Chapter 255

Zhan Yue Peak.

After the alarm bell was rung within the peak, Yuwen Chengqing, who had been in seclusion in a secret chamber, finally reacted.

He snapped open his eyes, his entire body radiating a grim and mighty martial aura.

In the quiet hall opposite him, seven elders of Zhan Yue Peak sat in meditation, utterly absorbed in their martial cultivation, deaf to all outside noise.

Seeing this, Yuwen Chengqing nodded in satisfaction and muttered to himself:

"Good. Martial cultivation is like rowing upstream—stop advancing, and you fall back. If I don't regularly compel the elders to enter seclusion, they'll eventually be drained by wine and lust, and my Luoshen Peak will surely be doomed!"

In Yuwen Chengqing's view, Heaven rewards diligence—only through constant cultivation and seclusion could the peak produce more martial experts.

Sometimes Yuwen Chengqing even wondered: if the elders of other peaks in Luoshen Peak were as diligent as he was, constantly entering seclusion and cultivating hard, perhaps Luoshen Peak's unification of the Three Sects might be just around the corner.

"Sigh, the sect is still far too lazy. When can I find an opportunity to propose to the Zhang Sect that all peak disciples be forced to cultivate at least eighty percent of their time?"

As he thought this, Yuwen Chengqing frowned, then looked up, a flicker of confusion crossing his face:

"Why is the alarm bell ringing now? I already told Lady to come find me anytime there's an emergency."

Yuwen Chengqing suddenly rose to his feet, a faint sense of dread stirring in his chest.

Yet he did not disturb the elders still meditating; instead, his form shifted, and he headed directly out of the secret chamber.

Soon, a powerful and terrifyingly vast aura erupted abruptly from the summit of Zhan Yue Peak.

In an instant, all disciples still within the peak who had not yet fled were stunned into stillness by the horrifying martial aura, frozen in place, daring not to move a muscle.

At the same time, Sikong Xuan looked up toward the summit of Zhan Yue Peak, a flash of sharp light passing through his cloudy eyes, his aged body gradually rising with an intense battle intent.

His purpose in coming to Luoshen Peak was precisely this: with his days few, he wished to ride his horse through the martial world one last time, to fight a glorious, satisfying battle and fulfill his long-held dream—even if it cost him his life.

But before he even began, Yulan Peak surrendered; though later he did strike Yumianjiao a palm.

Yet fighting someone who offers no resistance is like slapping a rock—what meaning is there in that?

Now, finally, he has encountered a hard bone to chew, perfect for a satisfying fight—making this journey to Luoshen Peak worthwhile.

Just as Sikong Xuan's battle intent surged, Yuwen Chengqing, upon exiting seclusion, moved instantly to the location on the peak where the alarm bell had been rung.

He grabbed a disciple who had already collapsed under the pressure of his aura and demanded in a deep voice:

"What happened on the peak?"

The disciple took a long moment to react, then struggled to speak:

"Peak Master… Luoshen Peak is gone!"

"What?"

Yuwen Chengqing's face changed instantly. He was about to demand further details when the disciple, overwhelmed by the terrifying aura radiating from him, fainted dead away, losing consciousness.

Seeing this, Yuwen Chengqing tossed the man aside and hurriedly sought out other disciples to question.

How long had he been in seclusion? Luoshen Peak was gone already?

When had this happened? Why had he received no word at all?

Thus, Yuwen Chengqing seized several disciples still remaining on the peak and questioned them, eventually piecing together the full story.

"The Zhang Sect and the Four Venerables are all dead? How is that possible!"

Yuwen Chengqing was struck as if by lightning, unable to accept this sudden, devastating news.

After all, he hadn't even finished his seclusion—and now he emerged to find the sky of Luoshen Peak had changed!

Everything made him feel as if he had stepped out of time, as if caught in a nightmare!

Yet reality kept hammering home: this was unquestionably true.

Even when he went to find his Lady, he discovered she had already packed her belongings and fled—the room was empty.

At this moment, the number of disciples still remaining on Zhan Yue Peak was dwindling to almost nothing.

In an instant, Yuwen Chengqing collapsed onto the stone steps outside Lady Ni's courtyard, his once-old face suddenly appearing decades older.

The blow of Luoshen Peak's annihilation was clearly unbearable.

He had spent most of his life training day and night without rest, finally breaking through to attain this position as Peak Master—only a few years ago.

Yet now, it seemed as if he had merely closed his eyes and opened them again—and Luoshen Peak was gone!

Who could accept this?

At that moment, Sikong Xuan's thunderous voice echoed across the entire Zhan Yue Peak:

"Yuwen Chengqing! You stayed and defended your sect instead of fleeing—I respect you as a true man. Now that you've emerged from seclusion, come down the mountain and fight me! Let us settle this with a duel to the death!"

Sikong Xuan's voice reverberated across Zhan Yue Peak, echoing everywhere.

Yuwen Chengqing snapped back to his senses, instantly rising to his feet, unleashing a towering, razor-sharp, deadly aura—his terrifying martial energy surged like a dammed river breaking free, crashing down the mountain.

Below on the mountain's foot, Sikong Xuan saw the overwhelming aura rushing toward him and stroked his beard with a sigh:

"Excellent!"

Immediately, his martial true qi surged, and he thrust out a palm, drawing in the surrounding heavenly qi with furious speed, preparing to clash with Yuwen Chengqing.

But the next instant, Sikong Xuan looked up and suddenly realized—the vast aura had vanished in an instant, reversing and retracting completely, as if it had never existed.

His outstretched hand froze mid-air; his brow furrowed in utter confusion.

On Zhan Yue Peak, Yuwen Chengqing immediately suppressed his aura and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

A wave of sudden dread flooded his heart!

Just now, spurred by Sikong Xuan's words, he had acted on instinct.

But halfway through, he had suddenly awakened.

He had almost dared to resist and strike back at the Great Li Shengzhou Tianjinwei? That was no different from suicide!

The Great Li court's elite here had already killed the Zhang Sect and the Four Venerables.

Before such beings, the enemy could kill him with a single move—any resistance would be nothing but a joke!

His martial talent was far inferior to the other Peak Masters of Luoshen Peak; he had spent most of his life in relentless, daily training to achieve his hard-won martial cultivation.

The hardships and difficulties were known only to himself; how could he willingly die such a pointless death?

As he pondered, Yuwen Chengqing's expression shifted wildly; then he drew a deep breath and made up his mind—he would abandon Zhan Yue Peak and flee immediately.

Yet at this moment, Ouyang Beiqi Ming Qi below the mountain noticed Yuwen Chengqing suddenly stopping, his gaze flickered, and he could not bear to watch his own senior brother, so courageous, perish right before his eyes; he immediately called out to advise:

"Senior Brother Yuwen, Luoshen Peak's fate is sealed. Even if we fight to the death, it will do no good. Why not join us and surrender to the Great Li Court? Perhaps we may still achieve great things."

At these words, Sikong Xuan's beard and hair bristled instantly; he whirled and glared fiercely at Ouyang Beiqi Ming Qi:

"Don't speak out of turn and ruin my plans!"

At that moment, Yuwen Chengqing on Zhan Yue Peak heard Ouyang Beiqi Ming Qi's shout; his form, already prepared to flee, froze.

The next instant, his expression changed, and he immediately suppressed his own aura.

His shadow flashed, rushing swiftly to a boulder halfway up the mountain, then quietly gazing downward.

Through the night mist of the mountain, he could see the Shengzhou Tianjinwei troops below had surrounded Zhan Yue Peak entirely, like a sealed bucket.

With the light of the torches below, he spotted at once Sikong Xuan at the head, and beside him, Yumianjiao, Peak Lord of the Ninth Peak, and Ouyang Beiqi Ming Qi, Peak Lord of the Fifth Peak.

The situation was clear without words: these two had long since betrayed the sect and surrendered, now serving as hounds of the Great Li Shengzhou Tianjinwei.

Seeing this, Yuwen Chengqing, hidden behind the boulder, was filled with turbulent emotions.

After a moment, he gritted his teeth, his form shifting instantly as he headed straight for the mountain's base, shouting loudly:

"Ouyang Junior Brother speaks truly—I surrender. I will not be stubborn to the end."

Yumianjiao and the others all looked up; Sikong Xuan's cloudy eyes darkened instantly, and he barked:

"Surrender without even fighting? It's a trick. Let me capture him first!"

Without another word, Sikong Xuan launched an attack toward Yuwen Chengqing, who was approaching.

He had finally found a hard bone—and now it softened before he even struck? How could he let the man succeed so easily?

Luoshen Peak had only this last Peak Lord left. Surrender? Not a chance!

Surrender means deception!

Instantly, the true qi of heaven and earth beneath Zhan Yue Peak boiled.

Sikong Xuan slapped forward; brilliant green light surged, and dozens of palm imprints tore through air and wind, hurtling toward Yuwen Chengqing.

Yuwen Chengqing's face changed; he gathered a true qi barrier to block the assault while retreating rapidly, shouting:

"I surrender sincerely! Do not misunderstand!"

"I'd believe you if pigs could fly!"

Sikong Xuan vanished from his spot, transforming into a green shadow chasing Yuwen Chengqing, coldly saying:

"All other Luoshen Peak Peak Lords fled or surrendered. Only you remained in seclusion, hoping to break through and deliver a fatal blow to the Shengzhou Tianjinwei."

Everyone saw it. Now you emerge from seclusion and suddenly surrender? Do you think we'd believe you? Do you really think I'm a fool?"

At this moment, who cared whether Yuwen Chengqing's surrender was real or fake?

He treated all as fake—only then did he have reason to strike. If Yuwen Chengqing truly surrendered, he could not attack him, and this entire mission to Luoshen Peak would be a wasted trip!

Seeing Sikong Xuan relentlessly pursuing him, Yuwen Chengqing fled toward the opposite mountain slope, turning back to explain.

He earnestly claimed he had been in seclusion and unaware of events outside, which was why he had not emerged; otherwise, he would have been the first to surrender to the Great Li Court.

Yet Sikong Xuan paid no heed to Yuwen Chengqing's explanations; he did not halt his pursuit, but roared in fury:

"I misjudged you completely—you're just a coward!"

Seeing this, Yuwen Chengqing seemed to have no choice but to flee desperately forward.

But when his gaze lifted to the path ahead, a strange glint flashed in his eyes.

At the foot of Zhan Yue Peak, Yumianjiao watched the pursuing figures of Yuwen Chengqing and Sikong Xuan vanish into the night, frowning slightly: "Will it be safe letting Master Sikong chase after him? Should we follow and assist?"

Hearing this, Ouyang Beiqi Ming Qi stared at the disappearing backs of the two, his expression thoughtful: "I think Master Sikong doesn't want us interfering—he seems eager to fight."

"Still, we should follow closely. If something truly happens, we can act then. Perhaps we'll even earn a merit—our safety within the Shengzhou Tianjinwei will be more secure!"

Yumianjiao's eyes flickered, then she nodded lightly.

Immediately, both she and Ouyang Beiqi Ming Qi blurred forward, chasing the direction where Sikong Xuan and Yuwen Chengqing had vanished.

Yet halfway there, Ouyang Beiqi Ming Qi suddenly lifted his gaze toward the direction Yuwen Chengqing had fled, a clear flicker of suspicion in his eyes.

He frowned slightly, but said nothing, silently continuing to follow.

However, when chasing halfway, Ouyang Beiqi Ming Qi suddenly raised his head and looked toward the direction Yuwen Chengqing had fled, a distinct strange color flashing in his eyes.

Main Peak of Luoshen Peak.

The hemp-robed elder and Lin Xun'er delivered Li Muxian to the Main Peak of Luoshen Peak, then hurriedly departed for Bai Lian Peak, fearing their enemy might escape!

Li Muxian, accompanied by the clingy black cat, ascended the Main Peak, standing at the center of the Eight Peaks.

When they arrived at the Main Peak, word had already spread; many elders and disciples had fled, but some remained on the peak.

Among them, some planned to surrender once the Shengzhou Tianjinwei arrived; others, clearly devoted to Luoshen Peak, intended to fight to the death, vowing to perish with the sect!

Li Muxian had no intention of acting against these people—they would be handled by Fu Qiwén and the Shengzhou Tianjinwei.

But upon entering the Main Peak with the black cat, he kept encountering foolish elders and disciples who attacked him.

The result: the moderately strong were pinpoint-killed by Li Muxian; the weak were clawed to death by the black cat.

This black cat was not only large, but also formidable—ordinary Luoshen Peak disciples were no match for it.

Moreover, the black cat killed with ferocity; its glowing green eyes glared with the menace of a demon!

Eventually, Li Muxian followed the information obtained from the Luoshen Zhang Sect leader, arriving at a secret cave near the northern summit of the Main Peak.

But whether the Luoshen Zhang Sect leader had been cunning—or had forgotten due to the agony of the Life-and-Death Charm—he had not revealed the truth.

The secret cave was filled with traps; Li Muxian pondered for a long while but could not decipher the method of breaking it. Finally, with no other option, he relied on brute force, blasting every trap into rubble.

However, whether the Shenfengzhang Sect leader kept a hidden thought in mind or was too tormented by the Life-and-Death Talisman to remember to speak remains unknown.

Within this secret cave, traps were layered heavily; Li Musheng pondered for a long while yet could not fathom the method of breaking it, so in the end, with no other choice, he relied on brute force to overcome ten thousand schemes, directly blasting every trap into dust.

After forcibly resisting various poisons and the traps left by the Zhang Sect of the Fallen God Peak through the ages, Li Musheng, accompanied by the big black cat, finally entered the interior of the secret cave.

(End of this chapter)