A month later.
Eastern Border, Ask Heaven City.
After King of Linzi's uprising failed, the entire Ask Heaven City was seized by the Great Jin New Emperor's army.
However, the city was a tangled web of all sorts of people and factions. With wars breaking out everywhere, the already chaotic Ask Heaven City was left without the slightest order.
The Sacred Dragon Book Pavilion was one of the most powerful martial-world forces within a hundred miles. It was said that the sect possessed a book pavilion containing all kinds of ancient texts and martial arts manuals.
Not long before, the old master of the Sacred Dragon Book Pavilion had been besieged by other forces. Though he possessed a body full of profound martial arts, even two fists could not withstand four hands, and he had perished beneath the assault of over a hundred martial experts.
The Sacred Dragon Book Pavilion had been leaderless and thrown into chaos for days. In the end, after several elders put forward their recommendation, the old master's legitimate daughter, Mo Xue, had hastily taken the position.
Yet a martial-world force had placed a woman in power, provoking discontent both inside and outside the sect and igniting another bloody upheaval.
Green Bamboo Forest.
Mo Xue's lovely face was tense as she watched the endless stream of martial experts charging toward her. As time passed, the warriors beside her fell one after another, and the situation grew perilous.
Her hair streamed in the wind. She was tall and slender, dressed in white, even her shoes and socks pure white. Though the situation was fraught with danger, she maintained her final composure, carrying an air of proud defiance.
"The Sacred Dragon Book Pavilion really has gone to ruin. They actually let some slut take charge."
"Brothers, once we capture this bitch, we'll all have a good taste of her, then seize the entire Sacred Dragon Book Pavilion."
Opposite them, a burly man narrowed his tiger eyes slightly, staring straight at Mo Xue in the distance with a thoroughly predatory gaze.
The Black Shark Sect had long heard that the Sacred Dragon Book Pavilion's new leader was a breathtaking beauty. Seeing her today, they found the rumors were true—she was devastatingly beautiful. If they could make her submit beneath them, what a delightful feeling that would be.
Today, the Black Shark Sect, which was hostile to the Sacred Dragon Book Pavilion, had set an ambush here in advance.
Seeing the situation grow increasingly dangerous, a valiant female guard stepped forward and said decisively to Mo Xue, "Young Miss, the Black Shark Gang has too many warriors. Our people won't hold out much longer. Please let me escort you through the encirclement."
Mo Xue's beautiful eyes flickered, but she shook her head. "I'm not leaving. If we die, we die together."
She clenched her delicate fists. She had yet to avenge her dead father, and now she had fallen into an ambush by the Black Shark Gang. Why did the heavens insist on treating her this way?
Seeing that she could not persuade Mo Xue, the female guard gritted her teeth, drew her sword, and charged at the Black Shark Gang warriors rushing toward them.
Since Young Miss refused to break through the encirclement, she could only use her life to buy time for her. As long as they delayed until the Sacred Dragon Book Pavilion's experts arrived, Mo Xue would be safe.
But she had overestimated her own strength and underestimated the combat power of the Black Shark Gang's warriors.
In less than fifteen minutes, the female guard was shot dead by a crossbow bolt, transforming on the spot into a cold corpse.
"Xiao Yun..."
Mo Xue's eyes reddened, and her voice trembled faintly.
"Take her."
The Black Shark Gang members all wore hideous expressions.
Bang!
Just then, a wave of fist force swept over, instantly sending several Black Shark Gang warriors flying while vomiting blood.
A green-robed figure wearing a bamboo hat had appeared out of nowhere.
"There's another expert!"
The burly man's tiger eyes widened. He suddenly waved his large hand, and the remaining Black Shark Gang warriors charged forward as if they did not fear death.
The bamboo-hatted figure moved with graceful footwork, his fists returning to simplicity. Though each punch appeared ordinary and plain, every one carried the force of a thousand jun. Several Black Shark Gang warriors were sent flying with blood spraying from their mouths.
This bamboo-hatted figure was none other than Lin Fan in disguise.
Lin Fan did not use Internal Breath. Instead, he relied on exquisite techniques and the explosive power of his physical body to suppress everyone around him.
Mo Xue froze. Could an expert from the Sacred Dragon Book Pavilion have arrived? But why had she never seen such a powerful expert before? Could he be unrelated to the Sacred Dragon Book Pavilion?
The bamboo-hatted figure remained silent. His fist force surged like a raging tide, and every movement of his hands and feet unleashed astonishing power.
His movements were simple and clean. While avoiding flashes of swords and blades, he continued throwing punches.
His Fist Momentum was incomparably fierce. Even several renowned experts within the Black Shark Gang were seriously injured by a single move.
Those men lay sprawled on the ground, staring at him with eyes full of disbelief.
Mo Xue's eyes lit up as well.
She possessed a certain level of martial knowledge and could tell that the bamboo-hatted figure's boxing was terrifyingly powerful. It was like the pinnacle of technique, without a single superfluous movement. All his strength converged at one point before exploding with devastating force.
The bamboo-hatted figure was like an uncrossable heavenly chasm, standing directly in front of Mo Xue and giving her a sense of security she had not felt in a long time.
Looking at his back, Mo Xue's beautiful eyes shimmered with light.
She had only just taken power, and whether inside or outside the Sacred Dragon Book Pavilion, everyone harbored disrespect toward her. If she could gain this man's aid, not only could she secure her position as leader, she could even avenge her father's brutal death.
Mo Xue's thoughts turned rapidly, and she secretly made up her mind. No matter where this man came from, she had to recruit him under her command.
This was a golden opportunity. She had to seize it.
As her thoughts churned, she pulled a jade bottle from her waist.
Inside the bottle was a unique poison: Heaven's One Holy Water.
Whether a warrior or a cultivator took it, it could moderately strengthen their physical body. But if they failed to take the antidote each month, they would turn into a pool of thick liquid and die in agony.
This was a method available only to the person in power at the Sacred Dragon Book Pavilion, meant to control those under their command more effectively.
It was precisely through this method that Mo Xue, despite being a woman, had barely managed to take power.
As Black Shark Gang warriors fell one after another, the burly man finally grew anxious. He realized that the bamboo-hatted figure in the distance was an exceptionally rare expert.
"Use the crossbows."
He glared furiously and shouted.
In the next moment, more than a dozen Black Shark Gang warriors pulled back their sleeves, revealing wrist-mounted crossbows strapped to their arms. They aimed at the bamboo-hatted figure in the distance and triggered the mechanisms.
Whoosh, whoosh-whoosh...
More than a hundred crossbow bolts tore through the air, densely blanketing the bamboo-hatted figure.
"He's got some tricks."
The bamboo-hatted figure's expression shifted slightly, but he remained disdainful.
He suddenly drew his sword and swept it out casually, cutting most of the incoming crossbow bolts cleanly in half.
The remaining bolts were nimbly avoided with his light and graceful movements.
"So powerful..."
Mo Xue found it unbelievable. The attack of over a hundred crossbow bolts had been effortlessly neutralized. This mysterious expert's strength seemed even greater than she had imagined.
Her heart burned with excitement. No matter what, she had to recruit him under her command.
Mo Xue became even more determined.
The bamboo-hatted figure's attacks grew increasingly ruthless. He even took the initiative, and with just a few casual sword strikes, seven or eight warriors were severed at the waist.
More and more Black Shark Gang warriors fell into pools of blood.
The burly man's eyes bulged with fury, but what remained of his reason told him that he and the others were absolutely no match for the bamboo-hatted figure.
"Retreat!"
At his command, the Black Shark Gang forces withdrew one after another. Even as they retreated, they dragged away the corpses of their companions.
Blood covered the ground, and the pungent stench of blood shrouded the bamboo forest.
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