170: Chapter 170 is actually the Shaolin Treasure, the Lesser Rejuvenation Pill!

Murong Longcheng crossed through the Shaolin halls all the way, and several high monks along the path sensed his presence.

However, given their special status and slight knowledge of the matters in the back mountain, they all kept their mouths shut; no one blocked him, nor did anyone question him.

In the blink of an eye, he landed at a deep cave entrance halfway up the back mountain.

"Come in."

"Disciple pays respects to Master!" Murong Longcheng tightly gripped his severed arm with one hand and stepped inside.

The cave wound downwards, deep into the rock layers.

Upon reaching a stone chamber, he saw a man with long hair draped over his shoulders sitting with his back turned, cross-legged on a prayer mat.

On the rock wall in front of him, a massive character for 'Heaven' was carved, the brushwork powerful and the Aura overbearing.

"Your arm—how was it severed?" The man's voice was flat, yet it carried a pressure that could not be ignored.

"Reporting to Master, it was slashed by a Flying Sword. No one was wielding the sword; it came out of thin air."

"Oh? Such a thing actually happened?" The man slowly turned around.

His face was rugged, his beard and hair tangled, his appearance nearly that of a wild man.

His physique was exceptionally burly, his muscles knotted like coiled snakes, as if he were a Vicious Beast transformed into human form.

"Tell me the details."

Although Murong Longcheng was anxious to heal his injury, he did not dare to neglect his Master's command.

"This matter must start from my worthless junior, Murong Fu..."

It turned out that after Wang Yuyan returned to the villa, she reported Murong Fu's death truthfully and admitted she had done it with her own hands.

She was never one to hide things, nor did she have any intention of covering it up.

In Wang Yuyan's view, after Murong Fu passed away, the Murong family's lineage had long been severed.

Who would have expected a Murong Bo to suddenly pop up?

He had quietly sneaked into Mantuo Villa, single-mindedly seeking bloody revenge.

Unexpectedly, he was completely no match for Wang Yuyan.

He was pursued by her all the way, forced deep into the heart of Shaolin.

In his youth, Murong Bo had been able to hide in the shadows for many years entirely because Murong Longcheng had secretly shielded him.

Now that he knew of this, Murong Longcheng naturally would not stand idly by.

"Your fate has long been different from that of ordinary mortals!"

As soon as the words fell, that figure slowly stood up and walked towards him.

Just looking at the physique made Murong Longcheng's heart tremble—

He was over ten feet tall, his muscles cast like iron and stone, as if a primordial giant spirit had descended to the world.

The man walked close and extended an arm for Murong Longcheng to hold, then a golden light surged from his palm.

The torn wound healed at a speed visible to the naked eye.

In an instant, the bloodstains vanished, and the skin was as it was before.

"Thank you, Revered Master!"

"You must sever your ties with the mortal world. If you delay great matters because of personal feelings, you know the consequences!"

The voice was light, yet it was like ice piercing to the bone.

"Yes!" Murong Longcheng's heart shuddered, and he hurriedly knelt prostrate on the ground.

"This matter must never be leaked.

As for those matters of your Bloodline, just let them run their course.

Even if they all die out, what does it matter? As long as we can induce the gods to descend, the rewards you receive will far exceed life and death!"

"Disciple understands... I was wrong." Murong Longcheng lowered his head and responded.

Only after walking out of the cave did he quietly exhale a breath of turbid Qi, his figure drifting away like smoke.

Inside a dilapidated meditation room on the outskirts of Shaolin, a middle-aged man covered in scars was lying on a wooden bed.

As soon as Murong Longcheng appeared, the man abruptly rolled off the bed, only to fall to the ground due to exhaustion.

"Murong Bo pays respects to the Old Ancestor! Has the Old Ancestor sought justice for my son?"

His eyes were bloodshot, and his tone was full of resentment.

Even though he had been cunning and treacherous all his life, his son was ultimately his only flesh and blood.

While he was alive, he could scold or beat him as he pleased, but now that the person was gone, hatred burned like fire in his heart.

"Enough, let it go," Murong Longcheng spoke indifferently. "You are still young; just marry again and have more sons.

That girl has a powerful expert backing her; do not act rashly."

Murong Bo's expression changed abruptly: "Could it be... that even the Old Ancestor cannot do anything to them?"

"Presumptuous!" Murong Longcheng's eyes flashed, and a sudden coldness arose.

"The Old Ancestor's Divine Ability is vast; no matter how strong the backer behind that little girl is, how could they contend with you?" Murong Bo hurriedly apologized.

"Hmph! Do as I say, otherwise if you go again, you will merely be throwing your life away."

Leaving behind a jade bottle, Murong Longcheng flicked his sleeves and left.

Murong Bo struggled to get up, picked up the medicine bottle, gently uncorked it, and took a sniff—

It was actually the Shaolin treasure, the Minor Restoration Pill!

This medicine could not only slightly increase one's cultivation, but it was also best at healing injuries and mending meridians.

Shortly after taking one pill, the sharp pain in his body gradually eased, and his wounds began to scab over.

The hand holding the jade bottle trembled slightly, his expression shifting between light and dark.

Marry again, have more sons?

Easier said than done! The old injuries left from his early years of fighting had long ago destroyed his foundation.

Murong Fu was his only Bloodline; now that he was gone, where would he get another heir?

For a moment he endured, but the more he thought, the more his anger flared.

Once his injuries stabilized slightly, he sat cross-legged to regulate his breath and circulate his power.

Currently, he was indeed no match for Wang Yuyan; facing her Flying Sword technique, he had almost no power to resist.

But he was not in a hurry.

What had he not endured over these years? Whether it was the desire for power or hatred, he had long ago learned to suppress everything deep in his heart.

Now that the Old Ancestor had appeared, if he could seek higher martial arts to enhance his own strength,

Then in the future, he could wait for an opportunity to launch a sneak attack, or even capture her mother as a hostage to threaten her... there would always be a way.

...

Free and Unfettered Master looked up at the incredibly massive phantom of the Roc bird in the sky, staring blankly in a daze.

How could this be an ordinary cultivator? Could it be that the teacher's true form is a transformed exotic beast? Or a divine bird from beyond the heavens?

This was his first reaction.

But in an instant, that lifelike Giant Roc gradually dissipated, and three people descended from the sky.

The cangfeng sword let out a light chime and returned to Su Rui's scabbard.

"Teacher!"

Wang Yuyan's eyes shimmered, her voice trembling slightly.

She didn't expect him to actually come in person.

Her emotions surged, making it almost impossible to restrain herself.

With a leap, she threw herself into Su Rui's embrace, holding him tightly.

She was, after all, just a girl under twenty. Even if she had honed her mind in the Acquired stage, the time was too short—how could she truly remain composed?

She wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face deep into those familiar robes, unwilling to look up.

"That's enough."

Sensing Wang Yuyan's low spirits, Su Rui lightly patted her back.

"Exactly what happened? Was the talisman inside you awakened by him?"

Su Rui's gaze landed on Free and Unfettered Master; in that moment, it was as if a cold current swept across the latter's heart.

Free and Unfettered Master's heart suddenly constricted, his whole body tensing up.

This person... is unfathomable! He is far stronger than myself, simply as difficult to gauge as an abyss.

"Teacher, this is Senior Free and Unfettered Master, the expert I mentioned to you and the City Lord of Xueyue City before."

Seeing this, Wang Yuyan hurriedly explained.

Free and Unfettered Master?

"Just now that old monk was hunting me down; it was thanks to Senior Free and Unfettered Master blocking several attacks for me."

"It was just a small effort, not worth mentioning!"

Free and Unfettered Master hurriedly waved his hand in dismissal, though his heart was still a bit uneasy—that sense of oppression finally dissipated, allowing him to breathe a sigh of relief.

"I sent my cousin's remains back to the Murong family, but who knew his father wasn't dead at all? The night before last, he sneaked into Mantuo Villa and started a massacre; even Mother was injured..."

Wang Yuyan's voice trembled, her eyes welling up with tears.

This was also the reason why she had pursued him all the way to Shaolin.

Looking at the aggrieved appearance of the girl in his arms, Su Rui's heart was filled with mixed emotions.

Good grief...

You weren't delivering news of a death; you were clearly going there to slap their faces.

You killed their son and then personally delivered the coffin to their door—if that isn't a provocation, what is?

But with different perspectives, right and wrong are reversed.

In Murong Bo's eyes, taking your life might be only natural.

But now she is my Disciple; whoever touches a single hair on her head will have to pay the price.

Wang Yuyan was pure and kind by nature, like a little deer unaware of the world's wickedness.

As for that Murong Bo, Su Rui also had no good feelings toward him.

"Then let's take a trip to Shaolin."

After hearing the cause and effect, Su Rui spoke without hesitation.

"Wait a moment!"

Free and Unfettered Master was startled and hurriedly spoke up to stop them.

He didn't know how old Su Rui was, but since he was his Senior Brother's Revered Master, calling him Senior couldn't be wrong.

"Hmm?"

Su Rui looked over, his brow slightly arched.

"Teacher, Senior Free and Unfettered Master said there is a terrifying expert hidden inside Shaolin..."

Wang Yuyan suddenly remembered something and quickly added.

An expert?

Su Rui's eyes narrowed slightly.

"That person's origins are unknown, but his strength is profound.

I was previously struck from a distance by a single finger of his and heavily injured, nearly perishing."

Free and Unfettered Master's tone was heavy.

"I see." Su Rui nodded, his expression unchanged.

Free and Unfettered Master thought he would retreat, or at least hesitate for a while.

Unexpectedly, in the next moment, Su Rui swept his sleeves, taking the three women into the air and heading straight for Shaolin.

Free and Unfettered Master froze on the spot, his face full of astonishment.

He's still going even after hearing that?

Does he really have the confidence to defeat that terrifying existence?

He was shocked in his heart, but he didn't dare to delay, hurriedly taking to the air to catch up.

But the difference in speed was too great; he only saw Su Rui rise and fall a few times before his figure turned into a black dot in the distance and vanished in an instant.

"This level of cultivation... is simply unheard of!"

Free and Unfettered Master sucked in a breath of cold air.

Then he shook his head with a bitter smile.

True, he should have thought of it long ago.

That sword shadow that pierced through the air, and the form of the giant bird that blotted out the sun when he appeared—how could those be things ordinary mortals could achieve?

By practicing the North Dark Divine Art, he could also manifest a phantom of a Giant Kun, but compared to what he just saw, it was merely a superficial imitation; the difference between real and fake was clear at a glance.

That flying Giant Roc—if it hadn't finally dissipated among the clouds, he would have almost thought an ancient Vicious Bird had descended to the world.

The gap was so vast it went without saying.

"I can't compare, I really can't compare... I'd better stop trying to compare."

Free and Unfettered Master muttered to himself, gritting his teeth as he accelerated his pursuit.

At this time, outside the Shaolin mountain gate, the heroes of the Jianghu had already gathered.

"Qiao Feng! Since you have already submitted to the Northern Yuan, you should not step into the territory of our Great Song again!"

A man wearing a copper mask shouted sternly.

This person had a square face and a broad forehead, his Aura was awe-inspiring, and his physique was as burly as an iron tower; he was none other than the former leader of the Beggars Gang, Qiao Feng.

"Indeed, you are now the great king of the southern court of the Northern Yuan. Your appearance in the Central Plains today—could it be that you are under orders to invade the south?"

Another person chimed in, appearing elegant, yet a cunning light was hidden in the depths of his eyes; it was Quan Guanqing.

"Quan Guanqing, it is not your place to act presumptuously here!"

Qiao Feng swept a cold glance at him, his eyes filled with contempt.

"Hmph!"

Quan Guanqing's face turned ashen, his anger burning, but he was wary of the other's deep internal power and could only grit his teeth and endure.

With the heroes gathered here now, even if you, Qiao Feng, have peerless martial arts, don't dream of leaving safely!

He sneered inwardly: So what if you are a Great Grandmaster? You cannot defy the public's wrath!

"Qiao Feng, since you have already served an enemy country, from today onwards, you are an irreconcilable enemy of our Central Plains Martial Forest!"

Several Elders of the Beggars Gang stood up one after another to echo the sentiment.

"It should be so!"

He had grown up in the Great Song since childhood, and in his early years while leading the Beggars Gang, he had many times led the members to thwart the Northern Yuan's plots to invade the south.

But once his identity was exposed, all past sentiments vanished like clouds in the wind.

Just because of that one origin, it was enough to make it difficult for him to move a single step in the Central Plains.