"No matter where you go, nothing is as comfortable and carefree as home."

"Moreover, I made a promise with the Third Young Master that I would protect the Mu family."

Dao Chengyi released Mu Qingluo, and the Iron Cavalry understood Dao Chengyi's choice. They brought over the horse that had carried him all the way from the mine and the somewhat tattered flag.

"Cheng Yi! Cheng Yi! You...you don't need to do this! I'm not worth it! The Mu family isn't worth it!"

"Into one!"

Mu Qingluo guessed what Dao Chengyi was going to do. She ran over, crying. For the first time, she hadn't cried for who knows how many years, and she cried loudly for the sacrifice that was about to happen.

"Elders, please lead the others away. The commotion that's about to start is going to be quite significant."

The clan elders also knew what Dao Chengyi was going to do next. They looked at each other, sighed, and finally knelt down in front of Dao Chengyi.

"Such righteousness from the younger generation makes us, though we are older, truly ashamed. We kneel here to express our gratitude on behalf of the entire Mu family!"

The Mu family possesses a forbidden technique, which is of a very high level, yet not particularly advanced. Its purpose is to fight to the death, and it is a type of martial art that every household possesses and stores.

However, the Mu family's martial art is special. Once it is used, it can draw on the earth's energy to flow through the whole body and control it with the spirit. During this period, the flesh and blood will not die and the power will not be dissipated. As long as the spirit can hold on, the time is not fixed, but it is at least three seconds.

During this period, martial artists can elevate their cultivation level to a level comparable to a fifth-level martial artist. Those with exceptional talent can even compete with a martial marquis. If a top-level fifth-level martial artist uses this ability, they can even wage war against a martial marquis.

However, the price is also high. Assimilation with the earth's energy can result in several consequences: in mild cases, the meridians are severed and there is no further progress; in moderate cases, the spirit is twisted and the flesh and blood degenerate, turning the person into a demon; in severe cases, the person is turned into a stone statue and rests with the earth, devoid of thought.

That forbidden technique has been in the Mu family for many years, but very few have mastered it. This is because it requires extremely high talent and potential. If one does not have the talent, even if one forces it to be used, it will only be like trying to break glass with a cannon – the user will shatter first.

Dao Chengyi rode his horse, carrying a flag, slowly towards the battlefield that had been transformed into a swamp, a locust plague, and mysterious runes. As he passed by, he saw the Mu family patriarch and other elders lying half-naked on the ground, their expressions complex, ranging from guilt to relief to joy.

But what do their emotions matter to him? All he did on this journey was for his ambition and long road ahead.

As he moved forward, the meridians in his body began to appear before the world through his tattered clothes, like great rivers in the mountains, like the veins of leaves, like the aura of feng shui, like the pulse of stars.

It extends throughout the entire body, intricate yet clearly organized. Excluding the head and some obviously difficult-to-explore areas, the meridians throughout the body are open up to a terrifying 70% of what martial arts records indicate!

This may not be the limit for a martial artist to become a martial master, but it is a legend created by someone who has practiced martial arts for only one year! It is also a terrifying realm that ordinary martial artists cannot see in a hundred or twenty years, but this is definitely not the limit of achieving oneness with the Dao, simply because there is too little time!

Genius! Even those who already knew of his extraordinary talent and that he was beyond the comprehension of ordinary reason were still awestruck by this situation.

The fight between Niu Suizhen, Liao Sishi, and Master Li quietly stopped. When they saw the terrifying meridians and the internal energy that had begun to permeate his body, and the continuous flow of energy from the earth's veins converging on him, they knew the genius's thoughts and determination.

"What a kind and compassionate person! It's a pity that he was too short-sighted."

Master Li looked at Dao Chengyi with some regret. If he had escaped, even the Martial Marquis might not have been his limit. It was both a pity and a cause for celebration!

"Should we still fight? Why not kill him first? That way, no one will know what kind of trouble he can cause."

Liao Sishi made a suggestion to Niu Suizhen, who was somewhat tempted, but shook his head when he saw Dao Chengyi, whose body was already wrapped in earthy yellow internal energy and had marble-like patterns.

"It's just a fallen star, what's there to care about? With the opportunity before us, how can we let it go!"

Having said that, he waved the flag again, but this time, all three attacks were directed at Dao Chengyi. Faced with those three attacks that blotted out the sky, any one of which was enough to turn a mountain into dust, Dao Chengyi waved the flag in his hand.

The words "Mu Family" on it transformed into a black bull with black horns, breaking free and protecting Dao Chengyi. Endless energy enveloped Dao Chengyi, allowing him to feel the power that had a progress bar but no health bar.

Dao Cheng laughed loudly. It was still early, and he wasn't familiar with the moves yet. He would wait until another day to replicate the legendary style of the Three Returns of Qi.

"A few boats sail on the white waves, but the river eventually comes to an end."

Green hills and trees are easily decayed, and the spring breeze takes its turn to rest.

I would sacrifice myself to ease your worries; please do not look back.

With a wave of the flag, the sky and fields instantly cleared, and amidst the hazy light, the rising sun and rosy clouds appeared.

Meanwhile, Mu Qingyuan, who had already flown out of Wan Gui Valley, also faced the vast landscape of mountains dancing like silver snakes, plains stretching like wax elephants, and all things freely competing in the boundless天地 (heaven and earth).

"Today we spread our wings and fly away; one day we'll sing wildly and traverse mountains and rivers."

"Brother Chengyi, I hope that when we meet again in the future, we will both have reached great heights."

Sitting atop the Blood Roc, Mu Qingyuan opened his arms wide, welcoming a new beginning in his life...