Chapter 237: Advance

“Too difficult!”

Li Muxian stared at his palm, sighing and shaking his head.

He had no clear answer yet to these speculations—he could only continue groping forward on his own.

Immediately, he retracted his hand, clenching the crimson vein patterns and divine blood within his palm.

Simultaneously, he activated the “Devouring God Method” and the Azure Dragon’s Vast Void Scripture.

Absorb even a little—it’s just a matter of spending more time; once these forces fully merge into his body, they’ll still have their effect.

Moreover, once the Azure Dragon’s Vast Void Scripture is truly perfected, the speed of absorbing divine blood will likely increase further.

As he thought, Li Muxian temporarily withdrew his attention from the divine blood, shifting his gaze downward to the grandfather and granddaughter still sitting motionless in the carriage.

The hemp-clad elder and Lin Xuner’s faces still bore shock, and deep fear lingered in their eyes.

Earlier, they had seen the Disciple Master of Luoshen Peak use a secret technique to block Li Muxian’s single finger, which had effortlessly crushed Zheng Yunfeng.

They had assumed Li Muxian was powerless against him, and that when Luoshen Peak’s even older, more formidable elders arrived, his situation would become dire.

Yet the next moment, Li Muxian unexpectedly seized control of the overconfident Disciple Master of Luoshen Peak—once again leaving them stunned.

But they had also seen clearly how Li Muxian tortured him with the Life-and-Death Seal.

The Disciple Master’s agonized screams still burned vividly in their minds; Li Muxian’s terrifying interrogations before killing him filled them with primal dread.

At that moment, the hemp-clad elder and Lin Xuner felt their bodies suddenly loosen—the sealed acupoints vanished instantly.

They were now free to move, yet Li Muxian’s mocking voice echoed in their ears:

“You ran faster than anyone at Baixiang Pavilion—only now do you remember I’m here when your life’s in danger?”

As he spoke, Li Muxian glanced at them. With Luoshen Peak’s experts yet to arrive, he had some spare time.

So he stroked his chin and asked:

“Still, I’m curious—what grudge do you have with Luoshen Peak that you’re rushing straight to deliver your heads?”

At this, the hemp-clad elder and Lin Xuner exchanged glances, hesitating visibly.

But quickly, they remembered Li Muxian’s terrifying martial prowess—and the image of Luoshen Peak’s Disciple Master suffering a living death flashed in their minds.

Of course, they weren’t ungrateful; Li Muxian had genuinely saved their lives just now.

This left them both fearful of Li Muxian—and deeply grateful to him.

At this, the hemp-clad elder’s expression shifted rapidly, then he solemnly bowed to Li Muxian and said:

“Old man thanks Young Master Li for saving us. Your grace shall be remembered for life.”

Then he glanced at Lin Xuner beside him and sighed:

“We came to Bailian Peak to avenge my eldest granddaughter…”

The hemp-clad elder then recounted the full story.

It began when one of Zheng Yunfeng’s sons, while traveling through a sect’s territory, set his lustful eyes on Lin Xuner’s elder sister.

Driven by lust, he used Luoshen Peak’s name to pressure the sect, demanding they surrender her to him.

But the sect Lin Xuner’s sister belonged to was rare in its righteousness and integrity—despite Luoshen Peak’s might, they refused outright.

This angered Zheng Yunfeng’s son, who led a group of Bailian Peak experts and wiped out the entire sect in one night. Lin Xuner’s sister, refusing to submit, detonated her dantian and died.

After hearing the elder’s account, Li Muxian showed no reaction. This tale was merely one shadow among countless grudges in the vast martial world.

Of course, it was also one more example of Luoshen Peak’s lawless tyranny over the realm.

Such atrocities by Luoshen Peak disciples were countless; most lacked the power—or even the courage—to seek revenge. Few, like this grandfather and granddaughter, dared to storm Luoshen Peak itself.

Thinking of this, Li Muxian shook his head. He no longer teased them, but after a moment’s thought, said:

“Wait here. Don’t go to Bailian Peak yet—you’ll just get captured and killed on the way.”

After the Disciple Master sent his signal, Luoshen Peak would surely dispatch stronger experts to Bailian City. If they went now, they’d likely run into them again.

And their strength was clearly no match for such experts.

The elder and Lin Xuner understood this well—Lin Xuner had been captured earlier precisely because she hadn’t thought ahead, and now she deeply regretted it.

Hearing Li Muxian say this, they didn’t refuse—nor did they dare.

Li Muxian glanced at them, nodded, then narrowed his eyes and said:

“Don’t worry. Once I kill all Luoshen Peak’s experts, you’ll have more than enough chances to avenge yourselves.”

Such a perfect moment for showing off must have an audience—he thought these two were perfect.

Hearing this, the elder and Lin Xuner paused slightly. But then they recalled how Li Muxian had killed Luoshen Peak’s Disciple Master.

To their surprise, they didn’t think his words were mere arrogance.

Li Muxian had already given them too many shocks; instead, a faint sense of anticipation stirred within them.

They exchanged glances, each seeing an unusual gleam in the other’s eyes.

Li Muxian stood alone against the colossal Luoshen Peak. Tonight, they might witness history being written—a moment that would leave a deep mark on the martial world.

Thinking it over, they felt a strange thrill rising.

Lin Xuner faintly furrowed her delicate brows, when suddenly Li Muxian’s voice drifted softly into her ear:

“How old are you?”

Lin Xuner instinctively looked up—and saw Li Muxian above her, his gaze fixed on her, studying her intently.

Li Muxian had sensed something odd about Lin Xuner before, but hadn’t been able to pinpoint it. With Luoshen Peak’s experts still absent, he decided to ask again.

Previously, she could have easily distracted him—after all, who directly asked a girl her age?

But times had changed. Her face hesitated briefly, then she reluctantly mumbled:

“I’m eighteen.”

Hearing this, Li Muxian nodded in satisfaction:

“I knew you were off. You’re not young, yet you pretend to be—clearly suspicious from the start.”

Lin Xuner froze. Who was pretending to be young?

She took a deep breath and explained:

“This is a side effect of the divine art I cultivate—‘Eight Wastes Sole Sovereignty.’ Before each realm breakthrough, my body regresses into childhood form, lasting seventy-seven days before returning to my true appearance.”

Li Muxian raised an eyebrow. The martial art Lin Xuner described resembled one he’d known in his past life.

But he didn’t dwell on it.

The martial world held countless strange techniques—even divine beings existed. Lin Xuner’s art wasn’t the strangest he’d encountered.

Satisfied, Li Muxian dismissed the elder and Lin Xuner, waved his hand, and let them go about their business.

He resumed absorbing divine blood while refining the final critical sections of the Azure Dragon’s Vast Void Scripture.

The elder and Lin Xuner didn’t stray far. They hid themselves in a nearby abandoned tavern, not far from Baixiang Pavilion.

Meanwhile, after the Disciple Master of Luoshen Peak sent his signal, the nine peaks of Luoshen Peak and the covert Tianjin Guards of Great Li all saw the brilliant golden flame in the night.

Everyone immediately realized something major had happened in Bailian City—especially Luoshen Peak members, who knew exactly what the unique golden flame signified.

According to Luoshen Peak’s rules, any disciple who saw this signal must rush to assist immediately—failure to do so was treason.

As the Disciple Master, the heir apparent to the sect, his life was of utmost importance to Luoshen Peak.

But times had changed. Not only was the golden flame appearing within Luoshen Peak’s own territory—where the main peak would respond—but

the other peaks had already received reports from Bailian Peak, knowing their own peak’s master had fallen to the unknown expert in Bailian City.

Each peak’s master, whether seeking self-preservation or acknowledging their own limits, realized they couldn’t defeat the expert—and none went themselves. Instead, they merely sent a few elders as token reinforcements.

The only exceptions were Bailian Peak and the Eighth Peak, Zhan Yue Peak.

Upon sensing their own peak’s master had perished in Bailian City with such terrifying martial prowess, Bailian Peak’s disciples felt as if heaven had collapsed.

Panic and terror gripped them all. If Zheng Yunfeng had been killed in Bailian City, then the expert was now dangerously close—and would likely come to Bailian Peak next.

But even their peak’s supreme master had been no match. How could they possibly stand against him?

For a moment, Bailian Peak didn’t even consider sending reinforcements. Had it not been for the death penalty for desertion, they’d have scattered like birds and beasts, fleeing for their lives.

All they could do now was promise themselves: don’t run.

As for Zhan Yue Peak, all its elders—including its master—were in seclusion. The acting overseer, Lady Ni, was busy enjoying herself with young, strong men—she had no time to care about Bailian Peak’s fate.

Thus, Zhan Yue Peak sent not a single disciple. As their overseer put it: “When heaven falls, the tall ones hold it up. Sending disciples now is just suicide. Better to play it safe.”

Meanwhile, the Tianjin Guards advancing secretly toward Luoshen Peak’s Fourth Peak had witnessed both signals from Bailian City.

After Bailian Peak’s Grand Elder sent his signal, the temporary commander overseeing the other three Tianjin Guard divisions had already secretly contacted Fu Qiwén, inquiring about the anomaly in Bailian City.

Initially, Fu Qiwén, concerned for Li Muxian’s safety, had concealed his knowledge that Li Muxian was in Bailian City.

But after seeing Li Muxian defeat Zheng Yunfeng with a single strike, he abandoned his plan and informed the other three of Li Muxian’s presence in Bailian City.

Why? Naturally, he was thinking of Li Muxian’s interests.

In Fu Qiwén’s view, Li Muxian’s ability to defeat Zheng Yunfeng in one blow proved he could escape Luoshen Peak unscathed.

And as the sole Imperial Prince assigned to eliminate Luoshen Peak, Fu Qiwén could not let Li Muxian’s monumental achievement go unacknowledged.

Moreover, spreading the news from Bailian City would greatly boost Tianjin Guard morale, giving them hope that Luoshen Peak could be destroyed.

Fu Qiwén’s action was undeniably significant.

But shortly after sending the message, the Disciple Master of Luoshen Peak unleashed the golden flame signal.

This shocked Fu Qiwén once again—he realized Li Muxian had eliminated another key figure of Luoshen Peak.

“Rui’an, who do you think His Highness just killed?”

Fu Qiwén turned to Hu Rui’an beside him. He was slowly accepting the truth: Li Muxian, the newly recognized Eighth Prince of Emperor Yuanwu, was truly an unparalleled expert.

At this, Hu Rui’an glanced at Fu Qiwén, silently grumbling: How could he possibly know who His Highness killed from this distance? He didn’t have a thousand-mile eye.

But he would never voice his thoughts. Instead, he thought quickly and replied:

“I don’t know. But His Highness has now drawn Luoshen Peak’s full attention in Bailian City—this is a rare opportunity. I recommend we advance with full force and seize Yuxing Peak as quickly as possible.”

Hearing this, Fu Qiwén calmed his thoughts, then slowly nodded and said:

“I was thinking the same.”

……

Several miles outside Yulan City, in the mountains and forests, Sikong Xuan, former Commander of the Great Li Tianjin Guard, stood hunched over.

His hair was entirely white, his face withered, his eyes clouded and terrifying.

At this moment, hearing the falcon message sent back by his subordinate—reporting the words of Fu Qiwén, the current Commander of the Great Li Tianjin Guard—his aged face showed shock and doubt.

“I have lived in seclusion among the countryside—when did Great Li produce a prince with such terrifying martial cultivation?”

Sikong Xuan’s voice was hoarse, struggling to believe the content of Fu Qiwén’s message.

Yet in truth, he knew well that Fu Qiwén—the very son he had personally entrusted with the Tianjin Guard’s authority—could never deceive him under such circumstances.

At this moment, the subordinate who delivered the message quickly replied:

“My lord, the Eighth Prince is a newly recognized son of the Emperor; he once wandered among the common folk and only recently returned to the imperial capital.”

(End of Chapter)