The Lone Brave Against the Tide!

"I've said it before, no one above Hidden Strength is allowed to make a move," Old Xu said calmly, looking at the three people who had arrived together.

"Those people are outsiders at Hidden Strength, and they're not under our jurisdiction. You can't treat everyone as one of us..." Mo Wuji said in a deep voice.

"Are you tired of living?" Old Xu looked at him.

"Old Xu, you don't need to try to scare anyone." Zhuang Xiuyuan, a master of Transforming Strength who had betrayed the martial hall, stepped forward. "I know you don't dare to die! If you die, those people at the Divine Spear Martial Hall won't have a peak master protecting them!"

"What do those idiots have to do with me?" Old Xu said indifferently. "The only person I want to protect is Huo Yuanhong. If other idiots die, they die. What does it matter to me..."

Zhuang Xiuyuan's pupils contracted.

After all, ever since Li Shuxing became a peak master, Old Xu, the protector of the Baji lineage, had actually become free. In their eyes, Old Xu had voluntarily entered a state of continuous charging to protect the martial hall, and Huo Yuanhong was just an afterthought. But now, it seemed that Old Xu's true intention was to protect only Huo Yuanhong? Not those geniuses at Hidden Strength, the backbone of the martial hall?

Zhuang Xiuyuan found it difficult to understand. No matter how talented they were, it would take many years for them to grow. They wouldn't be able to catch up to the great changes. Was it really worth caring so much?

But...

"He won't be able to break out," Zhuang Xiuyuan said calmly. "There's a group of people at Intent Coalescence and Qi Coalescence gathered there. No matter how strong he is, can he kill one Qi Coalescence, or two Qi Coalescence?"

The allure of wealth and status was tempting, and so was the great medicine. Under the deliberate spread of information by Zhuang Xiuyuan, quite a few experts from outside had already arrived. These people, who had practiced with the help of medicine but had run into trouble, were running out of time and were relying on the great medicine to save their lives! In such a situation, no matter who was surrounding and killing them, these guys wouldn't have much fear!

"Whether he can break out is his own business, but whether Hidden Strength participates is my business." Old Xu said indifferently. "As I said, when people of the same level fight, life and death are determined by fate. I won't interfere."

"Oh, when Elder Xu says 'same level,' he means...?" Wu Yankun, standing behind the old patriarch of the Wu family, suddenly spoke.

"Everyone below Hidden Strength is considered the same realm." Hearing Old Xu's words, Wu Yankun immediately smiled.

So, Strength Coalescence was also considered the same realm? Of course, by the time they reached Strength Coalescence, they were only a step away from becoming a martial arts master and had already started to cherish their lives. They were not as easily tempted as Intent Coalescence and Qi Coalescence. It was too late to find other willing Strength Coalescence experts at the last minute, but he remembered that he had an illegitimate son at Strength Coalescence who was attending the banquet and happened to be on time! This illegitimate son was the result of his youthful dalliance with a dancer. Although he was not recognized by the family due to his background, he had reached Strength Coalescence at the young age of nineteen due to his extraordinary talent and was highly regarded by him!

"Anyway, he's not officially part of the Wu family, so it's fine for him to make a move..." Wu Yankun said with a faint smile. "Even if he can't cripple Huo Yuanhong, he'll make him watch the people he cares about die with his own eyes, driving him to despair!" Li Shuxing and Old Xu were one thing, but for a mere Intent Coalescence little worm to dare to oppose him was simply laughable! He didn't even need to make a move himself; his illegitimate son could destroy everything the other party cared about!

As for whether he might lose his son in the process... Wu Yankun shook his head and smiled, dismissing the fleeting thought. With strength exceeding an entire major stage, and ganging up with a group of people to ambush a mere Intent Coalescence, if he could still be counter-killed, wouldn't that be too absurd! Moreover, he would also arrange for a Strength Coalescence expert from the Martial Bureau to mix in. He wouldn't need to make a move, just observe and be ready to rescue his son at the critical moment! That way, there would be no accidents!

"Are you saying you want me to make a move?" In a quiet courtyard not far from the ballroom, the old ancestor of the Fang family sat quietly, eyes closed, resting.

"That's right. Although Elder Xu is powerful, he's too old and might not be able to intervene in time to protect his life. I hope that if necessary, Great Grandfather can make a move and save Huo Yuanhong!" Fang Shiyu said respectfully.

"Reason?"

The old man remained unmoved, his expression unchanged, not even bothering to open his eyes.

"Because..."

Fang Shiyu paused slightly, gathering his thoughts before speaking in a deep voice, "I believe that as long as Huo Yuanhong lives, he has the potential to become a peak master, even a true peak master like the First Generation Supreme, with great spirit!"

"Such a genius shouldn't die at the hands of those at Intent Coalescence or Qi Coalescence!"

"Oh?"

Hearing this, the old man finally opened his eyes and looked deeply at his most beloved great-grandson.

"First Generation Supreme, do you understand what that means?"

In today's world, the top aristocratic families are almost all backed by peak masters, but these have almost all been built with vast resources and the rich experience of their predecessors. Compared to the founding generation of peak masters who carved their own path, they are like flowers in a greenhouse – pretty but useless!

True peak masters, without exception, have all fought their way to the top!

They possess the great spirit of "though I face a multitude, I shall go forward" and an unshakeable conviction!

But such peak masters are too few, too rare!

Across the entire Heavenly Dynasty, there are only a handful, such as Li Shuxing, the top expert of the Aristocratic Family Alliance, and the leader of the Martial Prosperity Alliance. Any one of them possesses the strength to sweep aside numerous ordinary peak masters!

Li Shuxing dares to split the Aristocratic Family Alliance using his influence and still live well, and the leader of the Martial Prosperity Alliance dares to rally a force of commoners to oppose the Aristocratic Family Alliance, precisely because they are the only true peak masters in the world, having fought their way up step by step like the first generation of peak masters!

Old Xu could also be considered half a true peak master. Back when Li Shuxing hadn't yet risen, he single-handedly supported the Baji lineage, withstanding countless storms!

It's just that he is too old now, so he isn't counted among them!

"I understand. That's precisely why we need to save Huo Yuanhong! If we truly fail to cultivate Martial Immortals in the future, having one more true peak master will be an important source of strength!"

"You think so highly of him?"

The old man frowned.

When he had spoken with Li Shuxing previously, Li Shuxing had thought highly of his disciple, believing that given enough time, he might even contend for Martial Immortal!

But unfortunately, his start was too late, and he couldn't catch up to this unprecedented great change. Even if he were truly a Martial Immortal seed, it would take who knows how many years to grow, and there wouldn't be enough time!

Therefore, the old man hadn't paid much attention to this young man.

But he never expected that his most beloved great-grandson, the sure-to-be next head of the Fang family, would have such a high evaluation after meeting Huo Yuanhong!

Although not as exaggerated as Li Shuxing's praise, the prospect of becoming a true peak master is still quite remarkable talent!

But...

"You are too young, you don't understand what a true peak master truly means..."

The old man shook his head, believing his great-grandson was too busy with trivial matters and had too little contact with truly monstrous prodigies to know what true prodigies were like!

He needed to arrange for his great-grandson to interact more with prodigies like Wu Yuanchu!

Moreover, if he intervened now, at the autumn hunt that would be held earlier than scheduled, the Wu family would definitely have their prodigy at the peak of Strength Coalescence – Wu Yankun's direct descendant – obstruct the younger generation of the Fang family, causing the Fang family's ranking in the autumn hunt to decline and resulting in huge losses of profit!

The implications were too great, all to save a young man at Intent Coalescence...

It wasn't worth it!

Seeing the seconds tick by, Fang Shiyu's heart gradually sank.

He was all too aware of how many experts at Intent Coalescence and Qi Coalescence were outside. Although those at Strength Coalescence, who were about to reach Hidden Strength, should be starting to cherish their lives and wouldn't get involved, the sheer number of Intent Coalescence and Qi Coalescence experts surrounding him was enough to easily kill one person at Intent Coalescence!

If he was late, it would be too late!

"Great-grandfather, I am willing to use my first-in-line heir's plea for help opportunity to ask you to make a move!"

Fang Shiyu gritted his teeth slightly and finally said in a deep voice.

In the old man's eyes, a hint of surprise finally appeared.

As the first-in-line heir of the Fang family, he had one opportunity to ask him to make a move, but it was only one chance, and it would be gone once used!

This was an opportunity to enlist a peak master's action, and for the sake of a mere youngster, his great-grandson was going to use it directly?

"Are you sure about this?"

The old man said calmly.

"I've thought it through!"

Fang Shiyu replied with great certainty.

The old man frowned, then shook his head slightly.

Fine, let it be a lesson for his great-grandson.

When he encounters trouble in the future and can't get him to act, he'll naturally realize his mistake and understand that he shouldn't have wasted such a precious opportunity now.

"I will spare his life."

The old man stood up and walked towards the outside.

On the street, Huo Yuanhong, carrying the Carriage Shop Owner on his back, was sprinting at full speed. Behind them, figures were either leaping across rooftops or chasing with great strides, their distance closing, closing!

"This way!"

Around the corner ahead, someone suddenly rushed out pulling a rickshaw!

It was the only Manifest Strength practitioner left at the carriage shop!

"Take him and go."

Huo Yuanhong placed the carriage shop owner onto the rickshaw, then turned around to face the enemies pursuing them.

The Manifest Strength practitioner from the carriage shop hesitated for a moment, gritted his teeth, and without any further dawdling, pulled the person and fled.

Watching the rickshaw disappear, Huo Yuanhong took a monkey mask from a nearby empty mask stall and put it on.

The pouring rain pattered down, as if countless people were beating gongs and drums, turning this area into a chaotic and frenzied stage! Demons and monsters wearing masks of green faces and fangs charged towards them!

After taking the last packet of restorative Spirit Nourishment medicine and feeling the replenished strength from his earlier sprint, Huo Yuanhong's face, hidden behind the monkey mask, broke into a smile.

"Come on, let me see how many Strength Coalescence practitioners I can kill today..."

He strode forward to meet the pursuing experts, carrying his great spear. With every step, his aura surged, like a demon king descending the mountain, with nothing else on his mind but pure killing intent!

Charge! Charge! Charge again!

Alone, he charged against the tide, using his spear like a staff, fiercely smashing towards the multitude of demons and monsters!