An old man and a young man walked side by side, heading towards the Wuliang Daoist temple on Wuliang Mountain...
Wan Yunting turned to look at the old man, unable to suppress his curiosity, and asked, "May I ask, sir, what is your age?"
The old man turned his face, his calm and peaceful gaze falling on Wan Yunting. He smiled and held up one finger. Wan Yunting guessed, "Are you a hundred years old?"
The old man smiled and nodded. Wan Yunting said with great surprise, "I can hardly tell! Sir, you are so old yet you have such agile steps. Walking up so many stairs, not even out of breath and your face not red. It's clear you've practiced martial arts."
The old man chuckled. Wan Yunting, feigning curiosity, continued to ask, "Then who might you be, sir?"
The old man continued climbing the stairs without panting and said, "This old man is from Shandong."
"Shandong…!"
Wan Yunting narrowed his eyes, his heart suddenly tightening. He thought, "Isn't the Divine Sword Sect located in Shandong?"
The old man turned his head to look at Wan Yunting, smiling calmly. "Young man, your name is Wan Yunting, isn't it?"
His identity revealed, Wan Yunting's expression changed. His heart skipped a beat, and his gaze towards the old man became wary. He said strangely, "You know me?"
"Heh heh."
The old man smiled and said, "Rumor has it that you are a martial arts prodigy. Initially, I didn't believe it. But seeing you in person, it is indeed as the rumors say. You are a rare martial arts prodigy."
"By the way, I heard you also comprehended the sword dao inheritance left by the old ancestor of the Wudang Sect, the Great Dao Sword Technique?"
Wan Yunting, realizing he was about to return to his sect, immediately stopped and looked at the old man vigilantly. He asked sternly, "Sir, which sect or faction do you belong to, and what do you want at our Wuliang Daoist temple?"
The old man also stopped and looked at Wan Yunting, smiling, "This old man has been entrusted by someone to ask you for something!"
As soon as these words were spoken, Wan Yunting's heart turned grim, his expression equally somber and stern. His sharp eyes fixed on the old man, and he said, "Thirteen Needles of Ghost Gate?"
The old man stood with his hands behind his back, his thin figure erect. A kind smile adorned his aged face, but at this moment, looking down from a superior position, he met Wan Yunting's gaze and said with a smile, "Young man, as the saying goes, a wise man knows when to submit. You should know your own capabilities."
"As long as you hand over the Thirteen Needles of Ghost Gate to this old man, I will descend the mountain now."
At this moment, Wan Yunting's heart was dreadfully grim. Without asking, he knew that the old man was sent by one of the main gods of the Sky Eye Main God Cult. He just didn't know his true identity, or if he was from a righteous sect in Huaxia.
"So, if I refuse, will you threaten me with the lives of everyone in the entire Wuliang Daoist temple?" Wan Yunting stared coldly at the old man standing five steps higher than him, his voice chilling.
"Heh heh, so this old man advises you to make a wise choice!"
The old man's expression was unchanged, his smile remained kind, but there was no trace of kindness in his old eyes. Instead, there was only contempt, as if Wan Yunting were merely an ant in his eyes, someone he didn't even bother to notice.
Wan Yunting's brows were tightly furrowed. Although the old man hadn't intentionally released any aura, he knew very well that this old man was definitely a terrifyingly powerful martial artist. The invisible pressure had a great impact on Wan Yunting's mind.
This was because he had experienced situations with Lu Xiaodie and Zheng Rong, where they chose death under such duress to escape Wan Yunting's pressure.
Now, facing this old man who was threatening the lives of everyone in the Wuliang Daoist temple to force him to hand over the Thirteen Needles of Ghost Gate, putting aside whether the old man had the ability, Wan Yunting was truly afraid at this moment!
"What's going on?"
Just then, Chang Wude suddenly appeared from above. Seeing Wan Yunting confronting a stranger, he couldn't help but curiously examine the old man. Chang Wude's heart inexplicably tightened. Although this person had no aura fluctuations, he exuded an aura that made one dare not underestimate him.
"Heh heh."
Seeing Wan Yunting remain silent, the old man turned and continued his ascent. Chang Wude, sensing the ill intentions of the man, immediately blocked his path and asked impolitely, "Who are you? What do you want at our temple?"
The old man looked at Chang Wude blocking his way. A polite smile still graced his aged face, but his eyes were filled with contempt and arrogance. With his left hand, hidden beneath his sleeve, he gathered his aura. Instantly, Chang Wude's old face changed. Wan Yunting below also reacted, shouting, "Uncle Chang, be careful…"
*Pfft…!*
Chang Wude was sent flying backward, spitting out a mouthful of old blood. He then fell heavily below the mountain gate's archway. Chang Wude's old face tensed, clutching his chest, he spat out another mouthful of old blood, his aura in disarray, unable to even get up.
"Good skill, but it's a pity you are facing me."
The old man ascended with light steps, his entire body drifting up. He looked at Chang Wude trembling on the ground, his old eyes filled with disdain…
"Uncle Chang…"
Wan Yunting also rushed forward, quickly helping the fallen Chang Wude up. He saw that he was injured by the terrifying sword energy from the old man's sleeve. Wan Yunting pressed several acupoints on Chang Wude's chest, stabilizing his internal chaotic qi, which was surging like a mountain tide…
"What happened?"
In an instant, Yang Jingyi, Wuwei Zi, Duan Yingying, Xu Lingwei, Qi Wu, and Li Zihang all rushed out. Seeing Chang Wude's pale face, sitting cross-legged to heal, Wuwei Zi and Yang Jingyi's gazes immediately fell upon the stranger. They asked Wan Yunting, "Yunting, who is he?"
At this moment, Wan Yunting's sharp eyes were glaring furiously at the old man, gritting his teeth, he said coldly, "Someone from the Sky Eye Main God Cult, here to demand the Thirteen Needles of Ghost Gate from me!"
"What, someone from the Sky Eye Main God Cult?"
Yang Jingyi and Wuwei Zi's old faces were shocked. Duan Yingying, Li Zihang, and Qi Wu's hearts tightened. Xu Lingwei, without hesitation, drew the sword in her hand…
"Heh heh…"
The old man's arrogant eyes swept over Yang Jingyi and Wuwei Zi, and he shook his head with a smile, saying, "I never expected that after so many years, your Wuliang Daoist temple has become weaker with each generation."
"Yan Donghai, so it's you, you old undying thing!"
Suddenly, Gui Ye, dressed in a black daoist robe with messy white hair, appeared at the entrance. His sharp, eagle-like old eyes were locked onto the old man, and he revealed his identity.
"Yan Donghai?"
Wan Yunting, Yang Jingyi, Wuwei Zi, and Chang Wude, who was recovering nearby, were all startled. Wasn't Yan Donghai the first sect master who founded the Divine Sword Sect?
Yan Donghai's old eyes narrowed. He looked at Gui Ye approaching and after a moment's thought, smiled and said, "I recognize you. You are the junior disciple of Mu Daoren, aren't you?"
"Hmph, it's fortunate that you, Yan Donghai, remember me."
Gui Ye brushed aside the white hair obstructing his vision, revealing his fierce gaze as he looked at Yan Donghai and said, "I remember that back then, you came to our Wuliang Daoist temple to challenge us. It was my senior brother Mu Daoren who fought you!"
Yan Donghai smiled and nodded, "Unfortunately, I won."
Gui Ye suddenly became agitated and pointed at Yan Donghai, angrily saying, "It was precisely because of that sword strike of yours that my senior brother was gravely injured, bedridden for a year, and then died in agony!"
Hearing this, Chang Wude's old eyes suddenly opened. With Wan Yunting's help, he struggled to stand up. His gaze towards Yan Donghai became indignant. He never expected that his master's death all those years ago was caused by this person.
"Heh heh, in a life-and-death duel, accidents are inevitable."
Yan Donghai stood with his hands behind his back, his old eyes filled with disdain looking directly at Gui Ye, and he said proudly, "Moreover, many people have died under my sword. It can be considered an honor for your senior brother Mu Daoren."
"Honor?"
Gui Ye's old face was filled with rage. He pointed at Yan Donghai and angrily declared, "You, Yan Donghai, under the guise of challenging the masters of various sects, caused chaos and killed indiscriminately. Your methods were even more despicable. My senior brother had clearly admitted defeat, yet you still attacked him. This was deliberate murder!"
Yan Donghai's lips curled into a sneer, and he dismissively said, "You can only blame your senior brother for being less skilled than me. It's not my fault."
"Good…"
Gui Ye, driven to extreme anger, his old face contorted. His thin, bony body suddenly erupted with terrifying aura. He roared in anger, "Today, I will seek justice for my senior brother. I will kill you, an old bastard, and take your head to offer to my senior brother, ah…"
Before his words even finished, Gui Ye had already attacked Yan Donghai. His speed was so great that even Wan Yunting and Wuwei Zi couldn't react. But Yan Donghai smiled lightly. Facing Gui Ye's thunderous fist, he calmly extended his palm and neutralized the force. However, Gui Ye attacked his face with another palm…
*Slap slap…*
For a time, these two old men, both over a hundred years old, began fighting on the open ground in front of the archway. They both transformed their internal energy into force. The air was filled with muffled thunderous palm and fist strikes, their exchanges incredibly swift…
In the blink of an eye, they exchanged over a dozen blows. Wan Yunting, Yang Jingyi, and Wuwei Zi watched with their hearts in their throats, their eyes filled with worry for Gui Ye…
*Bang!*
Gui Ye and Yan Donghai exchanged a blow with their fists and palms. The collision of their terrifying auras erupted into an invisible force, scattering the dead leaves on the ground. Along with Gui Ye's thin body flying backward, he staggered on his feet, retreating…
"Gui Ye, be careful…"
Seeing this, Wan Yunting immediately leaped forward to catch Gui Ye…
But Gui Ye suddenly stomped his right foot, cracking the stone slabs on the ground. He stabilized himself and looked at Yan Donghai in front of him. Yan Donghai was completely unharmed, his old face wearing a contemptuous smile as he said, "Brother, you have only just touched the threshold of the internal aura realm. You are nowhere near a match for this old man."
"I advise you to stop, otherwise, I will send you down to accompany your senior brother Mu Daoren!"
"You scoundrel! Today, even if I have to give up my life, I will drag you down with me to atone for my senior brother…"
Saying this, Gui Ye ignored Wan Yunting's obstruction and once again threw a punch at Yan Donghai.
"Hmph, seeking death."
Yan Donghai's old face suddenly sank. He had said enough pleasantries, but if this old man wanted to die, he couldn't be blamed. Yan Donghai brought his right index and middle fingers together like a sword, and his terrifying aura transformed into an invisible sword qi. Following his sword-finger, he stabbed towards Gui Ye who was attacking him…
"Gui Ye, be careful…!"
Seeing Yan Donghai unleash the invisible, terrifying sword qi, Wan Yunting's expression drastically changed. He shouted in shock and rushed forward, trying to push Gui Ye away, but it was too late…
*Swoosh!*
The sound of sword qi piercing flesh was heard. Gui Ye, whose martial arts realm was vastly inferior, could not withstand Yan Donghai's invisible sword strike, which was transformed from his aura into sword qi. It pierced through his withered chest. Gui Ye's entire body froze on the spot, his old face showing an expression of pain. He fell to his knees on the ground with a thud…