You Are Nothing Before Me

On the seventh day, it was the most oppressive day since the establishment of the Fang Manor. Although most people dismissed the threat of annihilation, as night fell, everyone in the Fang Manor grew tense.

The night was like water, and the cold wind rustled. The once prosperous and bustling Nanqiu City fell silent, with only occasional dog barks.

Fang Wang sat on the eaves, fiddling with a precious sword in his hand. It was a sword that Li Jiu had spent three days acquiring, sharp enough to cut iron like mud, truly a divine weapon.

His gaze fell on a figure on a distant rooftop. It was his cousin, Fang Hanyu.

Fang Hanyu stood tall, holding his sword with both hands, his head slightly bowed as if dozing. The cold wind stirred his long hair and the hem of his robes, exuding the chivalrous aura of someone who had reached the peak of the martial world.

"His cultivation is good, he has indeed reached the first-rate realm of the martial world, and not just the initial stage. Truly a martial arts prodigy," Fang Wang marveled inwardly.

In the martial world, martial artists' realms were classified from low to high as unranked, third-rate, second-rate, first-rate, peak, and the legendary martial world myth realm. There were no martial world myths in this era. Peak experts were the pillars of their sects, rarely appearing in the martial world, while first-rate experts were enough to roam freely.

Fang Wang had achieved the martial world myth realm at the age of sixteen. He should have been a legend of his time, but he had encountered a dimensional strike from the immortal cultivation world.

Facing the impending cultivators, Fang Wang felt no fear or panic. Instead, a surge of passion was brewing within him.

He had only been practicing martial arts for four years and had never killed an enemy. Even in sparring, he always wore a mask to challenge experts, stopping at a mere touch.

His supreme martial arts and the Grand Perfection of his Sword Control Technique were his reliance, giving him the confidence to challenge the lowest-tier existences in the immortal cultivation world. Moreover, with Zhou Xue, a reincarnator, in the Fang Manor, he believed that Zhou Xue, an Immortal Venerable reborn, must possess extraordinary means, especially since she knew the gap between cultivators and mortals.

As the night deepened, the croaking of frogs echoed through the courtyards. Teams of household guards patrolled everywhere, especially the streets around the Fang Manor. Even the imperial guards were alerted and came to stand watch.

Zhou Xue sat before a stone table in the courtyard, meticulously polishing silver darts in her hand. Her expression was icy, and the moonlight was less cold than her gaze. In the reflection of the weapons, a dark killing intent flickered in her eyes.

Meanwhile.

On the east city wall of Nanqiu City, figures leaped up like eagles, skimmed like geese over clear waters, and darted into the city.

The last figure landed on the city wall, overlooking the vast Nanqiu City. His green robes billowed, his waist was narrow, his shoulders broad, and his long hair was casually tied with a strip of cloth. He appeared to be in his early forties, and the whisk in his hand made him look like a Daoist priest, but his eyes held a viper-like coldness.

"As expected of one of the most prosperous cities in the southern Great Qi. It will surely revive the Soul Burning Banner."

The Daoist in Green murmured to himself, a cruel smile tugging at the corner of his lips. He leaped up and disappeared into the vast night.

In the main hall of the Fang Manor, the lights were blazing. The young masters and ladies of the manor were all gathered in the hall, with the manor lord, Fang Meng, seated at the head.

Fang Meng, nearing seventy, had white hair and was like a lion in its twilight years. He sat on his chair, leaning on his cane with both hands. His gaze was sharp as he calmly looked out at the night sky beyond the door.

"Midnight has arrived, and still no bandits have attacked. It seems the rumors were false."

"I knew it. How could we believe the words of two children?"

"Wasn't that kid Fang Wang usually quite clever? Why did he also believe such rumors? The Fang Manor is a Dukedom Manor. Whoever dares to trespass will lose their head."

"Quiet down, what do you women know? The sky is not yet dawn, we cannot let our guard down!"

"Father, my unease is only growing stronger."

The young masters were all Fang Wang's elder uncles. Their faces were grim, while some of the ladies feigned ease, trying to lighten the atmosphere.

The fourth young master, Fang Zhen, spoke, moving his brothers. This was because Fang Zhen had served in the army and had crawled out of seas of corpses. His perception of danger far surpassed that of others.

Fang Meng grunted, "I have spent my life on the battlefield. Now that I have retired and handed over my military power, I am not someone who can be provoked lightly. Whoever dares to come will die, and this matter will not end here!"

He was furious. Who in the Great Qi dared to target a Dukedom Manor so recklessly?

And who had the power to do so?

Fang Meng had his suspicions, but he did not voice them.

Suddenly!

"Ah—"

A scream came from the east, the cry of a maidservant filled with terror.

Fang Wang's eldest uncle, Fang Shi, immediately rushed out, disappearing from sight within a few steps.

The remaining four young masters of the Fang Manor, Fang Zhe, Fang Jin, Fang Zhen, and Fang Yin, immediately walked outside the main gate, looking around. Their wives, though startled, were not panicked, merely huddling together and trembling.

Fang Meng coughed a few times and slowly stood up, supported by his old wife.

Soon, screams, shouts of killing, and the clash of swords and sabers echoed from various parts of the Fang Manor.

Fang Wang, who remained on the eaves, saw mysterious black-clad assailants infiltrating the Fang Manor from all directions. The number of enemies was greater than he had imagined. He charged towards the black-clad assailant who moved the fastest.

At the same time, Fang Hanyu also moved, while Zhou Xue remained seated at the stone table, patiently waiting.

A black-clad assailant flipped over the courtyard wall and landed. He held a saber in his right hand, and his face was covered with black cloth, revealing only his eyes. His gaze fell on three maids in the courtyard. As soon as the maids saw him, they screamed in fear and hurried back inside.

Without a word, the black-clad assailant charged at them.

Whoosh—

A whistling sound cut through the night sky. The black-clad assailant stopped abruptly. At the corner of the wall behind him, a pebble landed, creating a thumb-sized indentation on the wall before falling to the ground. In the moonlight, the bloodstain on the pebble appeared black.

The black-clad assailant then fell backward, his head hitting the ground heavily. His eyes were wide open, dying with regret. A bloody hole was pierced through his forehead, a gruesome sight.

In his pupils, Fang Wang's figure flashed past.

Moving rapidly along the courtyard wall, Fang Wang occasionally threw a pebble. These were stones he had prepared beforehand, each capable of easily killing a black-clad assailant rampaging through the Fang Manor.

Fang Wang changed direction from time to time, heading wherever black-clad assailants appeared. No enemy could withstand his single blow.

The Fang Manor covered a vast area, like a city within a city. The black-clad assailants were scattered, making it impossible for Fang Wang to eliminate them all in a short time. As he moved, Fang Wang also observed the distance.

Zhou Xue had said that besides the cultivator, the invaders this time included six peak experts from the imperial city. It was known that the Fang Manor had no peak experts. Even with the assistance of thousands of household guards and imperial soldiers, it would be difficult to defeat six peak experts.

Fang Wang prepared to deal with the six peak experts first, then the cultivator, in order to minimize casualties for the Fang Manor.

Suddenly, Fang Wang spotted a powerful surge of energy erupting from one direction, collapsing even an entire pavilion. He immediately turned and rushed towards it.

As blade met blade, Fang Hanyu was forced back. The tips of his feet scraped two long trails on the ground. He bent sharply, jamming the scabbard of his sword into the earth, then half-knelt. Blood gushed uncontrollably from his mouth.

He had been defeated in their very first exchange!

Fang Hanyu's slightly disheveled long hair framed a face filled with horror as he struggled to look up. Gritting his teeth, he spat out two words: "Peak!"

***

Beneath the night sky, a cold wind rustled. The black-clad figure standing before Fang Hanyu held a long, finely forged saber. Unlike the other black-clad assailants, he wore a bronze mask that revealed only his eyes and mouth.

The masked man looked down at Fang Hanyu with cold indifference and snorted, "To reach the first-rate realm at such a young age, the Fang Manor has indeed produced a prodigy. Unfortunately, you will wither and die here tonight."

He raised the long saber in his right hand, and a chilling aura emanated from its blade.

Fang Hanyu's face was filled with unwillingness. Before tonight, he had met a peak expert – the sect leader of his own school, a renowned Grandmaster of the Great Qi martial world. His sect leader had once guided him, making him acutely aware of the gap between a first-rate expert and a peak expert.

His heart sank into despair. Although the Fang Manor was a Dukedom Manor founded by a general, it had no peak experts. No matter how strong his uncle, Fang Shi, was, he was only at the pinnacle of the first-rate level.

"Who exactly are you? Who is directing you from behind the scenes?"

Fang Hanyu asked in a deep voice. He struggled to stand, his sword-wielding hand trembling.

He had already been injured internally by the opponent's True Qi in their brief exchange. Even so, he refused to back down, for this was his home.

The masked man strode towards him, the saber's blade reflecting the cold light, shimmering beside the ruins.

"A dying man needs no truth. All of this world will soon be irrelevant to you."

The masked man said coldly. He tilted the saber in his hand, the chilling aura on the blade intensifying like mist, blurring his form.

Fang Hanyu tossed the scabbard aside, then raised a hand to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth, adopting a sword stance, ready to fight to the death.

Even if he couldn't kill the opponent, he had to find a way to injure him, to buy more time for the Fang Manor.

Just then.

The masked man suddenly stopped. As Fang Hanyu hesitated in confusion, a familiar yet strange voice echoed from behind him:

"You're right, but have you ever considered that you are the one who is dying?"

Fang Hanyu instinctively turned his head. His peripheral vision caught a figure streaking past him like a startled swan.

It was Fang Wang!

He arrived swiftly using the Shadowless Steps, a blur of afterimages, and positioned himself between Fang Hanyu and the masked man.

Fang Wang, clad in a form-fitting white robe, had grown taller. He was tall and handsome, though his face still held a hint of childishness. The spirit in his eyes was unlike that of an ordinary youth.

The masked man's gaze fell upon the sword scabbard Fang Wang held in his right hand. He narrowed his eyes and said, "Good footwork. Seeing how young you are, you must be a peerless prodigy. Compared to you, the person behind you is nothing."

Fang Hanyu didn't think much of the masked man's words. He simply stared blankly at Fang Wang's back.

He naturally remembered this cousin of his. However, after many years apart, and with the imminent threat of annihilation, he hadn't found an opportunity to catch up with Fang Wang since his return.

"That footwork just now... he's also learned martial arts?"

Fang Hanyu thought in surprise. After returning, he had inquired about Fang Wang's experiences from his father. This younger brother had always stayed within the Fang Manor; where could he have learned such a profound footwork technique?

Fang Wang stared at the masked man, then suddenly drew the precious sword in his hand. The moment the sword left the scabbard, the masked man's pupils dilated sharply.

In his eyes, a sword was growing larger. He instinctively raised his saber.

Swoosh—

Blood splattered. Fang Wang appeared behind the masked man, his right hand holding the sword, pointing diagonally at the bright moon. He tilted his chin slightly, without looking back, and said softly, "In front of me, you are nothing more than this."