Outside the city.
The mountain forest was tranquil, the moonlight like water.
"Who are you?" The mysterious grandmaster stood atop a tall treetop, hands behind his back, the night wind lifting his long robe, exuding a powerful presence.
"Someone hiding behind a mask doesnât deserve to ask my name!" Jiang Ning replied.
"Hiding behind a mask?" The mysterious grandmaster looked at Jiang Ning in front of him, then chuckled, "Arenât you the same?"
He continued, "Very well! Since you wonât reveal it, Iâll capture you and make you talk!"
With those words.
The air suddenly became heavy, Jiang Ning could feel a gaze under the black cloak piercing through the void like a sharp sword, causing the hairs on his body to stand on end.
The next moment.
The mysterious grandmaster moved from the treetop.
As he advanced, he seemed like a specter moving forward, yet the cloak on his head was completely still.
"Let me see what face is hidden under that veil of yours."
His figure advanced, quickly closing in on Jiang Ning.
Jiang Ning noticed the withered claw-like hand extending towards him.
Not young!
The thought flashed through his mind, and he clenched his hand into a fist.
Perfect, Iâll test my current boxing on you!
A punch was thrown.
Red, black, white, yellow, and blue lights emanated from the punch.
Each finger corresponded to a different color light.
The five colors merged in the palm.
Seeming to blend as one, yet clearly distinct, filled with severe fragmentation.
At the same time.
The world around seemed to be paused.
The wind stopped.
The phantom-like figure approaching also halted.
The eyes hidden under the cloak were filled with shock at this moment.
He felt as if he had fallen beneath the ground, surrounded by unyielding rock and fine iron, rather than freely flowing air.
He stared directly as Jiang Ningâs punch grazed past his central gate, hitting heavily on his chest.
Boomâ
A sound like muffled thunder exploded.
The figure was sent flying by Jiang Ningâs punch, like a cannonball shot into the distance.
In mid-air.
The whistling wind rushed into his ears.
His heart filled with more shock.
Because at that moment, he found he had lost control of his body.
His Qi-Blood and True Yuan fell into silence, even his strength seemed to dissipate, barely able to muster one tael of power.
"What kind of boxing is this?"
"What kind of fist intent is this?!!"
He looked up at Jiang Ning in the air, his expression shocked.
After a breath.
Rumbleâ
The dormant Qi-Blood was finally mobilized again, roaring through his body like the raging Nu River.
But at this moment, he had no fighting spirit left.
He glanced at Jiang Ning, who wasnât pursuing in the air.
He turned and quickly departed along the undulating mountains.
On the other side.
"As expected, the fist intent encompasses both suppression and sealing effects."
With a simple punch, Jiang Ning discerned the effects of his current fist intent.
Sealing and suppressing all around, making it difficult for the opponent to resist.
When the fist intent entered the body, it could further suppress the bodyâs inherent power.
Even with the mysterious grandmasterâs strength, above that of Zhao Yulong.
It took a full breath to break through this suppression.
And in one breath, if he acted, he could have struck several times.
Even killing that grandmaster wouldnât be difficult.
But he didnât attack, instead letting the mysterious grandmaster leave.
The reason was simple.
Killing him now would be useless.
On the contrary, it would make the Yingtian Alliance increase their vigilance towards the Dongling County government, further obstructing his subsequent plans.
Shangguan Guyun?
That person certainly wasnât him!
But the person probing Zhao Yulong at night was most likely from the Yingtian Alliance or a local sect force.
In any case, they couldnât be from the court side.
With such an identity, killing them was not an option for now.
Then.
After the figure disappeared several kilometers away.
Jiang Ning brushed his forehead, his Heavenly Eye opening along with it.
In an instant.
His eyes became like fire, a white vertical stripe appeared on his forehead.
The two reflected each other, drastically changing his aura.
Any mortal seeing it would surely exclaim him to be one of the Heavenly Gods.
His Heavenly Eye pierced through the void, instantly revealing the mysterious grandmasterâs identity.
"Sure enough, itâs not Shangguan Guyun!" he couldnât help but smile.
Shangguan Guyun was an older veteran grandmaster.
The key was that he was a male grandmaster.
But that figure was a female grandmaster.
Also older, outwardly appearing as about a fifty-year-old crone.
In actuality, with a grandmasterâs vigorous bodily functions, one wouldnât look so aged externally unless over a hundred years old.
This also didnât match with Shangguan Guyun from the Divine Sword Manor.
"Indeed! The grandmasters on the surface are just the ones apparent, the actual number far exceeds those shown."
Jiang Ning withdrew his gaze, closing his Heavenly Eye on his forehead.
The Fire Eye Phenomenon vanished thereafter.
...
On the other side.
A shadow flickered between the forestâs shadows.
In a flash, it retreated several kilometers away.
Once no movement was heard behind, the figure gradually stopped.
"That person... who could it be?" At this moment, the voice under the cloak changed, no longer the elderly hoarse tone, but a sharp voice as if pinching the throat.
Recalling the feeling of her body sinking into stillness, unable to mobilize internal strength, the figure was still filled with unease.
Then.
She grabbed the cloak on her head and tossed it aside, revealing an aged, wrinkled face.
She wiped her face again, and the facial contours changed, appearing different than before.
She glanced again in the direction she came from, the forest remained silent, with no sound.