One Step IV

Zhang Rongfang glanced at the crowd below and knew that the Demon Spear Shark Tiger was bound to win.

Chang Xueyi and him were not even in the same league. Both of them were at least Grandmasters, and possibly even Great Grandmaster, but in terms of Enemy Anticipation, Chang Xueyi was far inferior to Shark Tiger.

At this moment, it seemed that the shark was deliberately stalling for time, not completely suppressing Chang Xueyi, but actively giving him many breathing opportunities to delay.

During the deliberately left time, Demon Spear Shark Tiger continuously unleashed a series of magnificent and spectacular moves, eliciting gasps of surprise from the surrounding onlookers.

This continued for several dozen breaths.

Clang! With a loud bang, Chang Xueyi coughed up blood and flew backward, landing far away among a cluster of houses.

Instead of giving chase, Shark Tiger landed on the wall and glanced at Zhang Rongyu.

"This man has been severely injured by me. My debt to my son is now settled."

"Thank you very much, senior!" Zhang Rongyu bowed respectfully.

The Demon Spear Shark Tiger nodded slightly, turned around, and suddenly leaped up, disappearing into the shadows in the distance.

Only a crowd remained, stunned by the fierce battle that had just taken place.

One by one, the injured retainers got up, tending to their wounds while looking at Zhang Rongyu with a mixture of shock and complex emotions.

Not only them, but everyone was shocked when the Demon Spear Shark Tiger appeared.

Such a terrifyingly powerful expert would actually be hiding in a small place like Mu Chi Prefecture.

If it hadn't been Chang Xueyi who appeared, but someone from another force, he probably would have had his head chopped off with a single shot.

Anyone with sufficient strength could have seen that Shark Tiger deliberately let Chang Xueyi go.

They did not push them to the brink.

Otherwise, when Grandmasters and Great Grandmaster clash, it would be the start of the Final Form.

Chang Xueyi, Great Grandmaster from the Confucian Sect, could even unlock the Facing Solution and Final Solution enlightenment. Although the dual enlightenment of the Confucian Sect is not as powerful and extreme as that of the Extreme Realm, it is still quite potent. It can significantly boost one's strength in a short period of time.

But just now, neither Chang Xueyi nor Demon Spear Shark Tiger had actually used their full power.

So, 'Is it an act? Or was it a deliberate release?' Dongfang Mu stood on the high-rise terrace of the restaurant, gazing towards the direction of Mu Chi Prefecture, lost in thought.

He's old and his strength has diminished, but his eyesight remains sharp.

Chang Xueyi wasn't particularly strong, but dealing with him now would be relatively easy. After all, he's old. Unleashing his Final Solution might just exhaust him first.

But this powerful figure was suddenly blocked by a mysteriously appearing Demon Spear Shark Tiger.

So far, the Human Immortal Temple has not made a move.

But he knew that the Human Immortal Temple Master, that mysterious and wicked man, was definitely watching this scene at the same time.

"How interesting. These two are really the same." He knew the truth and the relationship between Zhang Rongfang and Zhang Rongyu.

Looking back and comparing them now, I suddenly find it quite interesting.

These two siblings are alike; on the surface, they appear harmless and ordinary, but in reality, they have many hidden tricks up their sleeves.

Wushan Prefecture is a ticking time bomb; anyone who dares to touch it should be prepared to be crushed to pieces.

"Teacher, this is truly a twist of fate! Who would have thought that the Mu Chi Prefecture could actually make the dignified Ninth- Crimson List Demon Spear Shark Tiger owe a favor and lend a helping hand?" The disciple behind him couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

"That's just how people are. They may seem delicate and frail, but who would guess what kind of hidden methods they possess?" Dongfang Mu nodded. "However... after this battle, having accepted the protection of the ninth- Crimson List, countless troubles will follow. Shahu's favors aren't so easily used."

The disciple agreed, saying, "Indeed, Demon Spear Shark Tiger has killed countless people and has many enemies. However, because the Tiger Mountain Crowd's whereabouts are unpredictable, they are always difficult to trace. Now that the matter of the Mu Chi Prefecture has been exposed, it will inevitably attract the attention of those who cannot find Demon Spear Shark Tiger. And the Mu Chi Prefecture must bear the consequences itself."

"That's why Zhang Rongyu was unwilling to reveal this trump card, but unfortunately he was forced to use it in the end," Dongfang Mu said.

"A knife may be sharp, but it can easily injure the user."

*** Zhang Rongfang did not leave immediately, but stayed at the mansion to keep an eye on his sister and nephew for the next few days.

In the days that followed, the impact of the Demon Spear Shark Tiger went far beyond the shock of that night.

When my brother-in-law returned home from a business trip, he was so shocked by what he heard that he turned pale.

Fortunately, upon learning that the lady had actually managed to enlist the help of a top expert from the Crimson List, his emotions, which had been fluctuating like a rollercoaster, quickly returned to normal.

In the following days, he didn't ask how he had persuaded such a master; he simply stayed by his wife and children's side every day, not daring to leave them for even a moment.

As for the rest of the people in the manor, apart from those who died or were injured that night, many others began to resign one after another, including several of the previous retainers.

After experiencing Chang Xueyi's sudden attack, they realized that if they continued to stay in the manor, they might encounter similar attacks from top experts in the future.

At that point, your luck might not be so good.

In the following period, more than half of the people in Mu Chi Prefecture died.

The rest were honest people who had long been grateful to Zhang Rongyu and couldn't bear to leave.

Fortunately, Zhang Rongyu somehow managed to persuade and recruit a new group of men to join the Mu Chi Prefecture, thus replacing the previous guards.

This time, their manpower and strength are actually much stronger than before.

And the one leading them was none other than Li Zhen, Zhang Rongfang had met before.

Upon seeing Li Zhen, Zhang Rongfang also dispatched two Three Voids priests from the Human Immortal Temple to secretly watch over her nearby.

Only then did he feel a little relieved and was able to leave temporarily.

***The wind and snow were flying, turning the Vast Sea of Trees into a blanket of white.

Chang Xueyi and Demon Spear Shark Tiger stood together on the treetops, motionless, looking at each other.

Both of them chose this route to leave Wu Mountain without prior arrangement.

Ordinary people have their own paths, and experts also choose the shortest route. What neither of them expected was that they would choose the same direction and route.

"Thank you for your mercy, Brother Shark Tiger. My Gull Academy will remember this favor," Chang Xueyi said solemnly, clasping his hands in a fist salute.

He understood the room for maneuver the other party had made in the previous move, so he meant what he said sincerely.

"I just wonder what connection Brother Shark Tiger has with the Mu Chi Prefecture? And whether there will be any further developments?"

Shark Tiger's eyes darted around. Although he was a top expert on the Crimson List, he wasn't someone who recklessly provoked enemies. He had held back earlier to avoid offending the Academy's forces.

As one of the three great Academy of the Great Ling Realm, the Gull Academy wields immense power, with many high-ranking officials in the Imperial Court having graduated from its Academy. Furthermore, it is inextricably linked to the powerful Noble of the Spirit Person.

Such a behemoth may have hidden forces that are no weaker than those of the major religions that are openly active.

Most of the civil officials in the Imperial Court came from the Academy, while most of the military generals came from the Snow Rainbow Pavilion. This was almost the norm throughout the Great Ling.

It's easy for the children of the Spirit Person to become officials, but what kind of official they can become depends on their performance in the Academy. The same applies to people from the Hu Xi People, Bei People, and other places.

This has actually become a channel for the Great Ling to select civil officials.

"It's just that my son was unexpectedly saved by the Mu Chi Prefecture once in the past. This time, I've come to repay that favor," Shark Tiger replied.

He naturally wouldn't mention that his son was once obsessed with Zhang Rongyu, to the point of being utterly infatuated, but later became lax in his training, lost his vigilance, and was ambushed and injured by his enemies.

That's how he was unexpectedly saved by Zhang Rongyu.

Even after hearing that she had gotten married, that woman's son still refused to give up on her. Although Shark Tiger understood the whole story and knew that Zhang Rongyu was a troublemaker, the debt of saving his son was undeniable.

He was unwilling to repay the favor, but he had no choice but to. In addition, Chang Xueyi background, which led to the scene where he deliberately let the situation go.

The foundation of the Tiger Mountain Crowd is the concept of righteousness. They must Protecting the Dao, yet they instinctively despise Zhang Rongyu from the bottom of their hearts.

"What? Mr. Chang, are you planning to give up and go back?" Shark Tiger laughed.

Just a few days ago, the two were fierce opponents, but now they chatted like friends.

"I'm afraid I'm underestimating Zhang Rongyu by myself. She dares to act as a Protecting the Dao; I don't believe she only has a few cards to play," Chang Xueyi said calmly.

"Mr. Chang is indeed cautious. In fact, before I made my move, I also sensed that there was a Grandmaster-level expert hiding nearby. If I had been a step later, I'm afraid someone else would have intercepted me," Shark Tiger nodded.

He could vaguely sense a threatening and dangerous aura surrounding him. At their level, their physical senses were extremely sharp, and before making a move, their minds were as clear as a mirror, able to reflect all the clues in the outside world.

"After that night, I investigated Zhang Rongyu again," Chang Xueyi said. "On the surface, she appears to be just a weak woman, but since joining the Righteous Lineage, she has accomplished quite a bit by leveraging their influence. Moreover, she has many suitors."

"Envoy?" Shark Tiger raised an eyebrow. "My son was one of them back then. And as far as I know, there are three people with powerful backgrounds who are infatuated with this woman. A married woman, yet she can still attract so many people."

"Therefore, she has more than one card," Chang Xueyi said.

"Yes. Compared to the Taiqing Sect members in the Sensing Gate, this woman should be called a witch." Shark Tiger felt a headache coming on when he thought about his son's current foolish state.

"So, sir, you're planning to give up?" he asked, looking at the other person.

"The matter of the Sword Bell is of great importance. We should report this to the Academy first and see how they will handle it. However, I estimate that now that the truth has been confirmed, they will probably send another headmaster to come in person, and they may even join forces with the other Academy to take action."

The Great Ling Academy system is headed by the Grand Minister, whose position is equivalent to that of the Dao Palace Master.

Afterwards, they were divided into factions based on their respective Mountain Gate, with the mountain chief of each faction being the most respected.

Chang Xueyi was one of the headmasters.

"Aren't you afraid of what the Great Dao Sect said before, sir?" Shark Tiger narrowed his eyes.

"Yue Dewen is already struggling to cope with the successive attacks from the Divine General, how dare he spare the energy to deal with Shan Province? Brother Shark Tiger, you are overestimating Heavenly Treasure Palace, aren't you?" Chang Xueyi laughed.

His smile faded.

"Now that other Gentleman's Sword are also starting to have successors, if we are slow to act, we may fall behind the others. Therefore..." A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes.

"We must get our hands on the Sword Bell. If we can't, then we should destroy both the person and the bell. Even if we have to wait a few years to rebuild it, it's better than letting it fall into the hands of others."

"I see. But could you two please explain to me what the Sword Bell is?"

As the two were talking, a voice suddenly drifted from afar.

Both of them changed their expressions slightly and looked up at the Sea of Trees on their right.

In the vast white forest and snow-covered landscape, a red shadow could be seen rapidly approaching like a bird in flight.

Whoosh! The red figure leaped over a hundred meters in the blink of an eye and landed beside the two. It was a man in a red Daoist robe wearing a pure white mask.

"You two have come from afar and are guests, so why are you in such a hurry to leave? Wouldn't that make it seem like I, the abbot, have no manners towards guests?"

"How about we stay and talk some more?"

"!?!"

"!!"

The two men's expressions changed drastically.

The Human Immortal Temple Master! How did he find his way here?!