"This leads to a secret history. Three hundred years ago, there existed a supreme faction in the world called the Sovereign Alliance, commanding over half of all underworld gangs. Its prestige and strength were utterly unparalleled across the realm! Even the most formidable experts and those at the Divine Profound level would divert their paths upon seeing the Alliance’s insignia, lest trouble befall them!"

Ying Bokong spoke slowly, "And the Young Master of the Sovereign Alliance, Yu Linfeng, by chance encountered a woman. That woman, with features exquisitely beautiful and bearing peerless grace, was named Kong Yanluo of the Nine Heavens Jade Phoenix—recognized at the time as the most beautiful woman in the world."

"Yu Linfeng was immediately captivated. He employed every imaginable stratagem, sending countless experts to win Kong Yanluo’s heart, all to no avail. Seeing his pursuit of the fair lady’s affection thwarted, Yu Linfeng finally resorted to ruthless slaughter, annihilating the entire Kong family just to possess the beauty’s body. Yet, at the very last moment before her life faded, Kong Yanluo was saved by three sudden arrivals and spirited away. She subsequently fell deeply in love with the leader of these three, marrying him. And that very night, Yu Linfeng was cornered and slain by the combined forces of these three men, meeting a violent, untimely end!"

Jun Moxie's heart stirred. How strikingly similar was the tale Ying Bokong recounted to the matter concerning Guan Qinghan at Blood Soul Manor?

"The leader of these three was named Han Xiaoyao; the second, Xiao Xingchen; and the third, Chu Duanxiang—all top-tier young heroes of that era, unparalleled geniuses in martial arts! From the moment Han Xiaoyao rescued Kong Yanluo and killed Yu Linfeng, these three brothers became sworn enemies of the Sovereign Alliance. The Alliance Leader, Yu Zhanyun, issued a strict decree: Capture or kill these four, regardless of the cost! Thus, a massive upheaval erupted across the Jianghu."

"These three knew well that relying solely on their own strength, they could never stand against the Sovereign Alliance. During one engagement, the four were overwhelmed and forced to flee, disappearing without a trace. But what no one knew was that these four journeyed to the extreme arctic reaches, laying low under assumed identities to secretly plot their next move! In that frozen land, amidst towering snow mountains, these four established their own force! They became the three founding ancestors of the Wind and Snow Silver City, and the progenitors of the Han, Xiao, and Chu families within Silver City."

"Twenty years later, the four had achieved mastery in their cultivation and amassed considerable power. They decided to emerge and seek trouble with the Sovereign Alliance. Coincidentally, this was the very time the Sovereign Alliance was stirring up trouble across the land, inciting widespread fury and resentment among the populace. As soon as the four signaled their intent, heroes from all corners responded, rising up to strike against the Alliance. In just three years, the Sovereign Alliance, once the dominant power that commanded the world, crumbled into dust and was utterly purged from the Jianghu."

"However, in the final battle, Han Xiaoyao fought Yu Zhanyun to the death. Both were utterly spent, exhausted to their limits. In launching their final attacks, neither possessed the strength to resist; it seemed destined to be mutual destruction. Just then, Xiao Xingchen, the Second City Lord of Wind and Snow Silver City, gravely wounded, interposed himself, blocking Yu Zhanyun’s fatal blow aimed at Han Xiaoyao, ensuring they perished together!"

"At that time, Xiao Xingchen’s cultivation was already superior to Han Xiaoyao’s, his profound techniques having advanced rapidly; just one more step and he could have vied for the supreme position in the world! He had a beloved wife and young children at home; he was truly in the prime of his life, yet he willingly sacrificed himself for his sworn brother! Even as he died, his face displayed utter composure—a testament to his heroic mettle!"

"Han Xiaoyao, devastated by the loss of his righteous sworn brother, let out a cry that shook the heavens. In mere moments, his hair turned completely white. Before the assembled heroes, he drew his sword and severed two fingers; blood gushed forth. Facing the world's heroes, he made a solemn oath, staining the earth with his own blood: 'As long as Silver City endures, the descendants of the Xiao family shall never cease! From this life to the next, we shall never break this vow!'"

Ying Bokong seemed somewhat agitated. His voice grew sharp as he recounted this tale of selfless fraternal devotion.

Jun Moxie let out a deep sigh.

He finally understood the words Ying Bokong had spoken.

The Jun family’s survival up to this point was, truly, a matter of sheer, unbelievable luck!

"In Wind and Snow Silver City, although the Xiao family is not the lineage of the City Lord, their voice has always held critical weight within the City—an unalterable fact! Furthermore, the successive City Lords of Wind and Snow Silver City have treated the descendants of the Xiao family with an attitude bordering on doting indulgence. Now, do you understand? As long as your Jun family confronts the Xiao family, you are effectively confronting the entirety of Wind and Snow Silver City! This reality cannot be changed!"

Ying Bokong exhaled deeply, taking several large gulps of wine before sighing again. "Not only Han Xiaoyao back then, but even if it were me, to have such a brother in this life would be enough to satisfy one’s existence! For the sake of such brotherhood, I, Ying Bokong, could also disregard life and death!"

"But precisely because of this, saving your Jun family from the Xiao family's hands is the true difficulty! Even I am rendered helpless. I truly cannot fathom how your Third Uncle’s woman managed it." Ying Bokong lamented with a trace of melancholy. "But I am certain, however that girl achieved it, the process must have been extraordinarily arduous! That girl... she suffered greatly, oh so greatly!"

Finishing, Ying Bokong turned his gaze absently toward the deep, dark night sky, a look in his eyes that was complex, indescribable—distant, yet tinged with sorrow. It seemed he was recalling some past memory...

"So that's how the situation developed!" Young Master Jun let out a long breath, suddenly feeling an immense weight in his chest. The great killer, having lived two lifetimes, felt a prickle of genuine difficulty for the first time—it was too thorny.

Back then... after repeated devastating changes, the main pillars of the Jun family perished one after another, nearly driving the clan to ruin. The sole survivor, Jun Wuyi, was left crippled, believing his condition beyond any hope of cure. Though the Jun father and son seethed with indignation, they were helpless; an arm simply cannot twist against a thigh. They were forced into a resigned silence.

But, given the standing of the Xiao family in Silver City, how could they have struck against the Jun family back then and then inexplicably stopped short of complete annihilation? There must have been a specific reason that made the Xiao family relent!

And that reason, one hundred percent, rested upon that pitiable woman!

Han Yanluo!

Who knew what Han Yanluo had sacrificed—and continued to sacrifice—to prevent the extermination of the Jun family? Who knew the desolate suffering that poor woman had endured living alone atop the snowy peaks all these years?

Though the Jun family suffered hardship and misery, what ease did that woman find?

The Jun family harbored an unquenchable hatred for the Xiao family of Wind and Snow Silver City, making coexistence impossible. Yet, Han Yanluo, that respectable woman, had bestowed upon the Jun family the grace of preserving their lineage!

He must, in the shortest time possible, bring Han Yanluo out to reunite with his Third Uncle, allowing the lovers to finally consummate their bond!

The Great Killer Jun suddenly felt an urgent need to act.

He now truly understood how Jun Wuyi had endured these past ten years, and what depths of pain and helplessness lay hidden beneath Third Master Jun’s perpetually calm demeanor.

If even Young Master Jun could grasp the extent of Han Yanluo's efforts, how much deeper, further, and more dreadfully could Jun Wuyi, the involved party, comprehend it? He must have contemplated it more profoundly, more expansively, and far worse!

His own moment of emotional impulse had implicated the entire family. If his two older brothers hadn't died, and for the sake of his aged father, Jun Wuyi might well have ended his own life with a sword long ago!

In such circumstances, forcing oneself to live was ten thousand times harder and a million times more painful than death!

Moreover, there was the beloved confidante who sacrificed herself for him, the deepest love of his life, waiting faithfully in a distant place, silently giving everything for a sliver of hope...

How could one bear such a burden!

The weight on Jun Wuyi’s shoulders was a pain that the Great Killer Jun could never truly grasp; it was a sorrow no one else could share. To endure this, while dragging a crippled body, all for his father, family, and future generations, was itself the act of a hero!

Death is easy enough; one stroke suffices. But forcing oneself to live meant enduring a thousand cuts in the depths of the soul, night after night!

To live... is exceedingly difficult!

"Old Eagle, you just mentioned you are a Divine Profound Fifth Rank, initial Supreme stage. Reaching the Sixth Rank is perhaps not as difficult as advancing from Fourth to Fifth, but it's certainly no easy feat to reach the Sixth. It has already become a nearly insurmountable hurdle in your cultivation progression, hasn't it?" Jun Moxie gritted his teeth, his gaze profound, as if having reached a decision. He spoke slowly, in a heavy tone Ying Bokong had never heard from him before.

Ying Bokong instinctively sensed that Jun Moxie’s words contained some immense power and unquestionable resolve. He was inwardly startled, raising his head slightly, his eyes, once deep, suddenly sharpening like blades: "That is the theory... You, what do you mean by that? Kid, what are you trying to say? Spit it out!"

Just moments ago, their conversation had been filled with light banter and sharp retorts, but now, both recognized that this was absolutely not jesting; this was profoundly serious, solemn talk. Even the surrounding atmosphere instantly grew tense.

It was like an immense bow being drawn taut in the deep, dark night! The arrow was already on the string!

"My Master is devoted to refining elixirs. Several years ago, through a serendipitous chance, he developed a very unique pill!" Jun Moxie’s gaze locked onto Ying Bokong's eyes, unwavering: "This pill requires countless spiritual herbs and rare treasures for its ingredients, and the refinement process is incredibly difficult. But once successfully made, it possesses the ability to elevate a person's rank, bypassing sequential tiers, and entirely without side effects. Do you understand what this means?!"

Ying Bokong watched him with hawk-like intensity, unmoving for a long while. Jun Moxie did not continue speaking, merely meeting Ying Bokong’s gaze calmly.

Ying Bokong undoubtedly needed this pill! And he needed it desperately!

When a person reaches their limit, and there are still those ahead whom they may not be able to catch, a sense of unwillingness breeds. Otherwise, why would the dignified Supreme, Ying Bokong, deign to consult a mere youngster about martial techniques? This was ironclad proof of the Great Supreme’s desperate yearning to break through the plateau where his own limits had trapped him!

If such a medicine truly existed in this world, Ying Bokong—or indeed, any powerhouse in the world—would spare no cost to acquire it!

What followed would undoubtedly be the negotiation of terms! Both understood perfectly well that even if this medicine existed, Jun Moxie would never simply give it to Ying Bokong without demanding a price.