The banquet came to an end. The Blood Hawk, Diao Zhufan and The Eight-Slayer Fist, Wang Yi entered a secret chamber where only the two of them were permitted. Ever since the Descendant of the Stone Fiend, Shi Moyong appeared at the banquet, Wang Yi’s expression had been grim. It wasn't just Wang Yi; Diao Zhufan also looked quite anxious. The Nine Heavens Armor Art was an invincible peerless art, and its unexpected reappearance was startling. A mere boy, wielding such a technique, standing beside the supreme experts of The Defying Heaven Sect and openly declaring war on the Zenith Martial Pavilion—how could they remain calm?

  Wang Yi sat down on the stone chair to the left, while Diao Zhufan remained standing in the center of the room, pondering the situation. However, it was Wang Yi who spoke first to break the suffocating silence.

  "That sickly boy from back then has actually mastered the Armor Art today," Wang Yi said, then let out a heavy sigh.

  "Why did you never mention anything about this boy before?" Diao Zhufan turned his head to meet Wang Yi's gaze.

  "I examined that boy's condition many times. I was certain he couldn't possibly live past the age of fifteen. Furthermore, with the harsh conditions in the Mystic Valley, a boy with such a frail constitution shouldn't have survived for even two years."

  "Damn it! Not only did the boy survive the Mystic Valley, he even mastered his father's supreme technique."

  "Even Shi Wusha in the past couldn't have withstood my current punch. For that boy to be able to deflect the force of my strike like that, I fear his martial arts achievements have already surpassed his father's."

  "Surpassed even The Stone Fiend!" Diao Zhufan exclaimed involuntarily, before regretting his reaction. As a supreme expert, how could he show such fear? Thus, he spoke with a bold, defiant tone, "Fierce is good; the fiercer, the better. My saber has never sought to take the lives of the nameless and unskilled."

  Wang Yi met Diao Zhufan's eyes, understanding the thoughts of his dear friend who had fought alongside him through the martial world up until today. However, if Wang Yi's punch couldn't harm Shi Moyong, could Diao Zhufan's saber truly defeat this boy? Suddenly, a silhouette appeared in Wang Yi's mind, and he exclaimed excitedly, "Tianwang! We still have Tianwang! Only Tianwang can defeat this Armor Art!"

  Hearing the name of Jin Tianwang, Diao Zhufan couldn't help but sigh. "Sigh... do you think that boy is still willing to help us?"

  "We trained Tianwang for this. To break the Stone Fiend’s Armor Art. If another Stone Fiend has risen... perhaps this is heaven’s will."

  "We have wronged Tianwang quite a bit," Diao Zhufan said with a softened tone. The bond he had with Jin Tianwang was almost like that of a father to a son.

  "But in the past, we also treated Tianwang extremely well." Wang Yi was different; having grown up in the unorthodox faction, he did not share a deep emotional attachment to Jin Tianwang.

  "Does the Armor Art truly have no weaknesses? Why did Shi Wusha suffer defeat at the hands of the Han father and son in the past?" Diao Zhufan had always been confident that his skills were superior to anyone from the Han family, yet he himself had been defeated by Shi Wusha.

  "That incident must have been related to The Magician From the Sky, Gao Qingxin." Wang Yi was a man of great intellect, so bringing up Gao Qingxin was the only explanation. After all, Gao Qingxin's martial arts were genuine; he was a true master.

  "That makes sense. Ever since the Stone Fiend passed away, Gao Qingxin changed his title from The Magician From the Sky to Like the Demon Lord." Diao Zhufan tried to evaluate the past events, piecing together the possibilities.

  "What if Gao Qingxin knows the weakness of the Armor Art? Even if we could find the old man, I have absolutely no confidence in forcing him to speak the truth," Wang Yi said, uncertainty in his voice.

  "Not only was Gao Qingxin a close friend of Shi Wusha, but the old man also seemed to have quite a relationship with the Han father and son," Diao Zhufan said, recalling the events of the past.

  "Thinking about it, we cannot find a better method than this. It's settled. Tomorrow morning, we will send people to search for Tianwang on one hand, and look for old Gao Qingxin on the other." Wang Yi was still the one laying out the entire plan, revealing who the true leader within the Zenith Martial Pavilion actually was.

  "If Tianwang can help us once more this time, even if I have to yield the position of Pavilion Master to him, I would consider it proper."

  "It's a pity your daughter married at such a young age. Otherwise, Meiyi would have been a perfect match for this top disciple of ours." Wang Yi spoke of Diao Zhufan's daughter with familiarity, showing just how deep the relationship between the two men was.

  "Having that boy as a son-in-law would certainly be excellent. Looking across the entire martial world, only Han Zhaoming had the eyes of a dog but no vision, rejecting Tianwang as his son-in-law." Diao Zhufan couldn't help but mock his eternal rival.

  "Ha ha, who is Han Zhaoming anyway? He has always been nothing but an incompetent fool in our eyes." Wang Yi laughed in a relaxed manner.

  "Ha ha ha! Exactly! Han Zhaoming merely has the eyes of a dog, but no vision at all. How could he possibly know how capable our Tianwang is?" Diao Zhufan's laughter echoed far and wide. Despite the worries brought by Shi Moyong's appearance, the great Hawk still displayed the demeanor of a formidable man who feared neither heaven nor earth.

  Once the laughter subsided, the two parted ways to execute their established plans.

  Initially, the duel between the Descendant of the Stone Fiend Shi Moyong and The Blood Hawk Diao Zhufan didn't seem like a massive event. However, once rumors spread that this demonic heir had not entered the martial world alone, but had also brought the former Defying Heaven Sect back into the martial world...

  The older generation of martial artists all knew the terror of the Nine Heavens Armor Art. Upon learning that Shi Moyong had mastered this invincible ancient art, rumors circulated that The Blood Hawk Diao Zhufan's defeat in this battle was already preordained.

  Because of this impending duel, the Zenith Martial Pavilion's plans for expansion and power consolidation were forced to a halt. Even The Reckless Blade Li Sibei ceased his campaign to suppress the Virtue Association, rushing back to the pavilion to learn of Diao Zhufan and Wang Yi's countermeasures against this new threat.

  The chaos was not limited to the Zenith Martial Pavilion. After receiving news of the Descendant of the Stone Fiend Shi Moyong, the Virtue Association was thrown into equal turmoil. After all, the ones who had destroyed the Defying Heaven Sect in the past were none other than the Virtue Association. Thus, express messengers had to swiftly deliver this news to the northern territories.

  While the Heaven-Equaling Peak, Han Zhaoming, The Sage of the Eight Corners, Han Xiaozhi, and the Young Master of the North, Ke Daobing were having lunch together, the express messenger suddenly appeared.

  "Reporting to the Association Head, Elder Han, and Eldest Young Master, a major event has occurred in the martial world."

  Despite his old age, Han Xiaozhi was an active and eager individual. He barked, "What major event is this?"

  "Reporting to Elder Han, three days ago, the Destitute Wanderer, Kang Kang led the former supreme experts of the Defying Heaven Sect to attend the Zenith Martial Pavilion's celebration banquet."

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  "Bastard! Has that shameless Diao (张) started associating with the unorthodox faction now?" Han Xiaozhi said angrily.

  The messenger quickly corrected him, "No, the Destitute Wanderer Kang Kang did not go there to ally with Diao Zhufan. He went to challenge the Pavilion Master to a duel."

  "Ridiculous... Who does that little boy think he is, daring to challenge that shameless Diao?" Even though Han Xiaozhi spoke rudely of Diao Zhufan, he still respected and acknowledged his enemy's martial prowess.

  Han Zhaoming, who had been sitting quietly listening to the report, suddenly asked the messenger, "Why did the Destitute Wanderer Kang Kang need to challenge Diao Zhufan?"

  "The Destitute Wanderer Kang Kang is actually the heir of Shi Wusha. He willingly revealed his true name as Shi Moyong, and it is rumored that he has also mastered the Armor Art." This messenger had gathered comprehensive information before reporting.

  "The Armor Art!!" Han Zhaoming and Han Xiaozhi exclaimed in unison. Ke Daobing, who was watching from the side, was surprised by their intense reaction, as their faces were filled with absolute shock and panic.

  The atmosphere in the room instantly turned tense. The Han father and son fell into a dead silence. Ke Daobing, who didn't know about the Armor Art they mentioned, kept his composure and continued to ask, "A challenge? When exactly is the duel scheduled?"

  "Rumors in the central plains say the duel will take place at the Zenith Martial Pavilion on the fifteenth day of the fifth lunar month," the messenger replied immediately.

  "Excellent! It seems Diao Zhufan is surely doomed to die. How could the saber in that Diao's hand ever do anything against the Armor Art?" Although Han Xiaozhi spoke words of congratulation, in truth, how could he feel any joy? The grudge between Shi Moyong and Diao Zhufan was merely over Diao Zhufan imprisoning the Defying Heaven Sect survivors in the Mystic Valley. Meanwhile, he and his son were the ones who had personally murdered Shi Wusha, the biological father of the new Stone Fiend. How could they escape this fate? They could only wait for their time to come.

  Han Zhaoming, bearing the title Heaven-Equaling Peak, suddenly stood up from his seat and walked back toward his quarters, his face deathly pale.

  Han Xiaozhi had never seen his son act like this before. Even though this matter was extremely daunting, the old man still possessed the bravery of a young man. He stood up and followed his son out, leaving Ke Daobing alone at the dining table to continue eating.

  Han Zhaoming walked with rapid steps. In just a moment, he entered his room and immediately shut the doors and windows. Han Xiaozhi, following closely behind, opened the door to converse with his son.

  "The Armor Art isn't something just anyone can successfully cultivate. How could this boy possess abilities matching his father's? The martial world always exaggerates its stories. You shouldn't worry too much," Han Xiaozhi comforted his son, placing a hand on his left shoulder.

  "That person must have certainly mastered the Armor Art. Otherwise, Diao wouldn't have accepted the duel challenge. With Diao's personality, he would have resolved it on the spot," Han Zhaoming said, sweating profusely.

  "This all might just be a scheme by that Diao."

  "The Stone Fiend has an heir..." Han Zhaoming muttered like a man devoid of hope.

  "Why worry so much? The boy specifically sought out Diao first; he didn't come looking for us." Han Xiaozhi still had a much stronger mentality than his son.

  Han Zhaoming didn't verbally answer his father, but his eyes conveyed the truth. Right now, the Virtue Association was no longer considered a primary target of importance. He believed the Stone Fiend's heir thought the same, choosing to attack the Zenith Martial Pavilion first before dealing with his faction.

  "So what if he has the Armor Art? We can go find your father-in-law. Even the Stone Fiend suffered defeat at our hands last time."

  "Father-in-law Gao surely won't help us anymore," Han Zhaoming said, his hands trembling with fear.

  "Even if that eccentric old man Gao's daughter passed away long ago, his granddaughter Yuexin is still alive. Would that eccentric Gao disregard his granddaughter's life and refuse to lend us a hand?" Han Xiaozhi considered himself to have the prestige of being one of The Three Martial Deities, equal to Gao Qingxin, so he spoke without needing to show reverence.

  Han Zhaoming looked extremely confused and anxious.

  Finally, Han Xiaozhi lost his patience with his son and scolded, "Zhaoming, we are all manly men. Why must you fear death to such a degree?"

  Hearing his father's words, Han Zhaoming felt ashamed of his behavior. Changing to a more confident tone, he continued, "What kind of martial artist fears death? I am truly useless."

  "Let us go find that eccentric Gao. No one can be too heartless toward their own descendants," Han Xiaozhi comforted his son. Just then, a gust of wind shot through the window, attacking Han Xiaozhi.

  Given Han Xiaozhi's level of expertise, the moment he sensed a sneak attack, he rolled his sleeve and struck out with a palm. The blast of internal energy knocked the hidden weapon that flew through the window, sending it flying to pin into a wooden pillar. Then, this furious elder leaped out through the window, roaring, "Sneak-attacking people, don't even think about escaping!" As his voice faded, his body had already darted out the window to chase the assailant.

  Han Zhaoming inspected the hidden weapon that had pierced through the window and was now pinned to the pillar. Discovering it was a type of flying dagger, he broke out in a cold sweat and rushed to the window, intending to call his father back from the pursuit. However, when he reached the window, a woman dressed in azure blue slowly walked toward him.

  "Qianlian, it was you who threw the Fairy Flying Dagger." Han Zhaoming instantly recognized the woman standing before him.

  "The Fairy Flying Dagger naturally belongs to my Second Senior Sister. You should know this well," the middle-aged woman said with a calm expression.

  Han Zhaoming thought to himself: the Fairy Flying Dagger is the signature weapon of the Verdant Dragonfly, Zhou Xingxuan. He felt an urgent need to follow and help his father fight her.

  "Please rest assured. This flying dagger was thrown by her daughter. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been so easily swatted away by your father's sleeve energy," this beautiful middle-aged woman—who was in fact the Azure Squirrel, Yang Qianlian—said.

  Learning of this, Han Zhaoming felt a wave of relief. He turned to greet the middle-aged woman in a friendly manner, "Qianlian, it has been a long time. Have you been well?"

  "Since you still recognized me at first glance, I will tell you to quickly scram and escape." Yang Qianlian actually shared a long history with this man named Han from the old days.

  "Where do you want me to scram to?"

  "In two days, the new Defying Heaven Sect will come here to settle our past scores." Yang Qianlian paused for a moment before adding another sentence, "If you father and son have the guts, then stay and face our Defying Heaven Sect. I, who once committed a grave sin against the sect, must now make amends to erase my past mistakes. To show my loyalty, I will personally be the one to kill you two."

  This story must trace back to the past when Han Zhaoming was still a handsome young man. As young man and woman, they were mutually attracted to each other, forming a forbidden relationship between two rival factions when he secretly infiltrated the Defying Heaven Sect.

  With Han Zhaoming's abilities, he naturally couldn't deceive supreme experts like The Demonic Doctor, Di Jiao and The Stone Fiend Shi Wusha. Later, Han Zhaoming not only suffered severe injuries, but it was also Yang Qianlian who had to kneel and beg for his life.

  At that time, Di Jiao, who doted deeply on his youngest female disciple, forced Han Zhaoming to agree to marry Yang Qianlian in exchange for sparing his life. Additionally, he expelled Yang Qianlian from the sect.

  Yang Qianlian carried the severely injured body of her lover to plead with Di Yi, who held the title Medicine King, to save Han Zhaoming's life. At that time, Wang Yi (or Di Yi), who had always fancied his beautiful junior sister, demanded a night of pleasure with her as an exchange. Out of the love she had for her man, she willingly sacrificed a woman's dignity to accept the trade.

  After receiving treatment, Han Zhaoming gradually recovered but lost his martial arts entirely. Yang Qianlian, who knew little about the outside world but remained close to The Blood Spider, Tian Yihui, planned to go live with her two senior sisters who had left the sect before her.

  After arranging their travel, Yang Qianlian returned only to find that Han Zhaoming had fled. Later, this lover of hers had his martial arts restored by a certain supreme expert, and he successfully led a force of martial artists back to annihilate the Defying Heaven Sect.

  Upon becoming the head of the Virtue Association, Han Zhaoming married a wife and had a token of their love—the Frostflower Maiden, Han Yuexin. However, Han Yuexin's mother was fragile. Although she managed to give birth to her daughter, she fell ill and only lived to see her child's face for half a year before passing away.

  Unable to catch up to the assailant, Han Xiaozhi could only turn back to find Han Zhaoming. Seeing an unfamiliar woman in azure clothes seemingly threatening his son by the window, he flew into a rage and swept his palm, launching a silent blast of internal energy.

  Yang Qianlian's senses were razor-sharp. Even though the internal energy shot through the air silently, the female expert accurately discerned its direction. She flipped her palm downward before sweeping it up to clash against the incoming internal qi.

  Suddenly, a pungent aura erupted from her palm. A clash resounded. Her body didn't sway in the slightest, as if Han Xiaozhi's airborne internal energy meant nothing to her. Instead, it was Yang Qianlian who channeled her own qi and blasted it right back.

  Han Xiaozhi immediately spun his sleeve three consecutive times, gathering his qi to shatter the rebounding force from a distance. He roared, "That vile poison palm! You are from the Defying Heaven Sect!"

  "That is correct. This is the Ten-Poison Palm. You must have heard of it."

  Han Xiaozhi naturally remembered this poison palm very well. The Ten-Poison Palm was the signature skill of The Demonic Doctor Di Jiao. Having clashed with that demon lord many times in the past, he still remembered its viciousness.

  "Qianlian, just leave," Han Zhaoming suddenly said with a calm voice.

  "A heartless man like you, I have long since forgotten. I hope we meet again in two days to decide life and death." Finishing her words, the azure-clad Yang Qianlian leaped into the air and fled.