Something Feels Off

"This rundown Martial Arts Hall doesn't even have a name. Unless something unexpected happens, it's probably trash again."

As he walked, Jing Wuchen sized up the Martial Arts Hall.

Suddenly, he stopped.

His gaze landed on the sole character on the plaque.

"Martial?"

He frowned, feeling that the plaque concealed something, yet after observing it for a long while, he found nothing.

He could not help but sneer.

With a casual wave of his hand, a burst of force shot toward the plaque bearing the character "Martial."

Once his hand fell, he did not spare it another glance and strode straight into the Martial Arts Hall. It was only a broken plaque; under his methods, it could have no other fate—only shattering.

Yet he did not know that his burst of force had not only failed to damage the Martial plaque in the slightest, it had not even left behind a single mark.

After entering the main hall, Jing Wuchen immediately struck out with his palm, intending to destroy the hall first.

But when his palm, brimming with powerful vital energy, struck out, it failed to stir even the slightest movement. Instead, the eighteen paintings hanging along the walls abruptly emitted dazzling radiance.

Then, without the slightest delay, sabers, spears, swords, halberds... the eighteen weapons of war formed above his head, carrying an aura of destruction as they descended upon him.

Jing Wuchen's already sickly face changed drastically, turning as white as paper beneath that pressure.

He understood that he had encountered a heaven-shaking crisis.

The frivolity in his heart vanished completely, and he did not dare show the slightest carelessness. Almost at once, he took out the Sky Shaking Stone Black Tortoise Ancestor had given him.

The moment the Sky Shaking Stone appeared, it radiated dazzling light.

Yet in but an instant, beneath the pressure of the eighteen weapons, it dimmed, losing all its luster.

"What?"

Jing Wuchen was horrified. He had no means left to resist and could only watch helplessly as the eighteen weapons descended toward his head, drawing ever closer.

In the flash between lightning and flint, the eighteen formed weapons crossed through him. Jing Wuchen could not even let out a scream before he was reduced to ashes, leaving only the Sky Shaking Stone to fall onto the floor with a crack.

"What was that sound?"

Yi Feng had been on the verge of falling asleep when the noise jolted him awake. He sat upright with a start.

He then took Zhong Qing to the main hall, only to find it completely empty save for a stone much larger than a brick.

"Damn it."

"Which uncultured bastard threw a stone into my house?!"

Yi Feng cursed loudly. Upon stepping closer, he discovered that the floor had been smashed into a depression, making his heart ache. He chased outside to look, but found no trace of anyone.

"You uncultured dog, I curse you to have a son without a butt!"

Unable to find the culprit, Yi Feng could only curse and vent a little. Once he was done, he instructed Zhong Qing, "Disciple, help me throw this broken stone outside."

"Yes, Master."

Zhong Qing laboriously picked up the stone and headed outside. After taking two steps, he seemed to recall something and said, "Master, I think this stone is a pretty suitable size. How about I carry it to the entrance and use it to fill the step?"

At Zhong Qing's words, Yi Feng's eyes lit up.

Now that he mentioned it, it really was.

With that thought, Yi Feng nodded and instructed, "Fine, then. Just leave it at the entrance. That uncultured bastard has made the willow flourish by planting it without intent."

Still, the matter stuck in Yi Feng's mind.

He had always treated people kindly and had never made enemies with anyone, so why had someone thrown such a huge stone at his Martial Arts Hall?

He could not figure it out. He simply could not figure it out.

Since Zhong Qing had fully recovered, Yi Feng spent the next few days teaching him a new fist technique and did not go out much.

Black Tortoise Sect.

Yao Ling'er arrived at the main hall and stood respectfully before Ning Xuanwu.

"Master, Senior Brother Wuchen has been gone for so many days without a single word. Something feels off!" Yao Ling'er could not help saying.

Ning Xuanwu frowned slightly at her words.

Logically, after so many days, Jing Wuchen should have sent some news no matter what had happened. Yet there had not been the slightest message. It was indeed rather abnormal.

"Wuxin, go down the mountain and take a look. Find Wuchen, meet up with him, then return and report to me."

Black Tortoise Ancestor looked toward the cloaked man at the side and gave the order in a deep voice.

"Yes, Master."

Jing Wuxin nodded respectfully. His cloak swept behind him, and he vanished from the hall.