Wu Fuxiang could no longer wait to get his hands on the Yang Restoration Body Sculpting Pill. The moment he lifted the lid, he looked down impatiently. Suddenly, a beam of water shot at him from the cauldron. Wu Fuxiang was a peak Transformation Realm expert, but he had never expected that Xiang Shaoyun would still be alive within the cauldron. Thus, his guard was completely down. Because of that, the scalding water landed right on his face.
"AHHH!"
The heat burned his face, causing him to yell out in pain. Not everyone was as resistant to high temperatures as Xiang Shaoyun. At the same instant, Xiang Shaoyun leaped out the cauldron, gathered all his strength in his fist, and punched Wu Fuxiang's chest.
Lightning Bolt Fist!
Might of thunder, force of lightning!
Bang!
Wu Fuxiang couldn't even defend himself in time before he was struck and sent into retreat. Although Xiang Shaoyun had grown stronger, his explosive punch was only able to cause Wu Fuxiang to cough up a mouthful of blood.
The gap between the Astral Realm and the Transformation Realm was too big, with more than 10 minor stages between them. It was not possible for Xiang Shaoyun to kill Wu Fuxiang with one punch.
"Old bastard, die!" Xiang Shaoyun did not let go of the available opening. With a roar, he mustered all his strength and rained down punches of Lightning Bolt Fists on Wu Fuxiang. Using the Lightning Bolt Fist, crackling electricity snaked around his fist. Thus, his punches were not powered by astral energy alone. Each punch was as powerful as the attack of an eighth-stage Astral Realm cultivator.
This was quite a terrifying combat prowess as Xiang Shaoyun had unleashed a might four stages above his current stage. This unnatural combat prowess was greatly related to the oddity that had occurred in his body.
Bang! Bang!
Tens of punches landed on Wu Fuxiang's body while sounds of explosions rumbled. Unfortunately, the attacks seemed to be ineffective as an energy barrier had formed around Wu Fuxiang's body, blocking all of Xiang Shaoyun's attacks.
Xiang Shaoyun felt like he was punching an unbreakable iron bastion, his attacks completely fruitless. This was the might of a Transformation Realm expert. One would be able to form an energy barrier that protected one's body against normal attacks.
"Bastard! I'll swallow you alive!" Wu Fuxiang wailed—eyes still shut—and slammed his palm toward Xiang Shaoyun.
Even though Wu Fuxiang was unable to see, he was still able to sense Xiang Shaoyun. Instantly, his palm arrived before Xiang Shaoyun's chest. The palm carried with it an incredible might, one that no Astral Realm cultivator would be able to resist. Even those in the Transformation Realm would die if hit by such an attack. This was an attack by a furious peak Transformation Realm expert, an extremely terrifying attack.
"It's over!" Wu Fuxiang’s aura was completely locked on to Xiang Shaoyun. Thus, Xiang Shaoyun had no way of avoiding the attack. But right this moment, a thunderous voice rang out.
"The likes of you are not worthy of touching my young master!"
The sound wave surrounded Wu Fuxiang, shattering his eardrums and sending him flying and coughing up blood. A sound wave alone had seriously wounded a peak Transformation Realm expert. How terrifying was this sound wave exactly?
It was worth noting that the person who shouted was already holding back. He wasn't exactly sparing Wu Fuxiang, but he was leaving Wu Fuxiang for Xiang Shaoyun. The newcomer was not Elder Zhen Peng. Rather, he was a sloppy, one-armed old man. No matter how one looked at him, he did not seem like a remarkable expert. One truly couldn't judge a book by its cover.
"Young master, are you alright?" the old man arrived beside Xiang Shaoyun and asked deferentially.
When Xiang Shaoyun saw the newcomer, a smile originating from the depths of his heart bloomed on his face. He said, "Old drunkard, I'm fine. I knew you wouldn't abandon me for real!"
The old drunkard's name was Duo Ji, a devoted guardian of Xiang Shaoyun who had helped him escape the sect. Without Duo Ji, Xiang Shaoyun would have died long ago. Looking at the missing arm, Xiang Shaoyun's heart pained. That arm had been lost for the sake of saving him.
"How can this old servant abandon the young master? I only left because that was young master's request back then. But subsequently, I understand that young master merely wanted to grow strong with your own strength. Thus, I came looking for you again," the old drunkard gave a simple explanation.
Before Xiang Shaoyun joined the Martial Hall Palace, he had been staying with the old drunkard. But he did not wish to be guarded by the old drunkard all the time. Thus, he chased the old drunkard away and even pretended to give up on himself. He was afraid that one day, his enemies would find them and the old drunkard would suffer harm because of him. On top of that, he also wanted to achieve something relying only on himself. He did not want to rely on the old drunkard for everything. If he did, he would not be able to grow.
Xiang Shaoyun sighed. "Old drunkard, it's all my fault."
"Young master, please don't say that. It's the fault of those traitors. A day will come when the sect master returns and all of them will pay the price for their actions!" the old drunkard said furiously.
When Xiang Shaoyun heard the old drunkard mentioning the sect master, a gentle look covered his face. "Even if Father does not return, I only need 10 years. In 10 years, I will definitely return to the sect, kill all the traitors, and retake everything that belongs to my Xiang Clan!"
Xiang Shaoyun spoke resolutely, his eyes filled with confidence.
"I have full confidence in you, young master. With your talent, that will definitely happen!" the old drunkard agreed.
In the span of only two months, Xiang Shaoyun had reached fourth-stage Astral Realm from third-stage Basic Realm. That was a speed worthy of the title "freak". The old drunkard was clear this young master of his was no less talented than the sect master. Perhaps the young master's talent even surpassed the sect master’s.
"By the way, since you have been around, were you the one who had killed off those pursuers before?" Xiang Shaoyun asked.
"Yes. I couldn’t sit around when I saw you in danger," the old drunkard replied.
"Um. Stop following me around anymore. I will be able to protect myself for now. I need you to do something else for me instead," Xiang Shaoyun said.
"But what if they find you?" the old drunkard asked with a frown.
"It will be at least another year before their search reaches here. You don't have to worry about me," Xiang Shaoyun said. He then added, "I need you to go protect my sister. Keep her safe."
"The little princess is well protected by the 13 eagles and a powerful master. Nobody will dare to harm her," said the old drunkard with reverence.
"Even so, that girl has a bad temper. If she decides to do something stupid, it will put her in danger, and it will be too late for us to go look for her then. Old drunkard, you must protect her from the shadows. Also, try to find out how many of my scattered brothers are still alive. I will personally return in the future for my revenge," Xiang Shaoyun gave out one command after another.