Qingzhou.

Upon a towering immortal mountain, flying cranes circled, and young disciples in cyan robes flew by on their swords from time to time. Below, on an open space, nearly a hundred disciples in uniform attire were practicing swordsmanship in perfect unison.

From afar, it truly felt like a blessed immortal land.

This was none other than Qingyun Sword Sect, the force顾浩 (Gu Hao) belonged to, one of the top forces in Qingzhou!

As one of the most prominent forces in the entire Qingzhou, its influence spanned far and wide, with numerous disciples. Even the Qingzhou Governor had to treat such a force with caution.

No wonder顾浩 (Gu Hao) was so arrogant; with the backing of the Qingyun Sword Sect, especially someone with his deep connections, he indeed had the qualifications.

But at this moment, as顾浩 (Gu Hao) completely perished, a bright lamp in the back of the Qingyun Sword Sect's Ancestral Hall suddenly went out, immediately alarming the guarding disciple.

Forging a soul lamp required a significant cost, usually only something a Dan Realm expert would do. However,顾浩 (Gu Hao) was no ordinary disciple. As the son of a powerful elder in the Qingyun Sword Sect, his father had also left him a soul lamp.

顾浩 (Gu Hao)'s father, 顾淳 (Gu Chun), was the most influential elder among the three Dan Realm experts in the Qingyun Sword Sect besides the Sect Leader 萧云升 (Xiao Yun Sheng). He valued his son 顾浩 (Gu Hao) greatly.

From a young age, he had nurtured him and placed high hopes on him. When he learned from the disciple guarding the Ancestral Hall that 顾浩 (Gu Hao)'s soul lamp had gone out, his first reaction was disbelief.

His son was a genius in the top fifty of the Hidden Dragon Rankings, the future Sect Leader of the Qingyun Sword Sect. How could he die so easily?

But after personally investigating, he fell silent.

His face darkened, and he immediately flew to 萧云升 (Xiao Yun Sheng)'s secluded retreat. He knew that 顾浩 (Gu Hao) had gone to the Yuan Kong Realm with 箫轻慕 (Xiao Qing Mu).

Something must have happened to his son while the Sect Leader's daughter was unharmed!

He had to get to the bottom of this. As expected, when he mentioned the seriousness of the matter, Sect Leader 萧云升 (Xiao Yun Sheng)'s expression also became extremely solemn. The only thing that relieved him slightly was that 箫轻慕 (Xiao Qing Mu)'s soul lamp was still intact.

He immediately used the methods he had prepared to contact his daughter.

After a long while, 萧云升 (Xiao Yun Sheng)'s expression turned serious as he looked at the message talisman in his hand and said in a low voice:

"顾浩 (Gu Hao) entered the Yuan Kong Realm, and Qing Mu didn't go in because she lost the Yuan Kong Token to 陈渊 (Chen Yuan)."

"Does Qing Mu know who killed Hao'er?" 顾淳 (Gu Chun) asked with a dark face.

"The Yuan Kong Realm hasn't closed yet. Qing Mu doesn't know the situation inside, but… if something really happened to 顾浩 (Gu Hao), it's likely related to this 陈渊 (Chen Yuan)."

"Who is 陈渊 (Chen Yuan)?"

"Qing Mu said he is a patrolling envoy from Nanling Prefecture. That disciple named 柳长空 (Liu Chang Kong) died at his hands. 顾浩 (Gu Hao) might have been seeking revenge for him."

"It's him."

顾淳 (Gu Chun)'s face turned cold. As 顾浩 (Gu Hao)'s father, he naturally knew some of his plans. Upon hearing this, he knew exactly who 陈渊 (Chen Yuan) was.

"What does Elder顾 (Gu) plan to do?"

萧云升 (Xiao Yun Sheng)'s face remained unchanged, making it impossible to discern his emotions.

顾淳 (Gu Chun) turned around directly: "Of course, kill him to avenge Hao'er."

萧云升 (Xiao Yun Sheng) frowned: "This person is an official of the imperial court and, like 顾浩 (Gu Hao), is on the Hidden Dragon Rankings. According to Jianghu rules, these disputes…"

顾淳 (Gu Chun) suddenly turned his head and said in a low voice:

"No matter who he is, he killed my son and must pay with his life!"

Then, he flicked his sleeves and turned to leave.

Leaving 萧云升 (Xiao Yun Sheng) with a calm expression as he watched his back, his eyes flickering, pondering something.

…

…

Inside the Yuan Kong Realm.

After 陈渊 (Chen Yuan) said those words, Monk Jingxin knew there was no chance of reconciliation. But that was normal. After learning about 陈渊 (Chen Yuan), one would know what kind of person he was.

Provoking him meant forming a personal grudge.

Immediately, he disregarded the heavily injured Huang Yi on the ground and abruptly tore off his monk's robe, revealing a toned body full of scars, bulging muscles, and prominent veins.

Like 陈渊 (Chen Yuan), it also flowed with a faint brilliance.

He, too, cultivated body-refining techniques!

Buddhism emphasized foundation, and initial cultivation was relatively slow, but the physical bodies of Buddhist warrior monks had always been well-known in the Jianghu. As one of the most outstanding warrior monks of the current generation of the Guangming Temple, Jingxin was no exception.

The scars on his body were complex, including sword marks, knife marks, and traces of other weapons. His Dharma name was Jingxin, but he was extremely violent.

These scars were marks left from his battles with others. He originally had ways to remove them, but he didn't want to. These were his battle records.

Warriors who could leave scars on him were all outstanding martial artists without exception.

陈渊 (Chen Yuan) grinned, seemingly interested in Jingxin's resistance.

"Kill!"

With a sharp, low shout, both of them moved simultaneously.

Like two parallel boulders, they instantly collided. The Monk's Blade in Jingxin's hand collided with the Wild Goose Saber in 陈渊 (Chen Yuan)'s hand, sending sparks flying.

Streaks of saber light scattered, and sharp energy permeated the air.

From the very beginning, they engaged in head-on collisions.

Hidden Dragon Rankings, thirty-sixth vs. Hidden Dragon Rankings, forty-second.

This was undoubtedly a spectacular collision. Both were in the middle stage of Profound Core, both had deep attainments in physical bodies, and both wielded sabers… 陈渊 (Chen Yuan) and Jingxin had many similarities.

Even as the battle reached its peak, both of their eyes were filled with violence and madness.

陈渊 (Chen Yuan) did not use other methods. At this moment, he just wanted to hammer Jingxin to death with his fists. This would not only enhance his combat experience, but also the intense True Qi consumption could stabilize his realm.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Fists and palms clashed, and bodies collided.

This was the beauty of power. Gang Qi surrounded both of them. It was as if someone was drumming in the heavens, striking the heart with each beat.

Below, Huang Yi, whose clothes were somewhat torn, swallowed involuntarily, his eyes filled with shock. Only now did he understand the gap between himself and the geniuses in the top fifty of the Hidden Dragon Rankings.

All three of them were in the middle stage of Profound Core, the Heavenly Origin Aperture Realm, but the difference was unacceptable. He had fought with Jingxin, but he was seriously injured in a short period of time.

Even though he was already injured, it was enough to prove the difference in their strength.

And now, it was when both sides truly exposed their true strengths. That battle could even rival the power of a Profound Core late-stage expert. It was truly worthy of the name of the top fifty on the Hidden Dragon Rankings.

The black-robed Holy Maiden's expression gradually became solemn. Now her impression of 陈渊 (Chen Yuan) was different from when they first met. At that time, she was confident that she could easily defeat 陈渊 (Chen Yuan).

After all, there was a most important level of difference between them.

陈渊 (Chen Yuan) was extraordinary, but wasn’t she, the Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Demon Palace, ordinary as well?

But now… even she, with her high standards, had to admit that 陈渊 (Chen Yuan) was very strong. If he entered the Heavenly Palace Realm, she felt that she might not be his opponent.

It was a pity that such a genius had fallen into the hands of the imperial court.

In the distant void, the hunched old man who had previously interacted with 陈渊 (Chen Yuan) bent over, his eyes calmly watching the strength revealed by 陈渊 (Chen Yuan).

A trace of solemnity flashed in his expression.

"Boom!"

The battle continued. 陈渊 (Chen Yuan) and Monk Jingxin had been colliding for more than a quarter of an hour. Both of them had scars on their bodies, and the Monk's Blade and the Wild Goose Saber were now stuck in the ground.

The bloodshot-eyed 陈渊 (Chen Yuan) and Jingxin had abandoned their weapons and were colliding with their bodies alone.

And in the collision, 陈渊 (Chen Yuan)'s physical body was gradually becoming stronger. He was practicing the lower volume of the Vajra Glazed Body, the Indestructible Vajra Body!

Originally, he had planned to cultivate it quietly after he got out, but with the intensification of the collision and the clash of Qi and blood, he changed his mind and decided to cultivate in battle.

After all, body refining techniques were essentially fighting techniques!

The Buddhist relic left by Monk Kongji was now gradually transferring the power it contained into 陈渊 (Chen Yuan)'s body, and the dark golden light on his body was becoming more and more intense!

That was originally Monk Kongji's lifelong understanding and essence of the Vajra Glazed Body, and it was now gradually merging with 陈渊 (Chen Yuan).

"Boom!"

Gathering all his strength, 陈渊 (Chen Yuan) directly blasted Monk Jingxin back dozens of feet, as if the void had exploded.

The more Monk Jingxin fought, the more shocked he became. From the beginning, he could still be on par with 陈渊 (Chen Yuan) through some secret techniques, but now he had fallen into a disadvantage.

This made him not dare to believe it, nor could he believe it.

The opponent's talent in the physical body was actually stronger than him, a Buddhist disciple!

His comprehension was even more unprecedented, and the condensed golden light made him a little frightened.

After repelling Monk Jingxin, 陈渊 (Chen Yuan) did not immediately pursue, but suddenly lowered his head. Even though golden light circulated on his physical body, it could not hide the bulging veins.

He was enduring pain!

The Buddhist relic left by Monk Kongji had now completely merged with him, adding a powerful and terrifying force, even making him unable to bear it.

His physical body swelled, and 陈渊 (Chen Yuan)'s body seemed to be a circle larger.

Monk Jingxin's pupils shrank, as if he had thought of something, and he looked at 陈渊 (Chen Yuan) in shock.

"Roar!!!"

This roar came from 陈渊 (Chen Yuan)'s body. The rolling Qi and blood surging in his meridians was like a True Dragon roaring, trying to shatter people into pieces.

Qi and blood like a dragon!

The black-robed Holy Maiden couldn't sit still for the first time, and there was a look of horror in her eyes for the first time. As the Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Demon Palace, she naturally understood what the roar from the physical body meant.

That's why she looked at this scene in disbelief.

"How is this possible?" Monk Jingxin's face changed drastically when he heard the roar, and he roared unwillingly.

The roar that 陈渊 (Chen Yuan) made was the realm he had dreamed of!

Why!

Why!

He had cultivated hard for many years but had not reached this realm, but 陈渊 (Chen Yuan) in front of him… actually broke through in his battle with him. He understood that 陈渊 (Chen Yuan) was using his hand to temper himself!

"Hoo…"

陈渊 (Chen Yuan) took a long breath, raised his head, and the dark golden light on his body gradually dissipated. His eyes flashed with brilliance. He was a little puzzled by the low roar from the Qi and blood from the inside out just now.

But he could feel that his physical body seemed to have entered a new realm. Compared with before, the difference was very big!