One person: Starting with the Snow Drinking Blade

The entrance to Wangjia Village is a bluestone path about three zhang wide. The path is paved with bluestone slabs of varying sizes, and moss grows in the cracks between the slabs, gleaming with a dark green light under the moonlight. On both sides of the path are two rows of century-old locust trees, their branches gnarled and their canopies like canopies. Their branches and leaves rustle in the night wind, the sound low and continuous, like the whispers of countless ghosts, or the mournful sobs from an ancient battlefield.

At the end of the road, a four-pillar, three-bay stone archway stands majestically. Made of white marble, it has yellowed with age, but the carvings remain exquisite—the pillars are adorned with auspicious cloud patterns, and the horizontal beams are carved with auspicious motifs such as qilin, cranes, and pine trees. On the central plaque, the three gilded characters "Wangjia Village" gleamed eerily white in the moonlight, as if written with bone powder mixed with gold paint, exuding an indescribable eeriness.

At this moment, the area under the archway was packed with people.

At the very front stood a rosewood armchair. The chair was carved with dragons and phoenixes, and covered with a dark red cushion embroidered with gold. Wang Ai sat upright in it, dressed in a Tang suit with purple and gold auspicious patterns, over which he wore a black cloak. He leaned on a jet-black rosewood cane adorned with dragon heads biting pearls. His hair and beard were completely white, and his face was etched with deep wrinkles, but his eyes—in the moonlight like two cold stars reflected in a deep pool—were icy, resentful, and murky with a hint of madness, fixed intently on two figures slowly emerging from the darkness.

There were at least a hundred people standing behind him.

On the left stood more than thirty members of the Wang family, dressed in uniform black outfits and wielding swords. Most were between twenty and forty years old, with slightly bulging temples, sharp eyes, and upright postures—clearly core combatants who had undergone rigorous training. Each wore a bronze plaque engraved with the character "王" (Wang, meaning king) on ​​their belt, its surface reflecting a chilling light in the moonlight.

On the right were fifty or sixty servants and staff members dressed in various colors and with different expressions. These people included men and women, old and young. Some carried hoes and carrying poles, while others held machetes and wooden sticks. Although their weapons were mixed, their eyes all carried a kind of numb and fanatical loyalty—or rather, blind obedience after long-term brainwashing.

At the very back were a dozen or so figures exuding an exceptionally chilling aura. They wore tight-fitting black suits, their faces covered with black cloth, revealing only pairs of empty, lifeless eyes. They stood ramrod straight, motionless, like lifeless puppets—these were death squads trained by the Wang family at great expense, devoid of emotion or fear, only capable of carrying out orders until death.

A vast, dark mass of people, like a human wall, stretched across the archway. A murderous aura mingled with the night wind, permeating the air, making even the leaves of the locust trees along the roadside seem to tremble.

Nie Lingfeng, holding Chen Duo's hand, stopped about thirty feet away from the archway.

Thirty zhang, approximately one hundred meters. This distance is just outside the limit of most ranged attacks, yet sufficient for both sides to see each other clearly.

Nie Lingfeng raised his head, his gaze first sweeping over the three characters "Wangjia Village" on the archway, a half-smile playing on his lips. Then, his gaze fell on Wang Ai, who was sitting in the armchair, and he looked her up and down before finally laughing out loud.

"Old Master Wang," he began, his voice exceptionally clear in the quiet night, even tinged with a hint of mockery, "you've put on such a grand show, lining the streets to welcome me? Isn't that too much? I'm just a junior, I can't accept that."

Wang Ai stared at him, his cloudy eyes bloodshot, as if he hadn't slept for days and nights. He spoke slowly, his voice hoarse, like two pieces of rusted iron rubbing against each other:

"I'll be waiting for you. Didn't you say you were going to take care of the Wang family? Didn't you say you were going to come to Wangjia Village and slaughter us? I'll wait for you here. It'll save you the trouble of searching everywhere."

"Resolved?" Nie Lingfeng raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise. "Old Master Wang, you're really accusing me. From beginning to end, it's your Wang family that's been targeting me. From the Luo Tian Grand Ceremony onwards, you've been secretly sabotaging me; during the Southwest manhunt, you sent wave after wave of people, determined to kill me; and now..."

He pointed to the hundred-plus people behind Wang Ai, then to the faint white light that enveloped the village, his smile full of mockery: "Making such a grand show of force, mobilizing so many people, even activating the clan's protective formation. Who's really going to let whom go? Old Master Wang, you've lived to such an old age, and your ability to distort the truth has only become more and more refined."

"You killed Bing'er!" Wang Ai suddenly raised his voice, slamming his cane heavily on the ground!

"Bang!"

The bluestone pavement cracked open with a sound, a fissure three fingers wide, sending pebbles flying. Wang Ai had clearly used real strength in that strike of his cane; the ground trembled as it did.

"How else do you want me to let you off?!" Wang Ai roared, the relaxed muscles in his face twitching violently with rage. "Bing'er is my Wang family's direct grandson! My most beloved grandson! You crippled him first, and now you've killed him!"

"Wang Bing?" Nie Lingfeng scoffed, his laughter filled with contempt. "You, Elder Wang, know better than anyone what kind of person he is. Arrogant and domineering, he looks down on everyone, relying on the Wang family's power and your favor to commit all sorts of evil deeds and disregard human life. At the Luo Tian Grand Ceremony, he tried to cripple my cultivation and take my life. Was I supposed to just stand there and let him cripple and kill me? In the southwest, he led a group to launch a sneak attack on Chen Duo. Was I supposed to just stand by and watch?"

He paused, took a step forward, his eyes suddenly turned cold, and his voice deepened:

"Old Master Wang, you've lived all these years, don't you understand the simplest truth—a murderer will always be killed. If he tries to harm me, I'll harm him. If he tries to kill me, I'll kill him. What's wrong with that? Just because he's your grandson, does that mean he can arbitrarily take someone's life without even the right to resist?"

"You—!" Wang Ai was so angry that she trembled all over. Her finger pointing at Nie Lingfeng was shaking, and her lips were quivering. She couldn't speak for a long time.

"What do you mean, 'what do you mean, 'what do you mean, 'what do you mean, 'what do you mean, 'what do you mean,' do you still believe in the old saying 'only officials are allowed to set fires, while commoners are forbidden to light lamps'? In your eyes, is your grandson's life precious, while other people's lives are worthless? Can your Wang family kill people at will, while others are guilty of even fighting back?"

He glanced around at the people behind Wang Ai, his voice suddenly rising like a thunderclap in the night sky:

"Then let me ask you all here! How many of you have been oppressed by the Wang family? How many of you have had your limbs broken by the Wang family for the smallest things? How many of you have had your land, shops, even your wives and daughters seized by the Wang family through trickery and coercion? Now you stand here, risking your lives for the Wang family, are you truly doing this willingly, or... are you afraid to resist?!"

Upon hearing this, several of the servants and staff behind Wang Ai's face changed noticeably, their eyes flickered, and they lowered their heads, not daring to meet Nie Lingfeng's gaze.

Wang Ai's face turned ashen, and he shouted sternly, "You brat! Stop spreading your nonsense here! I won't argue with you!"

With a wave of his hand, his dragon-headed cane pointed at Nie Lingfeng, his voice as shrill as a night owl:

"Charge! Capture this madman! Dead or alive! Whoever kills him will receive a million-dollar reward, be granted the position of Guest Elder of the Wang family, and enjoy the Wang family's resources and support for twenty years!"

Under the reward, there must be a brave man.

The hundred-plus people behind Wang Ai moved.

Like a flood bursting its banks, like wild beasts unleashed from their cages, like a group of sharks smelling blood, they roared and howled, brandishing all sorts of weapons, as they pounced on Nie Lingfeng and Chen Duo!

The sound of footsteps shook the ground, and the bluestone pavement groaned under the weight. A murderous aura soared into the sky, mingling with the smells of sweat, dust, and the metallic tang of metal, filling the night air. The sheer force of over a hundred people charging forward simultaneously seemed to freeze the air, even the moon in the sky appeared to be stained blood-red by this murderous intent.

Leading the charge were more than thirty members of the Wang family. They were well-trained and coordinated perfectly, forming simple Three Talents and Four Symbols formations in groups of seven or eight. Their swords flashed and clashed, creating a net that blocked all of Nie Lingfeng's space to dodge. The blades were finely crafted goose-feather sabers, and the swords were hundred-refined green-edged swords, gleaming coldly in the moonlight.

Nie Lingfeng didn't move.

He didn't even let go of Chen Duo's hand, but just turned slightly to protect her half a step behind him.

Then, he raised his right hand, palm up, fingers slightly spread, and gently pushed the group of seven or eight Wang family members who were at the front.

The movements were casual, like pushing open a half-closed door.

But just as he pushed his palm out—

Cloud-Dispelling Palm - Overwhelming Force!

"boom--!!!"

A violent, solid, and almost visible white palm wind, like an invisible wall or a torrent bursting through a dam, was launched out with a roar!

Wherever the palm strike passed, the air was compressed and torn apart, producing a sharp explosion! Dust, fallen leaves, and pebbles on the ground were all swept up, forming a gray-white wall of air about one zhang high and three zhang wide, which crashed fiercely towards the seven or eight members of the Wang family!

The three Wang family members at the forefront were the first to be attacked.

Before they could even react, they felt an irresistible force slam into their chests, like being charged head-on by a raging bull, or being smashed by a battering ram!

"Pfft!" "Pfft!" "Pfft!"

Three mouthfuls of blood spurted out simultaneously, blooming into three tragically beautiful blood flowers in the air. The three men flew backward like kites with broken strings, crashing heavily into their companions who were following behind, knocking down four or five more. The group rolled into a heap, screaming in agony, swords and knives falling from their hands and clattering to the ground.

This palm strike sent at least eight people flying.

But this is only the beginning.

More people surged forward. Although the servants and their subordinates varied in strength, their numbers were overwhelming, and they were all blinded by rage, charging forward like mad dogs. They carried hoes, carrying poles, machetes, and wooden sticks; although their weapons were rudimentary, they wielded them with ferocity, and their sheer numbers made them quite intimidating.

And those assassins were even more bizarre.

They made no sound, made no unnecessary movements, and simply charged forward silently and mechanically. Their eyes were empty, devoid of fear, hesitation, or even a reaction to pain—one assassin had his ribs broken by a flying comrade, but he only staggered slightly before continuing to charge forward, as if the body were not his own.

"Take care of yourself," Nie Lingfeng said to Chen Duo in a calm tone, as if he were simply telling her to "remember to eat."

Chen Duo nodded, hugging her panda plushie, and took a few steps back to an old locust tree by the roadside. Leaning against the rough trunk, she stood quietly. Her expression was calm, her emerald eyes silently watching the chaotic battlefield before her, as if watching a play that had nothing to do with her, or as if waiting for something.

Nie Lingfeng released her hand and took a step forward.

Then, he moved.

Like a streak of blue lightning, it tore through the night.

Like a raging hurricane, it swept across the battlefield.

Like a red-hot knife cutting into butter.

Wind God Leg - Torrential Rain and Gale!

His figure instantly transformed into a blue tornado, leaving an afterimage in place before his true form rushed into the densest part of the crowd! His legs moved like the wind, so fast that their trajectory was invisible. Only muffled "bang bang bang" sounds rang out one after another. Wherever he passed, people flew through the air, and the "crack" of broken bones and tendons was heard incessantly!

A member of the Wang family swung his sword, his blade sharp and deadly, aiming straight for Nie Lingfeng's neck. Nie Lingfeng didn't even look; instead, he swept out with his leg, striking the opponent's wrist with pinpoint accuracy!

"Crack!" The wrist bone shattered.

"Ah!" With a scream, the knife flew out of his hand and pierced the shoulder of a servant next to him, spraying blood everywhere.

Without stopping, Nie Lingfeng turned around and kicked another assassin who was lunging at him from the side in the chest.

"Bang!" A dull thud. The assassin's chest caved in with a terrifying arc, and he flew backward, knocking over three people before coming to a stop. He twitched twice on the ground and lay still.

Cloud-Dispelling Palm - Parting Clouds and Wearing the Moon!

He unleashed both palms simultaneously, the palm winds raging like a raging torrent, sweeping across the area! The white palm winds were as solid as bolts of lightning, drawing graceful arcs in the air, but their power was terrifying!

Five servants who rushed up wielding hoes and carrying poles were struck by the palm wind, as if hit by an invisible giant hammer. They were sent flying backward, spitting blood in mid-air, and rolling into a heap after landing, howling incessantly.

A member of the Wang family attacked from behind, his longsword aimed straight for Nie Lingfeng's back. Nie Lingfeng didn't even turn around; he simply countered with a backhand palm strike!

"clang!"

The palm strike clashed with the sword's edge, producing a metallic clang! The longsword snapped in two, the broken blade flying back and embedding itself in the thigh of the Wang family member!

"Ah—!" A heart-wrenching scream echoed through the night sky.

Heavenly Frost Fist - Covered in Frost Marks!

A sudden burst of cold air erupted!