After everyone had left, Ximen Qingshan spoke again, "Qingming, have you taken that step?"

He and Dongfang Qingming are from the same generation.

Back then, during the selection process within the four major families, he, being slightly older, should have had an advantage.

But the fact is, he lost.

A single misstep can create an insurmountable barrier.

Even after he tried his best, he could never catch up with Dongfang Qingming again.

Even though he was now at the tenth level of Dharma Manifestation perfection, he still felt that the person in front of him was unfathomable.

"Just half a step away!"

Dongfang Qingming shook his head, then added, "It's not that I can't, but that I dare not!"

"You dare not?"

Ximen Qingshan was slightly taken aback.

"right!"

Dongfang Qingming nodded.

As a master of the Four Symbols, he has the opportunity to advance to the realm of being invincible among mortals.

But just as he was about to reach that level, he retreated.

The reason he retreated was because he saw a dragon, a lifeless dragon that had not yet died.

He was certain that even if he took that step, he would be sealed off from his cultivation level.

He searched through countless ancient texts and finally found the dragon in an ancient book called "Shang Ji".

That dragon was the very dragon vein of the destroyed Shang Dynasty.

The reason why no one invincible has emerged from the four great families in three thousand years is because of the existence of the Shang Dynasty's dragon vein.

The Great Shang Dragon Vein is located in the royal family's secret realm.

"Qingshan, don't worry."

Once I resolve all the troubles, there will be no more obstacles ahead.

The four great families will become the rulers of this land!

After saying this, Dongfang Qingming got up and left.

......

Deep within the Four Elephant Mountains lies a valley.

The valley was dark and filled with miasma.

This is where the four major families imprison their members.

Anyone who makes a mistake or fails to perform their duties properly is locked up here.

These miasmas have no effect on powerful martial artists.

However, for a martial artist of lower skill level like Dongfang Qingkong, miasma is deadly.

When she returned to Tiandu, the Lingzong envoy had already arrived.

Having offended the Spirit Sect, she was voted out by the elders.

Being locked up here is a form of punishment.

This was something Dongfang Qingkong hadn't expected, and at the same time, she found it quite ridiculous.

One second ago, he was the master of the spider web.

The next second, he became a prisoner.

The so-called four great families exude the stench of ancient aristocratic families from top to bottom.

Those clan elders who occupy high positions are completely useless.

He's adept at internal voting.

However, when facing outsiders, they are extremely bullying and cowardly.

As soon as the Lingzong envoy arrived, he sold her out, showing no backbone whatsoever.

The Four Great Families, the most powerful families in the land, how utterly laughable!

But all of this had nothing to do with her.

She's going to die.

Sadly, I will never see my brother again.

Just as Dongfang Qingkong's consciousness was about to fade away, the dark iron door was pushed open.

Two hands lifted her up.

"elder brother!"

"Clear sky, everything's alright now."

Those who bullied you are all dead.

Dongfang Qingming said gently.

"Brother...you shouldn't have come out of seclusion!"

"It's alright!"

......

Late at night, in Tianjiang City, Lingzong, a slight chill in the air.

Changping Tai is having trouble sleeping.

He hasn't slept a wink since Yue Konghen brought back the news yesterday.

One hundred Dharma Fruits, although they would deplete the Spirit Sect's reserves, were not unacceptable to him.

But he really couldn't accept the second condition.

He had three sons, each one of whom was the apple of his eye.

But now he has no choice.

Wen'er is still in Li Fan's hands.

Even if we bring out the patriarch, we might not be able to rescue Wen'er successfully.

After all, Li Fan dared to cause trouble, so he must have had the confidence.

After an unknown amount of time, Changping Tai slowly got up.

......

The night was deep.

The secluded courtyard was brightly lit.

The sound of crying could be heard.

A still-attractive woman was lying on top of the corpse in Chang'an.

"Xiaoyu, let's have another one!"

Changping Tai patted the woman; this was the only promise he could give.

......

Chang'an's death was sent to Canghe County along with the spirit fruit.

Changwen left the inn and headed to Tianyu City.

A ship carrying the spiritual fruit sailed northeast.

......

Qingzhou, Broken Heaven Gate.

Lü Xiaoyi frowned.

The news coming from various places these days made him inexplicably uneasy.

The four major families, the Lingzong sect, and Li Fan are vying for power.

The final result was that the spies of the four major families were eradicated, the Zhenwu Division was taken over by Jiang Lan, and the four major families sealed off their mountains.

As for the Lingzong sect, although no powerful members were lost, they were compensated with one hundred Dharma Image Fruits. Moreover, Changping Tai's third son, Chang'an, even drowned.

Li Fan is the only winner.

He wasn't even slightly harmed.

Moreover, there are rumors circulating in the martial arts world that he has already headed towards Qingzhou.

The purpose is obvious.

He's here to cause me trouble.

Now, there are only two options for defeating Lü Xiaoyi.

Call in outside help to ambush and kill Li Fan.

Or, like the Lingzong sect, cut off their own flesh.

The problem is that Duan Tian Men is not as wealthy as Ling Zong.

Even if they emptied their coffers, they could only scrape together thirty Dharma Fruits.

Would Li Fan be satisfied with this?

It's very difficult!

Suddenly, Lü Xiaoyi came up with a perfect idea.

......

"Have you heard? There's going to be some excitement!"

"What's wrong?"

"The number one expert in Qingzhou, the top powerhouse ranked eighth on the Heavenly Hero Ranking, Lu Xiaoyi of the Heaven-Slaying Halberd, has issued a challenge!"

"Issu a challenge? Are you kidding me!"

In the entire Qingzhou, who is worthy of his personal attention?

Even if that's the case, it should be someone else challenging him!

"That person is from Nanzhou!"

"You mean the Immovable King Child Warrior?"

But that doesn't make sense!

Tong Wu is ranked lower than Lü Xiaoyi!

"It's not Tong Wu!"

"Besides Tong Wu, are there any other powerful figures in Nanzhou?"

"Jiang Lan, the head of the Zhenwu Division, a celestial being?"

"no!"

"Besides him, who else in Nanzhou is a formidable figure?"

You really can't guess?

"Stop beating around the bush and just tell me!"

"Li Fan, the Overlord Blade".

"Li Fan, the Overlord Blade? Are you kidding me!"

Although he's very strong, there's still a big gap between him and the eighth-ranked player on the Heavenly Hero Ranking!

"I don't know if there's a difference, but I do know that news of the Broken Heaven Gate has spread."

The arena is already set up, just waiting for the arrival of the Overlord Blade Li Fan!

"Furthermore, I also heard that Lu Xiaoyi, the master of the Heaven-Slaying Halberd, brought out thirty Dharma Image Fruits for this challenge."

Regardless of victory or defeat, it is a gift to the Overlord Blade Li Fan!

Wow, that's so grand!

Merchants discussed the matter aboard the boat.

A figure sat in the corner.

Li Fan held his wine, enjoying a rare moment of comfort.

To be honest, it's quite enjoyable to hear someone brag about themselves.

"Wait, is Ba Dao Li Fan from Nanzhou?"

Why did I hear from the people in Haizhou last month that Li Fan, the Overlord Blade, is from Haizhou?

His house is in Tianhai City...

"Your information is outdated. I went to Yunzhou a while ago and heard from my friends there that Ba Dao Li Fan's ancestral home is Yunzhou."

They later moved to Nanzhou.

"No, no, it's widely rumored in Jiangzhou that Ba Dao Li Fan is the brother of Mo Dao Long Dao Ji."

Otherwise, why do you think one is called the Overlord Blade and the other the Demon Blade?

By the end, Li Fan couldn't hold back any longer. "Brother, is it possible that 'Overlord Blade' and 'Demon Blade' are just nicknames?"

Besides, both of those nicknames were given to me by other people!

......