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

The surrounding mountains appeared even more mysterious in the twilight, their peaks shrouded in mist, resembling a celestial palace. At the foot of the mountains, lush trees provided shade, wildflowers bloomed everywhere, birds sang, and the air was filled with the fragrance of flowers—a vibrant scene of life. Dianchi Lake and the mountains complemented each other, creating a breathtakingly beautiful landscape.

Suddenly, the sharp cry of an owl pierced the sky, the bamboo forest by the lake rustled, and sixteen dark figures appeared like ghosts, surrounding him.

Lu Wenyuan, known as "Master Iron Fan," slowly walked out, waving an iron fan painted with a Tai Chi symbol. The fan's surface shimmered with a ghostly light, which complemented the sinister look in his eyes. "Chief Shi has repeatedly trespassed into the Duke's mansion. Does he really think the Mu family is without anyone to rely on?" Before he finished speaking, the iron fan opened with a "whoosh," revealing twelve poisoned bone-piercing nails hidden within. With a slight flick of his wrist, the sound of the nails piercing the air was as sharp as a ghost's wail.

Shi Feiyang's expression remained unchanged, but a sudden surge of coldness emanated from his body. He activated the Mingyu Gong to the "Supreme Forgetfulness of Emotions: Ice Soul Cold Prison," and his glassy skin glowed with an icy blue light, actually forming a crystal-clear ice wall within a three-foot radius around him.

The bone-piercing nail struck the ice wall with a crisp clanging sound, instantly freezing into icicles that fell to the ground.

"Get out of the way." His voice was as cold as ice as he slowly pushed out his palms, unleashing the "Severing the Edge" move from the "Hundred Victories Blade Technique".

Nine golden blade energies, imbued with icy coldness, swept across in a fan shape, creating ear-piercing explosions wherever they went. Lu Wenyuan's pupils constricted sharply, and he quickly activated his "Tai Chi Hunyuan Gong," his iron fan dancing into a blur of silver light.

However, Shi Feiyang's sword energy was fierce and unparalleled. The Tai Chi diagram shattered inch by inch in the sword's light, and the iron fan broke in two with a "crack." "Nine Palaces Linked Formation, activate!" With Lu Wenyuan's roar, the other guards simultaneously drew their weapons.

Zhou Wentong, the "Acupuncture Point Master," wielded his Judge's Pen like a venomous snake, aiming straight for Shi Feiyang's "Shanzhong" acupoint; Zhang Han, wielding the "Winter Plum Sword," spun his soft sword, creating a series of sword flowers, its sword aura chilling; the burly man wielding the meteor hammer swung his giant hammer, creating a whistling sound; the brute wielding the spiked club was even more ferocious, determined to smash Shi Feiyang into mincemeat. Shi Feiyang let out a long roar, pushing his Mingyu Skill to its limit, his entire body resembling a moving iceberg.

He transformed his left palm into a knife and his right hand into a sword, perfectly blending the "Hundred Victories Knife Technique" with the Mingyu Skill.

"No one in this world can stop my advance!" With a roar from Shi Feiyang, a vortex of suction suddenly appeared in his palm. Everyone felt their weapons go out of control and fly towards Shi Feiyang. Immediately afterwards, golden blade energy crisscrossed, like a reversed Milky Way. The three people in the formation could not dodge in time and were instantly shredded into blood mist, their severed limbs scattered in the waves.

Lu Wenyuan was terrified and pulled a signal flare from his pocket. With a loud bang, a red flame shot straight into the sky.

Upon seeing this, a cold glint flashed in Shi Feiyang's glassy eyes. He activated the Mingyu Technique, "Limitless Asura's Hell on Earth," and an eerie red light emanated from his body. Ice-blue true energy and crimson flames collided violently on his surface, forming a giant yin-yang symbol.

"No one can stop me today! Those who stand in my way shall die!" Shi Feiyang unleashed "Severing Heaven and Earth" with both palms, and a golden blade of light that pierced through the heavens and earth crashed down. The Nine Palaces Linked Formation collapsed under the power of this unparalleled blade, and everyone was thrown back by the aftershocks of the blade's energy, crashing heavily onto the reef, spitting out blood, their bodies torn into pieces.

Lu Wenyuan, Zhou Wentong, and Zhang Han fled in panic, coughing up blood.

Shi Feiyang stood firm as a pine tree, gazing towards the direction of the Duke of Qian's mansion, his determination growing ever stronger. The waves of Dianchi Lake surged and roared, as if cheering for this thrilling duel, and as if telling the story of this chivalrous hero's indomitable will.

As dusk settled, the waves of Dianchi Lake, carrying the sweet, metallic scent of blood, crashed against the rocks.

Shi Feiyang took out a neatly folded black tent from the deerskin bag at his waist. His fingertips paused slightly when they touched the hidden compartment in the bag—there was a silk handkerchief that Mu Tong had left behind, which was faintly scented with osmanthus.

He suppressed the surging emotions in his eyes, and the moment he opened the tent, he secretly channeled his inner energy, pressing eight neat imprints into the damp mudflats.

The copper bells hanging from the four corners of the tent jingled softly, startling the water birds that were roosting in the reeds at night.

Shi Feiyang sat cross-legged on the animal skin felt, his Mingyu Gong flowing through him, his glass-like skin reflecting a faint glow onto the inner wall of the tent.

As the third watchman's clapper sounded, a coded signal of three long and two short notes came from outside the tent. Wu Xiongzhi, the Kunming branch leader, bowed and entered, his black iron gauntlets gleaming coldly in the moonlight. "The Grand Master summons me so late at night, is there something important to instruct me on?" Wu Xiongzhi knelt on one knee, the nine-section steel whip wrapped around his waist making a soft clinking sound.

He looked up and saw Shi Feiyang unconsciously rubbing his palms, which were as sharp as frost blades, with his fingertips. Alarm bells immediately went off in his mind—this was the habitual action of the Grand Master when he was planning something big.

Shi Feiyang flipped a jade tablet engraved with a magnolia totem into his palm. He infused it with icy blue true energy, and a map of Kunming's streets and alleys immediately appeared on the tablet's surface. "Look," he said, tracing the mark of the Duke of Qian's mansion with his fingertip. "My frequent appearances in Kunming recently have already aroused the interest of the imperial court's henchmen and the petty villains of the martial world." Dozens of red dots suddenly lit up on the jade tablet, like falling stars. "These are the locations of the Mu Prince's spies and the spies of the Mihe Society."

Wu Xiongzhi gasped. A seasoned veteran of the underworld who had operated in Kunming for years, he was completely unaware that so many enemies were lurking right under his nose. "Does the Grand Master mean..."

"Go into hiding." Shi Feiyang clenched his fist, and the jade tablet shattered, turning into specks of light that dissipated in the tent. "From this day forward, all branch disciples will go underground. The restaurants, pawnshops, and gambling dens, which are open businesses, will only be looked after by a few mute employees."

He rose and lifted the tent flap. The night wind from Dianchi Lake, carrying mist, rushed towards him. In the distance, the lights of the Duke of Qian's mansion flickered in the night. "Every time I come to Kunming, I inevitably stir up a bloodbath. I cannot let the branch be exposed."

Just as Wu Xiongzhi was about to reply, he suddenly heard a very faint sound of clothes rustling through the air outside the tent.

"Chief!" Xie Wen emerged from the shadows, the eagle on his shoulder flapping its wings anxiously, clutching a bloodstained secret letter in its claws. "An urgent report has come from the capital: the Divine Machine Battalion has secretly dispatched three thousand firearmsmen south."

The temperature inside the tent plummeted the moment Shi Feiyang received the secret letter.

The vermilion ink on the letter was not yet dry, and it was clearly the seal of Xiang Yushan, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

"What a clever scheme to kill someone with a borrowed knife." He sneered, his icy blue true energy surging in his palm, instantly freezing the letter into shards of ice. "Since the imperial court wants to use the Mu family to get rid of me, but is also afraid that the Mu family will become too powerful, they have ordered the Divine Machine Battalion to secretly monitor me."

Wu Xiongzhi gripped his steel whip tightly: "Chief, should we call in reinforcements from the surrounding branch strongholds?" "No need." Shi Feiyang gazed at the flickering fishing lights on Dianchi Lake, a cold glint in his eyes. "The more perilous the situation, the more we must remain still. Pass down the order: let the brothers learn from the chameleons of southern Yunnan—"

He placed his fingertip on Wu Xiongzhi's chest, and a wisp of icy blue true energy entered his meridians, "hiding in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike."

Xie Wen suddenly remembered something and took out an oil paper package from his pocket: "By the way, this is a new rose pastry from a pastry shop near Princess Mu's mansion, Chief." Shi Feiyang's hand trembled slightly as he took the oil paper package, and the atmosphere in the tent instantly froze.

He gazed at the twin lotus blossoms subtly embroidered on the wrapping paper, a faint blush rising to his glassy skin. "Leave it there," he said, his voice softening unconsciously. "Go and prepare some sealing wax; I need to write a letter to the Bozhou branch."

As the first rays of dawn pierced the clouds, Shi Feiyang had already packed up his tent.

He gazed at the faintly visible Qian State Duke's Mansion in the distance, carefully tucking the rose pastry into his pocket. The waves of Dianchi Lake continued to surge, unaware that the schemes of the previous night had already woven a vast dark net beneath Kunming, waiting for its prey to fall into its trap.

The morning mist on the shore of Dianchi Lake had not yet dissipated when Shi Feiyang began to walk along the dew-covered bluestone path into the depths of the mountains.

He was dressed in a simple, close-fitting outfit. When he circulated his Mingyu Kung Fu, his glass-like skin had a faint glow, as if the morning light had been crushed and incorporated into his skin, attracting the attention of the early-rising woodcutters in the mountains.

Halfway up the mountain, he suddenly stopped in front of an ancient pine tree. The pine's gnarled branches resembled dragons, and its canopy was like an umbrella. On the stone table beneath the tree sat a half-empty jar of cold wine. Shi Feiyang's lips curled into a cold smile—he had deliberately left the wine jar and half a piece of cooked meat here yesterday, knowing that someone would be unable to resist.

"Chief Shi, what a refined taste you have." A sinister voice came from behind the tree, and three dark figures appeared like ghosts.

The leader, pale-faced and dressed in a black, close-fitting outfit with a poisoned whip wrapped around his waist, was none other than Li Wuchang, the leader of the "Three Poison Shadows" of the Reconciliation Society. "I've heard that Chief Shi has been lingering by Dianchi Lake lately. Could he be waiting for an old friend?"

Shi Feiyang picked up the wine jar, tilted his head back and took a big gulp. The wine slid down the corner of his mouth and left dark stains on his clothes: "My old friend has not arrived, but I have been greeted by some uninvited guests." Before he finished speaking, the cold aura around him suddenly surged. He activated the Mingyu Gong to the "Supreme Forgetfulness Ice Soul Cold Prison". His glassy skin glowed with an icy blue light and actually formed a crystal clear ice platform within three feet of his feet.

Li Wuchang's pupils contracted sharply, and he lashed out with his soft whip, the emerald green venom at the tip drawing eerie arcs in the air: "Take down Shi Feiyang! The Sacred Heart Manual and Xu Fu's Immortal Pill are right before your eyes!"

The two assassins behind him attacked simultaneously, one wielding a pair of judge's pens and the other brandishing a ghost-head knife. The three of them formed a triangular formation around Shi Feiyang.

Shi Feiyang slowly raised both palms, and the "Broken Sky Cliff" move of the "Hundred Victories Saber Technique" was already in action.

Nine golden blades of icy cold energy swept across the area in a fan shape, creating ear-piercing explosions wherever they went.

Before the judge's pen and the ghost-headed saber could even touch the blade's energy, they were blasted out of their hands by the shock, and Li Wuchang's soft whip was also shattered inch by inch by the blade's light. "This... how is this possible! It's not even half a move yet!" Li Wuchang retreated in horror, only to see Shi Feiyang lightly touch the ice platform with his toes, approaching like a ghost.

Under the activation of the Mingyu Gong, a vortex of suction suddenly appeared in Shi Feiyang's palm, and Li Wuchang felt his body being uncontrollably thrown forward. "Do you know... why I deliberately revealed myself?" Shi Feiyang's voice was as cold as ice, "Because it's time to clean up all of you clowns."

He unleashed the "Demon-Slaying Cloud" with both palms, golden sword energy crisscrossing like a reversed Milky Way.

Li Wuchang and his two companions were unable to dodge in time and were instantly torn into a bloody mist, their severed limbs scattered beneath the ancient pine tree.

Shi Feiyang dusted off his sleeves, only removing a little dust, then picked up the wine jar and took a sip: "The aroma of the wine is strong, but the taste is rather poor."

However, this was only the beginning. In the days that followed, the sounds of clashing weapons could be heard intermittently among the mountains surrounding Dianchi Lake.

In the misty bamboo forest, Shi Feiyang used the "Viewing the Vast Ocean" move of the "Hundred Victories Knife Technique" to knock twelve black-clad assassins off a cliff.

Beside the rushing stream, he activated the Mingyu Gong "Limitless Asura's Human Purgatory," freezing the Western Region monks who were trying to besiege him into ice sculptures.

On the seventh day at dusk, he stopped in front of a waterfall.

The setting sun dyed the waterfall blood-red, and water droplets splashed onto his glassy skin, refracting a rainbow of light. "You've followed me for seven days, don't you intend to show yourself?" he suddenly spoke, his voice mingling with the roar of the waterfall, yet clearly reaching the ears of those in the shadows.

The leaves rustled in the woods, and a middle-aged man in a moon-white robe slowly walked out, gently waving a folding fan in his hand: "Chief Shi has a good eye. I am Bai Wugou, the 'Folding Fan Scholar,' and I have long admired your name." The four characters "Killing with a Laugh" inscribed on his fan were faintly visible in the twilight.

Shi Feiyang turned around, his left hand twirling a sword in his right palm: "So you're the thirty-seventh ranked assassin in the martial world. Tell me, who hired you to take my life?"

Bai Wugou laughed, "Chief Shi is indeed a man of few words. To be honest, the person who made the offer promised to help me seize the position of Martial Arts Alliance Leader after the matter is settled. Chief Shi, quickly hand over Xu Fu's Immortal Pill, the Sacred Heart Manual, and the Kunlun Heart-Questioning Manual. I'll make sure you die a horrible death." He suddenly flicked out his folding fan, and thirty-six bone-piercing nails sprang out from between the fan ribs, raining down like a storm.

Shi Feiyang snorted coldly and waved his hands repeatedly, his sword energy shaking off all the bone-piercing nails.

Immediately afterwards, he unleashed the ultimate killing move of the "Hundred Victories Blade Technique," "Severing Heaven and Earth," and a golden blade of light that pierced through the heavens and earth crashed down.

Bai Wugou's eyes widened as she tried to dodge, but it was too late. She was cleaved in two by the blade's energy, and her blood stained the bluestone beneath her feet.

As night deepened, Shi Feiyang gazed towards Dianchi Lake, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

The killings of these past few days were merely a declaration to all forces: the territory of the Xiong Ying Society will not tolerate any petty thieves running rampant. And he is that sharpest blade; anyone who dares to invade will be killed on the spot.

Suddenly, a sharp sound pierced the air as a poisoned crossbow bolt flew past his ear and embedded itself in a boulder behind him, instantly corroding a deep pit the size of a bowl with dark green poisonous smoke.

"Chief Shi, what superb skills you have!" Lu Wenyuan stepped out of the bamboo forest, waving his iron fan. The Tai Chi diagram on the fan surface glowed with a faint light. "However, it won't be so easy for you to leave today. Quickly hand over Xu Fu's Immortal Pill, the Sacred Heart Manual, and the Kunlun Heart-Questioning Manual."

Beside him, Zhou Wentong, the "Acupuncture Point Master," spun his judge's pen rapidly in his palm, while Zhang Han, the "Winter Plum Sword," had already drawn his soft sword three inches from its sheath, its sword aura as cold as frost.

Before the words were finished, dozens of dark figures suddenly emerged from the dense forest. The leader, wearing a black cloak and with a pair of gilded tiger claws hanging at his waist, was none other than Ao Zhenshan, the "Tiger Fiend," the leader of the Healing Society.

Behind him followed the pale-faced Vice Chief, "Bloody Hand Asura" Chu Qianjue, whose ten fingers were encased in fine steel finger sleeves, the tips of which gleamed with an eerie purplish-black.

Among the three elders, "Poison Shadow Elder" Sikong Xuan shook a copper bell, the Gu worms inside emitting a teeth-grinding buzzing sound. "Iron Pipa" Shang Henian held an iron musical instrument, the strings coated with a deadly poison that could kill on sight. "Whip God" Lei Qianjun wielded a nine-section steel whip, the tip of which was wrapped with barbs.

Four other incense masters, each armed with weapons, surrounded Shi Feiyang completely.

Ao Zhenshan laughed wildly, his tiger claws clashing and sparks flying: "Shi Feiyang, hand over Xu Fu's Immortal Pill, the Sacred Heart Technique, and the Kunlun Heart-Questioning Technique! Otherwise, today will be the day you are buried in Dianchi Lake!" Behind him, Chu Qianjue suddenly approached like a ghost, his ten fingers like hooks aimed straight at Shi Feiyang's face.

Shi Feiyang raised both palms, and the cold air around him condensed into an ice wall: "If you want the secret manual, you'll have to ask the sword in my hand first!" With a loud shout, the "Hundred Victories Sword Technique" "Severing the Sky" was unleashed, and nine golden sword energies wrapped in icy cold swept across in a fan shape.

Chu Qianjue was shocked and quickly used "Blood Shadow Escape" to leap backward, only to see that the three leaders of the Mihe Society were unable to dodge in time and were torn to pieces by the sword energy, with blood raining down into Dianchi Lake.

"Well done, Chief of the Xiong Ying Society! Your martial arts are indeed well-deserved! However, roaming the martial world is not just about martial arts, hehe!" Sikong Xuan shook the copper bell, and hundreds of poisonous spiders surged in like a black tide.

Shi Feiyang activated the Mingyu Gong "Limitless Asura's Human Purgatory," and his glassy skin glowed with an eerie red light. Suddenly, a vortex of suction appeared in his palm, sucking all the poisonous spiders into his palm and turning them into dust.

He tiptoed on the ground, approaching Sikong Xuan like a ghost, and thrust out with both palms the "Welcoming Pine Tree" technique. The golden blade energy carried the power to split mountains and shatter rocks, instantly shattering Sikong Xuan's copper bell. He was sent flying backward, spitting out blood.

At this moment, Lei Qianjun's nine-section steel whip coiled like a serpent, its barbs pointing directly at Shi Feiyang's throat.

Instead of retreating, Shi Feiyang advanced, his left hand forming a claw to grip the whip, and the icy true energy of Mingyu Gong spread rapidly along the steel whip.

Lei Qianjun was horrified to find that his hands were frozen. Shi Feiyang unleashed the "Demon-Slaying Cloud" technique of the "Hundred Victories Blade Technique" with his right palm, and a huge golden blade aura cut him in half at the waist, the blood staining the reeds on the shore.

Seeing this, Shang Henian shot out the iron pipa strings like sharp arrows. Shi Feiyang waved his hands repeatedly, his sword energy shattering all the iron strings. He used the mysterious lightness skill of "Concealing One's Identity and Name" to instantly appear in front of Shang Henian, his cold jade-like palm pressing against Shang's chest: "Shameless villain, taste the chill of the Ice Soul Hell!"

Shang Henian screamed in agony as his entire body was instantly covered in frost, turning him into an ice sculpture that then shattered into fragments, leaving ice shards scattered all over the ground.

Seeing the three elders die tragically, Ao Zhenshan was furious: "Attack together! Kill this brat!" He, Zhou Wentong, Zhang Han, and Chu Qianjue attacked simultaneously, their tiger claws, judge's pens, soft swords, and poisonous fingers raining down like a storm.

Shi Feiyang activated the Mingyu Gong to its extreme, his skin became almost transparent, and the cold energy around him materialized.

He unleashed the ultimate killing move of the "Hundred Victories Blade Technique," "Breaking the Universe," with both palms, and a golden blade of light that pierced through the heavens and earth crashed down.

In an instant, the world lost its color. Ao Zhenshan's tiger claws were cleaved into pieces, Zhou Wentong's judge's pen shattered into pieces, Zhang Han's soft sword was reduced to dust, and Chu Qianjue's poisonous fingers were frozen into ice shards. The four were thrown dozens of feet by the aftershocks of the blade's energy, crashing heavily onto the reefs, where they died instantly.

Shi Feiyang withdrew his palm and stood up, looking into the shadows.

Mu Tong, dressed in a red robe, was partially obscured by the moonlight, her face shimmering with light, her expression a mixture of shock and disbelief. The waves of Dianchi Lake crashed against the shore, sweeping away the corpses scattered on the ground. Only Shi Feiyang's figure, bathed in the blood-red sunset, appeared all the more solitary and resolute.

Seeing this, the remaining experts of the Reconciliation Society, though fearful, became even more frenzied after Ao Zhenshan's tragic death. "Mr. Iron Fan" Lu Wenyuan snapped his iron fan shut, and a three-edged bone-piercing nail popped out from between the fan ribs. He sneered, "Shi Feiyang, even if your martial arts are unparalleled, how long can you hold out in this ambush?"

Before the words were even finished, two of the "Poison Shadow Elder's" personal disciples flung out bamboo tubes, unleashing hundreds of "Heart-Eating Centipedes" like a black tide, instantly turning reeds into black water wherever they passed. Shi Feiyang lightly touched the ground with his toes, using the wondrous lightness skill of "leaving without a trace" to leap into the air, his palms unleashing the "Sun and Moon Shining Together" of the "Hundred Victories Blade Technique." Nine golden blade energies, carrying a bone-chilling cold, spread out in a fan shape, freezing the centipedes into ice beads wherever the icy blue blade light touched, shattering upon landing. The remaining followers of "Blood Hand Asura" Chu Qianjue seized the opportunity to launch a surprise attack from the flank, the five forming the "Five Poisons Soul-Locking Formation," their poisoned chain spears wielded in a dense and impenetrable formation. Shi Feiyang activated the Bright Jade Skill "Limitless Asura's Human Purgatory," his glassy skin glowing with an eerie red light, the suction force of the vortex in his palm increasing dramatically.

He suddenly inhaled, and five chain spears flew uncontrollably toward him. Then, he swung his palms repeatedly, and the blade energy of "Demonic Cloud" shredded the five men and their weapons into a bloody mist.

Suddenly, He Chengfeng, the junior brother of Shang Henian, known as "Iron Pipa," appeared from the shadows. The sound of his flute rose abruptly, and the sound waves struck like sharp blades.

Shi Feiyang frowned slightly. As he circulated the Mingyu Gong, the icy blue true energy condensed into a sound barrier around his body.

He lightly touched the water's surface with his toes, approaching He Chengfeng like a ghost, and unleashed a move called "Heaven and Earth Live Together" with his jade-like palm.

He Chengfeng hurriedly raised his flute to block, but the force of the blade's energy caused his tiger's mouth to split open and the flute to break into pieces.

At this moment, two of Lei Qianjun's apprentices, known as the "Whip God," wielded improved twelve-section steel whips, with the barbs at the ends of the whips spraying out poisonous mist.

Shi Feiyang's palms flew, unleashing the "Severing the Sky" ultimate technique of the "Hundred Victories Blade Technique." The golden blade energy collided with the poisonous mist, erupting in a deafening roar. Seizing the opportunity, he suddenly closed in, his fingertips pointing out, and his icy blue true energy instantly froze the acupoints of the two men, turning them into ice sculptures as they crashed to the ground.

Seeing the situation was dire, Lu Wenyuan formed the "Three Talents Formation" with Zhou Wenbing, the "Acupuncture Point Master," and Zhang Li, the "Winter Plum Sword Master." Shi Feiyang sneered, unleashing the full power of his Mingyu Skill, his icy blue true energy transforming into a hundred-foot-long cold dragon.

He unleashed the ultimate killing move of the "Hundred Victories Blade Technique," "Breaking the Universe," with both palms, and a golden blade of light that pierced through the heavens and earth descended with overwhelming force.

The Three Talents Formation collapsed instantly. Lu Wenyuan's iron fan was shattered into pieces, Zhou Wenbing's judge's pen was knocked away, and Zhang Li's soft sword shattered into pieces. The three were thrown back by the aftershocks of the sword energy and crashed into Dianchi Lake.

Shi Feiyang withdrew his palm and stood up, his gaze sweeping over the mess on the ground. He said in a deep voice, "Who else wants Xu Fu's elixir?"

All around was deathly silent, with only the sound of the waves of Dianchi Lake lapping against the shore.

As dusk, like blood, soaked Dianchi Lake, Mu Tong hid in an ancient banyan tree behind the reeds, her silk skirt fluttering in the evening breeze, yet she remained oblivious.

She gazed at Shi Feiyang, who was fighting fiercely on the reef, her fingertips unconsciously twisting the silver bell in her hair. Her heart trembled suddenly, and her nails dug deep into her palms: "He's just a nobody from the martial world, why bother getting involved in this mess?" She recalled her resolute words at the Duke of Qian's mansion, those hurtful words still echoing in her ears, yet the man before her was determined to brave the dangers of the world just to see her.

When the members of the Healing Society formed the "Five Poisons Soul-Locking Array," Shi Feiyang's icy blue true energy suddenly surged.

Mu Tong gazed at his glass-like skin glowing with an eerie red light in the night, and for a moment she was reminded of the glass lamps she had seen in the palace when she was a child, clear and sparkling yet dazzling to the eye. "Such martial arts skills, let alone people in the martial arts world, even the experts of the imperial court's Divine Machine Battalion might not be able to defeat him."

She pursed her lips, her gaze involuntarily following his swift movements.

When Shi Feiyang used "Breaking the Universe" to cleave the Three Talents Formation, Lu Wenyuan's scream pierced the night sky.

Mu Tong instinctively covered her ears, but through her fingers she saw Shi Feiyang looking dashing and spirited. "If he dies here..."

The moment the thought crossed her mind, Mu Tong felt a chill run down her spine. She remembered what Shi Feiyang had said: "Even if the world says we are not worthy of each other, I will forge a path that makes us worthy." At that time, she only thought it was arrogant, but now, watching him fight against the demons all by himself, she suddenly realized that this man, whom she had dismissed as a "rogue of the martial world," actually possessed a sharper edge than even the royal family.

The evening breeze carried the stench of blood, and Mu Tong couldn't help but cough twice. Shi Feiyang suddenly turned his head, his glassy eyes gleaming in the darkness. The instant their eyes met, she frantically looked away, her heart pounding like a drum. "He...he couldn't have discovered me?"

Her fingertips unconsciously traced the dragon-patterned jade pendant around her neck, a shackle of her identity and an insurmountable barrier between the two of them.

But when she glanced back, she saw Shi Feiyang loudly proclaiming to the empty reeds, "Little Yezi! Watch closely—in this world, no one has ever been able to stop me!" His voice, mixed with the sound waves of Mingyu Gong, reverberated across the lake. Mu Tong bit her lower lip, her eyes suddenly burning, and something warm slid down her cheek, dripping onto her silk handkerchief and spreading into a small splash.

The bodies of the members of the Reconciliation Society were swept away by the waves, and Shi Feiyang's figure appeared even more frail in the moonlight.

Mu Tong watched his slowly departing figure and suddenly remembered what the steward had once said: "The Xiong Ying Society controls four tribes on the grasslands, with millions of people under its rule, cattle and sheep roaming the land, and countless elite soldiers and generals..."

She clenched her fist, her nails carving crescent-shaped bloodstains into her palm.

It turned out that Shi Feiyang was never the roughneck she thought he was, but a ruthless and powerful figure who could manipulate events in this chaotic world.

"Princess?" A maid's soft voice called from behind. Mu Tong hurriedly wiped away her tears, and when she turned around, she had regained her usual aloofness: "Return to the manor."

But as she stepped into the carriage, she couldn't help but lift the curtain and take one last look at the lake surface that still reeked of blood.

Under the moonlight, the ice marks left by Shi Feiyang were slowly melting, just like the ice in her heart, which had unknowingly begun to crack.

Although the bloody atmosphere of the Battle of Dianchi Lake has dissipated, the numerous obstacles between Shi Feiyang and Mu Tong remain as formidable as towering mountains.

The moment Mu Tong quietly wiped away her tears in the carriage, cracks appeared in the hard shell that concealed her true feelings. Yet, the pride in her bones and the shackles brought by her royal bloodline still followed her like a shadow.

Back at the Duke of Qian's mansion, she stared at the dragon-patterned jade pendant around her neck in the bronze mirror, recalling the look in Shi Feiyang's eyes as he gazed at her from the pool of blood. Her fingertips traced the cold jade surface as she murmured to herself, "Am I really going to have to bow down to fate?"

Shi Feiyang gazed at the blood-red lake, his mind preoccupied not only with the survival of his gang but also with his deep affection for Mu Tong. "Little Yezi, once I clear away all obstacles, I will marry you in grand style," he whispered to the void, his smooth skin radiating a resolute light.

Mu Tong began secretly gathering intelligence on the Xiong Ying Society. The more she learned, the more she was awestruck by Shi Feiyang's extraordinary talent and strategic vision. She witnessed the new policies implemented by the Xiong Ying Society on the grasslands, which brought peace and prosperity to the people; she saw Shi Feiyang leading his disciples to resist foreign enemies and protect the peace of the region.

These events gradually blurred her stereotypical image of a "江湖草莽" (jianghu outlaw), and she would even unconsciously fantasize about traveling the world with Shi Feiyang in the dead of night. However, Shi Feiyang did not leave central Yunnan, but went to Cangshan and Erhai to continue to wipe out the evil gangs in the jianghu.

Before the morning mist over Erhai Lake had dissipated, Shi Feiyang had already strolled along the bluestone slabs to the Shuanglang Ancient Ferry.

In the distance, the nineteen peaks of Cangshan Mountain stand majestically, their snow lines winding like silver dragons and reflected in the blue waves.

As he gazed at the shimmering waves of Erhai Lake, his glass-like skin, reflecting the light and shadows of the sky and clouds as he circulated the Mingyu Gong, gave him an air of otherworldly grace.

A cold wind suddenly blew by, and the reeds on the bank rustled.

Shi Feiyang's pupils contracted slightly as he sensed three dark figures rushing towards him from the reeds. The leader, clad in a black cloak, had a nine-section steel whip hanging at his waist that gleamed with a ghostly blue poisonous light. He was none other than Wan Qilie, the protector of the "Blood Fiend Sect," known as the "Poison Dragon Whip."

"Shi Feiyang, hand over Xu Fu's elixir and the two ultimate techniques!" Wan Qilie roared, his steel whip flashing like a snake, aimed straight for Shi Feiyang's throat.

Shi Feiyang slowly raised his palms, and a sudden surge of cold energy erupted from his body. He activated the Mingyu Gong to the "Supreme Forgetfulness: Ice Soul Cold Prison," his glassy skin glowing with an icy blue luster, and a layer of crystal-clear ice instantly solidified within three steps of his feet. He unleashed the "Hundred Victories Blade Technique" with the "Severing the Horizon" strike, nine golden blade energies imbued with icy coldness sweeping across in a fan shape, causing the air to explode with a piercing shriek wherever they passed.

Before Wan Qilie's steel whip even touched the blade's energy, it was shattered into pieces by the shockwave. He himself was thrown back by the force of the impact and crashed heavily onto the rocks on the shore, coughing up blood. Seeing this, the other two assassins simultaneously drew their weapons. One wielded a pair of judge's pens, using the "Acupoint Strike Divine Hand," the tips of which glowed with a bluish light; the other brandished a ghost-headed saber, its blade covered with strange runes.

The two worked in perfect coordination, flanking Shi Feiyang from the left and right. Shi Feiyang sneered, "You want Xu Fu's elixir, huh? Fine! I'll turn you two villains into dog shit pills, hmph!" As he spoke, he retreated like a ghost, his palms flashing as he unleashed the "Demon-Slaying Cloud" technique from the "Hundred Victories Blade Technique".

Golden blade energy crisscrossed, blasting away the Judge's Pen and the Ghost Head Blade. Unable to dodge in time, the two were pierced by the energy, blood gushing out like a fountain, staining the waves of Erhai Lake crimson. Wan Qilie struggled to his feet, his eyes filled with terror: "You...you are you a human or a ghost!"

Shi Feiyang walked slowly forward, his fair skin appearing even more translucent in the sunlight, like white ice shrouded in a cold mist. "Remember this, I am Xu Fu's elixir of immortality. Anyone who tries to eat me will die!"

A vortex of suction suddenly appeared in his palm, and Wan Qilie felt his body fly forward uncontrollably.

Shi Feiyang lightly touched Wan Qilie's Tanzhong acupoint with his fingertip, and the icy true energy instantly invaded his meridians. Wan Qilie screamed and was frozen into an ice sculpture. Then, a "crack" sound rang out, and he shattered into ice shards all over the ground.

At the foot of Cangshan Mountain, by the Butterfly Spring, thousands of colorful butterflies flutter around the acacia trees by the spring, their golden powder on their wings shimmering like stardust in the sunlight.

Shi Feiyang stood with his hands behind his back on the bluestone. As his Mingyu Gong flowed, his glass-like skin reflected the water, appearing even clearer than his reflection in the spring. Suddenly, a gust of foul wind swept by, startling the swarm of butterflies into a shower of colorful clouds—more than twenty dark figures burst out of the forest, their curved swords gleaming with a sinister green light in the sunlight.

"Those scoundrels from Yinfeng Village, they certainly know how to pick their spots. Heh heh, trying to eat my Xu Fu elixir again?" Shi Feiyang sneered, a faint icy blue aura already condensing in his palm. The scarred man at the head of the group slung his ghost-headed saber over his shoulder, the chains on the back of the blade rattling loudly: "Chief Shi, what a refined taste! I've heard that Xu Fu's elixir can revive the dead and heal the wounded, why don't you share some with your brothers?" His henchmen behind him burst into laughter, but their laughter concealed a chilling killing intent.

Before he could finish speaking, three poisoned bone-piercing nails pierced through the air. Shi Feiyang lightly touched the ground with his toes, using the mysterious lightness skill of "Concealing One's Body and Name," his figure leaping up as lightly as a butterfly, his icy blue true energy condensing into a lotus-shaped energy blast at the soles of his feet.

The "Viewing the Vast Ocean" move of the "Hundred Victories Blade Technique" was suddenly unleashed. As the palms were pushed out, nine golden blade energies carrying icy coldness swept out with the force of an overwhelming wave, like a tidal wave crashing against the shore.

The poisoned hidden weapon instantly disintegrated in the blade's energy, turning into dust and scattering by the spring.

The scarred man's pupils constricted sharply, and he roared, "Form ranks!"

More than twenty people formed the "Nine Yin Wind Fiends Formation," their curved blades crisscrossing to create a chilling net of blades, and a visible dark purple miasma rose in the air. One of them swung his blade and unleashed the "Yin Wind Sky-Splitting Slash," the blade wind carrying a piercing shriek as it hurtled straight toward Shi Feiyang's face.

Shi Feiyang activated the Mingyu Gong "Supreme Forgetfulness of Emotions: Ice Soul Cold Prison", causing frost flowers to appear on his glassy skin and the chill around him to materialize into a hundred-foot-long ice wall.

With a flick of his finger, nine ice blades appeared on the ice wall, shining brightly alongside the golden sword energy. At the same time, he unleashed the "Dragon Claw," pointing his fingertip towards the array's core. A stream of icy blue true energy darted into the ground like a serpent, instantly freezing the ankles of the two villains.

"A mere trick, yet you dare to steal my Xu Fu elixir. Humph!" Shi Feiyang lightly touched the ground with his toes, unleashing the profound lightness skill of "Concealing One's Person and Name," his figure darting like a ghost through the net of blades. With each flash of his palm, the "Hundred Victories Blade Technique"—"Slaying the Mortal World," "Breaking the Horizon," and "Breaking the Universe"—was unleashed in succession, golden blade energy bursting forth, dispelling miasma and shattering blades wherever it went.

A villain brandished his blade and unleashed a "Whirlwind Slash," but Shi Feiyang's palm suddenly generated a vortex of suction, sending the villain flying forward uncontrollably. With a light touch of his fingertip to the villain's brow, "Ice Soul Cold Prison" instantly invaded his meridians, and the villain screamed as he turned into an ice sculpture, shattering into countless ice crystals with a few "cracks."

Seeing the situation was dire, the scarred man unleashed thirty-six sword flourishes with his curved blade—the deadly move of the "Seven Deadly Slashes of Yin Wind," combined with the "Ghostly Shadow Steps," attacking from different directions. Shi Feiyang neither dodged nor evaded, but instead unleashed the "Demon-Slaying Cloud" technique from his palms, the golden sword energy swirling like a reversed Milky Way, shattering all the sword flourishes. The remaining force still lingered, the sword energy aimed straight for the man's throat, but abruptly changed direction upon contact with his skin, leaving three deep, bone-revealing gashes on his face.

"Spare me! Spare me!" The man knelt down and begged for mercy, his forehead hitting the bluestone heavily.

Shi Feiyang looked down at him, his glassy eyes as cold as ice: "Tell the scoundrels of Yunnan that the treasures of the Xiong Ying Society are not for anyone to covet." With that, his palm surged with icy blue true energy, unleashing the "Supreme Forgetfulness: Ice Soul Cold Prison" technique of the Mingyu Gong. The man was instantly covered in frost, his entire body exploding into a cloud of blood mist. The remaining thugs were terrified, letting out a scream as they tried to scatter and flee.

Shi Feiyang snorted coldly, and activated the Mingyu Gong at full power, his whole body resembling white ice shrouded in cold mist.

He clapped his hands together, and nine golden sword energies spread out in a fan shape. Wherever the sword energies reached, trees were cut in half. The villains were either pierced by the sword energies or shredded into mincemeat by the vortex's suction.

Blood splattered into Butterfly Spring, turning the clear water an eerie crimson. Thousands of colorful butterflies took flight, their wings covered in blood droplets, like a shower of red rain. After the battle, only Shi Feiyang remained, standing alone in the pool of blood by the spring.

He brushed the bloodstains off his sleeves, gazing at the distant Cangshan Mountains where clouds drifted and rolled, his fair skin appearing even more translucent in the sunlight.

The waters of Butterfly Spring still flow gently, reflecting the scattered limbs and broken icicles on the ground—this battle will surely resound like thunder throughout central Yunnan, making all those with ill intentions understand that those who covet the Xiong Ying Gathering will only face death.

In the late spring at the Duke of Qian's mansion, the fragrance of osmanthus wafted beneath the wisteria trellis. Mu Tong leaned against a chaise lounge, idly waving a bamboo fan in her hand. Suddenly, her personal maid, Qing Wu, rushed in, her hair ornaments jingling. (End of Chapter)