Chapter 11: The Helper

"Poison? Did I not tell you already? Poison truly has no effect on me. Why are you all so unwilling to believe it?" Zhuang Yunzhen forcibly circulated his internal energy. Instantly, the mighty power of the Lingyun Record completely neutralized the toxins. With a swift motion, Zhuang Yunzhen stopped wasting words; his fingers flicked out several sharp, fierce sword auras. This was the 'Sword Aura as One'—a rainbow of sword energy—a move that should have been enough to clear away these troublesome people. "I told you before, you cannot stop me. Even if you don't say it, do you think I don't know? This must be the handiwork of the Poison Sect Master. A dignified leader of the Poison Sect, a master of his generation, yet he stoops to such despicable tactics."

"Good lad, this Lingyun Record is truly formidable. However, you are right. Since we were sent personally by that great master, we must complete our mission. The assassins before failed to kill you only because they were unskilled and too soft-hearted. Unfortunately, this time, you have encountered us. Today is your day of death!"

Zhuang Yunzhen had no time to spare. The sword aura in his hands grew even more ferocious. With a move called 'Drawing the Sword to Discuss Merit,' his sharp energy combined with exquisite footwork made him appear like a ghost, weaving through the surroundings. These assassins were undoubtedly top-tier experts, but they had the misfortune of encountering a man who had honed the 'Xuangang Force' to its peak. In terms of sheer power, they were no match for him. Even if their numbers were ten times greater, Zhuang Yunzhen would not have batted an eye.

"Boom!" Such a sharp sword aura was truly peerless. It was a pity, Zhuang Yunzhen thought, that his swordsmanship still lagged far behind that of his junior brother, Liang Xi. Yet, even so, the sword aura in his hand remained invincible. "Everyone, be careful! This boy's sword aura is truly extremely powerful. Even if we join forces, we are no match for him. But even so, will we give up? No, never!"

Zhuang Yunzhen’s sword was the fastest of all; this group could not withstand such speed. He was not a man easily provoked to anger, but now, a flicker of true fury ignited in his heart. "You people are truly annoying. However, do you think you can stop me? In reality, that is impossible. Now, all your meridians have been destroyed by my sword; your life's cultivation is wasted. Though I truly did not wish to do this, you have committed many wrongs, and you knew that this day would come sooner or later, did you not?"

"Zhuang Yunzhen, don't get cocky. Do you remember what we said? Even if you have defeated us, the obstacle you face ahead is an incredibly stunning formation. Of course, you have achieved quite a lot over these years, but today, all your achievements will come to an end. You must be quite displeased to hear this, but facts are facts; that is something you can never change."

"Since you stepped into the path of martial arts, you probably haven't met any truly powerful opponents, have you? If that is the case, this will become very interesting. The Poison Sect has never feared any challenge; in fact, it was forged through countless battles. Each battle only makes it stronger. Now, you must feel some fear in your heart, don't you?"

"Yes, a formation. Although you have possessed quite impressive power over the years, you have always been ignorant of formations and have never spent any effort on them. To deal with you, our Poison Sect has indeed used some methods; you will soon know the Master's methods. Master, we disciples are truly incompetent; we cannot help you stop this person. We have failed your guidance and teachings over these years; only death can repay your kindness."

Zhuang Yunzhen truly could not understand the mindset of these people. Did they really lack any sense of self? Was the power of the Poison Sect truly so terrifying that it could turn a normal person into such a state? If so, then the Poison Sect had no reason to exist. This time, he would take the opportunity to destroy everything!

"Hahaha, Zhuang Yunzhen, you are truly impressive. Originally, the Master told me that your power was not insignificant and that only I could solve this problem. At first, I didn't believe it. I thought, even if your divine skills are impressive, what kind of ability could you really have? But now it seems the Master understands you best. Since things have turned out this way, I will naturally fight you with all my might."

"As for my name, if you like, you can call me 'Zhen'—the 'Zhen' of formation. From my name, you can sense that I have no other skills, but I have done some research on formations. To deal with you, I have naturally recreated a few. If you have the guts, you are welcome to try and break them."

"The initial formation has the attribute of fire, which matches your Xuangang Force quite well. If you can break this formation, we can continue. But if you cannot, then it is truly unfortunate; it means your cultivation can only go this far. Though I myself am reluctant, this will be your final moment of glory."

"Hmph, a mere fire-attribute formation? Is it really that powerful? Fine, since you claim your formation is so strong, I am not lacking in courage and would like to break it. When the time comes, I hope you will keep your promise and let me pass."

"Naturally, naturally. You should know that I have always valued promises the most. If you can truly break all my formations, you will be the only person in the world to accomplish this. I would naturally be very happy; you will be my opponent—my only opponent!"

"Therefore, do not let me down, understand? As of now, I have five formations, each corresponding to the Five Elements. You have walked the path of martial arts for many years; you should know clearly that martial arts and the Five Elements complement each other. One cannot exist without the other. Since you possess a divine skill like the Lingyun Record, breaking my formations should be quite easy. Come, what are you waiting for?"

The towering flames seemed to swallow everything. Seeing this, Zhuang Yunzhen's heart became calm. If it were before, he would have felt a trace of fear, but now that he possessed immensely powerful strength, he no longer needed to be afraid. "Moqing, the first person I think of right now is you. Before I met you, I naturally endured many hardships, but these hardships did not defeat me; instead, they made my spirit more resilient. These are the powers you have bestowed upon me."

"I promise you, once this matter is settled, I will return to find you. From then on, we will never be separated again. I have lied to you many times in the past, but this time, I will never lie to you again. I promise!" With a determined gaze, Zhuang Yunzhen walked into the fire-attribute formation. The raging flames engulfed him in an instant.

Inside the Suyi Pavilion, Li Moqing, who had been meditating, finally opened her eyes. She had felt the call just now. "Big Brother, I know. I heard your voice. You said you lied to me, but in truth, you never did. In my memory, you have never changed. We have always had our own responsibilities to fulfill, and I have never forgotten that. You can go forward without worry; if any trouble befalls you, I will surely protect you."

Recently, Li Moqing had been studying the supreme divine skill 'Green Sand Smiles,' a technique taught to her by Flower Aunt when she was trapped in Taiyun Golden Valley. She had only grasped the basics due to lack of time, but after this period of cultivation, she finally realized the extraordinary power of 'Green Sand Smiles.' Combining this divine skill with her 'Undying White Flame,' she could naturally guard those most important to her.

"Since you have made up your mind, then go. Never leave yourself with regrets; this is what Uncle has always taught you. Who says that becoming the Master of Suyi Pavilion means losing one's freedom? You have never been a person who worries about gains and losses. Do what you think is right; that is the real you. I would not want you to become someone you aren't just because of this Suyi Pavilion. If things truly turned out that way, it would be my fault as an uncle."

"In your heart, Zhuang Yunzhen has always been the most important person. I know this clearly. Alright, Suyi Pavilion still has me. There are many things you don't need to worry about. You just go and do what you believe is right and what you ought to do. If anything happens, I, your uncle, will take the burden."

Li Moqing had been raised by Li Feichen. As her uncle, he naturally understood this young girl's temperament perfectly. "Uncle, do you truly know what you are saying? If I really just left like this, it would be different from everything I have learned before. Even so, are you willing?"

"You silly girl, you are quite self-conscious now, aren't you? But you must have forgotten; I have been guarding this place since you were very small. In terms of depth of feeling, you cannot compare to me. Alright, what are you still talking about? Prepare yourself and head out."

To be honest, after hearing these words, Li Moqing truly wanted to see Zhuang Yunzhen immediately, but she could not do so. Big Brother always loved people with a sense of responsibility. If she abandoned Suyi Pavilion just to find him, he would surely be deeply disappointed. At any time, she could not let Big Brother be disappointed. "No, Uncle. Although I truly want to see Big Brother, I know even more clearly what I must do right now. Only by guarding Suyi Pavilion well can I meet Big Brother in a better state later."

"Everything Big Brother is doing is actually for me. Even if he doesn't say it, I know. Precisely because of this, I cannot let him down. Besides, Big Brother's power has become extremely formidable, and I believe that even if I am not by his side, he will surely be able to resolve all these problems."

Seeing the young girl think this way, her uncle, Li Feichen, was naturally very happy. But could she truly bear it? It seemed this girl had grown up a lot during this time, no longer the same as before. "Good. Since you can say that, as your uncle, I am naturally very happy. But this only makes my heart ache for you even more. You finally met someone you loved so much, yet the situation is such that you cannot be together, and even meeting has become a luxury."

It sounded like that was the case, but it was actually quite good. Not meeting was a time to accumulate feelings; when they finally met again, they could truly understand what love was. Even if they had not seen each other, they were both progressing in their own ways.

"Alright, Uncle, this is my own business after all. You raised me, and in my heart, you are the same as Father. How could I bear to see you guarding this place alone? Suyi Pavilion may have a thousand faults, but no matter how bad, it is my home. Therefore, I naturally have the responsibility and obligation to guard it."

***

Zhuang Yunzhen knew that Moqing must have heard his heart's call, and she would surely make her own choice. Suyi Pavilion needed her strength more than he did right now. "Moqing, as long as you are safe, everything else can be left to me."

The astonishing flames did not cause any harm to Zhuang Yunzhen. It turned out that Zhuang Yunzhen had always liked to use his Xuangang Force for protection, and over time, it had become a habit. Although the flames in the formation were extremely powerful, they had no effect against his Xuangang Force. However, while the flames did not hurt him, they possessed high viscosity; Zhuang Yunzhen felt as if he were in a swamp, and every step forward was quite difficult.

"Hahaha, boy, you seem to have realized it now. I have specially crafted these flames over many years. Did you think you could resist everything with your singular power? Honestly, you are too naive. In this fire-attribute formation, there are many flame traps. You must be careful; if you die inside, it would be a waste."

Zhen was very confident in the formations he had researched for many years. This Zhuang Yunzhen was indeed very powerful, but there were heavens beyond heavens, something this young man would never understand. Taking this opportunity to teach him a lesson was quite good.

Because of the accumulation of power over the years, the fire-attribute formation had formed an absolutely independent space. Everything in this space was fire. Soon, a very thick flame condensed into a human shape; it looked like what Zhen had looked like in his youth. "Boy, since you have come here, you should know that even if you want to leave, it is impossible. I am the spiritual projection of Zhen. From now on, I will be responsible for all your battles here."

"That's right. Don't look at me as just a spiritual projection; in this place, it is very easy for me to deal with you. And with my current cultivation, it is absolutely impossible for you to resist."

Zhuang Yunzhen ignored him. He knew very well why he had come here. As long as he could get out, he would do anything. However, he must not speak to this spiritual projection. Once he spoke, he would be forever lost in this place, and leaving would be truly impossible.

Before him was a mist where nothing could be seen clearly. "Yes, you shouldn't be able to see anything clearly now. The only person who can help you is me. Tell me, what have you been working so hard for all these years? Let me tell you: everything you do is useless. No matter how hard you try, the final result will never change."

"However, if you are willing to admit defeat, for the sake of our acquaintance, I can let you out. The temperature here is very high; even if you have the Xuangang Force to protect you, it consumes your own power greatly. Since you cannot persist for long, why persist?"

"This choice is truly the best for you. Honestly, you have such formidable power; if you just destroy it like this, don't you think it's a pity? If it were me, I would definitely make the choice that is best for myself."

"Never be so reckless at any time; that is truly not a good thing for you. Alright, now you can tell me your choice."

"My choice? Hahaha, don't you think what you're saying is ridiculous? You already know what I truly want. I am telling you now: no matter what happens, I will not give up. Your formation, while seemingly powerful, actually has only one ability: to trap me. It seems all you want to see is my endurance. I may lack other powers, but when it comes to endurance, you are truly no match for me. In fact, there are few people in this world who can surpass me."

"I know that the end is not far ahead. As long as I can break through this Fire Swamp, I can get out. You have been trying to trap me, but do you really think that is impossible?"

"Hahaha, you have quite good perception. That's right, the end is not far, but unfortunately, even if you have discovered it, you will absolutely not be able to walk out, because I will never allow it. Boy, since you disagree with my proposal, then let's speak with strength. I want to see what skills you have left!"

"Flame True Fist!"

Suddenly, a tyrannical, unrivaled flame fist slammed toward Zhuang Yunzhen's back. This 'Flame True Fist' was Zhen's unique skill, condensing all his fire in his fists over many years. This punch looked incredibly powerful, and it truly was. Zhuang Yunzhen dared not underestimate it for a second. He turned his body, his palms striking out with the soft 'Clear Wind Jade Dew' and the domineering 'Thunder Move.' Static and dynamic, hard and soft—what kind of powerful force would this produce? It was truly curiosity-inducing!

"Bang!"

The peak moves finally met. Although Zhen had extraordinary attainments in formations, as he had said himself, all his moves were based on formations. Without the formation, he would have no power. How could he withstand Zhuang Yunzhen's powerful and fierce palm technique?

"I can now use the 'Sun and Moon Shining Together' palms perfectly. Before, Shang Ruyi said that even if one didn't learn any other moves, mastering this single palm technique would be enough to stand proud in the world. It seems Senior Shang Ruyi did not lie; this palm technique is truly powerful. I must admit, in the face of this technique, I have no way to resist. However, even if I am not your match, you have tasted the power of my Flame True Fist."

"Do you know what 'Dark Fire' is? This dark fire has already been injected into your body. I think you should be feeling this power now. As long as you forcibly circulate your internal energy, you will inevitably suffer a strong backlash—a backlash you cannot resist!"

Zhuang Yunzhen felt this backlash; it was truly powerful. However, even so, he still held the upper hand. "Zhen, is this what you have been trying to say? But you should know clearly that even if you have injected dark fire into my body, I can still defeat you. My 'Sun and Moon Shining Together' palms are not so easily neutralized. If you don't believe me, come and try to see if what I say is true."

"Bang!" With a loud sound, Zhen was flipped to the ground by an inexplicable force. His expression was truly ugly; he must have been stunned. He had sent a spiritual projection; how could a normal move hit it? "You must be very surprised, right? Why, even though you sent a spiritual projection, I could still defeat you? It's very simple: my palm technique ignores the difference between physical and spiritual entities. As long as the palm technique targets someone, it is done."

"Sometimes, I don't even know if I control the palm technique or if it controls me. But for me now, that doesn't matter. As long as I can defeat you, I am satisfied, and now, this wish of mine can finally be fulfilled."

What kind of answer was that? If it were true that he could hit anyone he targeted, this boy's ability was too terrifying. He wasn't just mastering a palm technique; it had exceeded his understanding. But just because it exceeded his understanding, could he say it didn't exist? It was simply that his own cultivation hadn't reached that level yet.

Zhen had suffered severe internal injuries. He was a hero who had been famous for many years, and he had never imagined he would be injured. Were his formations truly useless? Yes, just one move of the combined 'Sun and Moon Shining Together' palms had destroyed all five attribute formations.

"Zhen, all your formations have been destroyed by me. Without them, what can you do now? I think the one who should admit defeat is you!"

"The path of formations is always difficult to practice. You should know this better than anyone after practicing for so many years. But you have been in this path for a long time; if I asked you to give up, you would naturally be unwilling. However, if you don't give up, you will die."

"Hahaha, we are just new acquaintances. I never expected you to care about me so much. But this concern is truly unnecessary because the one who will die is you. Of course, if you don't believe me, you can try and see."

"Since I promised the Master, I will not let you pass. In fact, you can rest assured: your foster father is very safe. He is originally from the Poison Sect and has many old friends here. With them around, he will be fine. You should go back now. Actually, to deal with you, I have one last move. If possible, I truly do not want to use it. But if you continue to force me, I don't even know what I might do."

Zhuang Yunzhen had suffered severe internal injuries, but he was suppressing them with powerful energy. He had thought that after learning 'Drunken Cloud Deep,' he wouldn't be injured, but he had been naive. This 'Drunken Cloud Deep' could only ensure he could neutralize internal injuries at the first moment, but how long it would take to neutralize them was unknown.

But he had come this far. If he just gave up now, could he bear it? No, he could not accept returning like this. "Zhen, you should know by now that you cannot withstand my power. If you strike again, I really won't be polite."

"Hahaha, not polite? Fine. If you can really do it, I'd like to see it. You have already been hit by the Dark Fire; what can you do now? My spiritual projection has suffered some internal injuries, but so what? Do you think I'm afraid?"

"From the moment I stepped into the path of martial arts, I knew I would not have a good ending. After all, I have done many wrong things in the past. But even if I have to pay a heavy price for those mistakes, I must kill you first. You know that I can do it."

"Yes, yes, yes. Whatever you want to do, you can do it. But looking at the time, I don't have the luxury to play with you anymore. I must leave."

Zhuang Yunzhen activated his movement technique and rushed toward the end. Zhen never expected someone to be so unruly, wanting to leave in the middle of a battle. He thought it was just a contest of movement techniques; did he really think he was afraid? "Zhuang Yunzhen, even if you use your movement technique, it is useless. I said before that your skills cannot be displayed in this formation. Today, I will show you that I have changed the routes of all the formations. Do you think you can leave? No, that is absolutely impossible."

"You are truly annoying. Didn't I say I don't want to fight you? Why do you keep chasing? What good does it do you?"

"Very simple. You run in front, I chase behind. In fact, I have wanted to do this for many years. It's a pity that no one's movement technique has ever been faster than mine, and you are the only one. That is quite good. Come, let us have a good contest and let the world see whose movement technique is better!"

Although Zhen's power was not strong enough, he had researched formations for many years and developed many exquisite footwork techniques. He had never had the chance to display them, but now that he finally had the chance, he wouldn't miss it. Zhuang Yunzhen's movement technique was quite good, and he had raised his power to the limit, but he still couldn't catch up.

"Your movement technique is truly powerful. It is the first time I have seen such exquisite footwork in many years. If you are willing, could you tell me what it is called?"

"This is the 'Flying Bird Phantom Dance' that my junior brother and I created together. In terms of movement techniques, it is the best in the world. What? Do you want to learn it? You should know I won't tell you. I spent a lot of effort to learn this technique."

"Don't waste your time. Whatever you do is useless. Since you can't catch up to me, what can you do?"

"Damn it! Do you think I have no other way? Fine, I will tell you: I have a way. As long as I trap you here, no matter how great your skills are, you will be helpless, right?"

"Is that so? If you can really do it, then try. Hahaha, I have always longed for a powerful opponent, and you are not bad."

"Bang, bang, bang!"

The two men's power was equal, and both brought out their absolute strength. "Fine, since you want to fight, I will satisfy you. But you must be prepared: if you fight me, you will get hurt." Zhuang Yunzhen knew he could no longer avoid it; if he couldn't avoid it, he had to fight.

Why practice martial arts? Naturally, to fight. Only by winning could one avoid being bullied. He had just realized this recently. He had once thought that by stepping into martial arts, he would be respected, but in reality, that was not the case. Many people, even without any martial arts, looked down on practitioners and even used their wits to harm them.

He had seen this many times in the past. Now, he would use his power to tell everyone that anyone on the path of martial arts should possess immense power. With power, nothing was impossible.

"Brother Zhuang, go ahead. Leave this Zhen to us brothers. Oh, by the way, we are helpers sent by Miss Li of Suyi Pavilion. As for our names, you can call us friends; we would be very happy if you did."

"The Miss said that although she is not here, her heart is with you. She is very worried about you, especially since you have internal injuries. But since we brothers are here, everything will change. Zhen, it's been years, you've really changed. Your formation skill is finally mastered, right? That's perfect. Let's have a fight, shall we?"

"The Three Old Men of Wushan? It's you. Damn it, didn't you three retire many years ago? What? Can't stand the loneliness now? Want to fight?"

"It seems your retirement was just a trick. In reality, you never retired, did you?" Seeing these three, Zhen's expression turned grim. He had great grievances with them. He had thought they were retired, but he hadn't expected to see them again.

"That's right, we retired. But we heard you weren't dead yet. We thought, before we truly retire, we must kill you. After all, our grievances should be settled once and for all, shouldn't they? Bullying a junior, what kind of skill is that? If you have the guts, let's play!"

"Thank you, three seniors, for your help. Your kindness is engraved in my heart!"