Volume One, Chapter Six: A Sudden Shift as Swift as Light

“Stop, brat!” The elder brought by Duanmu Xiong shouted angrily upon seeing his young master humiliated like this.

In the next moment, the elder leapt into the air, claws extended, aiming to grab Xu Que.

But Xu Que’s aunt, Si Yuan, flashed beside him, leaving behind an afterimage.

With a sharp “smack,” she struck the elder, sending him flying and crashing violently against the wall of the Zhu family’s main hall.

Zhu Qingyun’s eyelid twitched; he had just seen a top-tier Martial King expert pass by him.

He turned mechanically and saw the Duanmu elder embedded in the wall.

A single move decided the fight; even at the peak Martial King realm, there was a difference in skill.

Si Yuan retracted her fist. “Youngsters quarrel; why meddle in affairs that don’t concern you?”

Zhu Yanran’s face turned pale with fright. “How dare you lay a hand on someone from the Duanmu family? Are you mad? Don’t you fear retaliation?”

Xu Que tossed the elder aside with a cold sneer. “Retaliation? I overheard before entering that you intended to retaliate even before I arrived. So why shouldn’t I strike first?”

Zhu Yanran was left speechless.

Duanmu Xiong staggered, steadied himself, and clutched his bleeding eyes.

He couldn’t understand why his pupil technique had failed.

His gaze fell on Si Yuan beside Xu Que and noticed a special jade pendant hanging from her sash. Suddenly, everything became clear.

“A member of the Si family?”

Si Yuan snorted coldly, ignoring him.

Duanmu Xiong roared, “No wonder my pupil technique failed—it was your doing! Xu Que, you only rely on your elders to support you and swagger arrogantly. Aren’t you ashamed?”

Xu Que shook his head internally. “All those rare treasures from your Duanmu family, you might as well have fed them to dogs.”

“Xu Que, if you have the guts, fight me openly. But you won’t dare, will you?”

“Fine, Auntie, don’t intervene. I’ll handle him myself.” Xu Que provocatively beckoned Duanmu Xiong.

The Xu family members immediately panicked.

“Young master, you’ve just recovered; don’t take risks.”

“Que’er, don’t be a hero.”

“Don’t fall for his provocation, young master.”

“Leave this rough business to us.”

Xu Que insisted, “I’m fine, I can handle it. Trust me.”

Duanmu Xiong was momentarily stunned. He thought, “Looks like his cultivation has recovered; otherwise, how could he be so confident?”

But without the Divine Martial Bone and Divine Fire Martial Vein, as the elders warned, how could he win?

He didn’t believe Xu Que could improve so much in just a few days.

He glanced at the elder who had fallen from the wall — today was a humiliating day.

But if he could defeat Xu Que, he could turn the tide.

Suddenly, he took out a secret pill—the Breakthrough Pill!

The path of martial cultivation was arduous; even ascending one grade was difficult.

Such a pill, which temporarily boosts one’s realm, was precious and rare.

After taking the pill, Duanmu Xiong’s aura surged.

“Martial Sect Realm, Fourth Grade! Even if your wounds have healed, as a Third Grade Martial Sect, you’re no match for me.”

Without giving Xu Que a chance to speak, Duanmu Xiong’s foot slammed down, cracking the floor as he rapidly closed in.

Suddenly, his figure vanished, appearing behind Xu Que.

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Xu Que followed closely, then flashed to Xu Que’s left side.

When Xu Que glanced left, he vanished again to the right.

“Hmph, can’t keep up with my speed? You’ll pay for your arrogance. Die.”

Zhu Yanran, seeing Xu Que motionless, thought he was about to be defeated and regained confidence.

“Xu Que, you’re reckless! Without your family elders’ help, do you even know what kind of useless trash you are?”

“Duanmu young master, finish him off.”

“Why stir trouble when you’re a wealthy heir? You’re just asking for trouble…”

Bang!

Before Zhu Yanran could finish, Xu Que suddenly reached out, precisely grabbing Duanmu Xiong’s throat.

He slammed him fiercely to the ground.

The entire Zhu estate shook; the floor shattered.

Duanmu Xiong’s body twisted, head down, feet up.

He spat a mouthful of blood.

He never expected Xu Que to also be a Fourth Grade Martial Sect!

Wasn’t he crippled when returning from the Immortal Obliteration Land?

Without the Divine Martial Bone and Divine Fire Martial Vein, he still advanced a grade?

Silence.

The Zhu estate fell so quiet one could hear a pin drop.

“Seventh Young Master!” an elder from the Duanmu family exclaimed.

Duanmu Xiong’s defeat was so decisive.

“Release our Seventh Young Master! Xu family, have you lost your mind?” the Duanmu elder roared.

“With just one command token, I can unleash the Black Martial Guards of the Duanmu family to crush you!”

“Our Duanmu ancestors cherish the Seventh Young Master most. Xu Que, you’re courting death! Foolish little country folk, you’re about to bring catastrophe upon yourselves.”

The Black Martial Guards were the Duanmu family’s deadliest assassins—never defeated.

This was a blatant threat.

The Xu family members looked serious but disdainful.

Can’t win? Call in the elders? Bring reinforcements?

Nowadays, everyone practiced martial arts; personal grievances were settled personally.

Unless it was a family feud, using elders to pressure others meant losing face.

The Xu family’s second elder said, “Let your Duanmu family come. We don’t seek trouble, but we’re not afraid of it either! Young master, do as you wish. He attacked your heart just now—malicious intent.”

Fighting among martial artists was common.

But lethal blows crossed the line.

Si Yuan said, “Que’er, I suggest killing him. So what if the Duanmu family knows? In the Profound Heaven Sacred Land, they’re famous, but in the Great Martial World, they’re nothing.”

Seeing the Xu family’s strength, the Duanmu elders were speechless.

These people had no fear! Were they crazy? Did they want to ignite a clan war?

Did the Xu family have some trump card?

As for the main figure of this matter, Zhu Yanran, she was trembling behind a pillar, terrified.

Hearing the elders’ strong support emboldened Xu Que even more.

He snorted coldly. “Threaten me? Ha! My strongest trait is my bones. I trained so hard not to bow before dogs like you.”

Duanmu Xiong’s massive body trembled—he sensed danger.

“No, Xu Que, you can’t.”

Pfft.

Xu Que grabbed and tore out Duanmu Xiong’s eyes.

The Zhu family members watching went weak in the knees.

“Ah!” Duanmu Xiong screamed, “My eyes!”

The Duanmu family’s mystical pupil technique drew power from their eyeballs.

And they could be transplanted.

Since Duanmu Xiong was ruthless, he deserved equal retaliation.

Xu Que then struck a palm into Duanmu Xiong’s dantian.

He would show no mercy to someone who tried to kill him.

Gravely wounded and with a destroyed dantian, Duanmu Xiong died on the spot.

The Duanmu elder turned pale, muttering, “They’re mad, the Xu family are mad. Just wait…”

He turned and fled, soaring through the air.

But the Xu elders would not let a stray escape.

Four elders flashed, surrounding the fleeing Duanmu elder.

“Where do you think you’re going? Want to join your Seventh Young Master?”

They struck simultaneously.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The Duanmu elder was no match against eight hands and fell dead instantly.

Afterwards, Si Yuan tossed the corpse back.

Feeling the matter was settled, Xu Que turned to Zhu Qingyun, whose face had turned ashen.

“Head of the Zhu family…”

Zhu Qingyun shuddered and hurriedly offered a Sumeru Ring and a large stack of property deeds, trembling.

“Young master Xu, it’s all a misunderstanding. I actually wanted to return the betrothal gifts the next day, but this… this Duanmu young master blocked me, I’m innocent. Everything’s here; you can check…”

Xu Que smiled lightly. “Head of the Zhu family, I prefer your earlier defiant self.”

Zhu Qingyun’s expression was awkward and ashamed.

After the second elder inspected the assets, he said, “Oh? This is most of the Zhu family’s property? Young master, you gave so many fine things to Zhu Yanran? This woman truly doesn’t know gratitude.”

Zhu Yanran staggered out. “Xu Que, you can’t do this. Do you want to destroy the Zhu family? You once said you’d love me forever.”

Xu Que slapped his forehead. “Indeed. Second elder, leave five thousand spirit stones. That’s compensation for her, priced like the top courtesan of the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion.”

“You bastard!” Zhu Yanran sobbed in anger.

If all the resources and help from the Xu family were returned, the Zhu family would be finished, and her future cultivation would be severely restricted.

Xu Que was about to leave, taking Duanmu Xiong and the other’s corpses with him.

“Young master, you’re even returning the bodies for burial?”