"More than 7,500 fortune! The sect is complete!," ※ Mu Xuetong clung tightly to Princess Hanyanmeng of Silver City with one hand, using every ounce of his strength as they sped across the snow. He dared not look back; he knew that even a single backward glance, even for the blink of an eye, would cause a slowdown, and that momentary lapse might mean capture, rendering the sacrifices of the Third Elder and the others utterly meaningless!

So he simply lowered his head and fled with overwhelming grief and rage, pouring all his energy into the escape!

From afar, he heard the earth-shattering roar of explosions—the explosive release of Xuan energy that only Divine Profound experts could unleash when exhausting every reserve and even tapping into their very potential against an enemy. Though Mu Xuetong himself was only at the Heavenly Profound cultivation level, he hailed from a noble family, and Silver City boasted many Divine Profound masters; he understood the sound of such an event.

Then, the Third Elder’s piercing laughter drifted back, "Xiao Xingyun, did that hit the spot? Hahahaha!"

Xiao Xingyun’s furious voice responded, "Fight to the death? Everyone attack with full power, shower him with a thousand swords!"

This was followed by a chaotic clamor of clashing weapons, though the sound was already faint due to the distance. Then came a long, shrill scream that echoed across the snowy peak, succeeded by the Third Elder's resolute voice, "Come, accompany me on the road! Hahahaha!"

"Poison!"

A violent explosion erupted, accompanied by a string of screams and gasps.

Tears streamed down Mu Xuetong's face.

He knew it.

The Third Elder, Han Feiyun, had annihilated himself, choosing self-immolation to buy as much time as possible, leaving not even a complete corpse behind...

Mu Xuetong soared into the air with Hanyanmeng, streaking swiftly through the dense pine forest. He left faint footprints in three different directions before taking a deep breath, unleashing his full power, and plummeting like a meteor, traversing eight zhang of space without stopping, taking Hanyanmeng down beneath a cliff ahead, vanishing completely.

Creating an illusion of his path here was the best way to escape!

Moments later, Xiao Xingyun arrived, light-footed yet incredibly swift. He inspected the area closely, then furiously waved his hand, "Search thoroughly! There are footprints in the snow; they couldn't have gotten far! Split into three groups and search meticulously. Now that only that little thief Mu remains, he's no threat. Search every inch of this ground! Dig three feet deep if you must to find them! If you find them, no need to take prisoners—kill them all without mercy!"

Young Master Jun Moxie slept soundly, continuing his slumber until the sun was high in the sky the next day. It felt like ages since he had enjoyed such satisfying sleep.

Ke'er guarded his door; the little maid was exceedingly diligent, allowing absolutely no one to disturb her young master's rest.

It was only after lunchtime that a servant reported a visitor: a man named Baili Luoyun requested an audience. Jun Moxie finally stretched, sat up, and murmured, "He arrived earlier than I predicted. Three whole days early!" He rose to his feet, saying, "I'll go see the boy myself!"

Upon meeting Baili Luoyun, the young prodigy of the Baili family stood covered in road dust, his face etched with fatigue from the journey, yet his eyes held an unusual resolve and sharpness. He carried an aura of cold ruthlessness that was new compared to before.

Baili Luoyun simply stood there, unconsciously radiating a chilling and stern aura that made the guards at Jun Manor feel uneasy, compelling them to raise their vigilance to the maximum. These guards were battle-hardened soldiers, for the Jun family was military in nature. The fact that someone could affect them merely through presence demonstrated the severity of his sharpness.

Seeing Jun Moxie come to meet him personally, a flicker of surprise crossed Baili Luoyun’s eyes. He clasped his hands heavily, "Young Master, I have returned!"

"Good that you're back," Jun Moxie smiled faintly. "How was the task handled?"

"Fifty men, not one missing, all have been executed by me! Furthermore, besides the few lines of poetry left behind, there will be no other trace!" Baili Luoyun replied calmly, though his measured tone was filled with immense confidence and pride!

"Well done! You’ve worked hard," Jun Moxie clapped him on the shoulder. "I've arranged lodging for you; rest well first! We’ll discuss other matters later!" Jun Moxie frowned slightly; Baili Luoyun’s bearing was still not correctly positioned. He could clearly sense that arrogance emanating from him just now!

That would not do! For an assassin, such arrogance was a dangerous thing!

"Young Master, I wonder about my father and the others..." Baili Luoyun hesitated slightly.

"Did I not just say we would discuss other matters later? Did you not hear me?" Jun Moxie’s face darkened, and he cast a deeply meaningful look at Baili Luoyun, his gaze brimming with authority!

Baili Luoyun suddenly understood, his face paling. He bowed deeply, "Luoyun obeys!"

Jun Moxie smiled brightly, "Considering this is your filial duty as a son, this is the only time. Do not repeat it!"

Baili Luoyun’s expression settled, and he respectfully replied, "Thank you for your generosity, Young Master!"

"An emperor does not neglect his hungry soldiers. I will fulfill what I promised you," they arrived in Tianxiang City three days ago, and I already had your esteemed father settled in residence. Never mind, you won't be at ease until you see your father, so I will take you there! Follow me." Jun Moxie stepped out and led him around the back.

Baili Luoyun was smart; one sharp warning was enough. There was no need for more speeches; both understood the unspoken agreement!

Not far from the Jun family estate, a grand mansion stood clearly visible.

"Luoyun Residence!" Three glittering golden characters hung high above, blazing brilliantly under the sun.

Several guards stood at the entrance, looking energetic and robust.

In the courtyard, Baili Luoyun’s father sat comfortably in a lounge chair, clad in an expensive robe made of Mystic Beast hide, his face radiating contentment and happiness. Behind him, a pretty young maid diligently massaged his shoulders. In the yard, several servant women were busy cleaning.

Baili Luoyun was overjoyed to see that his father’s complexion had improved significantly. Not only was his face much rosier, but his entire appearance seemed reborn, as if he had shed several years; even the wrinkles on his face had lessened.

"This place," Jun Moxie said softly with a smile, "from now on, this is your home, Baili Luoyun's home."

"My home," Baili Luoyun was stunned.

Home. He once had a home, but the one in the Baili family—that "home" was filled with painful memories. It was nothing more than a cage he couldn't escape, lacking any feeling of true belonging.

He never expected that here, he would possess a home, a brand-new home belonging entirely to him and his father.

Looking at the reeds and trees in the courtyard, Baili Luoyun suddenly felt an intense warmth. Even though it was the eleventh month of winter, he felt warmed through.

His previously icy heart was thawing.

Jun Moxie smiled slightly, quietly stepping back, leaving Baili Luoyun to savor the taste of home by himself.

Jun Moxie understood this feeling, which is why he didn't wish to interrupt.

A moment later, Baili Luoyun rushed out, filled with emotion. Seeing Jun Moxie, his body immediately straightened, his expression serious, and he knelt down solemnly.

Jun Moxie gently supported him with his left hand, projecting an internal force that physically held up Baili Luoyun just as he was about to kowtow. He spoke gently, "What is this? Since you have followed me, it is my duty to arrange everything for you, to ensure you have no worries. This is only proper; there's no need for this. I need capable arms to serve me, not a kowtowing insect." He pulled him up firmly.

"Perhaps it seems right to the Young Master, but to me, this is a grace reaching the heavens!" Baili Luoyun said solemnly. Looking at Jun Moxie, for the first time, beyond the awe due a strong individual, there was a deeper layer of respect!

"That is quite unnecessary! Luoyun, you are an astute person. Some things need not be said; you understand them. Let's be completely candid: If you, Baili Luoyun, were useless, I would not invest this much in you. And you must recognize that your value is not merely a mansion. We are meant to traverse the world together! What I need is your capability! Remember what I said before: only this once. Do not repeat it!" Jun Moxie spoke slowly.

His words were slow and blunt, perhaps even harsh.

But Baili Luoyun knew this was the absolute truth! And the most gratifying words to hear!

Everyone hopes for a stroke of luck to fall upon them, but they never consider: if you have nothing, why should all good things come your way? If you possess no skill and can achieve nothing, by what right do you expect others to invest in you!

It is the same reason someone would bribe an official rather than a poor old farmer. Because the official can get things done, while the farmer cannot. Well, unless the farmer has a beautiful, exquisite daughter, that might be a different matter..."

But understanding is one thing; saying it so plainly is another. And saying it plainly while being able to act on it is yet another thing entirely.

Which noble household does not employ hundreds, if not more, talents? If every single person were provided a courtyard and maids, such generosity would bankrupt the richest man in the world!

The Jun family possessed so many experts and talents; why favor him so singularly? Did Baili Luoyun truly believe he was more useful than those old foxes, or even the Heavenly Profound and Earth Profound masters? Even Baili Luoyun himself lacked confidence in that matter.

Therefore, Baili Luoyun nodded heavily, choosing not to display his surging emotion any further, but stated firmly, "I understand!"

"Hmm, very good! It seems your Profound Art has advanced another tier during this period. The last time I saw you, you were at the peak of Jade Profound. Now you are at the peak of Early Earth Profound, right? Just one step shy of advancing to Mid Earth Profound... This rate of progress is truly divine speed!" Jun Moxie examined him for a moment, asking with surprise.

"That is thanks entirely to the Divine Pill you gave me, Young Master. After taking it, I broke through the bottleneck that had kept me stuck at Jade Profound peak almost instantaneously, advancing to the Earth Profound realm. Then I circulated my energy repeatedly to absorb the medicinal power. By the time I finished absorbing it, even I found it hard to believe. A single pill managed to advance me this far—it truly is a Divine Pill."

Baili Luoyun still sounded somewhat agitated recounting the event. Recalling the moment he saw a hazy yellow light envelop his body, his hands and feet trembled with excitement, and he couldn't help but blush slightly.

The Young Master's Divine Pill did far more than just add ten years of cultivation; it was a heaven-defying elixir that broke through stages! Jun Moxie blinked, opening his mouth slightly, utterly speechless. It seemed everyone had their own fate; everyone received a ten-year pill, but no one had progress this terrifying! This fellow actually advanced so much with just one ten-year pill, leaping straight to the next bottleneck. It seemed he would soon be solidly in Mid Earth Profound!

This was too fast!

Of course, this "astonishing" progress was still worlds away from Jun Moxie’s leaps of seven or eight, or even over ten levels at a time. But Jun Moxie knew the reason.

His ability to jump levels so dramatically was due to possessing the ultimate heaven-defying artifact, the Hongjun Pagoda! Furthermore, his body was being constantly remodeled by spiritual energy. Baili Luoyun had nothing but pure, phenomenal talent! But such talent was truly monstrous!

With talent like that, further investment was certainly warranted. The only current flaw with this young man, Jun Moxie thought, was that he couldn't yet execute orders instantly and flawlessly—but rules and discipline had to be built up gradually!

When the water comes, the channel will form!

"This is your new assignment. For the time ahead, you will focus on these exercises to develop your body comprehensively." Jun Moxie handed Baili Luoyun several sheets of paper detailing human body poses and explanations of the accompanying mantra. The stances were bizarre, almost all exceeding the limits of what the human body should be able to adapt to.

Baili Luoyun’s eyes lit up after just one glance. While most people would find these poses unbelievable and impossible to perform, Baili Luoyun, as a martial arts prodigy, possessed an extraordinarily strong capacity for comprehension. He immediately recognized the boundless potential contained within these movements!

For Baili Luoyun, who desperately craved the strengthening of his own power, this was the best possible gift!

Through his recent string of killings, Baili Luoyun had grown fond of the exhilaration of traveling a thousand li with a sword, where life and death hung on a single thought. But only continuous strengthening of his power could sustain this pleasure long-term!

So, Baili Luoyun accepted almost without hesitation.

"Here is a list of names. You must memorize every one. Every three days of training, you will go out and kill one person!" Jun Moxie’s eyes flashed with cruelty. "You can choose whom to kill entirely as you see fit! These people are all our enemies. But for now, there is no rush; take your time dealing with them, don't be impatient, do you understand?" Jun Moxie said slowly.

Baili Luoyun nodded solemnly and tucked the paper carefully into his robes.

"I expect you to reach the peak of Earth Profound in three months," Jun Moxie said, walking away with his hands behind his back, tossing out a final remark, "At that time, I will help you immediately break through Earth Profound to the peak of Early Heaven Profound—or even higher levels! I hope you will not disappoint me!"

Baili Luoyun shuddered, and an intensely fervent light shone from his eyes.

When Jun Moxie returned to the small courtyard, he heard the distant, mournful sound of Guan Qinghan’s xiao blowing again—a sound like weeping, heavy with pressure, an unbearable, immense pressure...

Jun Moxie sighed, shaking his head, his gaze falling upon the two figures in the courtyard who were moving as if possessed. They were the two disabled youths who had once used their own blood to write a letter, even biting their fingers to do so.

Neither boy had a tongue. One was missing an arm, specifically his right arm.

Before leaving for Tiannan, Jun Moxie had assigned them a training method, but he had doubled the training volume appropriate for their age. These two boys had mediocre innate aptitude; even with dedicated practice, their future prospects were uncertain. Thus, Jun Moxie intended to make the difficulty so high they would be discouraged.

But what shocked Jun Moxie was that these two children, so thin a gust of wind could knock them over, had persevered! Moreover, they had voluntarily increased their training volume to four times the assigned amount!

If the Can Tian Shi Hun squads were training at their limits, these two small children were practicing daily at the cost of their lives! Unless death intervened during practice, the daily quota of four times the training was never missed! As soon as they felt even a sliver of strength return, they immediately plunged back into combat.

Three months, like a single day!

The wooden stakes Jun Moxie had prepared for them had already been broken several times by their own efforts!

Now, watching them practice against each other, a chill ran down Jun Moxie’s spine.

Surprise—this was the astonishment of the Evil Monarch. Young Master was still a human being; despite his two lifetimes of experience and having the Hongjun Pagoda, deep down he was still flesh and blood, and he was amazed by things that exceeded his expectations!

These two boys, around eleven or twelve years old, were frail, but when they sparred, they resembled two wolves fighting!

Two starved, ferocious wolves!

Without the slightest hesitation, without pulling any punches.

Every kick and every punch aimed for a fatal spot! Often, when one was knocked down, he would twitch and struggle for a long time, while the other watched coldly, his gaze utterly devoid of emotion. Far from helping his opponent, he might land a few extra kicks. And the injured one, as soon as he recovered slightly, would immediately spring back up to fight again. Every day, they beat each other until they were bruised and bloody, even striking at their throats, groin, and heart—areas that could truly kill!

They paid no mind that attacking these spots might result in death.

They understood that they should be helping each other, but this was not the time for mutual aid! This was a life-or-death struggle. If they couldn't survive this training, they would surely die at the hands of others later! In that case, it was better to die now by their brother's hand...

Their training was utterly horrifying!

Compared to Baili Luoyun, these two children, besides the vast gap in innate talent, were not far behind in killing intent, especially in their ruthless disposition!

All three were individuals with the killer temperament Jun Moxie recognized! The Three Great Assassins!

Old Master Jun had visited once. When he returned to his study, the lingering shock had not subsided.

In the Old Master’s words: "These two boys are simply not human!" The old general, who had spent his life on the battlefield, was shocked to this degree, which illustrated the ferocity of the two youngsters' training.

When Jun Moxie left previously, his small courtyard remained perfectly clean. Furthermore, after the intense pressure of the previous influx of Heaven and Earth spiritual energy, the ground had hardened to the consistency of fine steel! But upon his return this time, he found the ground covered in countless pits and depressions. Though the change was minor, it was still damaged!

And this damage was clearly caused by these two little fellows using their bodies.

The ground that even a heavy iron hammer might not scratch had been marred like this over three months of training! This showed the extreme rigor they demanded of themselves in their practice!

Jun Moxie sighed, clapped his hands, and called out, "You two, come here!"

When the two boys approached, Jun Moxie noticed that they had grown slightly taller, and their muscles were now clearly defined. The indifference in their eyes towards their own lives caused Jun Moxie to feel even more astonishment.

Both knelt simultaneously, bowing in their customary greeting to the Young Master. The Young Master had repeatedly warned them not to do this, but these two were obstinate and refused to change. Knowing their stubborn nature, the Young Master simply let it be!

"Get up. I want to see the extent to which you have tempered your bodies." Jun Moxie extended one hand each, sending out his spiritual consciousness and internal energy, which swept through the meridians of both boys in an instant. He let out a soft sigh!

It was undeniable that the training of the two had been agonizing to the extreme. Their physical strength and coordination had improved immensely!

But their inherent limitations remained!

Their aptitude was the polar opposite of Baili Luoyun's—heaven and earth apart, like clouds and mud!

Jun Moxie realized he needed to refine medicine again.

"Take these two Ten Year Pills from my pocket!" the Young Master commanded. "Swallow them, and then practice circulating your Xuan Qi!"

Given the foundational base they had built in just three months, taking these Ten Year Pills prematurely would undoubtedly bring about excruciating pain—perhaps ten times worse than for an average person. However, after observing them practice just now, Jun Mo Xie knew these two lads were naturally ruthless individuals!

Others might not survive the ordeal, but these two youngsters were certainly up to the challenge!

Indeed, moments after taking the pills, the reaction began. They had only been cultivating Xuan Qi for three months, placing them at a mere second or third grade, at best comparable to the power Jun Mo Xie possessed when he first transmigrated. Yet, the Ten Year Pill was a heaven-defying elixir that even a Silver Xuan Master would struggle with for ages!

But if they could endure it through sheer willpower, their meridians would expand to an astonishing degree! The more they could bear, the greater the reward. For a Divine Xuan Master, taking this pill was largely inconsequential; they would absorb ten years of pure Xuan power without much fuss.

However, for these two children with their fragile meridians, successfully surviving this process would mean an incredibly formidable starting point! It could compensate even for lesser innate talent.

Under Jun Mo Xie’s intense gaze, the muscles on both boys’ bodies swelled painfully. Their teeth ground together with audible clicks, yet neither uttered a single groan, bearing the burden silently, wrestling with pain that even seasoned adults could not endure even a tenth of!

Sweat poured from them like rain!

Watching their slender frames, and noticing the constant trembling of the severed arm on one boy, a particular set of saber techniques suddenly surfaced in Jun Mo Xie's mind: The Left-Hand Saber! The One-Armed Saber Technique!

Each strike was sharp, every move dealt death! This technique originated from a martial arts predecessor in his past life. That elder was famed for his saber skills, his prowess unmatched across the world. Sadly, he was ambushed by an enemy who deliberately severed his dominant right arm without killing him. Since his right hand was gone, his exquisite saber skills were effectively crippled; he could no longer wield his weapon. His foe intended for him to become a powerless spectacle for the world to mock!

But the elder did not despair. After profound reflection, he spent ten years creating an exceedingly profound Left-Hand Saber Technique through sheer, indomitable will. When the technique reached mastery, he re-emerged, executing his vengeance blow by meticulous blow!

Even in his prime, he hadn't been the enemy’s match, but upon unleashing this One-Armed Saber style, his foe barely had a chance to retaliate! This demonstrated the technique’s sheer dominance!

However, mastering this technique was fraught with extreme danger. Every move defied convention, every strike was unimaginable. One misstep could easily lead to self-injury, as each cut emerged from a vector the opponent could least anticipate. While this baffled enemies, it simultaneously increased the difficulty for the practitioner.

But now, this One-Armed Saber Technique was undoubtedly the only hope for this disabled youth.

As for the other boy, whose limbs were whole, Jun Mo Xie similarly planned something unorthodox: teaching him an exceptionally bizarre sword style. This way, when the two combined their blade and sword, they were bound to unleash terrifying, combined might!

The agony endured by the two youngsters lasted a full hour. Towards the end, they could only twitch slightly, devoid of sweat. Blood seeped from the roots of their tightly clenched jaws.

Every single blood vessel on their bodies was clearly visible, bulging beneath the skin’s surface.

When the excruciating pain finally subsided, both boys remained frozen, jaws locked so tightly their facial muscles spasmed, preventing them from opening their mouths.

Jun Mo Xie surged his vast, pure spiritual energy into them, gently relaxing their musculature. Only then could they finally part their lips. They looked at each other, their eyes bloodshot from the ordeal, yet still blazing with mutual defiance.

"This is a saber technique," Jun Mo Xie said, casually grabbing a single saber and executing a flourish with his left hand. "Watch closely."

The child with only the left arm stared with intense eagerness, concentrating fiercely on every movement Jun Mo Xie made. His eyes were wide open, daring not to blink, terrified of missing a single motion.

Jun Mo Xie performed the form slowly once, subtly channeling Xuan power through his feet to press shallow imprints into the hard ground. Then, treading those very footprints, he repeated the practice twice more before asking, "Do you understand?"

The one-armed child nodded. Their innate aptitude was limited. Naturally, he hadn't fully grasped the technique after just one demonstration, nor could he recall many of the moves.

But he perfectly understood Jun Mo Xie’s intention: practice the saber while stepping on the marks in the earth!

Shortly after, the Young Master instructed the other child in the peculiar sword style, then urged them both to practice diligently. Just then, a guard rushed in with a report: "The Dugu Family has sent an envoy with an invitation, requesting the Third Young Master attend a banquet at the Dugu Estate this very day."

Jun Mo Xie started, baffled. A banquet? What was this about now?

These past few days have been hectic with gatherings. I got drunk the day before yesterday and couldn't write, resulting in a missed update. I managed to catch up on the guaranteed minimums yesterday and today, though I forfeited the full attendance bonus. Still, I feel a measure of relief. After missing a day, I delivered 5,600 words the next, and another 1,500 today. Heh, for someone constantly traveling and attending functions, managing to churn out this much prose—if I may be vain for a moment—I am quite remarkable, haha.

Well, I haven’t been soliciting monthly votes these past few days because I haven't had a proper burst of writing. Hehe. Now that I'm home, give me some time to rest and recover from the exhaustion, and then we will continue the charge! I hope my brothers and sisters won't hold back their monthly votes when the time comes!

[Ti: Dear reader, the current chapter has reached the final page of this book]