Masters? Masters of the Sap!

"Constitution... comprehension..."

Hong Yuan finally understood where the warm current that had surged through every bone in his body, and the clear qi that had left his mind empty and lucid, had come from when that burly servant had counterattacked.

He had added points!

"And this so-called 'Flying Immortal Pool' actually had some effect after all. It wasn't just meant to fool people."

Hong Yuan thought of the viscous medicinal liquid those maidservants had poured into the "Flying Immortal Pool." One medicinal bath had raised his constitution by a tiny bit.

"Are one hundred the maximum for constitution and comprehension?"

Although both his constitution and comprehension had only increased by a trace, Hong Yuan had nothing to dwell on, because his starting values had been high.

His body had already been strengthened once by the "traveler's benefit." He had been far more robust than ordinary people to begin with, able to lift the roughly ninety-pound Xiao Chan one-handed as easily as a chick, with plenty of strength to spare.

Could he hold up two Xiao Chans stacked together with one hand? Hong Yuan hesitated a little, but even if he could not, he probably was not far off.

Combined with the [Qi Through All Bones] talent and his enhanced bodily coordination, a fierce punch could at least unleash several hundred pounds of force!

There was no way to test the exact amount, but he estimated it was no less than five or six hundred pounds.

And that was without Hong Yuan ever having undergone training or development. Besides, the force one could use in real combat and against a stationary target could not be mentioned in the same breath.

Of course, in an actual fight to the death, unless strength was absolutely overwhelming, a little more or less made little difference. The best way to kill was with a weapon.

With Hong Yuan's current physical attributes, setting aside this strange world and whether it contained supernatural elements, even in his previous life he would not have ranked at the very peak. What truly gave him formidable combat power were the boosts from his two talents.

The bodily coordination and rapid reactions brought by [Qi Through All Bones].

The sharp observation and combat prediction possessed by [Clear Eyes Through the Nether]—

They had instantly elevated this rookie, who had never practiced martial arts or fighting techniques before, to Master Ye's level.

He had already surpassed the modern world by a notch!

After all, no matter what kind of kung fu master or fighting expert it was, they could boast until the sky rained flowers offstage, but once they stepped into the ring, almost all of them ended up throwing turtle punches.

Hong Yuan glanced at the "Blessed Land Dao Lord" entry.

He understood everything else, but this one left him somewhat baffled. When he fixed his eyes on the four words "Blessed Land Dao Lord," the text before him transformed into an ashen-black vortex.

After just one glance, Hong Yuan felt that vortex trying to suck away his mind. He sensed not the slightest danger; instead, he urgently wanted to throw himself into it.

"This isn't the time for that!"

Hong Yuan suppressed the restless stirrings in his heart, clenched the tapered staff in his hand, killing intent boiling as he strode forward.

His first killing had not left him particularly uncomfortable. His body was still brimming with excitement. In the end, what people feared about killing was not the act itself, but more often the consequences it brought.

At this moment, the sound of staffs clashing rang endlessly through the hall. Yang Lie wanted to charge toward the raised platform, but three sturdy servant women blocked him. One held a short blade and two wielded tapered staffs, attacking Yang Lie fiercely in a pincer formation.

Wind seemed to rise beneath Yang Lie's feet as he moved with dazzling speed, dodging left and right and never giving the three a chance to join forces. His tapered staff whirled, smashing and chopping!

He used one tapered staff to fend off two. Amid the collisions, he felt the savage strength transmitted through them, and his heart sank.

What made him even warier was the burly woman with the blade watching him like a venomous snake. Whenever he tried to break out, she would thrust at him like a striking serpent, her angles vicious and tricky. Blood had already appeared on his back; his clothes had been sliced open, leaving a gash in his flesh. This woman had done that.

The remaining two burly women paid Hong Yuan no heed and hurried up the platform, their faces filled with both urgency and fear.

On the platform, Venerable Mother of Might and Virtue let out pig-slaughtering howls, repeatedly shrieking, "Useless! You're all useless! What use is there in keeping you slaves? Come save me! Awoo! Awoo! Awoo!"

At a time like this, she no longer called herself "Buddha Mother" or "this seat."

Seeing this, the eyes of the two Colorful-Clad Attendants also reddened. The one whose wrist Venerable Mother of Might and Virtue had twisted could not break free, so he opened his mouth and bit down on her hand.

But Venerable Mother of Might and Virtue was simply too fat. Even though the Colorful-Clad Attendant opened his mouth as wide as he could, he only managed to bite one thumb.

Crack!

Ten fingers were linked to the heart. Venerable Mother of Might and Virtue struggled violently, but the Colorful-Clad Attendant's bite on her thumb was like a pair of pincers clamped tight. No matter how she struggled, it was useless. Hatred shot from the Colorful-Clad Attendant's eyes as he stared fixedly at her, while a strange, ferocious grin spread over his face.

It was as if he wanted to vent all that monstrous resentment.

The other Colorful-Clad Attendant held a sharpened wooden stick in one hand and kept forcing it into the flesh of Venerable Mother of Might and Virtue's face, trying to drive it deeper. He even opened his mouth wide, intending to imitate his companion.

Bang!

Amid a dull thud, a shadow of a staff smashed into his head. His skull cracked crisply, and he died on the spot!

One of the burly women had climbed onto the platform and killed him with a single blow.

On the other side, a rough hand also gripped the edge of the platform. Then, with a forceful flip, a burly body leaped up onto it. A hand flashed, cold light glinting as a short blade shot out and plunged into the flesh at the back of the neck of the Colorful-Clad Attendant biting Venerable Mother of Might and Virtue's thumb.

The Colorful-Clad Attendant's body trembled. At last, he could no longer hold on and released his bite, muttering, "Old bitch..."

Before the words had fully left his mouth, he had already fallen silent forever.

Although the burly woman with the short blade had saved Venerable Mother of Might and Virtue, her dark face was full of terror. One side of Venerable Mother of Might and Virtue's face was a bloody mess, and that thumb had been bitten off, connected only by a little flesh.

"Bastards! All of you are bastards! Chop them all up and feed them to the dogs!" Venerable Mother of Might and Virtue howled.

It was not that Hong Yuan did not want to save them. The whole exchange had taken only a few sentences, and he had no ability to fly. When he looked toward the platform, the Immortal Maidens behind the six curtains were already frantic. Someone even cried out, "Open the hidden door! Hurry and leave!"

Shadowy figures moved behind each curtain. Hong Yuan heard creaking sounds, as if concealed little doors were being opened.

"Trying to run? Have you asked my staff?"

Hong Yuan's gaze turned icy.

His vision suddenly blurred, and Xiao Chan fluttered before him like a light, colorful butterfly, blocking his path. The seductive smile had vanished from her face. "I never expected that I, Xiao Chan, would misjudge you. Young Master Hong is actually a practiced fighter. But you have disrupted the immortal realm and committed a grave error. Why do you not withdraw at once?"

"Take one more step, and you will be doomed beyond redemption."

Within this estate, her status was extremely high, all because she shared certain secret ties with Venerable Mother of Might and Virtue. Seeing the Buddha Mother injured, she now gnashed her teeth in fury.

Whoosh!

Hong Yuan was not about to hold back just because they had shared a little friendship of massages and foot-washing. Too lazy to waste words, he swung his staff straight down.

Xiao Chan snorted coldly. Her rainbow robes billowed around her as her waist bent backward as though it had snapped. Her slender legs moved—her left leg planted firmly in the ground like a nail, while her right leg instantly tightened and sprang up like a bowstring, kicking at Hong Yuan's staff-wielding wrist with a smack.

Hong Yuan turned his wrist and avoided the kick. Lowering his body, he then swung the tapered staff in a sweeping arc.

Xiao Chan tapped the ground with her left foot, and her body spun up like a top. Her splendid rainbow robes resembled the fluttering wings of a butterfly. Though she was locked in a deadly fight, she appeared to be dancing gracefully, a pleasing sight to behold.

Even Hong Yuan was startled. This little wench was actually a master!

Smack!

Xiao Chan's toes came down and stepped with uncanny precision onto the soft flesh of the arm of a servant woman who had fallen dead earlier. Her foot slipped, and she stumbled, her body swaying.

"Ah!" She let out a short cry. A staff-shadow immediately descended, smashing viciously into her face.

In an instant—

The pretty little face burst apart, flesh flying and blood blooming. She herself was sent flying, rolled across the ground, and could not rise again.

"Fight if you're going to fight. Why dance like some spirit medium? I nearly thought you really were a master. Who are you trying to fool?"

Hong Yuan was rather speechless.

On the autumn night, a scorching wave of heat swept in from outside into the hall. Crimson firelight shot into the sky, the clamor outside growing louder, while the sounds of fighting rapidly drew nearer.

Thud!

A man dressed as a guard stumbled backward and slammed into the door, though it was unclear whether someone had kicked him there. Then a swift blade-light swept past with a shhk, slicing across his throat!

Two lean, capable figures dressed all in black burst into the hall. One was around thirty, with a long, narrow face and hawk-like eyes. He held a steel saber, blood dripping from its tip.

The moment these two appeared, Yang Lie, who was still fighting, was overjoyed.