Tie Dan couldn’t be bothered with these two old guys and rushed into Tai City like a whirlwind, following the traces of the battle all the way in.
The layout of Lanling City was clear. The Lan Pond was to the west, the East Field courtyard was where the Xiao family’s relatives lived, the southern part of the city was the commercial area where servants and artisans resided, and Tai City in the north was the core fortress of the Xiao family. Military camps stood tall, with female walls and city fortifications set apart, so that even if the outer city fell, it could continue to hold firm. The defense was indeed tight.
But Tie Dan was actually a little late. Obviously, others had been plotting in secret, launching an attack early to seize the initiative.
Tai City was set ablaze, likely due to collusion between insiders and outsiders who broke through the defensive array. The Tribute Guards on night duty were suddenly attacked, leaving no bodies to bury. The ground was filled with severed limbs, headless charred corpses, clearly the result of someone storming in, slaughtering everyone to the extent of a massacre.
They were so well-prepared and acted so ruthlessly, clearly targeting the Xiao family for more than just a day or two. This time, if he had been delayed in the forest array for one more day, the opportunity would have been gone.
However, judging from the traces on the scene, the fire seemed large but only burned a few side halls. It should have been a signal to act. Yet, those who were on duty, and the palace attendants who came to put out the fire, were ambushed and mostly killed. The ground was littered with dismembered bodies and bloody remains, leaving almost no room for counterattack, it was a massacre.
Presumably, those who struck were masters of at least the level of the Three Great Sects, and there were many of them. At least organized as a sect-level formal group, they used the fire as a signal to charge and break through the guards, storming into the palace.
Moreover, they even placed Nascent Soul level masters outside to intercept the Xiao family’s Tribute, and Core Formation realm disciples inside Tai City Palace to stop reinforcements. Such a precise plan must be acted upon quickly, lest he arrives too late and even a leaf of Immortal Ganoderma can’t be found.
"Ding ding dang dang."
"Xiao Chong! The Xiao family’s end has come! On this day next year, it will be the day of remembrance for the old thing! Brothers, why choose to die with them? Drop your armor and surrender, let’s divide the heritage together!"
"Pa pa hong hong!"
"Tang Yu! You treacherous dog! Our family treated you well! Gave you a chance to rise, yet you degraded yourself! Treacherous and shameless! No one in the world will tolerate you!"
"Hum hum ha yi!"
"Bulls*hit! The Xiao Fa cheated the census, colluded with local gentry to cheat and steal my family estate, rob my ancestral property, oppress the good and harm the people, causing public outrage! Today I will destroy your entire clan, it is heaven’s will! Cangtian has eyes! Retribution has come!"
"Pip pop hong long!"
"The Demon Sect’s heretical teachings deceive people’s hearts! No need to waste words with such demons and monsters, chop off his head, a reward of a thousand gold!"
"Demon Palace scum, oppressing the people, harming loyal subjects, acting against the norm, must be punished by everyone! Let’s stand shoulder to shoulder and kill their entire family!"
"Ding ding dang dang pa pa hong!"
Wow, what an intense fight...
Tie Dan followed the sounds of battle and the corpses littered about, drilling his way to the Xiao Family Treasure Vault. A fierce battle was indeed underway here, as a group of masked bandits in black surrounded the treasury, breaking through palace walls and gates, blocking the Xiao Family’s Sacred Guards at the last bronze gate, standing to the death.
It was also evident that the attackers had exhausted their Qi Power and used up their elixir talismans, having no energy left for special skills. Now at the critical moment, both sides were drawing their swords to fight in close combat.
However, Tie Dan didn’t have the chance to observe closely, as he, being the latecomer, was immediately noticed. Suddenly, a mantis hidden in the shadows leaped out, "Swish!"—a sword slashed at him, narrowly missing Tie Dan’s cheek.
It was narrow because if it were before, Tie Dan would have already ducked, rolled, and struck back.
But now with those old farts wanting him to act elegantly, Tie Dan had to hold back, wary of the Eastern Venerable. So, he quickly retreated, turning gracefully, dodging two sword strikes, his left hand flicking as if plucking flowers, striking the assassin’s Qi Gate; a shoulder bump and a step forward sent the enemy’s treasure sword flying, his right hand chopping horizontally, swaying like a willow in the wind, sending the person flying back.
"There’s a master!"
Seeing this unexpected style, the bandits were shocked, immediately sending two to come with knives.
Tie Dan flicked his robe, a whirlwind kick to the left, a heart-piercing kick to the right, kicking both out. Then he followed up with two Qi Sword Acupoint strikes, pinning the men to the ground.
"A tough nut!"
Four bandits threw darts and Dark Thunder Fire Bombs at Tie Dan, exploding with a crackle into chaos.
However, Tie Dan followed using the superior footwork of Blood Shadow, dodging left and right, instantly arriving, punching and kicking, breaking up the bandits’ formation, making a path out of the chaos.
"Clear out! Let me handle this! Ghost King Tide Head Slash!"
The bandit leader, still retaining some Qi, leaped out, a five-foot long saber in his hand radiating golden light, identical to the sword once carried by the Purple-faced General. It was the treasure blade ’Dingye,’ used by the Xiao Family Ancestor to win hearts. It seems those so-called ’favors’ were not purely false. But small favors ultimately cannot bridge class contradictions...
Ahem, in short, Tang Yu was quite formidable, not only with massive chest muscles indicating solid Gang Fist refinement, but also with his whistling Qi Force and abundant Daoist energy, showing him to be a master of both magic and martial arts combined.
Moreover, when he struck with his saber, a howling Qi Force, syphoning countless ghostly faces, evident of dark arts enchantments and wicked techniques applied to the blade—Soul-locking Ghost, adding sinister Primordial Spirit attacks, clearly well-seasoned, having claimed countless souls beneath his blade, certainly no mere trivial opponent!
Tie Dan gathered his energy, condensed Blood Breath around him for protection, his sword energy channeling to his fingers and palms, fully concentrating on meeting the raging saber.
The two exchanged a few exploratory moves, as Tie Dan, familiar with Five Tigers Breaking Door Saber, was adept in saber techniques, while all the Evil Soul Ghost Technique on that long blade, ultimately, were sinister tricks suited for those who focused on Body Refinement but not Refining God—useful against trash and low-level fighters, where an illusion or two could dazzle into fear, making it easy to take their heads.
But for a master like Tie Dan, infused with sword energy and protected by the Divine Court Blood God’s Son, it was utterly useless. In fact, it was a bonus, the dancing sword flowers failing to sever even two hairs, the ghost heads on the blade devoured by Tie Dan’s Divine Skill Blood Hand, dissolved by the Blood Qi into crimson rivers amid ghostly howling.
Seeing this, Tang Yu silently cursed; this guy was even more sinister than himself. No way, time for the real skills.
With a loud shout, he exploded with Qi Force, the saber flaring, releasing his full Xuanming True Qi! The long saber in his hand danced with brilliance! The blade like frost, unleashing an unrivaled saber technique! While striking, he even chanted poetry!
"With a gaze over the river waves roved calm! Then rumbling thunder brings forth rain!
Suddenly the sea tramp and floating hills! Ten thousand drumbeats retreat troops!
Turbid waves higher than heavenly surges! Tumultuous tides sweep the air!
Mountains cut the waves in flowering whiteness! White rainbows whip skyward clawed!
Riders of the roaring waves push the tides! Turning rivers, scalding mountains!"
Blood Blade exclaimed, "What brilliant saber technique!"
Lord Xiao commented, "Not bad indeed!"
Even Kun approved.
Tie Dan, "..."
Not this again! Completely speechless! These guys were just watching idly! While he was the first to bear the brunt, being chased around by the saber! Couldn’t anyone lend a hand?
But now wasn’t the time for complaints. Tang Yu’s saber technique was evidently inspired by observing the sea and waves, unfurling like an infinite tide rolling in, its shadow unseen yet the sound echoed, once you saw the ridge of the waves, the endless tide already towering, surging fiercely! This saber’s momentum was truly earth-shattering, like ten thousand horses galloping, unstoppable!
Tie Dan didn’t underestimate him, but such a formidable saber technique clearly wasn’t acquired by one or two people. It was undoubtedly the crystallization of the Mystic Sect’s heritage, perfected over generations!
No exaggeration! This saber technique, coupled with breathing and Inner Strength, True Qi flowing abundantly, embodied the principles of nature and the Dao of Heaven and Earth! Totally different from the emotionless, pure technique of Five Tigers Breaking Door Saber!
Every slash was imbued with Daoist energy! Every strike brimming with passion! Every chop gathered the principles of Heaven and Earth! Every swing brushed aside waves! Swirled the rivers and seas! Summoning roaring saber waves to echo! Each wave higher than the last! Each tide rushing fiercer than the last! Until it reached heaven-shattering strength, utterly unstoppable!
Impressive! Remarkable!
"Skyline!"
"Wave Return!"
"Sky-Rushing Howl!"
"Midnight Tide!"
"Cross Tide!"
Tang Yu wildly swung the long saber, stirring rivers and waves, sending one earth-shattering Sword Aura Qi Blade after another! Not only did each strike put Tie Dan in peril, but even the surrounding bandits and guards recoiled to the corners. They feared that even speaking too loudly would get them sliced up, utterly unable to provide any help...
Tie Dan was at his wit’s end, though he noticed that Tang Yu, in the Golden Core Realm, using such a fierce saber technique, was somewhat overextending himself. Due to his own insufficient realm, cultivation, comprehension, and physical strength, many unintentional errors gave room for him to maneuver. In the turbulent tide of saber waves, he found chances to dodge and block, striking with sword energy to break his opponent’s Sword Gang, avoiding being cut down.
Though finding flaws didn’t mean he could capitalize on them, the saber technique was too wild and overwhelming. Even if Tie Dan exploited a weakness and launched an all-out strike to kill Tang Yu, he’d likely still be shredded by the wave-like saber tides, ground into paste.
If this was already the last battle, risking everything would be fine. But this was just the start of the clash—if he exhausted himself against the first elite, what about the bosses lined up next?
Still, a standoff wouldn’t do. Tang Yu was getting more thrilled, slashing away while roaring, the saber technique endlessly transforming, with no end in sight. Time to deploy some skills...
"Hit!"
Yet, at this moment, a sudden turn of events occurred!
Xiao Chong suddenly emerged from behind the Shield Guard, bending his bow and loosing an arrow! Striking Tang Yu in the left arm!
Blood Blade shouted, "Despicable!"
Lord Xiao, "Shameful!"
Even Kun was enraged!
Tie Dan, "Opportunity!"

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