When Shi Moyong, adorned in bright red groom's attire, appeared before the grand gates of the Defying Heaven Sect, time itself seemed to stand still.

  The gentle breeze fell entirely still, and the murmurs of the crowd abruptly vanished. Though the atmosphere remained taut, every gaze was drawn to this single young man.

  The tall, elegant man stood there in his fiery red robes. With a stoic expression and abyss-like eyes, he strode into the crowd.

  Amidst the guests and supreme masters from across the realm, Shi Moyong chose to approach Jin Tianwang, The Merry Meanderer, to offer his first greeting.

  "Brother Jin..." Shi Moyong said in an even tone, bowing slightly in a composed manner.

  Jin Tianwang looked at the prospective groom with profound eyes before speaking with a faint smile, "Sect Master Shi, I have brought a wedding lantern as a gift for you."

  Upon saying this, he gestured behind him. Fan Qingqing and four men stepped forward, hoisting a colossal red lantern above their heads. The lantern was exquisitely crafted, adorned with red and gold—a symbol of supreme auspiciousness.

  Shi Moyong stared at the wedding lantern for a moment before uttering words that left the entire crowd utterly astounded.

  "It is a pity. This wedding... must be canceled."

  As soon as those words rang out, the entire atmosphere turned to ice.

  Right at that moment—a thunderous shout erupted from behind.

  "The two of you... do you intend to pretend I don't exist?!"

  The one who roared was none other than Li Sibei—The Reckless Blade. Bold and arrogant, he stood not far from Jin Tianwang, his sharp features radiating sheer insolence.

  Shi Moyong slowly turned to look at him, his face remaining completely impassive. "Who might you be?"

  A simple question, yet one that was colder than the sharpest blade.

  Li Sibei let out a cold sneer, his eyes filled with absolute disdain. "You do not even recognize me? I am The Reckless Blade, Li Sibei."

  Shi Moyong's gaze looked right through him as if he were thin air, before he stated emotionlessly, "The Reckless Blade, you say..." He paused briefly. "To me, you have never even been worth a glance."

  Li Sibei's expression immediately warped. Furious resentment erupted in his eyes. He clenched his fists so tightly his veins bulged. "Bas—" Before his curse could be completed...

  A woman's voice cut through. "And what of me...?"

  The one who interrupted Li Sibei's curse was none other than the most beautiful woman in the martial world, The Frostflower Maiden, Han Yuexin.

  "And what of me... Do I not exist to you either?"

  Shi Moyong's gaze did not waver in the slightest. He turned back to meet Jin Tianwang's eyes before stating, "As for Lady Han, it seems she has never existed to me at all."

  Surprisingly, Jin Tianwang's gaze shared the exact same sentiment. He replied, "As for myself, Lady Han no longer exists to me either."

  These words struck Han Yuexin's body like a bolt of lightning. The two men she valued most in her heart had delivered such ruthlessly detached words. At once, tears began to stream down her face.

  "Namo Amitabha." A Buddhist chant echoed as two figures stepped out from the edge of the woods. One was an elderly man with flowing white hair and a long beard, resembling an immortal sage. The other had a cleanly shaven head, donning a bright yellow monk's robe.

  Looking at them through her tear-blurred vision, Han Yuexin cried out loudly, "Father! Grandfather! Yuexin is being bullied!"

  Han Zhaoming had shaved his head and ordained as a monk. His appearance here today was to officially declare his withdrawal from the martial world, dedicating the remainder of his life to studying Buddhist scriptures.

  "The grudge between our two factions—if you wish to settle it today, nephew Shi, you may strike with all your might," Gao Qingxin declared as he steadily approached.

  The Sage of the Eight Corners, Han Xiaozhi, only knew that Han Zhaoming had followed Gao Qingxin. He assumed his son went to hone his martial arts to combat the Defying Heaven Sect. Never did he expect that upon his son's return, he would be a tonsured monk. Utterly shocked, Han Xiaozhi hurried over from another direction. Staring at Han Zhaoming's face, Han Xiaozhi dropped to his knees. Gripping the sleeve of his son's robe with one hand, he asked in disbelief, "Zhaoming, how did you become like this?"

  "The man named Han Zhaoming has already departed from this world. Now, only this poor monk remains, known as Nameless (Wuming)," the monk now bearing the Dharma name Wuming spoke to his father.

  "Are you going to abandon your father like this?" Having said this, Han Xiaozhi acutely felt his own advanced age. He had fought and schemed his entire life for the glory and prestige of his clan, yet looking back, nothing was truly permanent.

  "Benefactor father, this monk has entered the path of Dharma and has no intention of meddling in the martial world anymore. However, my past life owes a great debt to the Shi family. I am merely here to accept the karma of my past transgressions." Having spoken to his father, Han Zhaoming—now Wuming—stepped forward, intending to face Shi Moyong.

  "Zhaoming, why must it be this way?" Still unable to let go, Han Xiaozhi called out to hold his son back.

  "It is the only way. Whatever karma one sows, one must reap. In the past, we father and son conspired to frame the Defying Heaven Sect. We rallied the martial world to unjustly destroy them, and we ganged up on The Stone Fiend until he perished. This monk feels profound shame." Although Wuming had not yet reached striking distance of Shi Moyong, his voice was projected with focused internal qi, ensuring everyone present heard him clearly.

  Gao Qingxin, who had been watching the scene unfold, walked over and grasped the shoulder of the kneeling Han Xiaozhi, advising him, "Zhaoming has chosen to walk the path of Dharma. Brother Han, you should support his devotion. Do not hold back someone seeking to do good."

  Han Xiaozhi raised his head, meeting Gao Qingxin's gaze. "Brother Gao, could you assist me as well, so that the twilight of my life may also find peace?"

  "Brother Han, you must ponder this carefully. Do not treat ordination as a fleeting whim to be discarded at will. That would only tarnish the path of Dharma."

  Han Xiaozhi nodded continuously without pause. "I have thought it through completely. I wish to become a monk and study the Dharma alongside my son."

  Shi Moyong watched the scene unfold among the three men—Gao Qingxin, Han Zhaoming, and Han Xiaozhi. All of them had a hand in murdering his father. A part of him viewed this as a mere theatrical charade. Yet, another part of him felt little vengeance toward them. Perhaps it was because he was orphaned at such a young age, lacking any deep bond with his biological parents, having grown up entirely alone.

  "How can you all abandon Yuexin like this?!" Han Yuexin wept as if her heart were being torn apart.

  "You should follow us and study the Dharma as well," Gao Qingxin told Han Yuexin with absolute seriousness.

  "Grandfather... why must it end like this? We should be demanding justice from these enemies!" Han Yuexin turned back, pointing an accusing finger at Shi Moyong and Jin Tianwang.

  Slap! Gao Qingxin struck Han Yuexin sharply across her left cheek, then roared, "Follow us! From this day forth, the Han family washes its hands of the martial world!" Gao Qingxin's eyes were blazing with fierce authority.

  As stubborn and proud as Han Yuexin was, she dared not defy Gao Qingxin in this moment.

  "Have you of the Han family finished your little play? So you're just cowards, terrified of the Shi family to the point of putting on this humiliating farce!" Li Sibei barked harshly.

  "What right does the likes of you have to speak here?!" Shi Moyong snapped, pointing a finger right at Li Sibei's face. He then turned to Gao Qingxin. "Consider the grudge between our two families settled here and now. Elder Gao, take your people and leave."

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  Gao Qingxin grabbed Han Yuexin's wrist without delay and led Han Xiaozhi, Han Guimeng, and the monk Wuming—once known as Heaven-Equaling Mountain Han Zhaoming—away just like that.

  Li Sibei swept his gaze over his own faction. Deprived of the elite strength of the Han father and son, his momentum was severely crippled. The thought of retreating began to form in his mind.

  "Li Sibei, you cannot leave just yet. I have a matter to settle with you." Jin Tianwang, seemingly reading the man's mind, spoke up, gesturing toward the corpse of the Sword Slave being carried away by Defying Heaven Sect members for burial.

  Li Sibei had not expected Jin Tianwang to challenge him over this, yet he maintained a facade of bravado, replying loudly, "Does Brother Jin have something to say to me?" He continued to refer to him intimately as "Brother."

  "I intend to teach you a lesson, so that you will no longer slaughter people as casually as chopping vegetables," Jin Tianwang stated, stepping toward Li Sibei.

  "Ha ha! So Brother Jin wants to play a game with me?" Li Sibei forced a laugh, gripping the blade in his hand more tightly.

  Jin Tianwang's expression remained tranquil before he spoke in a flat tone, "Seeing as Brother Li was once a disciple of Uncle Diao, I am willing to yield three strikes of your blade."

  He paused briefly.

  "After those three strikes, I will deliver a punch to your chest. If you still have breath left in you to survive... then count it as your good fortune."

  The moment those words were spoken, a chill ran down the spines of everyone nearby.

  Against a blademaster like Li Sibei, a single strike was usually enough to claim a life. In the entire martial world, no one would dare claim to "yield" a move. Yet not only did he offer to yield, he offered three full strikes.

  Furthermore, Jin Tianwang openly declared the exact technique he would use to kill him afterward, as though victory were already set in stone.

  Therefore, these absolute, confident words were tantamount to extreme humiliation, treating Li Sibei as completely beneath his notice.

  Li Sibei's face grew freezing cold, his eyes glinting with lethal danger before he growled darkly.

  "Ridiculous... You think you can yield moves to me?" He let out a cold sneer. "You are far too arrogant. Or have you... forgotten? Back in Wei City—you nearly forfeited your life to my blade."

  Jin Tianwang continued to advance on him, his posture completely open, without the slightest hint of defense or preparation. "I am different from you. When I give my word, I always keep it."

  "Ha ha! You truly shouldn't be called 'The Merry Meanderer' anymore. 'The Foolish Meanderer' suits you far better..." Before he even finished his sentence, Li Sibei violently slashed his blade. A pitch-black blade arc shot straight toward Jin Tianwang.

  Jin Tianwang simply leaned his body to the side, dodging it by a hair's breadth. The blade cleaved the air, sending ripples of force soaring several zhang away, but he had managed to evade the first strike without much difficulty.

  Li Sibei had hoped his first strike would catch his opponent off guard. With the first move having missed, he chained into his second without hesitation. Launching himself into the air, he spun and slashed downward with all his might. Yet Jin Tianwang rolled backward to evade it once again. Although the tumble looked somewhat clumsy, it widened the distance between them by several zhang.

  However, Li Sibei halted his assault, opting not to follow up with his third strike right away. Pointing his left index finger at the ground before him, he burst into laughter. "I will not unleash my third strike unless you stand exactly on this spot!"

  Such words were utterly shameless. Being yielded three strikes was already an undue advantage for a master of his caliber. Having expended two strikes and realizing his opponent's reflexes and footwork were far too agile, he knew a continuous third strike would likely miss as well. He was blatantly exploiting Jin Tianwang's promise to his own advantage.

  Jin Tianwang promptly stood up. With a faint smile, he strolled directly toward the spot Li Sibei had indicated.

  The martial artists could not believe their eyes. Was he truly foolish enough to willingly step into the kill zone dictated by his enemy?

  And finally, Jin Tianwang came to a halt on that exact spot.

  Li Sibei was in no rush to attack. He circulated his internal qi twice to prepare his most ferocious and savage blade technique. Once his internal qi peaked, he hoisted his blade high above his head and brought it down like a thunderbolt. A streak of black lightning surged toward Jin Tianwang without warning.

  All of a sudden, dust and debris erupted from the ground accompanied by a deafening boom. A massive shroud of dust billowed upward, completely obscuring Jin Tianwang's figure.

  Li Sibei felt his blade slice into flesh. Yet panic washed over him as a violent rebounding force jolted up his arm, throwing him dangerously off balance and forcing him three steps back. As the dust cleared, Li Sibei realized the person his blade had struck was not The Merry Meanderer Jin Tianwang, but the Descendant of the Stone Fiend, Shi Moyong.

  A red welt from Li Sibei's blade was visible along Shi Moyong's right forearm, but his face remained perfectly normal, showing not the slightest hint of pain or distress.

  Jin Tianwang, standing behind Shi Moyong, spoke up. "Sect Master Shi, you are worrying far too much."

  Shi Moyong let out a short laugh. "Ha ha. Indeed, I was overly concerned. With Brother Jin's swift and precise footwork, evading it would not have been difficult."

  "I trust Sect Master Shi is unharmed?" Jin Tianwang asked him casually. His tone was as relaxed as if they were chatting in a parlor, entirely ignoring the fact that they were in the middle of a deadly confrontation with Li Sibei.

  "Brother Jin is too kind. How could a blade like that possibly penetrate my Nine Heavens Armor Art?" Shi Moyong answered dismissively. The demeanor of the two men made it blatantly clear: Li Sibei was beneath their notice.

  Being mocked and humiliated time and again caused Li Sibei's fury to boil over. With a feral roar, he viciously swung his blade at the back of Shi Moyong's head.

  But in that split second, Jin Tianwang moved.

  A gale followed.

  He blurred into an indistinguishable shadow. A collision erupted, deafening as a thunderclap.

  Dust and smoke plumed into the air once more. Amidst the billowing veil, Jin Tianwang's fist slammed solidly into Li Sibei's chest, exactly as he had promised. Before Li Sibei's blade could even graze Shi Moyong, his body was sent flying, both feet lifted clean off the ground. Searing heat flooded from the point of impact. His breath caught in his throat, and his internal organs churned violently as blood burst from his seven orifices.

  In truth, Jin Tianwang had only intended to teach him a lesson he would never forget. But fearing the blade might actually harm Shi Moyong, he had been forced to unleash his power without restraint. Li Sibei's massive body crashed violently into the dirt, bouncing a few times before falling still forever.

  The surrounding martial artists were stunned by Jin Tianwang's sheer speed. Moreover, the destructive power of that punch was enough to strike terror into their souls.

  This very fist had once subdued Han Zhaoming before the eyes of the martial world. Now, witnessing it once again, whispers erupted from all directions. They all agreed unanimously: this was the most devastating fist technique in the entire martial realm.

  Jin Tianwang had originally intended to spare Li Sibei's life. Seeing this outcome, a hint of regret washed over him. He cupped his fists in all four directions as an apology before announcing loudly, "I have killed a man at Sect Master Shi's celebration. I am ashamed."

  "Brother Jin possesses the most lethal fist in the realm. Besides, the wedding has already been canceled. Why would there be any reason to blame you?" Surprisingly, it was Shi Moyong who offered the excuse for Jin Tianwang.

  "Sect Master Shi, what do you mean? Was today not your auspicious wedding day?"

  "Since the bride has fled, what wedding is there left to have?"

  "You mean..."

  "If she had just held out a moment longer, she wouldn't have needed to flee like this."

  Jin Tianwang listened to Shi Moyong's words with a bewildered expression but remained silent.

  "My prospective bride actually fled the wedding... to search for you, Brother Jin."

  A jolt of absolute shock struck Jin Tianwang's core. Disbelief warred with a sudden, overwhelming sense of absurdity. He had only ever intended to save a life, never to tear a woman away from her destiny. His mind reeled. "Lady Zhou and I have only met twice. Both times, we barely exchanged a few words. Why would she feel compelled to seek me out?"

  "Because she has fallen for you. That is why she fled this wedding," Shi Moyong revealed a truth that was beyond all expectations.

  "How could that be possible? I..." Jin Tianwang looked incredibly conflicted, unable to process the sheer weight of the revelation.

  "You are mistaken, Brother Jin. When you said earlier that you had only met her twice, that was incorrect." Shi Moyong paused for a moment before continuing. "The three of us had actually met once before—back when we were dwelling in Mystic Valley."

  "We met in Mystic Valley?!" Jin Tianwang's expression was full of doubt as he shot back the question.

  "That time, you stormed into Mystic Valley and captured the Shadow Bat, Liu Santu, to clear the name of The Drunken Scholar, Ao Xia. On that day, she witnessed your heroic deeds, and it blossomed into love. Even I, who was also present, underwent a profound change. I looked up to you as the absolute paragon of manhood."

  "I..." Jin Tianwang had never been aware of any of this. To think that his rescue of Ao Xia would create such far-reaching ripples.

  "You need not blame yourself. Songyi and I made the decision to escape Mystic Valley precisely because we witnessed your bravery. That day, you likely had no idea just how terrifying the Shadow Bat, Liu Santu, truly was within the valley."

  "I..."

  "In truth, you should know that I was deliberately imitating you. You initially forged your fame in the West, so I sought to carve out my reputation in the East. Perhaps when you heard the tales of Kang Kang the Destitute, you noticed his path closely mirrored your own." Shi Moyong explained the events of the past in elaborate detail.

  "I truly never imagined it," Jin Tianwang finally voiced the shock he had been holding back.

  "But today, I can no longer hold you up as my paragon. It seems we were destined by fate to be bitter enemies. Not only did I kill The Drunken Scholar, Ao Xia, your dear friend, but I also claimed the lives of The Blood Hawk Diao Zhufan and The Eight-Kill Fist Wang Yue, your two great benefactors. Fortunately, you managed to sever your ties to that flower, otherwise I would have destroyed your lover as well. But now, today, you have stolen my bride. This is truly the work of destiny."

  "Sect Master Shi, you are taking this too far."

  "The truth is, you are an intoxicating man. Any woman given the chance to draw near you could never let you go."

  "I..."

  "Though you were my model, I am far more eloquent with my words than you. So, let it be known that we two must duel at least once. You, who stole the heart of my prospective wife, and I, who have built a mountain of blood debts against you. We cannot escape this destiny. I ask that Brother Jin do not evade this any longer."

  Hearing Shi Moyong's words, Jin Tianwang also felt that this battle was a destiny woven by the heavens. He had mastered the Ninefold Heaven-Piercing Fist precisely to overcome the Nine Heavens Armor Art. Now, with so many reasons and conditions demanding this duel, why should he flee from it forever?

  Having resolved this in his mind, Jin Tianwang gave a firm nod and declared, "Then I shall meet you, Sect Master, three days from now."

  "Three days from now," Shi Moyong echoed with a smile, before leading the people of the Defying Heaven Sect back into the fortress.