Fang Shuwen watched from a distance, able to see Murong Qingchen’s silhouette through a crack in the door. From this opening, waves of a chilly, sinister air pulsed out.

He wondered what master could be holding their own so impressively against Murong Qingchen.

However, a single glance revealed no sign of the Ye Feihua whom the red-robed man had mentioned earlier.

Of course, he wouldn’t have recognized Ye Feihua even if he saw her. Besides, she possessed the Non-Flower Attraction technique, which allowed her to be ever-changing.

Even if he knew what she looked like, he wouldn’t be able to pick her out now.

Seeing the chaos, Grand Commander Liang and his two companions didn’t hesitate, charging into the crowd and engaging the enemy.

Fang Shuwen understood their urgency. Back at the Stone Gate, he had noticed that the experts chasing Gu Yuxian used Martial Arts from the same school as Grand Commander Liang and his men.

Yet, it was clear that the Grand Commander’s group didn’t know these people, who were clearly acting with malicious intent.

Grand Commander Liang naturally wanted to get to the bottom of this mystery.

Fang Shuwen paid no mind to their clashes. With a flicker of his body, he executed Ascending the Clouds from his Cyan Cloud Step technique, treading on thin air as he shot toward the deepest stone chamber.

But just then, several figures leaped into the air to intercept him.

"You shall not pass!"

As they spoke, two chillingly cold Palm Techniques were already upon him.

Fang Shuwen’s brow furrowed slightly. He met their attack with both of his palms, striking theirs.

The instant their four palms connected, the expressions of the two attackers twisted in horror.

A series of pops—POP POP POP, POP POP POP—erupted from their palms, spreading up their entire arms in the blink of an eye.

Blood and bits of flesh and bone exploded in all directions.

The two men let out a single, wretched scream as they were sent flying backward, slamming hard against a wall before falling silent.

At the same time, Fang Shuwen felt his ankles tighten. He glanced down to see two more men, each grabbing a leg, trying to yank him out of the air.

And at the very moment the first two were blasted away, another attacker jabbed a finger straight toward Fang Shuwen’s Danzhong Acupoint.

Fang Shuwen circulated his Inner Breath and executed the Thousand-Pound Weight technique.

It wasn’t a particularly advanced technique—in fact, it was a dime-a-dozen skill. In the air, it allowed for a rapid descent; on the ground, it could be used to stabilize one’s stance.

It was even taught at the Four Seas Martial Arts Hall.

This, however, was the first time Fang Shuwen had ever actually used it in a real fight.

His body plummeted downward, far faster than the two men could pull him. The finger strike aimed at his chest whistled harmlessly over his head.

The attacker had no time to feel regret. He felt his wrist tighten—Fang Shuwen had caught it with his Plum Blossom Scattering Hand and was now yanking him down from the air as well.

A deafening BOOM echoed through the chamber.

The instant he landed, the ground beneath Fang Shuwen’s feet shattered.

The two men who had tried to pull him down had intended to upset his center of gravity, making it difficult for him to find his footing. Ideally, they wanted him to fall flat on the ground, vulnerable to a siege.

Little did they know, how could they possibly hope to budge Fang Shuwen when he used the Thousand-Pound Weight technique powered by his immense Inner Strength?

Not only could they not budge him, but they also found they couldn’t even let go.

It was as if Fang Shuwen’s legs had a powerful adhesive quality; they couldn’t break free no matter how hard they struggled.

Worse, their own Inner Strength was being siphoned continuously into Fang Shuwen’s body.

The final result was that the instant Fang Shuwen landed, the aftershock from his Thousand-Pound Weight technique had already killed the two men on the spot.

The other assailants closing in hadn’t even made a move when they saw Fang Shuwen swing his arm.

He was now using the man he’d plucked from the air as a human weapon, swinging him around in a full circle.

A series of sickening THUDS and the sounds of people spitting blood and staggering back filled the air.

After one full rotation, the man in his grip collapsed limply, kneeling before Fang Shuwen, who then brought a palm down on his forehead.

The Palm Power shot through the man’s entire body. With a CRUNCH, his knees buckled and sank into the solid ground. Blood poured from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth as he died on the spot.

Killing with such casual ease, the enemies surrounding him were suddenly afraid to advance.

The men blocking his path were trembling, their legs shaking. For every step Fang Shuwen took forward, they took a step back.

Fang Shuwen was growing impatient. With a light push of his feet, he launched himself forward.

With two dull THUDS, the two men directly in his path were sent flying. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Who knew how many bones in their bodies were broken; they were dead before they even hit the ground.

With no one left to block his path, Fang Shuwen crossed the remaining distance in a single stride and arrived at the entrance of the stone chamber.

This stone chamber was much smaller than the one outside. In its center stood a stone pedestal, upon which rested a brocade box. Inside the box was a stone.

The stone was triangular, marked with seven peculiar patterns.

’That must be the Seven-String Ancient Chapter,’ he thought.

Fighting over this object were Murong Qingchen and an old man.

It was clear, however, that Murong Qingchen was holding back, while the old man was fighting for his life.

The old man was also using a form of Cold Yin Martial Arts. A frigid energy filled the air as they fought, and every one of the old man’s moves targeted Murong Qingchen’s fatal acupoints.

Murong Qingchen still held a book in one hand, his attention mostly focused on it. With only a fraction of his focus on the old man, he effortlessly suppressed all of the old man’s techniques with his free hand and spoke.

"Old City Lord, must you insist on this?"

"I did not wish for Wu Lingxiao’s death, but as things stand, you cannot protect the Seven-String Ancient Chapter."

"It would be better to entrust it to my care."

"The great Book Immortal, turned into a common robber! Taking advantage of the death of the City Lord of Feixue City to steal our most precious treasure, and you dare speak so righteously!?"

"How utterly laughable!"

The Old City Lord of Flying Snow City, Wu Changzai, had a face wracked with grief.

He looked ancient. His hair and beard were completely white, and the deep wrinkles on his face seemed to tell a story of time’s cruelty.

Yet his grief seemed to stem from more than just Murong Qingchen’s attempt to steal the Seven-String Ancient Chapter...

As he spoke, he struck out with both palms simultaneously.

But Murong Qingchen caught both with a single palm. As their Inner Breath circulated, they began a contest of Inner Strength.

Seeing this, Murong Qingchen put down his book, tucking it into his robes.

"Why bother? You know you’re no match for me..."

But just then, a cold smirk touched the corners of Wu Changzai’s lips.

"It’s true that I am not your opponent, but... Pavilion Master Ye, now!"

A scene that astonished Fang Shuwen then unfolded. From what seemed to be empty air, a person suddenly materialized.

It was the young maidservant he had failed to spot in the crowd earlier.

She appeared at Murong Qingchen’s side, and in the instant she materialized, she struck a finger toward the Jingmen Acupoint on his ribs.