Absolute Peak

All under heaven bustled and clamored, all for profit.

The situation at hand seemed like a tangled mess, but once it was unraveled, its root came down to just two words—profit!

After successfully seizing the natural stronghold of Hundred Broken Mountain and no longer fearing suppression from the Imperial Court, government offices, and all manner of forces, Xu Yang began his path of opening trade between north and south and expanding across the realm.

Relying on Hundred Broken Mountain's unique geographical advantages, along with monopolized goods such as Refined Salt and Glass that were easy to make and extremely cheap to produce, he successfully opened the northern and southern markets and achieved the grand feat of conducting trade throughout the land.

There was no need to mention the wealth he acquired. Hundred Broken Mountain successively established the Two Great Merchant Guilds of North and South, the Four Great Escort Agencies of East and West, and the Eight Great Caravans, along with several fleets. They conducted Maritime and Land Trade Transport, dealing in Salt and Iron, food, horses, even military equipment and heavy weapons. They were rich across the four seas, with enterprises flourishing in all directions.

Yet all things had balance. When one side rose, another had to fall. When one prospered, another had to decline. The rise of Hundred Broken Mountain had inevitably touched the interests of every faction.

The Imperial Court and government offices!

Great clans and Influential Families!

The martial world and its gangs!

There was only so much fat in the realm, and it had long been divided and controlled by various parties. With Hundred Broken Mountain barging in and occupying the market, it was inevitable that it would compete, struggle, and even fight to the death with all these forces.

At first, it was manageable. Xu Yang's True Qi had yet to mature, and his martial arts were still shallow, so he adopted a strategy of sharing profits and cooperation. He ceded substantial benefits to great clans, Influential Families, renowned orthodox sects, and even the Imperial Court and government offices, letting them all take a share and make fortunes. Thus, they tolerated Hundred Broken Mountain.

But as time passed, Xu Yang completed his training and descended from the mountain. After challenging masters across the land and defeating one martial arts veteran after another, Hundred Broken Mountain's conduct became increasingly overbearing. It gave away less and less profit, until it eventually ended its partnerships entirely, forcefully occupying major markets and steadily squeezing the living space of every faction.

Salt and Iron, Grain and Rice, Cloth and Silk, horses, medicine, and the Wine Houses, Inns, Escort Agencies, Caravans, fleets, and other businesses closely tied to them—whether they belonged to great clans and Influential Families, the Imperial Court, or major martial sects, their market interests had been massively swallowed up and even monopolized by Hundred Broken Mountain.

Who could stand that?

No one could!

Yet they had no choice but to endure, because an uncrossable mountain was pressing down upon their heads.

Intimidated by Xu Yang's might in ruling the martial world, the major factions could only grit their teeth and yield.

They endured for decades. Only now could they bear it no longer, preparing to tear away all pretense with Hundred Broken Mountain, flip the table, and fight.

They had endured for so many years. Why had they suddenly stopped enduring?

There was no other reason. The times had changed!

Decades ago, Xu Yang had been in the prime of his life. He had crushed the martial world with such overwhelming force that none dared defy him. Even the Imperial Court, government offices, and imperial family had tacitly accepted Hundred Broken Mountain's existence after he repeatedly entered and left the Forbidden Palace, taking heads and killing leaders.

But several decades later, this Heavenly King Li, who had once been Shaking the World, was already a hundred years old. After the merciless erosion of time, how much strength and ability remained of the former Martial Arts Myth and peerless grandmaster?

Furthermore, the Imperial Court's Realm was Declining, and it had reached the End of Dynasty. Heroes were Rising throughout the land, while Influential Families carved up territories in every region. Amid Warfare and Smoke, every faction was making investments and placing bets as they entered the Dragon Contention. Naturally, they could no longer tolerate such a mountain over their heads.

Thus, the current situation had come about as a matter of course.

The Imperial Court faction represented by Princess Qing Ping wanted to swallow Hundred Broken Mountain whole. With Hundred Broken Mountain's vast accumulated wealth, they intended to prop up the National Power of an empire on the verge of collapse, while also stirring up martial world conflict to weaken all other forces.

The Sacred Fire Cult represented by Li Shao Bai was no different. They too coveted Hundred Broken Mountain's immense wealth, wishing to seize this foundation, strengthen themselves, overthrow the Imperial Court, seize supreme power over the realm, and ascend to the position of Supreme Ruler.

As for those renowned orthodox sects and martial arts veterans, though they lacked such scale and ambition, they likewise coveted Hundred Broken Mountain's wealth, martial arts, and the fame, profit, and prestige pursued by those in the martial world.

This was the jianghu!

This was the realm!

Everything, all of it, had its roots in those two words: fame and profit.

That was why Xu Yang said they were all the same sort of people—people who could not tolerate Xu Yang or Hundred Broken Mountain!

But if they could not tolerate Xu Yang, could Xu Yang tolerate them?

In the Martial Dao of this world, he had already reached the Absolute Peak. He had ruled the martial world for decades, and none could defeat or stop him!

But this was not Xu Yang's ultimate pursuit. Nor had this world's value been fully developed.

Today was not the end of his era, nor the end of his life. On the contrary, today he would unveil a new chapter in "Li Qingshan's" life. He would begin—no, create—an entirely new era!

So...

"Come!"

"Let me see how much you have improved over these years."

Xu Yang issued his bold challenge, but below the platform...

There was only silence!

"..."

"..."

"..."

Everyone remained silent, not daring to speak. Their eyes were Full of shock and uncertainty.

If events had unfolded as expected, they would certainly have rushed forward together without another word.

But things had developed entirely beyond their expectations. Facing this Heavenly King Zhenwu, who had dominated the martial world for decades, had now undergone Rejuvenation, and had somehow cultivated an unknown Peerless Divine Art, who dared move first?

No one dared!

"Afraid?"

"No matter!"

Xu Yang did not care. "I'll give you a bit of courage!"

With that, he swept his hand. "Everyone from Hundred Broken Mountain, withdraw outside!"

"This..."

"Patriarch!"

Upon hearing this, Miao Fang and the others were all stunned. They opened their mouths to speak, but the moment they met Xu Yang's gaze, their words caught in their throats. In the end, they could only swallow them and lower their heads. "Yes!"

With that, they cupped their fists and withdrew outside.

The people of Hundred Broken Mountain left, and only the martial factions, the Sacred Fire Cult, and the Imperial Court's forces remained within the Hall of Righteous Gathering.

Yet still no one dared act. Instead, they grew even more alarmed, clearly unwilling to be the first to stick their neck out.

Xu Yang did not care. He turned and struck out with a palm, but not at the crowd. His blow landed upon the chair behind him.

Rumble!

A tremendous crash rang out as he triggered a mechanism. Four massive stone doors dropped at once, instantly sealing the hall shut.

"This...!"

"You...!"

Only then did everyone react. They stared at Xu Yang and the Dragon-Slaying Stones that had sealed all four sides of the Hall of Righteous Gathering, both furious and alarmed, unsure what to do.

Xu Yang remained perfectly calm. "Your retreat has been cut off. Live or die, only battle remains. What are you waiting for? Come!"

"You..."

"Fine!!!"

Seeing Xu Yang drive matters to such extremes, leaving them no retreat, everyone was forced to face reality.

Abbot Fang Zheng of Shaolin cast a glance, and someone within the crowd immediately understood and rose to his feet. "Then let this junior experience Heavenly King Li's brilliant techniques!"

With that, he leaped forth like a Flying Dragon in the Sky, his palm carrying incomparable Hard Force as it blasted straight toward Xu Yang.

"Hmm?!"

Xu Yang raised a brow and lifted a hand to meet him.

Boom!!!

Their palms collided with a thunderous explosion. Vast True Qi surged out, raising visible waves that crashed in all directions, leaving everyone's blood and qi churning and their hearts shaken with terror.

"This is..."

"Dragon Subduing Palm!"

Before the crowd could even finish crying out in shock, a figure flew backward and landed on the ground, staggering several steps. Stone tiles shattered beneath his feet until he finally managed to steady himself.

It was...

"Chief!"

"Chen Jixuan!"

As they looked at the man who had struck first, the shock in everyone's eyes deepened.

He was a robust man in his prime, broad and powerfully built. His plain clothes were somewhat ragged, but they could not conceal his imposing bearing.

He was none other than Chen Jixuan, Beggar's Gang Chief, who had recently been Shaking the World and restoring the Beggar's Gang to prominence!

He had launched the first palm strike to test Xu Yang's strength. Yet Xu Yang remained Standing at the high platform, utterly unmoved, while he himself had been sent flying back, shattering stone tiles beneath his feet. A streak of blood had even spilled from the corner of his mouth.

The difference was obvious!

"The Beggar's Gang?"

"Dragon Subduing Palm?"

Xu Yang smiled, then turned his gaze toward Kong Jian in the crowd. "Shaolin's Great Returning Pill truly lives up to its reputation!"

At first, These words seemed unrelated, but everyone present was shrewd. In an instant, they sorted out the connection and looked toward Kong Jian and the others with astonishment in their eyes.

The Beggar's Gang's Dragon Subduing Palm was hailed as the ultimate in Yang and Hardness, yet it had been lost for nearly a century. It had only reappeared with Chen Jixuan over a decade ago. Everyone had thought that the Beggar's Gang had found a leader to revive it, but they had not expected it to be connected to Shaolin.

That was no surprise. This palm technique was incomparably powerful, easy to learn but difficult to master. Without immense True Qi, it was merely an empty form when used, utterly incapable of displaying Chen Jixuan's current might.

But how old was Chen Jixuan? Even if he possessed extraordinary bones and peerless talent, it was impossible for him to have cultivated such immense True Qi.

Therefore, he must have received the aid of some extraordinarily powerful external force, such as a certain temple's treasured Great Returning Pill.

To take Hundred Broken Mountain, these bald donkeys had paid quite a price!

Everyone cursed inwardly, but Chen Jixuan had no time to care. He wiped the blood from his lips, stabilized his internal injuries, and forced himself to maintain his stance as he addressed Xu Yang. "Heavenly King Li's skill approaches creation itself. I am far from your equal, but today, for my fellow martial artists across the realm, even if I am outmatched, Chen will fight to the death. Heavenly King, please!"

With that, the air around him trembled, and faint waves seemed to roll like a tide.

"This is..."

"Solidifying the Void into Reality!"

"True Qi transforming into astral qi!"

"He has actually reached such a realm!"

Everyone was shocked.

It was said that when True Qi was refined to the extreme, it could transform from true qi into astral qi, turning the void solid and the intangible real. Even without martial techniques such as air-splitting palms, one could wound enemies from a distance. When used for protection, it was like wearing three layers of iron armor, impenetrable even to Ten Thousand Arrows.

But such masters were exceedingly rare. In the past century, only two people were known to have stepped into this realm. One was the late supreme martial artist of the previous generation, Yi Shan, Lord of Divine Sword Manor, and the other was...

"Dragon Subduing Palm?"

"Then take a look at mine as well."

Xu Yang smiled and Raised hand with a palm strike. It too Shakes the Void, and his True Qi appeared in tangible form.

Then...

Roar!!!

A dragon's roar rose in a shocking howl. Before anyone knew What happened?, a radiant Dragon Shadow burst forth, carrying the force to topple mountains and overturn seas as it pounced straight at Chen Jixuan.

"!!!!!!!!"

As the one facing it, Chen Jixuan was even more horrified. His eyes nearly bulged from their sockets as he stared in utter disbelief at the howling Dragon Shadow.

What was that?

What the hell was that!!!

The Dragon Subduing Palm had produced an actual dragon?

Was this a joke?

This palm technique had existed for centuries, yet no one had ever heard of such a thing. Ordinary True Qi masters could only make themselves into the dragon and unleash a Strong Strike with all their power. Even those who had attained astral qi could barely produce a visible palm force.

But to strike out a lifelike dragon that even roared—did he think he was an immortal?

Then what the hell was happening now...

Roar!!!

Before his thoughts could finish and before his horror could settle, the radiant Dragon Shadow had already howled its way toward him, crashing down before Chen Jixuan like a mountain-tsunami.

Chen Jixuan was overwhelmed with terror. The True Qi within him erupted instinctively, his entire cultivation pouring forth to resist the surging palm force.

Boom!

A deafening blast shook all directions. The true dragon roared and surged forth in fury, smashing apart his palm force, carrying his body away, and slamming him heavily into the Dragon-Slaying Stone before the main entrance. The entire Hall of Righteous Gathering rumbled and shook.

"..."

"..."

"..."

After a stretch of deathly silence, everyone turned back in stunned disbelief. Amid the swirling dust and smoke, they saw a body embedded in the Dragon-Slaying Stone.

It was...

"Chief!"

Seeing Chen Jixuan embedded in the stone wall, his life or death unknown, the Beggar's Gang members cried out in alarm. The others also fell into complete disorder.

"How could this happen?"

"What martial art was that?"

"Dragon Subduing Palm? Impossible, absolutely impossible!"

"Everyone, do not lose your heads! Junior Brothers, Vajra Demon Subduing!"

Seeing everyone pale with terror and lose all courage, knowing they would become fish on the chopping block if the chaos continued, Kong Jian had no choice but to step forward.

This Abbot Fang Zheng of Shaolin strode forward with a Vajra Staff in hand, taking the central position. Behind him, three Shaolin eminent monks of the Kong Generation leaped out, forming a triangular formation around Xu Yang's rear and flanks. They then flung their great cassocks aside, revealing grim iron chains hidden within.

The three monks moved as one. Their iron chains lashed toward Xu Yang from three directions. Driven by their immense True Qi, explosive booms burst through the air, demonstrating their fearsome power.

It was Shaolin's temple-defending ultimate art—the Vajra Demon Subduing Formation!

Vajra Demon Subduing, a three-sided encirclement. Iron chains lashed like whips from behind and both sides, while Kong Jian, standing at the center before Xu Yang, attacked in tandem. Raising his Vajra Staff, he leaped up and brought it down in a Forcefully Cleave Mount Hua strike, a technique that returned to simplicity, great skill appearing unadorned.

However...

Dong!!!

A resounding boom rang out like a great bell, and rolling ripples spread through the air without end.

Kong Jian was suspended in midair, gripping the staff with both hands as he smashed down with the force of Forcefully Cleave Mount Hua. Yet the Vajra Staff forged from dark iron froze in the air above his opponent's head, as though blocked by an invisible, transparent barrier of qi.

It was not only Kong Jian's staff. The iron chains wielded by the other three monks were likewise blocked outside, unable to touch Xu Yang's body.

"Twelve Heavenly Gates—Golden! Bell! Shield!!!"

Kong Jian gripped the staff with both hands. His old face had flushed crimson, and his two white brows twitched fiercely along with the corners of his eyes as he squeezed out the words one by one.

As soon as the words fell, the staff In hand began to hum and shake. A tremendous force burst out violently, tearing open his tiger's mouth and slamming into his body. He could no longer hold on and was sent flying away with the staff.

"Abbot!"

"Senior Brother!"

Compared to Kong Jian, who had launched the frontal assault with all his strength, the three monks focused on restraint suffered far less backlash and still had strength remaining. Seeing Kong Jian sent flying, they immediately changed from lashing to binding, wrapping three iron chains around Xu Yang's neck, waist, and legs from behind and both sides.

Though their restraints were still blocked outside by that invisible, transparent protective qi barrier, they had at least barely managed to lock him down.

Seizing this opportunity...

Clang!!!

A sword came whistling through the air, striking the transparent, invisible protective aura with a thunderous crash like clashing metal.

"Eight Swords Combined?"

Xu Yang lowered his gaze to the sword tip that had pierced the protective aura and touched his body. Then he looked at the middle-aged man wielding the sword before him and chuckled. "You have not tarnished Divine Sword Manor's reputation."

"!!!"

The Lord of Divine Sword Manor, the current Sword God Yi Feng, gritted his teeth and said nothing. He merely forced out the last of the gang qi within him, making the sword tip that had entered the aura tremble before it suddenly spat forth a razor-sharp edge.

Sword Qi!

In this world's Martial Dao, it was the ultimate realm of swordsmanship and cultivation alike!

Only by reaching the Gang Transformation Realm in true qi cultivation and mastering the Eight Divine Sword Forms to perfection could one use Eight Swords Combined to unleash it.

With this sword qi, Yi Feng was confident that he could pierce not only human flesh, but even refined steel with a single strike.

But...

Clang!!!

The sword qi burst forth and pierced his clothes, yet what came after was not the sensation of flesh. Instead, it met a feedback as unyielding as metal.

"You!!!"

Yi Feng's pupils contracted. Before he could speak, a flash of golden light appeared before him. His treasured sword, precious as his life, shattered with a ringing clang, and a tremendous force came crashing down, sending him and the broken sword in his hand flying.

"Manor Lord!"

"Good!"

"Lord Yi's sword struck him!"

"That old bastard won't live much longer!"

"Everyone, attack together and kill this monster!"

"If he doesn't die, we will. Fight!"

"Kill!!!"

Though Yi Feng's sword had shattered and he had been sent retreating, the sword qi that had pierced the aura and touched Xu Yang's body greatly boosted everyone's morale. With no path of retreat, they no longer hesitated. Drawing their blades, they surged forward together.

"Heavenly Gang Origin Returning Qi!"

"Kongtong Seven Injuries Fist!"

"True Martial Seven Intercepting Swords!"

"Heavenly Gang Acupoint Breaking Finger!"

"Profound Ice Divine Palm!"

"Flame Saber Technique!"

Like the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, each displaying their own divine abilities, the sect leaders, renowned martial artists, countless experts recruited by the Imperial Court, and even the demons and monsters of the Sacred Fire Cult all brought out their ultimate techniques, determined to bring down the man before them.

However...

Roar!!!

Xu Yang raised both hands. Amid a thunderous dragon's roar, six Dragon Shadows condensed around him, their brilliant radiance blazing like the sun.

"This is...!"

Before the crowd could recover from their shock, Xu Yang thrust out both palms. The Dragon Shadows coiling around him immediately roared forth, crashing into the crowd with the force of Six Dragons Startling the Five Directions.

Boom!!!

The six dragons emerged together, shaking all directions. Wherever they passed, explosions thundered without end. Dazzling light swallowed the crowd, and amid the rampage, flesh and blood flew as countless were killed or injured. The entire Hall of Righteous Gathering—even all of King's Peak—was struck by the impact and began to rumble and tremble.