After finishing the fish, a shower of golden light descended from the sky, officially reaching level 84!
Lin Zhao wiped his hands and stood up, saying, "Can you take us there, Xu Zhi? We don't need many people. Just you, me, and Xiang Ji should suffice."
"Certainly."
Xu Zhi nodded with a light smile, "A sword cultivator of the eleventh realm, escorting people is a trivial matter."
"Good."
The next moment, Xu Zhi gently raised her hand and drew the sword from her back. The sword light instantly erupted in the camp, enveloping Lin Zhao and Xiang Ji as they flew towards the direction of Mirror Lake. The speed was astonishing, and in about a hundred breaths, they could see Mirror Lake in the distance. Lin Zhao narrowed his eyes, looking at the lake, feeling a pang of hesitation. Perhaps it was best not to meet. His death had once spread throughout the world, and forgetting each other in the Jianghu with Han Yurou and Zhang Xicheng was the best outcome.
Under the sword light, the three slowly landed in front of a sect gate nestled among the mountains.
The sect gate was extremely grand, carved from a massive boulder. Etched onto the gray-white rock was a line of green characters: Wu Di Quan Zong (Invincible Fist Sect). The name of this sect was quite audacious. If anyone dared to use such a name for a sect within the territory of the Great Shang Dynasty, they would likely have martial artists knocking on their doors daily demanding a fight. However, it was different in the Northern Region. This land was vast and sparsely populated, and most people traversing it were rogue cultivators. They only sought opportunities and the Great Dao, and cared not for what you called yourself. Whether you called yourself the number one fist sect or sword sect in the world, it wouldn't matter, as long as you didn't obstruct their path.
"Who goes there?"
As Lin Zhao and his companions landed, a group of disciples from the Invincible Fist Sect rushed out from the disciples' quarters beside the sect gate. Each of them exuded a faint aura of fist intent. Indeed, they were all martial artists, with the weakest possessing the cultivation of a first-realm martial artist. These disciples appeared to be quite young, with defiant expressions. One of them frowned, looking at Lin Zhao and his group, his gaze eventually settling on Xu Zhi, the sword cultivator with the highest cultivation, whose power seemed unfathomable!
"May I ask why you have come here?" he inquired softly.
Lin Zhao smiled slightly and said, "We wish to see your Sect Master and discuss a matter with him."
"Oh?"
The young disciple frowned. "Our Sect Master does not receive guests. Please return. Our Invincible Fist Sect does not associate with anyone in the Northern Region, nor do we wish to."
"Boy!"
Xiang Ji raised an eyebrow and said, "Your cultivation is not high, yet your tone is immense. I have met your Sect Master, that old fellow. Tell him to come out and speak with me, or I will tear down your sect gate!"
"You!"
The young disciple was enraged. "Are you here to challenge us?"
"What if we are?"
Xiang Ji said calmly, "If you refuse us entry today, let alone your sect gate, we will tear down your Ancestral Hall!"
Lin Zhao nodded with a light chuckle, "Yes, my friend here has a very bad temper. Tell your Sect Master to come out and see me, otherwise, he will truly tear down your Ancestral Hall."
"Are you seeking death?"
The young disciple guarding the sect gate threw a punch, enraged. "There are no kneeling disciples of the Invincible Fist Sect in this world, only standing ones! Junior brothers, attack together and let this brute know that there are always people stronger than him, and mountains beyond mountains!"
"Yes, Senior Brother!"
These were mostly outer disciples of the Invincible Fist Sect. They received very little in terms of cultivation resources from the sect on a daily basis. Now that someone was kicking down their door, it was a golden opportunity to show their loyalty. Even if they were injured, the sect would reward them handsomely afterward. Thus, each of them surged with fist intent, and numerous fist imprints flew towards Xiang Ji!
"Hmm?"
Lin Zhao and Xu Zhi frowned almost simultaneously. This fist technique was grand and powerful, and it looked so familiar. It seemed like... Chu Huaixi's self-created 'Rong Ma Quan Fa' (Battlefield Fist Technique)? What was the origin of this Invincible Fist Sect, and how did they possess Chu Huaixi's fist technique?
"You brought this upon yourselves."
Xiang Ji took a step forward, and his entire body surged with majestic fist intent. Tendrils of fist energy swirled wildly. Although he hadn't thrown a punch, it was as if countless fists were being unleashed in all directions. Instantly, dozens of the disciples guarding the sect gate were forced to retreat, almost all of them injured. However, they were all minor injuries. Xiang Ji had maintained his control well; otherwise, with the foundation of a ninth-realm martial artist, these disciples of the first, second, and third realms would have likely been annihilated.
"You... Who exactly are you?"
"Go back and call your Sect Master. You are no match for us!"
"Hmph!"
...
At the peak of the mountain, in the main hall of the Invincible Fist Sect.
Several injured disciples, clutching their chests, hurried in and knelt down. One of them said, "Sect Master, someone has trespassed on our mountain. There are three of them in total, two sword cultivators, one of whom is extremely powerful, and a martial artist with impressive fist techniques. We are no match for him!"
"Presumptuous!"
The Sect Master, a middle-aged seventh-realm martial artist, shattered the rosewood tea table with a single slap, his fist intent surging upwards. "Follow me, let's go meet these people!"
"Sect Master."
A fifth-realm disciple frowned. "They come with ill intentions. If they dare to ascend the mountain, they must have some capability. Should we... inform the Old Ancestor?"
"The Old Ancestor is in the back mountains, nurturing his fist intent. Do not disturb him."
The Sect Master frowned. "Such a trivial matter does not require disturbing him. Let's go. With me here, it is enough!"
His brows were tightly furrowed, but his mind was clear. How many human cultivators were there left in the entire Northern Region? Not many. Those who dared to come to the Northern Region were generally rogue cultivators who couldn't make it in the Southern lands and wanted to scavenge for a living in the North. Most of them were below the fifth realm. Even among the middle realms, they would be sixth or seventh-realm rogue cultivators, whom he didn't need to pay much attention to.
Thus, a group of people descended the mountain in a hurry.
"It's you!?"
The Sect Master raised an eyebrow. "Why did you attack my sect gate?"
Lin Zhao cupped his fists lightly. "Sect Master, we originally intended to come for a discussion. However, your Invincible Fist Sect tried to bar our way, so we had no choice but to use force."
"No martial world etiquette?"
The Sect Master narrowed his eyes, a cold sneer on his face. His gaze fell upon Xiang Ji, and his heart chilled. He seemed to recognize this person. He had been knocked unconscious by his punches years ago, and now this person's martial artist realm seemed even higher. Judging by the density of his true qi, he should be a ninth-realm Wandering Realm martial artist. His own seventh-realm was simply not enough to fight him!
Therefore, he condensed his voice into a line and transmitted it to his personal disciple: "Go immediately to the back mountains and find the Old Ancestor. Tell him that a group of people has attacked the mountain, including a sword cultivator of considerable strength and a ninth-realm martial artist. Only the Old Ancestor can withstand them. I will... hold my ground here and wait for the Old Ancestor to save the sect!"
"Yes, Master!"
The young man turned and ascended the mountain, soaring like lightning.
"Hmph!"
The Sect Master smiled faintly. "You resorted to violence because you were denied entry? Since that is the case, I wish to hear what this young hero has to say. What matter do you wish to discuss with our Invincible Fist Sect?"
"To kill demons together."
Lin Zhao said calmly, "We have gathered a group of people at Xueyu Tianchi (Snow Domain Heavenly Pool) and require your strength. If the Invincible Fist Sect joins us, the strength at Xueyu Tianchi will undoubtedly increase further."
The Sect Master couldn't help but sneer. "Xueyu Tianchi? That's old news. What's the point of bringing it up now? Who doesn't know that Xueyu Tianchi has long since returned to the hands of the demons? If you ask us to go to Xueyu Tianchi now, aren't you asking us to walk into our deaths?"
Xiang Ji frowned. "So, you are unwilling? Very well, shall I test my fists again?"
"You..."
The Sect Master was enraged but helpless against this brute. He said coldly, "Judging by your words, you intend to force our hand? If the Invincible Fist Sect is unwilling to join, you will flatten us?"
"That's right."
Xu Zhi drew her long sword, and strands of sword intent rose around her, immensely powerful. She looked at the sect master, who was astonishingly weak, with a smile and said, "You haven't done anything good in the Northern Region anyway, mostly just plundering. You don't even dare to approach Xueyu Tianchi. Are you afraid of being discovered by the demons and having them destroy you to the south?"
"You..."
The Sect Master gritted his teeth in anger, but it seemed he had hit the nail on the head. Although the Invincible Fist Sect had numerous disciples, they never went down the mountain to kill demons. From the perspective of humanity, their actions were indeed questionable. Even the rogue cultivators who traveled through the Northern Region would incidentally kill demons. The vast number of over a thousand disciples in the Invincible Fist Sect made this situation rather ironic.
"We will give you the time it takes for an incense stick to burn."
Xu Zhi lowered the tip of her sword and smiled. "Those willing to go with us to Xueyu Tianchi to kill demons will come along. Those unwilling will disperse. In any case, this Invincible Fist Sect cannot remain."
"Hmph!"
The Sect Master trembled with anger but was helpless.
...
The back mountain of the Invincible Fist Sect.
In the Ancestral Hall, a middle-aged martial artist with a full forehead slowly stood up and offered incense to the portraits of the figures enshrined in the hall. Among them, hung in the center, was a young man in white robes and silver armor, riding a white horse, carrying an ancient sword. To his left was a martial artist riding a warhorse and punching, who was none other than Chu Huaixi of yesteryear. To his right was an elderly man in a green robe, with a gaunt appearance and radiating a potent fist intent – Chen Wanli, a twelfth-realm Rebirth Realm martial artist.
This Old Ancestor had a very conspicuous scar on his chin that extended downwards, across his neck, and even onto his chest. There were lingering traces of fist energy, faintly carrying a hint of demonic energy. This was an old wound that had begun to heal under his years of suppression, but it hadn't healed completely, as the great demon who had struck him back then had been both skilled and fierce.
"Old Ancestor!"
The young martial artist stopped outside the door and respectfully said, "Someone has kicked down our sect gate. Master is holding them off. The intruders are very strong, with two sword cultivators, one of whom is likely in the Star River Realm, and a Wandering Realm martial artist. Master alone cannot possibly resist them. All the disciples on the mountain have gone to help. Please, Old Ancestor, come out immediately, or... the Invincible Fist Sect will be trampled!"
"Audacious!"
The Old Ancestor's gaze turned cold. "Who dares to kick down the gate of our Invincible Fist Sect? Do they take me, a Heavenly Origin Realm martial artist, for a decoration? Come, let's go. Anyone who dares to trespass on the Invincible Fist Sect gate, I will beat them until they kneel and beg for mercy!"
"Yes, Old Ancestor!"
...
Accompanied by a surge of majestic fist intent, the Old Ancestor, with his hands behind his back, arrogantly rode the wind and landed directly in front of the intruders. He said indifferently, "Who dares to kick down the gate of our Invincible Fist Sect? It is not too late to kneel now!"
Lin Zhao: "..."
Xu Zhi was also stunned, looking at the other party in disbelief.
"It was me."
Lin Zhao took a step forward, a smile on his face, looking at this Old Ancestor.
...
"Thump!"
The Old Ancestor stared fixedly at Lin Zhao, then at Xu Zhi. His entire body trembled, and his surging fist intent quietly dissipated. With a "thump," he directly knelt before Lin Zhao, tears streaming down his face.
"My lord, is it truly you?"