Wan Mengchang

The Golden Saber Society's base was a sprawling compound with walls several zhang high, and two stone lions with fierce, wide-open eyes guarding the entrance.

The vermilion-lacquered main gate was shut tight, and the faint sound of clashing weapons could be heard from behind it.

Captain Li reined in his horse, stopping before the gate, his voice carrying outward.

"Captain Li Chengfeng of the Qingzhou Prefecture Imperial Guard is here. All members of the Golden Saber Society, listen up,"

"You are accused of kidnapping children to refine pills, with irrefutable evidence. Everyone, open the gates immediately and surrender. Your lives may be spared."

Silence fell over the courtyard.

After a moment, a cold shout came from within the gate.

"Wishful thinking! Our Golden Saber Society has been established in Qingzhou for decades. How could we do such wicked things? You Imperial Guard are slandering good people."

"You've come to arrest people from our Golden Saber Society. Do you have a warrant issued by the Qingzhou Prefecture yamen?"

Captain Li's eyes sharpened, and he drew his long saber.

"You're still trying to stall for time at this point. We Imperial Guard never need warrants to do our business. Since you won't open the gates, men, break them down!"

Four strongmen stepped forward, carrying battering rams as thick as a bowl. Under the gaze of the other Imperial Guards, the rams slammed hard against the gate.

"Dong-dong-dong!"

The dull thudding sounds made the ground tremble slightly, and dust flew up.

The copper rings on the gate shook violently, and wood splinters flew.

The people of the Golden Saber Society were bracing the gate from behind. With this ramming, "Put more effort into it!"

The battering rams struck the gate again and again, the cracks widening with each impact.

Finally, with a deafening crash, the two heavy gates burst open. Several Golden Saber Society members behind the gate were caught off guard and sent flying.

"Kill!"

Captain Li took the lead, his saber drawn, and the Imperial Guard surged in like a tide.

One to two hundred Golden Saber Society members were already assembled in the courtyard, each armed and with fierce expressions.

A leader shouted.

"Brothers, the Imperial Guard are here to arrest us and cut off our business of selling Qi and Blood Pills! Brothers, let's fight them!"

"The Society Master has ordered that for every Imperial Guard killed, there will be thirty taels of silver."

The Golden Saber Society members' eyes turned red.

The Imperial Guard charged forward.

The two groups immediately clashed, sword light and saber shadows intertwining, and the shouts of battle shook the heavens.

The Imperial Guard were well-trained and coordinated, advancing steadily in formation.

The Golden Saber Society members were somewhat fierce and resisted stubbornly.

Su Fei rushed out, his Spring Embroidered Saber becoming a streak of light in his hands. He displayed the Thunderous Saber Art to its utmost.

The saber light was as fast as lightning and as powerful as thunder. Wherever he passed, Golden Saber Society members fell with screams, none able to resist.

He was like a sharp, piercing blade, constantly tearing through the Golden Saber Society's defenses.

Seeing Su Fei's ferocity, Wang Meng and the other strongmen were also ignited with passion. Their morale soared, their eyes also turned red, and they fought bravely.

The battle was exceptionally fierce, with blood staining the bluestone slabs of the courtyard.

Although the Golden Saber Society members were numerous, they gradually fell into a disadvantage against the well-equipped and well-trained Imperial Guard.

Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps approached. An old man with white hair, dressed in a brocade robe, emerged surrounded by several guards.

The old man was about sixty years old, with white hair. His spirit and energy were quite good. This person was none other than Wan Mengchang, the leader of the Golden Saber Society.

"Everyone, stop what you're doing."

Wan Mengchang let out a low command. His voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone.

Both sides, who were engaged in combat, stopped and looked at the leader of the Golden Saber Society, wondering what he had to say.

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Wan Mengchang's gaze swept over the corpses and bloodstains scattered on the ground, finally landing on Commander Ling, a hint of bitterness appearing on his face.

"Commander Ling, we are all from Qingzhou. Why must you go so far?"

Commander Ling snorted coldly.

"Wan Mengchang, you know you're from Qingzhou. Look at the good deeds you've done, using the vital essence of virgin boys and girls to refine pills. Look at these pill furnaces and dregs. You've ruined the reputation of your Golden Saber Society."

Wan Mengchang followed Commander Ling's gaze to the pill furnaces they had brought. A complex emotion flashed in his eyes, which then became resolute.

"Yes, these were all my doing."

He spoke slowly, his voice carrying a hint of exhaustion and madness.

"I, Wan Mengchang, began practicing martial arts at six, became famous at thirty, and founded the Golden Saber Society at forty. I have lived my life upholding justice and righteousness, and I believe I have been true to heaven and earth and my conscience. But what of it?"

"I've been stuck at the Second Level of Xiantian Realm for fifteen years, fifteen whole years."

Wan Mengchang's voice suddenly rose.

"I don't see any hope of breaking through to the third level, and I'm already over sixty. The combat injuries from my younger days have severely depleted my lifespan. Do you know what that feels like?"

"If I can't break through again, I'll just watch my lifespan run out and die."

"This Golden Saber Society is such a huge enterprise, I'm not willing to accept this."

He slammed his chest forcefully.

"Qi and Blood Pills refined with the vital essence of virgin boys and girls contain the purest life force; they are the highest grade of Qi and Blood Pills."

"I sold all those Qi and Blood Pills to people from the Blood Sea Cult. The money I received, I planned to use to buy expensive Longevity Pills. I just want to live a few more years, just to get another chance to break through."

Wan Mengchang's eyes turned fervent.

"Am I wrong? I just don't want to die."

"I've almost saved enough money to buy Longevity Pills. Why won't you give me more time? Why?"

"You damned Imperial Guard."

Commander Ling grew angrier as he listened.

"Just because you can't break through your martial arts realm, you've harmed dozens of innocent children. For your own selfish desires, you even transacted with the Blood Sea Demonic Cult. Your sins are compounded."

A hint of determination flashed in Wan Mengchang's eyes.

"It's come to this, there's no point in saying more."

"Since you're here today, don't even think about leaving. It won't be that easy to capture me, Wan Mengchang."

Before he finished speaking, a powerful aura erupted from Wan Mengchang, and the pressure of the Second Level of Xiantian Realm swept out.

He took a golden saber from a guard, the very Golden Saber he was famous for.

"Commander Ling, take this saber!"

Wan Mengchang moved, charging towards Commander Ling. The Golden Saber carried the sound of tearing through the air, its saber light brilliant, clearly intending to fight to the death.

A fierce battle erupted once more.

Wan Mengchang's Golden Saber drew a brilliant arc of light, the saber energy like a flowing ribbon coiling towards Commander Ling, the true essence of the Second Level of Xiantian Realm erupting.

Commander Ling held his long saber horizontally across his chest, the aura of the Third Level of Xiantian Realm bursting forth.

He forcefully blocked the powerful saber energy.

"Clang!"

The sound of metal clashing was deafening, and waves of energy spread outwards, causing the gravel on the ground to jump.

Wan Mengchang's body swayed slightly, but Commander Ling stood as steady as a mountain.

"You're at the Third Level of Xiantian Realm!"

A look of shock flashed in Wan Mengchang's eyes. He hadn't expected Commander Ling to be so powerful.

His age was less than his own, appearing to be only in his forties.

His martial arts cultivation was actually one level higher than his own.

Commander Ling snorted coldly and launched his attack. As his long saber swung, saber shadows filled the air, each strike containing fierce power, forcing Wan Mengchang to retreat repeatedly.

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