Chapter 1: Little Beauty

"Listen up, brothers. Young Master Liang Xi's family is in danger. What should we do now?" Great Elder Qin's voice clearly reached the ears of every Qin family disciple present.

"Kill our way back! Protect the family!" a disciple blurted out.

"Right! Kill our way back! Didn't we step onto the path of martial arts precisely for a moment like this?"

Waves of shouts rose one after another, endless and resounding!

Such momentum was enough to make even masters of the Martial Realm feel their hearts palpitate!

"Damn it, daring to mess with Young Master Liang is having a death wish. Brothers, now is the time for us to repay his kindness. Those willing to fight, step forward!" As his words fell, nearly sixty percent of the disciples stepped forward. Every single one of them was a veteran warrior tempered by countless battles. Previously, they hadn't truly been unable to defeat scum like Qin Zhen; rather, because the Qin family had suffered blow after blow, their morale was on the verge of collapse. Under such circumstances, even if they possessed ten percent of their power, managing to unleash three percent would have been considered good!

Now, however, things were different. The Qin family was gradually getting back on track, and all of this was thanks to Liang Xi. Now that Liang Xi needed help, it was time for them to lend a hand!

"Young Master, you are truly amazing. Even though this is your first time traveling far from home, you've made so many good friends. With these friends around, do we still need to fear the Second Uncle?"

Liang Zheng's emotions were naturally stirred to the utmost. He just knew that the Young Master was the greatest; no problem was ever a problem in his hands!

Liang Xi, however, did not think that way. The Qin family had only just recovered its vitality, and he truly couldn't bear to let these loyal and heroic men plunge themselves into danger for his sake.

Moreover, that Second Uncle of his was surely lurking in the shadows, scheming and plotting. With too many people around, things would actually become harder to handle. "My good brothers, I have received everyone's kind intentions, but after all, this is my family business. How about this? A-Zheng and I will go ahead and scout out the situation first. Zhenzhen and Anran will stay behind. The three of us have a specific way to communicate; if I truly run into danger, you can come then. I certainly won't decline your help at that time, alright?"

Great Elder Qin thought it over carefully and felt that what Liang Xi said made a lot of sense. "Brothers, since Young Master Liang has put it this way, let's agree to it, shall we?"

"Agreed!"

The many disciples of the Qin family naturally agreed without hesitation. Their only dissatisfaction was probably that they couldn't go on a grand killing spree alongside Young Master Liang Xi right now!

"Rest assured, everything here is in my hands. You must protect yourselves well and never let yourselves fall into danger again—that is my only request for you!"

"Mm, I know. I will."

Once Liang Xi made a promise, he would always keep it!

"A-Zheng, let's go!"

Swish!

Liang Xi and Liang Zheng both transformed into streams of light and vanished from the spot!

Liang Zheng had grown up in the Liang household; nominally a servant, he was in truth a brother. Whatever Liang Xi could do, Liang Zheng could do as well, and this kid possessed quite remarkable cultivation talent.

"Good lad, I haven't seen you for a while, and your movement technique has actually gotten this good? You know what? You are actually the one who surprises me the most!"

"Young Master, stop talking nonsense. No matter how I cultivate, I can never catch up to you. My greatest wish in this life is to become someone like you. That's the truth!"

"What's wrong? You look pale. Didn't you sleep well?"

Liang Zheng loved to talk. If he suddenly turned silent, it meant something must have happened!

"A-Zheng, you've always been like this. We grew up together since we were kids; if you have something on your mind, just say it. Don't harbor so many reservations. We are brothers! Speak! What on earth is the matter?"

"Young Master, Xiao Mei has been captured by the people of the One-Blade Sect!"

"What?"

Liang Xi came to an abrupt halt, his face frozen in utter shock. "What on earth is going on? Tell me clearly!"

Xiao Mei was Liang Zheng's wife. Like him, she had grown up in the Liang household, and Mother Jun Cailin had once said Xiao Mei was just like her own daughter! Her temperament was resilient, loyal, and reliable. She had always been in charge of the keys to the Liang family's underground treasury, and if she was captured, this had to be the only reason.

"Alright, alright, you don't need to say anymore, I understand it all. Xiao Mei is just like my own sister. Come, let's head to the One-Blade Sect to save her first!"

"But, Young Master, what about the family?" Liang Zheng hesitated deeply.

"You don't need to worry about the family. Do you think Father and Mother are just for show? Or would you prefer to watch Xiao Mei die right before your eyes? You rascal, you used to be so hot-headed and decisive, why are you dragging your feet now? I'll just ask you, are we going or not?"

Liang Xi's words gave Liang Zheng a firm dose of reassurance. His gaze hardened with resolve; that's right, he couldn't bear to imagine what he would become if Xiao Mei died right before his eyes!

"Young Master! Let's go!"

A furious Liang Zheng moved with a speed that was nothing short of astonishing!

The corners of Liang Xi's lips curled upward. That's right, this was how a member of the Liang family should be!

The One-Blade Sect, Dungeon.

"Xiao Mei, we're old acquaintances after all, why must you be like this? Look at yourself, what have you become now? Such a pretty face, completely ruined. I heard that fellow Liang Zheng likes you a lot, and whenever he sees you, he can't even move his feet. Tell me, if he saw you looking like this right now, would he be scared to death? Hahaha!"

Calamity Sword hooked Xiao Mei's chin slightly with his finger, looking at her with utter contempt.

"Bah! If you have the guts, kill me, you villain! Dreaming of getting the treasury keys—keep dreaming!"

Xiao Mei cherished her appearance and loved cleanliness, but now she knew there were things far more important than looks or cleanliness. She was a child of the Liang family, and her sole mission was to guard the treasury keys. She would absolutely never let a scoundrel like Calamity Sword take them!

There was a ferocious gash across Xiao Mei's left cheek. Though it had scabbed over, trickles of blood still leaked out. Not just her face, but her entire body had long been stained crimson by blood, undoubtedly covered in crisscrossing wounds!

"Calamity Sword, I used to think you were like a dog, but I never expected that you actually became a dog in the end. Whatever tricks you have, bring them out. This girl isn't afraid of you. When Brother Zheng and the Young Master arrive, tell me, how do you think you'll end up dying?"

"You never got along with Brother Zheng since you were kids, always trying to surpass him. But look at you now? You were never a match for Brother Zheng, and you never will be. You asked me before why I chose Brother Zheng instead of you. Nonsense! How could I, a proud disciple of the Liang family, ever take a fancy to a dog? Besides, look at how utterly ugly you are now; how could you ever compare to my Brother Zheng? You're not even qualified to carry his shoes!"

Crack!

At these words, Calamity Sword's expression twisted completely. He viciously struck the hateful woman across the face. Instantly, Xiao Mei's previously scabbed wounds split open from the force of the heavy slap, and fresh blood gushed forth!

What he hated most right now was being compared to Liang Zheng! Swiftly, his distorted expression gradually returned to normal. He used a white handkerchief to meticulously wipe his hands, and then tucked the blood-stained handkerchief into his robe. In truth, Calamity Sword was a neat freak, but since this handkerchief bore Xiao Mei's blood, he naturally didn't mind. Instead, he would treasure it like a precious jewel!

"Does it hurt? Ah, you girl, you've been this stubborn since you were a child. But there's nothing I can do, I just happen to like you. I can promise you right now: as long as you hand over the Liang family's treasury keys, I'll let you go back. You wouldn't want Liang Yunsi and Jun Cailin to worry about you, would you?"

"You villain! Have you forgotten that you too once received the grace of the Master and Mistress? Yet now you dare to address them by their full names—you deserve to die!"

Calamity Sword had nothing left to fear now. "Hahaha, that's right, if you hadn't mentioned it, I would have almost forgotten that I was once a disciple of the Liang family too. But that identity was nothing short of a humiliation to me! Back then, everything I experienced in the Liang family, you saw it all. I wanted to learn the supreme mental arts of the Liang family, but Jun Cailin deemed my intentions impure and refused to impart them to me!"

"Not only that, in everything they did, they chose to guard against me. Fine! If this place won't keep me, there are other places that will! Afterward, clutching this Calamity Sword, I fled to the One-Blade Sect, and here, I was indeed given important responsibilities!"

"Xiao Mei, do you know what it feels like to spend years unappreciated, only to finally soar into the skies? To this day, I have never forgotten that feeling. I even swore to myself that from then on, I am a man of the One-Blade Sect; whatever the One-Blade Sect tells me to do, I will do without a single word of hesitation. When I learned that the Second Uncle wanted to reclaim the Liang family, my heart was overjoyed. I thought to myself that I was finally going to hold my head high. All these years of bottled-up resentment—hmph, besides myself, who else could possibly understand it?"

"I hate everyone in the Liang family to the core, but there is only one exception, and that person is you. All these years, I have never been able to forget you! This time, no matter what happens, I will never let go of your hand. Perhaps in your heart, you think my feelings for you are an almost morbid stubbornness. Hmph, morbid if you like; I know within myself that I am clear-headed, and that's enough!"

"You said Liang Zheng will come? Hahaha, very well, I've been waiting for him. I'll come back tomorrow, and I'll wait until you change your mind. Listen up, all of you, take good care of her—not a single scar is to be left on her face or body!"

Counting today, this demand had been made for the fourth time. The divine physicians of the One-Blade Sect had no idea what on earth this man Calamity Sword was thinking. How did those scars get there? Weren't they caused by you beating her? You play both the good cop and the bad cop, what is the meaning of this?

However, such words were only dared to be spoken within their own hearts; not a trace of dissatisfaction was shown on their faces!

Three days ago, a colleague of theirs had been treating Xiao Mei's injuries and casually remarked on why Calamity Sword had struck so heavily. As a result, Calamity Sword overheard it, and without another word, threw that divine physician into the rear mountain's rocky crag to feed the wolves!

After that, not a single divine physician dared to utter another superfluous word. At a time like this, keeping one's mouth shut was the wisest choice!

Calamity Sword couldn't bear the sight of Xiao Mei covered in wounds; it pained him. Yet every time, he would remember that this Xiao Mei was already Liang Zheng's wife, and jealousy would surge uncontrollably in his heart—a full, overflowing jealousy that ultimately lashed out once more in the form of blows against this woman!

Hurt! Hate her! Perhaps only through this could she remember him!

Xiao Mei's gaze remained steadfast and clear. She was long accustomed to the process of treating her wounds. *Brother Zheng, you must not come! This madman Calamity Sword has been waiting for you. If you come, this man will never let you go!*

A desolate folk song drifted gently from the dungeon once more. It was a mountain tune Liang Zheng had taught Xiao Mei long ago; whenever she missed Liang Zheng, she would hum this little ballad.

"Hmph!"

Calamity Sword's inner fury flared even higher. *Liang Zheng, I am waiting for you! Now that Xiao Mei is in my hands, I refuse to believe you won't come. I will thoroughly defeat you right in front of Xiao Mei, and let you know that I am the only man truly suited for her—you are nothing at all!*

Swish!

Two streams of light roared across the sky, whipping up a fierce gale.

"A-Zheng, let's land and grab something to eat first. We've been traveling continuously for a full day now, aren't you hungry?"

Liang Xi looked helplessly at Liang Zheng ahead of him. This fellow was acting so frantic now, but what was he doing earlier?

"Alright, what's the use of panicking now? Xiao Mei will be fine; that fellow Calamity Sword likes her, and moreover, he wants the keys to the family treasury."

"Young Master, stop joking around. What kind of temperament Calamity Sword has, don't you know? He's been a bastard since he was a kid. If Xiao Mei falls into his hands, can she possibly survive?"

His Young Master was truly thick-skinned. If it were Ji Anran who had been captured, let's see if he'd still be calm!

"First, Xiao Mei is definitely fine, I can guarantee that. Second, Anran won't be captured either; Calamity Sword doesn't have the ability. Furthermore, since I am here, I will certainly rescue my sister!"

"Calamity Sword is nothing more than a dog by Second Uncle's side. Is it worth getting worked up over a dog? Come, eat something. In half a day we'll be there, and by then, you can appear cleanly before Xiao Mei and play the hero saving the damsel in distress. Xiao Mei will love you even more!"

"Young Master, I'm not worried about anything else, but Xiao Mei has a fierce temperament. I'm afraid she might do something foolish. She regards the treasury keys as more important than her own life—let alone Calamity Sword, even someone as close to her as me isn't allowed to see them!"

"What you say makes sense. However, Calamity Sword wouldn't dare let Xiao Mei die, and Second Uncle wouldn't allow such a thing to happen either. Because Second Uncle knows very well that Xiao Mei is the only one who can open the treasury. If she really dies, Mother's thunderous wrath is something Second Uncle cannot withstand!"

"Finished eating? If you're done, let's move!"

A large flatbread was swallowed by Liang Xi in three bites. It seemed he was only calm on the surface; in truth, he was far more anxious than anyone! The formidable Roc's Illusion Dance whipped up a cloud of dust and smoke.

***

Cough, cough!

The Young Master was truly two-faced, putting up a hard front when in his heart he was clearly more worried about Xiao Mei than anyone else! This was the Young Master he knew—calm on the surface, but with a heart blazing like fire!

"Useless trash! Can't even persuade someone to eat! Hmph, you old hags, don't you usually love gossiping about everyone's business and talking big? Now you can't even get Xiao Mei to eat a meal? Why don't you go to the rocky crag as well? The beasts there will surely love you!"

"Spare my life, My Lord! Spare my life! Please give us one more chance. This time, we will definitely make Miss Xiao Mei eat. If we fail again, we'll go to the rocky crag of our own accord, so we don't dirty your hands!"

A ruthless glint flashed through the cyan-robed old hag's eyes. *Stinking girl, since you refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit, don't blame me! You like going on a hunger strike, do you? Then starve! Once you can't bear it anymore, you'll obediently eat on your own. I've dealt with people far harder to handle than you; what are you, a little girl?*

Crack!

"Keep your little thoughts to yourself and properly persuade Xiao Mei to eat. Do it well, and I'll promote you; fail, and you die!"

Calamity Sword slapped the cyan-robed old hag, wiped his hands once more, and said indifferently.

"Yes, yes, yes! Rest assured, My Lord!"

Xiao Mei had been on a hunger strike for two full days. The food on the table had been heated over and over, long losing its original appearance and turning into a mushy paste that made one lose all appetite simply looking at it.

"If I had to look at food like this, I'd lose my appetite too. I remember your favorite was mixed noodles with rice wine; I'll have someone prepare it right away. You've had a weak stomach since you were a child and can't go hungry. You can hate me, but you can't punish yourself. Hmph, if your Brother Zheng saw you like this now, tell me, would his heart ache?"

Persuading people was something he had to handle himself after all; leaving it to those hags was simply too unreliable!

"Xiao Mei, the only reason you can sit here safely right now is because I spoke on your behalf before Lord Liang Chen. I don't want to see you suffer. You should know that Lord Liang Chen is not me—he has never known how to cherish a tender flower!"

"Tomorrow, tomorrow is the final deadline. If you still refuse to change your mind, I won't be able to protect you!"

Deep down, though Calamity Sword loved the woman before him dearly, he had no other choice. In the face of ambition, emotions were truly worthless!

Calamity Sword turned and left. No one knew what thoughts were churning in this man's heart at that moment. The only thing that could be confirmed was that Xiao Mei would never change her mind.

"Calamity Sword, do you remember what you said to me before? You said you could definitely handle this woman. Yet after all these days, you can be ruthless to anyone except this woman! I knew I couldn't trust you! From now on, you are to have nothing more to do with matters concerning the Liang family. I will have Duan Qing take over!"

Liang Chen's face was icy, giving Calamity Sword no chance to speak.

Calamity Sword's heart skipped a beat. *It's over, everything is completely over.* In Duan Qing's hands, Xiao Mei would die!

The dim dungeon was exceptionally damp. Without any exception, Xiao Mei was once more dragged back to her original cell. At this moment, she was bound tightly to a stone pillar with ropes, and the slightest movement caused agonizing pain throughout her body. Yet Xiao Mei endured it!

"Quite the endurance, eh? Good, let me introduce myself. My name is Duan Qing—Duan Qing, as in severing emotions and discarding feelings. I've come for one purpose only: to obtain the keys to the Liang family's underground treasury. I know your temperament is fierce and your mouth is hard, so lashing you with a whip is something I won't do. Once you die, I'll naturally get the keys. By this time tomorrow, you'll be nothing more than a lonely wandering ghost!"

"Don't expect anyone to come and save you. It's impossible; no one has the guts. The man you set your sights on is nothing more than a piece of trash! Hahaha!" Duan Qing's laughter was as ruthless and cold as the man himself!

Xiao Mei's expression was calm. The bright moonlight streamed through the window onto her face, lending her a touch of sanctity. *Has this day finally arrived? My heart is surprisingly calm right now. If there's anything I can't let go of, it must be Brother Zheng. Brother Zheng has a hot temper; without me by his side in the future, what will he become?*

*I really miss him right now, I want to see him one last time!*

A single tear slowly slid down her cheek, shattering into countless pieces upon the floor.

"Young Master, I have a very bad feeling right now. I never realized before how far the One-Blade Sect could be! I wish I could see Xiao Mei right this instant!"

"I know. The sky is already turning pale, and in about an hour, we'll be there. Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, nothing will happen!" Liang Xi didn't even notice that his voice was trembling as he spoke these words.

Having traveled continuously for three days, both of them were utterly exhausted. Right now they wished they could just stop, but they couldn't. The moment they stopped, Xiao Mei would be finished!

***

After a sound sleep, Xiao Mei's complexion looked much better.

"What are you looking at? Move! It's all because of you that we got scolded by the Lord. Today, since you're about to die, we've specially come to send you off on your final journey!"

It turned out to be the hags who had previously brought food to Xiao Mei. They too looked disheveled now, their clothes tattered, and their hatred for Xiao Mei had reached its absolute peak!

Slap, slap, slap!

Five slaps in a row left one of the hags' hands stinging with pain, while Xiao Mei's face was a mass of red swelling!

"Bring the thickest rope and drag her out! Didn't Miss Xiao Mei love her beauty the most? Good, then today we'll drag her out in the most wretched way possible, and let everyone see what this girl who was pampered like a princess in the Liang family has now become!"

"Oh, right, I heard Jun Cailin is furious beyond belief. What a pity, severely injured as she is, she can't rush here now. She won't get to see you in this wretched state; it's somewhat regrettable!"

"Scoundrels! What on earth did you do to the Mistress? If you have any grievances, take them out on me! You will come to a bad end!"

Finally, upon hearing the name Jun Cailin, Xiao Mei's emotions finally fluctuated!

"Panicking already? This is merely the beginning. Fine, let me tell you one more thing: that Eldest Young Master and your Brother Zheng you keep talking about must have met with misfortune by now. Otherwise, why do you think so much time has passed and neither of them has shown up? It's not that they couldn't come, but that they can't come!"

"Rest assured, you'll be reunited with them shortly. You must be feeling very happy inside right now, aren't you?"

Earlier, when Xiao Mei heard Jun Cailin's name, she was agitated, but now, all the strength in her body seemed to have been drained away. "Hahaha!" Even her laughter was filled with powerlessness.

As she laughed, she wept, sobbing in a low murmur.

They were mad, truly mad!

Xiao Mei was dragged out of the dungeon by four stout hags. The coarse, abrasive ground left trail after trail of raw scrapes across her back, and instantly, blood soaked through her clothes. Yet Xiao Mei seemed oblivious to the pain; in her heart, the Young Master had always been like an older brother, and the Liang household had long since been her true home. What a pity she lacked the strength to guard the sole keys to the underground treasury.

Like a piece of wood, she was pushed all the way up to the towering execution platform. How fine the sunlight was today, so warm. Xiao Mei's eyes narrowed slightly against the glare.

About a hundred meters directly in front of the execution platform sat a group of men. Seated in the center was the Liang family's Second Uncle, Liang Chen, and the people on either side of him were presumably helpers he had gathered.

On Xiao Mei's exquisite face, a trace of mockery and disdain suddenly appeared.

"What are you smiling at? Don't you know you're about to become a dead person? Actually, you still have one last chance. As long as you hand over the treasury keys to me, I can let you live!"

Things having reached this point, Liang Chen no longer bothered to put up a disguise. All these years of presembling had simply been too exhausting. "Big Brother, Sister-in-law, just wait; the Liang family belongs to me, and I will take it all back. You cannot stop me!"

"Hahaha! Reclaim the Liang family? Second Uncle, haha, you're quite up in years, yet you still love playing games. As everyone knows, only the person who obtains the treasury keys is qualified to inherit the Liang family. Viewed this way, the person most qualified to inherit it now should be me!"

Xiao Mei drew the treasury keys from her robe. Ancient yet exquisite, they gleamed brilliantly in the sunlight. "Second Uncle, you've been dying to get your hands on this, haven't you? But you should know by now—I will never hand it over to you!"

"So many big figures watching my execution, hm, it seems my face is truly big enough. Very good, exceptionally good!"

"Big Brother, Brother Zheng, wait for me, I'm coming right now!"

She threw her head back and swallowed the treasury keys whole in a single gulp!

Swish!

A piercing streak of light pierced straight through her body! "Stinking girl, what kind of place do you think this is? This is the One-Blade Sect! Want to commit suicide? Hmph, you don't even have the qualification yet! You can only die by my hand!"

Puff!

A mouthful of blood spewed wildly! Xiao Mei's complexion instantly turned deathly pale.

"Duan Qing, go personally kill this young girl and retrieve the keys immediately. Rest assured, no matter what problems arise, I will help you. With me here, no one dares touch you!"

"Understood, leave this matter to me. Rest assured, My Lord!"

Crack!

"Stinking girl, you're quite something, pulling a stunt like this at the very end. But by now, you should also know what it feels like to wish you were dead instead, shouldn't you? Hmph, expecting someone to come and save you is an absolute impossibility!"

"So this is the key to the Liang family's treasury? Doesn't look like much. Now, your life and your keys both belong to me. Die!"

Xiao Mei truly had no strength left. Her gaze began to blur; after holding out for so many days, she ultimately failed to make it to the end!

"Hahaha!"

"Die!"

Boom!

At the instant the executioner's blade fell, a terrifying, earth-shaking roar stunned everyone present!

"Aiyo, my goodness, I'm exhausted to death, but we finally made it in time. Hm? Why are there so many people here? Xiao Mei! Xiao Mei, where are you? The Young Master and I have come to save you!"

How could Xiao Mei forget the voice amidst the dust and smoke? It was a voice engraved deep into her bones.

The next second, she threw herself into Liang Zheng's arms like a swallow returning to its nest. *Ah, it's warm, it's warm! Brother Zheng isn't dead, and the Young Master—the Young Master is fine too!*

"Wonderful, I finally get to see you both!"

Xiao Mei completely lost consciousness. Two consecutive days of hunger strikes, combined with a day and a night of mental torture, had pushed her inner resilience to the brink of collapse. Now, seeing that the most important people in her life were completely safe, she naturally let go.

"Xiao Mei! Xiao Mei! I'm sorry, Brother Zheng is late. Rest assured, I won't let those who bullied you off easily. Sleep well, and when you wake up, we'll be home!"

"You piece of sh—"

Swish!

Puff!

Liang Xi didn't even give Duan Qing a chance to speak, executing him instantly with a single flash of sword qi! The speed of the technique was terrifyingly shocking!

"Young Master Liang, you have a lot of nerve! You dare to kill my man right in front of me? Even your father wouldn't dare treat me with such disrespect!"

***

Crack!

Liang Xi gently flicked his palm, and a massive palm shadow struck Liang Chen heavily across the face, sending him tumbling to the ground. At this moment, in Liang Xi's eyes, this Second Uncle of his was worth even less than trash!

Hiss!

Witnessing this scene, everyone was struck with horror, too terrified to utter a single word. Word had it that when Liang Xi went mad, he feared no one. They had thought it merely a rumor, but it turned out to be true! Hadn't this man Liang Chen claimed earlier that all his plans were under his control and that seizing the Liang family was an absolute certainty? Now it seemed things were hardly turning out that way!

Liang Chen looked at his nephew in utter shock. How had this kid turned out like this after just a short while apart? He hadn't been able to defend himself against that slap at all!

His face was completely lost today!

"Irrelevant people, get the hell out of here!"

"Second Uncle, long time no see. I heard you wanted to seize the Liang family, so your humble nephew rushed all the way here. Oh my, look at your face, completely ruined. My apologies, your nephew used too much force! But what can I do when an elder chooses to bully Xiao Mei first?"

"Get up! We haven't seen each other in years; could it be that you truly don't want to chat with me a bit more? I'm in a very good mood right now. I heard you saying earlier that A-Zheng and I were dead?"

"A-Zheng, come over here too and greet Second Uncle. Rest assured, your Xiao Mei only went two days without food, she won't die!"

"What? They actually didn't give Xiao Mei food?"

"Calamity Sword! I'm going to kill you!"

"Thousand-Star Palm!"

Liang Zheng was now in a state of unbridled rage. With a slight wave of his massive hand, a gigantic red palm shadow slowly materialized in mid-air, and the surrounding temperature instantly soared. The Thousand-Star Palm opened like a bloody maw, as if completely swallowing the Calamity Sword before him!

"Hmph, you think I'd be afraid of you?"

"Calamity-Splitting Sword!"

A gigantic cyan sword shadow appeared in mid-air almost simultaneously, fiercely colliding with the Thousand-Star Palm! If the Thousand-Star Palm was a bloody maw, then this Calamity-Splitting Sword was the blade that would tear that maw apart!

Boom!

The two supreme arts violently collided, and the resulting shockwave directly pulverized every structure on the ground!

Puff!

Calamity Sword spewed a mouthful of wild blood, his face turning deathly pale! Unseen for years, Liang Zheng's cultivation had actually grown even more formidable. This was truly astonishing.

"Go to hell! You scoundrel, I knew you would harm Xiao Mei, but I never expected you to be so inhumane. Today, I'm going to kill you!"

"Thousand-Star Sword!"

In an instant, the sky was filled with startling sword qi, and the fierce battle intent condensed into an armored god of war. Wielding a long sword, it swept across horizontally—an immensely powerful strike guaranteed to slay Calamity Sword!

The faces of the onlookers turned pale with terror. "Liang Zheng, this is a grievance internal to your Liang family; it has nothing to do with us outsiders! Liang Chen, you old bastard, you almost got us killed! Brothers, let's go, the people here have nothing to do with us anymore!"

"Want to leave? Everyone who watched Xiao Mei suffer without lifting a finger to help deserves to die! Now you know fear? What if we didn't possess such formidable strength? What would have happened then? Would you have spared me?"

Boom!

Puff!

The sharp sword qi pierced straight through Calamity Sword's body, killing him on the spot!

"Every single one of you deserves to die. But there's no need to rush, we still have time, we can play slowly. After all, we have plenty of opportunities now!"

"Liang Zheng! You little bastard! I'm going to kill you! If these big shots die, the consequences are not something you can bear!"

Clang!

Liang Zheng ignored them all, using his sharpest sword strike to instantly kill every single one of them. This single sword blow embodied all his fury!

At that moment, the heavens unexpectedly began to pour rain, washing away the bloodstains on the ground. Covered in blood, Liang Zheng wore a smile that carried a trace of eeriness, pointing a finger toward the terrified disciples. "Anyone else unconvinced, step right up! Killing one is killing, killing two is also killing. Liang Chen, you're a spineless coward, but I'm not. You fear the influence of these people, but I don't! Everyone who harmed Xiao Mei must die!"

"Now it's your turn. Tell me, how should I deal with you? No, no, I should ask you—how do you want to die right now?"

Liang Zheng stepped toward Liang Chen step by step. The latter looked in terror toward Liang Xi, pleading, "Xi'er, Xi'er, save me quickly! I am your Second Uncle, do you really want to watch me die?"

"If the person lying on the ground today were Anran, I guarantee I would kill you thousands of times with my own hands without a shred of mercy. A-Zheng has a kind heart, so he's only killing you once—you should be glad. You bullied Xiao Mei, A-Zheng's wife; I cannot help you, nor do I want to!"

"Second Uncle, weren't you quite fierce just now? Why have you turned cowardly now? Come on, show me your skills! Didn't you want to seize the Liang family? Hmph, is this how you plan to seize it?"

Liang Chen knew by now that no matter what he said, these two fellows would not let him go. Yet wanting to kill him was equally impossible!

"Damn it! Go to hell!"

"Tyrant's Fist!"

A gigantic black fist shadow slammed fiercely into Liang Xi and Liang Zheng, stirring up a cloud of dust and smoke.

"Hahaha! How's that now? Now you know my true power! Having taken that punch of mine, no one can possibly survive!"

Liang Chen's expression twisted utterly, turning frantic. It seemed this man had truly gone mad! If he didn't go all out, today he might really die here!

Boom!

The ground shattered completely!

"What's this? Second Uncle? Is this your ultimate trick? Looking at it now, it's nothing remarkable. Bring out something stronger—these moves can't hurt us at all!"

*How can this be? I already unleashed my strongest technique, why are these two kids completely unharmed?!*

"You had a great time hitting us just now, now it's our turn! Second Uncle, you should know that from the moment you plotted to seize the Liang family, we became enemies! Die today!"

"Tyrant's Fist!"

Liang Xi slowly emerged from the dust and smoke, throwing a single punch!

The thick black fist shadow now resembled a divine dragon or a ferocious tiger, carrying an overwhelmingly sharp momentum as it hovered proudly in the air, looking down contemptuously at Liang Chen below!

Boom!

The ultimate punch slammed heavily into Liang Chen!

Puff!

Liang Chen was sent flying by the blow, coughing up a mouthful of blood!

Every bone in his body had been shattered; at this moment, Liang Chen was nothing more than a puddle of mud!

"Young Master, no need to be polite with this man. Let me finish him off!"

Liang Zheng had already gathered his strength!

"Tyrant's Fist!"

Boom!

Liang Zheng unleashed the fist technique with both hands! Two black fist shadows smashed down upon him; this time, even an immortal from the heavens would find it hard to save him!

Boom, boom, boom!

Yet Liang Zheng showed no intention of stopping. His twin fists pounded relentlessly against Liang Chen, completely obliterating the ground until Liang Chen was driven deep into the earth, leaving him no possibility of ever making a comeback!

Hatred—boundless, towering hatred. Even doing this wasn't enough! Liang Zheng wished he could utterly annihilate this Liang Chen!

Liang Chen no longer had an ounce of strength left, unrecognizable in human form. *What? Is that enough? Come on, keep going! You were so fierce just now, weren't you?*

"Fine, I'll grant your wish now and send you on your final journey!"

The gigantic fist shadow materialized once more. With this single punch, Liang Chen stood no chance of survival. Yet at that exact moment, a bizarre smile suddenly surfaced on Liang Chen's face—it seemed he had been waiting precisely for this moment!

"The time has finally come... My Lord, save me!!"

Boom!

The fist slammed down, but it struck empty air!

"Hmph, truly a useless piece of trash. Two little brats managed to reduce you to this state; how can you expect me to trust you in the future? With your competence, you still wanted to learn profound arts? If not for me, you would have been dead long ago!"

"Kid, spare others where you can, that's enough! Must you push things to a complete annihilation?"

An aged, calm voice drifted over.