Chapter 67: Li Zhi’s Series of Unforgettable Experiences

Ancient Luo City, despite being a relatively new establishment of just two or three decades, was bustling with activity and vibrancy. The city, spanning over a hundred miles, was filled with members from both the Ancient Covenant and the Luo family, jointly maintaining order.

In the mortal world, a city covering a hundred miles would be considered a major metropolis. However, in the vastness of the Endless Wilderness, it was deemed modestly sized. Constructing such a city would typically take a few years and the efforts of numerous Acquired martial artists.

An elderly man with white hair often visited this city. He seemed to relish watching over everything with a joyful demeanor. His favorite pastime was sitting in a high-rise building, sipping tea while gazing down at the city. Although his viewpoint didn’t allow him to see everything, he seemed to take it all in.

“It’s unexpected that Elder Luo enjoys tea,” a young voice suddenly spoke up at the staircase entrance.

Zhang Shen, dressed in a plain white shirt, ascended to the third floor. His long hair, casually flowing and unattended, gave him a look of relaxed freedom. His presence went unchallenged, for his high status and formidable strength lent him an air of undeniable authority.

“People develop certain habits as they age,” the elder replied, turning around. 

His face, once youthful, was now etched with wrinkles and age spots. A stark indicator of his life nearing its end.

“Would Daoist Zhang like to join me for a cup of tea?” he invited.

The old man was none other than Luo Tian, now at the end of his lifespan, his formerly ever-youthful visage unable to defy the ravages of time.

“A cup of tea sounds excellent,” Zhang Shen agreed, taking a seat opposite Luo Tian.

Luo Tian poured tea for Zhang Shen and then asked, “Daoist Zhang, don’t you find the bustling scene below captivating?”

Zhang Shen looked down at the city, which resembled many others, not markedly different from the Ancient Covenant’s headquarters. Yet, in Luo Tian’s eyes, he saw a spark of something – perhaps a vision of a thriving and enduring future for the Luo family. Zhang Shen pondered this thoughtfully.

The two men sat together, watching the sunrise in the morning and the sunset in the evening.

For high-ranking martial artists like them, sitting through a day or even decades was a trivial affair. However, the innkeeper requested them to leave as the establishment closed at night.

“Daoist Zhang, you are a trustworthy man. The future of the Luo family is in your hands,” Luo Tian said, bidding farewell to Zhang Shen. “Also, you might want to head back sooner. I’ve heard that someone has been causing trouble for the Ancient Covenant and your disciple.”

Zhang Shen was puzzled. Trouble for the Ancient Covenant and his disciple? 

He had been deep in the Endless Wilderness, well beyond the reach of the communication talismans, so not receiving messages was expected. However, he had ensured there were ways to contact him, and yet, he had received no news. Either the matter wasn’t urgent enough or they didn’t want to distract him, potentially risking danger during his patrols.

“My subordinates and disciple are too considerate, sometimes to a fault,” Zhang Shen mused, his figure blending into the night.

Shaking his head, Luo Tian couldn’t help but smile at Zhang Shen’s pretense. 

“Putting on an act, aren’t you? I clearly saw you smiling.”

***

Back at the Ancient Covenant headquarters, Li Zhi, already troubled by various matters, was leading the enforcement team to apprehend a member who had violated the rules.

“Let me go, you can’t do this to me!” the member shouted. “I am from the Zhang family of Hongyuan City. Are you looking for trouble?”

The member, known as Zhang Moumou, struggled desperately, but his lower cultivation level was no match for the two enforcers. Yet, they were cautious, aware of the Zhang family’s significant influence within the Covenant.

Zhang Moumou, recognizing Li Zhi, blustered with an undertone of fear, “You, what are you going to do? You can’t touch me! Remember, I’m related to the Covenant Leader!”

“Enough!” Li Zhi silenced Zhang Moumou with a single punch, bringing instant quiet to her surroundings.

“Take him away, quickly. He’s only bringing shame to the Zhang family,” she ordered sternly.

Intervening personally in Zhang Moumou’s case wasn’t necessary for Li Zhi, but his blood relation to the main Zhang family line made her feel it was more appropriate for her to handle. Delegating this to others might have brought them unnecessary complications.

Suddenly, Li Zhi felt an unsettling chill and looked around. Indeed, a dashing young man with a white fan, exuding elegance, stood not far off, watching her with a smile.

“Zhi’er, Zhi’er? Zhi’er?!” Sun Fang called out warmly.

Li Zhi turned and walked away, his tone shifted from confusion to a louder call.

He thought Li Zhi hadn’t noticed him, but his louder calls only made her walk faster, her Path of a Thousand Mountains movement technique swiftly propelling her forward. This skill, part of the Mountain of a Thousand Layers set, could be utilized from the Acquired stage to the Law Manifestation stage, with specific training methods for each major level.

Sun Fang, feeling desperate, hurried after her. Though his cultivation was inferior to Li Zhi’s, and his movement technique wasn’t as refined, he possessed a Divine Movement Talisman given by his ancestor, specifically acquired after being repeatedly left behind by Li Zhi.

As Sun Fang continued his relentless pursuit, Li Zhi’s annoyance grew.

“Sun Fang, if you continue this pestering, I won’t remain polite.”

Sun Fang protested earnestly, “Zhi’er, how can you call this pestering? My affection for you is sincere. Ever since that day by the Black Sand River, I’ve been captivated by you, unable to eat or sleep. My only wish is to be by your side forever, with no intention of bothering you.”

Li Zhi, seeing Sun Fang’s flawlessly smooth, tender face, devoid of any signs of distress, felt a wave of repulsion.

‘Does he really think he can fool me with such childish lies?’

Regardless of her lifelong ambition to scale the heights of martial arts, the very presence of Sun Fang, with his feigned feelings, made her keenly aware of his duplicity.

This was just like what happened to Qin Lang, who was beaten to death back then.

Although Li Zhi wasn’t close to the tragically deceased Qin Lang, that event left a deep mark on her. She felt nothing but disdain and caution for such hypocritical people. Usually, anyone resembling that would be met with Li Zhi’s iron fists, guaranteed to rattle their internal organs.

But Sun Fang had influential backing, which made Li Zhi somewhat hesitant. She didn’t want to cause trouble for her master.

Falling into silence, Sun Fang mistook it for consent and quickly approached her. Snapping back to her senses, Li Zhi felt a surge of anger. Recalling her master’s teachings, “When there is no more room for tolerance, there is no need for restraint.”

She prepared to act.

Sun Fang, still lost in his joy, was unprepared for Li Zhi’s iron fists smashing into his face. The True Qi of the Mountain of a Thousand Layers at the seventh layer of the Innate stage exploded on his face, distorting it and knocking out several teeth.

Sun Fang was flung away, landing on the ground, his luxurious clothing now stained with dirt. 

“You actually dared to hit me?” Sun Fang was in disbelief. 

His grandfather was Sun Xing, a True Core master.

The pain on his face shocked him into a pause, and he quickly pulled out a mirror from his storage bag. 

“My God! You actually ruined my handsome face!” Sun Fang cried out in horror, his pretense of a gentleman completely shattered as he roared, “This face is my best asset in the art of seduction, and you dared to ruin it! I’ll kill you!”

In his rage, Sun Fang was more powerful than usual but still unimpressive. He was a typical flower raised in a greenhouse, pampered and protected all his life.

Sun Fang, accustomed to dealing with people who wouldn’t dare offend Sun Xing, had always had his way. Those bold enough to defy Sun Xing were beyond Sun Fang’s courage to provoke. His so-called battles were typically confined to romantic conquests rather than actual combat.

Li Zhi was a stark contrast, ruthless and battle-hardened. Effortlessly dominating Sun Fang without even needing to resort to magical weapons, she swiftly reduced him to a severely injured state, lying on the ground like a shapeless heap.

Recognizing the extent of his injuries, Li Zhi stopped. While she was willing to engage in a fight, taking a life was a line she preferred not to cross. But Sun Fang was oblivious to this subtlety.

His ego shattered under the weight of such unprecedented humiliation, Sun Fang’s mental state deteriorated into hysterical laughter. 

“Hahaha, Li Zhi. You’re doomed, you’re finished,” he managed to splutter out. “I won’t let you get away with this. I’ll have my grandfather take you by force to be my bride. I’ll see to it that your cultivation is crippled, and you’re humiliated to your dying breath.”

As he laughed maniacally, Sun Fang seemed lost in a delusion of revenge, imagining himself overpowering Li Zhi.

Li Zhi observed his breakdown with an air of bemused detachment. 

“Has no one ever taught you that it’s only wise to make threats when you’re in a position of safety?”

Confused, Sun Fang sneered, not used to having to measure his words. He was about to dismiss her warning when he caught her icy gaze. A sudden realization hit him, his bravado was utterly misplaced. His heart raced as panic set in.

“You… What do you think you’re doing?” he stammered, now fully aware of his earlier folly. 

After being beaten so severely, how could he have been so foolish as to threaten her? Why hadn’t he waited to make such threats in the safety of his home? It would have been safer, albeit less satisfying.

But this realization came too late for Sun Fang. By the time he understood this crucial lesson, he had already sealed his fate.

“You’re becoming unbearably noisy,” Li Zhi initially had no intent to kill, only aiming to discipline Sun Fang. 

However, Sun Fang’s words revealed him to be an unyielding scoundrel, the kind that wouldn’t stop until his demise. Deciding that killing him would bring peace and quiet, she saw it as the best option.

Dispensing with further conversation, Li Zhi retrieved an Acquired-level magical weapon, the Hunyuan Hammer. Wielding this instrument along with her overpowering techniques, she knew a dozen hammer strikes would be enough to pulverize him, and then a burst of Innate Fire would reduce him to ashes.

Sun Fang’s terror was palpable. His eyes widened in shock. He hadn’t anticipated this deadly turn of events. He had merely blurted out some intimidating threats, his inner thoughts laid bare. Would he actually act on them? Why was she intent on killing him for words unacted upon?

Li Zhi closed the gap between them swiftly and swung the hammer down.

“Boom!” An oppressive, fearsome aura bore down.

“Cease your actions, young one,” a booming voice erupted from above. 

It was Sun Xing, Sun Fang’s grandfather. Sensing something amiss when his grandson left a few days ago, he had discreetly followed behind. He had refrained from intervening, hoping to let Sun Fang learn a lesson.

But now, witnessing Li Zhi’s killing intent, he was compelled to intervene.

“You merciless girl. What’s so wrong about my grandson wanting to marry you? Why not simply acquiesce? Even if he tires of you, joining the Sun family would be the honor of your lifetime.”

Such vile utterances profoundly disgusted Li Zhi.

Suddenly, a blazing crimson sword appeared, slicing through the air toward Sun Xing.

Sun Xing’s face paled with shock.

“Konggang Shield!” 

An air shield sprang up around him.

The sword shattered the shield but was briefly hindered, giving Sun Xing a chance to sidestep.

Zhang Shen then appeared

“Old fool, how dare you flaunt your power in my territory while I’m away? I graciously offer you a stroke of my sword, and you dare to dodge? Such disrespect. You are nothing but a beast in human skin.”