C23 First Battle Life Union Stage

The Luo Liguo family experienced a bittersweet reunion, their gathering marked by a mix of sorrow and joy, creating a deeply touching and warm atmosphere. Unbeknownst to them, a massive snare had been swiftly closing in, sealing off every exit from the air-raid shelter.

Laojiu had been spotted the moment he appeared, but his pursuers were uncertain of his identity. Once he entered the shelter, the skilled lookout immediately relayed a message to their superior.

Heben Yu nonchalantly sent a voice message to the family elder before eagerly leading his men off. He was determined to capture Laojiu before the Soong family could, intent on extracting firsthand information from him.

As Luo Liguo and his wife were preparing a meal for Laojiu, the shelter's heavy metal door was suddenly struck by a thunderous crash, collapsing inward.

The forceful blast sent small objects flying and filled the area with a dense cloud of dust.

"Who's there?"

Laojiu leapt to his feet, positioning himself protectively in front of his parents, his eyes blazing with fury at the door. He was resolute in not letting the intruder off the hook, regardless of their identity.

Once the dust settled, a figure strolled in with an air of nonchalance, followed by five men clad in black. They regarded Laojiu and his family with a casual indifference, as if they had played no part in toppling the iron gate.

Outside, shadows loomed, indicating a significant number of people were stationed beyond the door.

"So, you're Luo Jiu, correct? Come with me now, and bring your parents. Should you choose to resist, there will be no mercy," Heben Yu declared, his voice dripping with cold disdain.

He viewed the family as mere sheep awaiting slaughter, unworthy of engaging in conversation on equal terms, let alone deserving to know his name.

Such was the arrogance of Heben Yu, a proud scion of the Heben family, a Prodigy in his own right.

"Who let this stray dog in? Bark again, and I'll break your legs!" Laojiu roared with the ferocity of an enraged lion, ready for a fight to the death.

"You dare insult me? Ann Lun, take him down and break his legs, but be careful not to kill him. Anything else is of no concern."

Heben Yu barely acknowledged Laojiu's presence. At his advanced Life Union Stage of cultivation, he deemed it beneath him to engage with someone at the God Cultivating Stage like Laojiu. Even his subordinate, Ann Lun, who was at the Transcendence Stage, was a rank above Laojiu. Heben Yu was confident that Ann Lun could easily handle Laojiu.

"Rest assured, Young Master Yu. Dealing with such an ignorant native is child's play. I'll ensure he learns the consequences of crossing you," Ann Lun said with a respectful bow to Heben Yu before striding forward with a haughty air.

"Listen up, boy. Cripple your arms and kneel! If Young Master Yu is feeling generous, he might just spare your family and reduce you to a lowly servant. But if you dare resist, not only is your life in jeopardy, but your parents' lives are as good as over. The Snow Lion in the Beast Arena hasn't eaten in days, and it's ready to leave no trace of them."

Ann Lun immediately targeted Laojiu's parents, recognizing their safety as Laojiu's Achilles' heel. He knew they were ordinary people with healthy bodies but no combat ability. He also doubted Laojiu's own strength, given the planet's scarcity of Origin Energy and lack of notable warriors.

"Cripple my arms? You must be out of your mind! Using my family to threaten me? You've sealed your fate today!" Laojiu despised anyone who dared threaten his parents—it was his ultimate breaking point.

He had restrained himself thus far solely out of concern for his parents' safety, fearing these merciless people might target them instead.

He found himself in a dire predicament.

"Get on with it, and don't drag this out! As soon as I exit this cave, bring him out. The elders are expendable—dispose of them," Heben Yu said, growing impatient. Without another word, he turned and left, disregarding Laojiu's family entirely.

"Your time is up, kid!" Ann Lun, fueled by Heben Yu's irritation, lunged at Laojiu with his hand outstretched like an eagle swooping in on a chick, as if capturing Laojiu would be as effortless as plucking a turtle from a jar.

He was displaying the utmost contempt for others!

Initially, Laojiu's move was laced with three potential variations, but he couldn't be bothered to exert the extra effort, choosing instead to rely on his superior realm strength to overpower his opponent. Despite Laojiu being one of the few locals to reach the God Cultivating Stage, he wasn't concerned in the slightest.

Witnessing the other's futile determination, Laojiu couldn't help but smile.

You've made your bed, now lie in it!

As Ann Lun's right hand approached within five feet of Laojiu, he suddenly felt a tight grip on his wrist, causing his body to topple forward uncontrollably. A piercing pain shot through his arm, accompanied by the sound of snapping bones. Then, everything went black, and he collapsed to the ground like a rag doll.

The transformation was so swift, it was over in the blink of an eye.

Laojiu, filled with loathing for the man who dared threaten his parents, had in a lightning-fast moment, twisted Ann Lun's right hand and neck! His hands moved with such speed that they seemed to weave spells of light, leaving the other four completely unable to discern what had just transpired.

The four burly men were dumbstruck as they stared at Laojiu, unsure whether to apprehend him or to assist the fallen Ann Lun.

Chills ran down their spines. Could this really be a native of Yanhuang Star, where Origin Energy was scarce? Yet Ann Lun, who was at the Transcendence Stage, couldn't even withstand a single blow from him!

It dawned on them just how dangerous a foe Laojiu was.

The sound of breaking bones did nothing to slow Heben Yu's stride; he assumed his men had Laojiu well in hand.

Upon reaching the mouth of the cave, the absence of any further commotion caused him to frown. Clearly, he was not pleased with Ann Lun's response time. Only those standing before him gaped in disbelief, as if they had witnessed the inconceivable.

Heben Yu's frown deepened, realizing he might have been too confident in his show of force.

This Ann Lun couldn't even handle a God Cultivating Stage native, an utter disgrace! He resolved to replace this incompetent black-clothed guard as soon as they returned.

Just as he was about to turn around, a rapid succession of crackling sounds erupted from behind. The noises were incredibly fast, ceasing in less than the time it took to take two breaths.

As Heben Yu feigned nonchalance and turned around, the five black-clad guards he had brought with him were sprawled on the ground, appearing lifeless.

The suave young master paused, his mind reeling in disbelief. Even if he were to strike these men himself, he doubted he could execute the deed with such ruthless efficiency.

A sweep of his Primordial Spirit over the fallen men confirmed Heben Yu's fears: they were dead. The method was brutal and straightforward—all had their necks viciously snapped. He was uncertain of the mysterious assailant's skill, but the sheer strength and speed were undeniably explosive, with a terrifyingly potent attack.

"Boy, you dare to kill the guards of my Heben family? No matter where you run or hide, you cannot escape death!"

Heben Yu was seething, not over the loss of life, but because Laojiu had made him lose face publicly.

"Hmph! So you think you're the only ones allowed to kill? Anyone who takes a life must be prepared to lose theirs, and that includes you!" Laojiu dismissed Heben Yu's threats with contempt, seeing no reason to consider these foreigners as anything special.

"You're seeking your own demise!"

At his wit's end, Heben Yu's left hand flashed, revealing a gleaming whip-shaped weapon that lashed out at Laojiu with a fierce gale. The whip's path left a trail of chaos, with objects tossed about as if caught in a whirlwind, leaving nothing untouched.

"Watch out, that's the Heben family's renowned Secret Arts, the Nine Snakes Whip. This weapon is no ordinary one; it's a specially forged Silver Chrome Whip. The whip is not only lined with razor-sharp notches but also barbs. At one zhang and seven feet in length, it's incredibly challenging to wield, but once mastered, its power is immense."

The battle was underway, and Patriarch Lieshan couldn't just watch from the sidelines. Despite the drain on his Primordial Spirit, he was determined to assist Laojiu. This was, after all, Laojiu's first encounter with a human expert at the Life Union Stage, and not just any expert, but a Prodigy disciple from the Heben family of Soaring Yellow Star. There was no room for error.

Laojiu, who was poised to catch the Silver Chrome Whip with his bare hands, executed a phantom-like sidestep, evading the whip's attack radius. The furniture before him was sliced in half, and even the cavern's exceptionally hard walls bore a deep groove from the whip's force!

Laojiu was inwardly startled by the whip's potency. Had it struck flesh, it would surely have torn away chunks of it!

"Where do you think you're going, you little runt? Behold the might of my Nine Snakes Chain Whip!" Heben Yu bellowed. Witnessing Laojiu's evasion, he felt a twinge of disappointment yet also a sense of smug satisfaction. He was disappointed that Laojiu hadn't been fooled into facing his weapon directly, but he took pride in having flexed his might and intended to keep doing so.

Before he could finish his taunt, Heben Yu's whip danced like nine venomous snakes aiming for Laojiu's head. The whip's movements were unpredictable, capable of wrapping, rolling, slashing, and sweeping in a myriad of deadly forms.

Previously, when Heben Yu unleashed this technique, even his peers struggled to counter it, while those of a lower realm than his met with death or severe injury without exception.

"Three Layered Waves, Break the Law with Strength!" Patriarch Lieshan's voice echoed in Laojiu's mind, reminding him of his most formidable offensive secret art.

With no time to ponder in the face of his adversary's bizarre assault, Laojiu's Primordial Spirit instantly traversed the Ink Crystal Stone, materializing a Dragon Trapping Staff in his grasp. Propelling himself off the wall, he soared into the air, the staff blurring into a cascade of shadows that plummeted with the crushing force of a mountain.

With a grating screech of metal on metal, the whip's serpentine formation was shattered! The Dragon Trapping Staff's relentless momentum surged into Heben Yu's hand, wrenching the weapon from his grasp!

"Stacking Wave Staff Technique! Are you affiliated with the Lianshan family?"

Heben Yu was taken aback and hastily retreated. Being from a prominent family on Soaring Yellow Star, he was well aware of the renowned Stacking Wave Staff Technique of the Lianshan family.

Laojiu appeared so young, yet he could execute the Three Layered Waves, marking him as a prodigy among the elite families.

"What Lianshan family? They have nothing to do with me! Pretty boy, prepare to meet your end!"

Laojiu pressed his advantage relentlessly. The Dragon Trapping Staff vibrated once more, aiming straight for Heben Yu's chest. With his absurdly overpowering strength, if Heben Yu didn't mount a defense, the staff would surely pierce right through him!

"Hmph, even if you are a disciple of the Lianshan family, do you think I would be intimidated?"

Heben Yu didn't bother to seek an explanation. His right hand flashed, producing a small black shield the size of a pot lid in front of him, while his left hand brandished a long spear, thrusting directly at Laojiu's eyes.

The rapidity of his defensive and offensive maneuvers caught Laojiu off guard. These scions of the great families truly lived up to their reputations.

Clang!

The sound of metal striking metal was jarringly loud.

The Dragon Trapping Staff connected with the shield, but Heben Yu subtly shifted his stance, evading Laojiu's potentially fatal thrust. Nevertheless, his right hand tingled with numbness, the immense force causing him great discomfort. For the first time, he felt a twinge of fear, uncertain if he could truly overcome his opponent.

The two combatants exchanged blows, each struggling to gain the upper hand. Meanwhile, onlookers outside the cave couldn't contain their speculation.

"Is that young man really from the Lianshan family? I thought no one from the Lianshan family was present this time. To think someone at the God Cultivating Stage could hold their own against Young Master Yu of the Life Union Stage—remarkable indeed!"