Chapter 34: Chapter 33: Startling Wave-Treading Slash Against the Vajra
Within the Zhu Family Manor, Zhu Chengzu gathered a dozen or so Guests, called for the Tributor Uncle Zhou, and swaggered out of the Zhu Family estate. They began going street by street, inquiring if anyone matching Chen Yuan’s description had come to Lonely Mountain City.
It only took asking a few people to find out that Chen Yuan was currently sitting atop Sunrise Peak, the highest point in Lonely Mountain City.
Zhu Chengzu was stunned. ’Is this bastard really that arrogant?’
’He killed someone from my Zhu Family, yet he doesn’t even bother to hide? He’s just waiting for us out in the open like this?’
"Courting death!"
Zhu Chengzu sneered, and with a wave of his hand, he led his men straight toward Sunrise Peak.
「Atop Sunrise Peak.」
With a long saber hanging at his hip, Chen Yuan stood with his arms crossed, gazing at the waves crashing against the shore below.
Sunrise Peak was the highest point in Lonely Mountain City, overlooking the North Sea Coast. The sunrise view from this spot was said to be spectacular.
Chen Yuan had chosen to wait for the Zhu Family here because the location was strategically sound, easy to defend yet perfect for launching an attack.
The difficulty in a single person annihilating an entire family lay not in whether Chen Yuan could defeat all of its members.
Rather, it lay in preventing the Zhu Family members from scattering and fleeing in all directions.
A direct assault on the Zhu Family estate was out of the question. Chen Yuan had chosen to lure the snake from its hole and pick them off one by one.
By the time he was done with the last of them, the Zhu Family wouldn’t have a chance to escape even if they wanted to.
This first wave would all depend on how cautious the Zhu Family was.
If they sent a large group, Chen Yuan would kill more of them. If they sent a small one, he didn’t mind killing fewer.
Of course, there was a small chance the Zhu Family would mobilize their entire force, but the likelihood was extremely low.
Even if that did happen, the path up Sunrise Peak was narrow, allowing only one or two people to pass at a time. A larger force would just get bottlenecked at the back, unable to swarm him.
In such an environment, superior numbers were not an advantage. In fact, it was the perfect situation for Chen Yuan to unleash his full power.
An hour later, Zhu Chengzu and Uncle Zhou arrived on Sunrise Peak with a dozen or so Guests.
Seeing Chen Yuan standing at the very top of Sunrise Peak, Zhu Chengzu said coldly, "So you’re the madman who claims he’s going to wipe out my Zhu Family? Who the hell are you? Do you have any idea that my fifth brother is a Direct Disciple of the Blazing Sect?"
Although Zhu Chengzu had an impulsive personality, he wasn’t a complete idiot.
Before he left, Zhu Cheng’an had warned him to first feel out his opponent’s background.
If he was just some madman with no backing, then killing him was of no consequence.
But if he came from a Major Sect, they would have to weigh the consequences carefully.
"You think because your fifth brother is a Blazing Sect disciple, the whole Zhu Family gets to ascend to heaven?"
The corner of Chen Yuan’s mouth twitched into a mocking smile. "The Blazing Sect is several provinces away from You Province. I could wipe out your Zhu Family right now, and by the time grass is growing on your graves, your fifth brother might not even have heard the news."
"Courting death! Get him!"
Seeing Chen Yuan’s attitude, Zhu Chengzu roared in fury. The golden long sword at his waist flew from its sheath as he charged straight at Chen Yuan.
The Zhu Family’s Tributor, Uncle Zhou, was over seventy years old with a full head of white hair and a white beard, but his Qi and Blood had yet to decline. Wielding an Iron Coiling Dragon Staff, he stayed close to protect Zhu Chengzu.
Chen Yuan observed Zhu Chengzu’s Sword Momentum with a hint of surprise.
Zhu Chengzu’s swordsmanship was fierce and sharp, overflowing with killing intent. His Sword Momentum was relentless, and his Martial Dao foundation was surprisingly solid—even stronger than that of disciples from a Sect like the Iron Armor Sect.
The Zhu Family’s foundation was too shallow, and their Cultivation Techniques were something of a hodgepodge.
Some were techniques Zhu Chaofeng had acquired during his travels, while others were brought back to the family by Zhu Chengzong after he joined the Blazing Sect.
Of course, these weren’t the Blazing Sect’s secret techniques. They were merely common cultivation techniques the Sect deemed unworthy, given to its vassal forces and Outer Disciples.
But to the Zhu Family, even these common techniques were priceless treasures.
At present, the Zhu Family’s primary practices were a sword art, a palm art, and a qi art.
The sword art was the Green Blade Cloud Connecting Sword, the palm art was the Black Death Fire Cloud Palm, and the qi art was the Celestial Water Qi Condensation Technique.
All three cultivation techniques were Profound Level, but they each had different attributes. However, the Zhu Family members in question possessed decent Martial Dao Talent, so their power was not to be underestimated once they reached a high level of mastery.
By now, Zhu Chengzu’s Sword Momentum was upon him, yet Chen Yuan seemed to be in a daze, having not even drawn his saber.
Zhu Chengzu faltered for a moment. ’Does this guy have a death wish?’
But he didn’t dwell on it. His Sword Momentum was already committed, impossible to retract now. The chilling tip of his sword thrust straight for Chen Yuan’s throat.
Just then, a blinding flash of saber light erupted.
The brilliant light forced Zhu Chengzu to instinctively squint.
"Young Master, watch out!"
Uncle Zhou’s voice suddenly rang out beside Zhu Chengzu.
The next moment, the saber light was right before his eyes. With a deafening CLANG, the long sword in his hand shattered.
The unleashed Saber Qi tore his hands to bloody ribbons, and an instant later, it was about to slice him in two!
With Chen Yuan’s current reserves of power, the explosive force of his Surging Waves and Flowing Clouds Technique, and the supreme sharpness of his Cyan Dragon Blood Drink, a Martial Artist at the Blood Movement Realm had virtually no chance to fight back. He could kill them with a single strike.
At that critical moment, Uncle Zhou thrust his Iron Coiling Dragon Staff diagonally between Zhu Chengzu and Chen Yuan. A misty gray True Qi erupted from the staff.
With another explosive sound, Uncle Zhou was knocked back three steps, simultaneously shoving Zhu Chengzu off the narrow ledge of the path.
"Young Master, run! He’s a Qi Casting Realm master!"
With a grim expression, Uncle Zhou blocked the mountain path with his staff.
His staff technique was known for its immense, heavy power, yet a single slash from Chen Yuan’s saber had sent him back three steps.
This young man’s power was far greater than his own.
Zhu Chengzu’s hands were dripping with blood, still trembling uncontrollably.
He didn’t need Uncle Zhou’s warning to understand just how terrifying the man before him was.
If Uncle Zhou hadn’t intervened in time, he would have been killed by that single strike!
"Uncle Zhou, hold on! I’ll go get Father and Big Brother for backup!"
Zhu Chengzu decisively turned to retreat, viciously kicking at the Guests blocking his path.
"Get out of the way! What are you morons standing around for!?"
The mountain path was narrow, and the Guests could only descend two-by-two, slowing him down. Zhu Chengzu was filled with regret.
’I should have let these lackeys charge in first. What was I thinking, rushing to the front?’
Meanwhile, Uncle Zhou stared at Chen Yuan and said in a low voice, "May I ask which sect you hail from, Young Hero? What is it that you truly want? If the Zhu Family has offended you, you can take it up directly with the Patriarch. Why resort to lethal force immediately?"
Uncle Zhou was a veteran of the Jianghu. He could tell with a single glance that the man before him was no ordinary, low-level Martial Artist.
His opponent’s foundation of power was deep, his Saber Technique was extraordinary, and even the saber in his hand was a Profound Level Treasure Saber. How could a figure like this be some struggling, bottom-tier Martial Artist?
"You talk too much. I said I was going to annihilate your entire Zhu Family, and that’s what I’m going to do. What’s there to ask?"
Chen Yuan shook his head impatiently. In the next instant, his Surprise Wave Internal Power erupted. His Saber Momentum swelled like a tidal wave, crashing down on Uncle Zhou with overwhelming force.
Wave-Treading Slash!
Uncle Zhou let out a low growl, his Iron Coiling Dragon Staff a blur of motion. Misty gray True Qi enveloped the staff as he brought it crashing down on Chen Yuan with demonic fury.
Although his Iron Coiling Dragon Staff was not a Profound Soldier, it was forged from the finest iron. Wielded with immense, heavy force, it shattered chunks of the cliff face along the narrow path, sending rock debris tumbling into the abyss.
Amidst a series of explosive CLANGS, Uncle Zhou’s Iron Coiling Dragon Staff became covered in deep gashes from the saber, but it still managed to hold against Chen Yuan’s Saber Momentum.
"The Mad Demon Staff Technique from Vajra Prajna Temple? You were a monk?"
Chen Yuan raised an eyebrow.
Vajra Prajna Temple was a major Buddhist sect in the Central Plains.
Chen Yuan recognized Uncle Zhou’s staff technique at a glance because, in the original game’s storyline, the starting location for players who chose the Buddhist Sect path in the Newbie Village was right outside Vajra Prajna Temple.
"I was, once. This old man has since returned to secular life. Though my heart still yearns for the Buddhist Teachings, I no longer have any connection to Vajra Prajna Temple."
A shadow of despair flickered in Uncle Zhou’s eyes.
He claimed to have returned to secular life, but judging by his demeanor, it was more likely he had been expelled from Vajra Prajna Temple for violating some monastic rule.
"If you yearn for the Buddhist Teachings, then why do you aid a tyrant in his evil and willingly act as the Zhu Family’s attack dog?"
Chen Yuan sneered. "Don’t tell me you’re unaware of the things the Zhu Family has done. Is there a single one of their deeds that doesn’t warrant their entire family being wiped out?"
"You claim to yearn for the Buddhist Teachings—is this what that looks like? No wonder Vajra Prajna Temple expelled you. You deserved it!"
"Nonsense!"
As if his deepest wound had been struck, Uncle Zhou roared. The Iron Coiling Dragon Staff in his hand moved with even greater demonic fury, creating a sky full of afterimages as it smashed down toward Chen Yuan!
The Mad Demon Staff Technique of Vajra Prajna Temple appeared chaotic and patternless, like a wild, undisciplined flurry of strikes.
In truth, it was a style that overwhelmed opponents with sheer momentum—order born from chaos.
The storm of violent staff-shadows rained down, enough to overwhelm and stun any Martial Artist of the same realm.
But Chen Yuan met attack with attack. The immense Inner Strength from his Surging Waves and Flowing Clouds Technique exploded forth. A faint red True Qi coiled around his Cyan Dragon Blood Drink, its Saber Aura flaring as he unleashed a torrent of chilling saber-strikes in an instant.
Autumn Wind Slash!
The sky filled with the interweaving shadows of staff and saber. The ringing clang of metal on metal echoed ceaselessly across Sunrise Peak.
In this contest of absolute power, Uncle Zhou was forced back step by step. The webbing of his hands split open, instantly drenching his sleeves in blood.
It was true that in a fight, youth has the advantage, but even in his prime, Uncle Zhou’s strength would have been no match for Chen Yuan’s.
His Iron Coiling Dragon Staff was now covered in so many gashes it resembled a Wolf Fang Club and looked as if it might shatter at any moment.
At that moment, Uncle Zhou suddenly let go of his Iron Coiling Dragon Staff. He used the momentum to charge forward, right up to Chen Yuan. His hands moved through a Seal Formation, and a golden True Qi coalesced within the Fist Seal.
The secret technique of Vajra Prajna Temple: the Fearless Vajra Seal!
Chen Yuan’s left hand shot out. Using Spiritual Snake Silk Binding, he unleashed a pulse of Soft Strength to neutralize the Vajra Giant Power.
Then, his Shattering Jade Strength erupted. Like a python constricting its prey, it instantly twisted and snapped Uncle Zhou’s hand!
Uncle Zhou let out a bloodcurdling scream, roaring toward the path below, "Young Master, run! Get away!"
As the words left his mouth, Uncle Zhou tried to slam his head into Chen Yuan, hoping to buy Zhu Chengzu a few final moments.
He knew, of course, that the Zhu Family’s actions over the years had been excessively cruel.
But Zhu Chaofeng had saved his life, and he could only repay that debt by serving the Zhu Family with all his heart.
’By dying for Zhu Chengzu now, I can finally repay that life-saving debt, can’t I?’
But in the next instant, the blade in Chen Yuan’s right hand fell, cleanly severing Uncle Zhou’s head.
As his head rolled across the ground, a look of release appeared in Uncle Zhou’s eyes.
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