Longhu Mountain is a branch of the Xiangshan mountain range. It lies several dozen miles west of Taiwan and then turns south, splitting into two branches that embrace it like a coiled dragon and a crouching tiger.
The mountain was originally named Yunjin Mountain. The first Heavenly Master refined the Nine Heavens Divine Elixir here. Upon its completion, dragons and tigers appeared, hence the mountain's name.
The Daoist Gate is located on Longhu Mountain.
The Daoist Gate is the oldest and most mysterious sect in the Dragon Country's martial arts world. It once shone brightly in history, but in recent years it has faded into obscurity, its reputation far surpassed by Dragon Gate and Kunlun. Some even claim that the Daoist Gate's lineage has been broken.
Deep within Longhu Mountain, atop a steep peak.
An old man, clad in a Daoist robe, stood with his hands behind his back, gazing into the distance.
The old man was as thin as a rake, appearing frail and vulnerable, as if he might be blown off the peak by the wind.
However, the old man stood there like an ancient pine, unmoving.
His hair had long turned white, and wrinkles had appeared on his face, yet his complexion was ruddy, his spirit full, showing none of the weariness expected of an elder. Instead, he exuded a peculiar vitality.
"Master."
A moment later, a middle-aged man, stout and corpulent, arrived behind the old man and bowed respectfully.
This was Chu Yong, Jiang Wuming's second senior brother.
And the old man was Jiang Wuming's master, Daoist Tianlong!
"Something on your mind?"
Daoist Tianlong did not turn around, his gaze still fixed on the distant horizon.
"Master, there's new information regarding our junior brother..."
Chu Yong reported the final outcome of Jiang Wuming's conflict with the Wei family to Daoist Tianlong.
Daoist Tianlong listened quietly, his eyes flashing, but he remained silent.
"Master, the Military Department's care for our junior brother is beyond imagination. Especially Qi Wufu, I heard he slammed the table at the Elder Council because of junior brother's affairs," Chu Yong added.
"Qi Wufu is quite impatient,"
Daoist Tianlong chuckled playfully.
"Indeed, he is determined to have our junior brother join the Military Department, and his eagerness has become increasingly apparent."
Chu Yong hesitated before speaking, "Master, I believe that the attitudes of Qi Wufu and the Military Department are likely to arouse suspicion and speculation about our junior brother. If this trend continues, junior brother's identity as the hall master of the Dragon Hall won't remain a secret for long."
This time, Daoist Tianlong fell silent, seemingly agreeing with Chu Yong's words.
"Master, what if our junior brother's identity is completely exposed?" Chu Yong asked hesitantly.
"Nature, man; heart, scheme. The Way of Heaven is to establish man.
When Heaven unleashes its killing intent, stars shift and constellations rearrange; when Earth unleashes its killing intent, dragons and snakes ascend; when Man unleashes his killing intent, Heaven and Earth are overturned!"
Daoist Tianlong spoke slowly, quoting ancient words, each one a gem.
Chu Yong pondered this.
"If there's nothing else, you may go," Daoist Tianlong waved his hand.
"Yes, Master!"
Chu Yong bowed and retreated.
...
Europa, a certain island.
Taylor, a four-star War God, did not, as usual, sit cross-legged by the island's volcano to cultivate. Instead, he stood by the crater, gazing at the distant sea.
Soon, under his watch, a ship rapidly approached the island and docked by its shore.
A man in black leaped from the ship, swiftly crossing the island and heading towards the volcano at its summit.
The man in black possessed the strength of a one-star War God. His movements were like lightning, and in moments, he arrived before Taylor.
"Thump!"
Upon seeing Taylor, the man in black immediately knelt on the ground, his face filled with panic, "I apologize, Lord Taylor, I have failed to complete your command. Please punish me!"
"How do you think I should punish you?"
Taylor stared coldly at the man in black, a chilling murderous aura emanating from him.
"Lord Taylor, I am willing to atone with my death!"
Sensing Taylor's killing intent, the man in black gritted his teeth and spoke again, adopting a strategy of offense as defense.
If Taylor wanted to kill him, pleading would be useless. It was better to proactively offer his life, which might paradoxically increase his chances of survival.
The man in black's gamble paid off for the moment.
Taylor did not strike. Instead, he said coldly, "Can crushing a lowly insect like you appease the master's wrath? I specifically reminded you not to keep the master waiting too long, and yet your plan has failed outright!"
There was no reply. The man in black remained prostrate on the ground, his forehead pressed firmly against the earth, his body trembling as if electrified.
"Tell me the specifics of what happened, do not omit any detail!"
Taylor spoke again.
He had received a call from the man in black earlier, informing him of the plan's failure in the Dragon Country. Enraged, he had ordered the man in black to come and atone.
"Yes, my lord..."
Hearing this, the man in black looked as if a drowning man had grasped a life-saving straw. He excitedly raised his head and immediately reported all the intelligence he had gathered to Taylor, then offered his assessment, "My lord, the failure of this plan was primarily due to the intervention of the Dragon Country's Military Department!"
"The Dragon Country's Military Department values that worm so highly?!"
Taylor was also somewhat surprised after hearing the report.
"Ding—"
As Taylor's words fell, the satellite phone beside him rang.
Taylor's heart skipped a beat. He slapped the man in black's head with a single palm strike. The man's head shattered, killing him on the spot before he could even scream.
Having done this, Taylor flickered and appeared before the satellite phone. He snatched it up and answered without even looking.
"Respected Lord Anthony."
Taylor spoke first, his tone respectful and filled with dread.
His original plan was to report to Anthony after learning the specifics from his subordinate, but he hadn't expected Anthony to call first.
And he hadn't initially intended to kill his subordinate, but he didn't want his subordinate to witness his own humble and fearful state, so he had instantly changed his mind.
"Taylor, this call should have been made by you to me."
Anthony's voice came from the receiver, his tone sinister and his voice hoarse, giving a chilling sensation.
"Respected Lord Anthony, you are correct. I should have called you proactively to report."
Taylor responded fearfully. He knew Anthony was already aware of the situation in the Dragon Country, and this call was an inquiry, but he offered no defense for himself.
Because he understood Anthony.
Making excuses was one of Anthony's least favorite things.
Once, someone had failed a mission. When questioned by Anthony, he offered an excuse and was killed on the spot by Anthony.
That person was Anthony's most beloved son and one of Europa's most outstanding martial arts geniuses!
"Listen, Taylor, arrange for someone to post an assassination mission on the dark web—to kill Jiang Zhan's bastard son. The bounty is one billion euros!"
Anthony stopped berating Taylor and coldly issued the order.
"Yes, Respected Lord Anthony!"
Taylor immediately obeyed.
Although he didn't know why Anthony had changed the order from capturing Jiang Wuming alive to killing him, he wouldn't ask, nor did he dare to.
Anthony said no more and directly hung up the phone.
At the same time, the two young girls massaging his legs were pale and trembling.
"Tell me, is there anyone in this world who can rank first on the Two-Star War God list at the age of twenty?"
Anthony asked the two girls with a smile.
There was no answer. The two girls stopped their actions, their bodies trembling even more violently.
"Don't be afraid."
Anthony reached out and touched the girls' heads, his smile suddenly turning extremely sinister.
"Thump! Thump!"
As his words fell, blood splattered. The heads of the two girls exploded, spraying blood all over Anthony.
"This is getting more and more interesting."
Anthony licked the blood that dripped down his face and said with a sinister laugh.
...