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

In this mid-autumn season, the Hall of Mental Cultivation was shrouded in thick, leaden clouds, appearing exceptionally serene and solemn.

Glistening frost flowers clung to the gilded dragon pillars, shimmering in the dim light, like dragon scales trembling slightly in the cold wind. The hall was filled with the fragrance of ambergris, its aroma mingling with the scent of burning charcoal, swirling in the air.

"Fragrant Concubine" Kasili's face is like a beautiful jade sculpture. She wears a moon-white palace dress, and the Tianshan snow lotus pattern embroidered on it has faded with the passage of time, becoming plain and elegant.

She gazed silently out the window, where the falling, withered leaves seemed to tell the story of the changing seasons.

The pearl earrings swayed gently with her breath, shimmering with a soft luster. A moment later, she parted her lips slightly and said softly to Shi Feiyang, "Your Majesty, of the ice cream from the Western Regions, I specially reserved the finest..."

Kasri was interrupted by hurried footsteps outside the hall before she could finish speaking.

You Ning, the imperial concubine, wearing palace shoes embroidered with gold phoenixes and a crimson brocade cloak, hurriedly entered the palace.

Her cloak fluttered in the wind like a flag on a battlefield. The kingfisher feather hairpins at her temples jingled softly with her steps, their clear, melodious sounds echoing through the tranquil palace like the prelude to war drums, foreshadowing what was to come.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects!" You Ning knelt down, deliberately bowing low. The scent of ambergris mixed with the stench of blood wafted from her hair. "Just now, the Sticky Pole reported urgently that remnants of the Heaven and Earth Society have gathered at the Kunlun Pass, seemingly plotting a shocking conspiracy!"

She raised her head, her phoenix eyes flickering in the candlelight, her tone resolute and unwavering, "Your Majesty, please grant me permission to lead troops into battle, and I will surely present the heads of the rebels before the palace!"

Shi Feiyang slammed her jade thumb ring heavily on the rosewood table, producing a clear, resonant sound: "You, a mere woman, dare to speak so presumptuously of war? The Kunlun Mountains are treacherous, and the Heaven and Earth Society possesses unpredictable and mysterious arts of divination and escape..."

Before he could finish speaking, You Ning had already crawled two steps on her knees, her fingertips almost touching the hem of the dragon robe: "Does Your Majesty still remember the Battle of Tianqiao? My Golden Crow Sword Technique, combined with Lord He's Divine Blade Slash and Commander Lu's Heavenly Gang Finger, worked together seamlessly to wipe out the Green Wood Hall of the Heaven and Earth Society!" She deliberately emphasized the words "wipe out the entire group," and out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Kasili's slightly trembling shoulders, as if she was recalling that bloody battle.

Kasli clenched her sleeves tightly, her nails digging deep into her palms. Her heart was filled with complex emotions, a mixture of admiration for You Ning and anxiety about the impending bloody battle. She remembered Chen Jialuo saying that the Kunlun Mountains were equipped with twelve layers of traps, but for now she could only bite her lip and listen to You Ning continue speaking. She could also see that You Ning's words were full of confidence and determination.

“Moreover, I have already laid three layers of covert agents.” You Ning took out a bloodstained secret letter from her sleeve, the edges of which were still covered with ice shards. “This is a handwritten letter from the leader of the Vermilion Bird Hall of the Heaven and Earth Society, agreeing to a transaction at the Frozen Lake in thirty days. I am willing to feign surrender and lure the enemy out!”

She suddenly ripped open her clothes, revealing a gruesome scar on her collarbone. "This wound was inflicted during the last investigation. If it can help His Majesty wipe out the rebels, I would gladly die!" Shi Feiyang's hand, which was stroking his thumb ring, tightened abruptly, his eyes flashing with approval: "You do have some courage. However..."

His gaze swept over Kasili's pale face, as if searching for an answer. "I've heard that the Heaven and Earth Society still has dealings with Huo Qingtong. Do you have a foolproof plan?" You Ning's lips curled into a sinister smile. She slowly took out half of a jade pendant stained with blood from her bosom. The jade pendant gleamed ominously in the dim light: "Although Huo Qingtong has already entered the Buddhist order and shaved her head to become a nun, the relationship between the Tianshan Sect and the Heaven and Earth Society has always been close. I have already secretly arranged for people to spread the news, claiming that I will launch a complete siege against Tianshan."

A hint of cunning flickered in her voice, which she lowered further as she spoke, "At that time, both the masters of the Tianshan Sect and the elites of the Heaven and Earth Society will gather in the Kunlun Mountains. Your Majesty only needs to..."

Upon hearing this, Kasili's face changed drastically. She knelt down with a thud, her forehead striking the cold blue bricks with a dull thud: "Your Majesty! My sister, Huo Qingtong, has completely severed her ties with the mortal world, I beg you..."

"Shut up!" Shi Feiyang flicked his dragon robe sleeve, and the teacup on the table fell to the ground and shattered. "The remnants of the traitors deserve to be killed by everyone!" His voice was filled with unquestionable authority and anger.

He turned around, his gaze fixed intently on You Ning, a bloodthirsty glint in his eyes. "I grant your permission! Heshen and Lu Fangtian will be at your command, and Yue Shan will lead three thousand Imperial Guards with you on the expedition. However, if anything goes wrong..."

Upon hearing the Emperor's order, You Ning was secretly delighted. She kowtowed heavily, the blood seeping from her forehead leaving a shocking mark on the ground. "If there is any mishap, I am willing to atone with my death!"

Her words were filled with determination and resolve. “However, I have another request—on the day of our triumphant return, I beg Your Majesty to bestow upon me the regalia of an Empress, so that the world may know who is truly capable of assisting Your Majesty and becoming your wise and virtuous wife!” She looked at Kasli provocatively, her ambition evident in her eyes, as if to say that the Empress’s throne was rightfully hers.

Upon hearing this, Shi Feiyang clapped his hands and burst into laughter. His laughter was as loud as thunder, shaking the swallows' nests on the roof beams and causing dust to fall: "Good! If you can achieve such a great feat, the Phoenix Seal..."

He paused deliberately, his gaze fixed intently on Kasli's trembling back, as if contemplating an important decision. "It's not something we can't consider." After You Ning's figure disappeared through the palace gates, the entire hall fell into a deathly silence, like a tomb.

Kasli stood there, staring blankly at the tea stains on the ground. Suddenly, her thoughts drifted to the distant Tianshan Mountains, where the snowmelt was crystal clear and pure, completely different from every drop of water in the Forbidden City. The water there seemed to be soaked in conspiracy and bloodshed.

Her heart was filled with unease. She knew clearly that a massive battle was about to unfold, and the fates of countless people would be changed as a result.

However, she found that she didn't even have the chance to inform her beloved, which made her feel extremely helpless and anxious.

Outside the window, the cawing of crows pierced the tranquil sky, startling the fallen leaves that filled the air, as if a bloody storm was about to sweep through the Heaven and Earth Society.

Shi Feiyang sat upright on the dragon throne, his expression serious and calm, listening to the battle report from his secret guards.

A cold smile curled at the corner of his lips as he toyed with the exquisite jade dragon hook in his hand, muttering to himself, "Whether it's the Heaven and Earth Society, the Red Flower Society, the Giant Whale Gang, or the Beggars' Sect, in the end, none of them can escape my grasp..."

In this complex power struggle between the underworld and the martial arts world, no one can predict who will be the next to fall.

And how will the hidden figure in the shadows—the Heaven and Earth Society's palace spy and the conflicted Su Dai—stir up trouble in this ever-changing situation and become a key factor influencing the outcome?

Three days later, at the west gate of the capital.

You Ning, clad in golden silk armor and riding a tall horse, led three thousand imperial guards westward in a grand procession. Their banners blotted out the sky, and the sound of their hooves shook the ground, creating a formidable spectacle.

However, this grand scene was merely a smokescreen set up by Shi Feiyang; the real actions and objectives were hidden behind it all.

Meanwhile, on Zhuque Street, the busiest street in the capital, three ordinary-looking wanderers were heading south. The young man in the lead held a folding fan, and a cunning glint occasionally flashed in his triangular eyes—he was none other than Heshen, the chief of the Imperial Guards.

Beside him, Lu Fangtian, the commander of the Sticky Rod Office, had a gloomy expression. The Heavenly Gang Finger Force hidden in his sleeve was incredibly powerful, shattering the pebbles on the roadside without his noticing. Yue Shan, the commander of the Imperial Guard, carried a seemingly ordinary long sword, but those who knew him knew that the scabbard concealed a divine weapon capable of splitting mountains and shattering rocks—the retractable Overlord Spear.

"Lord He, are you sure the Heaven and Earth Society's headquarters are in Jiangnan?" Yue Shan asked He Shen cautiously, lowering his voice.

Heshen sneered, slapping his folding fan against his palm with a crisp sound: "Hmph! The Heaven and Earth Society originated in Jiangnan, and their foundation lies with those artisans and peddlers. Now that the Red Flower Society is severely weakened, it is the perfect opportunity to wipe out the Heaven and Earth Society! The Emperor deliberately sent You Ning with his men westward to lull the Heaven and Earth Society into a false sense of security."

Lu Fangtian's sharp eyes swept around, and he said in a deep voice, "I've heard that the Heaven and Earth Society has grown rapidly in recent years, with more than ten million members. Their 'Nine Palaces Eight Trigrams Formation' and 'Mandarin Duck Linked Kicks' are even more formidable and should not be underestimated."

"What's there to be afraid of!" Heshen's eyes flashed with a fierce light, and his tone was firm. "With the three of us, plus the elites of the Sticky Rod Office, we will definitely wipe them out in one fell swoop! Once we destroy the Heaven and Earth Society, the Emperor will be so happy..." He didn't finish his sentence, but just smiled triumphantly, as if he could already see the fruits of victory.

Lu Fangtian and Yue Shan both smiled knowingly. Their elite troops had already disguised themselves and gone south to find out where the Heaven and Earth Society's headquarters was.
The setting sun, like blood, dyed the Grand Canal a crimson red. On the turbid surface of the river, shimmering gold light rose and fell with the waves, while the reeds on both banks rustled in the wind, seemingly telling the story of the vicissitudes of a thousand-year-old canal transport system.

Occasionally, waterbirds returning to their nests skimmed across the water, creating ripples that were quickly smoothed over by the rushing current. In the distance, several merchant ships were moving slowly forward, the lingering shadows of the setting sun on their sails resembling banners soaked in blood.

As dusk settled, the canal grew increasingly eerie and terrifying. Dark clouds had unknowingly blanketed the sky, and wisps of mist rose from the river, drifting across the water like ghostly flames. The weeping willows on the banks swayed in the wind, their shadows cast on the water's surface, twisting into menacing shapes.

Three cargo boats cut through the waves, the bronze bells on their bows emitting a dull thud that startled owls from the reeds. Their mournful cries echoed across the river, adding to the eeriness of the scene.

The soldiers on the cargo ship gripped their swords tightly, gazing at the dark reeds on both banks, their hearts filled with dread. Suddenly, dozens of water columns burst open on the surface of the water, and water ghosts from the Heaven and Earth Society and the Giant Whale Gang emerged from the water, their gleaming Fish Intestine Swords aimed straight for the soldiers' throats.

"Protect the grain transport!" Before the escort commander's roar had even faded, a black-sailed warship had already broken through the waves. A silver-haired old man stood at the bow, lightly tapping the hull with his black cane, and the entire warship shot towards the grain transport ship like an arrow.

This was Chen Yu, an elder of the Heaven and Earth Society. His gaze, sharp as lightning, swept over the soldiers on the cargo ship: "The wealth that Hongli has plundered from the people should be returned to its rightful owner today!" The shouts of battle echoed deafeningly from the cargo ship. The Heaven and Earth Society disciples moved nimbly among the soldiers like ghosts, swords flashing and blood splattering. The escorting commander, spear in hand, glared angrily, directing the soldiers in a fierce resistance, but the Heaven and Earth Society disciples' attacks were relentless, and the soldiers gradually fell into a disadvantageous position. Elder Chen Yu waved his cane, and several Heaven and Earth Society disciples, as if receiving a command, leaped up and charged straight into the cargo hold of the cargo ship.

Seeing this, the officers and soldiers tried their best to stop them, but the Heaven and Earth Society disciples were too skilled in martial arts, and the blockade of the cargo hold was quickly broken.

"Set it on fire!" Elder Chen Yu gave the order, and the disciples of the Heaven and Earth Society quickly lit torches and threw them into the cargo hold.

Flames shot into the sky, illuminating the night and the resolute eyes of the Heaven and Earth Society disciples. The soldiers panicked and fled in all directions, while the Heaven and Earth Society disciples pursued them, determined to reclaim this ill-gotten wealth for the people.

Heshen and Lu Fangtian mingled among the Heaven and Earth Society disciples, hiding on another warship. Each concealed their identity. Heshen toyed with the crescent-shaped dagger hidden in his sleeve, a sinister glint flashing in his triangular eyes, as if plotting something: "Commander Lu, when the chaos begins, you and I will..."

Before he finished speaking, Lu Fangtian's Heavenly Gang Finger Force flowed from his sleeve, deflecting all the incoming arrows. Chen Yu's cane suddenly flew out of his hand, tracing a strange arc in the air before striking the mast of the cargo ship.

With a loud crash, the mast collapsed, and the silver chests fell into the water. The Heaven and Earth Society disciples cheered and jumped into the river to seize the silver.

Just then, Heshen and Lu Fangtian exchanged a glance, then suddenly sprang into action, their weapons aimed directly at the Heaven and Earth Society disciples beside them.

The two of them seemed to have planned this all along, their actions were perfectly coordinated, as if it had been arranged in advance.

"Watch out! There's a traitor!" Chen Yu reacted swiftly, his cane coiling towards Heshen like a serpent.

Heshen sneered, and his crescent-shaped scimitar was suddenly drawn, unleashing the "Divine Blade Slash".

A strange flash of light appeared, and two Heaven and Earth Society disciples were instantly cut in half at the waist, their blood staining the canal red. Lu Fangtian's Heavenly Gang Finger was not idle either; wherever his finger swept, bowl-sized holes appeared in the chests of the Heaven and Earth Society disciples.

Yue Shan wielded the Overlord Spear, which was thirteen feet seven inches and three-tenths inches long and weighed seventy-three catties, seven ounces and three qian. The spearhead and shaft were both made of pure steel. If its tip pierced a person, that person would certainly die, and even if they were struck by the shaft, they would vomit five liters of blood.

He leaped from another warship, picked up a man with the tip of his spear, and hurled him heavily into the water.

"You scum of the Heaven and Earth Society, today is your death day!" he roared, his Overlord Spear unleashing seven bowl-sized spear blossoms, forcing back the water ghosts that tried to approach. His spear technique was like a dragon, his momentum like a rainbow, striking fear into the hearts of his enemies.

Chen Yu's cane clashed with He Shen's curved sword, producing a metallic clang. "So you had set a trap all along!" Chen Yu's eyes widened in anger, and his cane suddenly changed its stance, unleashing the "Eight Forms of the Coiling Dragon," a secret technique of the Heaven and Earth Society. His moves were unpredictable, and the cane in his hands seemed to come alive, incredibly agile.

Heshen remained calm and composed, his curved blade drawing an eerie arc in the air, cutting down everything in its path.

In the heat of battle, Lu Fangtian suddenly used his lightness skill to blend into the Heaven and Earth Society disciples who were robbing the grain transport silver. His figure was like a ghost, and he disappeared into the night in the blink of an eye. Seeing this, Heshen deliberately created an opening, pretending to be hit on the shoulder by Chen Yu's cane, and staggered back into the water.

"Retreat!" he shouted, leading the remaining officers and soldiers in a feigned retreat. They seemed to have completed their mission and it was time to withdraw.

Three days later, in the Happy Forest of Suzhou, this seemingly ordinary garden-style restaurant was actually a secret liaison point for the headquarters of the Heaven and Earth Society. As night fell, a carriage loaded with silver slowly drove into this tranquil area.

As Chen Yu led the members of the Heaven and Earth Society to prepare for the handover of the tribute silver, suddenly, the window frame on the second floor of the restaurant shattered.

The expert wielding the crescent-shaped scimitar descended from the second floor with the agility of a bird. The moment Heshen landed, a sinister smile appeared on his face. He brandished his scimitar, unleashing his signature move, "Divine Blade Slash: Blood Moon in the Sky."

The curved blade flashed an eerie red light in the night, sweeping outwards. Several disciples of the Heaven and Earth Society, unable to dodge in time, were cut in half at the waist by the sharp blade, their internal organs scattered on the ground, a scene of extreme bloodshed.

Upon seeing this, Chen Yu was terrified. He hurriedly raised his cane to try and block Heshen's attack. However, Heshen's swordsmanship was incredibly sharp, and he severed Chen Yu's cane in one stroke. After his cane was broken, Chen Yu stared at Heshen in horror.

He Shen sneered, "Old man, die!" Then, He Shen's curved blade went straight for Chen Yu's throat.

At the critical moment, a young disciple of the Heaven and Earth Society rushed forward without hesitation, trying to block the deadly blade.

Blood splattered everywhere, covering Heshen's face.

Chen Yu seized the opportunity to turn and try to escape, but Lu Fangtian appeared at the doorway without Chen Yu noticing. He used his Heavenly Gang Finger Force to block all possible escape routes for Chen Yu. "You... good..." Chen Yu glared at Heshen and Lu Fangtian, but before he could finish speaking, Heshen's curved blade had already pierced through his chest.

Seeing this, the other members of the Heaven and Earth Society drew their weapons and surrounded Heshen and Lu Fangtian, vowing to avenge Chen Yu.

However, Heshen remained calm and composed in the face of the attack. His curved sword danced through the crowd, each swing felling a member of the Heaven and Earth Society. Meanwhile, Lu Fangtian slipped into the chaos and disappeared into the night.

When reinforcements from the Heaven and Earth Society headquarters arrived, Heshen feigned defeat and fled. Hiding in the shadows, he watched the Heaven and Earth Society members gathered in the Happy Forest, a cold smile playing on his lips, as if everything was within his expectations. Soon after, Yue Shan arrived to join him, and Lu Fangtian also quietly appeared, holding a detailed topographical map.

Lu Fangtian pointed at the map, a ruthless glint in his eyes: "This Happy Forest may seem ordinary, but it actually hides a Nine Palaces Eight Trigrams Formation." He continued, "However, with this map, even if the Heaven and Earth Society has a thousand troops, they will not be able to escape."

Heshen stroked the bloodstains on his crescent-shaped scimitar, his triangular eyes filled with greed: "Notify the experts of the Sticky Pole Bureau that at midnight three days from now, a bloodbath will be carried out in Happy Forest!" Three days later, the city of Suzhou was shrouded in thick darkness. The moonlight was obscured by heavy clouds, with only a few faint stars twinkling on the horizon. Outside Happy Forest, the river flowed silently, its surface reflecting the weeping willows on the banks, swaying in the night breeze as if trembling with fear for the impending slaughter. In the surrounding silence, only the occasional chirping of insects could be heard, seemingly mourning for the land soon to be stained with blood.

Yue Shan and He Shen led the elite troops of the Sticky Pole Bureau, lurking around the Happy Forest like ghosts.

Heshen stroked the crescent-shaped scimitar in his hand, his triangular eyes gleaming with a bloodthirsty light in the night: "Commander Yue, today is the end of the Heaven and Earth Society. Lu Fangtian is already inside to provide support. Once we make our move, we must wipe them out completely!"

His words were filled with coldness and determination, as if he could already see the bloodshed of the Heaven and Earth Society members flowing like rivers.

Yue Shan tightened his grip on the Overlord Spear, the tassel fluttering in the wind like a burning flame: "Rest assured, Lord He, my Overlord Spear hasn't tasted blood for days. Today, I will make the Heaven and Earth Society know its power!"

His voice was firm and powerful, as if he were making a promise to Heshen, and also as if he were roaring at the beast within him.

At this moment, the Happy Forest was brightly lit, and the disciples of the Heaven and Earth Society were sitting together, discussing the follow-up arrangements for the grain transport funds. Their voices were particularly clear in the quiet night, unaware that a bloody massacre was about to unfold.

Suddenly, a sharp whistle pierced the silent night. Elder Chen Mu of the Heaven and Earth Society abruptly stood up, slamming his cane heavily on the ground: "Not good, an ambush!" His voice carried a hint of panic, but even more so, it was firm and resolute.

Before the words were even finished, countless men in black surged forth from all directions; they were the soldiers led by Heshen and Yue Shan. Like ghosts in the night, they appeared silently around Happy Forest, completely surrounding the entire forest.

"Kill! Leave no one alive!" Heshen brandished his crescent-shaped saber and charged into the crowd, unleashing his "Divine Blade Slash." The blade flashed like a blood-red full moon, and wherever it struck, the Heaven and Earth Society disciples fell, their blood splattering everywhere. His movements were swift and deadly, each strike carrying the aura of death.

Yue Shan followed closely behind, wielding his Overlord Spear with ferocious skill. The spear tip moved like a venomous snake, each thrust sending a screaming man crashing to the ground. His spear technique was incredibly sharp, every move brimming with killing intent, making it difficult for the Heaven and Earth Society disciples to defend themselves.

"You scoundrels of the Heaven and Earth Society, today is your death day!" His roar echoed in the night sky, full of intimidation, and made everyone present feel a deep fear.

Although the disciples of the Heaven and Earth Society were caught off guard, they quickly organized a resistance. They drew their weapons and engaged in a fierce battle with the government troops.

In an instant, shouts of battle and the clashing of weapons mingled together, startling the nearby birds into flight. The intensity of the fight enveloped the entire Happy Forest in a bloody storm.

A member of the Heaven and Earth Society shouted and unleashed the "Mandarin Duck Consecutive Kicks!" kicking out with both legs in quick succession, sending two soldiers flying.

However, before he could even regain his footing, Yue Shan's Overlord Spear pierced his chest. His eyes were filled with resentment and anger, but the flame of his life had been extinguished. "Hmph, a mere trick!" Yue Shan sneered, forcefully pulling out the spear, blood dripping down its shaft.

There was not a trace of pity in his eyes, only coldness and ruthlessness towards the enemy.

Chen Mu brandished his cane, engaging Heshen in battle. His cane concealed hidden mechanisms, sometimes thrusting out, sometimes sweeping, making it difficult for Heshen to get close. His moves were unpredictable, each attack putting Heshen under pressure.

"Heshen, you dog of the emperor, you won't leave here alive today!" Chen Mu's eyes widened in fury, his cane whistling through the air as he aimed straight for Heshen's throat. His eyes burned with rage, determined to cut down this lackey of the court.

Heshen sneered, his figure flashing as he dodged the attack from the cane: "Old man, you think you can stop me? Watch how I raze your Heaven and Earth Society to the ground today!" With that, the curved blade in his hand suddenly changed its move, his swordsmanship becoming increasingly unpredictable, the blade light enveloping Chen Mu's entire body. Just as the fierce battle was raging, Lu Fangtian emerged from the shadows.

He unleashed his Heavenly Gang Finger Force, and wherever his finger strikes, the disciples of the Heaven and Earth Society cough up blood. "Die, all of you!" His face was filled with a maniacal smile, like a demon from hell.

The disciples of the Heaven and Earth Society were gradually overwhelmed, suffering heavy casualties. But they still fought desperately, showing no sign of retreat. "Brothers, even if we die today, we'll take a few of them with us!" a young disciple shouted, brandishing his broadsword and charging towards Lu Fangtian, only to have his heart meridian easily shattered by Lu Fangtian's Heavenly Gang Finger Force.

Seeing the critical situation, Chen Mu was extremely anxious. He knew that Happy Forest was unlikely to be saved today, and he had to find a way to get some of his brothers out. "Listen up, everyone! Form the Nine Palaces Eight Trigrams Formation to cover our retreat!" he shouted while fending off Heshen's attacks.

Upon hearing this, the disciples of the Heaven and Earth Society quickly changed their formation, using the Nine Palaces Eight Trigrams Formation to fight against the government troops.

This formation was highly unpredictable, and for a time it proved difficult for the officers and soldiers to break through.

However, Heshen, Yue Shan, and Lu Fangtian were all martial arts masters. They cooperated with each other and gradually found the flaws in the formation.

Heshen seized the opportunity, swung his scimitar fiercely, and a sharp blade of energy severed the arm of a Heaven and Earth Society disciple.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Yue Shan thrust out with his spear, the tip aimed directly at Chen Mu's chest.

Chen Mu dodged to the side, but was struck in the back by Lu Fangtian's Heavenly Gang Finger Force, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

"Chen Mu, your death is near!" Heshen shouted, raising his scimitar high and bringing it down with tremendous force.

Chen Mu used his last bit of strength to block with his cane.

With a "crack," the cane snapped in two, and the curved blade slashed down, cutting Chen Mu in half at the waist.

"Elder!" Upon seeing this, the disciples of the Heaven and Earth Society were overcome with grief and rushed towards Heshen and his men, desperate to avenge Chen Mu. However, they were now in dire straits, facing the heavy encirclement of government troops, and their strength was waning.

In this desolate land of Happy Forest, corpses lay scattered about, blood flowing like a river, slowly seeping into the river through cracks in the ground, turning the water crimson. Heshen stood before this bloody scene, a smug smile on his face, and said contemptuously, "Hmph, the Heaven and Earth Society, nothing more than this."

Yue Shan sheathed his Overlord Spear, blood still dripping from it. He said to Heshen, "Lord He, this mission is a great success. The Emperor will surely reward us handsomely."

Lu Fangtian stepped forward, cupped his hands to Heshen, and said, "Thanks to Lord He and Commander Yue's excellent command, otherwise today would not have gone so smoothly." The three looked at each other and laughed, their laughter sounding particularly eerie and terrifying in the quiet night, as if it were a call from hell.

The setting sun, like blood, painted Hanshan Temple outside Suzhou with a somber atmosphere. Heshen, dressed in a moon-white long robe and holding a bamboo fan, leaned against the railing of Maple Bridge, his triangular eyes gleaming cunningly in the twilight, like a messenger of the night.

The canal water under the bridge still tinged with dark red, the bloodstains left from the battle at Happy Forest three days ago. Now, rising and falling with the waves, it resembled an unhealed wound, reminding people of that bloody battle.

"Lord He, the news has been spread." Lu Fangtian emerged from the shadows, his Heavenly Gang Finger technique instantly shredding the falling maple leaves into dust. "Just say that the grain transport silver is hidden under the sutra pillar at Hanshan Temple, and we even specially arranged for a few 'Heaven and Earth Society spies' to get wind of it." Heshen tapped his palm lightly with his folding fan, producing a crisp sound. "Chen Jinnan is a cunning old fox; this bait alone is not enough."

A cold smile curled at the corner of his lips. "Go and capture Chen Shen's only son, and 'treat him well' in the dilapidated temple outside the city. Elder Chen is known as 'unparalleled in benevolence and righteousness,' he will surely risk his life alone." Three days later, late at night, the bell of Hanshan Temple startled a flock of crows.

Chen Jinnan, dressed in a blue robe with a gold-threaded whip wrapped around his waist, stood side by side with Chen Yun in front of the Mahavira Hall. Moonlight streamed through the mottled window lattices, illuminating the silver chest prominently displayed on the offering table—yet it remained unmoved, as if time itself had stood still.

"There's a bloody smell." Chen Jin suddenly gripped the Judge's Pen tightly, the Taotie pattern on the pen shaft gleaming with an eerie light. Before he finished speaking, the roof beam suddenly exploded, and Yue Shan's Overlord Spear, like a dragon emerging from the sea, aimed straight for Chen Jinnan's back.

"Well done!" Chen Jinnan swept his golden silk whip horizontally, the tip of which was wrapped with powerful internal force, actually deflecting the Overlord Spear three feet away. Lu Fangtian's Heavenly Gang Finger attacked from the right, and wherever the finger wind passed, the blue stone tiles cracked inch by inch, as if it were the anger of the earth.

Chen Yun's Judge's Pen drew a Bagua diagram, its tip pointing towards Lu Fangtian's major acupoints. This was the Heaven and Earth Society's ultimate technique, the "Eight Trigrams Array Pen," seemingly the will of heaven and earth. Suddenly, Heshen's laughter came from the bell tower. As his crescent-shaped scimitar was drawn, it carried an eerie red light: "Chief Chen, how have you been!" The blade flashed down like a bolt of lightning, actually cleaving a half-person-deep crack in the thousand-year-old bell, as if it were a judgment of fate.

Chen Jinnan wrapped his soft whip around the eaves, using it to leap into the air. Suddenly, three bone-piercing nails flew out from the tip of the whip, with the four blood-red characters "Overthrow the Qing and Restore the Ming" engraved on the end of the nails.

"A mere trick!" Yue Shan roared, his Overlord Spear flashing, deflecting all the Bone-Piercing Nails. Chen Shen seized the opportunity, his Judge's Pen aimed straight for He Shen's throat, but suddenly nine steel spikes sprang from the pen's handle.

Heshen dodged to the side, his curved blade slicing through the air, the aura of "Divine Blade Slicing Through the Gates of Hell" shredding Chen Shen's Taoist robe to shreds.

In the heat of battle, a scream suddenly erupted from the backyard of Hanshan Temple. Chen Xun's expression changed drastically—it was his son's voice!
"Elder Chen, if you wish to see your son, follow me." Lu Fangtian's figure disappeared into the darkness, and the Heavenly Gang Finger Force caused the Buddha statue to collapse with a crash.

Ignoring Chen Jinnan's obstruction, Chen Chen gathered his strength and gave chase, only to step into the Bagua maze that Lu Fangtian had already set up.

Inside the main hall, Chen Jinnan fought alone against Heshen and Yue Shan.

Chen Jinnan's golden silk whip sometimes transformed into a snake, and sometimes unfolded like a curtain, but it was no match for the combined attack of the curved sword and the long spear.

Heshen seized the opportunity, and his scimitar flew out of his hand, tracing a bizarre, deadly arc in the air. Chen Jinnan spun around to dodge, his soft whip ensnaring the incoming scimitar. The two forces collided, causing tiles to fall from the sky.

"Chen Jinnan, do you think you can escape?" Yue Shan's Overlord Spear suddenly grew three feet longer, its tip glowing with blue light, indicating it was coated with a deadly poison.

Chen Jinnan's pupils contracted sharply, and he suddenly wrapped the soft whip around Yue Shan's wrist, using the force to flip over and snatch the spear. Yue Shan, however, remained calm and composed, abandoning the spear and striking with his palm. The force of his "Overlord Disarms" palm sent Chen Jinnan flying backward, crashing into the incense table.

In the backyard, Chen Xun charged left and right within the Eight Trigrams Formation, the Heavenly Gang Finger Force following him like a shadow. Lu Fangtian's voice echoed in the void: "The Heaven and Earth Society's 'Eight Trigrams Formation' is nothing but child's play in front of the authentic Eight Trigrams Sect!"

Before he could finish speaking, twelve finger strikes came from twelve directions at the same time. Chen Xun raised his pen to defend, but felt a pain in his chest—Lu Fangtian had actually emerged from the ground, and his Heavenly Gang Finger had pierced through his collarbone.

Chen Yun fell backward, blood splattering onto the sky, and died with a scream.

"No!" Chen Jinnan cried out in anguish. In the moment of distraction, Heshen's scimitar was already pressed against his neck.

Under the moonlight, the blade reflected Chen Jinnan's pale face, as well as Heshen's smug grin: "Chief Chen, you've roamed the martial world for decades, have you ever imagined that you would fall into the hands of a 'shortcutster' like me?"

"Kill me if you want!" Chen Jinnan lashed out with his whip, the tip aimed straight for Heshen's face. Heshen dodged to the side, but his curved blade swept across Chen Jinnan's throat.

The golden silk whip fell limply, and Chen Jinnan remained standing until his death, his eyes filled with resentment and grief.

Outside Hanshan Temple, dark clouds obscured the last ray of moonlight. Heshen wiped the blood from his scimitar, a greedy glint in his triangular eyes.

In the pool of blood, Chen Jinnan remained in a clenched fist position until his death, with half of the unfinished character "复" (meaning "recovery") etched on his palm.

The autumn rain in Suzhou carried a chill, causing the lanterns of the "Simeng Inn" to flicker. Heshen leaned against the carved window of a private room on the second floor, his triangular eyes fixed on the wine flag swaying in the rain, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the scabbard of his crescent-shaped dagger.

Raindrops dripped from the eaves, seemingly telling the story of this ancient city's vicissitudes, while the inn's lanterns appeared particularly lonely and desolate in the rain. The stench of blood from Hanshan Temple three days prior still lingered in Heshen's nostrils, yet he felt as if a pair of eyes were watching the chilling back of his neck from the shadows. That bloody scent seemed to still permeate the air, instilling unease, as if every breath carried the heavy killing intent.

"Lord He, what about Chen Jinnan's corpse..." Yue Shan sat on the armchair, holding the Overlord Spear, the bloodstains on the shaft still unwashed.

His voice was deep and powerful, as if reminding Heshen that even on such a rainy night, there were people who could not forget that bloody battle.

Before he could finish speaking, a soft clattering sound came from outside the window. Lu Fangtian unleashed his Heavenly Gang Finger Force in an instant, twelve finger gusts of wind like venomous snakes emerging from their holes, only shattering the rain curtain. The sound of rain and the whistling of the finger gusts intertwined, forming a strange melody that sent a chill down one's spine.

"A fine Heavenly Finger technique, but it's a pity it's lacking in refinement." A clear, cold female voice pierced the rain, and a figure in white entered through the window like a ghost. Her voice was like the cold wind in the autumn rain, chilling and clear, sending shivers down one's spine.

Chen Jinnan's daughter, Chen Nan, had her long hair soaked by the rain, which clung to her pale, paper-white face, but her beautiful eyes burned with hellish fury.

The steel blade in her hand gleamed with an eerie blue light, the red rope wrapped around its hilt seemingly stained with blood. Raindrops dripped from her hair, each drop seemingly carrying her anger and determination: tonight, she would avenge her father!

Heshen's pupils contracted sharply, and the moment his curved sword was drawn, it brought a cold glint: "So it's Miss Chen! I heard you're in Japan..." His voice carried a hint of surprise, clearly not expecting to encounter her here.

Before he could finish speaking, Chen Nan's steel knife had already drawn a strange arc, and the air emitted a piercing shriek wherever the blade passed.

Lu Fangtian dodged swiftly to the side, the Heavenly Gang Finger Force within his sleeve clashing with the sword energy, the impact causing his hand to go numb. The collision of sword light and finger wind was like two invisible forces fiercely clashing in mid-air, making everyone feel tense about this sudden duel. (End of Chapter)