Yang Guo: I'm invincible in the opening battle against Aunt Guo!

South Peak of Mount Hua, Luoyanping.

When Yang Guo followed Cheng Ying onto the platform, the scene he saw was completely different from what he had expected.

On the shore of the sea of ​​clouds, beneath the gnarled pines, there was not only the Eastern Heretic.

There was another person opposite him, who appeared to be of the same generation.

Seven or eight people stood scattered on the ground to one side. Although they were dressed differently, each of them had a calm and focused aura and bright eyes. They were all first-class innate masters who were rare in the martial arts world.

They were gathered around Huang Yaoshi and Hong Qigong, seemingly discussing something.

Cheng Ying said in a low voice, "Master has been here recently to contact old friends and heroes from all over the country to discuss matters concerning Xiangyang."

Yang Guo felt a chill run down his spine and instantly understood—his master had already taken action and was not living in seclusion, detached from worldly affairs.

At this moment, everyone's eyes fell on the two people in Xinshangping.

Huang Yaoshi, dressed in green, stood on the edge of the cliff. The mountain wind ruffled his long beard, and his eyes, sharp as lightning, instantly locked onto Yang Guo.

Hong Qigong sat on a large rock, holding his wine gourd, and smiled as he looked at the oil paper package in Cheng Ying's hand: "Ying girl, did you buy the roast chicken?"

"I've bought it, Seventh Master." Cheng Ying bowed gracefully, then stepped aside to introduce, "Master, this is Young Master Yang Guo, who claims to have come on the orders of Senior Sister Huang."

"You call yourself that?" Huang Yaoshi's voice was calm, yet carried an invisible pressure. "Someone sent by Rong'er? How come I don't know them?"

Before he finished speaking, the auras of the seven or eight experts on the platform subtly linked, forming an encirclement.

These people were clearly gathered by Huang Yaoshi, and at this moment they followed his lead without question.

Yang Guo, however, remained calm and unhurried. He took three steps forward, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and bowed.

"Yang Guo, disciple of Peach Blossom Island, pays respects to my master. I have come on the orders of my sworn brother, Chief Huang, to inform you of the details of the preparations for the Heroes' Gathering in Xiangyang, and to earnestly request that you, my master, come to oversee the event."

"Disciples of Peach Blossom Island?" A red-faced man carrying two swords sneered. "When did Chief Huang take on disciples? We've never heard of it."

Another scholar, holding an iron fan, squinted: "Boy, words are no proof. These are turbulent times; who knows if you're a spy sent by the Mongols?"

Doubts arose.

These heroes of the martial world were all men who had lived on the edge of death, so naturally they wouldn't easily trust a young man who suddenly appeared.

Cheng Ying was a little anxious and wanted to explain, but Huang Yaoshi stopped her with a look.

Hong Qigong, gnawing on a chicken leg, mumbled, "Hey, let the child finish speaking first..."

"It's alright." Yang Guo straightened up, his gaze calmly sweeping over everyone before finally settling on Huang Yaoshi. "Since my master has gathered heroes from all over the world here, he must have already foreseen the perilous situation in Xiangyang. Master Gan sent me here, firstly to explain the details of the gathering, and secondly to let my master know that Uncle Guo and Master Gan have made thorough preparations and are just waiting for all the heroes to gather."

He took out two tokens from his bosom—the Peach Blossom Token and the Beggars' Sect Registered Elder Token—and used his inner strength to support them, gently presenting them to Huang Yaoshi.

The token remained suspended in mid-air, completely still.

This skill of projecting internal energy outwards and precisely controlling it brought the ground to an instant silence.

The red-faced man and the scholar with the iron fan exchanged a glance, both showing surprise in their eyes.

To be able to control one's internal energy to such a degree is something that no ordinary top-tier master could achieve!

Huang Yaoshi did not accept the token, but said indifferently, "Your internal strength is decent. But this alone is not enough to prove that you are Rong'er's person."

He suddenly turned around to face Yang Guo and said, "If you can withstand a palm strike with thirty percent of my strength without retreating three steps, I will believe you."

The crowd gasped in astonishment. Thirty percent of Huang Yaoshi's power?

Even a master of innate talent couldn't withstand it!

Does he not want the boy to live?

After all, no one believed that the young man was strong enough to withstand 30% of Huang Yaoshi's power.

Cheng Ying exclaimed in surprise, "Master!"

Hong Qigong also put down his chicken leg: "Old Xie, that's gone too far!"

Yang Guo smiled.

He carefully put away the token and slowly raised his right palm.

A faint golden light flickered in his palm: "Master, please."

……