Mysterious Powerhouses Struck One After Another—Who Had the Zheng Clan Offended?

"Pfft! Pfft!"

Zheng Yu collapsed to the ground, blood violently spraying from his mouth and splattering across the corridor.

The recoil from the qi-blood membrane of a mere Qi-Blood Realm martial artist had injured his internal organs.

At that moment, Zheng Yu felt weak all over, his heart turning cold. He struggled to his feet, pressing his back tightly against a pillar as he barely managed to stand.

"Senior, there must be some misunderstanding here. My Zheng Clan could never have provoked you. If my son has offended you in any way, the Zheng Clan is willing to compensate you."

A flicker of panic crossed Zheng Yu's eyes. He clutched his chest, blood staining the corner of his mouth, looking utterly miserable.

"Whether there is a misunderstanding, I will judge for myself."

Seeing that the newcomer intended to continue attacking, Zheng Yu hurriedly said:

"Senior, please wait. My son, Zheng Wu, is currently cultivating at the Martial Academy in the prefectural city and has even taken one of the academy elders as his master. Any cultivation pills needed by qi-blood martial artists can be exchanged for."

"Please think thrice, Senior!"

The newcomer snorted coldly. "Are you threatening me?"

Zheng Yu tried several times to straighten his back, but his injuries were too severe, and he could not manage it. He could only bend forward and say, "This junior would not dare."

Yet deep in his eyes, a trace of resentment flashed.

"Enough. Stop thinking of stalling for time." A calm voice came from ahead, its words steeped in killing intent.

Zheng Yu abruptly raised his head. What entered his vision was a fist imprint condensed from qi-blood power.

The fist imprint smashed heavily into Zheng Yu's chest across the corridor, even blasting apart a pillar.

That heavy blow sent Zheng Yu flying. His body went limp and unsupported, no different from a tattered sack.

After hitting the ground, he rolled through the dust several times, each turn tearing at the injuries within him.

His vision went black, and then he collapsed unconscious.

Before losing consciousness, only one thought had time to flash through his mind.

My life is finished.

Just then, furious shouts from Zheng Clan martial artists came from afar. "Patriarch, we're here!"

Several figures also came leaping and shifting across the rooftops.

After severely injuring Zheng Yu, the newcomer did not deliver the killing blow. He leisurely glanced at the Zheng Clan martial artists rushing over before drifting away.

When the deed was done, he brushed off his sleeves and left, hiding both achievement and name.

"Patriarch!" An old man leaped down from the roof, crossed the distance in a few strides, and swiftly checked Zheng Yu's injuries.

A moment later, he hurriedly took out a pill that nourished the internal organs and fed it to Zheng Yu.

At that moment, two more people arrived belatedly.

"First Elder, how are the Patriarch's injuries?"

"Did you see clearly who attacked him?"

These two were the Zheng Clan's other two Bone Tempering Realm martial artists, the Second Elder and Third Elder.

"I did not see."

The First Elder shook his head, his face dark.

Everything had happened too fast. From Zheng Yu's furious roar to their arrival, only a few breaths had passed, yet Zheng Yu had already been beaten into this state.

They had no idea what cultivation the powerful intruder possessed, but the strength he had displayed alone left the three elders powerless to respond.

The Third Elder looked at the other two with deep worry. "What are we to do? A direct descendant died only a few days ago, and now the Patriarch has been severely injured as well."

Both the First Elder and Second Elder knew that the direct descendant he referred to was Zheng Yu's son, Zheng Shen.

The Second Elder suddenly said, "Why not send a letter to Zheng Wu?" As soon as he said this, everyone fell silent.

"First send the Patriarch away for treatment. We can discuss the rest afterward."

The First Elder was the first to speak.

The three of them then carried the gravely injured, unconscious Zheng Yu away.

By dawn, Zheng Yu's injuries had finally been stabilized.

The three elders did not rest either. They went to the Patriarch's study and sat around together.

The First Elder wore a sorrowful expression. "The Patriarch's life is not in danger for now, but a sinister force is entangled around his tendons and bones, making it difficult to remove."

The Third Elder's eyes shifted slightly at those words. "This seems to match the force that boy Zheng Shen suffered before his death."

"Could it be the same person who acted?"

The Second Elder looked toward the First Elder. "First Elder, you are widely experienced. Do you know what kind of force this is?"

The First Elder shook his head. "This old man truly does not know. Both this force and that powerful intruder's origins are shrouded in mystery."

For a time, no one spoke. Each of them silently weighed their own means of response.

"First Elder, Zheng Wu has been cultivating at the Martial Academy in the prefectural city for more than a year without returning. Now his younger brother is dead and his father gravely injured. No matter what, he ought to come back and take a look."

The Second Elder spoke first.

The Third Elder echoed him. "That is reasonable."

"Zheng Wu is the qilin child of our clan. How can we casually disturb his cultivation?" A shrewd glint flashed through the First Elder's cloudy eyes as he shook his head in refusal.

"First Elder, Zheng Wu is naturally gifted and possesses excellent bones. As his elders, we ought to support him with all our strength and not disturb his cultivation."

The Second Elder pondered briefly. "But this incident came too suddenly. That powerful intruder was able to severely injure the Patriarch in such a short time..."

"You must understand, the Patriarch is at the peak of the Bone Tempering Realm, a powerhouse who has tempered all two hundred and six bones of his body."

The Third Elder cut in. "That person might very well be a Qi-Blood Realm martial artist."

"Our Zheng Clan cannot fend off such a powerful figure now." As he spoke, the Third Elder could not help letting out a mournful sigh.

"I wonder how the Patriarch provoked such a powerful figure."

The First Elder's fingertips tapped against the wooden table, producing a series of "thud, thud, thud" sounds.

The sudden sound interrupted the Third Elder's sighing and complaints.

The First Elder lowered his head without speaking, clearly deep in thought. The Second Elder and Third Elder exchanged a glance and tacitly fell silent as well.

After a long while, the First Elder finally raised his head and slowly said, "We have always advanced and retreated together with the Tao Clan. Now that we are in trouble, why not seek the Tao Clan's assistance?"

The Second Elder had not expected the First Elder to shirk responsibility like this. He frowned and said:

"First Elder, as the saying goes, relying on others is worse than relying on oneself. If we ask the Tao Clan to act, who knows what price we will have to pay?"

"It would be better to have one of our own step in, lest the other great clans in the city think our Zheng Clan has no one left."

The Third Elder added, "Zheng Wu has been away for over a year. It is time for him to return to the Zheng Clan. First, because of the Patriarch's matter."

He paused, narrowed his eyes, and continued, "And second, he ought to have more dealings with us elders."

His words sounded like a rebuke that Zheng Wu cared only about cultivation and had grown much colder toward his family, causing the two elders to feel somewhat dissatisfied.

Naturally, the two elders could not say such words outright.

But the First Elder was old and cunning. How could he fail to understand?

So he fell silent.

After a while, the First Elder finally lowered his head and nodded. "Since that is the case, write a letter and have Zheng Wu return for a visit."

After speaking, he did not wait for the two elders to reply. Leaving behind only, "I am tired. I will rest first,"

He left on his own.

Only then did the two elders nod in satisfaction. Zheng Wu's return to the Zheng Clan would benefit them, or else why would they have painstakingly tried to persuade the First Elder?

The descendants of the two elders would also soon participate in the Hidden Dragon Tournament. Naturally, they needed to thoroughly inquire with Zheng Wu, who would return from the prefectural city, about the crucial details involved.

At the Zheng Clan's side gate, several mounted figures galloped out. After leaving the city, they split into several groups and hurried toward the prefectural city from different directions.

All of this fell into a pair of deep eyes.

As the morning sun rose, Verdant Grain County brimmed with vitality. The turmoil at the Zheng Clan last night had not affected these common people in the slightest.

However, what had happened at the Zheng Clan last night had long since spread through the circles of the great clans.

People discussed it everywhere in Verdant Grain County's restaurants.

"Have you heard? Someone broke into the Zheng Clan yesterday and beat them up."

"Then the Zheng Clan must have suffered considerable losses."

"More than that. I heard even Patriarch Zheng Yu was beaten unconscious."

"Patriarch Zheng is a peak Bone Tempering Realm powerhouse. Even he was severely injured. Could it be... that the person who acted was a Qi-Blood Realm senior?"

"Who knows? In any case, the Zheng Clan has run into terrible luck this time. Their son just died, and now it looks like the old man might be in danger too."

"Brother, watch your words. Disaster comes from the mouth."

That person knew he had misspoken. He gave an awkward laugh, hurriedly paid his bill, and slunk away.

Liu Yunche sat on the second floor of a teahouse, sipping tea as he quietly listened to the discussions around him.

"The Zheng Clan ran into trouble again?" Liu Yunche rubbed his chin with his fingertips. "A Qi-Blood Realm martial artist actually made a move."

He had originally suspected that his father had acted again, but there were no Qi-Blood Realm martial artists in their household.

After thinking it over, it was probably because the Zheng Clan had made too many enemies, and some enemy had succeeded in cultivation before returning for revenge.

Liu Yunche put down his teacup and looked toward the panel.

[Name: Liu Yunche]

[Cultivation: Iron Skin (85/100)]

[Martial Arts: Nurturing Origin Stance (Mastery), Gale Swift Saber (Mastery), Thunderclap Saber Art (Minor Success: 130/1000), Eight Steps Chasing Cicada (Beginner: 31/100)]

Soon. At this rate, my Iron Skin Realm will reach perfection in another ten days. Liu Yunche pondered inwardly.

"After Iron Skin comes Silver Skin, and after that, Jade Skin. Silver Skin should be easy to break through, but I wonder how Jade Skin is achieved."

Liu Yunche left behind the money for tea and slowly strolled back.

He had gone out for a walk today intending to look for equipment that matched the requirements of his golden finger, but unfortunately, his hopes came to nothing.

Upon returning to the Liu Household, he happened to run into Liu Wangzhou.

"Yunche, you came at just the right time. Your father has matters to attend to and will be leaving soon."

"Today, I will teach you the Dragon-Imprisoning Stance. Come with me."

Liu Yunche blinked, his eyes clear and carrying just the right degree of confusion.

"Father, doesn't the Dragon-Imprisoning Stance require the Nurturing Origin Stance to reach mastery before it can be practiced?"

Unexpectedly, Liu Wangzhou did not answer. He only stared at Liu Yunche with an ambiguous smile.

Liu Yunche's heart began to pound. Could Father have discovered it long ago? He mistook my golden finger for some sort of secret art before. Could it be that he already knew my Nurturing Origin Stance had reached mastery?

Liu Yunche scratched his head with an awkward smile. "Father truly sees all, down to the smallest detail."

"Let's go."

Beneath an ancient tree in the courtyard, Liu Wangzhou assumed a strange posture that was neither standing nor sitting.

"The Dragon-Imprisoning Stance imprisons the body like a cage and tempers the physique like a dragon. The body itself is the prison, and qi-blood is the shackle."

"It forcibly locks the tendons, flesh, and bones throughout the body into an extreme state on the verge of collapse, forcing the body to reconstruct and strengthen itself at the brink of disintegration."

Liu Wangzhou paused, his gaze settling on Liu Yunche as he continued:

"This stance is divided into three levels: Skin Lock, Flesh Lock, and Bone Lock. Each level requires enduring pain that ordinary people can scarcely bear."

"With the slightest lapse, your tendons and veins may become misaligned at best; at worst, your bones may crack and your internal organs may be injured."

"Next, I will demonstrate the Skin Lock method. This method is particularly suited for Iron Skin martial artists."

As his words fell, Liu Wangzhou turned his toes inward into the shape of the character eight, keeping his heels a fist-width apart. His ten toes gripped the ground like eagle claws, the arches of his feet lifted off the ground, with only his toes and heels bearing weight.

He shifted seven parts of his center of gravity forward onto the balls of his feet. His rear heels lightly touched the ground, and his knees bent slightly without bending too far.

Liu Wangzhou shouted, "Remember! Bend too far and your strength leaks; straighten too much and your force breaks."

Watching Liu Wangzhou's movements, a thought flashed through Liu Yunche's mind.

What a tricky movement. It isn't easy.

Next, Liu Wangzhou pushed his lumbar vertebrae backward while slightly protruding his thoracic vertebrae forward, creating the posture of a bowed back and collapsed waist.

"This differs from the rounded chest and straightened back of the Nurturing Origin Stance. This is a reverse stretch."

As Liu Wangzhou demonstrated, he explained the key points of cultivating the Dragon-Imprisoning Stance.

His entire spine resembled a bowstring forcibly bent out of shape, every vertebra giving off a faint "click".

At the same time, Liu Wangzhou spread his elbows outward and held his forearms level before his chest. The fingers of both hands faced each other, palms down, separated by three inches.

"Here, you must visualize a thousand-pound boulder being pressed between your hands."

As he spoke, Liu Wangzhou's arms trembled. Veins stood out, and his fingertips turned pale from exertion, as though his arms truly supported a thousand-pound boulder.

"This is the Skin Lock method of the Dragon-Imprisoning Stance. Next, I will teach you the breathing and qi-circulation method."

"Watch carefully! Draw in your abdomen and expand your chest. Guide the qi through the Jiaji acupoints on both sides of your spine. Sink the qi into your dantian, imagining a mass of charcoal there, burning hot and condensed."

"Yunche, your Nurturing Origin Stance has already reached mastery. I need not explain how to visualize and condense a mass of charcoal in your dantian."

Liu Wangzhou had finally pointed out that he had long known Liu Yunche's Nurturing Origin Stance had reached mastery.

Liu Yunche had anticipated it earlier. Now that his father had brought it up, it was only to be expected.

Father and son tacitly avoided speaking further of the matter, and Liu Wangzhou continued explaining how to cultivate the Dragon-Imprisoning Stance.

"This breathing method requires you to deliberately pause three times within every exhalation and inhalation, each pause lasting roughly three breaths."

"Your tendons and veins beneath the skin and flesh should feel swollen and stuffed, as if a dragon within your body is struggling to break free but is locked down by your breathing."

"This is the Skin Lock method of the Dragon-Imprisoning Stance. Give it a try."

At those words, Liu Yunche stepped forward and copied Liu Wangzhou's movements to assume the Dragon-Imprisoning Stance before beginning to adjust his breathing.

Liu Wangzhou watched his movements, his gaze settling on his legs.

"Use force to clamp your legs inward. Imagine an iron rod between them that you need to snap. Brace outward while clamping inward, open your hips, and lift your perineum."

"Too loose. Soft and powerless."

"Clamp harder!"

As he spoke, Liu Wangzhou suddenly struck the outsides of Liu Yunche's legs with both hands.

Liu Yunche's legs involuntarily clamped inward. His hips were forced open, his body leaned back, and his perineum lifted.

Maintaining that posture, he adjusted his breathing with the breathing and qi-circulation method Liu Wangzhou had taught him.

After holding the stance for one hundred breaths, Liu Yunche's legs shook violently. His muscles felt as though ten thousand ants were gnawing at his bones, producing grinding "creak" sounds.

Dense beads of sweat covered his forehead, and his arms sank slightly. Not only did he have to visualize the thousand-pound boulder upon his arms, the iron rod breaking between his legs, and the blazing charcoal in his dantian.

All those visualizations exhausted Liu Yunche's mind, and even his movements distorted somewhat.

Yet he had reached the crucial moment and could not slacken.

Like a trapped dragon ascending to heaven and seeking to break free of its cage, Liu Yunche had to suppress the trembling prison with his will and could not let his strength leak away.

Otherwise, all his previous efforts would be wasted, and he would have to start over from the beginning.