[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-after-the-sky-fell":3,"chapter-after-the-sky-fell-after-the-sky-fell-chapter-147":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","After the Sky Fell",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2281003,4462,"Chapter 147","after-the-sky-fell-chapter-147",147,"\u003Cp>146. The Last One\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, everyone’s gaze was fixed on Li Yi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though they did not know Li Yi, the named Qi-refining experts in San Yang City were few, and the only young martial artist who could suddenly intervene and help Zhao Ge defeat Liu Taigong under these circumstances was none other than Li Yi, the senior disciple of the Zhao Family Martial Arts Hall, as rumored today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before today, no one knew who Li Yi was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after today, every martial practitioner in San Yang City would know the name Li Yi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is this really Zhao Ge’s final disciple? So young—how old is he? Twenty-five? Probably not even twenty-five. To possess Qi-refining strength at such an age is simply unbelievable—his potential dwarfs even that of so-called noble family disciples. With a few more years of cultivation, he will surely become a top-tier powerhouse.\" Zhang Tiefeng, the weapons workshop owner, stared in astonishment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had imagined many possibilities, but never that the man who had slain two hall masters would be this young.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Age is crucial for martial artists—it reflects potential. Take Qi-refining: if you cannot reach it by thirty, when your blood and qi peak, you’ll never achieve it. Likewise, if Li Yi has reached Qi-refining at twenty, then in ten years, when his blood and qi reach their zenith, becoming a Qi-tempering master will be inevitable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That punch was terrifying. Liu Taigong’s final strike surpassed his own peak—even so, this man crushed it back with sheer force. In the Qi-refining realm, he is unmatched. To defeat him, only a coalition of multiple Qi-refining experts might stand a chance.” Another workshop owner squinted, his heart still trembling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So this is Li Yi, the senior disciple of the Zhao Family Martial Arts Hall? Not only handsome and youthful, but tall and powerfully built—what kind of bones and sinews must he have? Truly, one could stare until drooling.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Sanjie, the flower workshop owner, her eyes darting, kept scanning this ferocious dragon who had entered San Yang City, unable to resist licking her small red lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing such a man stirred a deep hunger within her—a feeling she hadn’t felt in years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Meng De, you’ve come?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ge adjusted his breath and steadied his stance: “You’ve seen my humiliation, Master. I’m truly old and useless—couldn’t even take down an old man on his deathbed. I’ve lost all dignity. Had you not appeared in time, I’d have been dragged to the grave with Liu Taigong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, you’re still recovering from serious injuries—your strength is severely diminished. Losing to him is normal. After all, he used his heart’s blood to forcibly restore his peak power and fought like a man dying. Even another Qi-refining expert would have had to retreat.” Li Yi spoke, not judging Zhao Ge as weak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, he thought his master too stubborn—knowing he was still wounded, he still chose to brawl fist-to-fist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, he should have avoided the enemy’s sharp edge, waited for their blood and qi to weaken, then turned defeat into victory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Yi understood his master’s stubbornness. After a lifetime of fist training, facing a weaker opponent and retreating instead of advancing would be unbearable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t comfort me, Meng De. I’m not that fragile. Losing isn’t the end—I’ve lost more than once before.” Zhao Ge shook his head. He truly felt he was no longer what he once was—defeated, then defeated again. Had he not had a good disciple, he’d have been dead long ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But Master, don’t lose heart. Once these matters are settled, heal your wounds, supplement with great elixirs—your strength might even improve, and you could still break through to Qi-tempering, becoming a top-tier powerhouse.” Li Yi said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Only you know how to comfort people.” Zhao Ge laughed heartily. Though it was comforting talk, the possibility wasn’t nonexistent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Zhao Family Martial Arts Hall seized control of San Yang City, great elixirs would never be lacking—he truly might advance further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cough! Cough!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet while Zhao Ge’s crisis was over, someone else met misfortune.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Taigong, who had been blasted into the ground, was still alive. Both his arms were ruined, his blood and qi completely out of control. Blood gushed from his wounds, his former ferocity vanished. In mere moments, death’s aura enveloped him—his withered body trembled faintly, like an old man on the verge of breathing his last.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man in his fifties, face streaked with tears, sprinted over and lifted Liu Taigong up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Taigong’s dim, cloudy eyes glanced at his unworthy eldest son, then at Li Yi standing behind Zhao Ge. A bitter smile escaped his lips: “So your luck, Zhao Ge, was too great—you couldn’t be dragged down with me. Fine. Even if I had taken you with me, what would it matter? Your Zhao Family Martial Arts Hall has birthed a true dragon—it will only rise higher. My Cao Yun Liu family has reached its end. But I beg you, Zhao Ge, in memory of our past ties, spare my descendants—give us one path to survive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, his gaze shifted to the other side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There lay a vast river, its waves rolling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long ago, he had already arranged for Liu family’s direct descendants to flee by boat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this move couldn’t be hidden. If a Qi-refining expert wished to exterminate them, not a single Liu descendant would survive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After speaking these words, Liu Taigong fell silent. He didn’t even wait for Zhao Ge’s reply—his cloudy eyes darkened rapidly, and with the crash of a river wave, he breathed his last.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is he dead?” Zhao Ge looked at Liu Taigong with complex eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He recalled when he first came to San Yang City to learn martial arts—Liu Taigong was then at his peak, a famed Qi-refining expert. Back then, such a man seemed unattainable. He never imagined that nearly thirty years later, this once-revered master would die before him in such a manner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Truly, life is fickle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Taigong’s eldest son clutched his father’s corpse, wailing in grief, tears streaming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Taigong’s death meant more than losing a patriarch—it meant the sky had collapsed for the Liu family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without a Qi-refining expert to hold their ground, the Cao Yun Liu family was nothing but lambs awaiting slaughter—no resistance possible. Even if they had Qi-blood cultivators, what could they do against Zhao Ge and Li Yi? They could stir no wave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Act. Annihilate the Liu family.” Zhang Tiefeng, the weapons workshop owner, spoke up—he gave the order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was his moment to prove himself. After all, Li Yi, the senior disciple of the Zhao Family Martial Arts Hall, was watching. If he hesitated or slacked off now, and was remembered later, he might face retribution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well now, you’re eager to act—where was this energy before?” Another workshop owner, seeing this, immediately gave his own order and moved against the Liu family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Sanjie of the flower workshop signaled at once—her Qi-blood subordinates surged forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Power struggles are brutal. With all three workshops acting together and Liu Taigong gone, the Liu family offered no resistance. Soon, blood stained the docks, screams echoed. Liu Taigong’s eldest son, unwilling to witness his family’s annihilation, let out a final, defiant roar, lifted his father’s body, severed his own heart meridian, and plunged with him into the great river.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The river churned, swiftly swallowing their bodies, leaving no trace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Leave the Liu family a path to survive. Don’t exterminate them utterly. If their descendants seek revenge in the future, let the blood feud rest on me, Zhao Ge.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Zhao Ge finally spoke—choosing to spare the Liu family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If Master Zhao speaks, how could we not obey?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Tiefeng bowed respectfully and issued his command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other two workshop owners were happy to grant this favor—the cries of violence immediately lessened. But they followed one rule: kill the adults, spare the young. Every Liu family Qi-blood martial artist must die—if any escaped and one day became a Qi-refining expert, trouble would follow. As for the young disciples, it didn’t matter—if they truly managed revenge later, it would be their own merit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many Liu disciples seized the chaos to leap into the river and flee downstream; several small boats cut through the waves and vanished quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ge felt no regret. Today, the Zhao Family Martial Arts Hall already bore enough hatred. Debt piled high doesn’t crush. If enemies’ descendants came seeking vengeance later, he would accept it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Zhao Qian ran down from the rooftop, her sniper rifle slung on her back. She hung her head, as if guilty: “Father, I’m useless. At the critical moment, I couldn’t bring myself to shoot and support you—I nearly caused you to fall into danger.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t blame yourself. Liu Taigong clearly feared you—he never gave you a chance to shoot. I fought him so closely—if you’d fired that shot, I’d have died with him.” Zhao Ge shook his head. He understood: having shattered Liu Taigong’s arm unexpectedly was already impressive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Taigong had too much combat experience. One shot that missed, and he’d close in—no second chance for Zhao Qian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though strict, Zhao Ge was never unreasonable—he wouldn’t blame his daughter for this lapse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sniping takes practice. The more you shoot, the more confidence you gain. You’re still new—fearing accidental injury is right. Don’t be too hard on yourself.” Li Yi smiled, offering comfort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had undergone sniper training himself—he knew the immense pressure at that moment: fear of hitting the wrong target, fear of failing to rescue in time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Qian was only sixteen, had learned the sniper rifle for mere days, had almost no live-fire training. It was normal for her to freeze up—no need to scold a child.\u003C\u002Fp>",1627,"2026-06-20T01:26:56.586Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","aca7f54e70705df6f24f45b1835f498bd24a2aa6457f0bcf76b770408404ac6f","after-the-sky-fell-chapter-148","after-the-sky-fell-chapter-146",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fafter-the-sky-fell-cover.jpg"]