Golden Bell

The area around the stage fell into dead silence in an instant.

Everyone was stunned by the sudden turn of events.

One punch!

With just one punch, the fearsome Ning Wuhui was knocked off the stage!

Zhang Qiaoshan watched his disciple's miserable state, his heart aching so much it made him twitch. The other disciples he brought were even more terrified, their faces pale. They looked at each other, none daring to step onto the stage to challenge.

What a joke!

Even Senior Brother Ning was taken down with one punch; wouldn't they be asking for death if they went up?

"We won! We won!"

The disciples of Lingyue Martial Arts School were the first to react, erupting in earth-shattering cheers!

Li Pinghu was so excited he teared up, rushing forward to hug Yun Long, who had just stepped off the stage, and vigorously patted his shoulder.

"Well done! A'Long! You've brought so much honor to Uncle Li!"

Li Lingyue also ran over, her beautiful eyes sparkling as she looked at Yun Long, her cheeks flushed with admiration and joy.

She cleared her throat and walked up to Zhang Qiaoshan, whose face was ashen. She extended her fair, slender hand, a playful smile on her lips.

"Old Master Zhang, we were gracious."

"As agreed, that 'Chasing Wind' sword belongs to us now!"

"And from now on, don't you dare say that Lingyue Martial Arts School only teaches worthless trash!"

Zhang Qiaoshan trembled with anger, his old face turning the color of liver. He pointed at Li Lingyue, sputtering for a long time but unable to utter a single word.

What could he say?

A loss is a loss!

In front of the entire town, could he possibly go back on his word?

"Hmph!"

Zhang Qiaoshan gritted out a single word through clenched teeth, signaling for his disciple to hand over the brocade box containing the 'Chasing Wind' sword.

Li Lingyue took the brocade box and happily opened it for a look. The gleaming sword made her reluctant to let go.

She glanced triumphantly at the furious Zhang Qiaoshan, her heart blooming with joy.

Inside a private room at "Wangjiang Tower."

Fang Yuanhua toyed with the cracked jade cup in his hand, a playful smile on his lips.

"Elder Mu, that kid's Golden Bell Shield has some tricks up its sleeve."

He looked in the direction of the stage, his gaze lingering on Yun Long for a moment.

Elder Mu bowed, his voice steady but tinged with thought.

"Replying to Your Highness, this technique indeed has extraordinary aspects. Observing his True Qi circulation, it subtly carries the fierce and domineering essence of Buddhist martial arts. The protective golden light condenses without dissipating; it is truly a superior body-hardening technique."

"Buddhist martial arts?"

Fang Yuanhua raised an eyebrow.

"There don't seem to be any Buddhist temples in Changqing Kingdom, do there? Even if it were Buddhist, such a Mortal Stage martial art shouldn't be this rudimentary."

Elder Mu nodded. "Your Highness speaks the truth. Although this Golden Bell Shield is strong, it has not yet broken free from the scope of mortal martial arts. If it were a profound Buddhist inheritance, its power would be far greater than this. Perhaps the young man had some other fortunate encounter and obtained a partial technique."

Fang Yuanhua nodded gently, not delving deeper.

"It's somewhat interesting. However, the matter of the technique can wait."

He turned his gaze towards the distant Jingyang Mountain Range, his eyes deep.

"I have more important matters to attend to on this trip. This kid won't escape."

The commotion below the stage gradually subsided, but the excitement and shock on people's faces had not completely faded.

Yun Long had become famous overnight. Nanshan Town now had two Xiantian experts under the age of twenty; this news was enough for them to discuss for a long time.

Li Pinghu was still excitedly rambling to Yun Long, while Li Lingyue happily held the 'Chasing Wind' sword.

Yun Ji looked at his son, his heart filled with emotion. The Yun Family was truly on the rise.

Just then, a commotion suddenly arose from the edge of the crowd.

Two powerful auras descended abruptly, like two mountains pressing down on everyone's hearts.

"Who's there?"

Li Pinghu's expression changed as he shielded Yun Long and Li Lingyue behind him.

Yun Ji also narrowed his eyes, looking in the direction of the newcomers.

Two men in dark, fitted clothing, with standard long sabers at their waists, pushed through the crowd and strode in.

The temples of these two men bulged high, their eyes sharp as eagles, and their bodies exuded a fierce and intimidating aura. They were both peak Xiantian realm martial artists!

"By order of the Ninth Prince!"

One of them had a voice like a booming bell, his gaze sweeping across the entire square with unquestionable authority.

"All Xiantian realm martial artists in Nanshan Town, from this moment on, you will all stay. No one is allowed to leave without permission!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the square fell silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Those who had just been immersed in joy were doused with a basin of ice water, chilling them from head to toe.

The Ninth Prince?

That was the son of the current Emperor!

Why would he come to a small place like Nanshan Town?

The guard continued, "An ancient cultivator's ruins have been discovered in the Jingyang Mountain Range. You are required to assist in searching the mountains. Those who participate will be rewarded for their contributions and will not be treated unfairly!"

"As for everyone else, from today onwards, Nanshan Town will be temporarily sealed. No one is allowed to enter or leave freely. Those who disobey will be killed without mercy!"

The words "killed without mercy" struck everyone's hearts like three heavy hammers.

Yun Ji felt a slight relief. So it was to search for ruins in the mountains, and it had nothing to do with the family genealogy.

However, the Jingyang Mountain Range... that was no peaceful place.

Old hunters outside the mountain range said that the depths of the vast Jingyang Mountain Range were said to have buried countless Xiantian realm martial artists who had entered and never returned.

They, ordinary people, only dared to eke out a living on the outskirts of the Jingyang Mountain Range.

The Jingyang Mountain Range spanned three provinces; it was so vast that even searching it would not be an easy task.

With just the manpower of Nanshan Town, it would definitely not be enough.

The Xiantian martial artists from the surrounding towns would probably not escape, and they would also have to enter the mountains.

Even so, what they could search would only be a corner of the Jingyang Mountain Range.

Yun Ji's mind raced. The Ninth Prince must have received some reliable information.

The scope of the ruins should be in the southwest of the Jingyang Mountain Range, or perhaps even smaller. Otherwise, why would the Ninth Prince make such a big fuss?

Sigh.

It wasn't just Yun Ji; the faces of all the Xiantian realm martial artists present, every single one of them, turned extremely grim.

Going deep into the Jingyang Mountain Range was fraught with danger and peril.

The people in the town had likely become hostages for the Ninth Prince to control them. He was not afraid that these Xiantian realm martial artists would not obey, nor was he afraid that they would escape.

Li Pinghu's face turned ashen. He truly wished he could slap himself twice right now. He shouldn't have let that kid Yun Long stand out back then!

If he had hidden his strength, he might still be able to stay safely in town now, taking care of Lingyue and Yun Hu and his siblings.

But now... they had no choice but to accept this.

Yun Ji suppressed the tremor in his heart, his voice tinged with a barely perceptible hoarseness. "A'hu, take Xiao He and Lingyue back first and cultivate well at home. The three of us will go together; nothing will happen."

Shi Tie appeared at some point, grinning, trying to break the heavy atmosphere. "Old Yun, you're mistaken, mistaken. I'm here too."

But the worry in his eyes couldn't be hidden.

Yun Hu knew this was not a place to say more. He bit his lip tightly, nodded heavily, cast a deep glance at his father, then pulled Xiao He, who was holding back tears, and Lingyue, who was filled with unease, and turned away with heavy steps.

Like Yun Ji and the others, the Xiantian martial artists of Nanshan Town formed small groups, each with their companions. No one dared to venture deep into the mountains alone.

If it hadn't been for the wild beasts bringing Yun Jiang to the outskirts of the mountain range back then, Yun Ji would not have had the chance to pick up the family genealogy.