Wuxia: Become the 100-Victory Sword King at the Beginning

Chapter 256. Divine Skills Overcome Difficulties, Illusory Scenes Lead to the Thief's Lair

Shi Feiyang's Mingyu Gong (Bright Jade Skill) vortex of true energy spun rapidly, emitting bursts of howling, as if it could devour everything in the world. Although Zhong Renwang, Dugu Yan, and Wu Yu were all highly skilled in martial arts, Shi Feiyang's Mingyu Gong was even more exquisite, using softness to overcome hardness and constantly neutralizing their attacks.

Moreover, under the influence of this vortex, Shi Feiyang's internal energy not only did not dissipate outwards, but instead condensed inwards. When fighting with them, he not only did not lose his internal energy, but also enhanced his skills. The more he fought, the more energetic he became, and the more abundant his skills became.

At this moment, Shi Feiyang's gaze was firm, like the most dazzling star in the night sky, as he stared at Zhong Renwang's overwhelming palm strike.

When Zhong Renwang's fierce palm strike touched Shi Feiyang's vortex of true energy, it was like a mud ox entering the sea, being dissolved one by one.

The powerful palm strike dissipated in the vortex, as if it had never existed.

During his fierce exchange with Shi Feiyang, Zhong Renwang gradually felt a chill creeping over his body, which startled him.

He pondered to himself, "Shi Feiyang's Mingyu Kung Fu is so powerful? My powerful palm strikes with the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms are completely ineffective, like a mud ox sinking into the sea!"

He felt that every time he struck with his iron palm, it was as if he were hitting soft cotton, unable to exert its proper power, and his palms repeatedly missed their mark. What was even more terrifying was that he gradually felt his blood begin to slowly congeal under the strange influence of Shi Feiyang's Mingyu Gong, his blood and qi were not flowing smoothly throughout his body, and his breathing became rapid.

A sudden surge of intense panic welled up within him: "Oh no! Could it be that I, Zhong Renwang, am going to be defeated by Shi Feiyang today? Absolutely not! I have roamed the martial world for decades, weathering countless storms, how could I fall so easily!"

Just as Zhong Renwang was panicking, Shi Feiyang keenly caught a slight flaw in his expression and was overjoyed, thinking to himself, "My chance has come!"

He then suddenly gathered his energy, his body surging with true qi, and swung his palm down at Zhong Renwang like Mount Tai crashing down, shouting, "Zhong Renwang, take this! Today is the day you, you villain, meet your end! You have tried to assassinate me dozens of times, I will surely destroy you and make the Beggars' Clan a subordinate branch of the Xiong Ying Society. Hmph!" Zhong Renwang witnessed this scene and was extremely terrified, his heart filled with panic as if he were an ant on a hot pan.

He quickly mobilized all his internal energy, raised his palm to defend, and beads of sweat, like beans, slid down his cheeks and dripped onto the dusty ground.

Shi Feiyang raised the corners of his mouth slightly, revealing a cold smile, a smile as cold as winter frost, exuding endless chill.

His palm strike suddenly changed, from a fierce slash to a sharp cut.

In an instant, his palm transformed into an extremely sharp Heavenly Frost Blade, emanating a chilling aura. A fierce blade of energy roared out, slashing straight at Zhong Renwang's arm.

Shi Feiyang sneered inwardly, "Hmph, let me show you the power of my sharp sword energy!"

Zhong Renwang knew he was in trouble and quickly used his lightness skill to retreat in order to avoid this fatal blow.

However, Shi Feiyang's moves were as swift as lightning, and he was ultimately unable to dodge them in time.

With a sharp crack, like a sword severing a thousand-year-old withered tree, Zhong Renwang's arm was cleanly severed by Shi Feiyang's blade energy. Zhong Renwang's face contorted in pain, his features almost contorted in agony, his heart filled with rage and resentment.

He let out a bloodcurdling scream, a sound like the wailing of ghosts from the deepest hell, echoing through the blood-soaked world, sending chills down one's spine. He endured the excruciating pain of his severed arm and hastily retreated, thinking bitterly, "Shi Feiyang, this is no gentleman left unavenged! One day, I will make you pay a terrible price! Hmph! I will rally all the martial arts practitioners in the world to besiege you, seize your Sacred Heart Manual and Xu Fu's Immortal Pill, and make you wish you were dead!"

However, at this moment, his eyes were filled with deep fear of Shi Feiyang's powerful strength.

After landing a successful blow, Shi Feiyang immediately unleashed the ultimate move from the "Hundred Victories Blade Technique," "Slaying the Mortal World."

He used his palm as a knife, his palm techniques were unpredictable, like willow catkins dancing in the spring wind, seemingly gentle, but hiding deadly intent.

With a resolute air, it slashed straight at Dugu Yan.

Upon seeing this, Dugu Yan was startled, her eyes widened in anger, as if flames were shooting out from them.

With a swing of his longsword, he unleashed the "Evil-Repelling Sword Technique," renowned for its eerie and fierce nature, using offense as a form of defense.

In an instant, sword strikes rained down on Shi Feiyang like a storm. A flurry of sword shadows, flashing with cold light, each strike carrying a deadly threat, like countless silver lightning bolts aimed directly at Shi Feiyang's vital points.

Shi Feiyang sneered, his laughter filled with unparalleled confidence and disdain.

Although Dugu Yan's Evil-Repelling Sword Technique was unpredictable and strange, Shi Feiyang's Mingyu Skill was exquisite. In an instant, Shi Feiyang used the wonderful lightness skill of "leaving without a trace after the deed is done". His figure swayed and, like a white light that could turn corners, instantly appeared behind Wu Yu.

Before Wu Yu could react, Shi Feiyang had already unleashed a move from the Hundred Victories Saber Technique called "Heaven and Earth Live Together".

He raised his hands high, like two gleaming frost blades, radiating a chilling killing intent and carrying a world-destroying aura. He slashed down fiercely at Wu Yu, roaring, "You vixen, how dare you injure my page! I will never let you go! Prepare to die!"

"Crack! Crack!" Two crisp cracking sounds, like thunder in a clear sky, rang out. Wu Yu was unable to dodge in time and was suddenly cleaved in four pieces by Shi Feiyang's palms.

In an instant, the four pieces of the body scattered like kites with broken strings, and blood gushed out like a fountain, splattering all over Dugu Yan's body.

The bright red blood shimmered ominously in the sunlight, staining the surrounding ground crimson.

Dugu Yan's face showed fear, her complexion was as pale as paper, and her wrinkles suddenly increased, as if she had aged ten years in an instant.

He let out a terrified scream, his fighting spirit completely gone, and hurriedly fled the scene.

In his hasty escape, he grabbed Zhong Renwang and, like a startled bird, quickly disappeared into the distance.

As Dugu Yan drifted through the air, her heart was filled with regret and lament: "I have harmed myself to improve, exhausting my profound inner strength over decades to cultivate that elusive 'Evil-Repelling Sword Technique,' yet I am still no match for Shi Feiyang. It is truly lamentable! Is my lifelong reputation, Dugu Yan, going to be ruined at this moment?"

The air was filled with an increasingly strong stench of blood.

Zhong Renwang was hastily taken away by Dugu Yan, feeling both ashamed and angry, with resentment burning fiercely in his chest like a raging fire.

He turned to look in Shi Feiyang's direction, his eyes bloodshot, as if about to spit out fury. He secretly vowed in his heart: "Shi Feiyang, I, Zhong Renwang, will avenge this humiliation! You just wait, once I find a good plan and get an iron arm, I will smash you into mincemeat and make you understand the consequences of provoking me!" After saying this, he clenched his teeth, and the muscles on his face twitched slightly with anger.

Shi Feiyang stared at the retreating figures of Zhong Renwang and Dugu Yan, his face calm and composed, like a towering mountain, unmoved by the raging storm. He thought to himself, "I'll spare these two lowly scoundrels for now. The most urgent task is to rescue my brothers who are in danger. Liao Pei, Lie Quan, and the others are still deeply trapped within the Ghost Shadow Nine Palaces Sword Formation, their lives hanging by a thread. The situation is critical; I must rush to their aid."

With this in mind, he took a deep breath, his breath long and steady, having absorbed all the essence of heaven and earth into his body. In an instant, his aura surged and churned, like ocean waves churning in a gale, his robes fluttering as if about to be torn apart by this powerful aura.

Immediately afterwards, he let out a loud shout, his voice booming like a thunderclap, which made the surrounding air tremble.

His figure was like a white light, carrying an unstoppable momentum, as he swiftly attacked the Ghost Shadow Nine Palaces Sword Formation where Liao Pei and Lie Quan were located. Shi Feiyang's palms were like knives, moving rapidly, each swing accompanied by a sharp whistling sound.

The wind howled, like a sharp blade slicing through the sky, sending chills down one's spine.

Using the powerful force of the Mingyu Gong's true qi vortex, he skillfully guided the enemy's longswords. His palms seemed to be imbued with life, each movement bringing forth a sharp blade aura, as sharp as lightning and radiating light.

Wherever his sword energy passed, blood mist filled the air, and rows of heads were blown away, creating an extremely bloody scene.

In the blink of an eye, the originally tight and powerful Nine Palaces Sword Formation disintegrated rapidly under his fierce attack, which was like an avalanche of mountains and a tsunami.

The Taoists in the sword formation fell one after another. Some stared wide-eyed, their faces filled with disbelief, as if they could not accept that someone could break their proud sword formation so easily, even in death. Others clutched their wounds and groaned in pain.

The groans echoed across the blood-soaked grassland, adding to the desolation.

Blood flowed freely across the grass like a stream, turning it a deep crimson, as if a vibrant red carpet had been laid out, or as if the earth was silently shedding tears of blood.

Corpses lay strewn about, severed limbs and mutilated remains were everywhere, a horrific scene, like a living hell, too gruesome to bear, enough to make one's heart ache.

Seeing that the situation was hopeless, the enemy bandits either died or fled, and scattered like birds and beasts in an instant.

Shi Feiyang's ninety guards were well-trained and quickly began to clean up the bloody scene.

With solemn expressions, they gathered the corpses together, skillfully poured tung oil over them, and set them on fire.

In an instant, thick smoke billowed and flames soared into the sky, the raging fire seemingly intent on completely incinerating the sins of this bloody land.

A pungent, acrid smell filled the air, mingling with the stench of blood, making one almost nauseous.

Shi Feiyang stared at the scene before him, his face calm but unable to hide his weariness.

He turned his head slightly and whispered to the heroes around him, "Although we have won today's battle, you are all exhausted. We should move our troops a kilometer away and set up camp so that we can get some rest."

Everyone nodded in agreement, their eyes revealing respect and trust for Shi Feiyang.

So, Shi Feiyang led the heroes slowly to a place a thousand meters away, where they found a relatively flat area and began to set up camp.

As night fell, campfires were lit in the camp, their light illuminating the tired yet determined faces of the people.

Liao Pei, the "Tongbei Fist" master; Lie Quan, the "Qiankun Blade" master; Wu Zhong, the "Iron Palm" master; Xiao Lingling, the "Mandarin Duck Blade" master; Miao Menlong, the "Divine Archer" master; Shan Zhi, the "Plum Blossom Dart" master; Xie Wen, the "Flying Eagle Detective" master; and the young page Shi Xiong, among others, were filled with doubt and confusion about Shi Feiyang's long-term stay on the grassland. Half an hour later, the group sat down with Shi Feiyang for dinner and to enjoy fine wine.

Liao Pei broke the silence first, scratching his head with a somewhat simple-minded expression, his eyes filled with worry and confusion, and asked, "Chief, why are we still stuck on this grassland? Are we waiting for that villain Zhong Renwang to gather more villains to besiege us?"

These words were like a pebble thrown into a still lake, drawing everyone's attention and stirring up their doubts.

Shi Feiyang smiled slightly, a smile as warm as the spring sun, revealing confidence and composure. He slowly explained, “Elder Liao, you are unaware of this. Although this grassland is vast and seemingly desolate, it is actually an excellent place for us to annihilate our enemies. Eliminating villains like Zhong Renwang and Dugu Yan here has many advantages. First, it can clear the obstacles on our way to Bozhou to quell the rebellion, preventing them from supporting Yang Yinglong's rebel army and clearing the way for the imperial court to quell the rebellion. Second, the Naiman tribe will also be free from the harassment of these shameless scoundrels. Given time, the Naiman tribe will surely grow strong and become one of the leading tribes on the grassland. At that time, this place will become another stronghold for our Xiong Ying Society. In this way, we can both take the initiative to attack and defend ourselves, and the imperial army will find it difficult to expand its influence here.”

His voice was steady and powerful, resonating in everyone's ears like a great bell, every word and sentence filled with convincing power.

Upon hearing this, the heroes of Xiong Ying suddenly understood and expressed their admiration.

Lie Quan raised his wine glass and praised, "The Grand Master is indeed a man of both wisdom and courage, with profound foresight, and is utterly admirable!"

Everyone echoed in agreement, and for a time, the sound of clinking wine cups filled the tent as everyone raised their glasses and drank heartily, full of high spirits.

At this moment, the raging storm outside roared like a ferocious beast.

Inside the tent, everyone sat around the campfire, snuggling together and sharing their experiences and observations from the day.

Despite the harsh environment, this unity and mutual assistance, like the warm winter sun, warmed everyone's hearts and gave them strength. After the meal, the heroes who had not brought their families gathered in a large tent for a long talk.

The night was deep, the darkness so thick it seemed impenetrable, the moon and stars hidden, the world shrouded in a vast black curtain.

The howling wind, its biting chill like invisible blades, pierced through the gaps in the tents, producing a mournful sound, like the lament of wronged souls deep within the grasslands. It whipped up withered leaves and sand from the ground, forming swirling columns of wind, like dancing demons, vividly displaying the vastness and desolation of the grasslands.

The cold, like invisible frost, seeps in silently, cutting through every inch of air.

The world outside the tent was covered by a thin layer of frost, silvery and cold, like a desolate realm.

Inside the tent, the heroes sat around the fire. Even so, the chill seeping in through the tent's gaps penetrated their thick fur and reached their very bones. Their breath condensed into white mist in the cold, each exhale seeming to proclaim the resilience and indomitable spirit of life.

On this grassland at night, the fierce winds and cold reveal its most primitive and wild beauty, mysterious and awe-inspiring.

The following morning, Kong Sanjiao, Fan Shi, Liu Yehua, Southwest Wind, and other heroes, under the orders of Madam Shi and Qi Meizhen, the leader of the Jiangnan Canal Gang, disguised themselves as escorts from the "Tiger Might Escort Agency." Guided by a compass cart, they endured hardships and a long journey, finally arriving at the grasslands and finding Shi Feiyang. The heroes were extremely excited to see each other.

Kong Sanjiao was beaming with excitement, like a child who had just received a beloved toy. He rushed forward, grasped Shi Feiyang's hand tightly, and said excitedly, "Chief, your deeds have spread throughout the Central Plains and Jiangnan. Your wife, Yili, has even become the leader of the Naiman tribe. This is truly a cause for celebration! These heroic deeds will surely become legendary tales in the martial world!"

His eyes shone with joy, and his face beamed with pride.

After humbly expressing his thoughts, Shi Feiyang led his many heroes, raising the banner of the Tiger Might Escort Agency high, on their new journey south to Bozhou. They marched on in a grand procession, covering more than a hundred miles.

Suddenly, a whistling arrow pierced the sky, its sharp sound like a bolt of lightning, instantly shattering the tranquility of the grassland.

Upon seeing this, the escorts of "Tiger Might Escort Agency" quickly raised their escort flag and shouted loudly, "Tiger roars in Jiangnan, Tiger roars in Jiangnan, please make way, fellow martial arts enthusiasts!" The escort flag was embroidered with a magnificent tiger, and the large character "Fan" fluttered fiercely in the wind.

Because the chief镖头 (chief镖头, head of the镖局, a branch of the Xiong Ying Society) is a practitioner of the Xingyi Quan (形意拳) style.

After the signal arrow was fired, a cacophony of voices, footsteps, and horses' hooves filled the air, as if a vast army were galloping in.

Suddenly, a group of bandits appeared on the grassland. Some rode horses, their movements swift and agile, like a black whirlwind; others walked, clearly having been lying in ambush in the red grass for a long time.

The bandits quickly lined up in a row, like a large black net, tightly sealing off the exit of the forest.

Having fought countless battles, the heroes of Xiong Ying were naturally not afraid of these petty thieves, so they calmly formed their battle formation and prepared to fight.

Seeing the critical situation, "Flying Eagle Detective" Xie Wen immediately made a decision. He hurriedly grabbed Shi Xiong and used his unpredictable "Flying Willow and Light Smoke Technique." His aura swirled around him, like a light, floating willow leaf, rising into the air and instantly merging into it. Then, like a wisp of smoke, he silently appeared at the rear of the bandit group. His movements were lightning-fast; he quickly felled one of the bandits and, while the bandits were fully focused on facing Xiong Ying's group, lifted that person into the air.

The thief, suspended in mid-air, was terrified and lost control of his bladder.

Xie Wen's gaze was sharp and cold as he stared at the man in his hand, demanding in a stern voice, "Immediately provide a detailed account of the background and martial arts skills of this gang of bandits, or don't blame me for taking severe punishment! If I throw you to the ground, you'll surely be smashed into a pulp."

The man was suspended in mid-air, his face as pale as paper, his whole body trembling, and he hurriedly revealed all the information he knew.

On the ground, the leader was a burly man, like a towering mountain, wearing a wolf skin coat that exuded a wild aura.

He wore a bearskin hat with a brim covering his frosty white sideburns, and judging from his appearance, he must have been over fifty years old.

However, his complexion was ruddy, like a ripe apple, and his eyes were bright and piercing, like twinkling stars in the night sky. He showed no signs of aging, and every move he made exuded a bold and unrestrained air. At this moment, Xie Wen, carrying Shi Xiong, returned swiftly like a black lightning bolt, landing lightly beside Shi Feiyang, the last member of the Tiger Might Escort Agency's team.

He bent down slightly and whispered his findings to Shi Feiyang: "Chief, the bandits who intercepted us are Wu Biao, the leader of the Old Wolf Village on the grassland, along with his two younger brothers Wu Pin and Wu Bei, and their four sons Wu Yu, Wu Hao, Wu Li, and Wu Yuan."

Shi Feiyang nodded slightly, his expression calm, but a hint of wariness flashed in his eyes.

He followed Xie Wen's finger and stared at the group of burly robbers.

Wu Yu was only in his early twenties, with a face as white as jade, eyebrows like sharp swords, and eyes as bright as stars. He was a handsome young man with an elegant demeanor. Wu Hao, on the other hand, had a dark complexion, protruding fangs, and an ugly and ferocious appearance, which contrasted sharply with Wu Yu's handsomeness.

The other two burly men were Wu Biao's third son, Wu Li, who wore an orange-yellow wolf-skin cloak; and Wu Biao's youngest son, Wu Yuan, who wore a black sable robe. Wu Biao's younger brother, Wu Qu, held a pipe with a stem over three feet long and as thick as a walnut, cast from dark iron, exuding a heavy, substantial feel.

Wu Qu took two deep drags on his pipe, exhaled thick smoke, and sparks flew everywhere.

He laughed loudly: "A tiger crossing a wolf's den, we, the Old Wolf Village, boldly come to challenge the tiger's might. This must be Chief Escort Fan? It is said that the Chief Escort Fan, with his escort flag, roams the north and south of the Yangtze River, and is renowned and respected by all in the martial arts world. It is a pity that I have never had the chance to see his demeanor. This place is too remote, and I have not been able to go to the south of the Yangtze River to see your face. To meet you here today is truly a great honor."

Wu Qu spoke frankly and without reservation, demonstrating the spirit of a chivalrous outlaw.

Fan Shi, the chief镖头 (bodyguard/escort) of the Jiangnan "Tiger Might Escort Agency," immediately clasped his hands in a salute and humbly replied, "You flatter me. The reputation of the Tiger Might Escort Agency is only due to the kindness of friends in the martial arts world. I am passing through your esteemed place this time and have not had time to prepare a visiting card. I humbly request Chief Wu's forgiveness and permission to pass through. When I return, I will certainly make up for the lack of a formal visit."

Hearing the two men's long-winded conversation, Wu Biao impatiently interrupted, "Brother, don't you know the rules of the martial world? We brothers have worked hard in this freezing weather, and we should have some harvest. Please share half of the goods you are protecting so that we brothers can have a peaceful New Year."

Upon hearing this, Liao Pei, the "Tongbei Quan" master, was enraged, like a volcano about to erupt. He roared, "You'll never get money, but you can take my life! Humph! To covet our goods is utterly delusional!"

Upon hearing Liao Pei's words, Wu Yu flew into a rage.

Despite his refined appearance, he was exceptionally ruthless at heart. His arrogance stemmed primarily from his superior martial arts skills and the formidable strength of the Old Wolf Stronghold. He swiftly leaped from his horse, his figure like a black meteor, lunging at Liao Pei through the air. Drawing his sword, he roared, "Old man, you're already quite old, yet you still don't know how to treat people with courtesy. Today, I'll teach you the rules of the martial world!"

His lightness skill was superb, like a gust of wind, arriving in an instant. He wielded his sword and used the "Wild Wind Swaying Willow" move from the "Wind and Thunder Sword Technique". The sword light flashed, like countless silver lightning bolts, quickly enveloping Liao Pei's entire body.

Faced with this scene, Liao Pei showed no fear. He unleashed the "Tongbei Fist," his fists moving rapidly, creating gusts of wind. With a swift movement, he resembled a nimble cat, skillfully dodging Wu Yu's fierce blade strikes.

Immediately afterwards, Liao Peishi unleashed the "Subduing Dragon and Tiger" move, his fists striking Wu Yu's forehead, shoulder, and ribs like iron hammers, and the two immediately engaged in a fierce duel.

Seeing his elder brother Wu Yu locked in fierce combat with Liao Pei, Wu Hao also drew his sword, dismounted, and unleashed the "Wind and Thunder Sword Technique" in mid-air, his sword moves attacking Liao Pei like a storm.

Seeing this, Lie Quan, wielding the "Qiankun Blade," also leaped off his horse, gripping his twin blades tightly, their blades gleaming coldly, and charged into battle against Wu Hao.

In an instant, the two pairs of fighters engaged in a fierce battle on the wide ground. The flashing of swords and the deafening shouts of battle filled the air. Liao Pei and Wu Yu, Lie Quan and Wu Hao moved back and forth, attacking and defending, each move and stance carrying a deadly danger.

Liao Pei's "Tongbei Fist" is powerful and fierce, each punch seemingly capable of splitting mountains and shattering rocks; Wu Yu's "Wind and Thunder Saber Technique" is sharp and ruthless, the air itself seemingly being torn apart by the blade's light. Lie Quan's "Qiankun Saber" moves with the wind, the two sabers working together seamlessly, combining offense and defense; Wu Hao's "Wind and Thunder Sword Technique" is unpredictable, the sword moves as elusive as a ghost.

The four of them moved swiftly during the battle, causing dust to fly everywhere.

After a brief observation, Shi Feiyang's sharp eyes quickly assessed his own side's military strength.

He was secretly certain that we would win this battle.

He then turned to Xie Wen and said, “Old Wolf Stronghold has survived on the grasslands for hundreds of years; its resources must be immense, with mountains of money, provisions, weapons, and horses. Xie Wen, you and Shi Xiong will scout ahead, and I will follow you to Old Wolf Stronghold later to seize the wealth of those bandits. Our caravan is currently empty, but Old Wolf Stronghold is not. On this journey, we will accomplish a momentous event on the grasslands: fully supporting the Naiman tribe and Khan Yili. With wealth, everything will become easier, and the tribe's prestige will rise accordingly. We must ensure the Naiman tribe prospers rapidly. Moreover, it was Old Wolf Stronghold that first provoked us.”

Upon hearing this, Xie Wen and Shi Xiong were filled with joy, their eyes sparkling with excitement.

They then used the "Flying Willow Catkins and Light Smoke Technique," their figures as light as willow catkins drifting in the wind, rising into the air and instantly merging into the air, disappearing without a trace.

Soon after, Xie Wen, taking advantage of a moment when no one was paying attention, struck like a ghost, captured a bandit, and hung him in mid-air.

Shi Feiyang looked up at the sky, understood, and then leaped off his mount, using the unparalleled lightness skill "Leaving No Trace for a Thousand Miles". His movements were so swift that he was like a white light, following closely behind Xie Wen and Shi Xiong.

The three of them soared through the air like eagles overlooking the earth, and following the directions of the bandits captured by Xie Wen, they arrived at a valley.

At the mouth of the valley, a vast meadow unfolds, with an endless bamboo forest on the left, rustling in the breeze; and on the right, a row of verdant cypress trees, lush and green, exuding an ancient atmosphere.

A winding stone path leads through the valley, its end unknown, adding to its mystique.

Upon entering the bamboo grove, one can see a stone table with two stone benches placed side by side beside it.

The two elders sat there, both with white hair and youthful faces, dressed in blue robes and leather shoes, exuding an air of otherworldly elegance.

However, their complexions differed slightly: the elder on the east side had a pale golden complexion, long eyebrows that were three inches long, and a deep look in his eyes; the elder on the west side had a complexion like the sunset, long eyebrows that were two inches long, and a calm and composed expression.

At this moment, the two elders were completely absorbed in their game of chess, seemingly oblivious to everything around them.

Shi Feiyang turned to Xie Wen and gestured, "We should try to be polite first, then resort to force. Go and greet these two despicable dogs blocking our way."

Xie Wen stepped forward as instructed, clasped his hands in a respectful greeting, and sincerely inquired, "I apologize for disturbing your enjoyment, it is truly disrespectful! May I ask what the name of this place is?"

Upon hearing this, the elder with a pale golden complexion first laughed heartily, then said to the elder opposite him, "Second brother, you've lost!"

The elder, whose face was as rosy as the sunset, frowned slightly and asked, "How do you know?"

"You ventured deep into enemy territory alone, launching the first shot with a cannon, intending to attack my veteran general! Little did you know I was prepared. With this move, the situation has become one of inferior forces moving first. With the main force behind and the ministers protecting it, won't your cannon shot simply be swallowed up by me?"

The elder, his face as rosy as the sunset, glanced sideways at Xie Wen after hearing this, seemingly blaming him for interrupting the game, and said, "Shouldn't I retreat my cannon?" The two began to argue fiercely:

"Artillery that has penetrated deep into our lines, think it can retreat? It's as difficult as climbing to the sky!"

"Then I'll take it down and show you!"

With a face as red as the sunset, the elder waved his right hand, and a chess piece flew like an arrow towards the cypress bushes opposite. It was extremely fast, and in an instant, it pierced through two cypress trees that were more than a foot thick, and finally embedded itself firmly in the branch of a third cypress tree.

"Don't even think about escaping!" The pale-faced elder roared, his left hand trembling as four chess pieces flew out in succession, each at a different speed, yet in perfect order, shooting out from their original positions one after another.

The three "pawns" are arranged in a triangle, firmly embedded around the previously placed "cannon" piece. The last piece is a "horse," which accurately pushes the "cannon" piece into the trunk and takes its place, firmly embedding itself in the "cannon's" position.

"Exquisite technique!" Xie Wen, who was watching from the sidelines, couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, his eyes revealing deep astonishment.

"Mere child's play," the two elders suddenly said in unison. "To Detective Flying Eagle, it's nothing more than showing off one's limited skills before an expert!" Before their words had even finished, the elder with the complexion of a sunset suddenly launched an attack, striking Xie Wen with a palm strike. The wind howled, carrying an unstoppable force. The profound meaning contained in their earlier game of chess and conversation was concretely manifested in this fierce palm strike.

The previously expressed message failed to deter Shi Feiyang, Xie Wen, Shi Xiong, and others, so they resorted to force to resolve the issue.

Fortunately, Shi Feiyang had already seen through the fact that the two old men were nothing more than vicious dogs blocking the way.

Xie Wen's "Flying Catkins and Light Smoke Skill" is unparalleled in the martial arts world. Faced with this sudden attack, he moved lightly, like a catkin floating in the wind, and skillfully avoided the attack.

Upon seeing this, Shi Feiyang immediately used his superb lightness skill, "Concealing One's Body and Name," making his figure ethereal and untraceable.

With a flourish of his hands, he unleashed the "Divine Dragon Claw Skill," a powerful move called "Dragon's Roar to the Nine Heavens," his palms extending out like dragon claws, carrying an aura of destruction as he pressed directly towards the two old men.

At the same time, Shi Feiyang had a sudden thought and integrated the Hundred Victory Blade Technique into his palm technique. In an instant, sharp blade energy slashed and cut across the field.

The "Ten Thousand Cuts Technique" practiced by these two old men is a branch of zombie martial arts, and is extremely insidious.

Facing Shi Feiyang's offensive, they showed no fear and immediately counterattacked. They used both palms and claws, their figures as elusive as ghosts. Had Shi Feiyang not been highly skilled in martial arts, he would likely have been torn to pieces in an instant.

Shi Feiyang snorted coldly and shouted, "Two dogs trying to block my way. Hmph! Today I'll show you the true strength of Shi Feiyang!" With that, his palm strikes changed abruptly, and his sword energy intensified.

The sword energy was like a materialized blade, drawing silver arcs in the air.

Upon seeing this, the old man with a pale gold face shouted and his hands moved rapidly, unleashing the "Thousand Claws to Destroy Life" technique from the "Ten Thousand Slices Skill." Countless claw shadows pounced on Shi Feiyang, attempting to tear him apart.

Shi Feiyang dodged the attack with a swift movement, and at the same time, his right palm, like a knife, slashed down suddenly, the blade energy whistling as it struck the old man's right arm.

"Crack!" A sharp sound rang out, like a tree branch snapping, and the old man's right arm was instantly severed. Blood gushed out like a fountain, splashing onto the ground and staining the grass red. The old man let out a scream, his face filled with pain.

Seeing his companion injured, the old man with the face of the sunset was filled with rage. He shouted angrily, "How dare you hurt my brother! You must pay with your lives!" After saying this, he used the ultimate technique of "Ten Thousand Cuts" from the "Ten Thousand Cuts Skill". He was like a wild beast that had lost control. He pounced on Shi Feiyang. Wherever his claws touched, the air was torn apart.

Shi Feiyang's gaze sharpened, his expression turning serious, fully aware of the power of this move. He immediately mobilized all his internal energy and unleashed the ultimate technique "Dragon Blade Across the Land," a fusion of the Divine Dragon Claw Divine Skill and the Hundred Victories Blade Technique.

He spun rapidly, his palms transforming into blades, the blade energy and claw shadows intertwining. At the same time, his Mingyu Gong true energy quickly formed a huge silver vortex.

The vortex released a powerful suction force, drawing the elderly man with the rosy complexion into it. The old man struggled within the vortex, but could not escape.

Shi Feiyang roared, "You roadblock dog, accept your fate!" He slammed both palms down on the old man, unleashing a burst of sword energy and claw power simultaneously. The old man couldn't dodge in time and was struck in a vital spot. His body was instantly torn into pieces, blood and flesh flying everywhere, a truly gruesome scene.

The old man, with a pale gold complexion, witnessed the tragic death of his companion and was filled with fear, so he tried to escape.

How could Shi Feiyang let him go? He flashed and appeared in front of the old man in an instant, coldly saying, "You roadblock dog, you think you can escape? That's impossible!" Then, he struck out with a palm, and the sharp blade energy pierced directly through the old man's chest.

The old man stared wide-eyed, his face filled with disbelief, and slowly collapsed, his life extinguished.

Shi Feiyang withdrew his palm and stood up, his gaze cold and sharp as he stared at the bloody scene before him, his heart unmoved.

Every obstacle is difficult, but every obstacle will be overcome. After killing the two "watchdogs" of Old Wolf Stronghold, Shi Feiyang and Xie Wen carried Shi Xiong on their backs and disappeared into the valley like lightning.

They walked through a lush green meadow, where a clear stream meandered.

There was a single log bridge over the river. The three of them carefully stepped across the log bridge and arrived at a thatched hut built against the mountain.

There was a wooden bed against the north wall, with a tattered cotton quilt on it, the cotton wadding sticking out; under the south window was a dilapidated table, with a broken porcelain kettle and two old ceramic bowls on it. The room was empty.

Xie Wen's expression was solemn as he said in a low voice, "The Old Wolf Stronghold has stood firm on the grassland for hundreds of years because it is full of traps and mechanisms, and no one can easily overcome these obstacles. The Gate of Life and Death ahead is probably extremely dangerous!"

Upon hearing this, Shi Xiong exclaimed in surprise, "The Gate of Life and Death? What does this mean?"

Xie Wen nodded and said in a deep voice, "Indeed! The Gate of Life and Death is a place where those who retreat live and those who advance die! The Gate of Life and Death is the first gate of Old Wolf Stronghold. The gatekeepers are armed with a barrage of hidden weapons and have many experts. In my opinion, it would be better to send Shi Xiong back to gather more helpers."

Shi Feiyang, with a bold expression and firm gaze, said, "No need for that! Now that we've come this far, we should face it calmly and without fear! You two lie low and be careful, I'll go and meet this Gate of Life and Death."

Having said that, he used his lightness skill, and like a white light, left the thatched hut and headed straight for the Gate of Life and Death.

The Gate of Life and Death stands atop a hill, unsurrounded by walls or houses, with a path paved with gravel running through it.

The surrounding area was overgrown with weeds and lush with trees, creating a mysterious and eerie atmosphere.

At this moment, a chaotic battle with flashing swords was unfolding in front of the door, and the scene was utterly chaotic.

(End of this chapter)