Arc 23The Mystic Connection Calamity

After Hong Tiangui’s death, Lian Youming was crippled by a surprise attack but gradually regained his strength and led an alliance against the Mystic Connection Old Monsters. He killed Old Monster Huang, learned that a larger force was heading for Changbai Mountain, and prepared the martial schools for an even greater threat as the Gan Family Ancestor emerged.

  • Lian Youming and the wounded fighters joined forces against Hong Tiangui, and Yang Shuang’s shot gave Lian Youming the opening to kill him with his spear.
  • A concealed attacker struck Lian Youming in the Forbidden City, but the Immortal-Slaying Flying Dagger intercepted the blow before Chen Baihu drove off the attackers.
  • Lian Youming woke in the hospital unable to move, then began recovering through treatment and training as sound helped restore movement in his right hand.
  • Lian Youming secretly reunited with Youying, learned of the threats gathering in the south, and planned to lure the Mystic Connection Old Monsters into battle.
  • Lian Youming and Situ Wudi led their allies north, where they fought Old Monster Huang while Old Master Li and Senior Hao confronted another enemy.
  • Lian Youming and his companions killed Old Monster Huang, while Senior Hao died in the other battle and Old Master Li reached Mystic Connection.
  • A captured enemy revealed that a large force was heading to Changbai Mountain, and Old Master Li carried Senior Hao’s body north as Lian Youming returned to organize the martial factions.
  • Lian Youming urged the schools to unite against the Mystic Connection Calamity, while the Gan Family Ancestor emerged from a grave and set out to meet Chen Baihu.
Chapters 553–579 Vol. 6 Read

Ch. 553Slaying a Mystic Connection Master

Lian Youming, Situ Wudi, Gong Wuer, and Chen Babai fought Hong Tiangui, using teamwork to overcome the Mystic Connection master’s overwhelming strength. Lian Youming’s spear pierced Hong Tiangui’s throat, leaving the outcome of the battle at its decisive moment.

  • Lian Youming staggered away from Hong Tiangui and vomited blood as Situ Wudi, Gong Wuer, and Chen Babai attacked the old master together.
  • Situ Wudi confronted Hong Tiangui head-on while Gong Wuer and Chen Babai supported him, but Hong Tiangui wounded all three and nearly disemboweled Situ Wudi.
  • Hong Tiangui weakened Chen Babai with One-Finger Zen, then seized him in the killing move Fierce Tiger Embraces the Rock.
  • Gong Wuer struck Hong Tiangui’s Coccyx Acupoint, and Lian Youming prepared the Tiger-Shooting Form of the Kunlun Secret Sword.
  • Situ Wudi struck Hong Tiangui in the crotch as Chen Babai escaped his grip, creating an opening for Lian Youming to hurl his iron spear through Hong Tiangui’s throat.

Ch. 554Heavenly Dipper Strength was lost from this moment on

Lian Youming killed Hong Tiangui with Yang Shuang’s help, but a Mystic Connection Old Monster attacked him while the others prepared to enter the Hall of Supreme Harmony. The attack struck Lian Youming’s spine, and a cold voice declared that his Heavenly Dipper Strength was lost.

  • Yang Shuang shot Hong Tiangui in the knee, allowing Lian Youming to drive his spear through Hong Tiangui’s throat and heart and kill him.
  • Lian Youming and the wounded survivors recovered while waiting for Chen Baihu’s battle to end, and they learned that Gu Feiyan and Gu Chan had withdrawn after twenty-nine exchanges.
  • A Mystic Connection Old Monster went toward Zhongnan Sea to distract Chen Baihu, so Lian Youming resolved to enter the Forbidden City, but Chen Babai offered to go alone.
  • Gong Wuer reached Foresight Perfection, Situ Wudi completed his cultivation, and Li Da arrived with Gong Qitian, Tian Dayong, and armed veterans.
  • A concealed attacker used the Taiji Hammer Method against Lian Youming, who pushed Xu Baishi and Yu Feishuang aside before the blow struck his lower back.
  • A voice declared that Lian Youming’s Heavenly Dipper Strength was lost from that moment on.

Ch. 555Immortal-Slaying Flying Dagger, the White Tiger's Ferocious Might

A disguised Mystic Connection Grand Realm expert attacked Lian Youming, but Chen Baihu emerged and drove Gu Xuantong and his ally into retreat. Lian Youming lay gravely wounded, while White Bone Daoist and his companion realized Chen Baihu had noticed them and fled.

  • A hidden attacker struck Lian Youming, but the Immortal-Slaying Flying Dagger intercepted the blow and badly injured the attacker’s hand.
  • Li Da, Gong Wuer, Situ Wudi, and Chen Babai surrounded the disguised expert as Gu Xuantong staggered out of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
  • Chen Baihu appeared, and Gu Xuantong and his companion fled toward him before attacking together.
  • Chen Baihu overwhelmed both men with the Heavenly Gang Stele-Splitting Hand, forcing them to cough blood and retreat into the night.
  • White Bone Daoist and his companion watched from the Hall of Central Harmony and noticed Lian Youming lying on the ground.
  • A cold, eerie eye turned toward White Bone Daoist and his companion, who sensed the threat and hurried to retreat.

Ch. 556Wang Wu's former residence, grievous injuries hard to heal

Lian Youming suffered devastating injuries while Chen Baihu rescued him and brought him to Wang Wu's former residence for treatment. His friends gathered at dawn, but the old man warned that Lian Youming might never move again, leaving them to consider transferring him to a hospital and informing Yan Lingyun.

  • Chen Baihu carried the unconscious Lian Youming to Wang Wu's former residence, where Elder Lin found his body and channels severely damaged.
  • Chen Baihu argued that an imperfect body did not prevent someone from pursuing the Martial Way, then left to deal with the failed scheme.
  • Elder Lin treated Lian Youming in a medicinal barrel while Gu Feiyan secretly searched for the Two Teachings Token, unaware that Lian Youming had entrusted it to Yan Lingyun.
  • Xu Baishi, Yang Shuang, Xu Tian, Wu Jiu, Liu Wudi, and Shorty Xu arrived the next morning and learned that Lian Youming was alive but might never move again.
  • Xu Tian told Yang Shuang to prepare to transfer Lian Youming to the Military District General Hospital and notify Yan Lingyun, while the group worried about Lian Youming's master and senior martial uncle.

Ch. 557All a Person Lives for Is That One Breath

After Lian Youming’s defeat left him badly injured, Xu Tian’s master comforted his disciples and revealed that he had foreseen his death in a hundred days. He decided to settle his affairs and confront old enemies, while Lian Youming woke in the hospital unable to move.

  • Xu Tian’s master treated Lian Youming with aged ginseng and reassured the injured disciples, while Feng Xiong joked that the root tasted like fish mint.
  • Xu Tian’s master told Xu Tian that he had foreseen his death in a hundred days and refused to cling to life with medicine.
  • Xu Tian’s master recalled his past and declared he would leave Four-Nine City to confront his old enemies, taking Senior Martial Uncle Hao with him.
  • Lian Youming dreamed of meeting a mysterious man with blade-like eyes, who smiled and said, “Good! You’ll do!”
  • Lian Youming woke in the hospital after five days and discovered he could barely move, while Yang Shuang told him to recover slowly.

Ch. 558They didn't treat me as a cripple, but they didn't treat me as human either

Lian Youming struggled to accept his paralysis, but the people around him kept caring for him and Li Jianwu discovered that a charge bugle could provoke a response from his body. Meanwhile, Gu Xuantong’s group retreated through the snow and decided to seek another White Lotus Sect Master before returning to take revenge on Four-Nine City.

  • Lian Youming’s companions urged him to eat and reminded him of his family, and he regained some resolve when he saw they had stayed by his side.
  • Lian Youming communicated with his eyes while Wu Jiu and the others joked with him, and he accepted porridge from Yang Shuang.
  • Li Jianwu massaged Lian Youming daily as he remained unable to move, and more than half a month passed.
  • Li Jianwu’s charge bugle startled Lian Youming into lifting his right hand, revealing that sound might help restore his movement, and he warned Lian Youming to hide any recovery.
  • Gu Feiyan told Gu Xuantong that she had not found the Two Teachings Token, and the group learned that a powerful expert guarded Guangzhou.
  • Gu Xuantong led his group to meet another White Lotus Sect Master and vowed to return for revenge against the people in Four-Nine City.

Ch. 559Father and son met without recognizing each other

Lian Youming continued recovering as Old Li used his bugle calls to help restore him and urged him to travel and develop his Fists Suppress the Mountains and Rivers. Nearby, Lian Youming’s father, Lian Bin, arrived with Qin Yuhu and nearly recognized his injured son, while Tian Dayong appeared just as the secret risked being exposed.

  • Old Li played his bugle beside Lian Youming and Xu Baishi, helping them train while Lian Youming reflected on a mysterious man from his dream.
  • Old Li told Xu Baishi about Xue Dian and his own past campaign against criminals in the north, then advised Lian Youming to travel and forge his martial path.
  • Lian Bin and Qin Yuhu arrived in Four-Nine City carrying gifts for their hospitalized former battalion commander, and Qin Yuhu spotted Lian Youming in his wheelchair.
  • Lian Bin nearly recognized Lian Youming and Xu Baishi, but Qin Yuhu tried to divert him toward buying more gifts.
  • Tian Dayong rode up on a motorcycle with a sidecar and saw Lian Youming, while Lian Bin was still examining the group.

Ch. 560More secrets revealed, Baihu passes on his arts

Lian Youming was moved to the Yuan Shun Escort Agency, where he learned Lin Fusheng’s identity and questioned him about Chen Baihu’s capture and possible survival. Chen Baihu revealed evidence of an earlier martial-world calamity and offered to pass on an art; Lian Youming ended the chapter plotting revenge as he recovered.

  • Tian Dayong took Lian Youming’s parents away before they could discover his identity, and Wu Jiu moved him to the Yuan Shun Escort Agency.
  • Lin Fusheng introduced himself as the adopted son of Lin Heier and explained that Chen Baihu had been captured after fighting the White Lotus Saint Son while badly wounded.
  • Lian Youming speculated that Chen Baihu’s father might still be alive and connected to a past martial-world calamity, prompting Chen Baihu to reveal the skeletons and Sword Immortal evidence he had found in Outer Mongolia.
  • Chen Baihu offered to teach Lian Youming half of an extraordinary art connected to Sword Immortals and asked him to bring wine and meat to the Martyrs' Cemetery in Guangzhou.
  • Lian Youming resolved to take revenge on those who had crippled him, while Lin Fusheng wondered whether his injury had damaged his brain.

Ch. 561Sword-Nurturing Chapter

While recovering from his injuries, Lian Youming discovered that his body might be able to surpass its former limits as it rebuilt itself. Chen Baihu took him to Jingshan to teach him the Elixir Sword and pass on the incomplete Sword-Nurturing Chapter, while warning that Gu Xuantong was likely seeking the White Lotus Sect Master.

  • Lian Youming sensed that his internal breath was drawing medicinal potency and vital essence into his injured body, possibly allowing him to rebuild his physical foundations beyond their former limits.
  • Chen Baihu carried Lian Youming to Jingshan and told him that Gu Xuantong had probably gone to find the White Lotus Sect Master at the Kwantung Army Fortress on Changbai Mountain.
  • Chen Baihu described the ancient tomb at Changbai Mountain and said veteran elders left behind by his mother could prevent Gu Xuantong from gaining the advantage there.
  • At Jingshan, Chen Baihu demonstrated the soft and hard forms of the Daoist Sect Elixir Sword and explained how Lian Youming could sharpen his sword intent.
  • Chen Baihu told Lian Youming he would pass on an incomplete sword-nurturing method called the Sword-Nurturing Chapter.

Ch. 562Oral instruction, heart-to-heart transmission, the bright moon as a sword

Lian Youming received Chen Baihu’s sword-nurturing instruction and discovered how to visualize the moon as a saber to condense Sword Intent. Chen Baihu began to teach him a further formula, but caretakers appeared and forced them to flee.

  • Lian Youming told Chen Baihu about the remains of Yang Luchan and Dong Haichuan, Gan Danran, the Wenxiang Sect Master, and the search for the Sword Immortal Inheritance; Chen Baihu warned him to keep the matter secret.
  • Chen Baihu explained the sword-nurturing method and demonstrated how he breathed internal qi while drawing on the moon’s light.
  • After initially failing to discern the heart-to-heart transmission, Lian Youming realized Chen Baihu’s intent came from visualizing the moon as a saber and formed his own Sword Intent.
  • Lian Youming correctly counted Chen Baihu’s forty-nine qi revolutions, and Chen Baihu prepared to teach him another formula.
  • Two caretakers arrived with flashlights, and Lian Youming urged Chen Baihu to run.

Ch. 563Passing on strength, passing on skills, passing on boxing

Old Master Li and Senior Hao visited Lian Youming before leaving Four-Nine City to seek Mystic Connection, and they exchanged martial arts teachings with him. After the two seniors departed, Lian Youming held Old Master Li’s charge bugle and said it was time to set out and head back.

  • Old Master Li arrived with Senior Hao and told Lian Youming and Wu Jiu that the two seniors were leaving the city to return to the martial world.
  • Lian Youming gave the seniors Old Master Li’s farewell gift, the charge bugle, and offered to teach them Heavenly Dipper Strength.
  • Lian Youming demonstrated the Qi-Swallowing Method, and Old Master Li examined how its force gathered from the outside inward.
  • Senior Hao taught Lian Youming the Xingyi Sect’s Joint Attack Method and demonstrated its routines and spirit intent.
  • Old Master Li and Senior Hao departed together, and Wu Jiu kowtowed to them as they left.
  • Lian Youming held the charge bugle and said it was time to set out and head back.

Ch. 564Kill Me

Situ Wudi announced that Lian Youming had died, prompting the Green Gang to prepare for revenge, while a hidden power in the Eastern Mausoleum plotted attacks across the martial world. The figure in the stone coffin ordered his forces to emerge and vowed to slaughter the Chen Family.

  • Lian Youming asked Situ Wudi to confirm that he was crippled, and Situ Wudi agreed to kill him, unaware that Lian Youming was baiting him.
  • Zhu Wu told the Green Gang that Situ Wudi claimed Lian Youming had died by suicide on the train, and the gang members swore revenge.
  • Yang Lian found a shadowy figure in the shrine who silently revealed something to her, and she left vowing to kill Situ Wudi.
  • An old man at the Martyrs' Cemetery sensed an overwhelming deadly danger approaching.
  • A Manchu messenger informed the figure in the stone coffin that Gu Xuantong had betrayed them, Lian Youming might be dead, and the young lord had been found.
  • The figure in the coffin ordered his forces to target the White Lotus Sect and the Qing and Hong Teachings, prepare to emerge, and kill every member of the Chen Family.

Ch. 566Poison, night, an old man

Yan Lingyun prepared to use poison to help Lian Youming, but Youying secretly took the toxins away and practiced her martial arts through the night. After the copper coin fell, Youying remembered the mysterious old man she had met while Lian Youming was away.

  • Yan Lingyun considered delivering tetrodotoxin, ricin, and Poison Frog Toxin through golden-needle acupuncture, but worried that using poison to kill violated her vow to heal people.
  • Youying watched over Yan Lingyun, then waited until she was asleep before taking the toxins from the medicine chest.
  • Youying stored the toxins in a secluded courtyard and practiced the Six Harmonies Great Spear through a copper coin's hole for three hours.
  • Youying practiced Wild Bull Power and techniques from several martial arts until the thread holding the spinning coin snapped.
  • Youying sat beside the bed and recalled meeting a mysterious old man while Lian Youming was away helping Yang Shuang and the Mountain-Guarding Old Man.

Ch. 567Old tales of the mortal world, Mystic Connection emerges

Youying agreed to help Lian Youming face the emerging Mystic Connection Old Monsters as the Age of Great Contention approached. After asking the brothers to find the missing Xie Ruomei, Lian Youming went to meet Chiba Aoi, who reported powerful figures gathering in Japan and suspicious food shipments to the Gan Clan.

  • Youying revealed she had trained in Wild Bull Power and several martial arts, then recognized Lian Youming when he returned from the north after faking his death.
  • Lian Youming told Youying he planned to draw in Mystic Connection Old Monsters and kill them in a single battle, and he agreed that she should take leave from school to help.
  • Lian Youming asked the brothers to find Xie Ruomei after learning she had gone west and had not contacted them.
  • Lian Youming boarded a fishing boat on the Pearl River and met Yang Qing and Chiba Aoi, who said powerful martial artists had appeared in Japan and the Gan Clan had received huge shipments of meat.
  • Lian Youming suspected a Mystic Connection Old Monster was replenishing its vitality through the food and welcomed the prospect of facing it.

Ch. 568Internal strife in the Two Teachings

After Lian Youming’s apparent death, martial factions accused Situ Wudi of murder, but he denied it and warned them of Mystic Connection threats from the north and Japan. As the factions began preparing to unite, Yang Lian announced that she would take Lian Youming home in five days.

  • Martial factions gathered around Lian Youming’s ice coffin and accused Situ Wudi of killing him to seize the Two Teachings Tokens, while Situ Wudi denied the charge.
  • Situ Wudi warned the gathered martial artists that a Mystic Connection Martial Artist was in the north and that Sticky Pole Office remnants in Japan might soon bring another threat south.
  • Situ Wudi displayed the Two Teachings Tokens and claimed Lian Youming had ordered him to take charge, then exposed two suspected Sticky Pole Office agents in the crowd.
  • Wang Mazi protested that Lian Youming deserved justice, but Hua Linglong and others restrained their disciples, including a young man carrying grenades.
  • Yang Lian said she would take Lian Youming home in five days and left the other matters for the factions to discuss.

Ch. 569A great battle loomed!!!

Hua Linglong revealed that Lian Youming was alive and had faked his death to prepare a surprise attack on the Mystic Connection Martial Artists. After four days of gathering allies in Foshan, Lian Youming and Situ Wudi left the Green Gang Headquarters armed with sniper rifles to pursue two figures carrying a corpse.

  • Hua Linglong told Wang Mazi that Lian Youming was alive, while Wang Mazi's disciple worried that Lian Youming would punish him for his curses.
  • The martial arts leaders formed an alliance, appointed Situ Wudi to lead openly, and arranged for the southern schools and overseas Hongmen and Green Gang experts to gather against the Mystic Connection Martial Artists.
  • Lian Youming explained to Situ Wudi that he intended to attack first rather than wait for the enemy, and decided to postpone visiting Lingyun and his younger sister until the battle was over.
  • Over four days, martial artists from across the southern regions gathered in Foshan to prepare for the coming conflict.
  • Lian Youming emerged from the ice coffin, and he and Situ Wudi left the headquarters at night with two sniper rifles to pursue figures carrying a wrapped corpse.

Ch. 570Mystic Connection Comes to Kill

Lian Youming and his companions used Lian Youming’s supposed corpse as bait to draw out their pursuers, then confronted two Mystic Connection Old Monsters in the Hunan mountains. Their allies arrived to face the enemies, and the battle was about to begin.

  • Lian Youming, Situ Wudi, Wang Mazi, and Zhu Wu traveled north through the wilderness while setting a trap for the Mystic Connection Old Monsters tracking them.
  • When the insects fell silent, Lian Youming and Situ Wudi detected an ambush and attacked a Foresight Martial Artist disguised among their pursuers.
  • Lian Youming shot the disguised attacker, and he and the others continued onward as two hidden figures followed them.
  • Two Mystic Connection Old Monsters appeared, one ahead of the group and one behind, and threatened Lian Youming and Situ Wudi.
  • Xue Hen and Gong Wuer arrived with Old Master Li Jianwu and Senior Hao, who prepared to fight the two old enemies.

Ch. 571Fist-Shot Technique

Lian Youming and his allies fought the elderly man surnamed Huang, whose Fist-Shot Technique let him strike with invisible force from a distance. Though the others were wounded and Lian Youming’s body remained stiff, he kept Huang occupied and sent his companions to help Youying.

  • Lian Youming, Xue Hen, Gong Wuer, and Situ Wudi charged Huang, who struck all four with Air-Splitting Strength before they could see his punches.
  • Gong Wuer identified Huang’s technique, and Lian Youming countered one attack with Striking Force Across the Air.
  • Huang’s hidden blows injured the group, but Xue Hen seized his sleeve, Lian Youming used the Six-Syllable Mantra, and the others attacked together.
  • Huang drove the group back with his Iron Sleeves, while Xue Hen tore off a piece of his beard and Lian Youming emerged nearly unhurt.
  • Huang tricked Lian Youming’s Taiji Cloud Hands and struck him through his sleeves, then used his kimono to overwhelm the others and wounded Wang Mazi.
  • Lian Youming crushed Huang’s attack before it reached Wang Mazi, sent Wang to help Youying, and led the others back into the fight.

Ch. 572Fists toward every foe, a back shielding all beneath heaven

Lian Youming chose to defend his allies against Old Monster Huang, and his resolve caused his grand momentum to take shape. Meanwhile, the old man in the long gown lured Old Master Li and Senior Hao toward a nearby peak, where the three began a fierce clash.

  • Old Monster Huang evaded the four fighters’ attacks with extraordinary Hua Jin, making their blows seem unable to touch him.
  • After Old Master Li recalled asking whether defense could also be Fist Challenges the World, Lian Youming abandoned offense and shielded Gong Wuer and the other fighters from Old Monster Huang’s attacks.
  • Lian Youming reflected on the people who had defended others and resolved to face every foe while protecting everyone behind him, causing his qi and grand momentum to change.
  • The old man in the long gown recognized Lian Youming’s transformation and declared that he would kill him, then challenged Old Master Li and Senior Hao.
  • The old man in the long gown sprang toward a nearby peak, and Old Master Li and Senior Hao pursued him as sword light and killing fists erupted in combat.

Ch. 573Wudang hammer techniques, Thirteen Elixir Skill

Lian Youming and the others joined forces against Old Monster Huang, who revealed Wudang's Taiji Thirteen Elixir Skill and Taiyi Chui. As Youying entered the fight with secret hammer techniques, Lian Youming discovered that Huang's force could also help break through internal barriers, and the two continued their fierce close-range clash.

  • Lian Youming restrained Old Monster Huang's fists with Coiling Silk Force, giving Situ Wudi, Gong Wuer, and Xue Hen the chance to attack from three sides.
  • Old Monster Huang used Taiji Thirteen Elixir Skill and Wudang Taiyi Chui to swell his body and fists, absorbing the trio's blows and driving them into a contest of strength.
  • Old Monster Huang's sudden burst of force jolted the fighters, and Situ Wudi coughed blood as Lian Youming tried to disrupt Huang's balance.
  • Xue Hen, Situ Wudi, and Gong Wuer renewed their attacks on Old Monster Huang's openings while Youying arrived and struck with Wish-Fulfilling Purple Gold Chui.
  • Lian Youming realized Old Monster Huang's inner force could break through stiffness and stagnation, then continued neutralizing Huang's blows as they fought amid swirling leaves.

Ch. 574Defeating the enemy

Lian Youming and his allies fought Old Monster Huang in a desperate battle, enduring his devastating Taiyi Chui and Fist-Shot Technique. With Youying's poisoned needle distracting him, Lian Youming struck with an Elixir Sword, and the group launched a final attack that tore open Old Monster Huang's skull.

  • Old Monster Huang pressed Lian Youming with rapid Taiyi Chui strikes, but Lian Youming parried and held his ground.
  • Old Monster Huang used Five Phoenixes Cry in Unison and seized Gong Wuer and Xue Hen, but Lian Youming recognized the technique and struck him, allowing them to break free and restrain him.
  • Old Monster Huang consumed his vital essence and unleashed the Fist-Shot Technique, injuring Gong Wuer, Xue Hen, and Situ Wudi while Lian Youming endured the blast.
  • Lian Youming traded blows with Old Monster Huang as Youying advanced a poisoned golden needle, distracting the old monster.
  • Lian Youming seized Old Monster Huang's wrists and fired an Elixir Sword, while Gong Wuer, Situ Wudi, and Xue Hen attacked and Xue Hen tore open his skull.

Ch. 575One dead, one wounded

Lian Youming defeated Old Monster Huang and hurried to the other battlefield, where he found Senior Hao dead and Old Master Li gravely wounded. As Old Master Li unexpectedly advanced into Mystic Connection, a dying enemy tried to lure Lian Youming toward Mount Lu before succumbing to his own collapsing qi.

  • Lian Youming killed Old Monster Huang, then left with Youying while Xue Hen, Gong Wuer, and Situ Wudi were too injured to follow.
  • Lian Youming and Youying reached the other battlefield and found Senior Hao dead and Old Master Li alive but badly hurt.
  • Old Master Li explained that Senior Hao had sacrificed himself to secure victory against a Mystic Connection Old Monster who had used a secret pill to increase his power.
  • Old Master Li entered Mystic Connection, and the dying enemy told Lian Youming about a supposed treasure near the Ancient Tomb around Qixian Temple on Mount Lu.
  • Lian Youming recognized the story as a trap and refused to respond; the old monster cursed him before his body broke down and he died.

Ch. 576Attack was defense, defense was attack

Lian Youming witnessed Old Master Li reach a state of oneness with heaven and affirmed that attack and defense were one path. After Xue Hen mourned Senior Hao, a captured enemy revealed that a formidable force was heading to Changbai Mountain to attack the White Lotus Sect, and Old Master Li set out north.

  • As dawn arrived, Old Master Li drew in the morning air for nearly an hour, healing his injuries and displaying oneness with heaven.
  • Old Master Li asked whether defending counted as challenging the world, and Lian Youming answered that attack was defense and defense was attack.
  • Old Master Li explained that the Martial Way required defending, while Xue Hen knelt before Senior Hao's corpse and then fled into the woods with a piercing howl.
  • A captured enemy told Lian Youming and the others that three Mystic Connection Martial Artists, seven Foresight Perfection experts, foreign killers, and many Old-Era Martial Artists were heading to Changbai Mountain to attack the White Lotus Sect.
  • Old Master Li picked up Senior Hao's body and headed north, telling the others that they would risk their lives only if the group was wiped out.

Ch. 577A mysterious presence, the theory of martial fortune

After returning to Guangzhou, Lian Youming and the others debated the formidable enemies they had encountered and suspected that a mysterious presence had seized the Thirteen Hongs and Qing-era reserves. They connected that presence to the idea of martial fortune, ending with the chilling possibility that it intended to kill every martial artist and claim all the world’s martial fortune.

  • Lian Youming returned to Green Gang Headquarters with his group, ordered Wang Mazi’s armed granddisciple to remove his firearms, and told him to train properly.
  • The Luofu Daoist Sect’s head and the others discussed how the Thirteen Hongs could have nurtured several Mystic Connection Old Monsters, and Lian Youming suspected a hidden pinnacle expert was behind them.
  • Lian Youming proposed that an ancient mysterious presence had taken over the Thirteen Hongs and other Manchu Qing reserves, leaving the group to face both the Mountain Guardians’ forces and unknown enemies.
  • Gong Wuer raised the possibility that the mysterious presence sought martial fortune, and Boss Chen and Situ Wudi explained how belief in fortune could strengthen a martial artist’s intent.
  • Situ Wudi suggested that the presence might kill them all to gather the world’s martial fortune, and the group realized that this could be its true purpose.

Ch. 579An unparalleled foe, the Gan Family Ancestor

Lian Youming concluded that an unknown martial fanatic sought to use the world’s martial fortune to break through the limits of the Martial Way, and he organized the sects to prepare for the Mystic Connection Calamity. In Japan, the Gan Family Ancestor emerged from his grave and set out to challenge China, beginning with a visit to Chen Baihu.

  • Lian Youming reasoned that the mysterious enemy was pursuing martial fortune as his only hope of advancing beyond mystic connection, and recognized him as an unparalleled foe.
  • Lian Youming ordered the Two Teachings, the Five Houses of the Southern Faction, and the other schools to unite and train promising disciples against the Mystic Connection Calamity.
  • A messenger told the bare-browed clan head that Mr. Huang had died and reported the heavy losses in the northern battle, including Li Jianwu’s breakthrough to mystic connection.
  • The clan head asked what to do next, and a hand burst from the second grave as its occupant declared that he would kill and challenge China.
  • The Gan Family Ancestor emerged carrying the Lique Spring spear, learned that Lian Youming led the Two Teachings, and departed to visit old haunts and meet Chen Baihu.
Arc 23 of 25
Arc 23 of 25