Starting as the heir of a marquis's mansion, I gained access to a summoning system.

Zhenfu Division, Thousand-Household Office.

Lu Zhennan flipped through the report on the destruction of Black Wind Stronghold, page by page. His brows furrowed deeper and deeper.

"Overnight, all thirteen leaders were killed, and three hundred bandits scattered." He put down the report and looked at Shen Lian. "Old Shen, what do you think?"

Shen Lian held his teacup, sipping slowly, his tone neither warm nor cold:

"It's not difficult for Meng Xinghun, who is at the peak of the Qi Sea realm, to kill Huo Tianlang. What's difficult is that he identified thirteen leaders in one night and killed them all before they could react."

"You mean... there's an inside man?"

"That's possible." Shen Lian put down his cup. "Or perhaps the Azure Dragon Society's intelligence network is more sophisticated than we thought."

Lu Zhennan remained silent.

He knew, of course, that the Azure Dragon Society was not to be trifled with. But he hadn't expected it to be this bad.

"Keep a close watch," he concluded. "Don't make any rash moves."

Six doors. Liu Ruyan's hospital room.

She leaned against the headboard. Her face was still pale, but she seemed a little better than a few days ago.

The injury hasn't fully healed. The internal organs will need at least two more months to recover.

"Chief Constable. Black Wind Stronghold has been wiped out by the Green Dragon Society." Constable Liu stood by the bed, lowering his voice. "Huo Tianlang is dead, all thirteen leaders are killed, and the stronghold has been scattered."

Liu Ruyan remained silent for a long time.

Suddenly he laughed.

"Interesting." The voice was still weak, but the tone carried a hint of amusement. "The Blood Dark Cult hasn't even arrived yet, so the Azure Dragon Society is using Black Wind Stronghold as a sacrifice. Making an example of them."

"Then let's..."

"It's none of our business." Liu Ruyan closed her eyes. "The Six Doors are arresting the White Lotus Sect, not engaging in江湖 (jianghu, the martial arts world) feuds. Let them fight like dogs. Let's watch the show."

Three days later. Northwest of Pingyang Prefecture.

A dilapidated mountain god temple. Several large holes leaked through the roof, casting bright spots of sunlight on the ground. The statue was askew, the incense burner lay overturned, and a thick layer of ash had accumulated. The whole place reeked of mildew.

Yin Wuji sat cross-legged on the stone platform in front of the statue of the god, his eyes closed.

He was in his fifties, gaunt, with high cheekbones and slightly closed triangular eyes. A faint layer of crimson light flowed around him—he had mastered the Blood Fiend Scripture to a high level.

Half a month ago, I broke through to the early stage of the Innate Divine Meridian Realm.

He was not very willing to be sent to Pingyang County to deal with the Azure Dragon Society.

Using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

But the leader's orders cannot be disobeyed.

"Elder." The disciple in black rushed in and knelt on one knee. "Black Wind Stronghold has been wiped out."

Yin Wuji opened his eyes. A glint of light flashed in his triangular eyes.

"When?"

"Three days ago, Meng Xinghun personally carried out the operation. One night, Huo Tianlang and thirteen leaders were all dead. The stronghold was scattered."

Yin Wuji remained silent.

The corners of his mouth slowly turned upwards. His smile was deep and profound.

"Interesting." He stood up from the stone platform and brushed off the dust. "This Meng Xinghun is more capable than I thought. Huo Tianlang, at the peak of the Acquired Divine Power realm, plus dozens of bandits, managed to kill him in five moves... His combat strength is at least comparable to the Profound Gang realm."

"Elder, then what should we do..."

"As usual," Yin Wuji interrupted. "It's not surprising for someone born after another to kill someone born after another. A divine vein killing a sea of ​​qi is just a matter of one slap. I'd like to see how many moves he can withstand."

He paused for a moment.

"Let's go. To Pingyang County."

Twenty li north of Pingyang County. A desolate wasteland.

Meng Xinghun, along with Han Tang, Lu Zhangke, and Hebi Weng, stood on the earthen slope, looking northwest.

The Blood Cult has arrived. He chose to take the initiative.

"They're here."

Han Tang's voice was low and clear.

On the horizon, a line of black dots rapidly approached.

The leader was a gaunt old man, riding a black horse, with a faint crimson glow emanating from his body. His chilling aura could be felt from miles away.

Yin Wuji.

Behind him were twelve disciples, each possessing considerable power, at least at the Innate Realm. Two deputies were at the mid-stage of the Innate Profound Realm.

Meng Xinghun took a deep breath. He placed his hand on the hilt of his sword and walked down the earthen slope.

Han Tang followed. Her steps were heavy.

Lu Zhangke and Hebi Weng remained motionless. They stood on the earthen slope like two stone statues, observing coldly.

The two sides met on the wasteland. They stood still, about ten feet apart.

Yin Wuji reined in his horse. He looked down at Meng Xinghun, his triangular eyes filled with contempt.

"You're Meng Xinghun? The one at the peak of the Innate Qi Sea Realm, the one who killed Elder Wan Gu Ku of my sect?"

"Meng Xinghun, First Branch Member of the Azure Dragon Society's First Moon Hall." His voice was even, neither humble nor arrogant. "Your Excellency?"

"Yin Wuji. Elder of the Blood Nether Sect." He leaped off his horse, landing silently. "Today I've come to take your life."

-

Meng Xinghun said nothing more. He drew his sword.

The sword flashed like a bolt of lightning, aimed straight for the throat.

Every move is a killing blow.

The sword was blocked.

Yin Wuji extended two fingers. With a casual gesture, he clamped the sword's edge. Those two withered fingers were like iron clamps. The sword could neither advance nor retreat.

"Too slow."

With a flick of his finger, immense force traveled along the sword. His hand went numb, and the sword nearly slipped from his grasp.

Meng Xinghun staggered back several steps. He steadied himself. His hand gripping the sword trembled slightly.

Without hesitation, he pounced again.

He did not fight by force, but by speed. The sword light, like a torrential rain, enveloped Yin Wuji's entire body.

Yin Wuji was even faster.

His gaunt figure flickered in the flashing sword light. Like a fallen leaf. Like dust. Every strike was just a hair's breadth away.

Unhurried and composed. A cold smile played on his lips.

"Is that all the skill you have? The leader of the Yiyue Hall is nothing special."

He struck out with a palm. The crimson palm wind, like a raging torrent, aimed straight for his chest.

Meng Xinghun parried with his sword.

click-

The longsword broke.

The man was sent flying backward, tumbling twice in the air before sliding more than ten feet across the ground. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. His hand was split open, and blood dripped from between his fingers.

-

Han Tang moved.

The sword was faster, more ruthless, and more cunning than Meng Xinghun's.

Silently and without warning, it pierced straight into Yin Wuji's back.

Yin Wuji seemed to have eyes in the back of his head. With a backhand slap, he deflected the sword's edge. Then, with a swift movement, he grabbed Han Tang's wrist.

"Han Tang, the second-in-command of Yiyue Hall?" A sneer followed. "You're nothing special after all?"

Twist it hard.

Click.

Han Tang groaned. The sound of his wrist breaking was painful to hear. The longsword slipped from his hand.

Yin Wuji kicked out. Han Tang flew out and crashed into a large rock. Blood spurted from his mouth. The rock cracked in several places.

Yin Wuji clapped his hands. Like brushing off ashes.

"Just the two of you? Is this all the people at Ichigetsu-do?"

A loud laugh echoed across the wasteland. Arrogant.

Two figures drifted down from the earthen slope.

One on the left, one on the right. They landed in front of Yin Wuji.

"Yiyue Hall," said Lu Zhangke in a hoarse voice. "Lu Zhangke."

"Hebi Weng." He too lacked warmth.

Yin Wuji's pupils contracted slightly.

The two men were weaker than him, both at the early stage of the Innate Profound Realm. But the chilling aura emanating from them...

Yin Wuji sneered: "How many more are there? Come out all at once. Saves me the trouble of killing them one by one."

Lu Zhangke did not return. He exchanged a glance with Hebi Weng.

They acted simultaneously.

Mysterious Dark Palm.

Two extremely cold palm winds, like two venomous snakes, lunged from the left and right. Yin Wuji raised his palm to block. The blood-red palm winds collided with Xuanming's palm force, making a hissing sound. White smoke billowed.

Yin Wuji's expression changed.

The two men's palm strikes were chillingly cold. Their coordination was flawless. He was fighting two against one and had the upper hand, but he couldn't defeat them in a short time.

"A joint attack?" He scoffed. "A child's play."

The Blood Fiend Scripture was activated. His entire body shone with a surge of crimson light. His palm strike suddenly intensified by three-tenths of an inch. With one palm, he repelled Deer Staff Guest, and with a backhand, he slapped Crane Pen Elder away.

A moment of distraction.

Meng Xing's soul was moved.

No sword. Only fists.

A punch was thrown. All the strength of his body was used. The wind from the punch howled like muffled thunder.

Strike straight at the back of the heart.

Yin Wuji didn't have time to turn around. He dodged to the side. The fist grazed his shoulder. It didn't land. The force of the punch made his shoulder go numb.

He was furious.

A dignified early-stage Divine Vein Realm cultivator was forced into a chaotic state by several junior cultivators at the Profound Gang and Qi Sea levels.

"court death!"

He struck Meng Xinghun with his palm. His full power. The crimson palm wind surged like a giant wave.

The palms of Lu Zhangke and Hebi Weng have arrived.

Two streams of profound inner force met the crimson palm wind head-on. They collided with a deafening roar.

Meng Xinghun took the opportunity to roll away, dodging the aftershocks. He was still shaken, his blood churning, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

Yin Wuji was held back by the two Xuanming Elders and couldn't break free.

-

The Blood Demon Cult disciples made their move.

The elder's attack failed after a long struggle. All twelve disciples rushed forward.

The two henchmen's swords flashed like rainbows as they aimed straight for Meng Xinghun.

Meng Xinghun barely managed to parry. His injuries were already quite severe. He had no sword in hand, so he used his palm as a substitute. He was in grave danger.

Han Tang got up from the ground. He picked up his sword with his left hand. His right wrist was broken. Using the sword with his left hand was much less effective. But he still charged into the battle.

The Blood Nether Cult has many members. However, apart from two deputies who are at the mid-stage of the Profound Abyss Realm, the rest are of varying strengths, ranging from the Qi Sea Realm to the Profound Abyss Realm.

The two elders of Xuanming were held back by Yin Wuji and could not spare a moment. Meng Xinghun and Han Tang, fighting against many opponents, were gradually losing ground.

[System Notification: Meng Xinghun has killed a Blood Nether Sect disciple (mid-stage Innate Qi Sea Realm), gaining 2000 energy points.]

[System Notification: Meng Xinghun has killed a Blood Nether Sect disciple (late-stage Innate Qi Sea Realm), gaining 3000 energy points.]

……

Han Tang pierced the throat with his sword. He then severed the arm of another man with a backhand.

Meng Xinghun's palm technique was fierce. He struck his disciple's chest with a single blow. The sternum caved in, and blood spurted out.

The Blood Demon Cult fell one after another.

Meng Xinghun and Han Tang also paid a heavy price. Meng Xinghun was stabbed in the back, the wound so deep that bone was visible. Han Tang's left leg was slashed open, blood soaking through his trousers.

-

Yin Wuji grew increasingly alarmed as the fight progressed.

Two early-stage Profound Realm cultivators, combined, possessed a fighting strength comparable to the peak Profound Realm cultivators, and even faintly touched the threshold of the Divine Meridian realm. Their coordination was incredibly seamless, like one person using two hands.

He realized that he couldn't take down these four people on his own in a short time.

Moreover—Ichigetsudo only has these people, what about Nigetsudo and Sangetsudo?

do not know.

I dare not gamble.

"withdraw!"

Yin Wuji withdrew his palm strike. His figure flashed.

He retreated ten paces away. His face was ashen. His triangular eyes were filled with apprehension.

The remaining seven disciples followed suit, their swords drawn, ready for battle.

"The Azure Dragon Society's First Moon Hall..." he gritted his teeth. "Very well. I've learned my lesson today."

He mounted his horse and rode away.

Seven disciples followed closely behind. The sound of hooves faded into the distance, disappearing over the horizon.

Lu Zhangke and Hebi Weng did not pursue them.

The mission is not to kill, but to repel.

Meng Xinghun wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. He glanced at the broken sword, picked it up, and sheathed it again.

Han Tang scrambled to his feet from beside the rock. He held his right wrist with his left hand. His face was as white as paper.

"Master, he will come again."

"meeting."

Meng Xinghun nodded, "But not in the short term. He doesn't know our strengths and weaknesses. He wouldn't dare to make a move."