Chapter 151: Unity of Man and Blade

“Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.” Three figures swiftly followed behind, arriving at the training ground. They were none other than Lu Tianhong, Uncle Fu, and Lu Hui, who had rushed over.

The fierce roar of the old patriarch of the Lu family echoed throughout the city lord’s mansion, summoning everyone swiftly to the training ground.

Although Lu Han’s third uncle, Lu Tianbei, had never married, he had once taken in a child—Lu Hai.

Among the crowd, Lu Hai’s eyes suddenly narrowed sharply as he caught sight of Lu Hui standing behind Tian Heng.

“Is that... Cousin Lu Hui?” Lu Hai murmured.

Though Lu Hui had left Maple Leaf City years ago, he had only shed his youthful naivety; his appearance had changed little.

Back then, Lu Hui was the idol of the younger generation of the Lu family, and Lu Hai’s impression of him was particularly vivid, so he recognized him immediately.

“Could it be...” Lu Hai thought to himself.

Tian Heng glanced around at the gathered Lu family members, gently shook his head, and smiled. “You know, at our level of cultivation, unless it’s someone of the same rank, sheer numbers pose no threat to me.”

“Uncle Fu, have them all retreat a hundred paces. Send the women and children out of the city lord’s mansion. This is likely the greatest calamity the Lu family has ever faced—he’s a powerhouse at the sixth level of the Profound Lord realm!” Lu Tianhong commanded.

“The family head has ordered it: all Lu family disciples, fall back a hundred paces,” Uncle Fu straightened his stooped back and said firmly.

“Whoosh.”

“Lu family guards, follow me.”

Uncle Fu leaped out of the training ground, his voice lingering faintly in the air.

Tian Heng stood in the center of the training ground, adjusting his sleeves calmly as he watched everything unfold, his tone cool and composed. “Don’t worry, I won’t kill you. How I handle you will be decided by my precious disciple.”

The old Lu patriarch’s hand clenched tightly. He knew he had no chance against Tian Heng, but now, he was the only one who could hold Tian Heng off even for a moment.

In that instant, the old patriarch made a decision.

“Hui’er, one day, you will regret this,” the old patriarch sighed as he looked at Lu Hui.

“Tianhong, take everyone in the Lu family and evacuate Maple Leaf City. The farther you get, the better. I will do my best to hold him off.”

“Father, I won’t leave. I am not only the head of the Lu family but also the city lord of Maple Leaf City. I cannot flee in the face of battle, let alone abandon my own father,” Lu Tianhong shook his head firmly.

“Go quickly! Father and I will do our best to delay him!” Lu Tianhong shouted to the gathered Lu family disciples around the training ground.

Most recognized Lu Hui. Coupled with the recent betrayal and poisoning of Lu Tianlin a few months prior and the current situation, everyone guessed the truth: Lu Hui had returned for revenge.

And judging by the atmosphere, even the old patriarch had little confidence.

Lu Hai was the first to step forward. “Grandfather, Second Uncle, I’m not leaving. If anyone goes, we go together. There are no cowards in the Lu family!”

“That’s right. If we leave, we leave together.”

“Yes!”

Those who had been wavering suddenly shouted in unison upon hearing Lu Hai’s words.

Lu Hai then turned to Lu Hui. “Cousin Lu Hui, the whole Lu family knows about Uncle’s situation. Back then, Second Uncle tried to advise him, but he couldn’t accept defeat...”

“Silence! You’re Lu Hai, right? Hmph, just a wild child picked up by Second Uncle. What right do you have to speak about my father? But it doesn’t matter anymore, because after today, the Lu family—once one of the three great families of Maple Leaf City—this city lord’s mansion will cease to exist,” Lu Hui said fiercely, his eyes bloodshot and wild.

“Lu Hui, you’ve truly lost your mind!” Lu Hai retorted angrily, addressing him directly by name.

Tian Heng smiled and then extended his aged palms.

“If you won’t leave, then lie down one by one for this old man!” he declared.

Before the old patriarch could respond, his pupils suddenly contracted as Tian Heng’s two palms, sharp as blades and lightning-fast, struck toward his chest.

Mysterious energy swirled continuously on those ancient palms, visibly gathering golden energy into a swirling golden vortex. Such a strike could shatter even the finest stone of the training ground with a single blow.

“So powerful!” the Lu family members around exclaimed.

The last great battle against the Lu family had given everyone a glimpse of the strength of a Profound Lord. Yet, the man facing the old patriarch now was stronger in aura than either the former Wenhao city lord or the patriarch himself.

“I know who this must be. He’s Lu Hui’s master. Back then, Lu Hui was taken to Jinyang Mountain by an elder of the Jinyang Sect. To my knowledge, the lowest rank among the elders of Jinyang Sect is the fifth level of the Profound Lord realm,” one Lu family member said.

“So that means... this man before us is an elder of the Jinyang Sect, at least a fifth-level Profound Lord!”

A fifth-level Profound Lord, or perhaps even higher!

Hissing!

Everyone involuntarily gasped in shock.

Facing such a fierce palm strike from Tian Heng, the old patriarch’s expression grew grave. His tiger-like eyes locked onto the onrushing palm. Just as it was about to strike his chest, the old patriarch, like a suddenly awakened tiger, sprang into action!

His palm, wrapped in mysterious energy, met Tian Heng’s with a heavy clash. Then he slightly bent his elbow, using a subtle skill to deflect most of Tian Heng’s force.

Tian Heng was slightly surprised. Though he was three levels above the old patriarch and possessed superior martial arts and techniques, and despite the old patriarch having lost his left arm, he hadn’t expected such a swift reaction to neutralize his fierce blow.

Still, Tian Heng was an elder of the Jinyang Sect. A single palm deflected was nothing. His hand instantly transformed into five fingers, which danced with golden winds, dazzling the eyes like a storm, striking at the vital points around the old patriarch.

The old patriarch’s expression changed. Tian Heng’s ferocious assault could not be met head-on. He stomped his foot hard on the ground.

“Crack, crack.”

Spiderweb-like cracks appeared on the ground as the old patriarch used the recoil to retreat dozens of steps.

Mysterious energy surged around his body. His azure robe fluttered as if stirred by a breeze that did not exist.

At that moment, the old patriarch’s aura shifted. Golden energy swirled around him—not the same golden aura as Tian Heng’s, which was forged from the “Jinyang Art” and resembled the blazing sun. The old patriarch’s golden energy was like a golden blade, as if he himself had become the peerless golden sword.

The Lu family’s treasured martial art, the “Golden Spirit Saber Technique,” and its complementary skill, the “Giant Spirit Golden Saber,” had been cultivated to an unparalleled pinnacle over decades.

The old patriarch was confident he could unleash the power of a mid-level Profound stage martial skill.

Seeing the old patriarch’s change in aura, Tian Heng looked surprised. The Jinyang Sect did have a few beginner-level Profound techniques, but none had cultivated them to the extent the old patriarch had—only a select few elders had achieved such mastery.

Their palms collided again in an instant, Tian Heng’s dazzling golden fist casting shadows all around, yet he gained no real advantage in a short time.

The old patriarch had immediately unleashed his trump card—the fusion of man and blade!