Chapter 17: Kill, Kill, Kill!

The Sun and Moon Sect was a prominent force within the territory of the Duke of Mingguo’s estate. However, the sect was known for its impulsive ways, often disregarding rules and running amok wherever they pleased.

After the Duke of Tang Guogong’s mansion was robbed, several members of the Sun and Moon Sect somehow caught wind of a secret hidden on Wang Changfeng’s person—the Dragon Abyss Diagram. The three of them took it upon themselves to ambush Wang Changfeng at the Yuelai Inn in Fengqiu County, but they were instead slain by him.

This incident also implicated Gao Wu, who was still working as a waiter at the Yuelai Inn at the time.

Before setting the ambush for Wang Changfeng, these sect members had already relayed news of the theft from the Duke’s treasury back to the Sun and Moon Sect.

In response, the sect dispatched four of their Ten Elders—the “Mighty Demon” Fan Song, “Flying Demon” Zhao He, “White Ape Demon” Zhang Chengyun, and “Golden Monkey Demon” Zhang Chengfeng—to Kaifeng to seize the treasure.

Fan Song, a burly man with well-developed muscles, stood atop a rooftop and said in a deep voice, “Are we just going to watch from here? Shouldn’t we go up and snatch that brat?”

Zhao He, small in stature but agile and light-footed, chuckled and replied, “Why rush? The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. Let’s wait a little longer.”

The Zhang brothers, Chengfeng and Chengyun, said nothing. These two siblings resembled each other closely, wielded the same weapons, and both possessed remarkably steady temperaments.

The elder brother, Zhang Chengyun, remarked, “That woman is at the Innate Realm. Even the four of us combined would stand no chance against her.”

Fan Song refused to believe it. “Impossible! She’s so young?”

“Indeed, Brother, no such figure appears on the Heroic Rankings or the Earthly Rankings.”

“What do you know? The martial world is vast, and countless hidden noble families exist. Those prodigies need only to cultivate in seclusion; they have no need to roam the martial world. Yet once they step into it, they invariably cause a stir.”

All four were of humble origins, having braved countless dangers and devoted themselves to the Sun and Moon Sect. They had only recently reached the Qi Sea Realm and earned the rank of elders within the sect.

They could only look on with envy and bitterness at those prodigies born surrounded by rare treasures and martial manuals, acquiring skills effortlessly.

Inside Gao Wu’s room, upon realizing he was stark naked and facing both the Black and White Impermanence, a crushing feeling of social death surged through him.

He turned his head slightly and spotted the Netherworld Order fallen onto his bed.

Reaching out, he inhaled it into his hand, then hastily dressed—ancient clothing was such a nuisance!

Seeing Gao Wu flustered, Black Impermanence immediately grabbed White Impermanence and tried to flee.

“No running!” Gao Wu shouted angrily. In an instant, he moved with his sword and stood before them.

“You’re staying here today. If you blame anyone, blame yourselves for looking at things you shouldn’t have.”

---

After undergoing the transformation by the Thousand-Year Lingzhi, Gao Wu’s martial root was restored and even became a Fire Spirit Root. His cultivation naturally broke through the meridians, reaching the Martial Movement Realm.

He wielded only an ordinary longsword, but the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra was extraordinary. Empowered by the technique, the Black and White Impermanence were no match for him.

“Lord of the Underworld, save me!” White Impermanence cried upon stepping outside, calling to the nearby Lords of the Underworld. But the five Lords were too preoccupied to pay attention.

After piercing White Impermanence’s heart with one strike, Gao Wu relentlessly pursued Black Impermanence.

“I’ll fight you to the death!” Black Impermanence roared, slapping Gao Wu’s chest, only to be pierced through by Gao Wu’s sword in return.

“Heh heh, struck by my Thousand Corpses and Ten Thousand Poisons Palm, you’re doomed! Once we meet again in the Netherworld, we, the Black and White Impermanence, will collect your soul!”

“Oh?” Gao Wu smoothly drew his sword out and wiped it on Black Impermanence’s black robe. “You might be disappointed. That poison of yours probably won’t affect me.”

The millennium-old Lingzhi could cure all poisons. The moment Black Impermanence’s toxins entered Gao Wu’s body, they were incinerated by the fire Lingzhi.

“Young Master Gao has ascended to the Martial Movement Realm!” Zhang Zifan’s folding fan paused mid-air.

“So what? Zhang, you’re at the peak of Qi Gathering, ranked 95 on the Heroic Rankings!”

“Yes, Zhang, our sisters have excellent taste. As our husband, you can’t afford to embarrass us!”

Zhang Zifan rolled his eyes helplessly. These two sisters had appeared out of nowhere and their martial skills surpassed his, yet they were unknown on the rankings.

Li Cunzhi, sitting on Li Cunxiao’s shoulder with a sharp accent, asked, “Zifan, have you decided whether to intervene?”

“Ah, Zhang? Are we to attack Young Master Gao and Little Dragon Girl?”

“No, Ninth Uncle. The pavilion master sent us to find the Thousand-Year Fire Lingzhi. Since Young Master Gao has already consumed it, we cannot move against him.”

“Hmph, if we catch that brat, draining his blood would have the same effect as the Lingzhi!”

“Not allowed!”

“A woman’s patience!”

After killing the Black and White Impermanence, Gao Wu then discovered that Liu Yifei had also slain the five Lords of the Underworld. It seemed Liu Yifei was even more adept at this martial world than himself.

*Clap clap clap.* The five Lords of the Underworld were considered formidable martial experts within the Duke of Tang’s domain, yet to fall to two juniors—truly laughable.

---

“Who are you?”

“I am Zhao He, the ‘Flying Demon,’ representing the Sun and Moon Sect and the Eastern Leader. I invite the two young heroes to Blackwood Cliff for a meeting.”

“The Eastern Leader? Wasn’t it Ren Woxing? Killed by Dongfang Bubai?”

Zhao He’s expression changed. “Young hero Gao, our sect sincerely invites you both. Please do not slander the Sun and Moon Sect.”

“Hmph. Let Dongfang Bubai wait. I shall go and learn from the ‘Sunflower Manual’ myself.”

“Heh heh, young hero, better reach the Innate Realm first before seeking to learn it! Farewell.”

Finally, Zhao He cast a lingering glance at Liu Yifei, clearly wary of this Innate Realm expert. Only then did they offer these polite words.

Liu Yifei scanned the surroundings once more. Seeing no one else appear, he turned to return to the inn.

“Wait, hold on!” Gao Wu called out hurriedly. “One doesn’t know the cost of running a household until one is in charge. If you don’t want to dirty your hands, let me search the bodies instead!”

With that, Gao Wu eagerly began rifling through the corpses. The main spoils were, of course, the weapons of the five Lords of the Underworld: golden long knives, judge’s brushes, iron hammers, giant axes, and even long staves. Ah, this armor isn’t bad either—it could fetch some silver.

Liu Yifei had used a light sword and hadn’t clashed head-on with the Lords, which was why their weapons and armor remained intact.

Lastly, Gao Wu’s favorite—silver notes. Each of the five Lords guarded a separate area and carried a substantial amount of silver notes—Gao Wu counted over ten thousand taels!

He was still using an ordinary iron sword; he needed to save up to buy a better weapon.

Muttering to himself as he scavenged, Gao Wu said, “Wanbao Pavilion is a good place. I’ll sell these weapons to them, then buy a better sword there!”

“I really envy Wanbao Pavilion. I wonder if the owner has a daughter. If only I could become the son-in-law of the Wanbao Pavilion’s owner—tsk tsk… such a beautiful prospect, too wonderful to imagine!”

Lost in thought, a warm sensation stirred in his lower abdomen.

Gao Wu felt the Qi within him further condense, gradually taking the shape of an object.