Emotional Wounds: The Situation (I)
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I got criticized, which means everyone still cares about my book! To repay your concern, I'll write more diligently. I hope you'll wait a couple more days; the later plot will show you what true power is, hehe. Just wait a bit, don't worry, my exams aren't over yet! I won't let you all down too much later! Hehe~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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In the study of the head of the Zhang Family in Suzhou City, Yangzhou Prefecture.
"Master, after the Third Master emerged from their ten-year seclusion, their martial arts have broken through to the Divine Realm."
Steward Zhang stood aside and respectfully reported the situation to Zhang Tiande, the head of the Zhang family.
Zhang Tiande's eyes suddenly lit up, and the book in his hand instantly turned to ashes. Zhang Tiande, who had never shown his true abilities before, actually possessed such high skill! It was truly astonishing.
"Old Zhang, has Xiao San really broken through to the Divine Realm? Are you sure!" Zhang Tiande's voice trembled. This was an opportunity for the Zhang Family. It was also an opportunity for him and Xiao San!
"Yes, news from Tianyu Tower has arrived. The Third Master Duke fought alone against two Divine Guards, three Heavenly Guards, and four Hidden Heavenly Guards from the Li Family. More importantly, the Third Master also defeated those two old men from the Li Family. Moreover, the Third Master was invulnerable to swords and spears. However, Li Shimin used a sword, which seems to be the Xuanyuan Sword, to seriously injure the Third Master. But the Third Master recovered in a short while. Furthermore, the Third Master also killed the Li Family's Divine Guard No. 3, Heavenly Guard No. 1 and No. 3, and Hidden Heavenly Guard No. 1 and No. 4, reducing the Li Family's strength by at least one-third. However, the Third Master still failed in his marriage proposal and left the Yuwen Family alone. His whereabouts are now unknown, but he may be at the Star Peak Manor."
Steward Zhang continued, "My lord, the Third Master is truly remarkable. Even Tianyu Tower has difficulty tracking his whereabouts, and he has broken through to the Divine Realm at such a young age! Truly extraordinary!"
Zhang Tiande gazed silently at the sky outside the window. After a long while, he looked at Steward Zhang and commanded:
"Immediately notify the Elder Council, the Lord of Tianyu Tower, and the leader of 'Dark Blood'. I need to convene a meeting that concerns the future of the Zhang Family!"
"Yes."
Steward Zhang disappeared from the study.
Zhang Tiande gazed silently at the sky and murmured, "Little San, well done!"
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In the main hall of the Yuwen Family in Yangzhou Prefecture, Hangzhou City Prefecture.
At this moment, the Yuwen Family Head, who had already left the capital and arrived at his stronghold, was sitting in the central seat. Everyone fell silent; this event had shocked them greatly. A young man, not even twenty years old, had reached the legendary Martial Way realm, while their ancestor had been in seclusion for over a hundred years to reach that realm!
"Our Yuwen Family didn't suffer any major losses this time, except that we have to rebuild our base in the capital. However, this incident also shows the strength of the Li Family. More importantly, Zhang Xingfeng's sudden emergence has brought many changes to the future division of power. Please tell me, what attitude should we take towards Zhang Xingfeng in the future?"
The dignified voice of the Yuwen Family Head resounded in the hall.
The Second Elder stood up and said, "Since we have decided to form a marriage alliance with the Li Family, we should naturally side with the Li Family. Everyone knows how powerful the Li Family is. Since we don't have the strength to compete with the Li Family, we should walk on the same path as them. It will still be beneficial for us."
The Third Elder stood up, glanced at the Second Elder, and chuckled, "Second Brother, although we don't have the strength to fight the Li Family right now, how can we be Li Family echo? If we do, one day the Yuwen Family will be swallowed up by the Li Family. Besides, everyone has seen Zhang Xingfeng's kung fu; what level is that? And what about his sect?"
Just as the Second Elder was about to retort, a cheerful voice came from outside the gate.
"Good, well said!"
A middle-aged man dressed in white walked in, and the white hair at his temples shocked the Yuwen Family Head and everyone present.
Yuwen Huaji looked at Sun and smiled.
"Haha... Very good, very good! I, Yuwen Huaji, spent a hundred years in seclusion to break through to the Divine Realm, but I didn't leave behind any masters for our Yuwen Family. It's already quite good that you've managed to keep the Yuwen Family among the Four Great Families. I'm back, so from today onwards, our Yuwen Family must strive to expand! Hahaha... Remember, your attitude towards Zhang Xingfeng must be the same as your attitude towards the other Aristocratic Clan heads. You don't know how terrifying my level of skill is! Since he reached this level at such a young age, his sect must be incredibly powerful. We must maintain good relations with both the Li Family and Zhang Xingfeng. We'll now follow behind the Li Family, concealing our strength and letting them fight against the Li Family Zhang Xingfeng, the Shi Family, and the Zhang Family, while we reap the benefits. Alright, find a few Second-grade realm cultivators; I'll enhance their skills."
"Yes!" Everyone in the Yuwen Family became excited. With their ancestor here, who was the Yuwen Family afraid of?
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A few soft, fluffy white clouds drifted in the azure sky, and a gentle spring breeze blew by, carrying a touch of coolness to the sleeves.
Zhang Xingfeng was walking quietly along a mountain path within the territory of Jizhou Prefecture. It was noon, and there wasn't a soul in sight on the path except for the solitary Zhang Xingfeng.
"This road is mine, these trees are mine, if you want to pass, leave your toll!" A group of burly men ran out of the nearby woods and stood in front of Zhang Xingfeng. Clearly, they were bandits. The sad thing was that they had encountered Zhang Xingfeng today. And the Zhang Xingfeng they had encountered was heartbroken.
A few smiles appeared on Zhang Xingfeng's usually indifferent face, which was quite strange.
The bandit leader also sensed something was amiss. Looking at the man's eerie smile, his heart pounded, and cold sweat broke out on his face. He couldn't help but swallow hard, feeling his dry throat grow even drier.
Suddenly, a blood-red knife appeared in Zhang Xingfeng's hand. The blood-red color was not the knife's own red, but rather the blood from the many people he had killed.
"Blood Saber Shattering Heart!" The leader turned deathly pale the moment he saw the blade. He knew why he had been so unsettled.
Blood Saber Shattering Heart has only been out in the game for three months, yet the number of people he's killed is terrifying. It's said he can't distinguish between good and evil; anyone who crosses him faces only one outcome—death. No one knows his true skill level, but it's certain he's at least Second-grade realm expert. Among his victims was a Second-Rank Expert — 'Azure Wave Saber' Li Shuo. Li Shuo was the leader of the five thousand bandits of Azure Wave Mountain, and his martial arts were unparalleled. Keep in mind that there are only a handful of first-rank masters in the world; generally, Second-Rank Expert is invincible. Li Shuo was killed by Blood Saber Shattering Heart Shattered Heart with a single strike! Just one strike. Therefore, his skill level is at least second-rank.
Faced with such a ruthless and unparalleled master, this group of bandits, none of whom were even at the Innate Master, showed no sign of resistance. All the bandits immediately knelt down.
"Master Broken Heart, we were blind and didn't recognize your greatness. We have offended you. Please, Master Broken Heart, just ignore our words and let us go!"
All the bandits kept kowtowing, knowing they had no hope of escaping because their opponent's skills were simply too great!
Zhang Xingfeng looked at the group of bandits begging for mercy and smiled.
The bandits saw Zhang Xingfeng's smile and breathed a sigh of relief. But suddenly, a flash of blood streaked past, and all the bandits froze. Zhang Xingfeng quietly walked past them until Zhang Xingfeng disappeared down the mountain path. Then, like a geyser, blood spurted high from the necks of all the bandits.
After leaving the Yuwen Family that day, Zhang Xingfeng returned to the Star Peak Manor. He knew that his State of Mind at the time was not suitable for managing affairs, so he still handed over important matters to Brother Wang.
However, Zhang Xingfeng used the Mysterious Sky Stone to forge some weapons for everyone. Weapons made from the Mysterious Sky Stone were absolutely unparalleled. The reason he made them was because he knew the strength of the Li Family. The entire Star Peak Manor only had two first-rank experts, Uncle Zhang and Lang Feng, which was far inferior to the major Aristocratic Clan. With weapons made from the Mysterious Sky Stone, their martial prowess would be greatly enhanced. Only in this way could Star Peak Manor develop more smoothly in the future. Moreover, Zhang Xingfeng didn't need to forge the blades; he directly used Purple Fire (an upgraded form of Dan Fire at the Nascent Soul Realm) to shape the Mysterious Sky Stone into various weapon shapes. Only sharpening took a little time, but dozens of weapons were made in just one day.
Of course, he also made himself a knife. Just so he would have a weapon when he went out and changed his identity.
Zhang Xingfeng didn't want to be recognized by some people, so he transformed into a burly man with broad shoulders and a thick waist, using the alias "Broken Heart." The resentment in his heart led him to vent his anger and kill people continuously, staining the knife red and earning him the reputation of "Blood Saber Shattering Heart."
On the path of cultivation, one must have a peaceful State of Mind. If one cannot fully release the resentment in one's heart, it will be difficult to succeed in cultivation in the future. Even if one succeeds, one will enter the demon realm.
Zhang Xingfeng quietly turned back to look at the dead bandit and the blood on the ground. It seemed to remind him of that day with the Yuwen Family. After standing there for a long time, he turned around and continued walking north.
A silent murmur seemed to echo in her cold heart, "Goodbye, Rou; goodbye, Zhang Xingfeng of yesterday."
On the desolate mountain path, only a solitary figure stood, a blood-red knife, a knife brimming with lust. Perhaps the killing would bring Zhang Xingfeng back to his State of Mind!
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