He hadn't noticed that point before, and as he spoke, he struck out another palm.

Zhu He countered with his own palm strike. His cultivation was profound, and the Divine Dragon Hand, under his command, was fierce and tyrannical, truly like a dragon ascending to the heavens, emitting a chilling "whoosh" that pierced the soul.

With a faint hiss, a streak of flowing light shot into Zhu He's back. Zhu He's movement paused, his narrowed eyes widening in disbelief.

Li Muzhan lightly pressed a palm against Zhu He's chest, simultaneously retracting the flying dagger.

With a muffled thud, Zhu He flew backward, spitting a stream of blood mixed with chunks of flesh. Li Muzhan's palm strike had directly shattered his internal organs; even the Grand Unity Golden Immortal could not save him now.

With a crash, Zhu He slammed onto the ground. Though he looked slender, he fell like a massive stone, shaking the earth upon impact.

Blood bubbled ceaselessly from his sternum, like a springhead. The faces of the assembled elders in black changed drastically. From the moment Li Muzhan struck to Zhu He’s landing, it was all over in a flash, as swift as lightning.

Li Muzhan glanced at the others. Feng Mingxue’s flying sword transformed into a streak of light, and an elder in black clutched his chest and collapsed. Then another followed suit.

Seeing the situation was dire, one of them stated gravely, "Retreat!"

Two elders in black rushed toward Zhu He, but they halted their advance as they neared him, clutching their chests and falling beside Zhu He, their hands reaching out in vain, unable to touch him.

Li Muzhan said sternly, "Senior Sister, don't let any of them escape!"

Feng Mingxue frowned. "Kill them all?"

"If you don't kill them, they will kill us!" Li Muzhan countered.

Feng Mingxue sighed helplessly. "Killing all day long—following you, there's never a moment of peace!"

Li Muzhan chuckled twice, his form flickering as he appeared behind an elder in black and brought his palm down. With a dull thud, the elder gasped his last breath and was sent flying.

He continued in the same manner, employing the Minor Teleportation Technique, striking one per palm. Even those who reacted and tried to resist could not withstand a single blow.

This was the pure, unadulterated Divine Dragon Hand, unrivaled in its might and destructive force.

It must be said that the Divine Dragon Hand could not display its full power in the hands of the Zhu family members. Because it was an ultimate technique of supreme hardness and ferocity, its execution generated a backlash that strained the meridians and physical body, restricting its true power.

Li Muzhan’s body refinement had reached the pinnacle; the thickness of his meridians and the robustness of his flesh far surpassed that of ordinary masters, being rare in this age.

When he unleashed the Divine Dragon Hand, it was truly unstoppable in its ferocity. Even when the elders in black, unwilling to passively accept death, used secret arts to forcibly stimulate their potential to clash with him, they could not withstand a single move.

Li Muzhan struck palm after palm. In the blink of an eye, over a dozen elders in black ceased breathing. Although Feng Mingxue disliked killing, these men were certain to become enemies; mercy to an enemy was cruelty to one's own side. If they hadn't killed her and her junior brother, they might have sought revenge against the CloudSect, which would have been a disaster, given their strength—most disciples of the CloudSect could not stand against them.

Thinking of this, her heart hardened, becoming cold as ice and snow. Her flying sword moved like flowing light, and in an instant, she had also slain over a dozen elders in black. Their efficiency in killing was nearly equal, with the flying sword perhaps even having an edge.

These elders in black wore no armor and could not withstand the flying sword.

Feng Mingxue occasionally glanced toward Zhu He. The sword that pierced his heart earlier was not her flying sword, but her junior brother's flying dagger. Her junior brother's dagger was indeed marvelous; he hadn't been bragging. Her own flying sword was far inferior.

Li Muzhan smiled. "Senior Sister, the more people your flying sword kills, the stronger its power becomes. Let loose and slaughter them!"

He knew his Senior Sister Feng Mingxue possessed an inherently good nature; though cold, she was compassionate and hated killing the most. Yet, by following him, her jade hands had unknowingly become stained with blood.

The two pursued the enemy all the way to the gates of the Zhu Residence. Earlier, when the elders in black gave their cry, a host of people had rushed out from the Zhu Residence: elders dressed in black, middle-aged men in white, and two elders in purple, standing before the crowd with astonishing presence.

Li Muzhan raised an eyebrow. The cultivation of these two elders in purple was even deeper, surpassing Zhu He's. It seemed the foundations of the great aristocratic families were indeed rich, producing such peerless experts time and again.

Only two elders in black managed to flee back into the formation. Li Muzhan and Feng Mingxue stood side-by-side before the Zhu Residence, calmly surveying the assembled group.

The elders in black, the middle-aged men in white, and the elders in purple—the three groups totaled about sixty people. Initially, the atmosphere was relatively calm, but after the two elders in black spoke, their expressions shifted. Killing intent slowly permeated the air, thickening like a dense fog enveloping Li Muzhan and Feng Mingxue.

Li Muzhan and Feng Mingxue watched calmly as the two elders in black finished their report. Li Muzhan spoke, his voice deep. "The Zhu family carries quite the air. You wish to kill me without regard for right or wrong!"

A purple-robed elder with a round face said faintly, "You killed Fifth? And Old He?"

Li Muzhan frowned. "Might I inquire as to your identity, sir...?"

"I am Zhu Lang." The round-faced elder possessed a deep and imposing authority, carrying an aura of natural majesty.

Li Muzhan turned to look at Feng Mingxue, who calmly stated, "The Third of the Zhu family."

Li Muzhan nodded. "So you are Elder Zhu. I have a suggestion; I wonder if Elder Zhu has the final say in the Zhu family matters!"

Zhu Lang said coolly, "Though I am not the family head, I can decide on minor matters."

Li Muzhan glanced at the other elder beside him, whose face resembled a silver plate, his beard and eyebrows completely white, his complexion ruddy, making him look somewhat younger, yet he remained silent.

Li Muzhan discerned that this was the true leader. He frowned. "You must be the family head?"

The silver-plate-faced elder stroked his beard and spoke slowly. "I am Zhu Jun. The CloudSect has produced a prodigy, but alas, you should not have provoked our Zhu family!"

Li Muzhan smiled faintly. "Patriarch Zhu, you wish to annihilate me to avenge the Fifth, who enjoyed tearing out hearts?"

Zhu Jun replied calmly, "Fifth's revenge cannot go unexacted, nor can Old He's. Li Wuji, speak your last words freely; I will ensure they are delivered."

Li Muzhan laughed, shaking his head. "I was about to say the same thing to the Patriarch. Speak your last words; I will pass them on to your Zhu family!"

"Heh heh..." Zhu Jun chuckled, stroking his beard and shaking his head. "Arrogant and ignorant. Are all disciples of the CloudSect this presumptuous? Men, move!"

With swift steps, everyone surrounded Li Muzhan and Feng Mingxue. Li Muzhan shook his head and smiled. "If this is all the Zhu family has, I am truly disappointed!"

"Watch your tongue, boy! Test your mettle first. Go!" Zhu Jun commanded gravely.

As his voice fell, sword lights suddenly flashed. The elders in black drew the long sabers at their waists, and the middle-aged men in white also drew their blades, instantly filling the air with a chilling cold that drastically lowered the temperature.

"Clang, clang, clang..." Feng Mingxue drew her sword. Li Muzhan carried no blade; as a Grand Master, he had reached the level where anything could become a sword.

He extended his hand, and immediately, a precious saber, like autumn water, settled into his grip. He held the blade with his right hand, his left palm stroking the metal as if caressing a lover, exclaiming, "What a fine saber!"

Suddenly, a streak of white light sliced past everyone's eyes, eclipsing the myriad flashes of cold steel, like the rising of a bright moon overshadowing the lesser stars.

"Clang, clang, clang..." Every long saber broke in two. No one could withstand the light of Li Muzhan's blade. Wherever the light passed, blades broke, and men fell. After a swath of blade light swept through, three elders in black lay on the ground.

Feng Mingxue shook her head. She possessed the ability to multitask; while using her sword for defense, her flying sword shot out again. Li Muzhan called out with a laugh, "Flying sword!"

He had always pretended it was his own flying sword, concealing Feng Mingxue's identity, but it was actually her trump card, capable of turning the tide at a critical moment.

He no longer harbored any reservations. While he held no ultimate trump card for himself, that didn't stop him from ensuring others had one; an extra layer of defense was never wrong.

The flying sword transformed into a silent stream of light, effortlessly piercing the chests of the elders in black, then shooting towards another without pause or obstruction.

In the blink of an eye, several more elders in black collapsed. Zhu Jun's face darkened. He suddenly waved his hand, and Zhu Lang nodded, floating into the mansion.

Li Muzhan, using his multi-tasking ability, observed Zhu Lang's movement and felt a sense of alarm. While wielding his saber, he kept his gaze fixed on the mansion gate. He saw Zhu Lang return with four middle-aged men in red robes and present them to Zhu Jun.

Zhu Jun surveyed them, nodded slowly, and stated gravely, "Stop. Retreat."

The elders in black gracefully stepped back, instantly rejoining Zhu Jun’s rear guard. However, more than half of them had been eliminated; over twenty had been killed in that short time.

Li Muzhan gave a slight flick. The saber trembled, flinging off drops of blood, and the blade returned to a state of pristine cleanliness. He flicked his finger at the saber. "Truly a fine blade!"

The saber rang out with a sharp sound, vibrating as if alive, eager to fly from his hand.

Feng Mingxue frowned, staring intently at Zhu Jun, sensing he must have another trick, another hidden move.

Zhu Jun chuckled twice. "Good, very good! You truly are a talented disciple of the CloudSect; you certainly have some skill!"

Li Muzhan smiled. "Patriarch Zhu, do you have further instruction for me?"

Zhu Jun smiled. "Li Wuji, your martial arts are top-notch, but where did this saber technique come from? It truly rivals the sword techniques of the CloudSect!"

Li Muzhan laughed. "In terms of saber technique refinement, how can I compare to your esteemed family? The techniques of Phoenix Island are exceptional; I greatly admire them! Could this technique perhaps have originated from the Floating Cloud Palace?"

"Heh heh, interesting. Li Wuji, you seem to know quite a lot!" Zhu Jun nodded and smiled. "It seems you are also involved in the matters of Phoenix Island!"

Li Muzhan smiled. "I am indeed aware of Phoenix Island, but alas, later, regarding the Grand Master's manual—your esteemed family obtained the Grand Master's manual, which the whole world envies!"

"The Grand Master's manual?" Zhu Jun shook his head. "That was merely a ruse to deceive people; everyone knows Grand Masters have no manuals."

Li Muzhan smiled. "Previously, I would have believed you that Grand Masters have no manuals, but now, I don't. I imagine everyone thinks the same way. Your esteemed family is now a piece of tempting meat!"

"Alarmist talk, Li Wuji. There’s no need for tricks. You are destined to die today!" Zhu Jun said coldly.

Li Muzhan sighed. "I truly do not wish to kill, but you continually force my hand!"

Zhu Jun sneered and said sternly, "Make your move!"

The four middle-aged men in red slowly nodded. "Yes, Patriarch!"

Li Muzhan frowned, his hairs prickling. A chill rose from his back. He spoke gravely, "Senior Sister, something is wrong. Don't fight them head-on!"

"What is it?" Feng Mingxue knitted her delicate brows.

Li Muzhan said, "It's the Zhu family's trump card arriving. We need to prepare to leave."

"Hmm—?" Feng Mingxue was even more confused. To think of escaping before a fight even began—this was hardly like her junior brother. She focused her gaze on the four middle-aged men in red.

They were thin, their faces pale, like four walking corpses. Their expressions were dull, but their eyes shone brightly, much like the saber Li Muzhan held.

Her intuition was precise, and she sensed that these four middle-aged men were strange, though she couldn't pinpoint exactly what was wrong, so she remained cautiously on guard.

With a hiss, the four instantly transformed into streams of light, arriving before Li Muzhan in an instant, ignoring Feng Mingxue entirely. Their speed was astonishingly fast.

Li Muzhan flashed away, instantly appearing ten feet away, then flashed again to Feng Mingxue's side, embracing her slender waist and vanishing from their original spot.

The four middle-aged men in red chased like flowing light, but Li Muzhan and Feng Mingxue were gone. They immediately turned to pursue again, their speed unparalleled.

"Junior Brother, what on earth is happening?" Feng Mingxue watched the four pursuers closely, frowning. "Their Qinggong is incredible!"

Li Muzhan said, "They are currently using a secret technique. It’s best we don't provoke them!"

"Flying sword?" Feng Mingxue suggested.

Li Muzhan shook his head. "I don't know what secret technique it is. I'll handle it!"

Without looking back, he flicked his finger. With a massive thud, one of the middle-aged men in red suddenly exploded, vanishing completely. Amidst flying dust and soil, a deep crater was blasted open.

A surging force rushed over them, pushing like an immense wave. Feng Mingxue’s face shifted slightly. Li Muzhan sighed. "What a vicious secret technique!"

Feng Mingxue quickly said, "Junior Brother, let's go!"

Li Muzhan shook his head and flicked his finger three times. "Thud!" "Thud!" "Thud!" Three muffled sounds rang out in succession, causing the blood and vital energy of the onlookers to surge, their ears roaring.

Li Muzhan flashed suddenly to Zhu Jun's side. With a muffled sound, two elders in black suddenly blocked in front of Zhu Jun, pushing out a palm strike to meet Li Muzhan's attack. The two retreated two steps, and Li Muzhan also retreated one.

He shook his head and sighed. "Patriarch Zhu, you treat lives as child's play; it is truly chilling. No wonder Zhu Wu was so brutal—it’s all your doing!"

He pushed with another palm strike. With a dull thud, the two elders in black blocked again. A sharp glint flashed in Li Muzhan's eyes. With a faint hiss, Zhu Jun clutched his chest, staring at Li Muzhan in shock.

Li Muzhan shook his head. "Your precious armor is useless!"

"You... you..." Zhu Jun pointed at him, his eyes wide.

"Big Brother!" Zhu Lang rushed forward to support him, calling out anxiously, "Big Brother, what's wrong? Where are you hurt?"

Zhu Jun pointed at Li Muzhan. "He... he..."

Blood surged to the corner of his mouth, choking off his words. He gasped a few times, convulsed briefly, kicked his legs, and died.

Li Muzhan sneered. "The Zhu family amounts to nothing more!"

His saber flashed, slicing toward Zhu Lang. Zhu Lang hastily performed a clumsy roll to dodge the blade light and roared, "Someone, slice this brat into ten thousand pieces to avenge Big Brother!"

The remaining elders in black rushed forward one after another. Li Muzhan's form flickered; his saber light transformed into a silver dragon, sweeping over all the elders, engulfing them.

Feng Mingxue's flying sword showed no mercy, piercing through the crowd like a stream of light—silent, stealthy, and impossible to guard against. All attention of the elders in black was drawn to Li Muzhan's saber light, leaving them too slow to react before being struck by the sword.

Li Muzhan attacked head-on with his blade, while the flying sword seized the opportunity for stealthy attacks, mingling with the fray. The results were rich; in less than a quarter of an hour, more than half of the elders in black had fallen.

Their attempts to guard against the flying sword were futile. If they shifted their focus for a moment, the blade light would sweep in; if they strained their minds to deal with Li Muzhan's saber, they couldn't evade the flying sword.

Zhu Lang let out a long cry. "Men! Big Brother is dead! Where are the four Divine Monks? Come out!"

A flash passed before Li Muzhan's eyes. Four old monks in gray robes suddenly appeared. They moved as if treading on white clouds, exhibiting a graceful, floating gait.

"Namo Amitabha!" A long, slow Buddhist chant rose. Everyone's spirit lifted, like a booming evening drum or a morning bell. Everything before seemed like a dream, and they became clearer-headed than ever before.

"Two benefactors, please cease your actions," said a gaunt old monk slowly.

Li Muzhan's spirit tightened, and his saber light instantly retracted. He stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Feng Mingxue, observing the four old monks. They all wore gray robes, washed pale, some even patched, yet they were immaculately neat and utterly spotless.

On their shaved heads were nine precepts scars. Though their features varied, their expressions were peaceful, their gazes gentle and composed as they quietly observed the pair.

Li Muzhan formed a vertical palm salute and bowed slightly, smiling. "The four masters clearly possess profound virtue. Why do you protect the Zhu family?"

The gaunt old monk sighed. "Benefactor Li, accumulating too much slaughter will drag you into the Avici Hell. Please put down the butcher's knife and escape the sea of suffering!"

Li Muzhan laughed. "The Zhu family has murdered countless people, and Zhu Wu was particularly brutal. The four divine monks ignore them, yet you protect them?"

The gaunt old monk said, "Benefactor Li, everyone has their own destiny. There is no need for this humble monk to intervene."

Li Muzhan said, "Then why do the eminent monks protect them? Today, I will root out the Zhu family and eliminate a pest for the noble houses!"

"Namo Amitabha!" The gaunt old monk shook his head and sighed. "Benefactor Li, the Zhu family are meritorious subjects of the founding emperor; their destiny has not yet reached its end. Benefactor Li should return."

"Master Chengguan, he killed Big Brother, and he killed so many of ours! How can we let him go!?" Zhu Lang called out loudly.

The gaunt old monk pressed his palms together in salute. "Patriarch’s calamity is thus. Young Master Lang, there is no need to be overly attached. When does vengeance ever end? Young Master Lang should let the two benefactors leave."

"Mast—er—!" Zhu Lang glared furiously at the gaunt old monk.

The gaunt old monk maintained his serene and peaceful expression, pressing his palms together to chant a Buddhist verse. Li Muzhan smiled. "If the four divine monks were not present today, I would have bathed the Zhu Residence in blood! Considering the four masters, I shall stop for now. We bid farewell!"

With that, he smiled toward Zhu Lang. "The Zhu family is protected by high monks; this is the virtue accumulated by your ancestors. Cherish it!"

Saying this, he offered a single-palm salute to the four old monks, embraced Feng Mingxue, and turned, drifting away.

"Master!" Zhu Lang roared angrily.

The gaunt old monk shook his head and sighed. "Young Master Lang, this Benefactor Li possesses unparalleled learning. Perhaps we should let this matter rest for now."

Zhu Lang shouted loudly, "Should Big Brother's revenge never be taken? What face does our Zhu family have left to stand in the world?!"

The gaunt old monk shook his head and sighed. "If we anger this Benefactor Li, I fear we won't be able to protect Young Master Lang."

Zhu Lang opened his mouth but could not utter a sound. Finally, he stamped his foot resentfully. "Go! Back inside!"

Everyone was anxious to do so, chilled to the bone by Li Muzhan's slaughter. Once Zhu Lang gave the order, they hastily began cleaning up the mess and retreated into the Zhu Residence.

For more novels, visit storyread.net.