Chapter 132: A Glimpse of Survival

While the crowd was busy disparaging Zhao Hu and singing the praises of Wang Yangming, the elderly man standing beside Zhao Hu stepped forward, his hands tucked into his sleeves and his back hunched.

The onlookers watched in confusion, wondering what this old man intended to do. When they had first arrived, he had stood silently behind Zhao Hu, and they had dismissed him as a mere servant, paying him no mind. Why was he stepping up now?

Just as the crowd was filled with doubt, the old man—gaunt as a withered branch with deep-set eyes—bared his yellowed teeth and flashed a smile at Wang Yangming.

"How about you let me have a go at you?"

Wang Yangming frowned. "Who are you?"

"Exactly! What kind of wretch are you, daring to challenge Grandmaster Wang?"

"Are they both insane? A Grandmaster isn't someone you can just provoke."

"A pair of fools who don't know when they're going to die."

Hearing that a decrepit old man dared to challenge a Grandmaster, the crowd erupted in clamorous outrage.

The old man let out a sigh. "It seems that after ten years of seclusion, the world has forgotten my name."

As he spoke, he slowly straightened his back. Suddenly, a fierce, biting aura surged into the sky. The man who had looked like he was in the twilight of his years instantly transformed into a sharp blade, standing right before them. This icy intensity pierced the hearts of the onlookers, making them shiver with dread.

Wang Yangming’s eyelids twitched violently. He enunciated each word, "Are you Gou Cunjian?"

The old man bared his teeth in a grin. "It seems there are still some who remember this old wretch."

Most of the people present were oblivious to the name Gou Cunjian, but a few turned deathly pale. Gou Cunjian had been one of the Great Masters of his time. He was known for his eccentric behavior and reclusive nature; those who offended him never met a good end. He would kill without hesitation over the smallest slights, slaughtering innocent martial artists and commoners alike, eventually drawing the wrath of the public. Even under the condemnation of the martial world, he refused to change his ways, ultimately provoking the fury of several other Grandmasters. After a joint siege by these masters, he was left gravely wounded and vanished without a trace.

At the time, everyone assumed he had perished from his severe injuries and gradually forgot about him. No one expected him to reappear here today.

Wang Yangming spoke slowly, "You dare show your face again? Are you not afraid of another siege?"

Gou Cunjian let out a booming laugh. "Today, I have returned for vengeance. I will cut down all you fame-seeking hypocrites, one by one."

"Utterly arrogant! Do you think you can challenge the many Grandmasters of Huaxia all by yourself?" Wang Yangming sneered.

Gou Cunjian gave a sinister laugh. "Not all Grandmasters are created equal. Today, I shall slay you first, and then I will hunt down those other old dogs and slaughter them all."

"Then I suppose I must teach you a lesson."

Wang Yangming stopped speaking. He knew that this man had already attained the rank of Grandmaster ten years ago, and although he had been gravely wounded, his return suggested he had some secret reliance.

As his voice faded, true energy surged around Wang Yangming, forming layers of mist that swirled about him, making him look like an immortal descended to earth.

"A fine Thousand-Cloud Domain, combined with the Wang family’s Thousand-Cloud Palms. Truly impressive," Gou Cunjian remarked with a mocking tone.

"Come and meet your death."

Within a three-zhang radius, the mist swirled around Wang Yangming, masking his movements. His hands turned as white and flawless as polished jade. The crowd burst into cheers once more. A Grandmaster was no ordinary fighter; once they activated their domain, the atmosphere changed entirely.

Seeing Wang Yangming go all out, Gou Cunjian laughed, and his entire body began to crackle and pop. In a blink, the hunched old man transformed into a giant over a zhang tall, his body covered in thick, knotted muscles. To the shock of the onlookers, he let out a roar, and his body underwent further changes. Sharp bone spurs erupted from his back, while jagged, blade-like protrusions sprouted from his elbows, knees, and joints.

Wang Yangming stared in horror, for his opponent had truly become a monster.

"What is happening?"

"Is he man or demon?"

"My god, is this still the same old man?"

As the crowd whispered in terror, Wang Yangming stood cautious and alert. Even with his vast experience, he had never heard of such a grotesque transformation.

Gou Cunjian roared and charged into Wang Yangming’s domain. Wang Yangming moved his hands like swimming dragons, weaving through the mist to strike at his foe. Gou Cunjian, acting like a titan, raised both fists and slammed them down.

Though his opponent had become a terrifying beast, Wang Yangming was a Grandmaster and remained calm. He moved his palms continuously, stirring the mist to form a defensive shield above him, while simultaneously striking a heavy blow toward Gou Cunjian’s abdomen.

Gou Cunjian’s fist struck the shield, sinking into it as if into mud, unable to find purchase. Meanwhile, Wang Yangming’s palm landed squarely on his stomach. With a loud *thud*, the giant was forced to stagger back two steps.

"Good!" The crowd cheered, seeing Wang Yangming take the upper hand.

Wang Yangming felt a surge of pride. Within his Thousand-Cloud Domain, enemies were restricted and slowed, while his Thousand-Cloud Palms were agile and elusive. Although Gou Cunjian’s transformed body was incredibly tough, Wang Yangming noticed that the giant was clumsy, making him the perfect target for his fluid strikes. Since he specialized in overcoming hardness with softness, he was certain Gou Cunjian would be defeated.

As Gou Cunjian was driven back, the crowd erupted in cheers. But the giant only laughed, stepping forward again to smash his fist toward Wang Yangming’s head.

Wang Yangming sneered. He would use the same tactic again; brute force was useless against him. However, Gou Cunjian suddenly stomped his foot, and countless foot-long bone spikes erupted from the ground, creating a forest of blades.

Caught off guard, Wang Yangming let out a scream of agony as the spikes pierced his feet. Gou Cunjian’s fist came crashing down, and this time, the mist shield failed to stop him in the slightest. Wang Yangming could only twist his body, pulling layers of mist to shield his shoulder, but the blow shattered the defense and slammed into him.

With a heavy crash, Wang Yangming was driven to his knees. Gou Cunjian then lashed out with a kick, sending him flying. Wang Yangming spun through the air before crashing to the ground, spitting blood and gasping for breath.

His abdomen was torn by a gaping wound from the bone spikes, and blood poured from the holes in his feet. He looked wretched. The crowd fell into a terrified silence. They could not comprehend how Wang Yangming had been so soundly defeated in an instant.

Wang Yangming stared in disbelief, equally baffled.

Gou Cunjian laughed wildly. "You thought a pathetic Thousand-Cloud Domain could trap me? What a joke! You so-called Grandmasters are nothing but trash in my eyes."

The crowd seethed with indignation but felt helpless. If even a Grandmaster could be defeated so easily, what could they possibly do?

Gou Cunjian looked around, his bulbous eyes gleaming with malice. Everyone looked down, afraid to meet his gaze. He laughed again, a sound of pure madness. "Today, I will finish off this Wang Yangming, and then I will march on the Central Plains."

He strode toward the fallen man. Wang Yangming, his energy shattered and body broken, had no strength left to fight and could only wait for death.

Suddenly, Wang Jingshan let out a roar. "Don't you dare harm our Patriarch!"

He leaped forward, forming a blade of energy in his hand, but Gou Cunjian simply raised a foot and kicked him aside.

As the crowd gasped, Gou Cunjian reached Wang Yangming, raised his foot, and brought it down with lethal force.