37: Chapter 37 Ants and the Sky

"Foundation Establishment Stage, Second Layer" — as these four words fell, the entrance of the village became so silent that one could hear the rustling of the night wind passing through the withered grass.

Behind Lu Zhao, He Shan's hand holding the bow trembled slightly.

It wasn't out of fear, but because the pressure radiating from those three Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators was too terrifying—they were clearly twenty zhang away, yet it felt like three great mountains pressing down, making it impossible to breathe.

Yan Meng's legs were nailed to the ground, his face pale, yet he did not retreat a single step.

Han Meng gnashed his teeth, his right hand already gripping the short blade at his waist; though he knew it was useless, he still assumed a stance of fighting for his life.

Shen Qingqiu stood beside Lu Zhao, her complexion pale.

Foundation Establishment Stage.

In the world of cultivation, Qi Refining is merely the entry point, while Foundation Establishment is the true mark of stepping onto the path of immortality.

One Foundation Establishment Cultivator could easily crush ten ninth-layer Qi Refining Cultivators.

And right now, there wasn't just one—there were three.

Lu Zhao stared at the young man named Lin Han.

In his early twenties, at the second layer of the Foundation Establishment Stage—he was either a gifted Genius or a core seed cultivated by the Sect.

Either way, it meant this person must possess powerful treasures and lethal techniques, and was by no means comparable to someone like Zhao Hanshan.

"What?" Lin Han stood with his hands behind his back, a smile playing on his lips. "Scared silly?"

The two Disciples behind him also dismounted from their Spirit Beasts.

The woman on the left, eighteen or nineteen years old with a round face and almond eyes, had a pair of short swords hanging at her waist.

She looked at the villagers with a grin, as if looking at a flock of chickens and ducks waiting to be slaughtered.

The man on the right, twenty-five or twenty-six, had a sinister expression; his hands were tucked into his sleeves, and his gaze swept over the crowd like a venomous snake.

"Senior Brother, I told you, what 'remnants of the martial path'—they're just some bumpkins playing pretend," the woman laughed. "Making us run out in the middle of the night, a complete waste of effort."

Lin Han ignored her, staring only at Lu Zhao.

"I asked you a question just now," he said slowly. "Are you that remnant of the martial path?"

Lu Zhao spoke.

"Yes."

Lin Han raised an eyebrow: "Straightforward, at least. Fine, I'll give you a chance—kneel, cripple your own cultivation, hand over those martial arts Cultivation Techniques you've hidden, and then end your own life. I might consider killing only you and not implicating these ants."

He paused.

"How about it?"

Lu Zhao said nothing.

He simply looked at Lin Han, his gaze strangely calm.

Lin Han felt a slight chill under that gaze—this look was wrong.

Ordinary Mortals, upon seeing a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, would either be scared out of their wits or pretend to be calm while hiding fear in the depths of their eyes.

But this person had nothing in his eyes; they were as calm as a stagnant pool.

"What are you looking at?" He frowned.

Lu Zhao spoke.

"I am thinking about something."

"What thing?"

"You are at the second layer of the Foundation Establishment Stage, how many years have you been Cultivating?"

Lin Han was startled, then said proudly: "Eight years. I entered Qi Refining at eight, and Foundation Establishment at sixteen. Looking across the Xuanshuang Sect, no more than five people among my peers can stand shoulder to shoulder with me."

Lu Zhao nodded.

"Eight years." He repeated it. "I have been practicing martial arts for less than four months."

Lin Han's expression shifted slightly.

"What are you trying to say?"

Lu Zhao looked at him.

"I want to say that you have practiced for eight years just to reach the second layer of the Foundation Establishment Stage. I have practiced for four months and can already kill a fifth-layer Qi Refining Cultivator. If you give me another four years—"

He paused.

"What are you in front of me?"

As the words fell, the woman's expression changed, and she shouted sharply: "Presumptuous!"

Her figure flickered, and she was already within three zhang!

Her swords were unsheathed, the sword light like snow, stabbing straight at Lu Zhao's throat!

Fast, ruthless, accurate—the strike of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator was far beyond what the Qi Refining Stage could compare to!

Lu Zhao did not move.

It wasn't that he didn't want to move, but that he couldn't—the woman's Sword Intent had locked onto the Qi around his body; no matter which direction he dodged, he would be caught by the Sword Qi.

This was a suppression of Realm, not something that could be made up for by courage.

At the critical moment—

"Clang!"

With a dull thud, the woman was sent flying back, sword and all.

She did two somersaults in mid-air, and when she landed, she stumbled several steps before stabilizing her figure.

Her face was deathly pale, the web between her thumb and forefinger where she held her sword was torn, and fresh blood dripped down the blade.

"Who!" She shouted sharply.

Uncle Ya stood in front of Lu Zhao.

He was hunched over, his hands tucked into his sleeves, looking like an old farmer.

But those eyes were now terrifyingly bright, like two burning flames.

Lin Han's pupils constricted.

"Martial path... Foundation Establishment!"

Uncle Ya ignored him and just turned back to look at Lu Zhao.

That look was very calm, but Lu Zhao understood—he was saying: Step back.

Lu Zhao did not retreat.

He just stepped aside to let out the battlefield.

Lin Han stared at Uncle Ya, his expression uncertain.

"Good, good." He nodded. "So there really was a tough nut hidden here. A Foundation Establishment Stage remnant of the martial path—no wonder Wang Tong and Zhao Hanshan and that bunch of trash fell."

The sinister man behind him stepped forward and whispered: "Senior Brother, this person's aura is strange; it looks like he suffered serious injuries and his Realm is unstable. Let me test him."

Lin Han nodded.

The sinister man stepped forward and pulled his hands from his sleeves—his ten fingers were pitch black like ink, and his fingertips glowed with a faint blue light; they were actually coated with deadly poison!

"Old thing, die!"

He thrust both hands out, ten fingers like claws, grabbing towards Uncle Ya!

The claw wind carried a fishy stench; clearly, that poison was lethal upon drawing blood, and touching it meant death!

Uncle Ya didn't dodge.

He simply extended his right hand and made a fist.

Then, he threw a punch.

A simple, straightforward punch.

No frills, no variations, only pure power.

"Boom!"

Fist and claws met, the sinister man screamed, and all ten fingers broke!

The poisoned nails pierced back into his own palms, and poisonous blood splattered!

He flew backward and crashed into a large tree ten zhang away; the trunk snapped with a "crack," and he slumped to the ground, vomiting black blood, twitching a few times before stopping.

One punch, killing a first-layer Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

Lin Han's face turned livid.

The woman was so scared she took several steps back, her sword-holding hand shaking uncontrollably.

Uncle Ya withdrew his fist, still in that hunched posture, as if he hadn't been the one to throw that punch just now.

He looked at Lin Han.

That gaze remained calm, but Lin Han felt a chill down his spine—it was the look of a hunter watching prey.

"You..." He gritted his teeth. "Who exactly are you!"

Uncle Ya did not answer.

He simply raised his right hand, extended his index finger, and beckoned to Lin Han.

It meant: Come.

Lin Han's face flushed red with shame and anger.

He was a Genius of the inner Sect of the Xuanshuang Sect, reaching Foundation Establishment at sixteen, and the second layer at twenty-three; he rarely had opponents among his peers.

Today, he was being provoked in public by an old fossil!

But he didn't move.

Because the old man's eyes told him that if he dared to go up, he would definitely be the one to die.

"Good, good." He gritted his teeth. "I admit defeat today. But don't get cocky—"

He turned and mounted his wolf.

"My Xuanshuang Sect's inner Sect has no fewer than a hundred Foundation Establishment Disciples. I'll go back today, and tomorrow ten will come, and the next day twenty. How many days can your broken village hold out?"

He stared at Uncle Ya.

"No matter how high your martial arts are, you are a broken shell. You can kill one, ten, can you kill a hundred?"

Uncle Ya was silent.

Lin Han sneered, pulled the wolf's head around, and prepared to leave.

A voice suddenly came from behind.

"Wait."

Lin Han turned back.

Lu Zhao stepped forward and stood beside Uncle Ya.

He looked at Lin Han, his gaze calm.

"You said just now that you wanted us to hand over our martial arts Cultivation Techniques?"

Lin Han narrowed his eyes: "What, you've thought it through?"

Lu Zhao shook his head.

"I want you to take a message back."

"What message?"

Lu Zhao looked at him and said, word by word.

"The martial path Legacy is not something you can extinguish. It couldn't be extinguished sixty years ago, and it won't be extinguished sixty years later. Go back and tell your Sect Master—"

He paused.

"It is time for the rules of this world to change."

Lin Han's face was livid.

He stared at Lu Zhao for a long time, then suddenly laughed.

"Good, good." He nodded. "I will definitely deliver this message."

He spurred the wolf's belly, and the three giant wolves leaped into the air, stepping on the treetops and disappearing into the night.

At the village entrance, no one spoke for a long time.

It wasn't until the figures of the three giant wolves were completely out of sight that He Shan sat on the ground with a "thump," gasping for air.

"My god... Foundation Establishment Stage... killed with one punch..."

Han Meng also collapsed, muttering: "Uncle Ya... you old man... you old man..."

Uncle Ya ignored them and just turned to look at Lu Zhao.

He reached out, pointed at Lu Zhao, then pointed at himself, and then crossed his hands to make a "no" gesture.

Lu Zhao understood.

"Are you saying you can't make a move again?"

Uncle Ya nodded.

He pointed at his chest again, then turned his palm over, palm facing down—it meant that if he made another move, he would die.

Granny Xue walked over with her cane and sighed: "Uncle Ya suffered heavy injuries back then, his Dantian was shattered; that he has lived until now is a miracle. Those two punches just now cost him at least three years of his Lifespan."

Lu Zhao looked at Uncle Ya, his heart deeply shocked.

Uncle Ya waved his hand and grinned, revealing his half-missing teeth—the smile was actually somewhat childish.

He reached out, patted Lu Zhao's shoulder, and then gave a thumbs up.

It meant: Your words just now were right.

Lu Zhao felt a warmth in his heart and bowed deeply.

"Uncle Ya, I will remember."

In the secret cave, the atmosphere was heavy.

Shen Qingqiu spread out the sheepskin map, her finger pointing at several places.

"When Lin Han goes back, there will definitely be a large group of Foundation Establishment Cultivators coming tomorrow. We can't hold them off."

Everyone was silent.

This was a fact, undeniable.

Uncle Ya could kill one first-layer Foundation Establishment Cultivator by risking his life. But ten? Twenty?

He Shan gritted his teeth: "Then what do we do? Run?"

"Where to run?" Shen Qingqiu shook her head, "The Xuanshuang Sect's sphere of influence spans eight hundred li; we won't make it out of a hundred li before being caught up."

"Then let's fight to the death!" Han Meng slapped the ground, "Killing one is breaking even, killing two is a profit!"

"We can't fight them." Shen Qingqiu said, "The three who came today were just ordinary inner Sect Disciples. Those coming tomorrow might be True Disciples, or even Elders. Late Stage Foundation Establishment, Golden Core Stage—what do we have to fight with?"

Han Meng opened his mouth but couldn't say anything.

Everyone looked at Lu Zhao.

Lu Zhao hadn't spoken, just staring at the map, his gaze deep.

After a long while, he suddenly spoke.

"Miss Shen, you said that behind Yangjiao Ravine, there is an earth-vein?"

Shen Qingqiu was startled: "Yes. Very weak, but it does exist."

"Can it be detonated?"

As soon as these words came out, everyone was shocked.

Shen Qingqiu's expression changed slightly: "You mean..."

"If the earth-vein is detonated, how much power would it have?"

Shen Qingqiu pondered for a moment and said slowly: "If detonated properly, a radius of ten li would be razed to the ground. But the price is—we won't survive either."

Lu Zhao nodded.

"What if only a part of it is detonated?"

"A part?" Shen Qingqiu thought for a while, "We could induce the earth Qi to rush out of the surface, creating a brief disturbance in the earth-vein. Below Foundation Establishment, they would die on the spot. Above Foundation Establishment, they would also be severely injured. But controlling it is extremely difficult; the slightest carelessness, and it's mutual destruction."

Lu Zhao looked at her.

"Can you control it?"

Shen Qingqiu was silent.

After a long while, she looked up.

"If you give me three days, plus Uncle Ya's help to suppress the formation eye, there is a fifty percent chance."

"Fifty percent." Lu Zhao repeated.

He looked outside the cave.

The night outside the cave was deep, and the distant mountains looked like ink. Further away was the direction of the Xuanshuang Sect.

He suddenly remembered a sentence from the books he read in his previous life: Put yourself in a desperate situation to survive.

He withdrew his gaze.

"Then prepare."

The next day, at dusk.

On the mountain road, dust was rolling.

More than twenty riders on Spirit Beasts came kicking up dust, all wearing the inner Sect attire of the Xuanshuang Sect, their auras deep like abysses, and even the lowest was at the first layer of the Foundation Establishment Stage.

The person in the lead, in his early thirties, had a cold face and a purple long sword hanging at his waist. He reined in his Spirit Beast and looked down at Yangjiao Ravine from a high vantage point.

The village was silent, empty of people.

He frowned slightly.

"Lin Han, where is that martial path Foundation Establishment you mentioned?"

Lin Han spurred his wolf forward and pointed towards the back mountain: "It's in that back mountain. Yesterday he killed my Junior Brother, his aura was strong, but it was clearly the end of his rope. Today we are twenty-three people; one spit from each of us could drown him."

The man in the lead nodded.

"Set the formation." He ordered, "Surround the back mountain, leave no one alive."

The Disciples responded in unison, urging their Spirit Beasts to pounce towards the back mountain.

In front of the secret cave in the back mountain, Lu Zhao stood with his hands behind his back.

Behind him, there was no one.

The twenty-three Foundation Establishment Cultivators surrounded him, and seeing his appearance, they were all stunned.

Lin Han sneered: "Lu Zhao, let's see where you can run today!"

Lu Zhao looked at him and suddenly laughed.

"Run?" He shook his head, "I have been waiting for you for a long time."

He raised his right hand, palm down, and pressed it against the ground.

Lin Han's expression changed: "What are you doing!"

Lu Zhao did not answer.

He just said softly: "Miss Shen, do it."

As the words fell, the ground shook violently!

An earth-yellow light rushed into the sky from the ground, like a giant pillar, instantly enveloping all twenty-three Foundation Establishment Cultivators!

"Earth-vein!" The leader's expression changed greatly, "Retreat quickly!"

It was too late.

The earth Qi erupted like a landslide!

The light dissipated.

Of the twenty-three people, nineteen fell, leaving only the leader and Lin Han still standing, but they were covered in blood and swaying.

Lu Zhao stood at the cave entrance, his complexion as pale as paper—detonating the earth-vein, he was also heavily injured by the backlash.

But he was still standing.

He looked at the two of them and spoke slowly.

"Go back and tell your Sect Master."

He paused.

"Next time, if a Golden Core comes, I will detonate the entire earth-vein. Yangjiao Ravine will be gone, and don't think the Xuanshuang Sect will have it easy either."

The man in the lead stared at him, his gaze full of horror and dread.

After a long while, he gritted his teeth.

"Retreat!"

The two of them hoisted their heavily injured fellow Disciples and fled in a panic.

Lu Zhao watched them go, and only when their figures completely disappeared did his body sway, and he fell backward.

Uncle Ya rushed out of the cave and caught him.

Shen Qingqiu also stumbled out, blood spilling from the corner of her mouth—forcibly detonating the earth-vein had left her heavily injured as well.

She knelt beside Lu Zhao, her hands trembling as she checked his breathing.

He was still breathing.

She let out a long breath and slumped to the ground.

In the distance, the sunset was like blood.

Yangjiao Ravine was still alive.