"I am Mu Guibai of Luoxia City!"
His calm and composed voice echoed directly in the hearts of every citizen, rousing them from the trance brought on by the guqin's melody.
Everyone looked up in unison, their eyes filled with awe as they stared at the figure standing high in the sky that was none other than the Grand City Lord, hailed as the strongest cultivator beneath the Golden Core realm.
"Due to the disorder caused by miscreants, Luoxia City is now under lockdown. Effective immediately, no one may enter or exit for the next three days. All are to return to their homes. Any further private combat will be punishable by death."
That single word "death" chilled everyone to the bone. Whatever dark thoughts had been stirring instantly vanished like smoke in the wind. Heads bowed quickly as the crowd murmured their compliance.
And just like that, one of the rare large-scale disturbances in Luoxia City's history vanished without a trace.
"A single man stabilizing an entire city... The Grand City Lord truly lives up to his title. Honestly, I suspect he may already rival a Golden Core cultivator," Song Changsheng murmured in admiration.
Xu Yunhe nodded in full agreement. Though he had never personally encountered a true Golden Core cultivator, he had narrowly escaped death several times at the hands of a third-rank Blue-Eyed Golden-Eyed Beast.
But comparing that monster to Mu Guibai?
Not even close.
If that beast had possessed even a third of the Grand City Lord's abilities, Xu Yunhe would never have escaped alive.
"Now that the Grand City Lord has personally intervened, even if there were people with ulterior motives, they'll have to behave themselves for now," Xu Yunhe added, clearly relieved that the chaos was over.
"I just wonder what's happening in the other parts of the city," Song Changsheng said, his gaze drifting toward the vast stretch of the Ten-Thousand Mountains. His brow furrowed. So much had happened at once he couldn't shake the uneasy feeling building in his chest.
Xu Yunhe, more carefree by nature, simply shrugged.
"What's that got to do with us? That's the City Lord's problem. Even if the sky falls, there are three of them to hold it up."
"Maybe I am overthinking it... Yunhe, I owe you one this time."
Song Changsheng didn't refute his words, but instead gave a heartfelt bow. In a moment of crisis, Xu Yunhe had chosen to stand by him without hesitation, even taking on two second-rank puppets to allow Song Changsheng to focus on dealing with Wu Luochuan.
Even when the top-tier puppet one with near-complete sentience appeared, Xu Yunhe never once backed down. Just like the old days.
Xu Yunhe waved it off with a modest smile.
"There's no need to be so formal, Brother Song. I merely did what little I could. Honestly, with your strength, those puppets weren't much trouble."
"Alright, alright, enough flattery. Just look at me I'm a mess."
Song Changsheng laughed and gave him a friendly punch to the chest, glancing down at his bloodstained robe and torn sleeves.
"Who forced you into such a state? Wu Luochuan had some skill, but compared to you, he was no match," Xu Yunhe asked curiously. While he had been caught up fighting the two puppets, he still paid attention to the other battle. Song Changsheng's moves were swift and decisive he made short work of a second-rank mid-grade puppet even while seriously injured. Xu Yunhe knew that even he wouldn't have been able to do that so cleanly.
He couldn't help but wonder what kind of opponent could have driven Song Changsheng to such extremes.
"This isn't the place to talk. It's been years since we met we should find somewhere more private to catch up."
Naturally, Song Changsheng meant the family's general store. With all the chaos earlier, he was a bit worried something might have happened there.
When they returned to the store and found everything intact, he breathed a sigh of relief. It was the family's only business in Luoxia City. If it had been damaged, he would've been held accountable.
"Creak"
Just then, the tightly shut front door opened slightly, and a head peeked out.
Song Changsheng immediately smiled it was none other than Song Qingluo.
"Young Master, you're hurt!" Song Qingluo gasped when he saw the blood covering Song Changsheng.
His cry was like a stone tossed into a calm lake ripples spread instantly. Song Xiantu and the elders rushed out in a flurry, surrounding Song Changsheng.
Seeing their anxious expressions, warmth welled up in Song Changsheng's chest. He gently stopped Song Qingluo, who was rushing off to get medicine, and raised his voice:
"Elder Cheng Yunfei of the Earthfire Sect has been executed today!"
"Y-You slew Cheng Yunfei?" Song Xiantu asked in disbelief.
"That's right. One less threat to the family."
For a moment, the courtyard was utterly silent.
They all knew who Cheng Yunfei was a senior elder of the Earthfire Sect, junior brother to Chang Wudao, a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator and one of Lingzhou's most formidable figures.
And now... that man had been slain by this young man before them. It felt almost surreal.
"The Young Master is truly the greatest genius our clan has seen in a hundred years... The family's future is bright," Song Xiantu murmured, eyes glistening with tears. After more than a century, the clan finally had someone who could rival their revered ancestors.
"So it was Cheng Yunfei you killed… No wonder you were pushed to such a desperate fight," Xu Yunhe said, his view of Song Changsheng completely transformed. Killing a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator was no easy feat.
Xu Yunhe had always been confident in his strength few could match him among peers, and he could even fight across stages. But even he knew that against Cheng Yunfei, his only option would've been to flee.
"It was thanks to some powerful treasures," Song Changsheng replied modestly. Then he turned to the others.
"This is my good friend, Xu Yunhe. You may know him better as the famed one-armed swordsman who's made headlines across Bianzhou."
"The White-Clad One-Arm it's him!" Song Qingluo's eyes lit up with admiration as he stared at Xu Yunhe like a hero.
"You brat. You've never looked at me like that," Song Changsheng joked, smacking him lightly on the back.
He then turned to Song Xiantu and said,
"Elder, would you kindly prepare a fine meal and wine for my room? Yunhe and I haven't seen each other in years we have much to catch up on."
.....
Liuyun Mountain Range - Earthfire Sect Headquarters
Li Tiancheng hurried along with his head lowered, his steps quick and uneasy. Unlike his usual courteous demeanor, he didn't return greetings from disciples he passed along the way.
He soon arrived at a tightly sealed stone chamber and spoke hoarsely from outside,
"Reporting to the Sect Master… just moments ago, the steward in charge of the soul lamps reported that Senior Brother Cheng's soul lamp… has gone out."
"What?! Who did this?!"
Chang Wudao's voice was thunderous with rage, shaking the chamber and causing fragments of rock to tumble from the ceiling.
Li Tiancheng bowed his head even lower.
"There's no confirmed word yet… but I suspect it's related to the Song Clan."
"Bastards! Cheng was acting under complete secrecy who leaked the information?! Find out! I don't care who it is. I want them to suffer a fate worse than death!"
Chang Wudao roared with fury. He hadn't lost his composure like this in years, not since the death of his only son.
"Yes, Sect Master!"
Li Tiancheng trembled inside. He knew this meant a new storm of blood was about to sweep through the sect.
Cheng Yunfei's death was a devastating blow to the Earthfire Sect. Not only was he the second-most powerful figure in the sect, but he had also been tasked with acquiring a cultivation technique at auction on behalf of Chang Wudao one crucial for his breakthrough into the Purple Mansion Realm.
Now, not only was Cheng dead, but the cultivation method acquired at great expense was also gone. That method had cost the sect its entire savings from years of accumulation.
After Li Tiancheng left, Chang Wudao, still seated cross-legged in the chamber, suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood. His aura plummeted.
The shock was simply too much to bear.
He had been at the peak of Foundation Establishment for many years, but without a third-rank fire-element cultivation method, he had never been able to take the next step to dominate Lingzhou.
At long last, he had seen a glimmer of hope… only for it to be cruelly snatched away, taking with it all the sect's resources.
He was furious. He hated. He resented the heavens for their injustice.
"So what if I don't have the technique? I'll still break through to the Purple Mansion Realm! Song Xianming this time, I will win!"
Chang Wudao's eyes burned with madness as he stood and strode over to a bookshelf.
There, sitting quietly, was a jade slip of dark green hue. He had taken it out many times before, only to put it back each time. But this time, there was no hesitation. He picked it up without a second thought...
.....
Inside the Room
Having tended to his wounds and changed into clean clothes, Song Changsheng sat across from Xu Yunhe, a table full of aromatic delicacies between them.
Song Changsheng rose and personally poured a cup of spirit wine for Xu Yunhe, smiling as he said,
"Fellow Daoist Zhu once told me that the next time we saw you, you'd already be a sword cultivator known far and wide. I believed him then but I never expected we'd reunite so soon, and that you'd already become the famed swordsman he spoke of.
Even in Lingzhou, I've heard of your exploits in the Ten-Thousand Mountains."
Xu Yunhe raised his cup, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes.
"It's all thanks to you, Brother Song. Had you not struck me with a wake-up call back then, I'd never have made it this far."
His thoughts drifted back to several years ago, in that ancient cultivator's cave. His right arm had been severed, his spirit broken, and he had lost all hope for the future.
But Song Changsheng had told him then:
"A swordsman must rather break than bend. No matter how perilous the path ahead, one must press forward with unwavering resolve.
If you give up at the first sign of hardship and speak only of death, how can you call yourself a swordsman?
Even if you are to die, let it be on the path forward not in defeat and despair in this barren place!"
Each word had rung like thunder, and even now, Xu Yunhe remembered them clearly. It was those very words that had rekindled his spirit, allowing him to transcend his injuries and reach the Foundation Establishment.
But Song Changsheng didn't take credit. He admitted his words may have helped, but in the end, it was Xu Yunhe's own indomitable will that brought him to where he was.
"So you've been in Bianzhou all these years?" Song Changsheng asked, changing the subject while raising his cup.
Xu Yunhe nodded.
"Zhu and I parted ways midway through our journey. I returned to my place to examine the gains from the cave and unexpectedly found a Foundation Establishment Pill.
I took it as a gift from the heavens. While studying the sword and traveling the land, I eventually made my way to Bianzhou.
After several years of bitter cultivation, I finally broke through with the help of the pill and decided to stay there to temper myself."
Though Xu Yunhe spoke lightly, Song Changsheng could imagine how much hardship those words concealed. Compared to him, he realized, his journey had been far more fortunate.
"By the way, have you heard from Zhu recently? With his talent, I imagine he must have broken through to Foundation Establishment too?"
Xu Yunhe asked, unaware of Song Changsheng's thoughts. He had known Zhu Yiqun even longer.
"I haven't seen him in years either," Song Changsheng replied and explained the circumstances of Zhu's visit and the strange events surrounding it.
Xu Yunhe's brow furrowed.
"If he guessed that I was the one-armed swordsman, why didn't he come looking for me in Bianzhou?"
"That's exactly what puzzles me. I even reached out to a few mutual acquaintances here, but none have seen him. I fear… something may have happened to him."
There was a trace of worry in Song Changsheng's eyes. Knowing Zhu Yiqun's personality, it was impossible that he would come to Bianzhou without contacting Xu Yunhe. That left only two possibilities: either Zhu never made it to Bianzhou in the first place, or he encountered serious trouble and didn't want to drag Xu Yunhe into it.
If it were the former, there was nothing to worry about. But if it were the latter…
The same thought crossed both their minds and the atmosphere fell silent, with only the quiet sounds of them sipping their wine.
After a long pause, Song Changsheng finally said,
"They say good people don't live long, but the wicked live a thousand years. That damn fatty is still alive he might've even gotten fatter. He eats like a bottomless pit."
Xu Yunhe couldn't help but smile knowingly.
"Yeah… there's no way that troublemaker would die so easily. He's probably off living it up somewhere."
The mood lightened once more. The two chatted about their past experiences while drinking, and before they knew it, the night had passed.
....
Early the Next Morning
Song Qingluo came knocking urgently at the door.
"What is it?" Song Changsheng asked, puzzled.
Holding up a yellowed piece of paper, Song Qingluo said excitedly,
"Young Clan Leader, just now the City Lord's Manor and Luoxia Auction House jointly issued a wanted notice!"
"A wanted notice?"
Song Changsheng exchanged a look with Xu Yunhe, then quickly took the paper from his hands.
At the top, there was a summary of the previous day's events:
"An evil cultivator attacked Auctioneer Xia Wanyun and was seriously wounded by one of the auction house's guardians but managed to escape the city.
Two Blood Demons and their followers infiltrated the city, seized a valuable treasure amid the chaos, and incited conflict among cultivators, plunging Luoxia City into turmoil.
After a lengthy pursuit, one of the two Purple Mansion Blood Demons was killed, the other injured.
A sentient living puppet wounded three Foundation Establishment cultivators guarding the city and escaped into the Ten-Thousand Mountains."
In short: aside from one death, the rest had all escaped.
Song Changsheng frowned slightly. The reason Luoxia City had been able to hold off the beasts of the Ten-Thousand Mountains for so many years was largely due to its powerful city-protection formation. Once activated, even a Monster King couldn't breach it.
Yesterday, if they had just activated the formation, all of those criminals would've been trapped like fish in a barrel. Escape would have been impossible.
And yet, the city's defensive array had remained inactive the entire time a highly unusual and suspicious fact.
Suppressing his growing doubts, he continued reading. After the incident summary came the actual wanted list and the associated rewards and with just one glance, Song Changsheng's breath caught in his throat...
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