Once again, the saber in Lu Sheng’s hands burst apart, scattering into a storm of steel fragments. The violent force surged forward and ripped the Soul Locking Spear from Gongsun Zhanglan’s grasp, flinging it high into the air before it crashed into the distance with a dull thud.
“DIE!!!” Lu Sheng roared, eyes bulging with madness. In a blur of motion, his palms hammered into Gongsun Zhanglan’s chest again and again.
At first, Gongsun Zhanglan barely managed to withstand the assault. But within mere breaths, his strength evaporated, his resistance collapsing like a breached dam.
Boom boom boom boom boom boom!!!
Each impact rocked his body. His eyes widened as he staggered backward, trembling like a reed caught in a violent gale. Blood spurted from his lips in harsh, wet bursts.
His face soon drained of all color. Limbs slackened, his body sagged like a puppet with its strings torn apart as Lu Sheng’s onslaught continued without mercy.
“AAAAAAAARGH!!!”
Lu Sheng bellowed, eyes bloodshot, mind lost to fury. His palms pounded Gongsun Zhanglan’s chest and abdomen with frenzied, relentless force. Blood sprayed into the air, scattering in the wind and dyeing the earth beneath them crimson.
“Big Brother!!!” his sister-in-law cried out as she rushed toward them.
Fang Zhidong jolted from his stupor and sprinted after her.
By then, Gongsun Zhanglan’s pupils were fully dilated, unfocused. His organs had been reduced to pulp under the ceaseless barrage, his body pushed backward step by step.
BOOM!
One final strike sent him airborne. His body arced through the air before crashing into the water behind him.
Lu Sheng’s expression twisted. The inner force within him surged violently, fusing Ultimate Crimson Qi, Blood Fury Skill, and Yin-Yang Jade Crane Skill into a single terrifying torrent. He drove both palms toward the spot where Gongsun Zhanglan had fallen.
“DIE!!!”
BOOM!
A towering column of water erupted several meters high before breaking into countless droplets that rained across the lake’s surface.
Slowly, thin threads of red seeped upward, spreading across Cypress Pine Lake in widening streaks of blood.
No one had expected the tide to turn so abruptly. Just moments earlier, Gongsun Zhanglan had held the advantage—yet in the span of a blink, the battle was over.
“Big Brother!”
Zhang Huishu, her face streaked with tears, rushed into the river. The water climbed past her knees as she fought against its pull, dragging Gongsun Zhanglan’s limp body toward the shore with trembling hands.
Fang Zhidong landed close behind her. The sight before him made him exhale a long, heavy breath as he shook his head.
“He didn’t make it.” His eyes shifted to Lu Sheng. The man’s swollen, towering physique—muscle and force fused into a monstrous form—was enough to chill any heart.
“He picked on someone the wrong size after all…” Fang Zhidong murmured. He harbored no intention of avenging Gongsun Zhanglan. Whether he was capable of defeating Lu Sheng or not, he still had a family—his wife, his daughters—to think of. By delaying Crimson Whale Sect Master Hong Mingzi earlier, he had already fulfilled his obligation to the Gongsun family.
Lu Sheng, having unleashed nearly all his inner Qi during his frenzied assault, stood amid the fading shockwaves. Yet it was in this moment that the power of the Yin-Yang Jade Crane Skill revealed itself. Within seven or eight breaths, half of his inner Qi had returned, swirling through his meridians with startling vitality.
“Why? You want to come at me?” Lu Sheng grinned, baring his teeth as he looked at the two of them.
“You’ve won,” Fang Zhidong replied evenly. Acting rashly now would doom not just himself, but everyone connected to the Gongsun family. If his attack failed, their fates would be sealed. Internal power struggles within sects were far crueler than outsiders imagined. Even if Sect Master Hong Mingzi allowed the matter to pass, those beneath him—and the Gongsun family’s old enemies—would not.
“I’LL KILL YOU!!!” Zhang Huishu screamed, her eyes burning red as she lurched toward Lu Sheng.
Before she could take more than a step, Fang Zhidong struck the back of her neck. Her body went limp, collapsing into darkness.
“This was a fair death match. May I ask External Affairs Emissary Lu to show mercy? I, Fang Zhidong, guarantee that the Gongsun family will not seek revenge.” Fang Zhidong cupped his fists toward Lu Sheng, his tone steady despite the tension in the air.
A soft sigh drifted from the shore. The old Sect Master had arrived with another elder, both gazing at Gongsun Zhanglan’s lifeless body floating in the water. Complex emotions rippled through Hong Mingzi’s eyes.
This Crimson Whale Deputy Sect Master—who had dominated the Northern Lands for over twenty years—had fallen in a single duel. No one could have predicted such an end.
Hong Mingzi had expected Lu Sheng to be at a slight disadvantage, but never truly in danger. As long as he intervened at the right moment, he believed he could prevent any fatality. Yet now… it was far too late.
“Guarantee?”155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLJWBVKftW
Lu Sheng’s swollen, monstrous frame gradually shrank back to its normal shape. He cast a cold glance at Gongsun Zhanglan’s corpse, the corner of his mouth lifting in mockery. “Who do you think you are? What does it matter to you whether I spare the Gongsun family?”
“Junior Apprentice Brother, there’s no harm in agreeing.” Hong Mingzi’s voice was heavy with sorrow. “Gongsun Jing… she’s all that remains. The rest—those godsons and goddaughters—were such only in name. Gongsun Zhanglan never had children. His parents died young. He fought alone for decades, growing stronger bit by bit, and eventually managed to find his younger brother’s family.”
He paused, his expression dimming. “A few years ago, his younger brother died as well, leaving behind only Gongsun Jing and his sister-in-law. And now even Gongsun Jing…”
The weight of it settled. Only now did Lu Sheng understand how pitifully thin the Gongsun bloodline had become—how Gongsun Zhanglan had stood alone as the family’s final pillar.
Fang Zhidong remained before him, earnest and without even a flicker of hostility.
Lu Sheng exhaled, the fury draining from him.
“Since Senior Apprentice Brother has spoken, I promise not to cause trouble for the Gongsun family.” After all, Zhang Huishu was the only one left. Gongsun Zhanglan had countless enemies. Lu Sheng didn’t need to lay another hand on them—once word spread, others would descend like sharks scenting blood.
“Many thanks.” Having secured Lu Sheng’s promise, Fang Zhidong gathered Gongsun Zhanglan’s corpse and the unconscious Zhang Huishu under his arms, then sprinted into the distance. Within moments, his figure disappeared into the thick forest.
With his opponent gone, Lu Sheng immediately channeled his Qi, guiding the Yin-Yang Jade Crane energy toward the wound on his waist and the internal injuries he had sustained earlier. The technique accelerated his recovery while forcefully isolating the Soul Locking Spear’s venom, confining it to a small, controlled area.
“Senior Apprentice Brother, may I borrow a saber?” Hong Mingzi handed one over, and Lu Sheng used it without hesitation, slicing away a large chunk of flesh from his waist.
The flesh was pitch-black, oozing a foul stench. The poison had coagulated into thick clots, blocking his blood vessels.
“Junior Apprentice Brother, this duel has truly been an eye-opener for me,” Hong Mingzi said with a sigh. “You and Gongsun Zhanglan unleashed trump cards one after another, yet in the end, he was still slain by your hand.”
Lu Sheng smiled faintly. In truth, if everything were equal, he wouldn’t have been Gongsun Zhanglan’s match. His true advantage lay in his overwhelming reservoir of Qi and his unmatched ability to replenish it. By the end of the fight, Gongsun Zhanglan’s inner Qi had been exhausted; without that crucial weakness, Lu Sheng would likely have been gravely injured as well—perhaps even worse off.
“I’ve long wanted to know what it feels like to fight to the death. Now I finally understand.”155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncwfIMFVvw
Satisfaction flickered across his features. He tossed the severed flesh into the river, then pressed his palm firmly over the gaping wound.
The Ultimate Crimson Mantra surged to life. His palm grew blisteringly hot, cauterizing the torn flesh within seconds, sealing the wound with scorched precision.
“Let’s head back first. I need to clean up and rest.”
Hong Mingzi nodded thoughtfully. “Since Junior Apprentice Brother won the duel today, you might as well take over as Deputy Sect Master. When we return, I’ll arrange someone to assist you with the minor affairs. You’ll only need to handle the major matters. What do you say?”
Elder Wang stood to the side, still unable to fully process Lu Sheng’s shocking victory. When he heard Hong Mingzi mention naming Lu Sheng the Deputy Sect Master, he immediately waved both hands in alarm.
“Old Sect Master, don’t do that to Brother Lu. The Deputy Sect Master’s duties are too heavy. It will definitely hinder his martial cultivation. It’s better to grant him the position after he reaches full mastery.”
“You’re right… that was my oversight,” Hong Mingzi admitted with a nod. “We’ll discuss it again when we return.”
Lu Sheng nodded. “Before we head back, let me bid a friend farewell first. She’s the one who gave me a ride here.”
Without waiting for their response, he sprinted toward the ship.
The vessel had already been pulled to shore, undergoing temporary repairs after running aground on the reefs. The young masters and young ladies who had watched the battle earlier caught sight of Lu Sheng approaching—and instantly panicked. One after another, they vanished into their cabins, slamming the doors shut, refusing to take even a peek outside.
Within seconds, the deck was deserted—except for Bian Su and her Grand Uncle.
“Young Master!” Ning San hurried forward and bowed.
“Give me a moment; I need to settle something,” Lu Sheng replied casually, striding toward Bian Su and the elder beside her.
Both still stood frozen, stunned by the monstrous transformation they had just witnessed. The aura he radiated moments ago—overwhelming might, explosive speed, raw brutality—left them trembling with awe and fear even now.
Lu Sheng flashed them a broad smile, baring his teeth.
“Since you gave me a ride, Young Master Bian, you may look for me at the Golden Jade Greenhouse if you ever need assistance. In the Northern Lands, I’m a local. If trouble arises, I should be able to help.”
A chill ran down Bian Su’s spine. The image of Gongsun Zhanglan’s tragic end flickered through her mind.
Just moments ago, this man had been roaring like a blood-mad demon. Now he was smiling gently at her. And what had that other man called him earlier?
Young Master?
Bian Su sneaked a glance at Lu Sheng’s bald head and bulging muscles—muscles that looked capable of killing an ox with a single punch. HOW ON EARTH DOES HE LOOK LIKE A YOUNG MASTER?! she screamed inwardly.
Outwardly, she managed only an awkward reply. “Young Master… you’re too polite…”
“No, not at all,” Lu Sheng said, eyes narrowing with curiosity. What treasure was this Young Master Bian carrying that attracted so many vultures?
“Do you need me to get rid of that irritating scum for you?” He pointed casually toward the cabins.
“Er… no need… there’s no need to trouble you, Young Master…” Bian Su blurted out, flustered.
Beside her, her Grand Uncle tugged lightly at her sleeve before stepping forward.
“Young Master Lu, you can probably tell our Young Miss is in a difficult situation. If something happens, we may truly require your assistance. Naturally, we wouldn’t expect your help for free. We understand the gifts needed.” He offered a practiced smile.
Lu Sheng nodded, pleased.
“Mm…”
The old man was perceptive. After all, simply letting him ride their ship wasn’t enough to earn real protection. What truly drew Lu Sheng was his curiosity—and the chance that he could gain something valuable from this young lady.
He had overheard the vultures earlier whispering about Miss Bian carrying something that might be useful to him.
“Just go to any casino with the word ‘Gold’ in its name in Mountain-Edge City and mention my name. Someone will come receive you.” He turned slightly. “Ning San, stay behind and explain the details. I’ll head off first.”
“Yes, Boss,” Ning San responded immediately with newfound reverence. After seeing Lu Sheng beat Gongsun Zhanglan to death like a rampaging beast, his admiration had skyrocketed—so much so that he unconsciously switched to calling him Boss.
Lu Sheng scowled. “How many times have I said this—call me Young Master!”
“Yes yes yes… Young Master…” Sweat beaded on Ning San’s forehead.
Behind them, Bian Su and her Grand Uncle fought hard to suppress their laughter, faces twisted from the effort.
Lu Sheng ignored them entirely as he stepped off the ship and went to seek out the old Sect Master.
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