"The Nie Family ancestor couldn’t match the Iron Flute Immortal and fled into the old Nie Family residence..."

"Princess Qingyuan, accompanied by the Mo Family Elder Ming Gui, attacked the government soldiers using the technique of Scattering Beans into Soldiers and almost captured Nie Shensha alive..."

"According to reports, several elders of the Beggar Gang, Dharma Protectors of the White Lotus Sect Leader, and others mingling in chaos have appeared in the Prefecture City..."

Various pieces of information come either from rumors or from others’ telling, some are guesses, while others are outdated news.

Speaking of which.

The most accurate information often comes from Fang Ping’an’s messages, but there hasn’t been any news for two days now.

Hmm?

As thoughts of Fang Ping’an passed, the Sea of Consciousness Compass suddenly vibrated gently, casting a strand of ominous light.

Something happened?

"Swish!"

Fang Zheng’s figure flashed, vanishing from his original spot, leaving the others staring at each other in confusion.

*

*

*

A mountain hollow.

Fang Ping’an’s face was pale, and he suddenly raised a mysterious Array Map from his sleeve, his hands swiftly executing Finger Techniques.

"Hurry!"

With True Words uttered, the Array Map emitted a yellowish aura, enveloping everything in the blink of an eye.

Then,

the yellowish aura started to change, gradually merging with the surrounding environment, making it undetectable even upon close inspection.

"Phew..."

After finishing all this, he finally breathed a sigh of relief and looked back:

"Aunt Shu."

"We’re safe for now."

"Mm." Li Shu sat cross-legged on the ground, her face devoid of color, strands of hair at her temples turning white, nodded slightly at his words, and asked:

"The Blinding Technique you performed was quite mysterious, is there any explanation for it?"

"Aunt Shu, now isn’t the time to discuss this, is it?" Fang Ping’an sighed:

"The pursuers might arrive at any moment, restore yourself quickly. If we’re discovered, I’m... afraid I won’t be able to fend them off much longer."

He said with a look of helplessness.

He considered himself strong and had many life-saving measures given by Fang Zheng, but it depends on whom he’s compared against.

In front of a Martial Arts Grandmaster, his proud techniques were almost entirely ineffective.

"At this point, the duration of rest no longer matters." Li Shu shook her head and continued to ask:

"What is the name of the Blinding Technique you used?"

"Heart Emptiness!" Fang Ping’an replied helplessly:

"With an empty heart, all things can be illusions. This is the magic my father taught me, which can to some extent avoid the perceptions of a Martial Arts Grandmaster."

"Indeed..." Li Shu’s expression turned odd:

"It’s the Heart Emptiness Secret Skill!"

"Hmm?" Fang Ping’an was taken aback:

"Aunt Shu knows this Blinding Technique?"

"I know." Li Shu nodded, her brows suddenly furrowing, reached out with her hand, and the delicate five fingers instantly grew large, striking towards the void ahead.

As Palm Force surged, a seven-foot-long staff silently appeared where there seemed to be nothing initially.

The staff collided with the palm, and visible shockwaves burst from their point of contact.

"Boom!"

Fang Ping’an’s body trembled, feeling as if a mountain had smashed into him, spewing blood as he was sent flying back.

The Spiritual Light from the Protective Talisman was utterly insignificant against this impact.

Giant Spirit — Heaven Overturning Style!

Li Shu’s eyes widened, silver teeth clenched, her hair swiftly turning white.

In the blink of an eye,

it was as though she aged several decades.

And as she executed the palm strike, the land within a mile trembled simultaneously, and the air ahead sunk into a hole.

A figure wielding a staff appeared.

"Good!"

The intruder shouted:

"The extreme of strength; the Ten Great Divine Skills. The Li Family’s heritage is truly in your possession!"

"Nonsense!" Li Shu retorted angrily:

"You, surnamed Crazy, were originally a servant of my family; even becoming a Martial Arts Grandmaster is entirely due to the Li Family’s help."

"Ungrateful wretch!"

"Haha..." The intruder laughed:

"Crazy Pigeon is like a cage, betraying to earn the enemy’s trust, all for this day."

"Prepare to die!"

The seven-foot staff swung in the air, stirring turbulent waves dozens of meters long, crashing towards Li Shu.

The momentum was fierce, akin to raging waves and breaking tides.

"Boom!"

A violent Palm Force repelled the staff, causing the intruder to retreat with difficulty continually. By the time he regained his composure, nothing was there.

"Heh..."

Staring at the direction Li Shu and Fang Ping’an left, the intruder sneered coldly, stretched out his tongue to lick the bloodstains on the staff.

"Escape?"

"With the Blood Soul Guide marking you, even if you flee to the ends of the earth, you can’t escape Crazy Pigeon’s grasp."

"Two hundred years..."

"I’ve spent a full two hundred years waiting for this opportunity today; how could I miss it?"

"Boom!"

The ground exploded, soil sprayed, and the figure vanished from its original position.

......

"A... Aunt Shu..."

Fang Ping’an’s chest throbbed with pain, his vision darkened, and he struggled to speak:

"I can’t go on, you... go, leave me and escape alone."

"Swish!"

Li Shu’s figure flickered, appearing amidst a forest, gazing around, her eyes showing confusion.

"Aunt Shu?"

Fang Ping’an broke free from her grasp, panting heavily:

"I have a secret technique that can unleash my potential for a short time, it should be able to trap that person momentarily."

"Take the opportunity to..."

"Aunt Shu, what’s wrong with you?"

It was only now that he saw Li Shu’s condition clearly, feeling horrified as despair welled up within him.

At this moment, Li Shu’s eyes, ears, and nostrils were all oozing blood, and her once vibrant, elastic skin had become withered like that of a centenarian.

Her entire being exuded a twilight aura.

"Ping’an."

Li Shu spoke, her voice hoarse and unpleasant:

"After I die, take what I leave behind to your father and tell him... he knows what to do."

Father?

Fang Ping’an was startled, then came back to his senses.

His father indeed had some connection with Aunt Shu!

"The person pursuing us is Crazy Pigeon, originally a servant of the Li Family, who has always coveted the inheritance on me."

"There’s no escaping, but it’s certainly possible to perish together with him."

Li Shu turned, looking back with disdain:

"Since you want to watch, then let you watch to your heart’s content!"

Giant Spirit!

Celestial Collapse!

Instantly.

Li Shu’s already faint life flame suddenly flared fiercely, as if drenched in gasoline.

Her overwhelming qi and blood had unmistakably surpassed the limits of a Flawless Martial Artist.

Yet it was at the cost of burning her life force.

"Swish!"

Her figure flickered, and Li Shu transformed into a streak of light rushing towards the attacking figure, her fist striking fiercely.

"Bang!"

The figures collided mid-air, the surrounding trees collapsing simultaneously.

A fierce wind howled, sand blinded the eyes, forcing Fang Ping’an to lift his hands to shield his face with his sleeves and retreat repeatedly.

"Boom!"

"Bang!"

The sound of collision in the distance was endless, mixed occasionally with unwilling roars, yet without any trace of Li Shu’s presence.

This caused his heart to sink.

"Are you here?"

Fang Zheng’s voice rang out:

"Are you alright?"

"Father!" Fang Ping’an turned at the sound, his face lit up with joy, the terror in his heart instantly vanished, and a multitude of grievances surged within him.

His eyes grew sore, unable to suppress the urge to tears.

"I’m alright." Fang Zheng gently patted his shoulder, speaking slowly:

"It’s fine now."

"Mm." Fang Ping’an nodded urgently:

"Father, quickly go and save Aunt Shu."

"Little Princess?" Fang Zheng’s eyes moved slightly, glancing at the figures fighting in the distance, his face showing surprise.

He certainly knew someone was fighting, but hadn’t expected it to be Li Shu.

Li Shu,

had she also become a Martial Sect Master?

But he quickly understood, Li Shu’s current presence, though strong, was outwardly strong and inwardly weak, her apparent prowess gained at the cost of burning her life.

Moreover, she seemed to be using a life-risking forbidden technique, strong in power but gambling with life and death.

"Here you go."

Fang Zheng tossed a medicine bottle to Fang Ping’an:

"Take it for healing, I’ll be back shortly."

Before his words fell, a sudden gust arose in the field, a fierce wind forming a streak of white rushing towards the two battling individuals.

In mid-air, Fang Zheng pointed with his finger.

"Go!"

"Rumbling..."

The Wind and Cloud Banner fluttered, large wind blades tore through the air, slicing through arcs aimed directly at Li Shu’s opponent.

"Bang!"

"Clink clink clang clang..."

The person wielded a long stick, creating shadows that crushed the wind blades, looking intently as he took a step back.

"Who goes there?"

"Are you alright?" Fang Zheng ignored the opponent, looking towards Li Shu.

Li Shu glanced at Fang Zheng, her eyes complex, then suddenly rolled her eyes and fell straight backward.

Opportunity!

Crazy Pigeon rejoiced, disregarding Fang Zheng right beside him, using his body technique to leap towards Li Shu.

That thing is mine!

"Bang!"

A large hand blocked his path.

"Get out of the way!"

Crazy Pigeon shouted, his stick lightly flickering, a strange shockwave rippling away from it.

Fang Zheng felt a numbness in his palm, having to release it, only by repeatedly tapping could he dispel the force.

So strong!

It seems that no Martial Arts Grandmaster is weak.

"Move aside!"

Crazy Pigeon, having succeeded in one strike, pursued victoriously, instantly overwhelming Fang Zheng with a barrage of sticks.