Chapter 4

Bang!

Zhao Yong suddenly roared, his face contorted with the scar on his cheek turning red, his arm muscles bulging like dragons. He suddenly threw two punches, the wind from his fists roaring, and the air seemed to crackle with the sound of lightning, striking at Uncle Le like a bolt of lightning.

Uncle Le, caught off guard, could only raise his palm in a helpless attempt to block. The collision of fist and palm sent a powerful gust of wind in all directions, and he felt his palms go numb, being forced back several meters.

"Thunder Fist!" Uncle Le's face changed drastically, and he cried out in shock.

From these two punches, Uncle Le recognized them as the Thunder Fist, a martial technique of the middle rank in the Mortal level.

In the Burning Town, martial arts of the middle rank in the Mortal level and higher, including the Spirit level, could only be accessed by the core disciples of the three major families.

Moreover, the true qi cultivation in Zhao Yong's fist strength had reached the Second Rank of Warrior.

It was important to note that the standard for the outer courtyard guards of the Qin family was no more than the Fifth Rank of Martial Disciple. Once one surpassed this level, they could become an inner courtyard guard, enjoying better treatment within the clan.

Among the inner courtyard guards, the strongest were at the Ninth Rank of Martial Disciple. If they could break through to the Warrior realm, they would become high-ranking inner courtyard guards or stewards, receiving the clan's attention.

The cultivation of the Second Rank of Warrior was almost on par with Uncle Le.

With such strength, yet willing to be an outer courtyard guard, Uncle Le was certain that the murderer who attacked and assassinated Qin Mo must be Zhao Yong.

"Zhao Yong, you ambushed Young Master Mo. Surrender now, and the clan will consider leniency," Uncle Le shouted sternly.

"Ha ha ha... leniency, Steward Le, do you think I'm a three-year-old child?" Zhao Yong laughed wildly, then roared, his muscles bulging, and true qi seemed to flow over his skin. He suddenly threw dozens of punches in all directions.

Instantly, the air was filled with the shadows of punches, like lightning streaks, and the outer courtyard guards present could not withstand it, being hit and retreating with groans. Uncle Le was struck by four punches and retreated several more meters.

For a moment, a clear space appeared in the center of the crowd, with only Zhao Yong and Qin Mo standing there.

"Qin Mo, just surrender and be my hostage," Zhao Yong said, reaching out with one hand, his speed extremely fast. His palm seemed to grow larger, heading straight for Qin Mo.

"Bone Lock Claw!" Uncle Le's face changed drastically; he hadn't expected Zhao Yong to have mastered another middle-rank Mortal level martial technique.

Qin Mo felt half of his body enveloped by this claw. His eyes turned cold, but he didn't panic. His opponent was a Second Rank Warrior, and the Bone Lock Claw was a middle-rank Mortal level martial technique. With Qin Mo's current strength, it was impossible to avoid it.

"Point Breaks Surface!"

With a movement of his arms, Qin Mo threw seven punches in quick succession, each one hitting the center of Zhao Yong's palm precisely. The seven punches combined, breaking through the Bone Lock Claw.

Crack, crack, crack...

A series of crisp sounds echoed, and the crowd saw Zhao Yong's body tremble, his claw missing its target, while Qin Mo, after throwing seven punches, retreated seven steps, creating distance.

Qin Mo steadied himself, thinking, "The gap between the Ninth Rank of Martial Disciple and the Warrior realm is thin, but the difference is vast. Fortunately, I activated the first layer of the Battle Saint Body, and in terms of pure physical strength, I can match a Warrior level practitioner, allowing me to break through the Bone Lock Claw with these seven punches."

Moreover, he felt a strange power within his true qi, greatly enhancing the power of martial techniques.

"How is this possible?" Zhao Yong's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Guard Zhao, it seems you only know some flashy moves. No wonder you failed to kill me in the North Cliff," Qin Mo said calmly.

These words were like a fuse to Zhao Yong, his eyes instantly turning red, and he roared, "It was just your luck, you useless waste of the Qin family. You couldn't break through in eight years, watch me cripple you."

His body suddenly grew, and Zhao Yong lunged forward, his hands reaching out from both sides, his fingers stretching and trembling like whips, attacking Qin Mo from both sides.

This time, the speed of the Bone Lock Claw was twice as fast as before, clearly Zhao Yong's full effort, not allowing Qin Mo to escape again.

The expressions of the crowd changed drastically; no one could have expected Zhao Yong to be so powerful, leaving them no room to intervene.

"Master Mo, danger!" Uncle Le's expression changed sharply. Everything happened too quickly, and he was several meters away from Qin Mo, unable to provide timely assistance.

Qin Mo took a deep breath, knowing he could only rely on himself. His ears twitched, and his hearing spread out like a tide.

Every movement of everyone present, in front and behind him, appeared in his mind. Qin Mo even saw that eight meters behind him, Steward Rong was looking at his back with a cold, snake-like gaze, a position from which he could provide timely assistance.

Immediately, everyone's movements slowed down, and the speed of Zhao Yong's palms reaching out became ordinary, allowing Qin Mo to clearly see the trajectory.

Hearing as if seeing, what a wonderful ability!

"Rainstorm Shatters Stone!"

Qin Mo took a step forward, throwing both fists simultaneously, using the final move of the basic fist technique, striking directly into Zhao Yong's palms.

Bang!

The force of the Bone Lock Claw invaded his body, causing Qin Mo's body to tremble violently, the bones in his arms making a "crack" sound. With his current true qi cultivation, he could only neutralize 60% of the Bone Lock Claw's power.

"I've got you, ha ha!" Zhao Yong laughed wildly, suddenly grabbing Qin Mo's fists.

"Not necessarily!"

Qin Mo's face was expressionless, like a statue. In an instant, he circulated the true qi in his body, directing the remaining 40% of the Bone Lock Claw's power to a specific part of his body.

Breaking through the barrier!

Crack, crack...

Suddenly, a light sound came from Qin Mo's body, like an eggshell cracking, and a gentle breeze emerged from him.

"Qi flows like the wind! The Warrior realm!?" Uncle Le cried out in shock, unable to remain calm, his face filled with joy. Qin Mo, who had been stuck at the Ninth Rank of Martial Disciple for eight years, had broken through at this moment?

Not far away, Steward Rong's face changed drastically, his eyes narrowing with a venomous look.

"Has he broken through?"

Feeling the abundant true qi surging within his body, Qin Mo shook his arms, not breaking free but channeling the true qi into his sleeves. The sleeves, now torn, suddenly wrapped around Zhao Yong's palms, and he pulled hard.

For a moment, the wide sleeves acted like a spring, and Qin Mo leaped up, kicking Zhao Yong's face with his right foot in a flash.

Bang!

Blood splattered from Zhao Yong's face, a long wound appearing on one cheek, opposite his old scar.

"You little brat..."

Roaring wildly, Zhao Yong's face was twisted, seemingly mad, but his eyes were filled with fear. At this moment, he seemed to see the eight-year-old child who had reached the Ninth Rank of Martial Disciple, defeating over a dozen Qin family outer courtyard guards, with Zhao Yong being one of them.

Thud!

Suddenly, Zhao Yong's arms trembled, and he used all his strength to break the sleeves restraining his palms, leaping up and fleeing into the forest.

"You traitor of the Qin family, how dare you do such a heinous deed and still try to escape!?"

At this moment, a figure in the crowd leaped up like an eagle, quickly slapping out two palms. Two palm prints struck out, arriving before the fleeing Zhao Yong, disappearing in the darkness.

Immediately, Zhao Yong let out a惨叫, his body flying forward several meters and collapsing on the ground, lifeless.

After a moment, the Qin family guards brought Zhao Yong back. He had two bloody palm prints on his back, his body cold and lifeless.

"Steward Rong, this person ambushed Young Master Mo with sinister intentions. There might be accomplices within the clan. What was your intention in killing them all?" Uncle Le looked at Steward Rong, his voice cold as he examined the injuries on the body.

"Oh, thinking of the traitor's actions, almost burying Young Master Mo under the Ten Thousand Foot Mountain, I lost control in anger and couldn't control my strength. Please, Young Master Mo, punish me," Steward Rong bowed repeatedly, his kind face filled with regret.

Uncle Le only sneered, remaining silent.

Looking at Zhao Yong's body, Qin Mo recalled how, in his previous life, at the age of 18, Zhao Yong, after getting drunk, had taken out the gray treasure pouch, revealing the location of the jade pendant. Qin Mo then understood who the true culprit was and the sinister plot by the elder faction against his grandfather, Qin Zhengxing. Unfortunately, by then, his grandfather had already passed away, and it was too late.

"Uncle Le, Steward Rong is loyal to our Qin family. In his anger, he couldn't control his strength. How can we blame him?"

Qin Mo smiled and said, "Since I have returned safely, and my mother's relic has been recovered, and I have broken through my long-stagnant realm, why should I pursue other matters?"

"Yes, Young Master Mo."

"Young Master Mo is truly magnanimous."

Uncle Le and Steward Rong responded in unison, both bowing respectfully.

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle...

The torches flickered, sparks occasionally flying. The mood of the Qin family guards was vastly different from when they arrived. Looking at the young man in the brown robe, they knew that the Qin family's genius from eight years ago had returned.

However, after an eight-year gap, could Qin Mo still catch up with the pace of his peers?

"Let's go, don't delay."

Taking the treasure pouch from Steward Rong, Qin Mo hung the jade pendant around his neck and said, "I've been in the wilderness for three days. I want to go back early, take a hot bath, and change into clean clothes."

Watching Qin Mo put the treasure pouch in his pocket, Steward Rong's eyes flashed with a barely noticeable look of pain.

At this moment, Qin Mo suddenly turned his head and looked deeply at Steward Rong, saying, "Steward Rong, please go ahead and report to Grandfather that I am safe, so he won't worry."

"Of course, of course," Steward Rong responded, turning and leaving.

Running into the forest, sprinting along the mountain path, the cold mountain wind blew in his face. Steward Rong suddenly shivered, stopping in his tracks. He realized his back was cold and damp with sweat.

Thinking of the look in the young man's eyes when he left, Steward Rong felt an inexplicable pressure, even stronger than when facing the clan's grand elder.

"It must be an illusion from searching the mountain all night. I must report this to the grand elder and the deputy clan head as soon as possible."

With this thought, Steward Rong did not hesitate, using his full speed to rush toward the Burning Town.