Several figures quickly arrived before the stone statue of the Zodiac Dragon. One hand reached into the statue's mouth and twisted, and with a swish, an opening appeared before them.
Swish, swish, swish… Several figures leaped down. However, just as they jumped into the opening, another figure in black suddenly appeared from the shadows. With incredible speed, it swept forward, and with a slap, struck the small, thin figure.
The small, thin figure instantly collapsed onto the ground. With a whoosh, the black-clothed figure leaped into the cave, chasing after the other figures ahead.
Inside the golden palace, the Yan family ancestor, clad in dragon robes, sat on the dragon throne, appearing to have no breath left. Kneeling below were Yan Yun, Yan Menghan, and Yan Mengxi, all wearing mourning attire and kowtowing to the ancestor.
Lu Fan stood beside them, muttering something under his breath.
Whoosh… The seven people who rushed in immediately surrounded Yan Yun and the others.
"Who are you?" Yan Yun cried out in panic, but he did not forget to shield Yan Menghan and Yan Mengxi behind him.
Swish… Lu Fan also drew his Luoying Sword, his gaze guarded as he stared at the seven people.
Suddenly, Lu Fan's gaze fell upon the last figure in black, and he was slightly taken aback.
"Hee hee!" The black-clothed figure actually chuckled at Lu Fan, pulled down his black scarf, stuck out his tongue at Lu Fan, and then covered his face again.
"Damn it! You old geezer…" Lu Fan rolled his eyes. That scruffy old Daoist, you're quite mischievous.
"Hahaha… Hahaha… Yan family ancestor! You're finally dead! Your old friend has come specifically to send you off!" A black-clothed figure roared with laughter, reaching up to remove his black scarf, revealing a smug, old face. It was none other than Ma Laoda from Jigong Mountain!
"Ma… Ma Laoda! You're Ma Laoda from the Divine Calculation Sect?" Yan Yun exclaimed in horror, shielding Yan Menghan and Yan Mengxi as he retreated.
"Hmph! It's me! I've waited for decades, and now I finally have the chance to uproot the Yan family. This Seven-Colored Jade, this Spirit Gathering Array, and the Yan family's Breath Concealment Art! They should have belonged to me all along. Now I finally have the chance to take them back. Hahaha!" Ma Laoda looked at the Spirit Gathering Array and the Seven-Colored Jade used to set it up within the palace, and burst into wild laughter.
"Don't dream, our Yan family will never let you have any of these treasures," Yan Yun shouted angrily.
"I know about your Yan family's Breath Concealment Art, so I also know you are not ordinary people. But, with just the few of you, hmph! Hahaha! You are not even worthy of me making a move!" Ma Laoda laughed maniacally, then waved his hand and shouted, "Kill them!"
Whoosh, whoosh… The figures behind Ma Laoda immediately charged towards Yan Yun and the others.
Thump, thump… Suddenly, with two muffled thuds, the two figures at the back suddenly fell, with penetrating knife wounds on their backs. One stab, two openings, blood gurgling from their front and back.
"You…" Ma Laoda looked sharply at the last figure, his mouth twitching.
"Ma Laoda! We meet again!" The scruffy old Daoist pulled off his black scarf and looked at Ma Laoda with a smile.
"Tianji Old Daoist! You're not dead?" Ma Laoda looked at the scruffy old Daoist in shock.
"Tianji Old Daoist? This old fellow is Daoist Tianji?" Lu Fan was also stunned.
Not only Lu Fan, but Yan Yun and Yan Menghan were also astonished.
"Hahaha! Every generation of my ancestor's disciples is called Daoist Tianji, but I don't like this name, hehe! Because I don't want to die young!" The scruffy old Daoist rubbed his nose lewdly and said with a smile.
"Old geezer! You're so old and you dare to call yourself young? You should have died long ago! Today, I'll send you and that old thing from the Yan family to keep them company!" Ma Laoda was furious. He had lost six strong men from the Ma family, and he thought this old fellow was already dead. Unexpectedly, he was still alive. Today, you will die!
Whoosh… Ma Laoda suddenly reached out, and a force from a distance grabbed towards the scruffy old Daoist.
Bang… The scruffy old Daoist was suddenly restrained by the invisible force, as if a hand had grabbed his neck and was slowly lifting him up.
"Old geezer! If you don't make a move, I'm really going to die!" The scruffy old Daoist suddenly shouted, kicking and struggling.
Whoosh… The Yan family ancestor suddenly opened his eyes and shot a surge of energy towards Ma Laoda. With a bang, the energy shot out like a sharp sword, piercing Ma Laoda's shoulder armor.
Bang… The scruffy old Daoist was thrown to the ground, coughing and sputtering. Lu Fan couldn't help but roll his eyes; this old fellow was too good at acting.
Staggering forward a few steps, Ma Laoda barely managed to steady himself. He looked at the Yan family ancestor in shock, "You… you're not dead?"
"Hehehehe… I was almost dead. However, this young friend brought the Seven-Colored Jade, which strengthened the Spirit Gathering Array, and I can barely live a few more years! Ma Laoda! Didn't expect this, did you? You will die by my hand!" The Yan family ancestor seemed quite excited. A hint of a proud smile appeared on his skeletal face.
Lu Fan's expression shifted slightly. The Yan family ancestor's words suggested he had no intention of returning the Seven-Colored Jade…
"Hmph! You want to kill me? It's not that easy!" Ma Laoda's expression changed instantly. He suddenly shouted at his stunned subordinates, "Go! Kill them!"
Whoosh… The remaining three figures immediately lunged towards Yan Yun, Yan Menghan, and Lu Fan.
Yan Mengxi hurriedly retreated behind the ancestor's dragon throne, watching the fight in panic.
Whoosh, whoosh… The Yan family ancestor sat on the dragon throne, his ten withered, chicken-claw-like fingers constantly flicking, sending out streams of energy like sharp blades towards Ma Laoda. Ma Laoda, showing no weakness, unleashed his full power, his fists raining down like a storm. The two fought fiercely.
Meanwhile, the scruffy old Daoist got up from the ground, slinked to the palace entrance, and sat there leisurely, enjoying the show.
Lu Fan's eyes were filled with rage. He unleashed the Luoying Sword and launched a fierce assault on one of the black-clothed figures. Ever since he learned that these people were Japanese pirates, Lu Fan felt a deep-seated hatred for no reason. Perhaps it was the influence of elementary school textbooks, television dramas, and other environmental factors; it was a hatred buried in his bones.
At Tanchi, he had faced four or five people alone, and it was indeed difficult to kill one. Now, fighting one-on-one, Lu Fan immediately gained the upper hand. After a few exchanges, the Luoying Sword in his hand pierced the opponent with several holes.
However, to Lu Fan's surprise, Yan Yun and Yan Menghan were both holding their own against a Japanese pirate each, not showing any signs of being at a disadvantage. Yan Yun even seemed to have a slight edge.
"Brother Yan! I'll help you!" Lu Fan kicked his opponent away and turned to help Yan Menghan.
With two against one, the black-clothed figure became flustered. Inattentive, Lu Fan pierced his thigh with his sword. With a thud, he fell to the ground.
Bang… Just then, Yan Menghan delivered a flying kick to the man's head. The man's head tilted, and he died instantly.
Yan Menghan turned to help her father. As Lu Fan was about to assist, a small stone particle, the size of a fingernail, flew towards him and hit him.
Lu Fan looked over and saw the scruffy old Daoist waving at him.
"What does this old geezer want now?" Lu Fan hurried over.
The scruffy old Daoist lewdly pulled Lu Fan aside and whispered a few words in his ear.
"No way?" Lu Fan looked at the scruffy old Daoist with utter astonishment.