Chapter 6: She Has Arrived

Countless elite warriors surged toward Zhuang Yunzhen and his companions like a tidal wave. At this moment, the Poison Sect had truly fallen into dire peril. These were the elite disciples that Bupo had painstakingly cultivated over the years. Now, his only remaining desire in life was to wipe out these wretched individuals; only when they were all dead could he truly find peace. "The Poison Sect should have vanished long ago. My child, the White Crystal Tiger, was the last mythical beast in this world. These elite disciples all possess, to varying degrees, the essence blood of mythical beasts. I did this, naturally, to enhance their power. Zhuang Yunzhen, Mansheng, today, not a single soul can help you!"

Du Zhong had never imagined that the situation would end up like this. As the Sect Leader, was he truly out of options now? Looking back at this moment, he discovered that the only person he could truly trust was Su Wen, someone he had previously looked down upon. "There is no need for you to look at anything now. You already knew my answer, didn't you? After all these years, I honestly never expected to find myself fighting side by side with you again."

"You and I have always had deep grievances, but even so, I have always regarded you as a brother. That point has never changed. No matter how much we disliked each other, everything we did was for the sake of the Poison Sect. That much remains constant. Let us begin!"

What else could Du Zhong say? He felt nothing but shame. It seemed he had never truly understood the man before him. At that moment, a sense of heroic spirit surged within him, and the Wu Lei Divine Sword in his hand burst forth with waves of sword cries; it seemed that even a divine weapon was looking forward to this battle.

"Foster father, Sect Leader, how could such a battle be without me?" Zhuang Yunzhen would naturally not miss this fight. Protected by the Profound Steel power of the Lingyun Diagram, he could naturally withstand all elemental damage. Were these three planning to join forces?

"Hahaha, do you three think you are formidable just by joining forces? You are wrong. My elite disciples, each of them now possesses the strength to hold off a hundred. How long do you think you can hold out? What are you waiting for? Attack!"

Countless elite disciples rushed toward the three of them. Zhuang Yunzhen began with a rapid sword technique; the sword qi of his "Sword Drawing Merit" was truly formidable. His footwork was like the wind, and the sword qi in his hand was sharp and fierce. Sword techniques and sword qi were different things; sword qi could be infused into any maneuver. For instance, Zhuang Yunzhen’s palm techniques were now imbued with incredibly powerful sword qi, making his "Sun and Moon Shining Together" palm technique even more lethal—one could say he was wielding swords within his palms.

From "Proud Cold Ice Dance" to "Thunder Movement," all six palm techniques were used with extreme proficiency. To be able to use these techniques without worry felt wonderful. The "Sun and Moon Shining Together" palm technique had now truly achieved a state where yin and yang were fused. "Is this the 'Sun and Moon Shining Together' palm technique you rely on? It looks quite impressive indeed. It is no wonder my child was defeated by you, but even so, we simply cannot tolerate this."

Zhuang Yunzhen was now deeply skilled and was the absolute core of the combat strength among the three. The "Sun and Moon Shining Together" palm technique always grew stronger against stronger opponents. Furthermore, having deeply studied these techniques, he executed them with fluid grace, each move flowing like water. Coupled with the exquisite "Flying Bird Illusion Dance" footwork, even if they could not win, holding their ground was not a problem.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Zhuang Yunzhen was covered in the incredibly powerful Profound Steel energy; Bupo had no way to break through such formidable defensive power. "Two seniors, I will take the vanguard. This man's techniques must still be held back—he is trying to keep some strength in reserve. In his dreams!"

Zhuang Yunzhen used "Burning Heaven" with his left hand and "Proud Cold Ice Dance" with his right—one cold and one hot, two incredibly powerful palm forces were unleashed. Every strike targeted vital points; had Bupo not possessed a solid foundation, he would have been finished long ago.

However, as the Master of Falling Rain Cave, Bupo possessed immense internal power. His footwork alone was top-tier. Zhuang Yunzhen’s palm and footwork were excellent, but he missed repeatedly when facing Bupo’s, which brought him a sense of frustration.

"Boy, is this the extent of your strength after all these years? I hear you can also use the 'Water Controlling Technique,' a divine art. I have never seen it. Could you display it for me to see? They say it was the specialty of the late Water Sovereign, Lian Pingfeng. I really want to witness it. If I break this Water Controlling Technique, wouldn't that prove I am even stronger than the Water Sovereign?"

"Hmph, I don't need the Water Controlling Technique to deal with you. Today, I will let you see the power of the 'Sun and Moon Shining Together' palm!" Zhuang Yunzhen’s footwork suddenly shifted, gaining a rare elegance. One must know that the "Sun and Moon Shining Together" palm technique focused on results and had no specific requirements for footwork. However, there was one move in this set of palm techniques that was beautiful to the extreme, called "Cloud Glow." It was incredibly clear and peerless, as brilliant as the morning clouds. The matching footwork was "Lotus Steps," and thus, a faint fragrance permeated the air. Wherever the sunlight reached, no one could remain hidden.

This was the essence of the "Cloud Glow" move. Bupo’s footwork was fast, but Zhuang Yunzhen’s palm techniques were faster, suppressing his opponent one step ahead every time. This made Bupo extremely furious. He was a hero who had been famous for years, yet all the limelight was being stolen by Zhuang Yunzhen!

Bupo might not have realized it himself, but his combat rhythm had completely collapsed, while Zhuang Yunzhen grew more comfortable, finally unleashing the true essence of these palm techniques. "Senior, I wonder if these techniques of mine are worthy of your notice? I never expected this palm technique could possess such power. This is a good opportunity to use your strength to practice. Once I have fully mastered it, even you will surely be no match for me."

Damn it, was he truly nowhere to hide? Did this brat truly have the ability to foresee the future? But how could that be possible? He refused to accept defeat. He suddenly let out a beast-like roar; the sound waves struck Zhuang Yunzhen like heavy fists. Even with his formidable Profound Steel protection, Zhuang Yunzhen could not withstand it and spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Stinking brat, do you think you can defeat me just because you have such powerful sword techniques? Die!" He struck with both fists, and Zhuang Yunzhen, unable to match him, was sent tumbling to the ground.

"It has been a long time since I used this power. This sonic technique was my signature skill in my youth. I never thought that, even after so many years of disuse, it would still be so powerful. Now, what other tricks do you all have? The Poison Sect was once known as the world’s number one sect, its reputation comparable to the Madman Jun Dao Xing. Alas, years have passed, and the Poison Sect is no longer what it once was. Zhuang Yunzhen, I had high expectations for you, but it seems you truly disappoint me."

"The long-renowned Lingyun Diagram seems nothing more than this. If your junior brother were here today, the two of you might have had a chance to fight me, but relying on yourself alone, it will not be so easy to defeat me. Su Wen, you have lived in seclusion for so many years on Hundred Flower Mountain, wasting away your life. That was a fine choice, but you could not let go of the Poison Sect, could you not let go of your former brothers? You came out of seclusion, but it seems everything you have done is in vain."

"I truly feel sorry for you. You treat others as brothers, but how do they view you? No matter how well you do, they will always be wary of you. Do you remember what I said before? I said that in this world, only I can truly help you. If I were to become the Sect Leader of the Poison Sect, I would certainly value you highly."

"Du Zhong, you don't have to look at me like that. That's right, I am talking about you. Aren't you that kind of person? What? If you are truly unconvinced, then get up and fight me. Today, if you can beat me, you are naturally still the Sect Leader of the Poison Sect. But if you lose, you will know exactly what fate awaits everyone when this Poison Sect falls into my hands!"

"Don't even think about it. As long as I am here, I will never allow anyone to harm the Poison Sect, not even you. Zhuang Yunzhen, can you still move? If you can, listen to me: this Bupo’s power is extremely deep. Your foster father and I need time to prepare, so I need you to hold him off. Can you do it? Mansheng, do whatever you wish, but I hope you will help us for the sake of our past."

"I know the Poison Sect wronged you in the past. If you hold anger in your heart, I will submit to your judgment after this matter is settled. I only ask that you help the man who has loved you for so many years."

At this, Su Wen turned pale. "Du Zhong, do you know what you are saying? You want to release the full power of the 'Other Shore Flower' divine art? And you hope Mansheng will stay, but you know she has no reason to stay! You know this better than anyone, yet you choose to do this. What is your intention?"

"As for Mansheng, I love her most of all. You need not doubt that. But just because I love her, should I harm her?"

"No, who said this woman has no reason to stay? You are just too thick-headed to have ever noticed. Do you think she doesn't love you? She loves you more than anyone. If you don't believe me, she is right here; you can ask her yourself and see if I am lying."

As the saying goes, the bystander sees clearly. Many things Su Wen could not see, Du Zhong saw very clearly. Mansheng’s expression was unnatural; perhaps for her, loving Su Wen was her greatest secret. Although she had never voiced it, others had seen it. Why had Su Wen not noticed?

"There is no need for you to say anything now. I will not go. How much longer are you going to leave me behind? After this parting, will we ever meet again? What? You can't even answer that? I have already missed so many years, must I continue to miss out? Fine, even if you agree, I will not. This time, no matter what, I will stand by your side, and I will never let go of your hand again."

"This power of mine was bestowed upon me by you. If it can truly help you now, then I am very happy. It has been my greatest wish all along. Zhuang Yunzhen, I think you understand the situation clearly. If you cannot hold him off, we will all die."

"Rest assured, seniors. Today, as long as I am here, no one will be able to harm any of you. I was already at odds with Bupo until the death. Bupo, can you continue to fight me? My internal power may not match yours, but my courage will not lose to you!"

"Hmph, you want to release the 'Poison Body' and the 'Other Shore Flower' divine art? I will never allow that. Zhuang Yunzhen, don't get cocky. Once I deal with everyone else, you are next!"

"Roar!" Another astonishing roar followed, exceeding the previous one in power. Yet, this move was ultimately blocked by Zhuang Yunzhen. "Alright, there are no more obstacles. Our grievances can finally be settled. You want to pass? Fine, defeat me first!"

Zhuang Yunzhen’s palms were gentle, surrounded by wisps of cold air. Fierce palm techniques whistled through the air—it was "Clear Wind Jade Dew" and "Proud Cold Ice Dance." Both were based on gentle force. Zhuang Yunzhen finally understood that when fighting Bupo, he could not be impatient, nor could he rely solely on close combat. He had to combine guerrilla tactics with close combat to disrupt his rhythm!

Bupo’s footwork was elusive, constantly dodging the fierce attacks. This brat’s techniques could not be underestimated, but it was impossible for him to win this way. A powerful protective qi aura automatically swirled around his body. "Good brat, since you seek a variable, I will grant it to you!"

Bupo’s footsteps were steady. With such a strong protective aura, even with the "Sun and Moon Shining Together" palm, there was nothing to fear. "Bang! Bang! Bang!" The fierce palm strikes landed on him. "What? Is this your final move after preparing for so long? If this is all you have, I am truly disappointed. You cannot break my protective qi."

"In those days, if the White Crystal Tiger had possessed such protective qi, how could it have ended up like that? But this brat did not learn my protective qi; it is a family secret. You didn't feel it back then, but today, I will let you see a power far more formidable and tyrannical than your so-called Profound Steel power!"

With a loud shout, time and space seemed to pause. The power of the "Sun and Moon Shining Together" palm lost all effect, held firmly in Bupo’s grasp. His eyes were cold and murderous. "Zhuang Yunzhen, I think you want to know why I am called Bupo (Unbreakable), right? It is simple: no technique can break my qi, and I can easily break all the divine arts in this world. Now, let me show you."

"Bang!"

The palm force was shattered before it even touched Bupo. Wherever he passed, everything turned to nothingness. The divine art he practiced was called "Destruction." When fully unleashed, nothing could get near him. This pressure was the first of its kind for Zhuang Yunzhen. Fear—true, visceral fear—gripped his heart. Even with his immense power, he was powerless against such terror.

"Bang!"

A tremendous impact sent Zhuang Yunzhen crashing to the ground. He could no longer muster any strength. "Brat, you have always been arrogant, both in the past and now. And what I hate most are arrogant people. Today, I will let you experience the fear my son felt. Don't worry, there is no one left to help you. No one is coming. Today, you will die because of these people. Soon, your junior brother will join you. No matter where you go, you will be good brothers, won't you?"

"Whoosh!"

Suddenly, a violent gust of wind arrived, carrying immense power as if to swallow Bupo whole. Bupo vanished instantly, but the wind still managed to injure him. "Who is there? Sneaking around, what kind of skill is that? If you have the guts, come out!"

The wind dissipated, and a graceful figure emerged. She was peerless in beauty, and upon seeing Zhuang Yunzhen, she offered a radiant smile. "I am here, Big Brother."

Except for Li Moqing, no one else in the world would call Zhuang Yunzhen that. At this moment, even if the sky were falling, Li Moqing would not spare it a glance; in her eyes, there was only Zhuang Yunzhen.

"Why are you here? Didn't we agree that after this was over, I would return? You still have internal injuries! How could you come out like this? Is your uncle not worried?"

Seeing his beloved, Zhuang Yunzhen was happy, but a hint of reproach colored his tone. She had suffered internal injuries in the Taiyun Golden Valley, and they should not have healed yet. If something went wrong, how would he answer to Elder Li Feichen?

Li Moqing loved it when he was nervous for her. Wasn't a little scolding a sign of love? She reached out to smooth his furrowed brow. "It's alright, don't worry. I cannot stay long. I came to help you finish this wretched fellow and see you. I have missed you so much lately. Big Brother, have you missed me?"

"I have, very much. But since you are here, I can rest easy. I trust you with Bupo."

Perhaps having spent too much time with Liang Xia, Zhuang Yunzhen now liked to show weakness in front of his woman to gain sympathy. One had to admit, the method was highly effective.

Whether it was Ji Anran or Li Moqing, they all fell for it. A man should be protected by his woman; protection was always mutual. "Alright, I know. Relax, I am here. Just watch."

Li Moqing vanished. With a "bang," Bupo had no idea what happened; he was sent flying. The force of the blow was so great that even his protective qi could not withstand it.

Li Moqing did not use the power of the "Undying White Flame," just basic strength, yet it exploded with such force. She did not give him a chance to retaliate. In an instant, she was enveloped in red fire—the "Supreme Red Flame." She intended to end it with this.

"A formidable girl. But that is good, for only then can I kill you with all my might. It seems you are determined to play the hero? Is this the 'Undying White Flame'? Quite impressive, but little girl, you should have known that these techniques are useless against me. I was caught off guard before because I didn't know your style. Now that I do, I am once again invincible."

The "Destruction" divine art was truly formidable; the Supreme Red Flame was indeed repelled. "Hahaha, little girl, you must believe it now. Your Undying White Flame may be the most powerful divine art in the world, but you have met me. All your previous victories will end here."

Bupo’s power was deep, and this palm strike was tyrannical. He seemed very satisfied with such an opponent. "That's right. Zhuang Yunzhen, Su Wen, Du Zhong—none of them are my match. You, little girl, are quite something. Let's see if you can withstand this palm."

"Bang!"

Li Moqing was fearless. The Undying White Flame was inherently tyrannical, and years of cultivation had given her a foundation far beyond ordinary people. Even without the flame, her raw strength alone could defeat him. She had practiced since she was young, and her basics were rock-solid.

This unnamed palm technique was executed with extreme proficiency. Countless palm shadows rained down on Bupo. However, his protective qi was too powerful. Even with all her strength, she could not cause him the slightest injury.

"Useless. I told you, little girl, you cannot break my protective qi. Why won't you believe it? This set of techniques must be a heavy burden on you. The more you use them, the more severe your internal injuries will become. Look at yourself—your breathing is chaotic, yet you still don't know what is happening."

"Little girl, from the moment you began fighting me, you were in my formation. My formation adjusts the opponent's breathing. Your breathing is now rapid; if this continues, you will be the first to die. But I will give you one chance: surrender, and I will cultivate you. The Poison Sect needs talent. What do you say? Will you become my most loyal subordinate?"

Li Moqing felt like she had just heard a hilarious joke. "Hahaha, Bupo, who do you think I am? You want me to be your subordinate? Hmph, you are not qualified!"

Her breathing grew more rapid, and her blood flow accelerated; she felt as if she were being scorched by fire.

"What a pity. You have such powerful internal power. I know your background, but you should know that the Su Yi Tower is no longer what it once was. No matter how hard you strive, you cannot change anything. Do you believe me?"

"Zhuang Yunzhen, take a good look at your woman. Is this how you treat your lover? She might die because of you. Do you have nothing to say? You call yourself a man? You should take over this fight, or your woman will truly die."

"No, I will not intervene. Bupo, you may not know Moqing’s temperament. If I were to intervene in her battle, she would be angry. I would do anything for her, except make her angry. Hmph, a person like you wouldn't understand."

"Hahaha, of course I don't understand, because I don't need to. To me, everyone here is already a corpse."

Zhuang Yunzhen trusted Moqing completely. In truth, she had not yet shown her real strength; she was waiting for something, though only she knew what.

The time had not yet arrived. Bupo’s power was indeed formidable; he was the strongest person he had ever seen. One could not be impatient against such an opponent. "Old fool, don't be smug. You will soon see how powerful I truly am. You may have controlled my breathing, but is my Supreme Red Flame so easily suppressed? You are too naive. My flame has already been injected into your body; it just needs time to erupt."

"What did you think I was waiting for? The timing is just right. You feel it now, don't you? Something different inside your body. My Undying White Flame has been passed down for so many years; it is always a top-tier divine art."

"I know it won't be easy to defeat you with my current power, but that doesn't mean I am out of options. Since I said I have a way to deal with you, I will do it. You dare bully my Big Brother, so I will make you pay the price."

"Pfft!" Bupo felt his blood churning. This power was something he couldn't suppress. How was this possible? He had cultivated for so many years, yet he couldn't handle this? If he tried to suppress it, he would suffer a backlash.

He hadn't expected such ruthlessness from this girl. "Good, very good. I, Bupo, thought my return would shake the world, but I stumbled here. Tell me, what do you want?"

He tried to stall for time, hoping to eventually suppress the Supreme Red Flame. Li Moqing knew his thoughts. "Old fool, trying to stall? You think your power can easily suppress my divine art? You are wrong. Do you know why the Undying White Flame is called that? Because it was created by my Su Yi Tower, the Li family, using our bloodline power."

"Suppression? Many have tried over the years, but they all failed. Bupo, after fighting you, I know what you are. You were once a mythical beast, but you had the good fortune to take human form. I feel not a trace of beastly aura on you."

Bupo’s expression turned savage. "Hahaha, after the great storm centuries ago, my child and I were the last two mythical beasts. The rest were sealed by your ancestors. We sought to restore the glory of the beasts, but everything we did was in vain."

"My child was more miserable; it wanted to be strong, but died at the hands of Zhuang Yunzhen and Liang Xia. From then on, I knew the spirit energy of this world was lost due to the seals. We had no chance to regain it. The only way to live was to shed the beast’s bones and become human."

"I spent much effort and succeeded. I am a new me. But the divine arts I cultivated as a beast were preserved by chance, or how would I have such power?"

"I found that as a human, using the 'Destruction' divine art had no side effects. I knew I had succeeded. Now that you know, I will let you feel my true strength!"

"I know the Undying White Flame is your family's bloodline art. But you don't know that years ago, I met Lord Zhuque. He saw my potential and guided me for half a day. Since then, I have feared no fire. Now that you know everything, you have no need to exist. Die!"

It wasn't that he didn't fear fire; it was that he could absorb any fire in the world. Zhuque had valued his unique constitution—the ability to absorb all attributes—and that, combined with the "Destruction" art, made him what he was today.

"Actually, I should thank you, Li Moqing. If not for you, my power wouldn't have reached perfection. Hahaha, after waiting all these years, I have finally succeeded. Su Wen, Du Zhong, I will give you a chance. You wanted to release the 'Other Shore Flower' art? Fine, I give you that chance. I will defeat you fairly to resolve my resentment!"

"Little girl, you don't need to be so tense. I have no interest in you as an opponent. Don't worry, if your man dies, you are no threat to me. Look at Zhuang Yunzhen’s face; he is suffering a massive backlash! Brat, you should know now that those two men are not good people."

"Their true purpose is simple: to absorb your Profound Steel power. The 'Other Shore Flower' divine art is unstable; it has too many flaws. Why do you think the ancestors of the Poison Sect sealed it?"

"Because he saw the problem. But his successors foolishly tried to 'improve' it. Hmph, that is nonsense. The more they did, the greater the flaws. This divine art is no longer meant for humans to cultivate."

"No, I was wrong. This divine art is no longer meant for humans at all. Du Zhong, they say you are the only one since the ancestors to master it. You must have suffered much pain over the years. You tried to use Profound Steel power to neutralize the power of the Other Shore Flower. Now that you know the truth, do you think Zhuang Yunzhen will still do it? Of course not! Hahaha!"