The Puppet King's expression was cold and fierce as he spun around, delivering a leg strike towards Feng Cai'er.

This strike carried with it a lethal intent.

His entire leg seemed like a massive iron whip; even a boulder could be shattered by it.

Feng Cai'er staggered, unable to evade.

She had no choice but to muster all the Essence Qi in her body and fiercely block forward!

Bam!

Feng Cai'er's body, like a bundle of dry wood, arced through the air and fell.

Her arm bones fractured in multiple places as blood spurted wildly from her mouth.

Simultaneously, her internal organs were shaken and split by the Puppet King's Qi of Origin Core, leaving her in a state of life or death uncertainty.

The Puppet King laughed heartily, turned and charged towards the commanding height amidst the storm.

In his hand, he tightly clutched the remote control.

He intended to reach the peak, activate the remote, and blow up the dam.

A minute later, the Puppet King climbed to the summit of a mountain, far away from the dam.

He took out the bomb remote, aimed at the bomb 1000 meters away, and was about to detonate.

"Boundless Heavenly Venerate, this old Taoist has not come too late."

At this moment, with a soft sigh, the Puppet King's body suddenly froze uncontrollably.

The remote control was in his hand, its red light flashing.

With just a light press from the Puppet King, eight timed bombs would immediately explode.

The dam and Feng Cai'er would both be blown to pieces, and the Qinglong Reservoir's dam would collapse.

However, the Puppet King, despite straining all his energy, couldn't move even his little finger.

His entire body was bound by an invisible force, like a fly trapped in amber.

Even in the most terrifying nightmares, the Puppet King had never encountered such a horrifying situation.

In this split second, he seemed to become a zombie, unable to move or even make a sound.

Under the pine tree ahead, a slender, short old Taoist quietly watched him, devoid of any emotion.

The old Taoist of Crane Pine Observatory had arrived.

It looked as though he had been waiting there all along for the Puppet King's appearance, seemingly having never moved.

This eerie scene terrified the Puppet King immensely.

The old Taoist walked over, gently taking the remote control from the Puppet King's hand.

He sighed lightly.

"The evil within human hearts, I fear, cannot be cleansed even with all this lake water."

His eyes held a faint disdain, though his expression remained calm.

As soon as the old Taoist spoke, the Puppet King felt he could move again.

With his Martial Arts Realm, the Puppet King couldn't comprehend the old Taoist's power, its origin, or its nature.

He looked at the old Taoist in fear.

"Who are you, and why are you ruining my plans?"

The old Taoist sighed lightly.

"If this were ten years ago, you would already be a dead corpse."

"You wouldn't know my name. Obediently come with me and surrender."

The Puppet King, a martial artist of Core Formation to Divine Communication, wouldn't easily submit.

He brandished a dagger and leaped at the old Taoist, his voice cold and fierce.

"I will kill you first."

The old Taoist quietly watched him.

Not until the Puppet King was right in front of the Taoist did the old Taoist finally wave his sleeve.

Bam!

An overwhelming force swept forth.

The Puppet King's body flew back like a severed kite.

He crashed into a pine tree as thick as a bowl.

Blood poured from the Puppet King's mouth, his internal organs throbbing with pain.

He stared wide-eyed at the steadfast old Taoist.

That the old Taoist was this formidable was beyond the Puppet King's belief!

The old Taoist looked at him calmly, without anger.

The Puppet King shelved his fear and opened his mouth wide, yet made no sound.

But a violent mental impact surged towards the old Taoist like a deluge.

Howling Moon!

This was the Puppet King's strongest attack, which Yang Fei had once suffered greatly from.

The old Taoist's brows furrowed slightly, a look of surprise on his face.

Even so, he only gave the Puppet King a casual glance.

"Ah..."

The Puppet King let out a miserable cry.

His eyes bulged as blood streamed from his mouth, nose, and ears, presenting a ghastly sight.

At that moment, the Puppet King's mental impact, like a tidal wave crashing against an iron plate, rebounded silently.

The Puppet King clutched his head, rolling on the ground as if enduring unbearable torture.

Suddenly, his legs stiffened, and with a sharp bounce, he fell silent.

The old Taoist watched the Puppet King, silent throughout.

It was as if he had foreseen the Puppet King's demise.

Only when the Puppet King breathed his last did the old Taoist, holding an oilcloth umbrella, slowly walk over.

He bent down, checked the Puppet King's breath, then shook his head and sighed.

At that moment, a limping figure appeared under another pine tree, also holding an old-fashioned oilcloth umbrella.

Uncle Fuu!

Uncle Fuu looked at the old Taoist with a teasing smile.

"It's been ten years, and your murderous aura is still so heavy."

The old Taoist's face was as grim as cast iron, sighing lightly.

"What's the use, just crushing an ant."

"Real assassins aim to slay dragons and gods. Crushing such ants is meaningless."

He spoke, slowly walking forward, completely ignoring Afu.

Afu was unperturbed, pointing towards the sky.

"You better take it easy; who knows when another bolt of lightning will strike you down."

The old Taoist turned around.

Unconsciously, his aura became incredibly sharp and cold.

"You truly think I fear?"

"For the past decade, every moment I've longed for the Martial God's return, and a grand battle."

Speaking thus, he coldly snorted.

"Divine Punishment, hmph, is it truly so terrifying?"

Afu waved his hand carelessly.

"Old Taoist, I know you're powerful, but I'm not afraid of death."

"Yet with these two broken bodies of ours, can we defy fate?"

"I think we should continue hiding and preserving our lives."

"Even if I die, I will wait for the Martial God, and charge alongside him, dying on the battlefield."

The old Taoist sighed, his eyes burning, pupils like smoldering embers.

"You're right, the Martial God's return will be our time to revive. For now, we continue to lie low."

Afu nodded, his demeanor suddenly turning dejected.

"But, old Taoist, can the Martial God really return? What if he's already..."

The old Taoist resolutely turned, waving his hand fiercely: "Absolutely impossible, I believe in his strength."

Afu lowered his head in pain.

"But if he were sure of coming back, why would he arrange for Yang Fei to inherit his mantle and leave the Nine Extremes to him?"

"I think he..."

The old Taoist also bowed his head, sighing deeply.

"Huaxia cannot be without a protector. The Martial God's departure was to have Yang Fei safeguard Huaxia on his behalf."

"Of course, it's also possible Yang Fei is the Martial God's backup plan."

"To think, Yang Fei has rebuilt Yinxue Tower, following in the Martial God's exact footsteps."

Afu nodded, looking somewhat more relieved.

"Maybe, this kid is not only the Martial God's hope, but ours as well."

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