Chapter 1294 - 330: Mist Enshrouds the Ancient Crossing, Blades Gleam on Cold Peaks to Defend Heroic Fame

The surrounding mountains appeared even more mysterious in the twilight. The peaks were shrouded in mist, resembling the Celestial Palace Immortal Realm. At the foot of the mountains, lush greenery and wildflowers abounded, and the scent of flowers mingled with birdsong, creating a scene of vibrant life. Dianchi Lake, reflecting the mountains, presented a beautiful and refreshing landscape.

Suddenly, the shrill cry of a night owl pierced the sky, while the bamboo forest by the lake rustled. Sixteen shadows emerged like ghosts, surrounding him.

"Mr. Tie Shan" Lu Wenyuan walked out, shaking the iron fan painted with a Tai Chi Diagram at a leisurely pace. The glow on the fan matched the cold gleam in his eyes: "Grand Squad Leader Shi, you have trespassed my family’s Duke’s Mansion multiple times. Do you truly think the Mu Family is without members?" Before his voice had faded, the iron fan unfurled with a "swish," revealing twelve Poisoned Bone-Piercing Nails hidden inside. With a flick of his wrist, a sharp whistling sound like a ghost’s cry followed.

Shi Feiyang’s expression remained unchanged, yet a chill surged from his whole body. The Bright Jade Technique operated to the "Supreme Forgetting Emotions Ice Soul Cold Prison," and his glazed skin emitted an icy blue sheen, forming a crystal-clear ice wall within a three-foot radius.

The Bone-Piercing Nails collided with the ice wall, producing a crisp tinkling sound before being frozen into icicles and falling down.

"Get out of the way." His voice was as cold as profound ice, and he slowly extended his palms. The "Heaven’s Edge" of the "Hundred Victories Saber Technique" had already been unleashed.

Nine arcs of golden Sword Qi, filled with a cold chill, swept fan-shaped across the air, causing the atmosphere to emit harsh explosions. Lu Wenyuan’s pupils shrank, urgently channeling the "Tai Chi Primordial Technique," his iron fan turning into a sheet of silver light.

However, Shi Feiyang’s Sword Qi was overpoweringly fierce, causing the Tai Chi Diagram to shatter inch by inch within the blade glow. The iron fan snapped into two with a "crack." "Nine Palace Linked Array, arise!" Lu Wenyuan shouted, and the other guards simultaneously drew their weapons.

"Pointing Hand" Zhou Wentong’s Judge’s Pen thrust like a snake’s tongue directly at Shi Feiyang’s Chest Acupoint; "Cold Plum Sword" Zhang Han’s Soft Sword formed bursts of sword flowers, the Sword Qi icy; a strong man wielding a Meteor Hammer swung his giant hammer, bringing a whistling wind; the barbarian with the Wolf Fang Club moved with ferocity, swearing to smash Shi Feiyang to pieces. Shi Feiyang let out a long howl, pushing the Bright Jade Technique to its utmost, his entire being like a moving iceberg.

He used his left hand as a saber and transformed his right hand into a sword, seamlessly integrating the "Hundred Victories Saber Technique" with the Bright Jade Technique.

"In this world, no one can block my progress!" With Shi Feiyang’s loud shout, a vortex of attraction appeared in his palm, causing everyone’s weapons to uncontrollably fly towards Shi Feiyang. Immediately after, golden Sword Qi crisscrossed like a reverse galaxy, and three individuals within the array were unable to dodge and were instantly turned into blood mist, with shredded limbs scattered amidst the waves.

Lu Wenyuan’s heart and soul broke as he pulled out a signal flare from his bosom. With a "bang," a brilliant red firework shot into the sky.

Shi Feiyang, seeing this, had a cold glimmer flash in his glazed eyes. He operated the Bright Jade Technique’s "Infinite Asura’s Human Purgatory," enveloping his body in an eerie red glow. The icy blue True Qi and the crimson flames violently clashed on the surface of his body, forming a gigantic Yin Yang Fish Diagram. "Today, no one can stop me! Those who block me shall die!" Shi Feiyang extended both palms, launching "Heaven and Earth Cleave," and a resounding golden blade streaked across the sky. Under this peerless blade’s power, the Nine Palace Linked Array crumbled into pieces, and the people’s bodies were blown away by the residual surge of Sword Qi, heavily crashing onto the rocks, spitting fresh blood, their bodies dismembered.

Lu Wenyuan, Zhou Wentong, and Zhang Han, continued spitting blood as they fled in panic.

Meanwhile, Shi Feiyang stood firm like a pine tree, gazing in the direction of Duke Qian’s Mansion, a determination growing stronger in his eyes. The waves of Dianchi Lake surged fiercely, as if applauding this thrilling showdown, or perhaps recounting the unyielding will of this Jianghu hero.

The dusk was deepening, with the waves of Dianchi Lake lapping against the rocks with the scent of blood.

Shi Feiyang retrieved a neatly folded dark-colored tent from the deerskin bag at his waist, his fingertips pausing slightly upon touching a hidden compartment inside the bag—there lay a thin handkerchief left by Mu Tong, faintly stained with the fragrance of osmanthus.

Calming the emotions that swirled within his eyes, he unfurled the tent. As he did, he quietly channeled his True Qi, pressing eight neat stakes into the wet mud.

The copper bells dangling from the four corners of the tent jingled softly, startling the waterfowl roosting in the reeds.

Shi Feiyang sat cross-legged on the animal skin mat, as the Bright Jade Technique circulated, casting a faint glow on the inner walls of the tent with his glazed-like skin.

As the watchman’s drum sounded the third watch, a coded signal of three long and two short was heard outside the tent, and the Kunming Sub-Branch Leader Wu Xiongzhi bowed and entered, his Profound Iron Hand Guards glinting under the moonlight. "Grand Squad Leader summons me at this late hour, is there an important matter to be instructed?" Wu Xiongzhi knelt on one knee, the Nine-Section Steel Whip at his waist emitting a slight rattling sound.

He looked up, seeing Shi Feiyang unconsciously rubbing his hands which were like the Celestial Frost Blade. Alarm bells rang in his heart—this was the Grand Squad Leader’s habitual movement when plotting significant matters.

Shi Feiyang flipped his palm to reveal a jade plaque engraved with the Heroic Cherry Blossom Totem, injecting icy blue True Qi into it. Instantly, a map of Kunming City’s streets and alleys appeared on the surface of the jade plaque: "Look." His finger traced the mark of Duke Qian’s Mansion, "My frequent appearances in Kunming recently have stirred the Imperial Court’s dogs and the Jianghu’s petty thieves to restlessness." Suddenly, dozens of red dots lit up on the jade plaque like falling stars, "These are the positions of the spies from Mu Royal Mansion and the Healing Association."

Wu Xiongzhi drew a sharp breath. As an old Jianghu master operating in Kunming for years, he was unaware that so many enemy tracks lurked right under their noses. "Grand Squad Leader means..."

"Lie low." Shi Feiyang clenched his fist abruptly, and the jade plaque shattered in response, turning into glittering light that dissipated in the tent, "Starting immediately, all sub-branch disciples go underground. Inns, pawnshops, gambling houses, and such surface industries, leave them to a few mute workers to watch over."