The moon shines brightly.
Around a certain martial arts hall, it had become unusually quiet at some point.
"At the dead of night, beware of the candlelight!"
The night patrolmen struck the gongs and clappers as they slowly walked through the streets.
The gates of the San Yuan City were tightly shut, with even the stationed troops being replaced by the more formidable Dingzhou Army.
On this night, countless people found it hard to sleep.
A storm is brewing!
Inside a certain martial arts hall, on the training ground.
Fang Xi was calmly practicing the Hunyuan True Qi.
As for Qing Sang and Qing Mu, whether they could escape or not, he didn't pay much attention to it.
As long as he was fine, they would be fine too.
If he couldn't even protect himself, why bother about them?
As for being caught and threatened to coerce him? He was never one to be threatened.
"Harmonizing heaven and earth, unifying man and nature?"
While practicing his techniques, Fang Xi felt the true Qi surging continuously as he moved his fists and feet, reaching a lively peak.
Just a little bit more, and a more profound power was about to burst out from every part of his body!
Swish!
At that moment, a figure seemed to emerge directly from the darkness, like a giant python, lunging out with muscles knotted on its arms, sharp nails, fierce blood vessels, resembling the claws of a wild beast, launching a surprise attack towards Fang Xi!
Bang!
Fang Xi seemed to have anticipated it, pressing down with his right palm, catching the attack, and the Hunyuan True Qi surged violently!
Stab!
In the darkness, a flash of lightning seemed to strike, causing the attacker to stagger.
In a clash between experts, this moment of composure was enough to secure victory.
Fang Xi's left hand clenched into a fist, as if a giant spirit was wielding an axe to strike, but suddenly paused, swerved in a half-circle, and struck elsewhere.
Bang bang!
The courtyard wall was directly smashed into a large hole, from which a martial artist over three meters tall, with muscles bulging all over his body and skin resembling black iron, burst out. With his hands intertwined, he roared like a wild beast:
"Secret Technique - Roar of Ten Thousand Beasts!"
Fang Xi's sudden change in direction with his fist landed right on the path of this person.
The opponent's expression changed, crossing his arms to protect his chest.
Then, with a painful grunt, his arms broke, revealing pale bones, and he flew back at a faster speed.
But seizing this opportunity, the shadow that had initially attacked Fang Xi leaped away, landing on the courtyard wall. His agility was astonishing, but his stature was short, resembling a dwarf.
"Gu Jianchou Fang Leng?"
The dwarf's eyes were emerald green, emitting a resentful voice: "Damn it... the information from the government is completely inaccurate. How is this just a Three-Step Martial Artist? Didn't you see that the old lion's arms were broken? This is clearly a peak expert of a Four-Step Martial Artist! Even if you say he's a Half-Step Grandmaster, I'd believe it!"
"I knew it, after revealing his identity in broad daylight, he had to come to this eventually."
Fang Xi stopped and stood, looking around. "Come out!"
Swish swish!
Amidst the fluttering clothes, figures appeared one after another.
Beside the dwarf, there was another tall figure covered in golden fur, with arms hanging limply in front of him, who was the 'Iron Lion' who had just launched the sneak attack!
In addition, on the roof of the building, there stood a tall woman in a purple dress, holding a pair of Mandarin Duck Hooks.
From the main entrance, a silver-haired, one-eyed old man smoking a pipe walked in slowly. "Fang Leng... you repeatedly violate the law and dare to be so reckless? How about this, you swear to never enter San Yuan City, and we old folks will leave, what do you say?"
Although those who dared to besiege Fang Leng were at least Three-Step Martial Artists, they also had families and businesses and were not willing to fight recklessly.
If Fang Leng was just a Three-Step Martial Artist, it would be fine. But now, his strength far exceeded expectations, so it was best to seek peace.
"Haha... this is the court, fierce in appearance but weak in reality!"
Fang Xi shook his head. "But... I am about to rely on you all to take my final step!"
As he spoke, his body suddenly expanded, muscles bulging, countless blue veins twisting like snakes on his body.
By the time the last word fell, Fang Xi had already arrived in front of the old man, his huge palm like a fan descending.
"Inverse Seven Stars!"
Although the one-eyed old man was smoking a dry pipe, his movements were incredibly agile. The pipe lit up continuously, stabbing towards Fang Xi's vital acupoints.
The pipe pierced through the air, making a terrifying hissing sound!
In the next moment, the two figures passed each other.
Puff puff!
Red dots appeared on Fang Xi's body, but the flesh and blood quickly wriggled, forcibly healing the wounds.
The old man took a few steps back, coughing continuously. "Cough... the fusion of spirit and strength? Truly a great expert of a Four-Step Martial Artist... Quick, retreat. This man is already insane, wanting to break through to Grandmaster through life and death battle. We can't let him off easily. Activate Plan B immediately, summon the Dingzhou Army!"
As he spoke, he retreated frantically.
But Fang Xi was faster than him. His footsteps were like a snake, and he had already killed the old man.
"How dare you!"
The woman in purple dress shouted, her Mandarin Duck Hooks striking towards Fang Xi's back.
The dwarf and Iron Lion, one on the left and one on the right, had extremely fierce boxing techniques, aiming for Fang Xi's vital points.
Obviously, this was a tactic to force him to save himself.
Even if Fang Xi could kill the one-eyed old man, being attacked by three martial artists, he would likely die!
"Hiss!"
At this critical moment, all four of them suddenly heard Fang Xi's breathing.
The sound was like an ancient python, or perhaps a millennium-old tortoise, resounding like thunder... the courtyard was filled with howling winds, as if being sucked into Fang Xi's nostrils, causing his chest to swell.
"Ha!"
In the next moment, a thunderous sound erupted in the courtyard.
Within these rolling sound waves, there seemed to be a terrifying force and spirit, causing everyone except the old man to be momentarily dazed.
It was this slight difference that allowed Fang Xi to be a step faster, pressing his palm on the old man's head.
"Secret Technique - Hunyuan Infinite!"
Bang!
His palm was like a reversed seal, like Mount Tai pressing down, pushing the old man inch by inch into the ground!
The lower half of the old man's body turned into a bloody mess, clearly lifeless.
At this moment, Fang Xi turned around and grabbed the Mandarin Duck Hooks from the woman.
"Die!"
But the split-second opportunity Fang Xi had gained only allowed him to catch the woman's Mandarin Duck Hooks, while the attacks from the dwarf and Iron Lion still landed on him!
Clang!
The fists and feet filled with martial Qi struck Fang Xi's body, making a sound like hitting a bronze bell.
"No... what is this?"
The dwarf retreated, looking at his palms, which were now full of bloody holes. A terrifying thought suddenly appeared in his mind: "Qi of the Constellation?"
Under the moonlight, Fang Xi's torn clothes revealed his white skin.
On his skin, a thin layer of faint blood-colored true Qi appeared!
This true Qi only condensed for a moment before dissipating in an instant, but it saved Fang Xi from a serious injury.
"You have broken through to Grandmaster?!"
The sharp voice of the woman in purple dress pierced through the night.
"Just a little bit more... but I have found the way," Fang Xi replied with a smile, pointing his finger.
The woman immediately withdrew her Mandarin Duck Hooks to defend herself, and crescent-shaped blade lights shielded her body tightly.
Even though Fang Xi's finger could only touch her forehead three inches away, he had to stop.
But that was enough!
The Martial Saint's true Qi could move independently!
A blood-red fine true Qi suddenly appeared on Fang Xi's finger, piercing through the woman's forehead and disappearing in a flash.
A red dot appeared on the woman's forehead, her body stiffening as her vitality instantly dissipated.
"Go!"
The Iron Lion roared, stepping forward to block Fang Xi.
The dwarf let out a strange cry and turned to flee!
This Gu Jianchou was too terrifying!
Instead of escaping, they were not only unable to save their lives but were ruthlessly killed by him!
Even in battle, he broke through to Grandmaster!
"Order the Dingzhou Army to flatten this courtyard!"
The dwarf fled the small martial arts hall, looking at the elite Dingzhou Army on the street, especially their crossbows, feeling somewhat relieved.
Even if he was a Grandmaster, what could he do?
Surrounded by the Dingzhou Army, with crossbows and skilled fighters, he would still die!
As the dwarf entered the military formation, panting heavily, he couldn't help but feel a surge of sadness. In order to give him a chance to escape, the Iron Lion must have died at the hands of that ruthless man!
"Deploy the Wind Elephant Formation, advance!"
A captain in the Dingzhou Army, with a golden beast-swallowing armor on his left shoulder, immediately gave the order.
Waves of soldiers surged forward, surrounding the entire martial arts hall.
"Prepare the crossbows... fire!"
Swish swish!
The sound of crossbows being cocked filled the courtyard as arrows shot into the courtyard.
"Because of a game, the Flying Divine Sword soars, shattering the peak of Mount Zhongnan!"
A figure with a mysterious iron shield floating beside him walked out of the courtyard, holding a golden fine sword in his hand, reciting a long poem.
In the next moment!
A sword light flew out from his hand, cutting through the soldiers like paper, swallowing the dwarf martial artist and the captain, then disappeared without a trace.
The Dingzhou Army stared dumbfounded at the scene until the man left, then shouted in horror, "The captain... the captain is dead!"
In the darkness in the distance.
Fang Xi sheathed the Golden Dragon Sword, feeling that he had consumed most of his energy, and couldn't help but smile bitterly. "High-grade spiritual weapons should indeed be used in the later stages of Qi refining. Using them with insufficient Qi consumption is too great... Well, now that I have broken through, I can finally go back and take a look."
With a flicker, his figure disappeared without a trace.
...
Under the same night sky.
Bang!
Qing Mu exerted all his strength, punching another warrior away.
Qing Sang hid behind Qing Mu, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
Since arriving at night, they had been attacked by mysterious individuals and were now forced into a desperate situation!
However, at this critical moment, fireworks suddenly bloomed outside the city.
The mysterious attackers suddenly retreated.
As Qing Mu and Qing Sang looked at each other, a carriage sped down the official road, from which an elderly man with a kind face alighted.
Seeing Qing Mu and Qing Sang, he smiled, "Two young heroes... I am a representative of the officials and aristocrats in the state. Please rest assured, from now on, no one will dare to harm you..."
(End of Chapter)