Things Were Different Now!

The powerful External Scenery the Blood River Dao roared, his voice echoing through the mountain path and startling a flock of birds in the forest.

The familiar name was heard, but the Yu Tunzhou Fist remained undiminished.

"Young Hero Yu, please show mercy!"

The shout came from the treetops, growing louder as it approached.

Yu Tunzhou ignores everything, takes a step forward and throws a punch, its momentum becoming even more overwhelming.

The punch suddenly magnified in the eyes of the Blood River Dao's External Scenery, as if it had crashed down from the heavens, blotting out the sky and filling the entire field of vision.

The invisible force contained within the fist pressed down on him, filling him with despair, as if "the world is shattered and there is no way to resist."

He focused his mind, allowing his inner and outer worlds to merge, forcibly creating a unique space to exclude the Yu Tunzhou.

Crack--

His pupils contracted sharply, and the small world he had created was instantly shattered. That fist, seemingly white Ruyu, was unparalleled in breaking through formations.

In his haste, he tried to reach out and save himself, hoping for a chance to escape, but the next moment, a series of bone-breaking sounds rang out, and his arm snapped and shattered on the spot, becoming like a lump of mud.

His eyes widened in horror; he had actually been overpowered by a martial artist with Divine Ability using only his physical body!

How could such terrifying power exist?!

A surging, overwhelming force crashed down on an ordinary person, like a ten-meter-high wave.

He seized the opportunity in an instant, using the terrifying force to fly backward and dodge the next attack from the Yu Tunzhou.

The price was the loss of an arm, half of his body becoming stiff and numb, his Inner Qi surging violently, and even the Inner Heaven and Earth he had painstakingly built developing fine cracks.

Just as Yu Tunzhou was about to continue, a snow-white figure suddenly appeared between the two.

The newcomer was dressed in a snow-white robe, the hem of which fluttered lightly in the wind. He was handsome and refined, with an air of lofty elegance. However, a deep weariness lingered in his eyes.

Just moments ago, Zhang Buyu was marveling at how decisive and ruthless Yu Tunzhou truly was... but his expression instantly turned serious as he recognized the newcomer.

Shen You, the [Netherworld Sword] who ranked third on the Dragon and Tiger Ranking ten years ago, is a disciple of the Heavenly Demon Kou Ziling!

That [Heavenly Demon] was exceptionally talented, knowledgeable in ancient and modern times, and proficient in all schools of Martial Dao.

After entering the Dharma Aspect, that person pioneered a new Dao Path in different fields, and it is said that each path leads to the Dharma Aspect.

It is said that each of his disciples corresponds to a specific Dao Path in the Dao, and Shen You's path is the Dao of the Sword Dao.

Ten years ago, this person had already reached the Late Divine Ability Stage. Now, ten years later, he must have entered the External Scenery. It's just unknown how many levels of the heavenly ladder he has climbed.

"Young Hero Yu, it's been a long time."

Shen You spoke first, her tone soft, her gaze falling on the Blood River Dao External Scenery outside, which lay slumped on the ground, its face pale. The helplessness in her eyes deepened.

It was an External Scenery, after all. If the two half-steps and the three of them worked together, they could hold their own even on the External Scenery Second Layer, but they couldn't even last until he arrived...

He sighed and said, "It seems the rumors are true. Young Hero Yu is indeed sweeping across the Dragon Gate. Brother Tao Guan confidently came to stop Young Hero Yu, but he was utterly defeated on the spot."

These words caused Tao Guan, who was lying on the ground, to turn pale and then flushed. But when he recalled the overwhelming pressure he had just felt, he realized that even Grandmaster on the Earth Ranking was nothing special!

Especially the inexplicable aura emanating from Yu Tunzhou...

"Since our parting in the Western Desert, Brother Shen, are you well?"

Yu Tunzhou also looked nostalgic, reminiscing as he spoke.

"That trip to the grotto seems like it was more than a year ago. I miss it dearly. I never expected that when we met again, it would be Brother Shen who would come to my rescue."

In the past, Xuandu Cave thought that the Seven Bandits of the Western Desert were already a formidable enemy, but it turned out that the one in the Heavenly Demon Sect had made a plan long ago, and Shen You was that one's pawn.

Although the target wasn't him, but Feng Yanleng, it also implicated him and others, using their lives as leverage to threaten Feng Yanleng.

He doesn't have many merits; he simply follows the natural Heavenly Dao and adheres to the principles of virtue and harmony with Heaven.

Now that enemies meet again, the roles of offense and defense have reversed, and the balance of power has shifted. Isn't this precisely the cycle of Heavenly Dao?

If he cannot settle his past karmic debts, wouldn't that be going against the will of Heaven?

All that hard-earned cultivation level, wasn't it all for nothing?

Therefore, as Yu Tunzhou took a step forward, an invisible pressure, like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami crashing down on Shen You.

Times have changed; offense and defense have shifted!

Shen You's expression changed slightly.

The plan to annihilate Yu Tunzhou was a joint operation between the Supreme Origin Sect and the Blood River Dao.

The Supreme Origin Sect sought revenge for the Yin Tianjue and their own Taishang Elder, who were killed by the Great Hero Mo.

Blood River Dao, on the other hand, had heard that Wu Xuan had died at the hands of Yu Tunzhou, and there was also the old grudge from Twin Rivers Commandery.

But that wasn't the reason he came here.

I wonder when that old bastard from the Supreme Origin Sect will be able to get here from the other side...

With a change of heart, Shen You immediately spoke sincerely:

"Young Hero Yu, we have no deep-seated hatred for each other, only some old grudges. Why hold a grudge? I've come here today to ask you whether my junior brother is alive or dead, so I can report to our master."

Upon hearing the question that followed, Yu Tunzhou paused in his tracks.

Zhang Buyu was even more stunned, and then looked at Yu Tunzhou's back with surprise and uncertainty.

How could Shen You's senior brother not know whether Deng Canglan was dead or alive?

Did Deng Canglan not leave Dragon Gate and return to the Heavenly Demon Sect?

Could it be... that after entering the Eternal Dragon Gate, Deng Canglan died at the hands of Young Hero Yu?

Even Yu Tunzhou couldn't help but recall whether Deng Canglan had died in the aftermath of the battle between Immortals and Gods.

He vaguely remembered that the fellow was holding the statue he had snatched from Wu Xuan. The statue was clearly not a good thing, but after the fellow crushed it, nothing seemed to change for a long time...

Finally, it seems Deng Canglan was taken away by that Buddhist School?

The thought flashed through his mind, but Yu Tunzhou did not respond to Shen You's question.

What's their relationship?

Not so friendly!

In an instant

Yu Tunzhou's fist had already arrived.

Without much small talk, without any fancy gestures, without any probing, he went straight for the center.

Shen You's pupils contracted sharply. Without thinking, she raised her hand and struck out with a palm.

An invisible and colorless Gang Qi surged from their palms, standing between the two.

boom--

The instant their fists and palms met, Shen You felt an overwhelming force surge towards him like a tidal wave.

The moment his Seven Emotions Gang Qi touched the opponent's fist, it dissipated layer by layer like ice and snow meeting the sun, losing 30% of its full power and being easily suppressed!

The remaining force pierced through the Gang Qi and slammed into his palm.

Shen You stumbled back three steps before regaining her balance, her sleeves fluttering in the wind, her arms hanging limply at her sides.

He looked up at it as if it were a monster.

hiss--

Having already reached the External Scenery Second Layer and possessing the Dharma Aspect inheritance, even though he wasn't skilled in physical training, his cultivation level was still there, yet he was finding it extremely difficult to even withstand a single punch?

It's been less than a year and a half since they last met!

He stopped in his tracks, a thought flashing through his mind.

Things are different now...

Before he could think it through, Yu Tunzhou's second punch was already upon him.

His fair and powerful hands seemed to hold the sky, and when he clenched his fist and pressed down, it was like a mountain collapsing, demonstrating the ultimate and pure physical strength!

Shen You raised his hand, and a long sword, as black as ink, without any patterns or edge, appeared out of thin air in his palm.

The sword rises.

There was no howling wind of swords, no blinding sword light, only an invisible, chilling killing intent that spread like a tide.

This is not a killing intent directed at the physical body, but rather aimed directly at the depths of the Primordial Spirit.

Standing a hundred feet away, Zhang Buyu felt a sharp pain in his mind, as if invisible needles were pricking his Primordial Spirit.

He was horrified and stepped back, exclaiming:

"Brother Yu, be careful! This is the Seven Killings Sword of the Heavenly Demon Sect!"

Among the many inheritances created by that Heavenly Demon, the [Seven Killings Sword] is the pioneering work in the path of Sword Dao, known as the Seven Swords that can destroy heaven and earth!

Yu Tunzhou remained unmoved, his fist still pounding, allowing the killing intent to invade his Primordial Spirit Heaven and Earth.

The moment the killing intent entered his body, the vast blue sea suddenly churned, and the fierce and ruthless will belonging to Kunpeng descended from the sky, instantly tearing the invading killing intent to shreds.

Unmoved by the sight of the Yu Tunzhou, Shen You's gaze deepened.

There are no flaws in the Primordial Spirit either...

How did this guy manage to have no weaknesses against someone at the External Scenery Second Layer Realm, despite only being at the Divine Ability Realm?

He stopped testing the waters and his swordplay suddenly changed.

In an instant, the temperature plummeted, a chill swept through the air, and everything froze.

In his hands, the Heavenly Demon Seven Killings Sword was not a ruthless and treacherous demonic sword, but instead transformed into a flurry of snowflakes, gentle yet deadly.

The extreme cold froze, turning into a cold current, even freezing the Void into fine ice patterns. Yu Tunzhou felt his Primordial Spirit and thoughts were becoming rigid, and his body seemed to no longer belong to him at this moment.

"[Seven Killings Snow Fills the Robes]!"

In an instant, heavy snow began to fall from the sky, and Shen You's figure appeared and disappeared in the wind and snow, as if he had become one with heaven and earth, thus avoiding Yu Tunzhou's fist strike lock.

The entire mountain range was shrouded in a white expanse of snow, each snowflake carrying a deadly Sword Intent, slashing towards the Primordial Spirit.

Zhang Buyu, standing behind, felt a wave of weariness wash over him; his eyelids grew heavier and heavier, as if a voice was whispering in his ear—

He rests here in eternal sleep.

There's no need to wake up again.

He bit his tongue to force himself to stay awake, only to find that he barely had the strength to back away.

He suddenly remembered that his master had mentioned that the [Heavenly Demon Seven Killings Sword] was not only a "sword of the Primordial Spirit"!

He was about to remind Young Hero Yu when he noticed Yu Tunzhou standing in the swirling snow, his green robe fluttering in the wind, letting the snowflakes fall on his shoulders and hair.

Every snowflake that touches him melts silently the moment it touches him.

Even the Sword Intent that Snow Fills the Robes melted away layer by layer, like ice and snow meeting the sun.

It was as if a world of its own existed around him, and all things that entered it returned to the Wuji.

This was the initial manifestation of his Selfless Outer Dao.

Shen You's Dao Path seems to involve emotions as its foundation, but no matter what Dao Path it is, if one cannot contend with him on the fundamental basis of the Great Dao, one can only rely on pure realm suppression, otherwise the final result will only be a return to the Wuji.

Witnessing this scene, Shen You's expression remained unchanged, but his sword stance changed once more.

The ground beneath their feet suddenly cracked open, and golden-red fiery energy erupted forth, instantly engulfing the Yu Tunzhou.

At the same time, Yu Tunzhou felt a sudden surge of anger and restlessness, which disturbed his mind and disrupted his Human Dao path.

One moment it's a world of ice and snow, the next it's a raging inferno; first it induces weariness and lulls people into a deep sleep, then it ignites a restless fire that disturbs the mind and spirit.

Shen You's Seven Killings Sword has long surpassed simple Swordsmanship; it invokes the laws of heaven and earth, creating a fusion of illusion and reality, making it difficult to distinguish between truth and falsehood, and impossible to defend against.

Unfortunately...

The Yu Tunzhou and stood within it.

The man in the green robe went from fluttering in the wind to remaining still.

His feet moved in Taiji circle, the Yin and Yang fish swimming around him. Two completely opposite sword techniques, which were enough to kill ordinary External Scenery Second Layer, had no power left around him.

If Shen You were two realms higher and mastered this sword move to its fullest extent, this "Snow Fills the Robes" technique might even solidify and freeze his Taiji Domain.

Yu Tunzhou took a step forward, and with the support of his Primordial Spirit, his Fist Intent was like oil being poured into a raging fire, like a towering mountain rising from the ground and soaring into the clouds.

What can subterranean fire and flying snow do to it?

It vanished in an instant.

Seeing his sword move easily broken, Shen You lost all hope and poured all his emotions into his sword.

The snow falling suddenly stopped, then transformed into a white sword curtain that stretched across the sky and fell from above.

This sword not only froze the physical body but also severed the Primordial Spirit. Wherever the sword curtain passed, it incorporated the artistic conception of "all things can rest". It seemed that only endless weariness and death were left in the world. Even the high mountains could be turned into snow-covered mountains!

However--

A burst of Fist Intent soared into the sky, stirring the clouds and sky. It was domineering and unrestrained, clearly declaring that it forcefully suppressed the snow on the Cangshan Mountains, preventing it from flying.

Shen You's gaze sharpened, and he saw a figure in a green robe walk out from the pale snow curtain, calm and composed, as if it were effortless.

"The Swordsmanship is Swordsmanship, but unfortunately..."

The words were still echoing.

Even as the words were still lingering, a Fist Intent that permeated the eight directions of heaven and earth suddenly erupted, engulfing and freezing the swirling snow and the pale sword curtain, before shattering with a deafening roar.

Your level of understanding is... too low!

Heaven and earth returned to clarity, and all things returned to normalcy.

Shen You sheathed his sword and retreated rapidly, his face twitching. He couldn't understand how this guy could say such a thing.

He's clearly only at the External Scenery Second Layer, while this guy is just a beginner in Divine Ability, right? Why is it that they're being talked about as if the roles are reversed?

However, despite having a thousand words to say, seeing with his own eyes that his trump card was useless against Yu Tunzhou, Shen You decided not to argue.

Then they could run away without worry.

What's the point of fighting?!

The sword strike just now was enough to allow Shen You to fight beyond his level and challenge the External Scenery Third Layer, yet it was still easily broken by Yu Tunzhou. What kind of Dao Path did this guy manifest? Is it specifically designed to counter him?!

"Shen You..."

Tao Guan was standing External Scenery the Blood River Dao, had just gotten up to help Shen You when he saw a figure sweep over his head. The figure looked familiar, and he was immediately struck dumb, his body trembling.

Before he could react, a figure chased after Shen You and, as it passed by, casually punched him, smashing his skull.

A final thought flashed through Tao Guan's mind.

How could someone merely at the Divine Ability Realm possess such overwhelming power?

The next moment, he turned into a pile of minced meat.

Seeing this, Zhang Buyu was certain that Young Hero Yu had reached the bottom of the Earth Ranking and could kill anyone he saw in an ordinary External Scenery.

He sighed softly, "My Floating Hill Mountain underestimated Deng Canglan, and now the Six Paths of Evil and Demons have also underestimated Brother Yu. If I were the ruler of the Six Paths of Evil and Demons, to deal with Brother Yu now, to ensure absolute success, I would need at least Grandmaster ranked in the top forty of the Earth Ranking... no, even the top twenty!"

He looked around, somewhat hesitant.

All three members of Blood River Dao had been killed by Yu Tunzhou, leaving only him at the scene.

Now that Yu Tunzhou is chasing Shen You, given the speed at External Scenery he is fleeing and pursuing at full speed, there is absolutely no way he can catch up with him; he won't even be able to see his back.

Furthermore, since Blood River Dao has set up an ambush here, it must have laid out multiple lines of defense. It is probably not advisable to stay here for long. If we stay any longer, we may run into other ambushers.

Thinking of this, Zhang Buyu prepared to turn back to the nearest county town, where the defenses were tight and an External Scenery elder of the Nanhua Sect was stationed.

Having made up his mind, Zhang Buyu turned back to leave.

Just then...

The sound of something cutting through the air had barely reached his ears when he was grabbed by the shoulder and lifted into the air like an arrow shot from a bow.

"Fish... Brother Yu?" Zhang Buyu looked up in astonishment and saw that it was Yu Tunzhou who had grabbed him.

Yu Tunzhou grabbed his shoulder and ran him back the way they came, their destination clearly the same as he had just thought.

Before Zhang Buyu could ask any more questions, a deep, aged voice boomed from afar, like thunder rolling across the sky:

"You little beast, stop being so arrogant!"

A withered hand descended from the sky, covering an area of dozens of miles.

Yu Tunzhou snorted coldly, holding Zhang Buyu in one hand and meeting the attack with a fist in the other.

boom--

As their fists and palms clashed, Yu Tunzhou swayed slightly, a creaking sound coming from his body as he felt the strain.

Zhang Buyu turned around in shock. He could already see the power of Brother Yu's physique in the battle just now. Who could possibly make him almost unable to hold on?

A figure emerged from the Void, clad in a black robe, with white hair and beard, a sinister face, and eyes as sharp as a hawk's.

"Supreme Origin Sect, Xuanyangzi!"

Zhang Buyu gasped in shock, his face turning deathly pale instantly.

Xuanyangzi, the Supreme Elder of the Supreme Origin Sect Taishang, ranked thirty-ninth on the Earth Ranking. He is a great master at the External Scenery Fourth Layer. He once sacrificed the souls of an entire city to create the infamous Soul-Summoning Banner of the Demonic Path, which attracted the pursuit of Grandmaster of the Righteous Path. However, he still managed to escape by chance, making him a notorious figure.

The Supreme Origin Sect actually sent such a powerful expert to hunt down Brother Yu?

Don't they have any "real work" to do?!

Yu Tunzhou picked up Zhang Buyu and made a strategic retreat, coldly snorting:

"You old dog from the Supreme Origin Sect, you'd better actually catch up with me, or in two years, I'll be kicking your head around like a football!"

Xuanyangzi laughed in fury, "Once I extract your Primordial Spirit and refine it into the Soul-Summoning Banner, I hope you'll still be so stubborn."

In an instant, a banner appeared in his hand. As soon as the banner was unfurled, the area within dozens of miles became a ghostly realm. The wind howled, the dark clouds surged, and countless distorted faces appeared and disappeared in the clouds, emitting mournful howls.

Yu Tunzhou suddenly threw Zhang Buyu in his hand into the distance and turned to face his enemy.

If we can't make this old scoundrel wary, he'll be like a persistent, unforgiving leech, relentlessly pursued.

At this moment, a wave of malevolent energy surged forth, overwhelming everything in its path.

The Yu Tunzhou with its eyes closed.

When he opened his eyes again, it seemed as if two suns and moons were rising and falling in his eyes.

All the Limitless Gang Qi was gathered together, surging from the limbs and bones to the fingertips.

The surging, majestic aura that had been so powerful vanished abruptly, and he became as ordinary as a stone, with no trace of his imposing presence emanating from him.

Only a faint, almost imperceptible black and white light appeared at the fingertips, formed by the fusion of the sun Taiyin energies, causing the howling winds and vengeful spirits to momentarily pause.

"Go."

Yu Tunzhou with a flick of its finger.

There was no earth-shattering roar, no dazzling light, only an almost invisible thin line, silently yet irresistibly tearing through the Void, heading towards the sky-covering, dark tornado.

The Soul-Summoning Banner covered a vast area spanning dozens of miles, yet it was easily sliced apart like paper before this concentrated and unyielding Divine Ability light.

By the time Xuanyangzi realized it, this Divine Ability was already unstoppable, cutting through layers of yin winds and vengeful spirits, heading straight for the banner.

Xuanyangzi's expression changed drastically. This was... Ultimate Art from the External Scenery Third Layer?!

He tried to activate the Soul-Summoning Banner to defend himself, but it was too late.

Pfft--

The wisp of black and white energy pierced through, its residual power undiminished, and a hole appeared on the Soul-Summoning Banner that he had refined over many years.

The howling winds paused for a moment.

At this moment, all sorts of vengeful spirits went berserk, trying to break free from control.

"Very well, very well." Xuanyangzi's voice was so cold it could drip water. "You little beast, I underestimated you."

He never expected that Yu Tunzhou could unleash a strike comparable to External Scenery Third Layer Ultimate Art, directly piercing through his Soul-Summoning Banner.

If he had known this would happen, he would never have been so careless...

At this moment, Xuanyangzi was filled with anger, but he had no choice but to forcibly suppress the rampage of Yin Qi caused by the holes in the banner.

If it is not restrained and repaired in time, the power of this banner, which he has practiced diligently for many years, will be reduced by at least 20% to 30%.

While he was repairing it, Yu Tunzhou had probably already disappeared!

This attempt to contain him failed. Given his current strength and caution, it will be much more difficult to stop him next time!

In the distance, Shen You could see the power of that Divine Ability ability from afar, and his expression became extremely solemn.

Things are truly different now.

I'll probably have to avoid this person from now on.

How long has it been?

His heart suddenly skipped a beat. Could it be that Junior Brother Deng's strength had also made such a leap?

How will I be able to maintain my senior brother's authority in the future?!

Just as Shen You was beginning to worry about his relationship with his fellow disciples, his gaze suddenly sharpened.

Instead of taking the opportunity to retreat, Yu Tunzhou transformed into a streak of green shadows and, using the cover of the scattered Yin energy, rapidly approached Xuanyangzi.

Why did he advance instead of retreat?!

Given such a favorable opportunity, the best course of action is to withdraw calmly and methodically!

Just as all sorts of doubts surfaced in my mind...

Shen You heard a muffled rumble of thunder.

He looked up abruptly, and what gathered in the sky was not only the dark clouds of the Soul-Summoning Banner, but also the real...

Thunderclouds.

Shen You knew that Yu Tunzhou was never composed, though he didn't know much about him, but this one from the Supreme Origin Sect certainly wouldn't be composed.