C4 Liu Wuya

The Ten Thousand Year Freezing Pond was a sacred site for the Snow Cloud Wing Tiger Clan. Every century, a pearl would coalesce at the bottom of the pond, known as the "Sacred Pond Ice Pearl."

Lucky enough to acquire one of these pearls, Snowy Peak was diligently cultivated by the clan elders. The pearl, once internalized, could bolster one's power, and when expelled, could be used to fend off formidable foes.

Upon Ding Yue's return to the slope, Zhu Lingzhu had already sheathed her sword. She pointed skyward, reciting an incantation. In the air, a fish-shaped Magical Weapon of white jade and the Sacred Pond Ice Pearl emitted a milky halo, clashing with one another.

Fellbeasts boasted long lives and robust physiques, whereas humans possessed intelligence and a plethora of techniques, including pill refining and formation arranging, unmatched by other species.

Snowy Peak had ascended to the fourth level a century ago, while Zhu Lingzhu had only entered the Transcending state the previous year. Her Yuan Qi was naturally less profound than Snowy Peak's, and the fellbeasts' proficiency in close-quarters combat only widened the gap.

As Lingzhu strained to wield her Magical Weapon, Snowy Peak seized the moment, lashing its tail at her shoulder.

In a moment of panic, Zhu Lingzhu conjured a jade bracelet to parry the tiger's tail, simultaneously summoning a suit of ice armor to shield her body.

With a sharp "crack," the jade bracelet shattered.

The tiger's tail struck Lingzhu's shoulder and arm. She grunted, blood trickling from her mouth as she was flung across the field, collapsing onto the grass. The fish-shaped Magical Weapon, now devoid of power, plummeted alongside her.

Struggling to her feet, Zhu Lingzhu saw the sharp tiger claws loom larger before her eyes.

"Haha, little beauty, come with me to the Great Snow Mountain," the triumphant laugh of Snowy Peak echoed around her.

Gathering her waning Yuan Qi, Zhu Lingzhu unsheathed her sword, positioning it defiantly across her chest. Her eyes glinted with icy resolve, her expression resolute.

"Demon Tiger, don't be so sure. I'd rather die," Zhu Lingzhu declared, her blood-red lips set in determination.

"It's not easy to want to die," the figure at the snowy peak declared, exhaling a breath that turned into a cold mist, within which green threads danced.

"Sacred Pond, Green Spiritual Silk. Bind." At the command, a strand of green silk ensnared Zhu Lingzhu, rendering her completely immobile. A massive tiger claw followed swiftly.

All of this transpired in mere moments. Wan Jiansheng was intent on rescuing her but found himself entangled in a desperate struggle with the tiger's might.

The figure on the peak was elated. Capturing this girl and returning to the mountain would surely earn him the elders' favor, setting him apart from his peers. After his transformation was complete, he would have not only a beautiful concubine but also a significant boost in power, thanks to the girl's innate ice attribute. It was a multitude of gains in one fell swoop.

However, as he was basking in his smugness, he suddenly felt the whiskers of the tiger pressing against his cheek, causing the muscles at the corner of his mouth to twitch violently.

Glancing to the side, he saw a fist wrapped in Qi hurtling towards him. It was the combination of innate instinct and the experience he had earned through blood-soaked battles.

The snowy figure understood the gravity of the situation and was taken aback with alarm.

The Great Elder had cautioned them: humans skilled in martial arts were rare, but they were not to be trifled with. Their bodies were as resilient as those of high-level demons, and their striking power rivaled that of a Treasured Weapon.

On the Divine Continent, weapons were categorized into six levels: Divine, Saint, Immortal, Spirit, Treasure, and Spell.

For a typical sect, possessing a Treasured Weapon was a matter of pride and prestige.

Only the great sects with over a thousand years of heritage boasted one or two Spirit Weapons. Immortal Weapons, on the other hand, had vanished from the mortal realm, as elusive as undying Earth Immortals.

Caught off guard, the snowy figure had no choice but to angle his tiger claws defensively while bracing his tiger body to meet Ding Yue's onslaught.

With a resounding "Bang!" their fists and claws collided. The resulting shockwave shattered the icy vegetation and sent soil and stones flying.

Ding Yue's right arm went numb from the impact. Gritting his teeth, he brought his left fist, previously tucked against his chest, forward in a powerful elbow strike aimed squarely at the snowy figure's face.

A piercing tiger's roar, fluctuating in pitch, echoed through the forest. Snowy Peak felt as if its tiger head had been struck by a sledgehammer, causing dizziness and a searing pain in its mouth, with droplets of blood falling to the dust below.

Seizing the moment, Ding Yue dashed to Zhu Lingzhu's side and shattered the Green Spiritual Silk that bound her. Without hesitation, he leaped towards the still-confused Snowy Peak, his fist ripping through the air, aiming a ferocious blow at the base of the tiger's ear.

Ding Yue's surprise attack unfolded in mere moments. By the time the tiger's strength began to react, his fist was a mere few feet from Snowy Peak's forehead.

"Youngster, how dare you harm my honored guest? I will make sure you pay with your life," the tiger bellowed, abandoning the Myriad Sword Chime to shield Snowy Peak.

Ding Yue's fist connected with the tiger, and he swiftly somersaulted backward. The might of a Level Five Fellbeast was on par with a Foundation Building cultivator.

Previously, he had managed to land a blow on the unsuspecting tiger. Had it not been for the tiger's desire for his martial skills and its decision not to deliver a fatal strike, Ding Yue's fate would have been grim.

Retreating hastily, Ding Yue remained composed. He scooped up the "Sacred Ice Pearl" from the grass and secured it inside a jade bottle before withdrawing to stand by Lingzhu.

His punch, though anticipated, caused the tiger, Hu Li, to stagger. Yet, the tiger's gaze never wavered from Wan Jiansheng.

As the tiger descended from the sky, Ding Yue quickly administered a pill to Zhu Lingzhu. He then placed his palm atop the seated Lingzhu's head, channeling vital energy to heal her wounds.

Once he had taken a moment to catch his breath, he approached Snowy Peak and inquired gently, "Young Master, how are you faring?"

Snowy Peak straightened up, shaking her still-dizzy head, and responded through clenched teeth, "I'm alright. But how is it that this human youth's martial arts are so formidable?"

"Ancestor, you've spoken of such events before. Overcoming an adversary of higher rank," Snowy Peak murmured softly.

"Hiss!" He sharply inhaled, a sudden realization striking him. "An Earth-rank martial skill on a child? How is that even possible?"

His outburst turned a few heads in surprise.

Hu Li noticed the thick greed in Xue Feng's eyes and mused, "He hails from the Great Snow Mountain, his breadth of knowledge surely surpasses mine. Having spent nearly a century within the human sects, I recognized the boy's martial prowess but could never discern the skill's rank. Earth rank! I must seize an opportunity to capture this young one."

"If only the Demon King weren't in seclusion right now..." Hu Li licked his parched lips, his gaze darting about.

Wan Jiansheng, upon hearing Xue Feng's cry of astonishment, felt his hand channeling Yuan Qi shake, his focus momentarily disrupted. He caught sight of Ding Yue, fists clenched and body tensed, eyeing the pair of adversaries with caution.

Yet, Ding Yue's demeanor remained unshaken by Xue Feng's declaration. A member of one of the three major sects in West Peace County, the Myriad Sword Sect, he was well aware of the scarcity and value of Earth-rank martial arts.

On the Divine Continent, martial arts and magic arts are categorized into four levels: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow, each with three sublevels: High, Middle, and Low.

With a legacy spanning over a millennium, the Myriad Sword Sect boasted nearly a hundred volumes of Profound-rank techniques but not a single tome of Earth-rank magic arts, much less Earth-rank martial arts.

"Once this is resolved, we'll investigate the boy's origins. Earth-rank martial skills are worth decimating a sect over. Besides, he's merely a humble hunter."

Wan Jiansheng's eyes narrowed, appearing to be fully devoted to treating Zhu Lingzhu's wounds, while internally, his intent to kill was stirring.

In a remote and tranquil annex within the Zhu family estate, Zhu Liu and Zhu Baocao stood with their hands at their sides. After a lengthy silence, a soft voice emanated from within, "Lingzhu is safe. With the young sect master's protection, her life is not in danger."

Zhu Liu and Zhu Baocao let out a silent sigh of relief, turning to leave.

The door creaked open. Zhu Heng stood with his hands clasped behind him, his fiery brows furrowed, eyes squinting toward the southeast.

"There seems to be a wisp of demonic essence lingering around a Golden Core cultivator. Could it be..."

His murmured words reached Zhu Liu's ears, making his portly frame shudder as he asked with a quiver in his voice, "Ancestor, could it be the one-horned Demon King from the Black Water River?"

"Stay home and wait." With those words, he vanished.

Adorned in a purple robe and hidden behind a black veil, she stood against the wind, her presence ethereal and otherworldly.

Below, Hu Li knelt, his body bowed.

Hu Li recounted recent events in the Black Water domain, his voice tinged with sorrow as he concluded, "Young Master Xue Feng, a distinguished visitor from the Great Snow Mountain, was wounded by a mere human hunter. I implore you to seek vengeance for our fallen kin."

He finished, bowing his head, glancing at Xue Feng, who nodded in understanding.

Xue Feng also bowed, saying, "Esteemed Realm King, this individual possesses an Earth-level martial skill, and I am no match for him. I have brought shame upon us." His words dripped with venom.

"Oh?" The figure in purple seemed genuinely taken aback, his gaze fixed on Ding Yue.

Moments before, the purple-robed figure had arrived through the air.

Ding Yue felt a heaviness in his chest. He could fly, a Sage of the Golden Core, yet he subtly shifted, positioning himself protectively in front of Zhu Lingzhu, who had just risen, healed from her injuries.

This gesture caused a ripple in Lingzhu's lucid gaze; she briefly fixed her eyes on the slender silhouette before her, then demurely cast her gaze downward.

At the appearance of the purple-robed figure, Wan Jiansheng instinctively stepped forward, retreating behind Zhu Lingzhu, his face etched with panic. Clutching a tablet in his hand, his eyes darted anxiously.

This scene drew a frown from Lingzhu. She lifted her head, her expression blank as she stared into the sky.

Ding Yue felt the intense gaze of the man in purple robes bearing down on him, an invisible pressure enveloping his body. His legs turned to jelly, and goosebumps prickled his skin. He didn't dare to wipe away the sweat that had trickled into his eyes, letting the salty sting linger.

"Interesting little fellow," the man in purple murmured, his voice tinged with a hint of surprise.

He then scanned the distant horizon and remarked, "Three auras, one of which is surely that bothersome old ghost."

Before he could finish, a voice called out, "I am Zhu Heng. I implore the Demon King not to harm the young master of our sect." Laughter boomed like thunder in response, "Ha ha, so you are the true form of this black river, the serpent demon."

Two figures approached swiftly, floating in mid-air as they came to a standstill.

One was the Zhu Family's patriarch, with his distinctive red eyebrows and white beard.

The other, clad in a black robe, had a dark face and yellow eyebrows.

"And the third? Show yourself."

As Zhu Heng's gaze met that of the Snake King, a delicate voice echoed once more.

"Truly a King on the cusp of reaching the eighth level," came a calm voice from behind the crowd.

Upon Zhu Heng's arrival, Ding Yue's rigid body relaxed, and he slumped onto the grass. It was then that he heard the voice from behind.

Turning around, he witnessed a willow tree eerily splitting in two, from which a middle-aged man emerged, dressed in green robes with green eyebrows and a face as smooth as jade. His long hair was casually tied back with a willow branch. He approached with an air of nonchalance.

With a smile, the newcomer greeted the man in purple, "I am Liu Wuya, Valley Master of the Fragrant Medicine Valley to the north of Sunset City, and also an honorary elder of the Heavenly Cloth Sect. I ask that the Realm King show leniency and overlook the indiscretions of a junior." He gestured towards Ding Yue as he spoke.

Ding Yue's eyes widened in recognition, "This is Liu Wuya. My master, the Taoist Mu, instructed me to apprentice under him."

"I'm familiar with the Fragrant Medicine Valley. But when did its master also become an elder of the Heavenly Feather Sect?"

Zhu Heng was perplexed, mulling over the situation in his mind. "On the surface, the three sects and four factions of West Peace County appear amicable, yet they're all engaged in covert power struggles, each trying to outdo the other. The Heavenly Feather Sect has unexpectedly gained a Golden Core Great Cultivator. Upon his return, he promptly informed the Sect Master, who decided to look into Liu Wuya's origins."

As if reading Zhu Heng's thoughts, Liu Wuya greeted him with a respectful bow and said, "Elder Zhu Heng, there's no need for astonishment. A century ago, I wandered here and took a liking to a Spiritual Valley."

"You're aware that this region for a thousand miles is under the Heavenly Feather Sect's domain, so I humbly requested the Sect Master's permission. The condition was for me to become a nominal elder of the sect. With no other choice, I accepted the offer."

Zhu Heng, noting the other's courteous manner, quickly reciprocated the gesture. He ventured, "Elder Wuya, you're too concerned. However, if I may be so bold, what exactly does your role as a nominal elder entail for the Heavenly Feather Sect?"

Though Zhu Heng's inquiry was delivered with respect and sincerity, it delved into sensitive matters, causing him to flush with discomfort.

"Haha, Elder Zhu Heng, no need for embarrassment. I've long heard of an elder from the Myriad Sword Sect known for his fiery temper yet commendable forthrightness and integrity—a man worthy of friendship."

Liu Wuya dismissed the matter with a casual wave of his hand, adding, "I am merely a sixth-level alchemist, occasionally concocting pills for the Heavenly Feather Sect."

In the Divine Continent, pills are categorized from the tenth level Divine Pill down to the ninth level Sacred Pill, eighth level Immortal Pill, seventh level Spirit Pill, sixth level Miraculous Pill, fifth level Treasure Pill, and those below fifth level are collectively known as Primordial Energy Pills.

Upon hearing this, the group was taken aback. Though they were all Golden Core cultivators, a Sixth Level Miraculous Pill Master commanded far more respect than they did. Likewise, they were Golden Core Sages who wouldn't dare to provoke such an individual lightly.