Chapter 55

"Is it the Niu Mo Yuan Ba Body, the Six Directions Xingyi, and the Great Tumbling Stele Hand? Or is it a pseudo-mystical technique, the Dragon Seizing Force?"

In the back garden of the Beiting family, the music had already dispersed. Beiting Cangjue, however, still sat calmly in the pavilion, with a few more people in front of him, all showing respectful expressions.

"Based on the Dragon Subduing Tiger Fist and the Niu Mo Yuan Ba Body, the Dragon Seizing Force has been derived. Is this true?"

Although he knew his subordinates would never dare to speak falsely or lie to him, the matter was so unbelievable that Beiting Cangjue had to ask this question.

In front of him, the man who seemed to be the leader of the group, resembling a steward, paused for a moment before answering cautiously, "We were a bit far away at the time and could only see the general outline. We cannot confirm it for sure. However, Zhuang Wudao's mystical powers indeed have the strength to seize dragons and capture tigers. This is true. Mo Yun Kuang was drawn back from 150 zhang away and then killed with a single punch. Such a force is no less than that of the genuine Dragon Seizing Force."

"Then it should be so!"

Beiting Cangjue nodded in satisfaction. "Interesting, this Zhuang Wudao is indeed interesting. In other words, of the six Qi Practitioners involved in the ambush, only one escaped. Most of the armored soldiers and minions are dead?"

"Yes!"

The steward bowed again. "I saw with my own eyes that this person was impervious to blades and swords, and his boxing skills were clear and precise. On the battlefield, he indeed had the might of an ancient king."

"Is that so? I didn't misjudge him! Then what about now? You said he fainted from poisoning. Will there be any lingering ailments?"

"Probably not. I have felt his pulse, and the poisoning is not deep. It can be expelled in three to five days. However, this person's vital energy is surging and hard to suppress. After he wakes up, it will take no more than half a month to generate True Essence."

"True Essence? Qi Practitioner?"

Beiting Cangjue chuckled and then turned his head to ask, "What do you think of this person?"

This question was directed at Beiting Qin.

Beiting Qin's expression had already been changing as she listened to the others. Upon hearing this, she was momentarily breathless. Then, with a slight sense of guilt, she knelt and bowed, "Miss and Sir, you have keen eyes. With Zhuang Wudao here, the day when our Beiting family will be supreme in Yuecheng is near. This person indeed deserves to be treated with the highest respect. I was impolite before."

"Supreme?"

Beiting Cangjue shook his head. "Given the old man from the Guyue family, he won't let this go. The ambush plan failed, so there will be a follow-up. We'll just have to wait and see. It's also wrong to say I have keen eyes. I never expected that Zhuang Wudao's strength could break the killing formation alone and kill Feng San. This is a variable, both exciting and troublesome!"

"However, with Zhuang Wudao's martial talent and the Dragon Seizing Force, it seems enough to make the Wu Jing Dao Hall make an exception." The steward reminded.

Beiting Qin's eyes widened. Indeed, Zhuang Wudao had a clean background and no family ties. He could cultivate three supreme techniques to near the first level. His martial talent was naturally beyond question. This was exactly the type of person the Lichen Sect liked when they opened their doors to new disciples, often giving them special treatment.

The Dragon Seizing Force could counter all those skilled in spirit techniques and most spirit weapons. Even if Zhuang Wudao's cultivation talent was lacking, it would be enough to make the Lichen Sect make an exception to recruit him, without having to participate in the grand competition and risk competing with the many disciples of Yuecheng's noble families.

Beiting Cangjue, however, was unconcerned. "No problem! Once he's on the boat, it's hard to get off. And those specially recruited into the Lichen Sect are limited by the sect rules. Unless they achieve the Golden Core, they cannot be true disciples for life. This person is smart and ambitious, so he should know how to decide."

After saying this, Beiting Cangjue held his teacup, his fingers gently caressing the rim. His gaze flickered, as if pondering something. Finally, he smiled and stopped thinking.

※※※※

When Guyue Ming arrived at the Guyue family's mansion, he found that Guyue Tianfang and Guyue Qingrong had already returned.

Both were sitting in the dark hall, the sky was dark, and no lights were lit. One was closed-eyed, deep in thought, playing the zither silently. The other was distracted, his face pale.

"Grandfather, Father!"

Guyue Ming greeted them and said apologetically, "I am incompetent, causing you both to worry."

"What does it have to do with you?"

Guyue Qingrong said gloomily, "Our Guyue family put all our efforts into it and still couldn't deal with that kid. What could you do? This person's abilities even surprised your grandfather and me. Don't talk about these empty words. The urgent matter is how to respond!"

Guyue Tianfang also opened his eyes, his expression calm. "It's a blessing in disguise. The world fears unpreparedness. Although we failed today, knowing this person's background is still a gain. If we wait until the grand competition, we'll be caught off guard. I ask you, what are your chances against Zhuang Wudao now?"

"Before the battle today, I had a 70% chance. After the battle, it's 60-40, with me at 60%."

Guyue Ming did not hide the fact that he might not be a match for Zhuang Wudao. After a moment of deep thought, he continued, "If he generates True Essence and reaches the Qi Practitioner stage, the situation will be different. My chances will be only 40%."

Guyue Qingrong frowned. "I heard that Zhuang Wudao killed over 170 people with his bare hands today. Five out of six Qi Practitioners were killed. If he hadn't fainted from poisoning, the last one might not have escaped. Are you really confident with a 30-40% chance?"

A father knows his son best. Although Guyue Qingrong was slow, he knew that in such a killing formation, even Guyue Ming would have no chance of survival. Even holding out for half an hour would be difficult.

Guyue Ming, as if he had expected this, smiled and explained, "Father, the grand competition is different from a battlefield. Zhuang Wudao's Great Tumbling Stele Hand and Six Directions Xingyi Fist are both fierce and swift, emphasizing short-range attacks and direct advances. They don't require much maneuvering space, making them especially suitable for fighting multiple opponents. This person has the strength to match a rhinoceros. If we met on the battlefield, I might not last 30 rounds. But on the stage, the situation would be different."

Guyue Qingrong thought about it carefully, and indeed, in a wider space, Mr. Mo and his group might not have died so easily under Zhuang Wudao's bare hands.

"40% is too low!"

Guyue Tianfang tapped the teacup rhythmically, leaving no room for doubt. "The Nine-Refined Heart Nourishing Pill in the family's collection can be used. Even if Ming's cultivation increases by two levels, he still won't reach the mid-Qi Practitioner stage, and his chances will be at most 70%, which is still far from enough. We need to find another way to ensure success—"

At this point, Guyue Tianfang used an examining tone, "The ambush plan is no longer feasible. What strategy do you have to resolve the crisis for our Guyue family today?"

Without hesitation, Guyue Ming replied, "I have four strategies. The first is to withdraw from this grand competition and seek the favor of the Wu Jing Lichen Sect to enter the sect as a special disciple. However, if I don't become a true disciple, it won't benefit our clan much. The second strategy is to stir up the waters, either by seeking external support or manipulating the competition schedule. This way, I might not face Zhuang Wudao before the top three are decided. However, this would make our Guyue family a target in Yuecheng. Although this strategy is not feasible, it can be used as leverage. Whether it's the Bai Bing Xia family or the Lin and Kong families, they wouldn't want the Beiting family to dominate Yuecheng. Arranging a good opponent for Zhuang Wudao shouldn't be difficult. The fourth strategy is for me to open another spirit aperture within these three months. These are my humble suggestions, please correct me, Grandfather."

Guyue Tianfang finally showed a smile, his eyes filled with appreciation. "If none of these four strategies work, what will you do?"

"The blood of the Guyue family flows in my veins, and I will not shirk the battle!"

Guyue Ming spoke softly, but his words were resolute and his aura was cold and sharp. "With such an opponent, I won't feel lonely in Yuecheng!"

※※※※

In the far north, on the icy peaks,

"——The ties of the past have long been severed. I seek the path to immortality, the boundless power of the Dao. I want to ascend to the heavens and descend to the earth, to traverse this world freely, to be omnipotent and at ease. I will not be entangled in trivial matters, living a mediocre life, wasting my days—"

"Xier, Xier, when you knew I was faking my death, you should have understood my intentions. Why did you travel thousands of miles from Dongwu to find me? To enter the Dao, I must cut all ties with the mundane world. Everything in the secular world is now irrelevant to me. The wealth I left behind is enough for you and our son to live comfortably. Why do you make it so hard on yourself?"

"You should go back. I am now known as Chongyangzi, not your husband Shen Jue."

"Lier has the talent of the fifth rank. If you leave him with me, I can give him a future. Shu'er will also treat him well."

A woman in a yellow dress, holding a four-year-old child, stood in the snowstorm.

The woman was stunningly beautiful, but she was coughing incessantly, looking frail. However, her eyes were bright and resolute, showing an extraordinary determination.

The child looked at the young Taoist in front of him with shock and disbelief, his eyes filled with admiration and longing.

The young Taoist in a green robe stood on a bright, shining sword, his demeanor transcendent, his aura ethereal and majestic. However, the words he spoke were colder and more piercing than the wind on the mountain peak.

Behind 'Chongyangzi,' a woman of unparalleled beauty, dressed in simple, elegant clothes, stood smiling, her face friendly. She also held a child, who looked somewhat like Zhuang Wudao, about twelve years old. Her gaze towards the mother and child was full of mockery.

The woman in the yellow dress stared, her eyes first filled with disbelief, then turning to self-mockery. Finally, a drop of blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, dripping onto the snow, making it particularly noticeable.

"Mother, Mother—"

Zhuang Wudao's heart tightened, and he suddenly shouted, waking up from his nightmare. He found himself in his bedroom, drenched in cold sweat.

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