Chapter Fifty-Five: Ancestor of the Green Grain! (Asking for recommendation votes!)

As Liu Qingchang took three full steps forward, a thin line of blood appeared on the necks of the two martial artists at the Transforming Strength level. Blood spurted out as they collapsed to the ground.

Thud.

Thud.

Five martial artists at the Transforming Strength level joined forces would be a match for an early-stage Guardian, but Liu Qingchang was a mid-stage Guardian, and his skill with the blade was astonishing—his combat strength overwhelming. In his hands, the five martial artists were felled before they could even react; they all fell to the ground, lifeless.

With the death of these five, the faces of the remaining members of the Chen clan went pale with terror. With no one left to resist, they fled in panic.

Yan Chonghu was ruthless and unyielding, showing no mercy. Not a single person was spared; everyone within the Chen family was executed. He even sent his men to hunt down and kill any Chen family martial artists who were outside, eradicating any possible future threat.

The Chen family, which had dominated Xuanzhou City for over a century, was thus utterly destroyed.

Afterwards, Yan Chonghu, Liu Qingchang, Shi Tie, Zhao Hu, and the others swiftly returned to the Weiyuan Escort Agency to tend to their wounds.

“Wang Bao, Liu Hu, you two return to Tianyang City and tell my grandfather everything that has happened. Have him bring the Qin family to Xuanzhou City,” Qin Feng instructed Wang Bao and Liu Hu in his heart.

He knew that the matter of him killing Yun Qing could not stay hidden for long. Once the authorities found out, they would certainly take action against him, and that would put his family in danger.

Rather than wait for disaster to strike, it was better to move his family to Xuanzhou City. With him there, their safety would be far greater than in Tianyang City.

“Yes, young master.”

“Yes, young master.”

Wang Bao and Liu Hu cupped their fists and quickly set off. After making brief preparations, they departed for Tianyang City at once.

“Uncle Fu, should I not have killed Yun Qing?” Qin Feng asked Wang Fu, who stood quietly at his side as he watched Wang Bao and Liu Hu leave.

“Young master, you are the master. Whatever you do is right,” Wang Fu replied solemnly.

“Uncle Fu, you should go and rest for a while,” Qin Feng said with a gentle smile, dismissing Wang Fu.

“Cultivation!”

“I must advance my strength!”

“Only by reaching late Guardian stage can I hope to withstand a late-stage Commander-level martial artist!”

Qin Feng swallowed a medicinal herb over five centuries old and began to cultivate the Thunder Breathing Technique, swiftly refining the medicinal power that erupted in his body.

Following the methods recorded in the Copper Corpse Body technique, Qin Feng dispersed the medicinal power throughout his body, focusing it on his skin to be absorbed quickly.

The immense medicinal power merged into his skin, tempering it and strengthening it ahead of his bones.

Liu Qingchang’s master was a late-stage Commander-level martial artist. While Qin Feng had the upper hand against Guardian-level opponents, he stood no chance against a late-stage Commander-level martial artist.

With his current strength, he was no match even for a mid-stage Commander, let alone a late-stage one.

Commander-level martial artists began to open all the meridians throughout their bodies, including the Eight Extraordinary Meridians and the Ren and Du channels. Eventually, their energy would flow through their entire body, making their defense nearly impervious to blades and spears. They could leap lightly across rooftops and move like swallows in flight.

Qin Feng’s attacks could overwhelm Guardian-level opponents, but were far from enough against Commanders. Their defenses were so formidable, they were no longer like ordinary flesh and blood.

He himself had weak defenses, a mortal body of flesh and blood. Against blades and spears, he dared not meet force with force—only evasion was possible.

Only by successfully cultivating the Copper Corpse Body would he be qualified to confront Commander-level martial artists head-on.

He consumed one precious herb after another, each over five hundred years old. His skin began to change; the color of his arms took on a bronze hue.

...

“Disciple pays his respects to Master!”

In a secluded canyon, Xue Yuhong, with a black spear strapped to his back, leapt swiftly toward the depths of the gorge.

When he arrived at the deepest part, a white-haired old man was fishing quietly.

Xue Yuhong, his face full of reverence, cupped his fists and bowed deeply, speaking with awe.

“What is it?” the Old Patriarch Qinghe asked calmly. He had lived in this place for ten years, fishing day after day, hoping to comprehend the mysteries of the King of Men realm through the power of heaven and earth—even without a true cultivation technique of that level.

“Master, I have received word that Junior Brother Yun Qing was killed by someone. His body was completely destroyed!” Xue Yuhong dared not rise, fearing his master’s wrath.

Among all his disciples, Yun Qing had been the most favored by the master, beloved above all others.

Crack.

The fishing rod in the old man’s hand snapped. He stood up, an overwhelming murderous aura radiating from him.

Feeling his master’s aura, Xue Yuhong’s body trembled with shock and fear. Though he himself had reached the early Commander stage, in the presence of his master’s power, his heart was filled with terror and dread.

“Who killed Yun Qing?” the Old Patriarch Qinghe asked, his deep gaze unreadable.

“Master, according to investigations by Yuntian Commandery, it is highly likely that Junior Brother Yun Qing’s death is connected to a martial artist named Qin Feng,” Xue Yuhong reported the information he had gathered.

“Qin Feng!” the old man intoned. “Come, we’re going to Xuanzhou City.”

His gaze grew even deeper as he stood with hands clasped behind his back.

“Master, should we wait for Yuntian Commandery to finish their investigation before we go to Xuanzhou City?” Xue Yuhong asked quietly.

“I must investigate this myself. Once I reach Xuanzhou City and capture Qin Feng, I’ll know with a single question whether he was the one who killed Yun Qing.”

The old man leapt up, his body light as a feather, dashing swiftly out of the canyon as if flying over rooftops.

“Let’s go,” Xue Yuhong quickly circulated his inner energy, transformed it into true qi, and sped after his master.

At the edge of the canyon, fast horses awaited—prepared by Xue Yuhong. The two of them mounted up and rode off in haste toward Xuanzhou City.

“Master Qin, people from Yuntian Commandery have arrived!” Yan Chonghu hurried to the summit of Mount Qingyun to seek an audience with Qin Feng, who was in the midst of cultivation.

“They’ve come sooner than I expected,” Qin Feng replied in a deep voice.

It had been only seven days since the bloody turmoil over the millennium-old spirit herb, and already Yuntian Commandery had responded.

“How many have come from Yuntian Commandery? What are their ranks?” Qin Feng asked, his eyes bright with a sharp gleam.

“Master Qin, over a hundred people in total. The leader is the commander of the Mighty Guard under the Prefect of Yuntian Commandery. He’s reputed to have reached the Commander realm seven years ago, and his true strength is said to be unfathomable.”

“Master Qin, should we leave Xuanzhou City for now and avoid clashing with Yuntian Commandery?” Yan Chonghu had already sent men to gather information, but their efforts yielded little—his rank was too low to reach the inner circles of commandery power.

“No need for now. The situation hasn’t reached that point yet,” Qin Feng shook his head. Things were not yet so dire as to require retreat. Of course, should overwhelming force arrive, Qin Feng was not reckless and would withdraw from Xuanzhou City.

“Master Qin, as you instructed, the head of the Qin family, the old master, madam, and all the brothers have been sent to Black Wind Stronghold,” Yan Chonghu replied respectfully with a nod.