Chapter 98: I

Gong Zhonghou, don’t threaten me with the Spirit Blade Sect! Do you think I don’t know the worldly rules of immortal sects? Ding Chushan has no background in any immortal sect, and is merely a low-level Qi Refining cultivator without even a single magic treasure.

Since he entered the mortal world and took part in secular struggles, his life and death are his own fate! I killed him—who besides you would care?

As for you, I only regret not killing you sooner, which allowed you to murder my grandson! Now you dare fantasize about restoring the old status quo? What a ridiculous joke!

“You mean Xu Shixiong? We didn’t kill him!” Ding Bangcheng’s face darkened.

“At this point, are you still trying to lie? I originally thought, given Shixiong’s strength, even if you five or six men ambushed him, he still might have had a chance to escape!”

But now I realize your Ding family has produced an immortal cultivator—that’s why Shixiong couldn’t escape alive!” Xu Zhiyuan spoke, continuing his assault while fixing his ferocious gaze on Ding Chushan behind them.

Ding Chushan had originally thought, with Gong Zhonghou invoking the Weiming of the Spirit Blade Sect and showing intent to negotiate, there might still be room for resolution.

But he never expected Xu Zhiyuan knew some rules of the immortal world and was utterly unmoved by threats—instead, he pinned the blame for his grandson’s death on them, his gaze filled with murderous intent, clearly determined to kill Ding Chushan at once!

Instantly, the mighty immortal cultivator Ding Chushan trembled with fear and turned to flee toward the city gate.

“Where are you running?!” Xu Zhiyuan roared, his sword whirling wildly as blades of light filled the sky, forcing Ding Bangcheng and Gong Zhonghou to retreat step by step.

“The Master is truly formidable!” Far away, hidden inside a tavern, Yuchi Xiao watched Xu Zhiyuan single-handedly slaughter an elite cavalry unit, killing several Eighth-Rank Great Martial Masters, yet still fighting with such ferocity—he could not help but gaze in awe and longing.

Besides the men from the Qianjiao Martial Arts Academy, the tavern also held elite members of the Ji family.

“The Master does indeed have some real skill!” Xia Daoming touched the two short guns on his back, his eyes narrowing slightly with a spark of battle lust.

There is a significant leap between a Master and an Eighth-Rank Great Martial Master.

Based on Xu Zhiyuan’s displayed strength, speed, and ability to kill at a distance with condensed force, when Xia Daoming had just reached Eighth-Rank, he could not say who would win in a fight against him.

But now, his meridians have been strengthened to Level Eight—his speed and power far surpass Xu Zhiyuan’s, and he holds the Black Dragon Spear and the Dark Cloud Shield.

As long as he can block or evade Xu Zhiyuan’s distance-killing techniques, once he closes in, Xia Daoming is confident—even if Xu Zhiyuan has a force-armored body—he can crush him to pieces!

“But we greatly overestimated the immortal cultivators—Ding Chushan was utterly powerless. We thought that with Ding Chushan on their side, the Three Alliance might not kill Xu Zhiyuan at his peak, but at least wound him severely.”

“But now it’s clear Xu Zhiyuan isn’t badly injured—only exhausted, and most of that exhaustion came from the cavalry unit.” Zhuo Xingji said.

“It’s not that we overestimated immortal cultivators, nor that Ding Chushan is weak—it’s that Ding Chushan’s realm is low and he has no magic treasure at all, while his opponent is a Martial Master returned to his peak. That’s why Ding Chushan appears so powerless.”

But consider this: if the vines he just summoned had trapped someone below Master level—not a Sixth or Seventh-Rank Great Martial Master, but even me—I’d likely be dead.”

How old is Ding Chushan? At his age, what level of power did we have?” Ji Yuanzhen said solemnly.

Ji Yuanzhen’s words made Zhuo Xingji and the others draw a sharp breath.

Yes—how powerful were we at Ding Chushan’s age?

“The old master is right—it’s not that Ding Chushan is weak, but that his opponent is too strong. It’s not that we overestimated immortal cultivators, but that Ding Chushan is likely at the very bottom of the immortal world.”

If the one who had acted today wasn’t Ding Chushan, but an immortal cultivator with a slightly higher realm and a magic treasure, Xu Zhiyuan would have been doomed! And yet Xu Zhiyuan is already a Master among Martial Masters.”

So the distinction between mortal and immortal is real—their hierarchy is certainly higher. But judging from the clash between Ding Chushan and Xu Zhiyuan, low-level immortal cultivators aren’t truly terrifying—we needn’t lose our courage out of fear.”

As long as we stay alert to their techniques, strike first, or have someone distract them while another closes in for a killing blow, cultivators like Ding Chushan will have no way out.” Xia Daoming added calmly.

“Daoming speaks truly, but Xu Zhiyuan is stronger than we imagined, and the Three Alliance and Ding Chushan performed far below expectations—they failed to truly wound him.”

It seems we won’t be able to uproot them all this time and replace them—we can only take minor gains,” Ji Yuanzhen said with disappointment.

“The Three Alliance and Ding Chushan failed to seriously wound Xu Zhiyuan—I’ll finish him off for them!” Xia Daoming said dismissively.

Earlier, he had feared immortal cultivators and Martial Masters because his Eighth-Rank meridians had just begun strengthening, and he’d never seen their techniques.

Now it’s different.

Over this period, Xia Daoming, by eating Phoenix Cry Pills and Jin Lin’s Blood-Eyed Snake meat, along with spirit rice, has strengthened his meridians to Level Eight—he is no longer the same man.

Today, having witnessed firsthand the techniques of immortal cultivators and Martial Masters, his confidence has grown.

“Xu Zhiyuan is too powerful—isn’t this too risky?” Ji Yuanzhen’s heart leapt at the words.

“Don’t worry, old master—it’s just a Ninth-Rank Martial Master. Even if Xu Zhiyuan is exhausted and slightly wounded, even if he were perfectly healthy, Daoming can kill him!” Liang Jingtang said calmly, as if stating something trivial.

Xia Daoming, Yuchi Xiao, and the other three glanced at Liang Jingtang with subtle expressions.

“What? Daoming can kill Xu Zhiyuan, returned to his peak?” Ji Yuanzhen’s beard trembled.

“Correct. A few days ago, Xu Shixiong came to assassinate Daoming with a sword—and Daoming killed him with a single punch. Xu Zhiyuan may be powerful, but he can’t kill an Eighth-Rank Great Martial Master with one punch!” Liang Jingtang remained utterly calm.

Xia Daoming and the other three glanced at Liang Jingtang again.

Master has changed—he never used to pretend, but now he’s putting on an act.

Or perhaps he was always like this—just lacked the opportunity before!

“So powerful! So powerful! Good, good!” Ji Yuanzhen’s face lit up with wrinkles like a blooming old chrysanthemum.

“Hey, that kid is an immortal cultivator, yet he abandoned his family and ran away—and he’s heading this way!” At that moment, Yuchi Xiao pointed out the window at Ding Chushan sprinting toward them, his face filled with surprise and disdain.

“Perfect—I was just thinking of capturing a live one to learn more about the immortal world!” Xia Daoming smiled.

“Hehe, why would you need to go yourself, younger brother? We’ll go grab that brat for you!” Jiao Yongbao immediately stepped forward, grinning broadly.

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