Dugu Yifang was even more shocked. He stared at his empty right shoulder in disbelief, momentarily forgetting even the pain.
"My... Invincible Tyrant Fist?"
Dugu Yifang had been confident that his Invincible Tyrant Fist was no weaker than Xiongba's Three Points Divine Palm.
But now, with just one punch from that arrogant brat, he was utterly defeated!
"Hahaha! All these years, I've been pretending to be Dugu Yifang. Now, I've forgotten who I truly am, only to end up with such a ridiculous result."
Dugu Yifang's laughter turned hysterical, eventually mingled with despairing wails.
Like a beast in utter hopelessness.
Blood began trickling from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. His life force drained away until he became a lifeless corpse.
That punch from Chu Yang had shattered more than just Dugu Yifang's arm—it had destroyed his heart meridian.
The power of ten dragons and ten elephants was not something mortal flesh could withstand.
His death was inevitable.
Having personally witnessed Dugu Yifang's death, Ming Yue now believed that Chu Yang had no designs on Love of a Lifetime.
As for why he had been bullied in Wushuang City, Ming Yue no longer cared to investigate.
"Perhaps he has his reasons..."
At the very least, Chu Yang had come here specifically to save her, proving that he genuinely regarded her as a friend.
Ming Yue could only comfort herself in this way.
Nie Feng, unwilling to view others maliciously, walked up to Chu Yang with a grateful smile, cupped his hands, and said, "Thank you for your help today. If not for you, Ming Yue and I would have died at Dugu Yifang's hands."
Chu Yang shook his head. "Ming Yue once saved my life. I'm just repaying a debt, that's all."
Nie Feng glanced at Dugu Yifang's corpse and curiously asked, "If he was a fake, then where is the real Dugu Yifang?"
Chu Yang replied, "Eighteen years ago, Sword Sect Master Jianhui intended to pass on the sect's unique skill, Ten Thousand Swords Return to One. A duel between his disciple Nameless and his son Pojun was held to determine its successor. Jianhui invited many masters to witness the event, including the real Dugu Yifang."
"Pojun was no match for Nameless, but Jianhui had selfish motives and only wanted to pass the skill to his son. So, he used the Heavenly Frost Technique, accidentally freezing not only himself but also twelve masters who were observing the match."
Nie Feng was shocked. "I see. But such a secret from the martial world—how did you come to know of it, Ayang?"
Chu Yang casually replied, "I heard it through the grapevine."
Nie Feng asked no more, silently assisting Ming Yue in gathering her grandmother's remains. Together, they buried her in the Ming family's ancestral grave.
Standing outside the tomb, Chu Yang asked, "What do you plan to do now?"
Nie Feng and Ming Yue exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with hope for the future.
"I plan to return to Tianxia Hall to report this matter to my master and then retire from the martial world with Ming Yue," Nie Feng said with a smile.
"Why not retire directly? There's no need to return to Tianxia Hall," Chu Yang suggested.
"Ayang, don't worry. I won't abandon Ming Yue," Nie Feng said, seemingly misunderstanding Chu Yang's words as doubting his loyalty.
"If you return, Xiongba will kill you," Chu Yang stated bluntly.
Both Nie Feng and Ming Yue were stunned.
Ming Yue hurriedly asked, "Nie Feng is Xiongba's prized disciple. Why would he want to kill him?"
Nie Feng also seemed skeptical, looking at Chu Yang with a complex expression.
"Years ago, the Mud Buddha gave Xiongba two lines of prophecy. The full verse was: 'The golden dragon is not meant for shallow waters; when it meets storm and cloud, it transforms into a true dragon.'"
"That's why Xiongba took you and Bu Jingyun as his disciples. You two helped him expand Tianxia Hall into what it is today."
Ming Yue interjected anxiously, "Isn't that a good thing? Why would Xiongba still want to kill Nie Feng?"
Chu Yang sighed. "Let me finish."
"Go on, Ayang," Nie Feng said, patting Ming Yue's shoulder to calm her.
"The Mud Buddha's prophecy has two more lines: 'The dragon's roar shakes the heavens, and storm and cloud roam in shallow waters.' This foretells that Xiongba's long-standing dominance will be overturned by the two of you."
"Xiongba doesn't know these last two lines yet. Once he finds the Mud Buddha, you and Bu Jingyun will become his mortal enemies."
"You've known Xiongba for years. You should understand what kind of person he is. Anyone who stands in his way—be they disciples or even family—means nothing to him."
Having laid everything out, Chu Yang waited for Nie Feng's response.
Ming Yue anxiously watched Nie Feng, choosing to trust Chu Yang's words. After all, he had no reason to deceive them.
Nie Feng's expression shifted several times before he finally smiled bitterly. "I still have to go back."
"Why, Feng?" Ming Yue clung to Nie Feng's arm in agitation. "You must believe Ayang. Even if it's not true, why take the risk?"
"I do believe him. He saved our lives," Nie Feng answered earnestly. "But I'm worried about Brother Yun. If I leave, what will happen to him?"
"As Ayang said, Wind and Cloud refers to Brother Yun and me. If Master wants to kill me, he won't spare Brother Yun either."
Why are you so obsessed with your Brother Yun?
Chu Yang felt the urge to curse. If it weren't for his hope that Ming Yue could find happiness, he wouldn't bother with Wind and Cloud's mess.
Nie Feng was gentle by nature, but his stubbornness made him even more difficult to persuade than the unyielding Bu Jingyun.
"Xiongba doesn't plan to kill you himself. He wants you and Bu Jingyun to kill each other. As long as you don't return, his plan won't work."
"Brother Yun and I are very close. That won't happen."
"Bu Jingyun loves Kong Ci. Kong Ci loves you. If Xiongba uses Kong Ci to sow discord, what then?"
"Kong Ci and I grew up together. My feelings for her are purely fraternal."
"Fraternal? Have you confirmed that with Kong Ci?"
"What's a phone?"
"That's not the point! I swear, I want to slap you!" Chu Yang glared at Nie Feng, his patience running thin. In the end, Nie Feng just wanted to inform Bu Jingyun.
Nie Feng awkwardly scratched his nose. If Chu Yang really slapped him, he'd have no strength to fight back.
Ming Yue gently tugged on Nie Feng's sleeve and softly said, "I don't know how Kong Ci feels about you, but if I'd grown up with you, I would've fallen in love with you."
Ming Yue's confession warmed Nie Feng's heart, but after much thought, he still shook his head. "I can't leave Brother Yun behind."
Chu Yang stroked his chin and asked Nie Feng seriously, "Are you sure there's nothing between the two of you?"
...
Given Nie Feng's temperament, once he made up his mind, there was no changing it.
"Since you're set on this, I won't stop you. I have other matters to attend to and won't be traveling with you," Chu Yang said.
Ming Yue's heart sank upon hearing this. She had hoped Chu Yang would accompany them back to Tianxia Hall, ensuring Nie Feng's safety.
After all, with strength capable of defeating Dugu Yifang in a single move, Chu Yang was practically invincible.
"As it should be. Ayang, you've already saved me once. If you risk yourself again for my sake, how could I live with that?" Nie Feng said with a carefree smile, as though he had already accepted his fate.
Chu Yang ignored him and took the Wushuang Sword from Ming Yue. He began inscribing runes on the blade.
The Wushuang Sword was a pair of weapons, representing yin and yang. Chu Yang took the Yin Sword from Ming Yue's hand.
Neither Ming Yue nor Nie Feng understood what Chu Yang was doing, but sensing his intentions were for their benefit, they quietly stood by.
Chu Yang carved two formations onto the Yin Sword. One was a defensive barrier to protect Ming Yue from harm, and the other was the Flying Thunder God technique.
After completing the engravings, Chu Yang handed the Yin Sword back to Ming Yue and instructed, "No matter what happens, this sword must never leave your side, not even when bathing or using the restroom..."
Ming Yue blushed and nodded in agreement.
Chu Yang then turned to Nie Feng and said, "From Wushuang City to Tianxia Hall, it will take at least half a month. The news will undoubtedly reach ahead of you. Xiongba, upon learning of Dugu Yifang's death, will accelerate his efforts to locate the Mud Buddha."
"By the time you return, Xiongba may have already set up a death trap. Stay vigilant and don't lose your composure."
Nie Feng nodded solemnly.
"If everything goes smoothly on my end, I will naturally show up at Tianxia Hall in half a month. If not, protect yourselves and wait for me," Chu Yang assured.
Hearing this, smiles returned to the faces of Ming Yue and Nie Feng. Chu Yang's words were more reassuring than any promise.
Before parting ways, Chu Yang asked Nie Feng about the location of Lingyun Cave.
As Nie Feng replied, his eyes were filled with unshakable worry. After all, his father had perished there, and both Lingyun Cave and the Fire Qilin were his lingering nightmares.
Ming Yue, realizing the "important matter" Chu Yang had mentioned, nervously asked, "Ayang, are you going to Lingyun Cave to face the Fire Qilin?"
Chu Yang nodded with a smile and said, "The Fire Qilin may be a legendary beast that others avoid at all costs, but to me, it's merely a bit stronger than Dugu Yifang."
Nie Feng tried to dissuade him, "Even so, Lingyun Cave is a place of misfortune. There's no need to risk your life."
Chu Yang waved his hand dismissively, refraining from further explanation. He turned and left amidst their calls.
---
In the early stages of the "Feng Yun World," valuable treasures were few and far between. However, Lingyun Cave was an unmissable treasure trove.
The cave housed the Fire Qilin and Blood Bodhi.
The Qilin's blood, while a deadly poison that drove Nie Feng into madness, was seen by Chu Yang as an unparalleled miraculous medicine. Bathing in Qilin blood could further enhance his already formidable physical body.
As for the Blood Bodhi, its miraculous healing properties and power-enhancing effects made it a sacred medicine. If fortunate, it could even push several of Chu Yang's martial arts, including the Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique, to perfection—saving years of arduous cultivation. This would enable him to merge all his martial arts into one and aim to create a path comparable to the true essence of Taiji.
Other treasures in Lingyun Cave included the Nie family's ancestral Snow-Drinking Blade and "Six Cold Dominance" techniques, as well as the Duan family's Fire Qilin Sword. However, compared to the Fire Qilin and Blood Bodhi, these items were of lesser value to Chu Yang.
What truly intrigued him was the dragon vein hidden deep within the cave and the martial art left behind by Wu Wudi, one of the "Ten Strongest Warriors"—Ten Directions Invincible Technique.
In later plotlines, Nie Feng, through a fortunate encounter, discovered a Qilin mural in Lingyun Cave and comprehended this technique, instantly elevating his strength from the bottom tier to the top echelon.
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