Chapter Sixty-Five: A Familiar Entrance

Zhang Ning frowned and repeated the phrase, "Golden Lion Saint?" It sounded incredibly familiar, as though he'd heard it somewhere before—no, not from a martial arts novel! Yet the others misunderstood Zhang Ning's meaning.

Steel Spike crowed triumphantly, "Ha! That's right! We're here today by the order of the Golden Lion Saint to take your life! Blame yourself—you offended a Martial Saint! And the young lady at your side... On the road to the underworld, she'll be your companion!"

Yun Ke didn't interject, but his aura was just as fierce.

Zhang Ning and Meng Meng exchanged a glance, despair flickering in their eyes. Yet, refusing to lose their composure, Zhang Ning replied boldly, "Heh, what's a Martial Saint? My master is Lord Chu Hanyu, the Supreme Demon of All Forms! Besides, I don't recall ever offending your master... And this Miss Meng is none other than Meng Qingchen, renowned as 'the strategist who never misses,' daughter of the Immortal Lord Meng! Are you sure you want to offend two supreme beings at once?"

Steel Spike snorted, his face darkening with anger. "You just want to die a little less painfully, threatening me, Steel Spike? You really won't shed tears until you see the coffin!" With that, he unleashed his full aura.

Zhang Ning and Meng Meng were instantly forced to the ground, blood spilling from their lips, feeling as if their internal organs were struck by a heavy blow. Though the sensation wasn't nearly as overwhelming as the previous time when they were suppressed by an unknown master, the injuries they suffered now were every bit as severe—perhaps even worse. Furthermore, the treasures and trump cards they carried had already been shattered by that earlier, mysterious roar. After so many ordeals, they were now at the end of their strength, unable to muster any internal energy to resist, suffocated and helpless.

Yun Ke cast a cold glance at Steel Spike, thinking that though this fellow seemed bold, he was actually shrewd beneath the surface. That earlier speech was paving a retreat for himself; the way he was hesitating now, not striking immediately, showed his fear of the Supreme Demon’s hidden hand. He’d come along, seemingly eager to obey orders, but clearly didn’t trust their own leader.

Still, Yun Ke understood. The reputation of the Supreme Demon of All Forms loomed large—he’d dominated the Azure Sky Realm for centuries. Their own leader was merely a Martial Saint, yet dared provoke such a tiger, without leaving them any means to clean up afterward. Yun Ke wondered where their chief found such confidence.

Don’t be fooled by the title "Martial Saint," which sounds just below "Martial Lord." In fact, "Martial Lord" is only a general designation; the few supreme beings had long surpassed that level, hence they were called "Supremes," for no one even knew what realm lay above Martial Lord or how powerful those supremes truly were.

In truth, people of the Azure Sky Realm were utterly in the dark about the actual cultivation of these supremes, since they never fought within their homeland. And judging by how the gap between stages grew wider with each advancement...

To be honest, Yun Ke wasn't without fear. He’d always followed that master, and it had become a habit. This time, he had no intention of betraying, so he spoke up: "Let’s do it!" With that, he spread his wings, internal energy surging.

Steel Spike’s eyes flickered, but he nodded in agreement.

Listening to their exchange, Zhang Ning inwardly groaned. This trip to the Ten Thousand Mountains truly was cursed: surviving a beast tide only to escape, and now experiencing an inter-world abduction—no, not even that; they’d skipped all pretense and gone straight to execution!

It was all his arrogance—now Su Yeyu and Zhong couldn’t locate him, his master was in poor condition, and his senior brothers were too far away to help...

Was this how his journey in another world would end? Though he hadn’t yet played out the scenes of a nobody rising to glory or slapping faces in style, the rest of the benefits he’d enjoyed were hardly inferior to those of any protagonist in their later stages. Yet he hadn’t repaid any of those around him.

Moreover, he hadn't witnessed his master’s legendary prowess in action. If these two Martial Emperors unleashed such overwhelming force, what would it be like when his master struck? He wondered if his master’s condition had improved.

Regret flooded Zhang Ning; for a moment, he saw his life flash before his eyes.

At that critical moment, the two demon Martial Emperors suddenly halted, both glancing skyward. Zhang Ning and Meng Meng first heard a loud "clang," their bodies jolting as if they’d bounced off a trampoline, almost propelled from the ground—a heavy object had landed nearby!

With the arrival of this mysterious weight, the oppressive aura pressing down on Zhang Ning and Meng Meng vanished.

Zhang Ning propped himself up, gasping for breath, and looked toward the source. Amid swirling dust, a figure not especially tall but vaguely familiar emerged slowly. Zhang Ning’s breath caught, his heart pounding like a drum.

Heavens, this familiar entrance—could it be?

A young man stepped out of the haze, silver hair streaming in the wind, crimson eyes gleaming with feral savagery, a cocky smile curling his lips.

"Why is it that every time I see you, you’re in such a mess?"

The youth tilted his head toward Zhang Ning.

Zhang Ning finally caught his breath, his heart surging with excitement. "Han Zun, my little wife!"

He hadn’t expected Han Zun to arrive—this brother truly wasn’t one he’d befriended in vain. Wait... oh no! What had he just called him?!

Zhang Ning braced himself and looked up. Han Zun was still smiling, head tilted, saying nothing. Meng Meng stared in astonishment, her gaze darting between Han Zun and Zhang Ning.

Zhang Ning even sensed the gaze of the two demon Martial Emperors overhead, both fixed on him.

He forced out the words: "No, let me explain..."

Han Zun, amused, pointed at Meng Meng, who was struggling to sit up beside him. "What about her? Is she your third wife?"

"Erk—!"

Zhang Ning was instantly choked by his own saliva, coughing uncontrollably.

Meng Meng shrieked, "What?! Zhang Ning, you..."

Her voice stuck in her throat. Just when everyone expected Meng Meng to berate them for their shameless collusion, she suddenly changed tack. "Who’s your first wife?"

Zhang Ning immediately banged his head to the ground, collapsing completely.

Even the two demon Martial Emperors in the sky wobbled, nearly falling from the air.