bite--

A sharp, piercing metallic clang was accompanied by a terrifying sonic boom.

An ordinary person who gets even slightly close will only have their body shattered by the blast, yet the two who created this commotion are completely unaffected. Those with strength at Gong Cheng's level possess martial energy that automatically resists external attacks without needing to be mobilized.

This level of damage wouldn't even cause internal organ damage.

At this moment, Gong Shuwu was no longer alive.

Its entire body consists of nothing but bones.

The so-called flesh and blood, the so-called internal organs, were burned as "offerings" to the underworld the moment he activated his martial intent. Now, what envelops this skeleton is martial energy and soil.

In a sense, Gong Shuwu no longer possessed the vital points that a living person should have. The sonic boom struck his body, merely stirring up a few specks of dust, without even causing the flames in his eye sockets to flicker.

Having abandoned their physical bodies, they no longer have any scruples.

Gong Shuwu abandoned his usual steady and methodical fighting style, resorting to an aggressive tactic of trading blows for blows, even lives, resulting in mutual destruction. As his longsword slashed down, black blades of light, interspersed with pale white skeletal phantoms, all attacked Gong Cheng's face.

They showed absolutely no intention of defending themselves.

This made Gong Cheng secretly lament his predicament.

My second uncle was reckless and played a crazy style, but I couldn't match him.

Under such a relentless and brutal barrage of attacks, even though Gong Cheng's strength and cultivation level clearly surpassed Gong Shuwu's, he was now being targeted so relentlessly that he rarely had a chance to retaliate. Not to mention that besides Gong Shuwu, there were also dozens of ancestral spirits of the Gong clan present.

These heroic spirits haven't changed much in strength since they were alive.

In some one-on-one situations, they were no match for Gong Cheng.

But they were not afraid of "death" at all.

One after another, they rushed forward.

Even if their hands, arms, or even heads are severed, they can pick up the broken limbs and heads, and slap them back into place. A surge of deathly aura emanates from the severed wounds, instantly restoring them to their original state, and they charge forward again with their weapons.

If that were all, it wouldn't be so bad.

Gong Cheng could easily stall them; the martial energy reserves of the eighteenth-rank Grand Master were enough for him to easily delay for several hours. Although he didn't understand Gong Shuwu's situation, he knew one thing: the stronger a martial artist's intent, the greater the risk, the greater the price, or the shorter the duration of the effect when it is used. There were no exceptions.

As long as the delay is long enough—

The Gong family ancestors will return on their own.

Gong Cheng underestimated his ancestors' determination to defeat him. Relying on his inhuman body, a mixture of martial energy and mud, he resorted to all sorts of extreme fighting methods. For example, after Gong Cheng repelled more than a dozen ancestral spirits who were feigning attacks to distract him, he was then ambushed from behind by other ancestral spirits. Several of them broke through his protective martial energy, and the last one grabbed his head from both sides.

At first glance, it looks like two large pendants adorning him.

One of them even chuckled coldly.

He cursed, "You little brat."

Gong Cheng lashed out at the insult.

The next instant, two beams of white light, one from the left and one from the right, tore through the darkness like two hands. The two shockwaves from the explosions collided and intertwined at close range, shooting into the sky and forming a massive blast cloud. It could be seen from miles away.

Gong Cheng was at the epicenter of the explosion and suffered the greatest impact.

The scorching heat, accompanied by a chilling cold, invaded his meridians.

His body alternated between feeling as cold as if he had fallen into an ice cellar and feeling as hot as if he had been thrown into a furnace. Two colors, red and blue, occupied half of his body, clearly distinct from each other.

boom--

Gong Cheng brandished his weapon, and a hundred-foot-long blade of light cleaved the explosion cloud in two from the inside, while countless invisible wind blades annihilated it.

The clouds dispersed, revealing Gong Cheng's blurry figure.

Gong Shuwu, his blade gleaming, cleaved through the air with the force of thunder, aiming for Gong Cheng's left shoulder. However, the expected clash with the shoulder didn't materialize; his blade missed, merely slicing through the afterimage left by Gong Cheng in place. A gust of wind seeped into the back of his neck through the gap in the shoulder blade.

The blade pierced through Gong Shuwu's neck in one blow.

Gong Shuwu raised his hand, grasped the blade thrusting towards him, and pulled it forward, then suddenly spun around, letting the blade sever most of his neck, unleashing a burst of sword energy at close range. This was the closest the uncle and nephew had been in all these years. Gong Cheng's dark pupils reflected the two flames flickering in Gong Shuwu's eye sockets, and in the next instant, the distance between them was abruptly widened by the burst of sword energy.

Sizzle sizzle sizzle—

The decaying, deathly aura mixed in with the sword energy left a dark mark on Gong Cheng's chest armor, and a faint smell of decay could still be detected.

Although his skin and flesh were not injured, his internal organs were numbed by the shock.

Gong Cheng suppressed his surging blood and qi.

Before he could regain his footing, his ancestors gathered a group of people and attacked.

Gong Cheng glared at the heroic spirit at the front, who was hurling the most offensive insults: "I'm a little bastard, so what are you?"

This heroic spirit was naturally not his father.

Gong Cheng's father was named Gong Wu. Despite having "Wu" in his name, he had the worst martial arts talent of the previous generation in the Gong family. He was also born prematurely and had a poor constitution. Gong Wu's second younger brother, Gong Cheng's second uncle, Gong Wen, on the contrary, had the strongest martial arts talent of his generation.

The two brothers from the eldest branch of the family worked together to barely keep the Gong family afloat, as both brothers had lost their fathers at a young age.

Their father, Gong Cheng's grandfather, is the man standing before them.

Why was Gong Cheng able to recognize him?

The ancestral hall tablets have corresponding portraits.

The portraits all depict our ancestors dressed in armor.

When Gong Cheng was a child, he was mischievous, and his father often sent him to the ancestral hall for confinement. Over time, he saw dozens, even hundreds, of portraits. He could match the faces of those close to him by blood, and even had some impression of those from collateral branches: "Really, Grandpa!"

"I don't have a descendant like you!"

Gong Cheng was also angered by the scolding.

"I am an unfilial descendant, but at least Grandma protected me!"

If we really want to bring up old grievances, this ancestor in front of us also bears some responsibility.

How did he choose his lord?

What was the old ruler of Xin like in his later years?

Gong Cheng's impression of the old man was limited to his portrait; the two had never spent time together, and their relationship was hardly deep. However, the old woman often held him, and from the few words she spoke, Gong Cheng had a vague impression of the old man—he had heard that the old man had spent his youth as a playboy, not inheriting much of the demeanor of a military family, but instead picking up all the bad habits of a wandering knight-errant.

Most notably, he is very good at swearing.

When anger flares up, I'll curse anyone.

Gong Cheng thought of his elderly grandmother and decided not to indulge her.

The two sides fought fiercely while exchanging words incessantly.

Gong Cheng's grandfather never expected to be talked back to by a junior even after his death, and his anger doubled: "Who told you to be so rebellious?"

When he died in battle, the old king of Xin was at the height of his wisdom and prowess, unaware of the mess that would follow. Gong Cheng knew that this old man was extremely loyal to his lord, utterly devoted and unwavering in his devotion. The more loyal he was, the more Gong Cheng wanted to dig up old grievances from the old king of Xin.

What if Grandpa refuses to accept?

Grab him by the head and make him listen!

These remains are a mixture of soil and martial energy, controlled by the spirits of heroes who slumber here. The actual bodies have long been returned to their ancestral lands for burial. Gong Cheng's actions don't count as damaging his ancestors' remains; he also manages to vent the resentment of his widowed grandmother who has endured many years of widowhood.

Other ancestors did not anticipate this outcome.

Battles on the battlefield have devolved into grandparents and grandchildren dredging up old grievances.

Gong Cheng's grandfather was so angry that his eyes were practically blazing with fury.

Especially when Gong Cheng discovered that these heroic spirits couldn't heal quickly once their bodies were removed from the ground, he repeatedly prevented his grandfather's head from falling. If Gong Shuwu hadn't arrived, the two would have been exchanging insults. Gong Cheng immediately turned his anger towards his second uncle.

Some questions stuck in his throat, unable to be uttered. Gong Cheng knew why Gong Shuwu had refused to acknowledge him back then, and he also knew how dangerous Gong Shuwu's situation had been. But was he a coward? However, he knew very well that if given another chance, Gong Shuwu would still make the same choice; that was just his nature.

Gong Cheng's early training was mostly handled by his second uncle. As far back as he could remember, his second uncle was quiet and reserved, rarely disciplining Gong Cheng, and even less strict than the family martial arts master: "I won't punish you, because your father alone is enough to give you a hard time. You can skip school, be lazy, or slack off, but you'll pay the price later."

Everyone must take responsibility for their choices.

Now, Gong Cheng is truly going to pay the price for this.

A palm strike struck the ancestral spirit blocking the way.

Taking advantage of the gap in their healing process, they approached Gong Shuwu.

Gong Shuwu may not have the vital points of a living person, but that doesn't mean he, as a non-human being, is without unique weaknesses! Gong Cheng had a vague guess, and he condensed and compressed his martial energy into his palm. The moment he made his move, the energy blade pierced the air with a sound like the cry of a phoenix.

The target was Gong Shuwu's skull demon mask.

To be precise, they were two clusters of flickering flames beneath the mask.

As the light shifted, the killing intent was already there.

Two phantom-like figures, resembling birds, shot out from Gong Cheng's left and right, their flapping wings stirring up countless dense clusters of flames. Each flame was extremely powerful and yang, beautiful and dazzling yet fraught with killing intent. Upon seeing this, Gong Shuwu's eyes seemed to reveal a solemn expression.

Clearly, this is his Achilles' heel!

The weapon in his hand danced in his palm, leaving a dense afterimage.

"Blade Formation!"

The shadows of blades swirled around him.

The blades collided and exploded repeatedly with the approaching flames, more intense than a sudden storm, stretching endlessly and forming an impenetrable sphere of light. However, the blade shadows did not disappear after the explosions; instead, they transformed into even smaller, more dangerous, and sharper entities.

Gong Cheng was not surprised at all.

Although he discovered Gongshu Wu's weakness, he couldn't bring himself to kill him completely—when a person dies, they become a ghost, but what happens when a ghost dies? Does it completely vanish from the world, or is it cast into the cycle of reincarnation that only exists in legends?

Gong Shuwu let out a low shout.

Undeterred by the marks left by the flames on his armor, he aimed his blade straight at Gong Cheng's brow, a strike that snapped Gong Cheng back to his senses. Facing his nephew, Gong Shuwu felt even greater disappointment.

"How long are you going to keep being indecisive?"

Previously, the family was still around, and Gong Cheng had many years before inheriting the family business. Gong Shuwu had the patience to slowly correct his nephew's character flaws. Now, however, they've reached a point where uncle and nephew are fighting each other. Their fates are sealed: either both die or one survives. What is Gong Cheng still hesitating for? Does he think his leniency is a reward for Gong Shuwu's years of affection? No, it's humiliation!

Gong Cheng's soft heart and hesitation are only trampling on himself!

"Second Uncle—"

He shouted it out.

Just then, a light drizzle began to fall from the sky.

Then came a bolt of dark purple lightning that cleaved the sky.

A sudden clap of thunder!

Gong Shuwu's moves became increasingly fierce.

"Yun Chi! Don't disappoint me again!"

As that voice fell, he finally felt the killing intent emanating from Gong Cheng—a truly resolute killing intent!

The ancestral spirits that were attacking one after another were shattered and torn apart by the violent and domineering energy. A giant ball of light, brighter than the blazing sun, crashed into Gong Shuwu with unparalleled force! The ball of light looked harmless, but wherever it passed, there was a terrifying aura of extreme strength and yang energy!

Life and death, yin and yang.

Everything in the universe is interconnected and mutually restraining.

Gong Shuwu is no longer human.

Gong Cheng watched as the ball of light completely engulfed Gong Shuwu, who couldn't escape in time. It felt as if all the strength had been drained from his body, and an invisible black hole appeared in his chest, making it difficult to even breathe. He gasped for breath, his eyes blank and filled with despair.

"Second Uncle—"

In the end, he killed his own loved ones with his own hands.

An unprecedented loneliness enveloped him.

The world is vast, and he is all alone.

However, in a flash, a violent and domineering aura broke through the exploding ball of light, moving so fast that even Gong Cheng couldn't catch a glimpse of it. By the time he regained his senses, the powerful force had already struck his chest armor, sending him flying backward like a cannonball, his peripheral vision showing the scenery rushing past on both sides.

Gong Cheng's landing created a ditch several tens of feet deep.

Before they could even stand firm, that aura attacked again.

He vaguely saw a figure with white hair.

His eyes were cloudy, bloodshot, and violent, devoid of reason.

If it weren't for those eyes, judging solely by the hair color, Gong Cheng would have thought it was that old man Yun Da who had ambushed him. He didn't have time to think further and immediately countered with a palm strike. The explosive force blew them apart, and out of the corner of his eye, Gong Cheng noticed something slightly strange about the newcomer's hand…

At first glance, it doesn't look like a human hand.

More like a wild beast.

The other person's nails were sharp, hard, long, and had a metallic sheen.

If you were grabbed by this hand, no amount of flesh would be enough to tear you apart!

Gong Cheng waved his sleeve, using a strong gust of wind to disperse the smoke and dust from the explosion that was obstructing his view, and shouted in the direction the attacker had retreated, "Who's there?"

The other party did not respond.

His breathing was heavy and labored, much like that of a wild animal.

Gong Cheng did not recall any martial artist with such characteristics.

There were no generals like this under Shen Tang's command.

Once the sandstorm dispersed, visibility finally improved.

However, what appeared was not one figure, but two, one of whom was his second uncle, Gong Shuwu, whom he thought was dead. Now, not only was Gong Cheng bewildered, but Gong Shuwu himself was also confused, not knowing how this unexpected turn of events had occurred.

He had just realized that there was no hope of escaping.

My last thought was one of regret.

It's a pity he couldn't see the bright future of Kang Kingdom, the scene of the Northern Desert being conquered by Kang Kingdom's army, or share this joyous news at his ancestors' graves. As for his nephew Yun Chi, he's a grown man now; whether his future is good or bad is entirely up to him. He only hopes that when the lord learns of his death, he will show mercy and not condemn his uncle Gong Shu Wu for his incompetence.

He could feel the burning pain of the flames.

A hand suddenly landed on my shoulder.

It was this hand that, while Gong Shuwu's eyes were still glazed with flames, suddenly pulled him backward, sending him crashing into the core of the light sphere alone.

Gong Shuwu turned his head away.

Because his flesh and blood body, made of clay, was mostly devoured by the light orb, his pale bones were exposed, and even such a simple movement could cause his joints to make strange clicking sounds.

"Who are you?"

Gong Shuwu felt that the person in front of him looked somewhat familiar.

()

It's the last month of 2023, please vote for me (I'll try my best to stay in first place).

P.S.: There's a lot of demand for the female lead to have a surname like Zhang in the new book. Actually, I also like such a common surname, so let's go with Zhang then. (clenched fist)