"Great-Uncle!"

A piercing shriek echoed before the Gao Family’s grand hall. As they watched helplessly, the highly respected elder was sliced in two mid-air, and a rain of blood fell. The eyes of every Gao Family member turned crimson.

The Gao Family’s Fourth Great-Uncle had been the clan’s stabilizing pillar for decades. Though his strength had declined with old age, his prestige within the family was second to none.

Even the current Patriarch, Gao Yuanfeng, often had to consult the old man on major decisions. For years, it was his steady hand and precise judgment that had allowed the Gao Family to remain a dominant force in Changshan County.

But now, this revered elder had been so brutally murdered right before their eyes.

"We’ll fight him to the death!"

Several Gao Family elders lost their minds, charging madly toward Chen Sheng, heedless of the volley of arrows raining down.

A Martial Master in the Marrow Transformation Realm might have been able to withstand the downpour of arrows, but these men, whose Cultivation was a step below, lacked that power.

SWISH SWISH SWISH—

Sharp arrows tore through the air, arriving in an instant.

The three elders in the lead were instantly riddled with arrows, turning them into human pincushions. They staggered forward a few more steps before collapsing into pools of blood, their faces etched with defiance. One of them stared death at Chen Sheng until his last breath, his eyes burning with hatred. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Gao Yuanhe glanced at Gao Qicheng’s corpse on the ground, then at the mutilated remains of his great-uncle. The killing intent in his eyes was practically overflowing. He whipped a crimson Elixir from within his robes and, without hesitation, shoved it into his mouth.

CRACK! The Elixir shattered between his teeth, and a searing torrent of energy instantly flooded his body.

This was a Blood Burning Pill. It could ignite a Martial Artist’s latent potential for a short time, causing their strength to surge dramatically. But the price was just as steep. When the pill’s effects wore off, the user would suffer a major blow to their Cultivation at best; at worst, their Meridians would rupture, leading to certain death.

BOOM!

Qi and blood roiled around Gao Yuanhe as his Inner Breath swelled like a tidal wave. Veins bulged on his face and his eyes turned bloodshot. He looked like a ferocious beast about to pounce and devour its prey.

Even more shockingly, he snatched up Gao Qicheng’s corpse and hurled it at Chen Sheng like a shield.

"Chen Sheng, you accursed dog! Pay for my great-uncle’s life!"

Gao Yuanhe leaped into the air, his long blade cleaving through the air with a blinding flash of cold light. Empowered by the Blood Burning Pill, this strike was even mightier than the one his great-uncle had delivered!

Li Huai Sheng, who had been standing silently to the side, saw this and was about to intervene, but Chen Sheng moved faster.

RIIIP—

A blade flashed. Gao Qicheng’s corpse was sliced in two in mid-air amidst a spray of gore. Through the bloody rain, Gao Yuanhe’s own blade descended, aimed straight for Chen Sheng’s face.

With this strike, Gao Yuanhe had completely abandoned all defense, opting for a life-for-a-life exchange.

But while he wanted to trade lives, Chen Sheng wasn’t willing to oblige. Gao Yuanhe simply wasn’t qualified.

BOOM!

The two long blades collided with a deafening crash. A violent wave of Fierce Qi erupted outwards, shattering the bluestone pavers on the ground.

Gao Yuanhe’s robes were shredded by the Fierce Qi, but he paid it no mind. Instead, he channeled his qi and blood with even greater frenzy, his blade striking again and again. The attacks grew fiercer, the gleam of his blade more brilliant!

But to his utter disbelief, even with the power he had gained from the Blood Burning Pill—power bought with his own life—he still couldn’t overwhelm Chen Sheng.

Chen Sheng’s Sword Skill appeared plain and simple, each move a basic form. Yet he always managed to neutralize Gao Yuanhe’s attacks with perfect timing. The flow of his blade was as smooth as drifting clouds and flowing water, leaving no opening to exploit.

Worse still, Gao Yuanhe was beginning to feel sharp, stabbing pains inside his body—the telltale sign of the Blood Burning Pill’s backlash.

He knew that if he couldn’t end this quickly, a fate worse than death awaited him, and the Gao Family would be completely annihilated.

At this thought, a look of grim resolve flashed in Gao Yuanhe’s eyes. After parrying Chen Sheng’s blade one more time, he suddenly dropped his weapon, concentrating all his power into one fist and aiming it straight for Chen Sheng’s heart.

If this punch landed, Chen Sheng would be severely wounded, if not killed outright!

The cost, of course, was that he would likely be cut down by Chen Sheng’s blade in return. But this was his last chance. By trading his life for an injury, he might just win the Gao Family a slim chance of survival.

He had expected Chen Sheng to retreat and dodge, and had even planned his follow-up attacks.

However, Chen Sheng’s reaction once again defied his expectations!

Facing this earth-shattering punch, Chen Sheng did not retreat. Instead, he stepped forward, gathered Force into his left fist, and prepared to meet the blow head-on.

Gao Yuanhe was ecstatic. ’A Martial Artist’s right arm is always stronger than their left, unless they’re left-handed.’

’And from what I’ve seen, Chen Sheng isn’t left-handed.’

’He’s practically asking to die!’

This thought bolstered Gao Yuanhe’s confidence. He could already envision Chen Sheng’s left arm breaking, sending him flying backward while vomiting blood.

Chen Sheng’s eyes narrowed. His Inner Breath circulated wildly, and his qi and blood surged like a tidal wave.

The sleeve of his official robe over his left arm whipped about, swollen with overflowing Fierce Qi. More astonishingly, his left palm began to emit a faint golden light, as if coated in a layer of gilt.

BOOM!!!

The instant their fists met, a deafening roar exploded. A violent storm of Fierce Qi swept out from the epicenter of the impact, pulverizing the surrounding bluestone pavers and throwing up a thick cloud of dust.

However, the scene he had imagined did not come to pass.

Instead, at the moment their fists collided, it was Gao Yuanhe who felt a terrifying, overwhelming power, like a mountain collapsing upon him.

CRACK!

A sharp crack of breaking bone echoed. Gao Yuanhe’s right arm twisted into an unnatural angle, pale shards of bone bursting through his skin in a shower of blood.

He was sent flying backward, his mind reeling with shock and disbelief.

’How is this possible?’

This was the only question left in Gao Yuanhe’s mind.

’How could Chen Sheng’s strength be so terrifying? He only just broke through to the Marrow Transformation Realm, and he blocked my all-out attack with his weaker left arm. Why am *I* the one who lost?’

No one answered his question, and Chen Sheng wouldn’t give him any time to think.

Before he could even land, Chen Sheng closed the distance like a shadow, leaping into the air and stomping his right foot down onto Gao Yuanhe’s chest.

PFFT—

A terrifying Force surged through his body. Gao Yuanhe’s chest instantly collapsed, his organs pulped by the force of the stomp. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but only blood came gushing out.

In the final moment before his life faded completely, he vaguely heard Chen Sheng’s cold whisper:

"Pathetically weak."

...

Chen Sheng glanced at the corpse on the ground, then impassively looked away.

’I always knew I was strong,’ Chen Sheng reflected. ’But I’m used to relying on foresight to win. I rarely face Martial Artists of the same realm head-on. I either weaken them with schemes or ambush them. I’ve never truly tested the upper limits of my strength.’

’Today’s battle, where I killed a Martial Master of my own rank with a single punch, proves that my strength is top-tier even among those in the Marrow Transformation Realm.’

’Of course, the thought was fleeting. Given the choice, I’d still prefer the most reliable method. Why use brute force when you can outsmart your enemy?’

With the deaths of the Gao Family’s great-uncle and Gao Yuanhe—their two Marrow Transformation Realm masters—the family’s final resistance crumbled.

Chen Sheng surveyed his surroundings. He looked at the trembling Gao Family disciples and servants, his eyes devoid of any pity.

"Pass on the order: The entire Gao Family, from the old and weak to the women and children—slaughter them all!"

His voice, cold as iron, echoed across the blood-soaked courtyard.

"Yes, sir!"

The soldiers roared their assent in unison, followed by the sound of swords and sabers being drawn from their sheaths.

A bloody massacre had officially begun.

Chen Sheng turned his back on the screams and pleas for mercy, walking slowly away. The sunlight caught his blood-soaked official robe, casting a blinding crimson reflection.

After this day, the Gao Family would no longer exist in Changshan County.