The newcomer was none other than Xiahou Yang, the Holy Cult's Yang Holy Son!
For months, the Lan Kingdom's martial world had been in turmoil because of Xiahou Yang.
He had traveled through several provinces, challenging one first-rank grandmaster after another, seeking to carve out an invincible path.
Eight first-rank grandmasters had died beneath his blade. The news shook every quarter, and heroes everywhere trembled.
A month earlier, three first-rank grandmasters had joined forces to ambush him in fury. He defeated them, killing two and grievously wounding the third!
Once word spread, no first-rank grandmaster dared face him. Those who heard he had entered their province or prefecture fled and hid at once, lest he find and kill them.
Everyone said that, unless a celestial stepped in, almost no one could match him. Unfortunately, the Lan Kingdom was the Holy Cult's stronghold. Its branch leaders kept the celestial experts of the court and martial world occupied, leaving them unable to act freely.
Besides, Xiahou Yang had begun concealing his movements so his prospective opponents would not flee before he could challenge them. Few could detect a first-rank grandmaster determined to move in secret. Without reliable intelligence, no celestial expert could personally hunt him across the world. And if one did, the Holy Cult's leader was no pushover—
Stormcloud Manor.
A murderous tension hung over the surrounding countryside. The disciples of Mountain Manor were all trembling with fear.
"Is that the Holy Cult's Holy Son? Last month, I heard he was still far away in the Southeastern Circuit. How did he end up here today?"
"I heard he's killed quite a few first-rank grandmasters. He's terrifyingly strong. I wonder if the manor lord—"
"Keep your voice down! Let's withdraw to the back mountain before we get caught up in this."
"Senior