Shocking the Nine Heavens With My Sword

"Zhou Heng, what do you think you're doing? Release my son at once!" Zhou Jianming's voice carried a trace of panic.

If Zhou Heng were still the same Zhou Heng of before, even if he had a sword to Zhou Kan's throat, Zhou Jianming would have been capable of rescuing Zhou Kan the instant Zhou Heng made his move!

But judging from the power of that previous sword strike, it was clear that Zhou Heng's strength was immensely formidable, so much so that even he, an expert at the Body Refinement Ninth Layer, had no confidence in defeating him, let alone rescuing someone!

Now, seeing his son being hoisted up like a dead dog, Zhou Jianming was naturally thrown into chaos out of concern.

"The time is about right, I suppose!" Zhou Heng suddenly said something irrelevant.

"What?" Zhou Jianming was stunned, completely failing to grasp the meaning behind Zhou Heng's words. However, straining his ears, he quickly sensed many people rushing towards their location. In no time at all, more than a dozen people poured through the gate.

—The commotion earlier had not been minor, and the location of this courtyard wasn't too secluded, so it was natural that it attracted people to check out the situation.

At first glance at the scene in the courtyard, everyone was dumbfounded because they couldn't recognize Zhou Kan at all. They had no idea what had happened and simply assumed some shortsighted thief had caused trouble in the family.

"We're still missing one!" Zhou Heng's gaze swept around; he was waiting for Zhou Xianming to arrive.

"Zhou Heng, what on earth do you want to do!" Zhou Jianming was restrained by concern for his son and could only suppress his rage and speak in a deep voice.

"How did you all treat my father?" Zhou Heng asked, suppressing his anger. "My father is an elder of the family, how many merits has he accumulated for the family? But after suffering serious injuries, not only did the family not bother to treat him, but they also stripped him of his elder's position and allowed even a servant to insult him at will!"

"Is this the family's attitude toward its members? Or is it that some people are obstructing the truth, disregarding the family's interests, and seeking only personal vengeance?"

"Impudent child, don't spout nonsense and slander indiscriminately!" Zhou Jianming rebuked furiously. If his son were not still in Zhou Heng's hands, he would certainly have leapt forward and captured Zhou Heng. Some things, although known by everyone, simply cannot be exposed.

"Zhou Heng, you have already been expelled from the family. Now, release him and get out immediately!"

"Hmph, the Zhou family is not a place where you and your son can do as you please!" Zhou Heng let out a light laugh, tightened his grip on Zhou Kan's neck, and immediately there was a series of cracking sounds from Zhou Kan's joints. Under the asphyxiation, Zhou Kan's limbs trembled, and he woke up.

"Dad! Dad!" Zhou Kan saw his own father right in front of him and pushed out a hoarse voice from his throat, shifting his limbs as if pleading for Zhou Jianming to save him.

"Kan'er!" Zhou Jianming had only this one son, whom he doted on immensely. Seeing his beloved son with a swelling head like that of a pig and the pitiful look in his eyes, he couldn't help but feel like his heart was being cut by knives.

What, this pig-headed person is Zhou Kan?

The Zhou family members who had come over were all startled and realized that a major incident had taken place!

Zhou Heng actually dared to threaten Zhou Jianming in this manner—what audacity!

That's not right!

Hadn't Zhou Kan just broken through to the Bone Refinement Realm a month ago, with the family celebrating the occasion grandly? How could he be grasped in Zhou Heng's hand like a dead dog? Could it be that he fell into Zhou Heng's trap?

Even more off, if a martial artist of the Bone Refinement Realm could be ambushed by someone at the level of Body Refinement First Layer, it would be better off to be knocked out cold by a slab of tofu.

Only then did they think to sense Zhou Heng's aura.

"Bone Refinement Realm!"

There were not a few at the Bone Refinement Realm present. After sensing Zhou Heng's aura, which might be slightly off but definitely in the same realm, their expressions drastically changed, and they snorted out loud.

The others heard and were immediately dumbfounded!

Zhou Heng was incapable of cultivation, something that the family had confirmed many times over. How had he suddenly become an existence at the Bone Refinement Realm!

"Hmph, such a racket, aren't you afraid of making a fool of yourselves in front of the esteemed guest!" A commanding voice of authority rang out, and everyone immediately fell silent, each of them showing utmost respect.

Zhou Xianming had arrived!

The family's six major Blood Refinement Realm experts, and the only one who had reached the Body Refining Twelfth Layer, it was this unique strength that allowed him to firmly occupy the position of Great Elder, turning the Zhou family into nearly an absolute monarchy.

Under his imposing aura, who would dare not to show respect and fear?

The crowd parted to make way, and two older men walked over shoulder to shoulder—one with white beard and eyebrows and a tall, strong build exuding an air of long-held authority. The other appeared to be slightly younger, probably in his early fifties, wearing a green robe with an air of ease that seemed detached from the mortal world.

The elder with white beard and eyebrows was none other than Zhou Xianming, the de facto ruler of the Zhou family. But who was this other middle-aged man?

For Zhou Xianming to refer to someone as an esteemed guest and to walk side by side, that person's status must be no less than his own!

Zhou Heng sensed the aura of the man in the green robe and immediately his face tensed—with no ability to directly see through the man's cultivation level, he could compare him to Zhou Xianming, and the conclusion was that the two were evenly matched.

Another expert at the Body Refining Twelfth Layer!

Zhou Heng had some confidence in inciting the other four elders of the Zhou family to challenge Zhou Xianming, but if there was another expert at the Body Refining Twelfth Layer, then the alliance between the two would be as solid as a fortified city, impregnable to all!

Who exactly was this man in the green robe?

However, with the arrow already on the bow, he had no choice but to shoot! Was he supposed to sit by, watching his father being humiliated and slowly die from his injuries?

He couldn't do it!

Zhou Heng revealed a smile filled with killing intent and said, "Whoever wants to harm my father, must pay the price in blood!"

With no mercy, he thrust out his sword, piercing it into Zhou Kan's jaw and, with the sharpness of the Frost Cold Sword and the strength of a martial artist at the Bone Refinement Realm, the sword went straight through the top of Zhou Kan's head! Blood spurted out as Zhou Heng raised his right arm high, lifting Zhou Kan's entire body, as if he were a flag hanging aloft.

"Kan'er!" Zhou Jianming let out a piercing scream, throwing himself forward recklessly towards Zhou Heng.

He was determined to kill this youngster!

Sky-soaring First Form!

Zhou Heng withdrew his long sword, and his entire being entered a state of unrippled calm, his spirit merging with heaven and earth, seemingly penetrating all the profound mysteries of the world.

With the suppression and rejection of heaven and earth, Zhou Jianming suddenly found his movements hindered, his spirit constrained, and an impermissible pause occurred!

The sword light streaked by like a bolt of lengthened fabric from the sky!

Whoosh, a head soared to the sky, tracing an arc before landing on the ground. With momentum unspent, it rolled away, coming to a stop right at the feet of Zhou Xianming.

Only at this moment did Zhou Xianming realize that the person held in Zhou Heng's hands like a dead dog was his grandson! And within mere seconds, his only son and grandson had both been cleanly dispatched by Zhou Heng's sword!

Looking at his son's severed head, he could not help but tremble violently, a pain striking his chest, and a mouthful of old blood spurted out, staining his chest with blood.

"You little beast, I'll tear you to pieces!" Zhou Xianming clutched his chest, his eyes seeming to spew fire.

The power of a Blood Refinement Realm expert was immense, their vigorous life force could even knock someone unconscious, and upon his anger, Zhou Xianming suddenly erupted with terrifying might. Invisible forces emanated from him like stirring waves, causing those around to retreat involuntarily, again and again!

Zhou Heng, however, remained unmoved. After all, he too was a Martial Artist in the Bone Refinement Realm; it was not possible for the aura of the Blood Refinement Realm to intimidate him. Besides, the Sky-soaring Nine Forms he cultivated were incredibly profound, designed to dominate others with sheer presence. He could not possibly be suppressed by Zhou Xianming.

"Old man, you also have a heart, capable of pain, don't you?" Zhou Heng spoke loudly, "Your son and grandson are family, and is my father not family too? When you indulged your son in violence and your grandson in evil, did you think that we are all members of the Zhou Family?"

"What right does a person who only cares about personal gain have to sit in the position of an Elder?"

"I propose the removal of Zhou Xianming from his position as an Elder!"

One stone caused a thousand ripples!

It was only then that those stunned members of the Zhou Family came to their senses.

Zhou Heng killed Zhou Kan! Zhou Heng killed Zhou Jianming!

Hiss!

How dared he! How could he!

It might be excusable for Zhou Kan, possibly caught by a sneak attack, for who would have thought that someone unable to cultivate would suddenly have the Cultivation Level of the Bone Refinement Realm! But Zhou Jianming had attacked in a rage, with all his might, and Zhou Jianming was at the Body Refining Ninth Layer!

A kill with a single sword strike!

What tremendous Battle Power!

Was the Zhou Family facing a change of reign?

"You brat, you dare judge my actions!" Zhou Xianming snorted coldly, "Great disrespect, killing clan members, an unforgivable crime!"

The old man launched himself like a massive eagle swooping down on Zhou Heng.

Cloud Flying Step!

Boom, Zhou Xianming's determined strike hit empty air, his claw tearing through the flagstone ground, causing bricks and countless clods of earth to scatter.

The crowd was once again shocked!

Zhou Heng had actually dodged that attack!

Damn, the lad was even counterattacking!

Zhou Heng didn't use the Soaring Clouds Nine Forms, even the Soaring Clouds First Form would take a toll on him, and he wasn't at all certain he could defeat a seasoned expert at the Peak of the Body Refining Twelfth Layer within ten moves!

Flying Waterfall Sword Technique!

Zhou Heng executed the Cloud Flying Step, circling Zhou Xianming smoothly, now in front, suddenly behind. Staring directly could make one feel dizzy and nauseous within seconds.

The battle, shockingly, was at a stalemate!

How was this possible!

A mere novice in the Bone Refinement Realm, who had just entered the stage, was actually exchanging blows with an expert at the Peak of the Blood Refinement Realm and Body Refining Twelfth Layer? No, it wasn't just an exchange; he was pressing the fight!

Zhou Heng was actually pressing Zhou Xianming in battle!

Indeed, with the mysterious Cloud Flying Step, Zhou Heng had no need to worry about defending, only focusing on assaulting Zhou Xianming relentlessly!

Although the Flying Waterfall Sword Technique was not as formidable as the Soaring Clouds Nine Forms, it was a secret technique of the Nine Spirit Sect, far from ordinary. The long sword swept through like cascades plummeting from the sky, a spectacular sight to behold.

Zhou Xianming roared repeatedly. In terms of true Cultivation Level, Zhou Heng naturally could not match him, but the lad had a set of exceedingly strange Stepping Techniques, preventing him from landing a hit. Combined with the lethally sharp Frost Cold Sword, capable of cutting through the bones of a Bone Refinement Realm Martial Artist, even he dared not take a direct hit!

He absolutely could not allow this youngster to lead him by the nose!

Zhou Xianming turned his gaze towards the inner courtyard.