Wang Yuanchu and the other four drew their swords and stepped out of the house, standing in the center of the courtyard. Wang Yuanchu shouted, "In the dead of night, disturbing our sleep—whoever you are, state your name!" "Well said, Wang Yuanchu; truly extraordinary." A middle-aged man floated down, light as a feather, his face illuminated by the watery moonlight.

Li Muzhan quietly pushed the window open, took a glance at the elder, and felt a darkening dread settle in his heart. A bright moon hung high in the sky, turning silently, casting down a light, delicate radiance that shrouded everything around in a veil-like haze, ethereal and strange.

This middle-aged man had thick brows, large eyes, a straight nose, and a square mouth—a distinguished appearance. His eyes were brilliant and piercing, radiating a vigorous, imposing heroism.

At this moment, he wore a smirk, looking down with supreme disdain. Wang Yuanchu stiffened momentarily, blurting out, "Gongsun Qingyun!" His voice was strained, and his body instantly tensed.

With his back to Li Muzhan, Li Muzhan could guess his expression was rigid, eyes wide open. "Wang Yuanchu, long time no see," Gongsun Qingyun smiled faintly, leisurely surveying his surroundings before his gaze finally settled on Li Muzhan.

One man outside the window, one inside, their gazes collided in the air, entangling for a moment. Gongsun Qingyun exclaimed in surprise, "The Wang family is not without merit.

To have such a master!" I knew it, even if you improved, Wang Yuanchu, you wouldn't have noticed me this quickly! Wang Yuanchu flicked his long sword with his right hand, keeping his left hand behind his back.

He swiftly made several hand signals while stepping forward, shouting boldly, "Gongsun Qingyun, what brings you here?!" Gongsun Qingyun smiled: "I've come to see you off." Wang Yuanchu sneered: "The Gongsun family has great nerve." Noticing the signals, Li Muzhan turned to Wang Shuangfeng. Wang Shuangfeng shook her head and whispered, "Martial Uncle, please help my father!" He is Gongsun family's foremost master, but still...

Li Muzhan frowned and nodded slowly. He perceived the sheer power of this Gongsun Qingyun; his internal energy was shockingly profound, so deep that even his own sixth layer of the Canghai Divine Skill felt several notches short.

Wang Yuanchu and the others stood no chance. The gestures he made must have been to tell Wang Shuangfeng to leave first.

He concentrated his inner senses. He could feel the intense waves of fear and despair emanating from Wang Yuanchu's group, while Gongsun Qingyun remained placid—a cat playing with mice.

Gongsun Qingyun smiled faintly: "You are people already on the verge of death. Whether my Gongsun family has nerve or not is irrelevant.

Traveling together on the road to the Yellow Springs will at least not be lonely." Wang Yuanchu scoffed disdainfully: "Gongsun Qingyun, if we die, you won't escape either. We will wait for you down below!" Gongsun Qingyun chuckled: "Still relying on that old hag to avenge you?

Heh heh." Wang Yuanchu's thick brows knitted, and he spoke coldly: "Your Gongsun family has resorted to continuous schemes. We have already sent word via swift courier to the Old Ancestor; if anything untoward happens to us, your entire Gongsun clan will be buried with us." Gongsun Qingyun smiled dismissively: "Heh heh, very well.

Then we shall see the skill of that old hag. Let's see if she can contend with the elders of the Sacred Snow Peak!" Wang Yuanchu sneered: "Such arrogance!

How can you possibly have ties with the Sacred Snow Peak?" Gongsun Qingyun smiled: "Indeed, you speak the truth. This matter is quite strange.

You offended the Sacred Snow Peak, didn't you? Otherwise, why would the Sacred Snow Peak seek out us?" Wang Yuanchu gritted his teeth and snarled hatefully: "A fine Sacred Snow Peak, boasting as one of the Seven Great Sects, yet resorting to such insidious tricks!" Gongsun Qingyun laughed: "Driving the wolf to devour the tiger—a brilliant idea.

Wang Yuanchu, dying at the hands of the Gongsun family and the Sacred Snow Peak will not be considered an injustice!" "Nonsense!" Wang Yuanchu sneered, standing tall: "Gongsun Qingyun, today we shall see exactly what caliber the so-called foremost master of the Gongsun family possesses!" "Then let us begin!" Gongsun Qingyun stood with his hands behind his back, smiling faintly, a trace of refined elegance emanating from him. "Body Sacrifice Technique, Dragon Locking Array!" Wang Yuanchu roared.

The four men formed their fingers into swords, tapped themselves a few times, then sprang to occupy the four cardinal directions, surrounding Gongsun Qingyun in the center. Their robes billowed as if moved by the wind, surging like waves, and their long swords cast a curtain of cold light, enveloping Gongsun Qingyun.

"Good!" Gongsun Qingyun let out a loud laugh, tucked up the edge of his robe into his sash, and thrust both palms forward, striking out at the swords closing in on him. "Clang, clang, clang, clang"—a continuous chime rang out.

Gongsun Qingyun's palms were like stone, batting aside every incoming sword with composure and ease. Li Muzhan frowned inwardly.

The four had employed the Body Sacrifice Technique, massively boosting their power. Their sword lights were like lightning, swift and ghostly, each one temporarily a first-rate master.

Yet, even so, they couldn't gain an advantage against Gongsun Qingyun; in fact, Gongsun Qingyun maintained the upper hand. The foremost master of the Gongsun lineage was indeed worthy of his reputation.

Li Muzhan glanced back at Wang Shuangfeng. Wang Shuangfeng whispered, "Martial Uncle, I'm fine, please help Father and the others!" Li Muzhan shook his head and looked toward the top of the wall, whispering, "There is another person." Hidden in the shadows was another individual, whose martial arts were even stronger, holding a clear advantage over Gongsun Qingyun—like a treasured sword sheathed, dormant but powerfully imposing.

Li Muzhan frowned, glanced at the ongoing fight. Gongsun Qingyun was handling the four with effortless grace; they looked like monkeys being toyed with, unable to even graze his robes.

Li Muzhan observed for a moment. Gongsun Qingyun was deliberately provoking them.

He could kill them whenever he pleased; he was merely waiting for his amusement to wane before delivering the fatal blow. Then he considered the master hidden in the darkness.

He looked at Wang Shuangfeng, his mind racing through possibilities. If he were to intervene, Wang Shuangfeng's safety would be precarious; if he did not, the four men could be killed at any moment—a true dilemma.

Moreover, Gongsun Qingyun's martial arts were supreme; Li Muzhan had no guaranteed victory. If a protracted fight ensued, Wang Shuangfeng's safety would be even harder to ensure.

Moments later, after countless thoughts flashed through his mind, he made his decision. "Martial Uncle..." Wang Shuangfeng sensed that Wang Yuanchu and the others were in dire straits, and Gongsun Qingyun had dropped his smile, his palms moving like lightning as he began to deliver killing strikes.

Li Muzhan murmured, "En." Suddenly, his sapphire blue long robe swelled outward. Wang Shuangfeng felt the air around them instantly turn cold, a chill striking her to the bone.

She turned to look at Li Muzhan before her. She felt as if the Martial Uncle she saw had transformed into a drawn sword, radiating coldness and a palpable murderous intent capable of cleaving through any obstacle before them.

Standing behind Li Muzhan, she felt only the residual shockwave, but Gongsun Qingyun felt it far more intensely. His body hair stood on end, and a creeping coldness surged in his heart.

A powerful intuition screamed danger. Startled, he turned to look at Li Muzhan, meeting the piercing brilliance in Li Muzhan's eyes.

His movements immediately slowed; it felt as if his chest had been struck by a heavy punch. "Swoosh!" Li Muzhan flicked his hand.

A beam of cold light, accompanied by a whistling sound, shot instantly toward Gongsun Qingyun. "Hah!" Gongsun Qingyun roared, his voice like cracking thunder, pouring his energy into deflection.

He managed to shift his position by a mere foot. The cold light flashed past, piercing his right shoulder before vanishing into the opposite wall.

Li Muzhan opened his left hand, and a throwing knife appeared in his palm. A slight smile touched his lips, his gaze like lightning, fixed on Gongsun Qingyun.

The Yellow Dragon Flying Sword was indeed potent, but without the four men from Wang Yuanchu tying down his opponent, hitting Gongsun Qingyun would not have been so easy. This strike relied on surprise.

Blood streamed down Gongsun Qingyun's right shoulder. He quickly pressed several points to staunch the flow, maneuvering within the sword light of the four, still managing with ease.

He didn't spare a glance for Wang Yuanchu's group, instead narrowing his eyes at Li Muzhan. Their gazes collided across the courtyard.

Li Muzhan smiled slightly. His robes billowed, and a palpable sword intent tore through the air, stabbing at Gongsun Qingyun as if it were solid matter.

Gongsun Qingyun's face changed; his footwork became elusive, multiple ghostly afterimages flickering, creating a blur, as if he had submerged into water, making his exact location unclear. Li Muzhan smiled slightly, unleashing his formidable spiritual power entirely, consolidating it into a single force with incredible strength.

Even with Gongsun Qingyun's wondrous evasive techniques, his eyes could not be deceived. He was not seeing with his eyes; he was sensing with his heart.

His left hand gripped the throwing knife, still and unmoving, as he charted the patterns of Gongsun Qingyun's movements. His eyes focused sharply, and he flung his left hand.

The knife transformed into a streak of cold light, vanishing in an instant with a soft hiss, embedding itself in the wall opposite. Gongsun Qingyun's movement hitched, and he let out a muffled groan.

A spray of blood erupted from his left shoulder. He suddenly shot upward, transforming into a wisp of light smoke that swept over the courtyard wall and disappeared.

Li Muzhan let out a long breath, his body swaying slightly. "Martial Uncle," Wang Shuangfeng rushed forward to support him, calling out anxiously.

Li Muzhan's face was pale, and he managed a wry smile. Although the Yellow Dragon Flying Sword was overwhelmingly powerful, unleashing it twice meant betting his entire essence, spirit, and vital energy.

After the second throw, he felt utterly drained, as if his internal resources were completely spent. "Hoo," Wang Yuanchu and the other three let out long breaths, rapidly pressing several points on their bodies.

Li Muzhan understood. They were lifting the Body Sacrifice Technique.

The Body Sacrifice Technique could indeed be undone prematurely, but this was kept secret. Perhaps Mei Songwan hadn't taught it back then for that very reason.

Wang Yuanchu staggered over, his face flushed crimson. He cupped his hands: "Brother Li, thanks to you, otherwise, all our lives would have ended here today." Li Muzhan smiled and shook his head, sighing: "This is the Yellow Dragon Flying Sword of the Old Ancestor.

I can only manage four throws; two more, and I wouldn't need an enemy to strike me down—I'd collapse on my own." "So you actually mastered the Old Ancestor's Yellow Dragon Flying Sword," Wang Yuanchu realized with sudden clarity, sighing, "No wonder, no wonder!" As the eldest son of the Wang family, he had naturally practiced the Yellow Dragon Flying Sword, but he had never succeeded, finding it profoundly mysterious and utterly incomprehensible. He had never known if he was too dull or if the sword technique was simply too difficult.

Now it seemed he was the one who was too clumsy to learn it. Wang Yuanchu smiled weakly: "Your Yellow Dragon Flying Sword is in no way inferior to the Old Ancestor's!" Wang Shuangfeng said: "Martial Uncle, Father, let's go inside to talk." "Yes, yes, quickly back to the house," Wang Yuanchu quickly agreed.

As Li Muzhan turned, he glanced up at the night sky. The hidden figure was gone; clearly, they had been startled away.

I originally intended to write more here, but my conception fell short. I will proceed more slowly and make up for it tomorrow.

Forgive me. Also, I must thank the two deputy moderators.

As the book reviews increased, I found myself struggling to keep up. I truly need the assistance of the deputy moderators.

Immense gratitude.