Powder

"Hmm?!"

Voices came from outside, and the hall fell silent at once.

Everyone frowned and turned to look, only to see a group of people calmly entering the hall.

At their head was a fair-skinned, handsome young gentleman.

He lightly waved a folding fan as he walked ahead. Behind him followed an assortment of strange retainers—monks and Taoists, scholars and warriors, yet seeming neither monk nor Taoist, neither scholar nor warrior. There was even a pair of eerie children whose sexes were impossible to distinguish.

"Who is he...?"

"Shaolin's traitor, the Poison Monk Yuan Xing!"

"And Ghost Head Zhang Tao!"

"Could those two be the Yin Yang Boy?"

"That old fellow is Withered Taoist Wang Yuan Ling!"

"Where did this bunch of demons and monsters come from?"

"Boy, who are you?"

"No, this is a fake!"

"What is the background of this little wench, that so many unorthodox experts follow her?"

Seeing the strange assortment of followers behind the young gentleman, everyone in the hall, especially the heads of the various sects, was alarmed and dared not act rashly.

The Hundred Broken Mountain side also frowned, looking at the uninvited young gentleman. "Who are you, sir, and what are you doing here?"

"Easy, easy!"

The young gentleman smiled and announced his origins. "I am Li Shao Bai of the Sacred Fire Cult. Today, I have personally led the Sacred Cult's Left and Right Envoys, Four Great Dharma Kings, and Eight Altar Lords to Hundred Broken Mountain to wish Heavenly King Li a long life of a hundred years!"

"You...!"

"Presumptuous!"

At those words, the disciples of Hundred Broken Mountain immediately erupted. Miao Fang, the Chief Escort of the Eastbound Escort Agency, flew into a rage and kicked a wine jar straight at him.

"Presumptuous!"

Unexpectedly, someone behind the other party also shouted in fury. He thrust out a palm through the air, shattering the flying wine jar with a thunderous blast before it could harm the young gentleman in the slightest.

Seeing this, the young gentleman was even less concerned. Waving his fan, he laughed. "We came to offer congratulations, yet this is how Hundred Broken Mountain treats its guests? Heavenly King Li's fame shakes the world, but he does not know how to teach his subordinates a little decorum."

"You seek death!"

Those words enraged the people of Hundred Broken Mountain even further, and they were about to attack when Head Steward Zhou Hai raised a hand and stopped them.

Zhou Hai stepped forward, his faint smile unchanged. "So it is the Young Master of the Sacred Fire Cult. You have come to Hundred Broken Mountain in such force—what is the purpose?"

"Hahaha! They say Head Steward Zhou of Hundred Broken Mountain is smooth and adaptable in every direction, sharp-witted and resourceful, the Heavenly King's right-hand man. Seeing you today, your reputation is indeed well deserved!"

Li Shao Bai cupped his hands and did not continue provoking them. Instead, he turned to the martial world crowd. "Everyone under heaven knows that Heavenly King Li is righteous and generous. Not only is he a peerless hero, he is also a grandmaster of his generation. These so-called Renowned Sects dared to stir up trouble on Heavenly King Li's hundredth birthday. They truly tread the road to their own deaths."

Having said that, before the people of the various sects could recover their wits, he shifted the topic and addressed Zhou Hai again. "Head Steward Zhou, trouble yourself to report to Heavenly King Li that our Sacred Cult intends to form an alliance with Hundred Broken Mountain. From this day onward, our two houses shall be as branches joined from the same breath—when one prospers, both prosper; when one suffers, both suffer. We shall divide the world equally and govern the martial world together..."

"Demoness!"

"You are presumptuous!"

"You demon of the Demonic Cult, how dare you say such things!"

Only then did the people of the major sects snap back to their senses. They shouted in fury, cutting off his words.

Yet Li Shao Bai ignored them entirely. His pair of slightly seductive eyes fixed on Zhou Hai. "As long as the Heavenly King agrees, our two houses can join hands today and slaughter every one of these sanctimonious orthodox sects here. We shall raise the prestige of our two houses, and from then on, throughout the martial world, only our two houses shall reign supreme. Would that not be exhilarating?"

"You..."

"Demon of the Demonic Cult, wishful thinking!"

Hearing this, the various sects grew even more furious and alarmed, with some already shouting noisily.

"Great! So Hundred Broken Mountain had such backing that it dared to clamor against the entire martial world. It turns out you colluded with these demons of the Demonic Cult."

"Fellow comrades, this is a trap! Let us join forces and fight our way out!"

"Fight these demons of the Demonic Cult to the death!"

"..."

Just as the situation was about to spiral out of control...

"You skulking, nameless frauds, how dare you borrow the name of my Sacred Cult to deceive the heroes of the world!"

Suddenly, a long howl rang out from beyond the doors. Powerful True Qi surged in with the sound, cowing the crowd as a figure flipped into the hall.

"Hmm?!"

Everyone frowned and stared intently. The newcomer was a youth, elegant as jade and exceptionally handsome, carrying an air of dignity and nobility that struck awe into their hearts.

The moment he landed and stood firm, another group of people rushed in and took their places behind him, bolstering his presence.

"This..."

"Li Shao Bai of the Sacred Fire Cult pays his respects to the heroes of the world."

Before everyone could settle their doubts, the youth announced his name. He, too, was Li Shao Bai.

"Li Shao Bai?"

"The Sacred Fire Cult?"

"Why is there another Li Shao Bai?"

His words left everyone thoroughly bewildered. Only the young gentleman disguised as a man wore a cold expression.

The youth calling himself Li Shao Bai paid her no heed. Facing the crowd, he cupped his hands and said, "I am the real Li Shao Bai. As for this person, she is a fraud stealing another's name. Do not be deceived by her schemes."

Having said that, he turned his gaze upon the young gentleman and coldly exposed her identity. "This person is not from my Sacred Fire Cult. She is Princess Qing Ping, daughter of Prince Yang of the Imperial Court. Today, she has impersonated my Sacred Fire Cult and come here to sow discord between Hundred Broken Mountain and the major sects. This is an Imperial Court plot, meant to make us people of the martial world slaughter one another. You must not fall for it!"

"This..."

"The Imperial Court?"

"Prince Yang?"

"A princess?"

At those words, everyone became even more astonished, staring uncertainly at the two groups.

"That is right. I am Prince Yang's daughter, Princess Qing Ping, personally bestowed that title by the Imperial Court!"

With her identity exposed, the young gentleman no longer maintained her Camouflage. She immediately cupped her hands toward Zhou Hai. "But today's actions were not intended to provoke conflict between Hundred Broken Mountain and the various martial sects. It is only because this Sacred Fire Demonic Cult harbors the hearts of wolves and wild ambitions, and has become Rebels!"

As she spoke, she pointed at Li Shao Bai. "This Demonic Cult plots greatly. They intend to make trouble tonight and swallow up Hundred Broken Mountain's foundation. Upon receiving this information, I wished to warn the Heavenly King, but feared that empty words without proof would not earn his trust. Left with no choice, I could only resort to this measure. I hope the Heavenly King will forgive me. Furthermore..."

Princess Qing Ping turned her gaze toward the heads of the major sects. "Though everyone in the martial world cries for the destruction of the Sacred Fire Cult, that is not at all the truth. Behind it stand many Influential Families, while the major sects have also secretly exchanged ties with it, using it to oppose the Imperial Court and pursue Self-interest. Today's turmoil was woven together through their conspiracy!"

"You..."

"Do not listen to this man's wild nonsense, everyone."

Everyone was shocked and enraged, about to speak, when Li Shao Bai stepped forward again. "Our Sacred Cult has absolutely no such intentions. The Imperial Court is now without virtue; the Incompetent Ruler and Corrupt Officials have joined forces like jackals and wolves, while the common people suffer endless poison and misery. Our Sacred Cult raises its banner for the people of the world!"

Having said that, he pointed at Princess Qing Ping again. "Everything this person said is slander. She is the one truly harboring sinister intentions. She has secretly mobilized the Imperial Court's troops to surround the foot of the mountain, intending to catch Heavenly King Li and the heroes of the world in one net. I ask you all to see the truth clearly!"

"Utter nonsense."

Princess Qing Ping refused to yield. Pointing directly at Li Shao Bai, she said to Zhou Hai, "Head Steward, do not believe him. The Imperial Court absolutely has no intention of making enemies of Hundred Broken Mountain or Heavenly King Li. It is these Demonic Cult Rebels who seek to seize Hundred Broken Mountain's foundation as their own base. Not only have they colluded with the major sects, they have mobilized an army to encircle and suppress this place. Only after my father learned of this did he mobilize troops to come..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

The two traded barbs like swords and spears, arguing without end, while the people of Hundred Broken Mountain and the heads of the major sects stood dumbstruck.

What was going on?

The Imperial Court and the Demonic Cult had both come, and each had dispatched an army. Hundred Broken Mountain was now surrounded?

Was this not a matter of the martial world? How had the Imperial Court become involved too, turning everything into such a tangled pot of porridge?

"This..."

"Where is the Old Ancestor?"

"In such a situation, none but the Heavenly King can make the decision!"

"The enemy's troops are at the foot of the mountain—what do we do?"

The scene descended into chaos, with every side nursing unfathomable schemes.

At the same time...

King's Peak, rear mountain, inside a bedroom.

The candlelight burned brightly, yet it could not disperse the shadow of life's twilight.

A white-haired Old Woman lay weakly upon the bed. Her clouded eyes looked at the youth seated beside her as she said with difficulty, "Brother, it seems... it seems I cannot stay with you any longer."

The youth had black hair like ink and a stern, cold face. He sat like an abyssal mountain rising high, radiating a terrifying majesty from within. Seated beside the bed, he tightly held the old woman's hand without speaking.

Li Hong Yu gripped his hand tightly as well. "Brother, all these years, you have shouldered too many burdens. I was useless. I could not master martial arts, nor could I keep accounts. Not only could I not help you, I have always been a burden to you. I am sorry, so sorry..."

Xu Yang shook his head. "That is not true."

Li Hong Yu managed a difficult smile. She looked at him with relief and peace. "I know you are no ordinary man. For Second Brother and me to have followed you was the greatest blessing of our lives. Now, we have enjoyed that blessing to its end. If there is another life, I still want to be your Younger Sister. Is that all right?"

"..."

Xu Yang fell silent. Only after a long time did he say, "All right!"

"Then it is settled. You are not allowed to deceive me!"

Seeing Xu Yang agree, Li Hong Yu relaxed. Her eyes gazed at the canopy above, her expression growing distant as she muttered, "Brother, look... Second Brother has come to take me away. Father is here too, and Mother... Big Yellow has come as well..."

Her words drifted faintly away. The light gradually faded from her distant eyes, and her tightly clasped hand went limp.

"Great Aunt!!"

"Old Ancestor!!"

Seeing this, the Li Family members behind them immediately fell to their knees, weeping as one.

Xu Yang said nothing. He sat quietly by the bed, and only after a long time did he reach out and slowly close those lifeless eyes.

Then, without paying heed to the weeping crowd—whether their grief was sincere or false—he rose and walked outside.

Time was merciless. On the Path to Longevity, regrets were inevitable.

Xu Yang did not want this regret to endure forever. He did not want to remain forever so powerless.

Therefore, he had to become stronger—step by step, grasping power, grasping fate!