A Startling Wave Slays Vajra

Inside Zhu Family Manor, Zhu Chengzu gathered more than a dozen retainers and summoned Uncle Zhou, the family's retainer. They swaggered out of the Zhu Family estate and began asking along every street whether anyone matching Chen Yuan's description had come to Lone Mountain City.

After questioning only a few people, they found out that Chen Yuan was currently sitting atop Sunwatch Peak, the highest point in Lone Mountain City.

Zhu Chengzu froze. Was this bastard really that arrogant?

He had killed someone from the Zhu Family and still dared not conceal himself, openly waiting there for them?

"Courting death!"

Zhu Chengzu sneered, waved his hand, and led his men toward Sunwatch Peak.

At the summit of Sunwatch Peak.

Chen Yuan wore a long saber at his waist, his arms folded as he looked down at the waves crashing against the shore.

Sunwatch Peak was the highest point of Lone Mountain City, with the North Sea coast below it. The sunrise view from here was unparalleled.

Chen Yuan had chosen to wait for the Zhu Family here because this place was ideal for both attack and retreat.

The difficulty of wiping out an entire family alone did not lie in whether Chen Yuan could defeat everyone in the Zhu Family.

It lay in whether the Zhu Family would scatter like birds and flee in every direction.

Charging directly into the Zhu Family estate would not do. Chen Yuan had chosen to lure the snake from its hole and defeat them one by one.

By the time he had killed enough of them, even if the Zhu Family wanted to flee, they would have no chance.

This first wave would reveal whether the Zhu Family was cautious enough.

If many came, Chen Yuan would kill more. If few came, it did not matter if he killed fewer.

Of course, there was also a chance that the Zhu Family would come out in full force, but that possibility was extremely low.

Even if they did, the road up Sunwatch Peak was narrow enough for only one or two people to pass through at a time. No matter how many there were, they could only crowd behind and would be unable to swarm him all at once.

In this environment, numbers offered no advantage. Instead, it was more suitable for Chen Yuan to show his strength.

Half an hour later, Zhu Chengzu and Uncle Zhou led more than a dozen retainers up Sunwatch Peak.

Seeing Chen Yuan standing at the summit, Zhu Chengzu said coldly, "You are the madman who claimed he would wipe out my Zhu Family? Who exactly are you? Do you know that my fifth brother is a direct disciple of the Radiant Extreme Sect?"

Though Zhu Chengzu was somewhat impulsive by nature, he was no foolish dandy.

Before coming, Zhu Chengan had warned him to first probe the other party's background.

If he was merely a madman with no backing, then killing him would be no issue.

But if he came from a major sect, they would have to consider his weight carefully.

"Your fifth brother is a disciple of the Radiant Extreme Sect, so that means the Zhu Family gets to rise to heaven along with him?"

The corner of Chen Yuan's mouth curled into a mocking smile. "The Radiant Extreme Sect is separated from Youzhou by several provinces. If I wipe out your Zhu Family now, grass might be growing over your graves before your fifth brother even learns what happened."

"Courting death! Kill him!"

Seeing Chen Yuan's attitude, Zhu Chengzu roared in fury. A golden longsword flew from his waist and shot straight toward Chen Yuan.

Uncle Zhou, the Zhu Family's retainer, was already past seventy, with white hair and beard. Yet his vitality had not declined. He held a Wrought-Iron Coiling Dragon Staff and guarded Zhu Chengzu's side.

Chen Yuan examined Zhu Chengzu's sword momentum and was slightly surprised.

Zhu Chengzu's swordsmanship was cold and sharp, overflowing with killing intent. Its momentum came in an endless stream, and his martial foundation was unexpectedly solid—stronger even than disciples from sects on the level of the Iron Garb Sect.

The Zhu Family's foundations were too shallow, so their cultivation methods were rather mixed.

Some had been acquired by Zhu Chaofeng during his travels across the land, while others had been brought back for the family after Zhu Chengzong joined the Radiant Extreme Sect.

Naturally, these were not secret inheritance arts of the Radiant Extreme Sect. They were merely ordinary techniques that the sect disdained, given to affiliated forces and outer disciples for cultivation.

Yet to the Zhu Family, even these ordinary techniques dismissed by the Radiant Extreme Sect were treasures beyond measure.

At present, the Zhu Family mainly cultivated one sword art, one palm art, and one formula.

The sword art was the Azure Edge, Cloud-Linked Sword, the palm art was the Black Fiend, Fire Cloud Palm, and the formula was the Heavenly Water Qi Condensation Formula.

All three techniques were Profound Tier, and though their attributes differed, the Zhu Family members had decent martial talent. Once cultivated to a profound level, their power was no weaker than the others.

Zhu Chengzu's sword momentum had already reached him, yet Chen Yuan seemed dazed and had not even drawn his saber.

Zhu Chengzu paused slightly. Did this man no longer wish to live?

But he gave it no further thought. His sword momentum had already formed, and he could no longer withdraw it. The chilling sword tip stabbed straight for Chen Yuan's throat.

At that moment, a flash of snow-bright saber light suddenly appeared.

Stimulated by that saber light, Zhu Chengzu instinctively narrowed his eyes.

"Young Master, be careful!"

Uncle Zhou's voice suddenly rang out from beside Zhu Chengzu.

The next moment, the saber light was already before him. With a resounding metallic blast, the longsword in his hand shattered instantly.

The unleashed saber qi tore his hands apart, leaving them drenched in blood. In the next instant, it would split his entire body in two!

With Chen Yuan's current foundation of strength, the explosive force granted by the Surging Waves, Flowing Clouds Formula, and the extreme sharpness of the Azure Dragon Blooddrinker, a Blood-Shifting Realm martial artist had virtually no ability to resist him. He could be slain with a single slash.

At that moment, Uncle Zhou's Wrought-Iron Coiling Dragon Staff suddenly thrust diagonally between Zhu Chengzu and Chen Yuan. A hazy gray qi erupted from the staff's body.

With another explosive crash, Uncle Zhou was knocked back three steps, while Zhu Chengzu was forced off the mountain path.

"Young Master, run! He's a Qi Forging Realm expert!"

Uncle Zhou stood on the mountain path with his staff raised, his face grave.

His staff technique was mighty and heavy, yet Chen Yuan had driven him back three steps with a single slash.

In terms of sheer strength, the young man before him was far more formidable than he was.

Zhu Chengzu's hands were dripping with blood and trembling uncontrollably.

He did not need Uncle Zhou's warning to know how terrifying this man was!

If Uncle Zhou had not acted in time, that slash would have killed him!

"Uncle Zhou, hold him off! I'll summon Father and Eldest Brother for support!"

Zhu Chengzu decisively turned and retreated, viciously kicking the retainers blocking his path.

"Why aren't you getting the hell out of the way? What are you standing around for!?"

The mountain path was narrow, and those retainers could descend only two abreast at most, slowing everyone down. Zhu Chengzu regretted bringing them immensely.

If he had known, he would have sent these retainers charging ahead first. Why had he rushed to the front himself?

At that moment, Uncle Zhou stared at Chen Yuan and said in a deep voice, "May I ask which sect you come from, young hero? What exactly do you want? How has my Zhu Family offended you? You could have spoken directly to the family head. Why start killing the moment you arrived?"

Uncle Zhou was an experienced veteran of the martial world. At a glance, he could tell that the man before him was no ordinary low-level martial artist.

His opponent possessed a deep foundation of strength, extraordinary saber techniques, and even a Profound Tier treasured saber in his hand. How could such a person be one of those poor, struggling low-level martial artists?

"You sure talk a lot. I said I would wipe out your Zhu Family, so I will wipe out your Zhu Family. What is there left to ask?"

Chen Yuan shook his head impatiently. In the next moment, surging internal force erupted, and his saber momentum crashed toward Uncle Zhou like towering waves rolling over the sky.

Wave-Treading Slash!

Uncle Zhou shouted low. The Wrought-Iron Coiling Dragon Staff in his hand whirled, hazy gray qi winding around it as he smashed it down toward Chen Yuan like a madman.

The Wrought-Iron Coiling Dragon Staff in his hand was not a mystical weapon, but it had been forged from the finest refined iron. As it swung, it carried immense force. Even the stone walls around the narrow mountain path were shattered, chunks of rock tumbling into the abyss below.

Amid a series of clanging blasts, Uncle Zhou's Wrought-Iron Coiling Dragon Staff was already covered in deep saber marks, yet it still managed to block Chen Yuan's saber momentum.

"The Mad Demon Staff Technique of Vajra Prajna Temple? You used to be a monk?"

Chen Yuan raised an eyebrow slightly.

Vajra Prajna Temple was a major Buddhist sect of the Central Plains.

Chen Yuan recognized Uncle Zhou's staff technique at a glance because, in the original storyline, novice village players who chose the Buddhist path began outside Vajra Prajna Temple.

"I was once. Now this old man has returned to secular life. Though my heart still turns toward the Buddha's teachings, I no longer have any connection with Vajra Prajna Temple."

A shadow of gloom appeared in Uncle Zhou's eyes.

He claimed to have returned to secular life, but judging by his state, he had likely violated some precept and been driven out of Vajra Prajna Temple.

"If your heart turns toward the Buddha's teachings, why do you aid evil and willingly serve as the Zhu Family's lackey?"

Chen Yuan sneered. "Don't tell me you know nothing of what the Zhu Family has done. Of everything they have done, which deed does not deserve the destruction of their entire family?

"You say your heart turns toward the Buddha's teachings. Is this how it turns toward them? No wonder Vajra Prajna Temple expelled you. You deserved it!"

"Nonsense!"

As if Chen Yuan had struck a sore spot, Uncle Zhou roared. The Wrought-Iron Coiling Dragon Staff in his hand became even more frenzied, leaving behind a sky full of afterimages as it smashed down toward Chen Yuan's head!

The Mad Demon Staff Technique of Vajra Prajna Temple seemed utterly without pattern, as though it were being wielded in wild abandon.

Yet in truth, it overwhelmed opponents with momentum, creating order within chaos.

The violent staff shadows crashed down like a canopy over the sky. Martial artists of the same realm could easily be beaten senseless by it.

Chen Yuan met attack with attack. The powerful internal force foundation of the Surging Waves, Flowing Clouds Formula erupted, pale red qi coiling around the Azure Dragon Blooddrinker in his hand. Saber radiance surged and flickered as he unleashed countless chilling saber shadows in an instant.

Autumn Wind Slash!

The sky full of staff shadows and saber shadows intertwined, and explosive metallic clashes rang endlessly across Sunwatch Peak.

Under this extreme clash of strength, Uncle Zhou retreated step after step. The webbing between his thumbs and forefingers split open, blood instantly soaking both sleeves.

Not to mention that age feared youth—even at the peak of his youth, he could not have matched Chen Yuan in strength.

The Wrought-Iron Coiling Dragon Staff was already covered in saber marks, hacked until it resembled a spiked club. It might snap at any moment.

At that moment, Uncle Zhou suddenly released the Wrought-Iron Coiling Dragon Staff. Borrowing the momentum of his movement, he lunged before Chen Yuan, forming a seal with both hands as golden qi emerged within his fist seal.

A secret inheritance of Vajra Prajna Temple, the Fearless Vajra Seal!

Chen Yuan extended his left hand. With the supple force of Coiling Silk Spirit Snake, he deflected the immense vajra strength.

Then the fierce force of Jade-Shattering burst forth like a giant python constricting its prey, instantly twisting Uncle Zhou's palm completely out of shape!

Uncle Zhou let out a miserable scream and roared down the mountain, "Young Master, run! Run quickly!"

After shouting, Uncle Zhou tried to ram Chen Yuan with his head, hoping to buy Zhu Chengzu a few final moments.

He naturally knew that the things the Zhu Family had done over the years were indeed excessively cruel.

But Zhu Chaofeng had once saved his life, so he could only devote himself wholeheartedly to serving the Zhu Family.

Now, by dying for Zhu Chengzu, perhaps he would finally repay that lifesaving debt?

But in the next instant, Chen Yuan's saber descended from his right hand and directly severed Uncle Zhou's head.

The head rolled to the ground, but a look of relief appeared in Uncle Zhou's eyes.