying through the air. The wooden pillars supporting the pavilion were instantly riddled with holes, and the entire pavilion was on the verge of collapse. Yin Tianqi swung his broken sword, and with each finger energy he deflected, his face grew paler. By the time he had connected with seven finger energy attacks, his internal energy was churning, and his arms were trembling uncontrollably.

"This person's aura suddenly surged, he must have swallowed some kind of pill. Such pills are never long-lasting, but as long as we can get through this period, there is hope."

Looking at the chaotic battle below, Yin Tianqi knew that his father and the others couldn't take care of him for the time being, and he could only rely on himself. With this in mind, he picked up the broken sword, straightened his expression, and stared at his opponent.

Seeing Yin Tianqi's actions, the masked man in blue robes had a cruel glint in his eyes. His hand suddenly blazed with dark light as he reached out to grab Yin Tianqi. Yin Tianqi slashed with his broken sword, unleashing a white light, but the man treated it as nothing. With a swift movement of his dark light, the white light shattered, and his body suddenly closed to within three feet. The foul-smelling claw wind caused Yin Tianqi to lose his focus slightly, and his body suddenly froze.

Upon seeing this, the man in blue robes was overjoyed. He suddenly exerted his strength and reached out to grab Yin Tianqi's throat. Just then, a sharp blade suddenly attacked from his side. If he did not dodge, he would be seriously injured even if he did not die. The man in blue robes struggled for a moment, then immediately gave up on capturing Yin Tianqi, turned around to dodge, steadied himself, and looked closely. He saw that it was a beautiful woman in white clothes holding a sword.

Looking at the woman's appearance, a name came to mind for the man in the blue robe.

"Yin Tianxue?"

Yin Tianqi escaped unharmed and, seeing his sister arrive, immediately stood beside her.

"Sister, this person is skilled in claw techniques and has ingested a potent elixir. Be careful of his protective aura."

Upon hearing this, Yin Tianxue did not speak, but simply nodded. Then, she charged forward with her sword, unleashing more than ten sword lights with each strike, all aimed at the blue-robed man's vital points, especially his eyes and lower body. Yin Tianqi's face twitched at the sight, but this was not the time for lecturing. Seeing the blue-robed man and his sister engage in combat, he immediately joined the battle.

While the chaotic battle raged at Yujian Manor, a group of men in black sneaked into the manor's backyard under cover of night. However, as soon as they landed, before they could make a move, they felt a blur before their eyes, smelled a bloody stench, and immediately lost consciousness.

Satisfied, the blood python swallowed the six people whole. It then straightened up and looked at the front yard, which was ablaze with flames in the distance. Its scarlet eyes reflected a bloodthirsty look. Its forked tongue flickered in and out, but without Yin Zhong's orders, it dared not go to the front yard. After coiling its body and cleaning up the traces, it turned and slithered into the lotus pond, waiting for the next group of infiltrators.

Yin Hao faced four masters alone, yet he remained completely at ease. His two palms moved swiftly and powerfully, and anyone who dared to fight him was injured to varying degrees. The elderly man at the head of the group was particularly pitiful, having lost an arm.

"We underestimated Yin Hao's strength. He is already the number one martial artist in the world with just the Mountain-Piercing Palm technique. And that's without even using his signature sword technique. Otherwise, our outcome would have been much better. We've really lost a lot of money on this deal."

The elder in the lead revealed a look of horror beneath his veil. His side already had one dead and three wounded. If things continued like this, they would surely be wiped out. Glancing at the situation on the upper floor, the elder's face grew even more grim.

"Even after using the Yellow Spring Pill, he still can't defeat a junior. Old Monster Qiu is really getting worse as he gets older."

"Elder Immortal, we can't worry about Old Monster Qiu right now. Let's think about how to get out of here. It seems that Imperial Sword Manor was prepared. If we don't leave now, we'll really have no chance once those Iron Guards arrive."

The middle-aged man with the gun was forced back by Yin Hao's palm strike, his face flushed red, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

Seeing that his side was already at a disadvantage and the few remaining battlefields were also in imminent danger, the old immortal felt a heavy weight in his heart.

"What's going on with the people who were supposed to be there? Weren't we supposed to keep them occupied for three quarters of an hour? Why haven't they made a move yet?"

While fighting Yin Hao, the white-haired immortal was also thinking of a countermeasure. However, masters must be fully focused when facing an enemy, and his momentary lapse in concentration gave Yin Hao an opportunity.

Originally, the three were well-balanced in offense and defense, and Yin Hao couldn't defeat them quickly. However, now that they had revealed an opening, Yin Hao, who was keenly aware of the enemy's aura, immediately gathered his true energy, let out a deep shout, and unleashed a fierce palm wind like a tornado, instantly sending sand and stones flying. Several people fighting nearby were swept away. The white-haired immortal was terrified at the sight. Without thinking, he reached out and grabbed the middle-aged man with the gun next to him, pulling him forward. He then struck out with a powerful palm, sending the latter flying swiftly towards the tornado of palm wind. A scream was heard, and blood rained down, landing on those nearby.

The palm strike was momentarily halted by this obstruction, but this brief opportunity was enough. The white-haired immortal used his lightness skill and quickly ran outside. The dark-skinned, burly man left behind was shocked to see the white-haired immortal fleeing and cursed under his breath.

Seeing Yin Hao approaching, he immediately flicked his wrist, sending two iron plates flying out. He then stepped into the air, attempting to escape, but before he could even reach the wall, a finger strike knocked him down. Upon landing, he was unable to move and was easily subdued by the Iron Guard.

"Second brother, send someone to keep an eye on him." Yin Hao gave the order, then leaped and flew towards the collapsed pavilion.

Yin Jun summoned Tie Feng and ordered him to take the man away to await further instructions. The remaining Iron Guards, led by Yin Jun, quickly cleared the battlefield. Anyone who fought to the death was killed on the spot, while those who gave up resistance had their acupoints sealed and were imprisoned.

At the collapsed pavilion, the man in blue robes fought with Yin Tianqi and his sister for a while. He initially had the upper hand, but the two were incredibly resilient and their teamwork was seamless. The man in blue robes couldn't win the fight, and as time passed, the effects of the medicine in his body were rapidly dissipating.

After another dozen or so trembling moves, the blue-robed man heard the commotion behind him growing fainter. He glanced around and saw the fate of the middle-aged man with the gun. He was immediately horrified. Seeing the white-haired immortal retreat without hesitation, he immediately decided to retreat as well.

After unleashing several palm strikes, the blue-robed man, seeing the dark-skinned man's fate, immediately fled for his life. Yin Tianqi and his sister breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing this; it was already quite remarkable that they had managed to hold on until now.

"Sister, Father has already gone after them, we don't need to worry about them, but these small fry are the problem."

Yin Tianqi's eyes sharpened. Regardless of the reason, this incident was a resounding slap in the face to the Imperial Sword Manor. These people deserved to die.

Upon hearing this, Yin Tianxue didn't say much. She immediately drew her sword and rushed into the crowd. Wherever the sword light touched, heads flew into the air. The onlookers felt a chill and their hearts trembled at the sight.

"This Miss Yin is quite bloodthirsty."

"The young master of Yujian Manor, Yin Tianqi, is gentle and polite, but this young lady is a decisive and ruthless person. Coupled with the renowned Yin Tianhe, Yujian Manor is truly blessed by heaven. With these three around, Yujian Manor will dominate the world for the next few decades."

Although the crowd was whispering, it did not escape the notice of Yin Tianqi and his sister. Upon hearing these words, they simply smiled.

Right after the battle ended, Yin Jun tallied the casualties. Apart from four Iron Guards who died and more than ten Iron Guards who were seriously injured, there were no other casualties.

"The enemy force consisted of seventy-three men. Sixty were killed, eleven were captured alive, and two escaped."

Yin Jun's face was very grave at this moment. Each of these Iron Guards was an elite member of the manor, and this was only the second time since the manor was established that they had suffered such heavy losses.

"Second Uncle, what is the background of those people who came to attack?"

Yin Tianqi could tell that these people all had some skill, especially the dozen or so who made the first move; they were all formidable fighters in the martial arts world.

"That dark-skinned man is the second leader of the Water Gang, the middle-aged man with the gun is Du Rui of the Divine Gun Sect, and if I'm not mistaken, the white-haired old man who escaped should be the White-haired Old Monster of Baiweng Ridge."

Yin Tianqi's heart sank upon hearing this. These three were not unknown figures; they were all local heroes who had never had any grudges against Yujian Manor. Their attack this time was truly puzzling.

"We'll discuss this matter when my brother returns. Let the guests leave first. Tianqi, your succession ceremony needs to be held on a later date."

The grand ceremony was ruined, and Yoon Jun was furious. Although this was within their expectations, he just couldn't swallow his anger.

Yin Tianqi didn't care. If he could, he really wouldn't want to be the head of the manor. He just wanted to go out and travel.

As Yoon Jun was apologizing to the guests, he suddenly felt a jolt in his heart. He saw a head fly in from outside and roll down beside him. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was the white-haired old man who had escaped.

Looking into his unseeing eyes, Yin Jun examined him closely, then smiled and called out towards the courtyard, "You little rascal, you've come back just in time."

Upon hearing this, Yin Tianqi and his sister turned to look outside the courtyard and saw a handsome and refined figure emerge from the night.

This man was Yin Tianhe. On his way back to the manor, he saw the old man with white hair fleeing from the manor covered in blood. He also discovered his uncle's Mountain-Piercing Palm Qi on the old man's body, so he took action and ended his life.

"Father, eldest brother, eldest sister."

Yin Tianhe, looking strong and carrying a long sword, greeted the three men with a smile.

"You've finally decided to come back. Father and Second Uncle have been missing you terribly. We thought you were up to no good outside and hadn't come home," Yin Tianqi teased Yin Tianhe.

"It's my fault, I made everyone worry." Yin Tianhe immediately apologized, then asked what had just happened.

Yin Jun then explained the matter in detail. Upon hearing this, Yin Tianhe's expression became more solemn. Although these people were not considered important by the Imperial Sword Manor, since they had provoked the Imperial Sword Manor, their sect had to give an explanation no matter what.

"We'll talk about this when your uncle gets back. You've just returned, so go and rest first."

Yin Tianhe nodded. At that moment, Yin Jun and Yin Tianhe exchanged a glance and then simultaneously launched two hidden weapons at a large tree outside the courtyard.

Seeing this, Yin Tianqi and his sister slowed down slightly, but they still immediately launched their hidden weapons.

"who!"

Four hidden weapons were launched, two in front and two behind, forcing the figures hiding in the leaves to emerge. Two white figures leaped a few times and then disappeared.

"These two are quite skilled. If we hadn't made a noise, we might not have been able to find them. However, these two don't seem to be of the same ilk as the White-Haired Old Monster. That's really strange."

"Tie Feng, have the Iron Guards be extra careful during night patrols, and immediately send a signal if there is any unusual activity."

Yin Jun gave an order to Tie Feng, who immediately responded. Tie Feng was furious. Now anyone dared to provoke Yujian Manor. Did they think the Iron Guards didn't exist? It seemed they had forgotten the lesson from three years ago.

Yin Jun told the younger generation to leave and rest, while he and several elders waited for Yin Hao in the main hall. Half an hour later, Yin Hao carried in a blue-robed man who was barely breathing. He casually threw him on the ground, sat down, picked up a teacup, and drank it all in one gulp.

Seeing that Yin Hao was unharmed, Yin Jun then looked at the half-dead man in blue robes on the ground, walked over, and turned him over.

"Old Monster Qiu!"

A gasp rang out, and everyone else turned to look. One of the elders even jumped up in shock, his face contorted with rage.

"It seems that Tianqin Mountain is really going to fight against our Yujian Manor to the end. We were originally tolerant of them out of consideration for the kindness of the previous manor lord, but we did not expect them to take advantage of us. Manor lord, this matter must not be left like this."

(End of this chapter)