Martial Cultivator

Eight-Armed Heavenly King Meng Changlong stepped back several paces, steadying himself, his expression dark as he glared at the black-robed young man before him. Frowning, he asked, “Is your esteemed self intent on getting involved in this mess?”

Earlier, while in the crowd, he had heard about how this young man had killed the Lasting Joy Sect's young woman with a single move. Such skill suggested that he was at least a martial artist nearing the Great Beyond Realm.

Of course, for Meng Changlong, the most critical aspect was not the young man's cultivation realm but his background.

The fact that he could kill a member of the Lasting Joy Sect so brazenly was enough to prove that his origins were extraordinary. At least, it was certainly not something that a sect like the Lasting Joy Sect could easily handle.

In the White Deer Prefecture, Meng Changlong feared few in terms of cultivation realm. However, if the young man had an impressive background and a sufficiently powerful sect backing him, he was not someone he could provoke lightly.

Even if it was just a dragon passing by, one had to size it up carefully.

“Surely your esteemed self sees the situation clearly. Doesn't your esteemed self know what kind of scheme that old man had in mind?"

Meng Changlong sneered as he said, "Your esteemed self isn't related to him. Helping someone like him, isn't your esteemed self afraid he'll stab you in the back?”

Chen Chao looked at this Eight-Armed Heavenly King and smiled. “I wouldn't say we're entirely unrelated. If you insist on killing the Old Villa Master, why not lay out the situation clearly? If Fellow Daoist is in the right, I'll naturally back down.”

“There's nothing to discuss! Your Father is here to kill him and his son, to ensure that no one bearing the surname Yu remains in Divine Water Mountain Villa!”

Meng Changlong snorted coldly, his blood vitality surging violently.

Chen Chao said softly, “Then let's see if Fellow Daoist's fists are strong enough to kill me."

At this point, Meng Changlong stopped speaking and moved abruptly. Taking in a deep breath, he charged toward Chen Chao without hiding his killing intent in the slightest.

As a renowned martial artist in White Deer Prefecture, he had already recognized the black-robed young man before him as a fellow martial artist. Therefore, when he made his move, there was no hesitation or excess, he simply rushed toward Chen Chao. In an instant, the two pure martial artists collided. Meng Changlong raised a fist and aimed it directly at Chen Chao's face.

Chen Chao responded by striking Meng Changlong's forearm with one palm and then driving his shoulder forward into Meng Changlong's chest. Meng Changlong leaned backward to avoid the blow, simultaneously delivering a powerful kick, a robust qi surging along his leg. The force behind it was immense.

Chen Chao countered by hammering his fist against Meng Changlong's calf, causing him to lose his balance momentarily. However, Meng Changlong lunged forward with his entire body, launching a flurry of punches with both hands. For a moment, the air was filled with a barrage of fists raining down on Chen Chao.

Chen Chao frowned slightly as he began retreating rapidly towards the back. Yet, Meng Changlong pursued him relentlessly. Each punch carried the weight of a thousand catties, and his speed was overwhelming, giving his strikes tremendous power.

Chen Chao retreated until his back was against a large tree. He raised one foot to brace himself, but Meng Changlong suddenly threw a punch, smashing towards the top of Chen Chao's head.

Chen Chao dodged the attack, but the tree behind him was not so lucky. Being struck by Meng Changlong's fist, the tree snapped with a loud crack.

As the tree toppled, the force of the punch continued to surge outward, reducing it to splinters.

Sawdust filled the air as Meng Changlong stood amidst the debris like a war god, his qi radiating and roaring around him. In contrast, Chen Chao appeared much calmer. Despite Meng Changlong's long-standing reputation and peak condition, Chen Chao was not weaker than him.

After dodging Meng Changlong's relentless attacks, Chen Chao reached out and grabbed one of Meng Changlong's arms. He then delivered a punch that disrupted this fierce martial artist's attack momentum. Following up, he struck Meng Changlong's chest with a palm. Only then did Meng Changlong realize what had happened. But it was too late. As he tried to throw another punch at Chen Chao, he discovered that the qi in his body was rapidly dissipating.

Chen Chao yanked hard, taking advantage of Meng Changlong's forward-leaning posture, pressing down on this fierce martial artist's head with one hand. Pushing down with force, he simultaneously drove his knee into Meng Changlong's head.

Meng Changlong's expression changed drastically. In the beginning, he had been confident of victory, believing he could swiftly defeat this junior martial artist. However, the situation had turned completely against him. He was continually at a disadvantage, virtually without any chance to fight back.

The young martial artist before him clearly still had strength left to spare.

After striking Meng Changlong with his knee, Chen Chao followed up with a palm strike to his chin. Then, sinking his shoulder, he rammed into Meng Changlong's chest.

This time, the qi within Meng Changlong's body scattered, and his body was sent flying uncontrollably. He crashed through countless large trees before slamming heavily into the ground.

In mid-air, a large spray of blood even scattered and fell.

Chen Chao stood where he was, watching the scene with an expressionless face.

The many cultivators watching were stunned. Meng Changlong was a renowned martial artist of White Deer Prefecture, a long-established powerhouse. Yet today, in front of an unknown young martial artist, he had been defeated so quickly.

What was going on?!

Looking at the black-robed young man standing motionless, who had not even drawn his saber yet had gravely injured the most prominent martial artist of this prefecture, many cultivators could not help but think of a fact they did not want to believe, yet it was highly likely to be true.

Could this person before them really be that person?

Half an incense stick of time later, that Eight-Armed Heavenly King finally struggled to his feet. With a complex expression, he looked toward Chen Chao, remaining silent for a moment before saying softly, “My skills are inferior. Thank you for sparing me, Fellow Daoist. However, my enmity with Divine Water Mountain Villa won't end here. If Fellow Daoist truly intends to protect that Old Man Yu, you'd better kill me now!”

Chen Chao glanced at this long-renowned martial artist and replied calmly, “I don't know the details of your feud. If you must seek revenge, it should remain between the two of you. But if it involves unrelated people, then you shouldn't have made a move, Fellow Daoist.”

Meng Changlong’s expression was complicated, and he said nothing.

Chen Chao withdrew his gaze and turned to the many cultivators present, saying calmly, “For those with no prior grievances against Divine Water Mountain Villa, if any of you dare to have designs on Divine Water Mountain Villa in the future and I find out, I'll personally visit you.”

“May I ask what exactly is Fellow Daoist's relationship with Divine Water Mountain Villa?”

Among the crowd were some long-standing enemies of Divine Water Mountain Villa. They had not come for the so-called Immortal Spring Assembly but to sabotage it. Yet, while the event had indeed been disrupted, an unexpected figure had suddenly appeared.

“I have no direct ties to Divine Water Mountain Villa. However, the eldest son of the Old Villa Master who died in the Northern Frontier does have some connection to me.”

Looking at the crowd, Chen Chao smiled and said, “This official happens to serve as an official in the imperial court. Currently, I'm the Commander of the Left Guard.”

Hearing this, everyone fell silent.

“And there's one more thing. Everyone had better remember it well.”

Chen Chao swept his gaze across the crowd, speaking calmly, “Divine Water Mountain Villa is under the Great Liang's protection.”

……

……

The morning glow enveloped the entire Divine Water Mountain Villa. The surface of the lake shimmered with light, sending multicolored ripples across its waters.

After learning that the immortal spring had already dried up, the cultivators no longer had any reason to remain and quickly departed. As for those who held grudges against Divine Water Mountain Villa, at least before Chen Chao left the Divine Water Mountain Villa, none would dare to do anything.

As for Chen Chao's final words, it would likely linger in many minds, ensuring that few would dare to make further moves.

There were sects in the world that could disregard the Great Liang, but this crowd clearly was not among them.

Chen Chao sat in a secluded courtyard, facing an elderly father and his young son, the Old Villa Master Yu Canghai and the young villa master, Yu Qingfeng.

Yu Qingfeng was presently still a teenage boy with a youthful face, and looked at Chen Chao with admiration in his eyes. Having fathered him in his old age after losing his eldest son, Yu Canghai cherished him deeply as his only remaining heir.

The Old Villa Master spoke directly, “This old man won't hide the truth from you, Lord Chen. The immortal spring's source dried up years ago. It was a natural wonder, a treasure of heaven and earth, but after so many years, it was inevitable it would run dry. However, this old man couldn't bear to see my young son perish along with Divine Water Mountain Villa. So, this old man devised this scheme in hopes of saving Qingfeng's life. In my life, this old man has always conducted myself uprightly, but this one disgraceful act...really...”

Chen Chao asked, “When Old Villa Master set the trap, why did you have the maid take the initiative to inform? Was it to avoid involving this official?”

The Old Villa Master nodded. “A part of it is due to misgivings about the faction backing Lord Chen. The rest is because you, as a martial artist, are so young yet carry yourself with such integrity. It reminded this old man of my younger days, which stirred my sympathy... This old man just didn't expect things to escalate this far, nearly causing a grave mistake.”

Chen Chao was silent for a moment before speaking, “Regarding last night's events, I saw through Old Villa Master's plan. At first, I didn't reveal it on the account that Old Villa Master's eldest son had died fighting for the Great Liang in the Northern Frontier. But that connection will not compel this official to take further action. The reason this official took the actions I did afterward was due to the Old Villa Master's last-minute change of heart.”

The Old Villa Master was filled with deep shame.

Chen Chao looked at him and said calmly, “Had Old Villa Master not taken that action, this official would have also certainly helped you to the end for the sake of your eldest son.”

The Old Villa Master was at a loss for words. In the end, he just let out a heavy sigh.

“Lord Chen, this old man has a presumptuous request.”

After a brief silence, the Old Villa Master hesitated but eventually opened his mouth to say in a soft voice, “This old man's time is short and can't live much longer. But this old man wishes to entrust my youngest son to you, Lord Chen.”

Chen Chao glanced at Yu Qingfeng and said, “There are many places he could go. This official is the Commander of the Left Guard now, and if Young Villa Master is willing, he could take a position in the Left Guard's office. In the Divine Capital, no one would dare to find trouble with Young Villa Master. But with his talent, perhaps cultivating daoist techniques would suit him better than pursuing martial arts?”

Suddenly, Yu Qingfeng kneeled on the ground, speaking earnestly, “I am willing to take Lord Chen as my master and serve the Great Liang.”

Chen Chao sighed as he looked down at the kneeling Yu Qingfeng, saying, “I don't have the ability to teach.”