The copper coins Ye Wen threw forced the hidden figure out. Before he could strike again, the person darted away with several swift leaps.

Such Qinggong astonished Ye Wen. He immediately separated a single copper coin, channeled his Zixia Gong, concentrated his power into his finger, timed his moment perfectly, and flicked the coin toward the man's back.

Ye Wen's Qiankun Yizhi (Universe Throw) was not deeply mastered. Currently, he could only guarantee precision when throwing one or two coins at a time. The handful he’d just scattered was purely a bluff, meant only to scare the person into revealing himself; he hadn't actually expected that barrage to cause any real damage.

Indeed, Ye Wen’s casual scatter, though brimming with overwhelming force, lacked any true accuracy. Had Ye Wen not thrown so many coins that they covered the entire area, the person likely wouldn't have jumped out at all.

But with just a single coin, Ye Wen could hit his exact target. Coupled with his profound internal energy, the power carried by that single projectile far surpassed Ning Ruxue’s execution of Qiankun Yizhi. Even if it missed a vital spot, the formidable force accompanying the coin was enough to put someone in serious trouble.

Ning Ruxue’s Qiankun Yizhi emphasized accuracy more heavily. Due to limitations in her own cultivation and throwing strength, the coins she launched had little power unless they struck a vital point.

If that were all, it would amount to little more than a parlor trick to distract an opponent, not a truly exquisite martial art. Thus, Ning Ruxue’s execution of Qiankun Yizhi adhered more closely to the original concept: a large handful launched at once, with the crucial detail that every single coin was aimed at a vital point or crucial meridian on the opponent's body.

One could say the martial siblings’ uses of Qiankun Yizhi each had their merits; it was hard to judge whose was superior at that moment.

In a flash, the dark figure was struck by Ye Wen’s coin, and the body, already airborne, plummeted toward the ground. Seeing this, Ye Wen laughed: "Idiot! Fleeing in a straight line? That's practically announcing where you’re throwing your hidden weapons!"

He started to step forward to see who dared trespass on the Shu Mountain Sect at night, but considering how far the figure had traveled in the blink of an eye, Ye Wen couldn't afford to underestimate their Qinggong. With a slight apprehension, he gripped a few more coins in his hand.

To Ye Wen's surprise, though the man hit the ground, he didn't fall. Instead, he flowed smoothly into a roll, dissipating the impact, and immediately sprang up, resuming his Qinggong flight forward. Ye Wen was startled. He had been cautious, yet this person’s lightness skill was so extraordinary that he recovered his balance so quickly after losing it. Ye Wen immediately flung the coins he held, but in his haste, he forgot to channel his Zixia Gong, slightly weakening their power.

Fortunately, the accuracy was decent; four out of the five coins struck the target. The regret was that the impact points seemed non-critical, especially as none struck the legs. Most hit the back or shoulders. This blow, however, merely served to propel the dark shadow even further away with the residual force of the few darts, vanishing from sight in moments.

"Tsk! He actually got away!"

Although Ye Wen had practiced his Qinggong against the stone walls, he hadn't dedicated himself to that discipline. After a few strides in pursuit, he realized he couldn't catch up. While he was confident that, supported by his internal strength, he could shadow the figure from a distance and capture him when his stamina flagged or his injuries flared, he couldn't be sure if this was a diversion tactic. If he recklessly chased, and his own mountain gate was attacked, the loss would far outweigh the gain.

As for the intruder’s identity, Ye Wen had a vague idea, so he wasn't worried about never finding this person.

"Currently, those holding a grudge against the Shu Mountain Sect are only the Fist Sect and the Tianle Gang! The Fist Sect certainly doesn't harbor such a master, or they would have unified Shu Mountain long ago! That leaves only someone from the Tianle Gang!"

This conclusion was unfavorable. Ye Wen had been relieved that the Tianle Gang seemed to have misjudged his sect, giving him ample time to develop and strengthen his power, allowing him to calmly deal with the Fist Sect and others harboring ill intent. Now, it seemed the Tianle Gang had recognized the threat his sect posed. The very fact that they dispatched such a skilled scout to probe Shu Mountain’s true strength suggested this much. "If the Tianle Gang launches a full assault, can I hold them off?"

Presently, the Shu Mountain Sect's best fighters were the three siblings. Ye Wen was confident he could contend with any named master in Pingzhou. While he couldn't guarantee victory, he believed he wouldn't be severely disadvantaged.

Ning Ruxue and Xu Xian were slightly weaker, but both specialized in evasive and fluid fighting styles. If they performed well, they had a chance to overcome stronger opponents, and if they encountered someone whose martial style was disadvantageous to the enemy, a significant victory wasn't impossible.

It was similar to the time at the Yingya Assembly in The Divine Condor, where Xiao Longnü’s skill was clearly inferior to Jinlun Fawang, yet she managed to hold him off for a considerable time purely through superior lightness skill. While Ning Ruxue’s skill wasn't quite at Xiao Longnü’s level, Ye Wen presumed the Tianle Gang branch didn't host someone as formidable as Jinlun Fawang.

Furthermore, Ye Wen was fortunate that Liu Qingfeng happened to be staying at the Shu Mountain Sect. If they truly came to provoke a fight, this old Daoist surely couldn't stand by idly, effectively granting them an extra top-tier combatant.

Two top-tier experts from Pingzhou, two slightly below that level, plus his disciples who were stronger than average sect members—unless the Tianle Gang dispatched all their elites, wiping out the Shu Mountain Sect would be an empty boast.

Calculating this, Ye Wen realized his strength had grown considerably since his initial days, which brought him some measure of peace. He collected the scattered coins, noting one was missing. He pondered, guessing the black-clad man had pocketed it, cursing, "Are they broke? Won't even leave a single coin!" He stopped searching and turned directly toward the residence where Liu Qingfeng stayed.

Wei Peng, the leader of the Tianle Gang branch in Pingzhou, sat calmly in his room sipping tea, his eyes fixed on the moonlight outside, lost in thought. As he was daydreaming, a sound of air being sliced by cloth suddenly arrived. A figure leaped directly through the window, settling opposite Wei Peng in an instant.

"Hmm? You're injured?"

Wei Peng was greatly surprised to see the blood staining Lu Tian’s mouth. He remembered Lu Tian’s Qinggong as arguably the best in Pingzhou. Over the years, he’d never seen him injured, as Lu Tian knew when to retreat, and ordinary martial artists lacked his skill to even keep up, let alone inflict harm.

Today, he had sent Lu Tian to Shu Mountain to scout their strength and, if possible, test the skill level of their top masters. Yet, Lu Tian had returned so soon, clearly having suffered a significant loss.

"Could it be that someone on Shu Mountain possesses Qinggong superior to yours?"

Lu Tian gasped for breath, finally managing to settle his injury. Hearing his leader's question, he immediately shook his head: "My Qinggong was not the issue; I was injured by a hidden weapon!"

Hearing that Lu Tian was wounded by a projectile, Wei Peng was less surprised than before, but he wondered what kind of weapon it was: "What hidden weapon did the opponent use?"

The moment the question left his lips, he saw a strange expression cross Lu Tian’s face, freezing him as if deep in thought. Wei Peng grew more curious and pressed again.

This time, Lu Tian didn't reply verbally but presented the item held in his hand to Wei Peng. Wei Peng looked down and saw a golden copper coin resting quietly in Lu Tian’s palm. If he didn't know that this man, despite being somewhat undisciplined and fond of trickery, never joked when discussing serious matters, Wei Peng would have immediately lost his temper, thinking Lu Tian was mocking him.

Wounding someone with a copper coin? And injuring a master like Lu Tian—whose skill was not weak—to the point of spitting blood? What level of mastery would that require? It wasn't that no one in the current martial world could achieve this; there were certainly supreme masters in the Central Plains capable of injuring people with plucked flowers or fallen leaves. Moreover, many could harm others with ordinary pebbles. But this was happening in Pingzhou!

Certainly, it wasn't impossible for Pingzhou to harbor such experts, but they shouldn't be found in such an obscure, little-known sect.

Looking up at Lu Tian, Wei Peng asked, "Are you sure?"

Lu Tian shook his head: "Absolutely no mistake. I was forced out from my perch above the dwelling by Ye Wen using a handful of copper coins. Then, when I was struck from the air and knocked to the ground, I managed to grab this. Afterward, the young man threw a few more; four hit me. Fortunately, their force wasn't as strong as the one that knocked me down, or I wouldn't have made it back today!"

At this statement, Wei Peng sucked in a cold breath: "You mean you encountered the Shu Mountain Sect Master? He possesses such profound internal energy?"

The Tianle Gang members had thoroughly investigated the identity and general appearance of the Shu Mountain Sect Master, which is why Lu Tian knew Ye Wen's identity the moment he saw him: "Precisely! He even detected me while I was hidden. At first, I thought he was bluffing and didn't respond, but when he attacked, I knew he had truly discovered me. Coupled with the force used in the projectile attack, his internal skill must rank among the very top in Pingzhou!"

Wei Peng remained silent, continuously turning the copper coin over in his hand.

Lu Tian thought for a moment and continued: "However, Ye Wen’s martial arts seem somewhat peculiar, perhaps due to a unique cultivation method. The force of those later coins was not as potent as the one that sent me crashing from the air! Could it be that his formidable internal energy cannot be sustained for long?"

Wei Peng nodded: "Very possible!"

In truth, Wei Peng hoped the situation was exactly as Lu Tian surmised, because only then did it mean the enemy they were about to face hadn't grown so strong as to render them helpless. If Ye Wen could unleash such crushing force at will, his cultivation would place him among the very best in all of Pingzhou. While Wei Peng was confident in his own skills, he couldn't guarantee a win now.

Recalling how they had dismissed the Shu Mountain Sect as mere weeds by the roadside, never giving them a second thought, Wei Peng found the irony bitter.

After much deliberation, he glanced at Lu Tian, who was still clutching his chest: "How is your injury? Is it serious?"

Lu Tian regulated his breathing and finally managed a wry smile: "The Shu Mountain Master’s force is quite strange. At first, though it felt fierce, it wasn't unbearable. But now, I find this energy continuously stirring trouble within my meridians. It seems this injury won't heal quickly!"

Hearing this, Wei Peng started again: "There is such a thing?"

As he spoke, he reached out and squeezed Lu Tian's hand, circulating his own vital energy to probe the situation inside the man's body. Upon inspection, he detected a sliver of internal energy within Lu Tian. It wasn't charging wildly but meandering slowly. It looked as if it wouldn't cause immediate harm, but in reality, this energy followed a steady, grinding path. If left unchecked for a few days, the cumulative damage from this energy would erupt. While Lu Tian wouldn't die, he would suffer grievously. Realizing this, Wei Peng immediately channeled his energy to aid Lu Tian in recovery, and the entire night passed in this effort until dawn when they could barely conclude.

"This internal energy is very peculiar, definitely not something cultivated through common internal arts! It seems the Shu Mountain Sect also possesses the lineage of some exquisite cultivation methods!" He then asked Lu Tian, "Can you fight anyone now?"

Lu Tian checked his own condition and estimated: "Fighting is possible, but I probably can't unleash a full ten-tenths of my power right now."

Wei Peng considered this and finally nodded: "That's enough! Based on the intelligence gathered these past few days, the young gentleman we saw previously is the Shu Mountain Sect Master's junior brother. Though his swordsmanship is exquisite, you shouldn't lose to him in an actual fight. Furthermore, Ye Wen has a junior sister; while I don't know her skill level, she is only a woman..."

"Besides that, there are no other elders alive in the Shu Mountain Sect, which means there are no other masters!"

"Leader, you mean..."

"You will accompany me to Shu Mountain. I must meet the Shu Mountain Sect Master in person!"

Although he had gathered extensive information and Lu Tian had personally scouted Shu Mountain and been injured, no amount of data could replace firsthand observation. Wei Peng found that even with more intelligence, he couldn't accurately define the Shu Mountain Sect's true strength. He decided he would confront this Sect Master Ye himself; only with a direct impression could he decide the Tianle Gang’s future course of action.

If Ye Wen was truly as formidable as rumored, Wei Peng would have to consider courting the Shu Mountain Sect, or at least ensuring they didn't align with the Tiger Mountain Sect. That latter goal seemed difficult now, as Wei Peng had heard recently that Ye Wen himself had treated Liu Qingfeng of the Tiger Mountain Sect for internal injuries. He had initially dismissed the rumors as exaggeration but now dared not think so lightly.

"This matter is likely eighty percent true. If so, the relationship between the Shu Mountain Sect and the Tiger Mountain Sect..."

After a brief wash and tidy up, Wei Peng ascended Shu Mountain with a slightly uneasy heart. The Shu Mountain Sect's subsidiary manor at the foot of the mountain caught his attention, but he did not stop, heading directly for the summit.

Along the way, various small, insignificant sect signs and characters who looked like mere minnows to him loitered about. Many even tried to seize him and drag him back to their own factions—these people were accustomed to kidnapping disciples.

For those blind fools who showed no sense, Wei Peng used his Eagle Claw skill to teach them a lesson: the light punishment was broken limbs; the severe ones were left gasping, barely clinging to life.

With this display, no one dared pay him any more mind. The path upward was clear; no one dared block him. Even the sects whose members had been disciplined dared not seek retribution for their kin. Those few moves had made it clear to these groups that this man was not someone their small fry could provoke.

"Who is this guy, really?"

"No matter who he is, we can't afford to mess with him!"

"Tsk! What's so great about him? If he's so capable, he should go challenge Sect Master Ye! What kind of hero is he for picking on our brothers?"

"Hey? Look at them climbing the mountain together. Are they going to the Shu Mountain Sect?"

For some unknown reason, after guessing that this ruthless man might be heading up to cause trouble for the Shu Mountain Sect (since he certainly didn't look like a guest arriving for a friendly visit), these people began following at a distance, wanting to watch the excitement.

Wei Peng couldn't be bothered with them, walking his own path while the swarm of flies buzzed annoyingly behind him.

"Should I go drive them all away?"

"No need! If they want to watch the spectacle, let them!"

Wei Peng had already made up his mind. Since he was here today, he would inevitably clash with Ye Wen. Although the information suggested Ye Wen was no easy opponent, Wei Peng was confident that even if their cultivation levels were similar, he could defeat Ye Wen based on his vastly richer combat experience.

If he could defeat Ye Wen in front of so many witnesses, the prestige of the Shu Mountain Sect in this region would surely decline. Then, many others would likely seek to challenge Ye Wen, which would, in turn, help his Tianle Gang keep this sudden emerging power in check.

Considering this, the magnificent gate of the Shu Mountain Sect appeared before Wei Peng. Looking at the imposing main doors and the three characters—Shu Shan Pai—inscribed above, Wei Peng felt a measure of admiration for the sect. In Pingzhou, he had seen countless rough-and-ready factions that resembled little more than street gangs; sects possessing a genuine, proper mountain gate were rare. The Tiger Mountain Sect was one, and now the Shu Mountain Sect was another.

"Just looking at the gate, one knows the Shu Mountain Sect harbors significant ambitions," Wei Peng remarked to Lu Tian before stepping across the threshold. The moment he entered, he saw a young man dressed in a light blue scholar's robe standing there, who clasped his hands in greeting: "May I ask where our esteemed guest comes from? And what business brings you to the Shu Mountain Sect?"

Shu Mountain disciples had already spotted the crowd ascending the mountain and rushed back to report to Ye Wen. Sensing what was happening, Ye Wen led his own people to the courtyard before the main hall, waiting for their arrival. If they were guests, he wouldn't mind preparing a grand welcoming ceremony; if they were foes, then a decisive battle would take place before the main hall! ...