“What? The Junzang map and key were taken by the Liu family!” The white-haired Martial Venerable’s eyelid twitched, his face flashing with urgency, “Quick, don’t let the Liu family get away with it!”
They had come specifically for the Junzang map and key. The Liu family had long been rivals with their Gong family, constantly vying both openly and in secret. This time, their goal was to secure the Junzang opportunity and surpass the Liu family.
If another faction had taken the Junzang map and key, it might be tolerable— but if the Liu family had it, the consequences would be dire.
The Liu family’s strength was comparable to the Gong family’s. If their experts got away with it, the Gong family would have no chance to reclaim it.
Thus, hearing that the Liu family had seized the Junzang map and key and was suppressing the news, the group nearly leapt in agitation.
“Whoosh!”
At that moment, Lin Xiao grabbed Hu Yue and bolted forward.
“How dare you!” A Gong family Martial King roared, thrusting out a palm in anger.
But the move was too sudden. Lin Xiao’s speed outpaced it, and the vast palm strike hit nothing but air.
“Frightened birds, let’s go!” The leading Martial Venerable elder paid no heed to the two juniors, barking an urgent command as he charged ahead.
“Lucky for you!” The Martial King who’d struck sneered, immediately following suit.
“Boom!”
The immense palm force crashed behind Lin Xiao and Hu Yue, kicking up a cloud of dust that billowed skyward, unleashing a tremendous shockwave.
“Old geezer!” Lin Xiao muttered under his breath. Fortunately, he’d fled quickly— otherwise, he’d have been hit. He’d noticed their urgency, prompting his immediate escape. In such a situation, they’d hardly bother chasing him.
Otherwise, they might’ve forced him to guide them or simply killed them outright. This was the chaotic region, after all— few here were saints, and caution was a must.
“Damn it!” Hu Yue pouted, cursing indignantly.
…
In Blackwind City, after a resounding explosion, vast swathes lay in ruin. Amid the Martial Venerable’s thunderous roars, many fled the city.
When Wang Long rescued Qingyun’s father, Qingyun arrived, and the group departed Blackwind City together.
The Liu family’s Martial Venerable, Liu Yan, seeing several Martial Kings injured, was both furious and resentful. Yet he ultimately abandoned pursuing Lin Xiao, distributing healing pills to aid their recovery.
“Brat, if I don’t eradicate you one day, I, Liu Yan, am no man!” Gazing at the near-dead Martial King, Liu Yan’s heart blazed with rage. He, the grand Liu family patriarch, a first-rank Martial Venerable, had been outwitted by a Heavenly Martial youth— nearly costing the Liu family a Martial King elder.
The other Martial Kings’ faces darkened too. Two bore injuries and, for the time being, had to take pills and heal on the spot.
“Liu Yan, your Liu family sure moves fast!” At that moment, a voice echoed from afar, freezing Liu Yan and his group’s expressions in an instant.
“Whoosh!” “Whoosh!” “Whoosh!”…
Four elder figures sped forward, halting before Liu Yan’s five.
“Gong Hongyun!” Liu Yan’s face turned uglier still, primal energy surging within him.
Seeing Liu Yan lightly injured, one Martial King mildly hurt, another gravely wounded, and one near death, Gong Hongyun and his four companions showed surprise.
What had happened here to leave a group with a Martial Venerable in such a state? Even Liu Yan was injured?
But after a brief pause, their hearts swelled with delight. A thick chill glinted in Gong Hongyun’s eyes.
“Patriarch Liu, it seems your Liu family’s had a rough go of it. Who could’ve reduced your experts to this sorry state?” Gong Hongyun’s gloating gaze swept over them, his voice laced with a cold smirk.
“Hmph, no need for your Gong family to worry. If there’s nothing else, please leave, Patriarch Gong,” Liu Yan snapped, his tone curt and furious.
Mentioning this only stoked Liu Yan’s ire further. Who had left them in such a mess? A mere junior.
Had he not shielded the box, how could he have ended up so pathetic?
The group’s schadenfreude and taunts were clearly ill-intentioned.
“Leave? Heh, Patriarch Liu, I hear you’ve already snatched the Junzang map and key. Since you’re in such a pitiful state, why not entrust it to us for safekeeping? Hand it over, and we’ll be on our way,” Gong Hongyun chuckled.
Liu Yan’s face darkened, “Are you threatening us?”
“If you see it that way, so be it,” Gong Hongyun dropped all pretence, meeting him head-on.
“Well played, Gong Hongyun! Taking advantage of our weakness— no wonder your Gong family wants to start a war with us!” Liu Yan roared in fury.
“Less talk, attack!” Gong Hongyun’s reply was a direct punch. A dazzling, radiant fist beam erupted, like a surging river or roaring Yangtze, its terrifying force shaking the heavens as it engulfed the five.
Liu Yan’s expression shifted again. He thrust out both palms, unleashing a massive strike spanning dozens of metres to meet it.
At that moment, the Gong family’s other three Martial Kings sprang into action, unleashing powerful techniques to exploit their injuries, aiming to cripple or kill.
They’d long wanted to strike at the Liu family, but their strengths were too evenly matched— neither side willing to risk heavy losses. Now, with the Liu family’s experts battered, they wouldn’t miss this chance.
Aside from the near-dead Martial King, the Liu family’s other three Martial Kings fought back. Though some were injured, they wouldn’t sit idly by.
“Boom!” “Boom!” “Boom!”…
A series of thunderous blasts rang out, torrents of power erupting. Unmatched shockwaves rattled Blackwind City, brilliant light illuminating all directions.
The entire city trembled once more.
The battle raged for hours, both sides fighting with unbridled fury. The Liu family lost two Martial Kings, with two more gravely injured. Liu Yan himself suffered severe wounds and, pursued relentlessly, was forced to abandon the “Junzang map and key.”
The Gong family paid a steep price too— their lowest-tier Martial King fell, the other two were badly wounded, and Gong Hongyun sustained significant injuries.
A day later, Liu Yan and his three survivors, hiding to recover, learned the map and key they’d fought for were fake. Liu Yan spat blood in rage, nearly fainting.
“Brat, I’ll rip you apart!” His thunderous roar echoed, nearly collapsing a mountain in his madness.
Gong Hongyun and his group, also healing, learned the map and key they’d sacrificed so much for were fake. They too spat blood in fury.
When they discovered the true holder was the youth they’d met on the road, Gong Hongyun coughed up three mouthfuls of dark blood, almost passing out.
A grand Martial Venerable, duped by a junior!
Afterwards, both families sent word to their clans and broadcasted a decree: whoever found that youth and delivered the Junzang map and key would receive 500 Martial King primal pills and lifelong protection from their families.
The announcement set the region ablaze. Some, eager for the families’ shelter and vast wealth, hunted Lin Xiao tirelessly.
Others, with their own agendas, pursued him under the families’ banner, aiming to claim it for themselves.
Even smaller factions began to mobilise.
