The God of the Human Realm!

Chapter 88 is already the pinnacle of the world!

Sensing the mockery in the other person's words, Song Yinglong's face darkened, his former composure, as if he had everything under control, vanished.

A dull, stabbing pain in his heart caused his cheek to twitch violently.

Although the swift and graceful spear thrust just now did not pierce his heart, the sharp energy had already traveled with the spear tip through the wind and seeped into his body from a distance.

If he hadn't used the 'Wind Control Talisman' in conjunction with the 'Bird Crossing Technique' to leap into the air in the blink of an eye, he would probably have been shot through the heart by now.

His [Mysterious Iron Buddha Skin Gang] body made his palms far more resilient than his torso.

Even so, after constantly using skillful force to deflect the force and enduring more than ten spear thrusts, his hands felt numb from the shock and began to tremble uncontrollably.

Song Yinglong retracted his palms into his sleeves, his expression shifting, as if he were caught in a dilemma.

He plotted against the two major families in the prefecture, wiping out the Wei and Xiang families in one fell swoop, and easily bringing the Iron Wall Guard and White Scale Guard under his control, displaying great pride and confidence.

At the height of his success, even with the emergence of Hong Yuan, a rising star, he only paid slight attention to him and did not feel that he could not subdue him.

He even felt that this was a 'vanguard general' sent to him by God!
The situation is quite awkward. He seems to be no match for Hong Yuan, and it's uncertain whether he can return alive.

The techniques are mysterious and wondrous, hence the saying, "What humans cannot do is called technique."

But magic is not the way; all magic is a debt. For every gain, a corresponding price must be paid. Almost every kind of magic has its taboos.

Therefore, true masters rarely touch magic, and even if they cultivate some, it is only as an aid in life-or-death situations.

Song Yinglong was one such example.

If it weren't for the 'Wind Control Talisman' he had on him and the 'Bird Crossing Technique' he had also mastered, he would have already given his last words.

He doesn't have another talisman right now, so he can still use the Bird Crossing Technique once or twice, but each time he can only stay airborne for three or four breaths.

If there were a cliff several tens of feet wide in front of them, they could use it to escape. But they were located in this city. If the other party wanted to chase them down, what use would a few breaths be?

Moreover, the Bird Crossing Technique is extremely energy-consuming. Once he lands, he will likely be powerless to resist and die even faster.

The martial artists from Wohuzhuang slowly gathered around, looking up at the two men, their gazes falling on Hong Yuan with a hint of fear and trepidation.

This battle opened their eyes to a whole new world.

They looked at the dilapidated bluestone street, which seemed to have been bombed by lightning, with not a single intact paving stone left within a few meters.

The ground was full of potholes and torn marks could be seen everywhere.

Everyone was shaken and horrified. They thought that if it were them, they probably wouldn't have lasted a single breath before being beaten to a pulp.

What terrified them most was that the manor lord seemed to be at a disadvantage.

After all, even Song Yinglong's long spear was knocked away.

Seeing that Song Yinglong did not answer, Hong Yuan played with the deadly throat-locking gun and said leisurely, "Master Song said something earlier, 'Strike him into submission before speaking,' and I completely agree with that. So, does Master Song want to continue fighting or... talk?"

Song Yinglong can be considered the strongest enemy Hong Yuan has ever encountered. His martial arts skills are far superior to those of masters like Lei Meng and Han Dingtian.

Not only could he match Hong Yuan in terms of technique and strength, but he could also compete with him in terms of physique using his powerful body.

Hong Yuan had to fight this person hard, using up 60-70% of his strength.

However, he did not intend to kill Song Yinglong immediately.

It wasn't that they were afraid of Wu Duxiong; Yang Lie and his companion were still at Wohu Manor. Rather, they wanted to slow down their pace.

He doesn't even have a single trustworthy subordinate now, and he's already overextended himself by swallowing up the Golden Soup Camp and the Canal Gang in such a short time.

It will take some time to digest this, and in the process, to consolidate power, gather followers, and cultivate loyal confidants.

Moreover, with the upheaval in Linjiang Prefecture, we can't expect the prefecture to remain silent. If Song Yinglong is really killed, then it will be Hong's turn to take the lead.

It wasn't that he was afraid of anything, but after a series of battles, even though Hong Yuan was physically exhausted and mentally... well, full of energy, he was still a little tired of it.

People are always inclined to seek comfort; we can't always be fighting!
He has gained a lot from fighting against many masters during this period, but it will take time to integrate and master it. His envisioned "Six Void Forces" is not even in its infancy yet.

Moreover, Song Yinglong had been planning for many years, and because Hong Yuan blocked the way, he was unable to completely take over Linjiang Prefecture. How could he not expand outwards?
Hong Yuan could simply sit back and watch the situation unfold. He could wait until Song Yinglong had an "accident" before stepping in to help his good brother Yang Lie inherit the estate "legally and reasonably."

Of course, all of this is on the premise that Song Yinglong avoids his heart-piercing shot. If he dies on the spot, even if Hong Yuan is afraid of trouble, he will take over Linjiang Prefecture first.

"If Brother Hong is not satisfied, I, Song, am happy to keep you company!" Song Yinglong took a deep breath and spoke in a deep voice, though his tone was much softer than before.

Hong Yuan chuckled and waved his hand, saying, "Fine, I don't want to kill you."

"You mean if you want to kill me, Song Yinglong, you're guaranteed to kill me?"

A surge of anger rose in Song Yinglong's heart. In a fit of rage, he shut his mouth, afraid that if he uttered any harsh words, he might actually die if he tried.

“That’s right. I am a scholar, and I can’t stand these kinds of fighting and killing.” Hong Yuan smiled.

Upon hearing this, Song Yinglong's lips twitched, and he wanted to sneer, but his years of cultivating the Qi Body made him hold back.

“This vast Linjiang Prefecture can accommodate both our families. Besides, my brother Yang Lie is also a disciple of Master Song. We are all on the same side. It would only make our friends suffer and our enemies rejoice if we turned against each other with swords and spears.”

As he spoke, Hong Yuan leaped down from the broken roof ridge and waved to Tao Gongwang and the others: "Commander Tao, you and Mr. Xu can discuss how to demarcate the boundary with Master Song."

"Yes!" Tao Gongwang bowed and accepted the order, his expression respectful and meticulous.

After witnessing this battle, his awe deepened.

"What does Master Song think?" Hong Yuan turned around and looked at Song Yinglong, who was still on the other side of the roof.

"As Brother Hong says," Song Yinglong said in a low voice, and continued, "If there are no other important matters, I will take my leave now."

"What's the rush?" Hong Yuan chuckled. "I still have many martial arts matters I'd like to ask the Master for advice on, but that can wait. There is one thing I must mention..."

"Master Song was able to capture the two guards so easily this time, and I, Hong, also played a significant role in it. Shouldn't the Master reward me?"

This is not a reward, but compensation for this defeat.

Song Yinglong knew perfectly well what was going on, and said in a deep voice, "What does Your Excellency want?"

"Master Song has been known for his generosity and righteousness for many years, and he is indeed a straightforward man!" Hong Yuan casually tossed the deadly throat-locking spear to a soldier of the Golden Soup Camp next to him for safekeeping, and said with his hands behind his back, "I am not a greedy person. Master Song, please give me ten or eight of the Minor Entry-level Force Techniques as a token of your appreciation."

Crack! Song Yinglong's footwork surged with power, and he lost control for a moment, tearing a hole in the ground. He staggered slightly, but immediately regained his footing, his face gloomy and somber.

Ten or eight secret techniques for mastering subtle internal energy—did they come from Song Yinglong's shop?

Not greedy?

"Brother Hong, please don't joke around. The secret techniques of entering the microscopic realm are extremely precious. Where am I, Song Yinglong, supposed to find even ten or eight of them?"

"How much can the manor lord offer?"

Song Yinglong pondered for a moment before speaking: "I do possess a subtle internal force technique that I can offer to Brother Hong for his perusal."

“People say that Master Song is a generous and magnanimous man, but after meeting him today, I find him to be stingy and indecisive. This has truly disappointed me.” Hong Yuan sighed and looked at Song Yinglong: “If Master Song is going to haggle like this, then I have no choice but to be impolite and invite you to stay as a guest for a few more days.”

After some haggling, an agreement was quickly reached: Song Yinglong would offer two micro-level internal force techniques and three ordinary internal force techniques as payment to thank Hong Yuan for his "assistance".

“Now that the agreement has been reached, the method will be sent over later. There’s no need to worry that I, Song, will renege on the deal.” Song Yinglong’s cold and hard face darkened slightly.

"I'm quite relieved about that."

Hong Yuan chuckled, unsure whether he trusted Song Yinglong's character or was confident in his own ability to collect debts. He then changed the subject: "Master Song, I have another deal to make. In the future, when you're attacking other places, if you encounter any troublesome figures, feel free to come and ask me for help. Of course, you'll only need a small reward..."

"Hehe, I appreciate Brother Hong's kindness, farewell!" Song Yinglong gave a forced smile, his cheeks twitched, he cupped his hands, and leaped away.

On the long street, the martial artists from Wohu Village also quickly retreated.

Tao Gongwang bowed and stepped forward, asking in a low voice, "My lord, what are your instructions regarding the demarcation of the border?"

Hong Yuan waved his hand dismissively and said indifferently, "These are all minor matters. You and Mr. Xu can discuss them all. Just let me know when you've finished."

Tao Gongwang smiled bitterly to himself. He wasn't afraid of harsh conditions, but he was afraid of such ambiguous words.

As if he could read his mind, Hong Yuan smiled and said, "Just do your best. I don't care about having more or less territory, and you don't need to worry about me blaming you."

Compared to the ultimate goal of ascending to the top of power, Hong Yuan truly doesn't care about current gains or losses.

"Oh, right, don't forget to raid the Guo and Hua families. Go now, or we'll only get scraps if we're too late."

Not all the members of the Guo and Hua families were present at Mingguang Villa; the rest, having received the news, had probably already fled with their valuables.

Of course, even so, calling it leftovers is an exaggeration; at most, one can only take away some meager wealth.

"Yes, I will have my son do it immediately." Tao Gongwang nodded vigorously and gestured to Tao Jingxing.

The latter hurriedly bowed to Hong Yuan and was about to leave when Hong Yuan waved his hand, pondered for a moment, and said, "All the books collected by these two families must not be damaged. Seal and pack them all up and send them over. Go!"

After Tao Jingxing led more than twenty riders away, Hong Yuan glanced at Tao Gongwang and became languid: "I've been traveling day and night for a while now. Prepare a fine house for me to wash away the dust of my journey."

After a moment's thought, Tao Gongwang cautiously said, "My lord, why don't you come to my Tao family's residence and let me host a welcoming feast for you?"

"Alright!"

Iron Wall Guard Camp Area.

Song Yinglong did not travel with his men. He leaped down, and the patrolling soldiers saluted him, but he ignored them and strode across the drill ground, heading straight to the center of the military camp.

When they arrived at the innermost hall, all his subordinates gathered around. Seeing his unprecedentedly gloomy expression, they were all filled with apprehension.

Song Yinglong waved his hand: "Mr. Wuhen, Miss Miaoyun stays, everyone else leave."

As soon as he finished speaking, only three people remained in the hall.

"Master, that Hong Yuan..."

Mr. Wuhen spoke softly, but before he could finish a sentence, his voice stopped abruptly, and Song Yinglong's mountain-like figure suddenly slumped into the chair.

His hand emerged from his robe sleeve, revealing spiderweb-like cracks on his palm, which had a faint reddish-gold hue, followed by a crisp 'crack' sound.

On Song Yinglong's cold, hard face, a shard of skin shattered like porcelain, followed by a second, then a third...

The fragments, resembling porcelain shards or thin iron pieces, were only about the size of a little finger. There were only a dozen or so broken pieces, but Mr. Wuhen and Ms. Miaoyun both saw that beneath the skin fragments the size of a 'finger hole' of Song Yinglong's skin, there were pitted, dark, iron-like flesh that slowly writhed.

The two men's eyes narrowed, and their faces showed shock.

It wasn't that I was surprised or horrified by Song Yinglong's appearance, but rather that I was shocked that someone could have injured him in such a way.

"The Master's [Mysterious Iron Buddha Skin Barrier] has reached its peak, making him impervious to swords and blades. Could it be that young man surnamed Hong who made the move? No! It must be some other expert who intervened?"

Song Yinglong took a deep breath, opened his palm, and stared at the two pieces of skin in his hand for a long while before speaking with a solemn expression: "We all underestimated Hong Yuan. His martial arts skills are so high that he can be considered a top figure in the entire world, even in the thirty-six states of the north and south. Whether it's speed or strength, he's no less than me, especially his strength, it's simply..."

As Song Yinglong finished speaking, his throat bobbed, and with a 'poof' sound, he spat out a mouthful of black blood.

Drops of dark gray blood fell onto my hand, resembling iron filings.

Mr. Wuhen and Ms. Miaoyun both looked anxious and hurriedly stepped forward.

Song Yinglong waved his hand, his expression gradually calming down.

"Don't worry, my [Mysterious Iron Buddha Skin Barrier] hasn't been broken. I just need to recuperate for a while. But even after I recover, it won't be enough to deal with that person, not enough..."

He muttered something to himself, then suddenly turned to look at Miaoyun Niangzi.

The latter's alluring eyes seemed to be smiling as she said softly, "Heavenly King, why are you looking at me like that? You know my mission is to serve the 'Great Desire Heaven,' and I cannot lose my virginity."

"I have no interest in joking. Miaoyun, since you acknowledge me as one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Red Lotus Sect, then as a Heavenly King, am I qualified to apply for all the necessary resources for cultivating the罡体 (罡体, a type of internal energy cultivation)?"

Miao Yun Niangzi's beautiful eyes sparkled as she smiled and said, "The Heavenly King has already refined the [Mysterious Iron Buddha Skin Gang], isn't he satisfied yet?"

Song Yinglong shook his head: "This is only the outer qi, give me the inner qi [Hundred Poisons Bodhi Qi]!"

Miao Yun Niangzi ran her long, black hair through her slender fingers and said slowly, "The Xuan Tie Buddha Skin and the Hundred Poison Bodhi, when combined inside and out, can create the [Poison Buddha Golden Body Gang], making one invincible. I admire Brother Song for having such ambition."

She changed her form of address for Song Yinglong and continued, "However, when Brother Song joined my Red Lotus Sect in the past, he was appreciated by the sect leader and bestowed with the [Mysterious Iron Buddha Skin Gang]. Now, if you want the [Hundred Poisons Bodhi Gang], the merit of conquering one prefecture is far from enough. You should at least have the territory of three prefectures!"

"After all, to cultivate the [Hundred Poisons Bodhi Qi], putting aside the other materials for the time being, even the two most important ones, 'Blood Bodhi' and 'Resentment Sand,' require a lot of effort to obtain, even within the sect."

"Even if all the materials are complete, the organ refining ceremony to achieve this kind of body is extremely dangerous, and Brother Song may not be able to survive it. If so... wouldn't my teaching be a complete waste of effort?"

(End of this chapter)