Chapter 30

Three years later.

At the foot of Zhongnan Mountain, a person in green robes wearing a bamboo hat appeared. Numerous martial artists had gathered there, in groups of three or five, with varying levels of martial arts and different expressions, all casting scrutinizing gazes at anyone who arrived.

Zhuang Buran casually found an old man eating a pancake and cupped his fists:

"May I ask, senior, why is Zhongnan Mountain so lively?"

The old man took a bite of his pancake, looked him up and down, focused on the green robes, and shook his head:

"Judging by your voice, you must be a young man just starting out. You aren't here to apprentice at the Quanzhen Sect, are you?"

"Take this old man's advice: Zhongnan Mountain is not very peaceful lately; it would be best to come for an apprenticeship after some time has passed."

"Also, change out of those green robes as soon as possible so you don't bring trouble upon yourself."

"Why?" Zhuang Buran asked in surprise.

"It seems you really are a greenhorn who knows nothing." The old man smiled:

"At the second Mount Hua Sword Trial two years ago, although the Southern Emperor became a monk and did not participate, and the Western Poison disappeared without a trace, a young talent named Guo Jing emerged, holding his own for two hundred moves against the Eastern Heretic and Northern Beggar before being defeated. And the most formidable of all is Zhou Botong, now known as the Central Urchin."

"At the peak of Mount Hua, he first defeated the Iron Palm Water Strider Qiu Qianren, then consecutively defeated the Eastern Heretic and Northern Beggar, making him the undisputed number one in the world."

"Yet in the end, he shook his head repeatedly, saying he had a brother whose martial arts were truly the best in the world, and if he had participated in the trial, he himself would certainly not have been able to win."

"Afterward, when these words of the Old Urchin spread through the martial arts world, many people simply assumed he was being his usual mischievous self and saying it as a joke."

"But half a year ago, a piece of news shook the martial arts world: someone not only possessed the martial arts secrets of the Northern Beggar, Eastern Heretic, Southern Emperor, and Western Poison, but had also obtained the 'Nine Yin Manual', the treasure that caused the Five Greats to fight decades ago."

"It was none other than the person the Old Urchin had spoken of at the peak of Mount Hua. Initially, some members of the Beggar Sect asked the Northern Beggar with skepticism, only to receive a definitive confirmation."

"That would have been enough, but not long after, news spread that this person was a young man of about twenty years old."

"Once this news broke, the martial arts world could no longer remain calm."

"Everyone knows the Old Urchin is a heartless character who loves to play pranks. During the second Mount Hua Sword Trial, that person was likely only sixteen or seventeen; even if he had practiced martial arts since he was in his mother's womb, how high could his cultivation possibly be?"

"Now, two or three years later, he is only about twenty. Even if he had shut himself away to practice diligently, to what level could he have possibly mastered those various supreme arts?"

"Consequently, whether they were from famous sects or demonic paths, everyone in the martial arts world began frantically searching for his tracks in secret."

"Two or three months ago, another piece of news reached the martial arts world, saying this person would come to Zhongnan Mountain to seize the 'Innate Skill', the supreme art of Wang Zhongyang of the Quanzhen Sect, and it was specified that he likes to wear green robes."

"Once this news spread, it was all over. Since then, batch after batch of martial artists have arrived at the foot of Zhongnan Mountain."

This includes not only young talents from major sects like the Kunlun Sect, Kongtong Sect, and Diancang Sect, but also many powerful experts from all walks of life, all hoping to obtain that living treasure of martial arts."

"Aren't they afraid that if they can't win, they'll lose their lives?" Zhuang Buran raised an eyebrow:

"Regardless, this is someone who has gathered the world's top martial arts secrets in one body. I imagine that even if his martial arts aren't that formidable, they can't be that weak either."

"Hahaha, hearing you say that, I know you're still just a green kid who understands nothing."

The old man stroked his beard and laughed:

"Not to mention that if one only obtains the secret art of one of the Five Greats, one could roam freely and be respected by all; the key is the 'Nine Yin Manual'. Anyone who obtains this manual can become a peerless figure who dominates the world."

"From this, you can see how fantastical and profound the martial arts within are. Even if it invites a fatal disaster, what does that matter?"

Zhuang Buran nodded in agreement:

"That makes sense. Who in this world doesn't die? Dying while practicing martial arts to become stronger is nothing to regret. Furthermore, only while practicing martial arts can one enjoy endless satisfaction; so-called glory, wealth, treasures, and beauty do not compare to even a ten-thousandth of it."

"Hahaha, that's a bit shallow of you." The old man laughed out loud and pointed vaguely:

"When you have supreme martial arts, what glory or wealth can you not obtain? With a slight wave of your hand, I fear people would offer treasures with both hands, and beauties of peerless grace would offer themselves."

As the two were talking, five fierce-looking men holding sharp blades walked over, the leader looking savage:

"Kid, take off your bamboo hat and let us have a look, and while you're at it, tell us why you've come to Zhongnan Mountain."

People nearby saw this scene, many with expressions of watching a show; these Five Evils of the Black Heart were notorious bandits in the green woods.

Individually, their martial arts were only second-rate, but the five practiced a combined attack technique, forming an array that was ever-changing, mutually supporting and rescuing each other; when facing an enemy, the five acted as one, with no flaws in their moves.

As a result, even as villains who would slaughter villages and destroy families for money, they had lived comfortably and freely until now.

After arriving at the foot of Zhongnan Mountain this time, they relied on their array-based martial arts to recklessly investigate the whereabouts of that living secret manual.

"Zhuang has lived in the mountains and forests for a long time, and my name is not well-known, which has allowed some stray cats and dogs to become increasingly unscrupulous." Zhuang Buran sighed softly.

With a few "chi" sounds, everyone nearby widened their eyes as they saw the Five Evils of the Black Heart fall straight to the ground, blood flowing everywhere; they did not know when an extra blood hole had appeared in their throats.

"It's the Southern Emperor's 'One Finger Art'!"

Someone with sharp eyes shouted in terror.

This sentence was like throwing a large rock into a calm lake; everyone flew over, and in an instant, they surrounded Zhuang Buran in three layers inside and three layers outside.

Among them was the old man from before, his eyes filled with greed as he asked impatiently:

"Good kid, is your surname Zhuang?"

"Hehe, Zhuang really wants to know who is behind the scenes plotting against me."

"Good! So it really is you! Hand over the 'Nine Yin Manual' and the martial arts secrets of the Five Greats!" one person shouted excitedly:

"If you're sensible, hand over the manuals quickly, and you can save your miserable life."

"Everything is fate; nothing is decided by oneself." Zhuang Buran murmured with a hint of melancholy:

"In the end, Zhuang is destined to become a violent and tyrannical demon who slaughters across the wilderness. What can be done!"

"Kid, what are you muttering about? Hand over the treasure quickly, do you not want your life?" another person shouted.

"Hahaha."

The youth in green robes laughed inexplicably.

Everyone present felt the rolling laughter like the roar of hellish ghosts, with gusts of eerie wind that made people retreat without being attacked, shivering with fear.

The internal energy contained within it was profound to the extreme, causing that eerie sound to constantly disrupt their minds, leading to a loss of control over their internal energy, making them dance and scratch their heads, laughing and cursing uncontrollably.

The laughter suddenly changed, echoing throughout Zhongnan Mountain with lightning speed, causing everyone's faces to become painfully unbearable as they wailed miserably, as if suffering a cruel punishment that tore at their hearts and livers.

One by one, they fell to the ground, twisting and rolling, gradually ceasing to move; they had been shocked to death by the Sound Wave Skill, their livers and gallbladders shattered, bleeding from their seven orifices.

Before long, the laughter ceased, and looking around, the ground was covered in corpses.

"Sure enough, violence cannot solve any problems, but it can solve the problem itself, and it is very satisfying."

(End of this chapter)