novelraw Chapter 549 548: The King of Yu State!
Chapter 549 548: The King of Yu State!
A mysterious Saint emerged in Yu State's Kaifeng!
A single sword strike obliterated the Zhu family, a Martial Dao family with a thousand-year legacy and a sacred clan of the Confucian Sect!
This news, once released, immediately caused an uproar throughout Yu State.
The Zhu family was not only the strongest Martial Dao family in Kaifeng City but also one of the top ten families in Yu State, possessing the strength of four Semi-Saints and one Saint, Zhu Xi, whose whereabouts were unknown but who was certainly still alive!
Such a powerful family was actually destroyed by a single sword strike!
Those who heard the news initially reacted with disbelief. However, as various photos and records from Kaifeng's underworld spread, they all proved it was true! The Zhu family was really annihilated! Even their residence had been turned into a deep pit by that sword strike; everything was reduced to ashes, ceasing to exist!
This was truly astounding! Incredible! Unbelievably so! How could such a thing happen?!
Which Saint could have wiped out the Zhu family with a single sword strike?
In this era, Saints who still walked the Earth were exceedingly rare, few enough to be counted on one's fingers—barely a dozen in total! Each of these individuals had powerful forces behind them; any action involving them could have widespread implications. None seemed likely to be the one to come to Yu State and destroy the Zhu family!
Who could it be? Could a slumbering Saint have awakened?
「The Du family of Runan.」
Du Cheng had also learned of the Zhu family's annihilation. He felt something was amiss, a sense of ominous premonition, so he went to find his older brother, Du Zhou.
"Big brother, do you think this could be related to Qin Xuantian?" Du Cheng furrowed his brow. "He's due to arrive in Yu State in four days. Why would a mysterious Saint suddenly appear at this critical juncture?"
"Relax." Du Zhou chuckled, unconcerned. "Qin Xuantian, for all his supposed strength, is merely at the pinnacle of the Innate level. Coming to Yu State is a death wish for him. Besides, we've investigated him; he's never had any contact with Saints. As for the mysterious Saint who destroyed the Zhu family, it was most likely because the Zhu family did something to displease him. It could even be an old grievance from centuries or a millennium ago. After all, Saints have very long lifespans."
Stepping into the Saint Realm signifies the beginning of true longevity, granting a lifespan of at least a thousand years. With special life-extending methods or the consumption of life-extending Elixirs, some could even live for nearly two thousand years!
"Yes, that must be it." Du Cheng nodded, reassuring himself. That little vermin Qin Xuantian, what could he possibly amount to? How could he be connected to a Saint? He's as good as dead when he comes to Yu State!
"Exactly! That little vermin is far too arrogant, claiming he alone will annihilate the Martial Dao families of Yu State. He's simply courting death!"
Du Zhou sneered. "The ten great families of Yu State have united. Even with the Zhu family gone, leaving only nine, we still have a total of twenty Semi-Saints! That little vermin Qin Xuantian might make it here, but he won't leave alive!"
"Let that little vermin learn the meaning of the Central Plains, the significance of millennium-old families!" Du Cheng nodded. "I hear that Lord Zichen, who has walked the mortal realm for six hundred years, will also take action this time. Qin Xuantian is doomed!"
Since the Tang Dynasty, Spiritual Energy had waned and the Law had gradually fallen silent, making it exceedingly difficult for Martial Artists to enter the Saint Realm. Consequently, many Martial Artists, upon reaching the Semi-Saint realm, chose to use Secret Techniques to enter a state of slumber. This delayed the decline of their lifespan, allowing them to hope for an era where Spiritual Energy revived and the Law re-emerged. For a Martial Artist in deep slumber, the passage of their lifespan slowed dramatically; a century would feel like a mere decade. This was a method to preserve one's longevity.
However, some believed such slumber was a waste of time. They felt it was better to truly live through the centuries, as there might still be a chance to step into the Saint Realm.
Zichen, the Family Head of Yu State's foremost family, the Yin Shang, had made such a choice. Six hundred years ago, at the age of twenty, Zichen stepped into the Semi-Saint realm. He chose not to slumber but to dwell among mortals, living for over six hundred years to this day!
His power was unfathomable, his True Qi as vast as an abyss and as boundless as the sea. Even peak-level Semi-Saints could not withstand the impact of his gaze—he was overwhelmingly strong! Some even speculated that Zichen might have already entered the Saint Realm, becoming a Saint, but had simply not informed the world.
"With Lord Zichen taking action, even ten Qin Xuantians would undoubtedly meet their doom!"
Du Zhou laughed heartily. "Let's go find Father. He seems to be discussing with the Huangs' Semi-Saint how to torture Qin Xuantian, to show the world that the great families of Yu State cannot be humiliated!"
"Let's go! We must torture that little vermin Qin Xuantian! I have to contribute to the planning!" A flicker of murderous intent flashed in Du Cheng's eyes as he sneered. "I will make him kneel before me, kowtow, and beg for mercy!"
Yu State, Moyi.
This ancient city was once the capital of the Yin Shang dynasty three thousand years ago. At that time, it had another name: Chaoge!
Now, after thousands of years of change, Chaoge City has long ceased to exist. Even the main Yin Shang lineage is no longer on Earth. However, a branch of the Yin Shang royal bloodline has been preserved here.
One of the oldest and most powerful families in the world! The Yin Shang!!
In the center of Moyi City lay a vast classical estate spanning over fifty thousand square meters. This was the residence of the Yin Shang family.
It featured pavilions and towers, intricately carved balustrades and jade-inlaid pathways, alongside landscaped gardens adorned with flowers, birds, plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo, and chrysanthemums—the epitome of elegance and grace.
At the very heart of the estate stood a magnificent and imposing classical hall. With its multi-tiered eaves and expansive structure, it resembled an imperial palace, towering majestically, its aura seemingly capable of suppressing the entire firmament!
Currently, inside this hall, two people sat opposite each other, a Go board between them.
One was an old man dressed in coarse hemp cloth. He had white hair and a white beard, yet his face was smooth, without a single wrinkle—the very image of youthful vitality despite his age. He was currently holding a black Go piece, turning it over and over, his brows deeply furrowed. He scratched his head, looking distressed and staring intently at the board, clearly in a difficult position.
"This move... it's a tough one, truly tough..."
"If it's so difficult, Senior, why not take a step back? Taking back a move is also an option," the young man opposite him said with a gentle smile, his voice warm and soothing.
He appeared to be in his twenties. While not strikingly handsome, he had regular features and an agreeable appearance, exuding a gentle warmth, like fine jade—the very image of a modest and courteous gentleman.
"Take back a move?" The old man looked up at the young man and suddenly laughed. "Haha! Is Zhang Liang's famed ancient stratagem about taking back a move when it fails? No, no, no. My Yin Shang family ultimately descends from royalty; we have no tradition of taking back our moves!"
"Taking a step back can ensure one's complete safety. Two thousand years ago, my ancestor Zhang Zifang of the Zhang family did just that," the young man said with a gentle smile. "Qin Xuantian is no simple character; his strength is extraordinary. Senior, having lived in this world for over six hundred years, you should see clearly that making an enemy of him is unnecessary."
"Zhang Liu, your choice is not wrong. But I cannot take back my move, nor have I ever considered it." The old man looked at the young man. "It's as I expected that your Zhang family would not participate in this matter. However, the Yin Shang family cannot retreat! This is Yu State, *our* Yin Shang family's Yu State! And Moyi, beneath my feet, was Chaoge three thousand years ago! The Yin Shang family are the kings of this Yu State! And kings do not retreat! I don't care who Qin Xuantian is, nor how strong he may be. But if he truly dares to transgress upon Yu State, I, Zichen, will personally execute him!"