Unexpected Assistance

Whoosh. The old man pushed off the ground and shot toward the inner courtyard.

"Old scoundrel!" Zhou Heng roared in fury, knowing that Zhou Xianming intended to use Zhou Dinghai to threaten him.

First Form of Heaven-Soaring!

He instantly entered a wondrous state. The torrential Sword Qi that filled the sky like a waterfall vanished, and the entire courtyard seemed to shift from raging waves to dead calm. Yet a pre-storm stillness weighed on everyone's hearts, and each person knew that the next blow would be thunderous!

Zhou Xianming bore the brunt of it, the pressure on him the greatest!

It felt as if the whole world was suppressing him, making even the slightest movement of a finger unbearably difficult! At this moment, he finally understood why his son had been slain by Zhou Heng with a single sword strike—such pressure could affect even him!

Zhou Heng roared and swung his sword.

Clouds followed the dragon, wind followed the tiger. The Frost Cold Sword shot forth, driving heaven and earth, sun and moon, as if the sky were crumbling, the ground collapsing, and the stars falling together! Faced with such an omen, those of weak will could only moan helplessly in their hearts, resigned to slaughter.

—In his moment of crisis, Zhou Heng had unleashed his potential, gaining a deeper grasp of the First Form of Heaven-Soaring, making its power even greater!

Sword light swept across, surging toward Zhou Xianming.

Faced with such an assault, Zhou Xianming had long since turned around—how could he dare keep his back to Zhou Heng! Still, this was also his goal: to force Zhou Heng into a direct confrontation!

The old man cackled strangely, stepped forward, and transformed his hands into claws, reaching for Zhou Heng.

At the height of the Blood Refining Realm, unless one wielded a true divine weapon, no weapon could compare to one's own fists and feet! Zhou Xianming's claws had once torn apart a Tenth Layer of Body Refining vicious beast. If he caught Zhou Heng, it would be certain death!

Swish! A sword swept past, and blood splattered.

Zhou Heng held his sword in his right hand, while his left hand pressed against his lower abdomen, blood seeping through his fingers. Zhou Xianming had slashed a gash across his belly; fortunately, he had dodged in time with Flying Cloud Steps, or his entire abdomen would have been torn open!

Zhou Xianming was not entirely unscathed either. A wound remained on his left arm, blood dripping down to form a long red line.

Such was the power of the First Form of Heaven-Soaring! Such was the sharpness of the Frost Cold Sword!

Hiss!

The people in the courtyard were once again plunged into deep shock!

When was the last time Zhou Xianming had been wounded? Zhou Heng was indeed no match for Zhou Xianming, yet with a single sword strike, he had made Zhou Xianming pay in blood, while suffering only a minor injury himself—what terrifying strength was this!

True, the brat relied on the sharpness of his sword, but if another Bone Refining Realm cultivator wielded it, could they even touch a corner of Zhou Xianming's robe?

A fearsome youth, with limitless potential!

Had he been holding back all along, sharpening his sword for ten years, finally bursting forth with radiance that illuminated heaven and earth!

At this moment, no one dared to underestimate Zhou Heng anymore. Though he had only just entered the Bone Refining Realm, everyone regarded him as a top-tier expert on par with the Blood Refining Realm!

—Those who dared to look down on Zhou Heng were already lying on the ground; Zhou Kan and Zhou Jianming were proof of that.

Zhou Heng's desire to make a stunning debut had been realized in an even more shocking way!

"Old scoundrel, you have no shame!" Zhou Heng snorted coldly, sweat beading on his forehead. This single strike had consumed nearly a fifth of his strength.

"The victor is king, the loser a bandit. If I can achieve my goal, why not use any means?" Zhou Xianming said darkly. At this point, no matter how magnanimous he pretended to be, he could not hide his despicable actions, so why bother concealing them?

As long as he killed Zhou Heng, he would remain the Great Elder of the Zhou Family, whose word was law. Who would dare speak a word of gossip against him?

In a few years, everyone would forget Zhou Heng and Zhou Dinghai. The loser had no place in history!

"Fight me fairly, and I will not harm your father!" Zhou Xianming declared loudly, pushing his Blood Refining Realm aura to its absolute peak. His rumbling voice was like thunder, nearly stunning people into unconsciousness!

Despicable!

Everyone cursed inwardly. This was what he called a fair fight? The old bastard had the nerve to say it! But under Zhou Xianming's tyranny, who dared to step forward?

If not for the burden of Zhou Dinghai, Zhou Heng might have been able to flee alone. But now? Zhou Heng was indeed strong and possessed terrifying potential, but he had only just entered the Bone Refining Realm. Facing Zhou Xianming head-on, he was doomed to lose!

Lose meant death!

This genius youth, who had accumulated strength over time, was destined to be a fleeting bloom!

Zhou Heng held his sword at an angle, ready to make his final stand!

Heaven-Soaring Second Style! He would unleash the Heaven-Soaring Second Style. Even if it could not severely wound Zhou Xianming, it would at least injure him. If the other elders still dared not "rebel" under the tyrant's intimidation, then he would have nothing more to say!

A true man—what joy in life, what fear in death?

Zhou Heng's mind cleared, as if he had suddenly understood something. His right hand trembled lightly, and the Frost Cold Sword vibrated with an incredibly profound rhythm, so subtle that no one noticed.

"Die!" Zhou Xianming's face twisted savagely as he lunged at Zhou Heng.

Shadows flickered. Bang! A heavy impact rang out, and dust filled the air.

Everyone's vision blurred. When the dust settled, two figures stood facing each other. Zhou Xianming, with his white beard and brows, radiated a blood aura that seemed ready to ignite!

And opposite him stood another super-expert with an equally soaring blood aura!

Had Zhou Heng been hiding his strength? Was his true cultivation at the Blood Refining Realm?

No!

That was not Zhou Heng. It was the honored guest Zhou Xianming had mentioned—the Green-Robed Elder!

Why? Why had this man suddenly jumped out to help Zhou Heng?

No one could understand! If it had been the Second Elder, Third Elder, Fourth Elder, or Fifth Elder stepping forward, everyone could accept it. But an outsider? What was going on?

"Brother Feng, why shield this junior?" Facing the Green-Robed Elder, Zhou Xianming did not dare to be careless, and his words even carried a hint of fear!

The Green-Robed Elder smiled faintly, his hands clasped behind his back, and said, "This old man has come on the sect's orders to seek out youths of outstanding talent. And this youth, who can contend with the Blood Refining Realm while barely entering the Bone Refining Realm, is precisely the one this old man seeks!"

Zhou Xianming's face showed a flash of anger, but he quickly suppressed it: "Brother Feng, do this old man a favor. This rebellious son has killed this old man's only son and grandson—this old man must slay him!"

The Green-Robed Elder's expression turned grim as well, yielding not an inch: "Zhou Xianming, if the sect learns that this old man let such a talent slip by, this crime... can you bear it for this old man?"

"Give you face? On what grounds should this old man give you face? What do you think you are!"

The Green-Robed Elder truly showed no courtesy, not only addressing Zhou Xianming by name but also lacing his words with contempt, as if he faced not the most powerful Great Elder of the Zhou Family, but some random nobody.

Everyone was utterly shocked, all thinking to themselves, where did this 'Brother Feng' come from, and how could he be so arrogant?

"Feng Tengyuan, this old man has already lost his son and grandson, with no more worries behind him. Are you sure you want to fall out with this old man?" Zhou Xianming was clearly wary of the Green-Robed Elder, still only threatening with words at this point, not striking rashly.

"Falling out, so what?" Feng Tengyuan said calmly, his face wearing an indifferent expression, yet his hands had withdrawn from behind his back, clearly not as relaxed as his words suggested.

"Hmph, this old man must have this rebellious son dead today!" Zhou Xianming let out an angry snort, his body lunging forward as he attacked Zhou Heng once more.

Bang bang bang, Feng Tengyuan moved to block, and the two peak experts of the Twelfth Layer of Body Refining immediately engaged in close-quarters combat. Waves of power rippled outward, staggering everyone underfoot, forcing them back step by step.

Strangely enough, Zhou Heng seemed to have gone dumb, standing motionless in place!

Though Zhou Xianming had struck, he was still wary of Feng Tengyuan, only trying to drive him back. When he saw Zhou Heng freeze at this critical moment, joy surged in his heart. Suddenly, he swiped a claw, forcing Feng Tengyuan to retreat, then pounced to kill Zhou Heng.

"Damn it!" Feng Tengyuan couldn't help but snort in anger, unsure whether he was cursing Zhou Heng or Zhou Xianming. He let out a wild roar, his figure darting back in a flash, his face instantly flushing crimson as he struck a palm toward Zhou Xianming's back.

He had used some secret technique to forcibly halt his forward momentum, and this had clearly taken a toll on his body, even causing injury!

Zhou Xianming naturally understood this, and he snorted angrily, saying, "Feng Tengyuan, this rebellious son is no kin of yours—why do you risk your life for him!"

He had no choice but to twist his body and turn back to parry Feng Tengyuan's palm, for though he could kill Zhou Heng, he would also take that strike to his back! A blow from a Twelfth Layer of Body Refining expert—if not death, then severe injury!

Once severely injured, wouldn't the wolves eyeing his seat beneath him swarm in attack? Weren't those old bastards always waiting for such an opportunity?

He had no intention of dying together with Zhou Heng.

Clang clatter, the two strongmen tangled once more. However, with Zhou Heng as an immobile target, Zhou Xianming held absolute advantage, forcing Feng Tengyuan to go all out, desperately protecting him!

At this point, who could still believe Feng Tengyuan was merely cherishing talent? Even a biological father facing danger wouldn't go this far!

"Zhou Xianming, you harm your own clan. This old man, along with several other elders, has decided to remove you from your post and send you to the Family Punishment Hall for judgment. Surrender now, or be slain without mercy!"

Several figures leaped over together, and as soon as they landed, they immediately shouted loudly.

Finally here!

These four were the other elders of the Zhou Family. The reason they had waited until now to appear was naturally because a powerful figure had stepped forward to shield them. Now that they joined in, they had a ten-out-of-ten chance of killing Zhou Xianming!

The Zhou Family members all sighed inwardly. No wonder Zhou Xianming could dominate the Great Elder's position—just look at the courage of these four. Could they really rely on them to overthrow Zhou Xianming?

Just then, Zhou Heng suddenly opened his eyes. In his pupils, two black swords flashed and vanished, and his entire being exuded a terrifying, murderous aura.