Chapter 122: Appearance

"To think that the strength of the Great Completion of the Ancient Dan Realm is this terrifying; even the combined efforts of the four great stewards of the Nangong family could not gain the upper hand." Ye Cheng frowned slightly. He could see that although Nangong Hao and the other three were working together to resist Tie Muqiu, they were still losing. The defensive barrier had already developed cracks, and it was unlikely to hold out much longer against Tie Muqiu’s barrage of blade-like rain.

Once the four Nangong stewards were defeated, Ye Cheng feared he would face an adversary even more formidable than Luo Long had been.

"Without true power, one is nothing but a lamb for the slaughter." Ye Cheng understood clearly that his own strength was insufficient. If he possessed the power of the Ancient Dan Realm, he would have no reason to fear Tie Muqiu. "I must do everything in my power to increase my strength as quickly as possible." A hunger for power glinted in his eyes.

"Heh, boy. Cultivation cannot be rushed; everything must be done step by step. With your aptitude, if you are given another twenty years, stepping into the Primordial Spirit Realm is quite possible. By then, not just the Nangong estate, but the entire continent will be yours to traverse." Seeming to perceive Ye Cheng’s thoughts, Elder Mu spoke up.

"Twenty years?" Ye Cheng was not satisfied with this pace. To others, reaching the Primordial Spirit Realm in twenty years might be an incredible feat, but for Ye Cheng, it was too long. He had reached the peak of the Blood Qi Realm in less than a year.

*Crack.*

Hearing the sound, Ye Cheng looked up. The golden barrier condensed by Nangong Hao and the others could no longer withstand Tie Muqiu’s torrential blade rain and shattered with a resounding crash. Countless blades surged forward, striking Nangong Hao and the three other stewards. They were thrown back, each sustaining significant injuries.

"Teacher, do you have any way to deal with Tie Muqiu?" Ye Cheng’s pupils contracted at the sight.

"I am currently only a Primordial Spirit entity, but I can still save you from a mangy dog of the Ancient Dan Realm. However, there is no need for me to intervene; someone else will naturally step in to save you." Elder Mu smiled mysteriously.

"Someone will step in?" Ye Cheng was taken aback.

At that moment, countless blades pierced through the gaps left by the retreating Nangong Hao and his companions. Like the scythe of death, they chilled the soul.

"Oh no! Young Master Ye is in danger!" Nangong Hao and Xie Cang saw the trajectory of the blade rain and realized it was aimed at Ye Cheng. Their expressions shifted, but the blades were moving too fast; they had no time to intervene.

"Ye Cheng, quick, move!" Nangong Xue pushed Ye Cheng hard, attempting to shove him out of the way, but she did not expect him to grab her in return. With a powerful motion, he pulled her into his arms.

"Since ancient times, it has been men who protect women. There is no reason for a man to hide behind a woman." Ye Cheng’s voice resonated in Nangong Xue’s ears. She snapped out of her shock, only to realize that Ye Cheng was shielding her with his own body, his back turned to the oncoming rain of blades. Her heart began to race.

"Let go, quickly! You cannot withstand this blade rain!" Nangong Xue’s fair face was filled with anxiety as she pushed against him, but he held her tightly. The masculine aura radiating from him left her unable to muster any strength.

"Old ghost Tie Mu, stop at once!" Xie Cang roared. "If anything happens to our Young Lady or Young Master Ye, our Nangong family will surely raze your Blood Fiend Gang to the ground."

Tie Muqiu glanced coldly at Xie Cang, his Whirling Blade technique growing even more ferocious and murderous. "Are you even qualified to threaten me now? Today, I will kill these two brats and see what your Nangong family can do to destroy my Blood Fiend Gang."

"You..." Xie Cang was speechless with rage, while Nangong Hao and the other two stewards glared at Tie Muqiu with surging murderous intent.

"Tie Muqiu, it seems you have grown more pathetic with age. To bully the young at your age—you have truly lived like a dog."

Suddenly, a voice, majestic and filled with fury, seemed to descend from the heavens. It echoed throughout the entire martial arts arena. A burly figure dropped from the sky, and terrifying bolts of lightning surged from his body, instantly annihilating the rain of blades.

Seeing this sudden arrival, Nangong Hao and the others were stunned, followed by a surge of joy. They bowed respectfully toward the burly figure. The Nangong family disciples behind them, seeing the man descend like a god or demon amidst the lightning, cried out with wild joy:

"Patriarch!"
"Patriarch!"

"Was it not said that the Nangong Patriarch was gravely wounded and unconscious? How has he suddenly appeared here?" Countless people were instantly dumbfounded.

The person who had appeared was none other than Nangong Xiong, the current head of the Nangong family. His previous injury had been widely publicized by the Blood Fiend Gang throughout Yongle City. His powerful return was completely unexpected.

After Tie Muqiu’s attack was dispersed by Nangong Xiong, Ye Cheng hurriedly let go of Nangong Xue and focused his gaze on the newcomer. "Nangong Xiong!"

He naturally recognized the man, having seen him previously within the Nangong estate, though he had been unconscious at the time.

"Father," Nangong Xue caught sight of Nangong Xiong, her face lighting up with joy as she breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thanks to the Soul Grass you found, Xue'er, you have truly worked hard." Nangong Xiong looked at Nangong Xue with doting eyes, his stern expression softening with paternal affection.

"It was no hardship!" Nangong Xue bit her lip softly and whispered. As she spoke, her gaze flickered toward Ye Cheng.

Nangong Xiong understood his daughter's character, but the lingering, subtle look she cast at the young man left him somewhat surprised. He turned his eyes toward Ye Cheng.

Feeling Nangong Xiong’s gaze, Ye Cheng looked up. Their eyes met, and the deep, starry depth of Nangong Xiong’s gaze momentarily mesmerized Ye Cheng, though he quickly regained his composure.

"Not bad, young friend. To possess such a steadfast heart at such a young age is truly rare." Nangong Xiong looked at Ye Cheng with a smile.

"You are too kind, Patriarch Nangong," Ye Cheng replied modestly.

Meanwhile, the members of the True Martial Sect and the Flying Sword Sect, who were aligned with the Blood Fiend Gang, saw their expressions darken. Their leaders, Jin Cheng and Sword Slave Zi, looked particularly grim.

Jin Cheng watched the sudden appearance of Nangong Xiong, his expression shifting uncertainly. He sent a telepathic message to Sword Slave Zi beside him: "What now? It appears Nangong Xiong’s injuries have fully recovered. We are in trouble."

"We have come too far to turn back now. Although Nangong Xiong is strong, we need not be overly pessimistic. Tie Muqiu also possesses the strength of the Great Completion of the Ancient Dan Realm; we may not necessarily lose to the Nangong family."

Though Sword Slave Zi said this, he felt uneasy. He knew the extent of Nangong Xiong’s strength, and as the head of the Nangong family—the overlords of Yongle City—he undoubtedly possessed hidden cards. It was these unknown trump cards that truly unsettled them.