C220 Rise Again(1)

Woo Zhengyang steadied himself, his expression serious. The subtle changes in the atmosphere hadn't escaped his notice. Facing someone like Patriarch Liu, a martial master at the peak of his skills, was not something he could handle directly. If anyone else got involved, Zhengyang would be in even greater danger.

"It seems the only option is to retreat to the Ice Crystal Fire Hall," Zhengyang thought to himself.

"So, are you all here to help me capture this young man, or are you planning to destroy my Liu family? Or perhaps you want to play both sides?" Patriarch Liu remarked coldly, sensing the shift among the crowd.

No one spoke up; it wasn't the right moment to act, but private discussions continued. Patriarch Liu knew he couldn't openly confront everyone. The best course was to eliminate Woo Zhengyang first and then leave swiftly. The fall of the Liu family seemed inevitable, but if he could seize the opportunity Zhengyang possessed and reach the Shape Gathering Stage, rebuilding the Liu family would be within his grasp.

"Kid, blame your own recklessness and greed! Today, you will die!" Patriarch Liu declared, unleashing the full power of his blazing sword, with three fiery dragons swirling around it.

"Blazing Sun, Dragon's Breath!"

"The final move of the Blazing Sword Technique—he's mastered it!"

Originally, those who were eager to get involved hesitated upon witnessing the scene.

The Liu family's "Crimson Flame Blade Technique" was already a mid-level martial skill, but its ultimate move, the Crimson Flame Dragon's Breath, was said to reach the power of a high-level technique, though it was incredibly difficult to master.

Of course, the Liu family had an ancestor who mastered it, which allowed them to hold the position of city lord in Tianqi City for several years!

To everyone's surprise, this ancestor of the Liu family had indeed mastered it. With this strike, even the ancestors of the other three major families would likely be no match.

With a disdainful glance at the crowd, the Patriarch Liu's strike had already served as a deterrent, but it wasn't enough. He wanted to instill true fear in everyone!

Woo Zhengyang was the target of his blade!

With this in mind, Patriarch Liu walked towards Woo Zhengyang, step by step, unhurriedly. The blade in his hand glowed even brighter, and the three fire dragons became vividly lifelike.

The crowd looked at Woo Zhengyang with extreme pity. He had struggled immensely against the Patriarch's ordinary moves, and there was no way he could dodge this strike.

What puzzled everyone was that Woo Zhengyang seemed frozen in fear, standing motionless in the face of the attack.

But Woo Zhengyang wasn't paralyzed by fear; he was ready to retreat into the Ice Crystal Fire Hall.

Just then, the No Life Sword in Woo Zhengyang's hand began to tremble slightly. The vibration was so subtle that only Zhengyang noticed it. His movements stalled because of this unexpected tremor. He thought to himself that the No Life Sword was indeed peculiar, and the timing couldn't have been worse.

With Patriarch Liu almost upon him, Zhengyang focused all his energy to enter the Ice Crystal Fire Hall. But once again, he was interrupted. A streak of darkness, from an unknown source, merged into the blade of the No Life Sword. Zhengyang's expression turned serious; the sensation was all too familiar. In No Life City, every time the sword's weight increased, it felt just like this.

Before he could react, the sword's trembling intensified. Shadows darted across the night sky with such speed they were nearly invisible. Even those intently watching the battle only caught a fleeting glimpse...

---

Sunset Canyon, the entrance to the No Life Patriarch's domain, was bustling with activity. After the three elders from the Fallen Sun Sect, Fallen Moon Sect, and Fallen Star Sect entered, more and more practitioners gathered. They had heard about the strange occurrences at Sunset Canyon and, despite the ancient portal being open, no one dared to enter. They feared another anomaly might sweep them away.

The esteemed elders of the three sects had ventured into the ancient cave ten days ago, and still, no one had emerged. Some speculated that the elders were trapped, while others believed they were captivated by the treasures inside, unwilling to leave.

Just as many were gearing up to take their chances and enter, something extraordinary happened.

"Boom..."

A thunderous explosion echoed, and from the center of the cave's light curtain, several canyons were instantly reduced to dust. In the aftermath, a flat expanse appeared in the Sunset Canyon.

On this newly formed plain, about a dozen figures stood, looking quite disheveled. Upon closer inspection, it became clear that these individuals were none other than the renowned figures of the Fallen Sun Country.

Among them were Lo Mingzhi, the Grand Elder of the Fallen Sun Sect; Hua Nanxin, the Sect Master of the Fallen Moon Sect; Shao Jingyu, the Sect Master of the Fallen Star Sect; and Hua Lixing, the Vice Dean of the Heavenly Martial Academy.

The most bedraggled of the group were three elders, their hair and beards white with age. It took a moment for the onlookers to recognize them as the revered elders of the three sects, though they appeared much more frail and worn than when they had entered.