Chapter 101
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Chapter 101: People Plus Mountains Equals Immortals
Among the Mo family’s resources, aside from weapons, exotic flowers, precious herbs, and healing pills, there were also materials related to martial arts techniques, including martial arts handbooks.
What truly captivated Zhang Yang, even to the point of excitement, were the martial arts handbooks.
There were seven books in total. One of them, the Saint’s Handbook, was incomplete, while the other six came from the Great Boundless Perfect Stage. They all provided detailed explanations of martial arts and the path of the warrior.
Despite the intensive and focused teachings from Xue Feishuang and Yuluan, Zhang Yang’s knowledge of martial arts remained rudimentary.
These seven books, though they might not instantly make him a master of martial arts theory, would at least fill the gaps in his knowledge, allowing him to integrate his martial arts more effectively and carve his own path.
After carefully reading them, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia. The instability of his martial arts foundation stemmed from a simple reason.
He had been cultivating too rapidly.
According to the handbooks, reaching the late stage of the Dust Washing Realm from scratch within a year was considered too fast—one needed time to consolidate their foundation.
In contrast, Zhang Yang had progressed from zero to the Nine Extremes Returning to Origin Realm in just a few months.
Proper consolidation required a deep understanding of oneself, thorough research into martial arts, and a fresh perspective on martial arts realms.
In short, he needed to settle down.
After thoroughly digesting the contents of the seven handbooks, he began to reflect on himself.
He repeatedly questioned his understanding of martial arts and re-evaluated himself time and again.
After a day, he discovered that his martial arts foundation had actually stabilized.
This realization left Zhang Yang speechless. He had to admit—he simply couldn’t escape the label of being "fast."
After repeatedly confirming his readiness, he felt prepared to attempt the Nine Extremes Returning to Origin. With that, he began pushing toward the final stage of the Returning to Origin Realm.
The Nine Extremes Returning to Origin involved infusing elemental energy from external elements—gold, wood, water, fire, earth, wind, thunder, light, and darkness—into the body, akin to placing them into a furnace, crushing them, and refining them again to create an energy far superior to ordinary elemental energy, surpassing the five elemental energies. This was the final step in the first level of the immortal path.
He entered a state of closed-door training.
He possessed not only spirit stones but also a substantial amount of high-grade Spirit Stones, all intended for cultivation.
In just half a day, he expended a large quantity of spirit stones and forcefully attempted the Nine Extremes Returning to Origin, only to fail.
"It feels like something is missing."
"Nine Extremes Returning to Origin… Chi Sheng once said that regarding immortality, Eternal Night has already cut off that path, so I must explore from the five elements returning."
He reflected on the handbooks he had read.
The incomplete Saint’s Handbook did not delve into the Returning to Origin Realm but raised many questions about the Immeasurable Stage, suggesting that these two realms were incomplete.
The other six handbooks that covered the Returning to Origin Realm believed that the five elemental energies could progress further, but most failed to provide reasonable solutions, relying primarily on inferences.
However, they explained in detail why the five elemental energies had the potential for further advancement.
He pondered deeply, then sought out Xue Feishuang and Yuluan for discussion. Later, he even communicated with members of the Golden Armored Giant Clan, and ultimately, he reached a conclusion.
"The dantian is the furnace."
"Vital energy is the medicine’s guide; the energy of the five elements, wind, thunder, light, and darkness are the ingredients."
"Then, we are lacking great fire."
"What is fire?"
"The heart is fire. Becoming an immortal is also about refining the heart. But what is the heart? Is it worldly experience? No."
"What is an immortal? When a person stands on a mountain, they are an immortal. Mountain? What mountain is that?"
"Understanding what this mountain is will allow me to know how to refine my heart. Then, I will understand what fire is."
"I need to go out and see the world for myself."
He took out a human skin mask and put it on his face, transforming into a young man of about twenty-five or twenty-six.
This was a completely different mask from the one he had used before in front of Liu Feijue.
There were seven similar masks, all gifted by Shang Zhu, crafted through his personal forbidden laws.
He walked out of the Mo family estate and into the outside world.
Now, Mo City was gripped with fear. The streets were nearly empty, and those who ventured outside moved hurriedly, their faces tense. City guards patrolled frequently.
Of course, there were also lively places, but those were high-end areas where even the city guards dared not interfere—places like Moonview Tower.
Since he had burned down Embrace Moon Tower, Moonview Tower had become a gathering place for the powerful in Mo City.
Zhang Yang decided to head toward a busier area in search of answers.
As he walked halfway, he heard the sounds of fighting and screams.
Such incidents were common in Mo City. Many took advantage of the chaos to seek revenge, cause destruction, and plunder resources.
However, this particular incident caught his attention.
"You dare to kill us? We come from the Liu Family of the five elements!"
"Liu Family? The number one family in the Southern Region? I’m so scared! Kill them!"
A piercing scream rang out again as more people were slaughtered.
Before dying, someone shouted, "Who are you?"
The killer let out a chilling laugh.
"Hell!"
Then, the screams ceased.
Zhang Yang murmured, “Hell?”
This Hell was different from the other Hell.
Legends spoke of a true Nine Nether Hell, an endless abyss deep underground, known as the Underworld.
The Hell on the surface, however, referred to the most feared assassin organization in the Southern Region.
There were over a hundred assassin organizations in the Southern Region, but only two stood at the top. Both had assassinated saints, and some even claimed that saints existed within their ranks.
They were Hell and the Black Cloak Pavilion.
The Black Cloak Pavilion was a key member of the Demon Slayer Team, while Hell, as its sworn enemy, had no ties to the Demon Slayer Team.
Zhang Yang’s thoughts raced. Using One Step of Mountains and Rivers, he closed the distance in a few leaps, appearing before the group of departing Hell assassins.
More than thirty black-cloaked assassins instantly drew their swords, their killing intent thick in the air.
Zhang Yang looked at the leader and said, “From the Underworld? Let’s make a deal.”
The leader replied coldly, “Deals with the Underworld must follow the rules.”
Zhang Yang smiled and flipped his wrist, revealing a broken arrow—rusty, scuffed, and seemingly worthless scrap metal. However, the leader’s pupils constricted as he gasped, “Holy Arrow!”
“Does this deal require rules?” Zhang Yang asked.
The leader narrowed his eyes. “Whose life do you want to buy?”
Zhang Yang slowly uttered two words:
“Mo Fei.”
It was a spur-of-the-moment decision.
Previously, he hadn’t even considered relying on external forces, let alone hiring assassins.
But during his time in the Liu family, he had realized something—some external forces had to be used. The reason was simple: the enemy was not only powerful but also numerous.
He didn’t know the full extent of the Liu family’s power, but even the forces they had deployed to Mo City were enough to make the Vast Forest wary. And that was merely a fraction of the Liu family’s strength.
Moreover, although he had spent much of his time indoors at the Liu family estate, his keen sense of hearing had allowed him to absorb an overwhelming amount of information within just a single day in Mo City.
Among everything he had overheard, one phrase stood out—Underworld Assassin Organization.
At that moment, he understood something:
The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Of course, they weren’t friends—but they could be used.
Using the Mo family’s resources to eliminate Mo family members.
“Who are you?” the leader blurted out.
Countless people wished for Mo Fei’s death. That woman was ruthless, with blood on her hands, but few dared to act against her—let alone hire Hell to do it.
Zhang Yang said calmly, “Is there a rule in the Underworld that allows you to question your clients?”
The leader replied, “No.”
“Do you accept?” Zhang Yang asked.
“Wait a moment.”
The assassin retrieved a piece of jade, created a series of forbidden laws, and activated a communication stone.
Moments later, he lifted the restrictions and said, “Deal. But you must hand over the Holy Arrow first.”
Without hesitation, Zhang Yang tossed the Holy Arrow over.
“Within two days, you will have news,” the assassin stated.
Zhang Yang said, “After you kill her, leave a message.”
“What message?”
“The Southern Region will eventually be redefined because of me; I am the Vast.”
The leader’s gaze sharpened. “So it really is you.”
Zhang Yang smirked. “Since you know, tell me the name of the first assassin I’ve met who is not my enemy.”
The leader responded, “Blood Asura—one of the Four Asuras of Hell.”
Blood Asura took the Holy Arrow and left.
Zhang Yang watched them disappear into the shadows, feeling a moment of uncertainty.
Was this the right decision? Or was it wrong?
