Your Uncle Liu's Name Will Surely Resound Across Shenzhou!

The cylindrical wax record slowly turned, releasing a lilting song.

It was the year 366 of the Celestial Empire. Western merchants had introduced this invention from the Western Lands; it could preserve sound, but it was far too rare, something only high officials and nobles could obtain.

"By my reckoning, they should have made their move already."

The man in the suit listened to the melody in rapture, guiding the woman in the Western-style dress beside him in a slow, elegant turn.

"You really are insane. You even dared to lay hands on Li Shuxing's disciple..."

The woman dancing with him leaned close to his ear, her breath fragrant as orchids as she whispered.

"Insane?"

The man in the suit smiled faintly. His steps did not falter in the slightest, but the rhythm suddenly accelerated. Accompanied by the music's sudden crescendo, he seemed to dance in a frenzy.

"I know exactly what I'm doing!"

"Li Shuxing ignored the greater good. For the sake of his own disciple, for his own selfish desires, he sabotaged our Commoner Martial Arts Ban Plan. He even wanted to use his influence to persuade the aristocratic families close to him and split our Aristocratic Family Alliance into two factions. He has long since aroused the dissatisfaction of many people..."

"It's just that no one dared to step forward and be the first to tear all pretenses apart with Li Shuxing... except this madman!"

"But from beginning to end, I never arranged anything. I merely showed a trace of displeasure toward Li Shuxing's disciple, and other commoners, eager to cling to me and to the aristocratic families, committed all manner of madness..."

"Look at those pitiful commoners below. Even united, they are no match for our aristocratic families, yet they are so easily divided and driven to fight one another to the death..."

"How could the hope of a Martial Immortal possibly lie with them?"

"Li Shuxing is powerful. Even without evidence, he could kill me by force. But the moment he acts, he will become a spark that utterly ignites this powder keg called the Celestial Empire, only to be drowned beneath countless experts from the aristocratic families! Once Li Shuxing dies, the Aristocratic Family Alliance, which nearly split apart, will be truly united. Then we will pile up a genuine Martial Immortal and establish a great undertaking to last ten thousand generations!"

"And I, the fuse that sets it all off, will surely become a meritorious servant of the Aristocratic Family Alliance, winning an unparalleled achievement for my family that will endure through the ages! An achievement for ten thousand generations!"

The fanaticism in the suited man's eyes sent a chill through his dancing partner's heart.

Madman!

The man before her was a madman through and through, willing to gamble his life away just to become famous!

Pop!

The man in the suit uncorked a bottle of red wine, poured it into an exquisite glass, then raised it toward the setting sun. His face was brimming with fervor.

"To our aristocratic families, enduring for ten thousand generations!"

"Uncle Liu!"

Hearing Uncle Liu and the swordsman fall together, Huo Yuanhong's mind buzzed even as he continued fighting!

Everything before his eyes suddenly fell silent, turning into a vast expanse of blank white.

Hollow. Oppressive.

All he wanted was to practice martial arts in peace, then protect the people around him—let those who had shown him kindness enjoy their old age in comfort, and watch with their own eyes as he became, step by step, the person they were proudest of...

Why...

Why couldn't even such a small wish come true!?

Kill!!!

His violent emotions erupted like a dormant volcano, igniting the power throughout his body!

At that moment, he disregarded the other two sabermen entirely. His foot stamped down as he madly squeezed every scrap of strength in his body into a single point. Both hands gripped the saber he had seized, and he viciously drove it at the saberman before him!

"Not good!"

The saberman's pupils contracted sharply. He hurriedly raised his blade crosswise to block the killing strike!

The saberman reacted quickly, and he had complete confidence in the toughness of the Fine Steel Saber in his hands. It would definitely be able to withstand at least one thrust!

In theory, that was indeed the case. Even an expert at the peak of Heart-Mind Unity, striking with all his might, could not snap this saber with just one or two thrusts!

But...

Huo Yuanhong's force was too concentrated. It erupted from a single point, raising the power and speed of this strike to an unbelievable level!

On top of that, the force generated by his Tremor Stomp layered over it. Extreme fury drove every inch of his muscles to near combustion, transforming his saber into a streak of white light too fast for the naked eye to catch!

The instant it made contact, it brutally shattered the blade the saberman had raised to block it. Amid the saberman's stunned gaze, it viciously plunged into his chest!

One strike, absolute kill!

Whoosh!

At that moment, a fierce whistle of steel tearing through the air came from his side. The saber of the man to his right was about to pierce his waist!

It was already too late to pull away and retreat. The saber in his hand had just pierced the body of the saberman before him, and there was no time to draw it back for defense!

Besides, he did not know any saber techniques to begin with. Earlier, he had only fought through the astonishing speed of his thoughts and vision, combined with his immense strength and speed!

In that razor-thin moment between life and death, madness and savagery flashed in Huo Yuanhong's eyes! Almost the instant the saber in his hand pierced through, he desperately sucked in a breath, making his abdomen suddenly cave in and flatten. Under the upward force, his spine bent backward, causing his entire waist to shrink and shift back!

Sshk!

The saber from the right grazed past his sunken stomach, tearing away a huge patch of flesh. It looked horrifying, but it had not injured anything inside!

Agonizing pain surged through him, yet Huo Yuanhong seemed not to feel it. His gaze was terrifyingly fierce, and his movements did not pause in the slightest. In an instant, he released the hand that had been gripping the hilt, seized the right-hand saberman's arm instead, and yanked him to the side!

"Pfft!"

The assassin on the right had his blade dragged along and driven straight into the lower abdomen of the man on the left!

Then, with a surge of force from Huo Yuanhong, it was lifted and thrust upward, piercing straight from the lower abdomen through the heart!

There was no saving him!

With eyes full of disbelief, the assassin on the left—who had switched to supporting attacks after losing his blade—staggered back, leaned against the wall, and slowly slid down!

Two kills!

"Ahhh!!!"

Watching Huo Yuanhong and Uncle Liu fight with such a suicidal Combat Method, watching his companions die one after another, the last swordsman finally showed fear!

With the wrist holding his blade seized by Huo Yuanhong and unable to use his weapon, his other hand reached for the short blade at his waist!

"Die!"

With a low roar, Huo Yuanhong stomped the ground again. His Internal Force surged madly like a mountain collapse and a tsunami, driving his body into a savage charge!

Iron Mountain Lean!

"Bang!"

Amid a muffled boom, the last swordsman's ribs shattered. His back slammed directly into the wall, making the entire wall tremble violently!

The fierce force crashed into his chest, nearly knocking the breath out of him. Before he could recover, the short dagger in Huo Yuanhong's sleeve shot out and was caught firmly in his hand!

"Pfft!"

A flash of cold light—one dagger sealed his throat!

Three kills!

After killing the three swordsmen with a suicidal Combat Method, Huo Yuanhong did not pause for even an instant. Drawing in a breath, he shot toward the window like an arrow and leaped down!

The moment he landed, he rolled with his powerful control, dispersing the impact of the fall!

Then he saw Uncle Liu and the last swordsman!

"Let go! Let go! Let go!"

Uncle Liu had already fallen to the ground and could not rise. He desperately pinned down the sword with his body, both hands clinging for dear life to the ankles of the swordsman who had just gotten up. He endured blow after blow from the swordsman, vomiting blood without stop. His pupils had begun to lose focus, yet he kept his eyes wide open, refusing to let go no matter what!

"Bang!"

Huo Yuanhong charged straight in, a rushing punch carrying immense force smashing into the swordsman's cheek!

Immediately afterward, his left arm entangled and pressed down, instantly locking the arm the swordsman was trying to use to counterattack!

Baji Quan's entangling techniques: Minor Entanglement bound the wrist, Major Entanglement bound the arm! What he was using now was Major Entanglement!

After binding one of the swordsman's arms, Huo Yuanhong did not pause in the slightest. His Internal Force surged forth, carrying endless fury as Collapse Elbows hammered continuously into his opponent's chest!

"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Seven Collapse Elbows erupted in an instant! They blasted apart even the inner armor the swordsman wore, and his chest caved in completely. The moment Huo Yuanhong released him, he toppled backward helplessly, his breath cut off.

"Uncle Liu!"

After killing the swordsman, Huo Yuanhong rushed to Uncle Liu's side.

"Ahong... we... won?"

"We won. We won!"

Hearing Huo Yuanhong's words, Uncle Liu's body finally relaxed. He turned over and lay on his back, gazing at the slowly setting sun.

"I, Liu... lived a whole life as a coward, scared of death... Never thought that when I died... I'd still be this pathetic... this scared..."

"My son, later on... he'll definitely say... his father was a useless coward... accomplished nothing... and... and got beaten to death... died without an ounce of backbone... like a sewer rat... dying soundlessly in some corner... barely anyone even knowing my name...

"Not even a single thing worth boasting about..."

"Not like other fathers... great heroes... men who did great things..."

Uncle Liu's pupils gradually scattered, his voice already so faint it was nearly inaudible.

"No!"

Huo Yuanhong clasped Uncle Liu's blood-covered hand, looked into his eyes, and said with utmost solemnity, "Believe me. You will not die a coward's death!"

"Your name, Liu, will surely ring across the land of Shenzhou! It will be remembered by everyone!"

"Your child will know that his father was a hero—a great hero!"

"He'll see his father in the textbooks forever!"

The light had already vanished from Uncle Liu's eyes. No one knew...

Whether he had heard Huo Yuanhong's words...